Tynemouth Software
@tynemouthsoftware.co.uk
Making new things for old computers.
http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/
https://www.tindie.com/stores/tynemouth/
https://www.patreon.com/tynemouthsoftware
http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/
https://www.tindie.com/stores/tynemouth/
https://www.patreon.com/tynemouthsoftware
Pinned
I guess I should start off with some links.
I write a blog with a new post every Sunday - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk
I sell my Z80 and 6502 based kits on Tindie (more soon) - www.tindie.com/stores/tynem...
Early access to posts and behind the scenes on Patreon - www.patreon.com/tynemouthsof...
I write a blog with a new post every Sunday - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk
I sell my Z80 and 6502 based kits on Tindie (more soon) - www.tindie.com/stores/tynem...
Early access to posts and behind the scenes on Patreon - www.patreon.com/tynemouthsof...
Reposted by Tynemouth Software
New blog post - Converting a ZX81 BASIC game to run in Commodore BASIC on the VIC 20 (and the PET, C64 and TED)
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/peri...
BASIC is quite a portable language, so let's see how easily it ports.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/peri...
BASIC is quite a portable language, so let's see how easily it ports.
November 23, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New blog post - Converting a ZX81 BASIC game to run in Commodore BASIC on the VIC 20 (and the PET, C64 and TED)
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/peri...
BASIC is quite a portable language, so let's see how easily it ports.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/peri...
BASIC is quite a portable language, so let's see how easily it ports.
New blog post - Converting a ZX81 BASIC game to run in Commodore BASIC on the VIC 20 (and the PET, C64 and TED)
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/peri...
BASIC is quite a portable language, so let's see how easily it ports.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/peri...
BASIC is quite a portable language, so let's see how easily it ports.
November 23, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New blog post - Converting a ZX81 BASIC game to run in Commodore BASIC on the VIC 20 (and the PET, C64 and TED)
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/peri...
BASIC is quite a portable language, so let's see how easily it ports.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/peri...
BASIC is quite a portable language, so let's see how easily it ports.
Reposted by Tynemouth Software
It's official! #PicoIDE, the open source IDE/ATAPI drive emulator I've been working on for the better part of this year, will be launching at Crowd Supply! Go there to sign up for updates and to be notified when the campaign is live: www.crowdsupply.com/polpotronics...
PicoIDE
An open source IDE/ATAPI drive emulator for vintage computers
www.crowdsupply.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:59 AM
It's official! #PicoIDE, the open source IDE/ATAPI drive emulator I've been working on for the better part of this year, will be launching at Crowd Supply! Go there to sign up for updates and to be notified when the campaign is live: www.crowdsupply.com/polpotronics...
Reposted by Tynemouth Software
New blog post - I have designed a new serial card for the Minstrel 4th and RC2014 bus. More on that next week, but first a look back at some of the things I tried before settling on this design.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/a-ne...
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/a-ne...
November 16, 2025 at 11:49 AM
New blog post - I have designed a new serial card for the Minstrel 4th and RC2014 bus. More on that next week, but first a look back at some of the things I tried before settling on this design.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/a-ne...
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/a-ne...
Reposted by Tynemouth Software
Doing a bit more experimenting with ZX81 #Forth multitasking on #Minstrel4th. Combined several example programs from user manual to make a real-time clock. A must-have for a personal computer in 2025! #retrogaming
November 17, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Doing a bit more experimenting with ZX81 #Forth multitasking on #Minstrel4th. Combined several example programs from user manual to make a real-time clock. A must-have for a personal computer in 2025! #retrogaming
Reposted by Tynemouth Software
A great blog post and a salient reminder to me as to why I stick to doing software only rather than trying to design hardware!
New blog post - I have designed a new serial card for the Minstrel 4th and RC2014 bus. More on that next week, but first a look back at some of the things I tried before settling on this design.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/a-ne...
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/a-ne...
November 16, 2025 at 6:47 PM
A great blog post and a salient reminder to me as to why I stick to doing software only rather than trying to design hardware!
New blog post - I have designed a new serial card for the Minstrel 4th and RC2014 bus. More on that next week, but first a look back at some of the things I tried before settling on this design.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/a-ne...
