128D without keyboard keeps showing a green screen.... some help needed

[RobertB]

...I've never actually seen a plastic 128D in person.

Ah, if you had attended the Vintage Computer Festival a few years ago or CommVEx last year, you would have seen my plastic C128D, which I bought back in 1999 (IIRC).

Unfortunately, you might find it difficult to find someone with a spare 128D keyboard.

(RobertB raises hand.)  Me.

               Truly,
               Robert Bernardo
               Fresno Commodore User Group
               http://videocam.net.au/fcug
               The Other Group of Amigoids
               http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
               Southern California Commodore/Amiga Network
               http://www.sccaners.org/

[SmallCleverDinosaur]

Unfortunately, you might find it difficult to find someone with a spare 128D keyboard.

(RobertB raises hand.)  Me.

Does this mean you have a spare keyboard for our friend in Spain?

[caren103]

Unfortunately, you might find it difficult to find someone with a spare 128D keyboard.

(RobertB raises hand.)  Me.

Does this mean you have a spare keyboard for our friend in Spain?

At least, it means he has one spare keyboard ! :-)

Anyway, I'll have to check the C128D with the C64 cartridge when I get one.

And regarding the different options ( adapters, keyboards, ... ), so far it can sound a bit strange, but I've noticed sometimes at least it can be cheaper to buy a C128D complete with keyboard.

[Andrew Wiskow]

Not quite correct Andrew. Here in Australia all three models (flat, plastic & metal) were available.

I should've known...  Australia, it seems, was part of Europe when it came to the release of Commodore hardware.  Same goes for the 1570 disk drive, which wasn't released in North America either.

[Andrew Wiskow]

...I've never actually seen a plastic 128D in person.

Ah, if you had attended the Vintage Computer Festival a few years ago or CommVEx last year, you would have seen my plastic C128D, which I bought back in 1999 (IIRC).

That C128D came from Europe though, didn't it?  I'm pretty sure I'm right that the plastic 128D was never released in North America.

Unfortunately, you might find it difficult to find someone with a spare 128D keyboard.

(RobertB raises hand.)  Me.

That does it.  Robert had everything.   

[Blacklord]

Not quite correct Andrew. Here in Australia all three models (flat, plastic & metal) were available.

I should've known...  Australia, it seems, was part of Europe when it came to the release of Commodore hardware.  Same goes for the 1570 disk drive, which wasn't released in North America either.

Commodore regarded Australia as one of it's best markets - they had a very high penetration here. As a result, we often got products ahead of other parts of the world - I have an article somewhere from an Australian mag stating the the SX64 was to be released in Australia before anywhere else - I'll try & dig it out.

Interestingly Commodore Australia didn't want the 128. The CEO here threatened to rip out the Z80 from every one of them

Lance

[Andrew Wiskow]

Interestingly Commodore Australia didn't want the 128. The CEO here threatened to rip out the Z80 from every one of them

That's just pure and utter blasphemy! 

[SmallCleverDinosaur]

And regarding the different options ( adapters, keyboards, ... ), so far it can sound a bit strange, but I've noticed sometimes at least it can be cheaper to buy a C128D complete with keyboard.

The keyboard interfaces are nice technology but are also pretty expensive. If all you want is to get a working C128, it's probably better to get another one from ebay. So we don't blame you We're just excited that you want to be a part of the C128 world

Unfortunately, you might find it difficult to find someone with a spare 128D keyboard.

(RobertB raises hand.)  Me.

That does it.  Robert had everything.   

I knew it! Robert does have everything

Commodore regarded Australia as one of it's best markets - they had a very high penetration here. As a result, we often got products ahead of other parts of the world - I have an article somewhere from an Australian mag stating the the SX64 was to be released in Australia before anywhere else - I'll try & dig it out.

Commodore was very popular in Sweden as well but we are a small market with a population of only about 8 million. Besides, Commodore had to customize all of their models since Swedes insist of having our own characters (åäö) as part of our alphabet and computer keyboards. So the release of a new machine was always delayed here. That's why there are all those Swedish Kernals and Character ROM files out there

But we also had domestic contributions to the Commodore world with companies like Handic that produced a lot of good hardware. For example the Superbox64 which was a cartridge expander with built in support for the IEEE/488 version used for the PET computers. So I'm very proud, very proud

Superbox64:

[RobertB]

At least, it means he has one spare keyboard ! :-)

Oh, there may be more in storage.

...I've noticed sometimes at least it can be cheaper to buy a C128D complete with keyboard.

Perhaps.  The one that is here is $15 plus shipping.

              Truly,
              Robert Bernardo
              Fresno Commodore User Group
              http://videocam.net.au/fcug
              The Other Group of Amigoids
              http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
              Southern California Commodore/Amiga Network
              http://www.sccaners.org/

[RobertB]

That C128D came from Europe though, didn't it?

Yes, that plastic C128D was bought in England.  A few months ago at a TOGA meeting, I picked up another plastic C128D.

Robert had everything.   

At the last SCCAN meeting, if you had looked carefully in the back seat of my car, the spare C128D keyboard was sitting there. 

                  Truly,
                  Robert Bernardo
                  Fresno Commodore User Group
                  http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                  The Other Group of Amigoids
                  http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
                  Southern California Commodore/Amiga Network
                  http://www.sccaners.org/

[RobertB]

I knew it! Robert does have everything

Nah, I don't have that interface below. 

For example the Superbox64 which was a cartridge expander with built in support for the IEEE/488 version used for the PET computers.

Ooo, nifty!  I've heard of Superbox, but I've never seen one.  What items would plug into the slots?  Ordinary C64 carts?  Is that some kind of connector on the left side?

                  Truly,
                  Robert Bernardo
                  Fresno Commodore User Group
                  http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                  The Other Group of Amigoids
                  http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
                  Southern California Commodore/Amiga Network
                  http://www.sccaners.org/

[caren103]

Hi Robert, well, I see you own tons of material !

Thank you for your offering: I have written an e-mail to you about it.

[SmallCleverDinosaur]

Ooo, nifty!  I've heard of Superbox, but I've never seen one.  What items would plug into the slots?  Ordinary C64 carts?  Is that some kind of connector on the left side?

Yes, it's an ordinary cartridge expander for any type of C64 cartridges. The Superbox only ran in C64 mode. The connector in the top left of the picture is for the IEEE/488 connector that the PET-series used to connect to peripherals like printers and discdrives. It was later replaced with the serialbus (which is a serialform of the IEEE/488) on the C64 and C128. The white and red on the left side of the picture are switches. Four white and one red. The white are for deciding which of the three cartridgeslots should be active. The fourth white is to activate the IEEE/488 interface and the red is for reset.

I also have another item that is REALLY rare. I bought it long ago and used it with my old PET dualdrive 3040 and the C128. It's also a IEEE/488 interface but it runs in either C64 or C128 mode (with the help of a switch on the cartridge). See the picture below. The circuits are actually mounted on the bottomside of the PCB.

[RobertB]

I also have another item that is REALLY rare. I bought it long ago and used it with my old PET dualdrive 3040 and the C128. It's also a IEEE/488 interface but it runs in either C64 or C128 mode (with the help of a switch on the cartridge). See the picture below. The circuits are actually mounted on the bottomside of the PCB.

How mysterious!  How rare!  From where did you get it?  When was it manufactured?  What was the original price of it?

                 Truly,
                 Robert Bernardo
                 Fresno Commodore User Group
                 http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                 Catch the Fatman and Circuit Girl at
                 http://vimeo.com/videos/search:jeri%20ellsworth

[SmallCleverDinosaur]

So many questions, so few answers I don't remember, it was so long ago

It was already used when I bought it. It was a mere coincidence that I found it. I don't remember what I payed for it, much less what the previous owner payed for it, if he ever told me.

According to the manual it was produced in 1985 by a company called "Brain Boxes" from Liverpool, UK. That's about all I know about the manufacturer.

This cartridge is actually a nice piece of work, very well put together. And probably a lot of work behind it. It worked beautifully together with my 3040 and printer (I think it was the 3022).

I'm working on OCR'ing the manual for it if you are interested to see it.

[RobertB]

I'm working on OCR'ing the manual for it if you are interested to see it.

Sure!  Knowledge is power (or it's a lot of clutter in the mind). 

                 Truly,
                 Robert Bernardo
                 Fresno Commodore User Group
                 http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                 Catch the Fatman and Circuit Girl at
                 http://vimeo.com/jeri

[RobertB]

The one that is here is $15 plus shipping.

Ouch!  The shipping to Spain is double the price I quoted for the keyboard. 

              Truly,
              Robert Bernardo
              Fresno Commodore User Group
              http://videocam.net.au/fcug
              Catch the Fatman and Circuit Girl at
              http://vimeo.com/jeri

[Andrew Wiskow]

Ouch!  The shipping to Spain is double the price I quoted for the keyboard. 

So it's $45, including shipping, for a loose 128D keyboard?  Considering the rarity of these things these days, I'd say that's still not a bad price...

[RobertB]

So it's $45, including shipping, for a loose 128D keyboard?

Actually, with the Euro-to-dollar exchange rate, it comes out to be slightly less than 35 Euros -- still not cheap but a better bargain for our Spanish friend.

              Truly,
              Robert Bernardo
              Fresno Commodore User Group
              http://videocam.net.au/fcug
              Catch the Fatman and Circuit Girl at
              http://vimeo.com/jeri

[caren103]

Hi !

Yes, shipping charges are the "big" part....

I think I'll try first to check a C64 cartridge with my C128D, to see what happens, as if finally I'm sure the C128D is broken, I think it would be better to purchase a complete C128D.

[Andrew Wiskow]

caren103, that's probably a good idea.  You can always keep the one you have now as a "parts unit".  I did find a couple posts on Lemon64 where people talk about their 128D without keyboard being in working condition, although they didn't specifically say if the computer booted up alright without one attached.

[caren103]

Well, I have just purchased a Commodore 64 loose cartridge: "International Soccer", which I think is one of the most common carts ( if not the most common ), but it had a cheap price shipped to Spain, so...

When it arrives, I'll try it in the C128D.... I'll cross my fingers !!!

[Mangelore]

Just so you know, I powered up my C128DCR (metal case) without a keyboard in 40 column mode and it booted fine.

[caren103]

Just so you know, I powered up my C128DCR (metal case) without a keyboard in 40 column mode and it booted fine.

Thanks for the info.

Anyway, I'll check with the cart when it arrives, as hope is the last thing to get rid of.... well.... so far in the thread, I'm really I'm almost sure the C128d is not working OK, but, somewhat I still need to check with the cart.

EDIT: By the way, if it happens you have some C64 cartridge, might you check what happens when you start your C128DCR without keyboard but with a C64 cart inserted?

[caren103]

Hi !

I have just received today the "International Soccer" cartridge.

I have first of all cleaned all contacts.

Then I have first switched on the C128D, only to check that the mess at the screen was still there ( yes, there it was ).

I have switched off the C128D, inserted the cart, switched on, and the cartridge screen has appeared perfectly; I have left alone the cart, and after some more intro screens, a demo game has started.

After 5 minutes, it has freezed.

But at least, it has worked.

After that, I have switched off the computer, inserted a joystick, and try again, but this time the first screen appeared, but that was all.

After more checkings, always with the cart inserted, sometimes at power on the screen remained black, sometimes the first cart screen appeared but after that freezed, etc. .

What seems to me, is that at leat you can see correctly something on screen, so perhaps if a keyboard is inserted, the computer might work OK.

Anyway, buying only a keyboard would be somewhat risky as I am not 100% sure the computer works OK; perhaps I'll take an eye on a complete C128D...

In any case, the old cart has made the C128 to reaction and show something coherent on screen.