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/a-ne...
November 16, 2025 at 11:49 AM
New blog post - I have designed a new serial card for the Minstrel 4th and RC2014 bus. More on that next week, but first a look back at some of the things I tried before settling on this design.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/a-ne...
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/a-ne...
I recently picked myself up a bunch of new t shirts. Very impressed with the designs and the quality and the thoughtful customer service (all of which tend to be lacking with most online purchases these days).
Would recommend if you're looking for something a cut above the rest.
Would recommend if you're looking for something a cut above the rest.
What the husband @mjowen174.bsky.social says is true.
It’s been a bit quiet in my shop lately.
If you’re looking for #Christmas cards and gifts please have a look at my website.
gailmyerscough.co.uk
A repost would be lovely too.
It’s been a bit quiet in my shop lately.
If you’re looking for #Christmas cards and gifts please have a look at my website.
gailmyerscough.co.uk
A repost would be lovely too.
November 13, 2025 at 2:26 PM
I recently picked myself up a bunch of new t shirts. Very impressed with the designs and the quality and the thoughtful customer service (all of which tend to be lacking with most online purchases these days).
Would recommend if you're looking for something a cut above the rest.
Would recommend if you're looking for something a cut above the rest.
Reposted by Tynemouth Software
New blog post - a simple LED tester for PET, VIC20 and C64 Userports.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/user...
#blinkenlights
www.tindie.com/products/tyn...
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/user...
#blinkenlights
www.tindie.com/products/tyn...
November 9, 2025 at 12:54 PM
New blog post - a simple LED tester for PET, VIC20 and C64 Userports.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/user...
#blinkenlights
www.tindie.com/products/tyn...
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/user...
#blinkenlights
www.tindie.com/products/tyn...
New blog post - a simple LED tester for PET, VIC20 and C64 Userports.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/user...
#blinkenlights
www.tindie.com/products/tyn...
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/user...
#blinkenlights
www.tindie.com/products/tyn...
November 9, 2025 at 12:54 PM
New blog post - a simple LED tester for PET, VIC20 and C64 Userports.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/user...
#blinkenlights
www.tindie.com/products/tyn...
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/user...
#blinkenlights
www.tindie.com/products/tyn...
Reposted by Tynemouth Software
New blog post - the second part of the 4016 repair.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/cbm-...
The board is working with a PET ROM/RAM and video RAM replacement, let's get back to as many original chips as possible.
After all, they can't all be bad, can they......
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/cbm-...
The board is working with a PET ROM/RAM and video RAM replacement, let's get back to as many original chips as possible.
After all, they can't all be bad, can they......
November 2, 2025 at 11:51 AM
New blog post - the second part of the 4016 repair.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/cbm-...
The board is working with a PET ROM/RAM and video RAM replacement, let's get back to as many original chips as possible.
After all, they can't all be bad, can they......
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/cbm-...
The board is working with a PET ROM/RAM and video RAM replacement, let's get back to as many original chips as possible.
After all, they can't all be bad, can they......
New blog post - the second part of the 4016 repair.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/cbm-...
The board is working with a PET ROM/RAM and video RAM replacement, let's get back to as many original chips as possible.
After all, they can't all be bad, can they......
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/cbm-...
The board is working with a PET ROM/RAM and video RAM replacement, let's get back to as many original chips as possible.
After all, they can't all be bad, can they......
November 2, 2025 at 11:51 AM
New blog post - the second part of the 4016 repair.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/cbm-...
The board is working with a PET ROM/RAM and video RAM replacement, let's get back to as many original chips as possible.
After all, they can't all be bad, can they......
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/11/cbm-...
The board is working with a PET ROM/RAM and video RAM replacement, let's get back to as many original chips as possible.
After all, they can't all be bad, can they......
Reposted by Tynemouth Software
If you haven't a PET, you can get your retro themed Halloween experience in online emulation here:
masswerk.at/pet/?prg=3d+...
(If you haven't a keyboard with a numpad, you can always use the onscreen keyboard for convenient maze navigation and monster dodging.)
masswerk.at/pet/?prg=3d+...
(If you haven't a keyboard with a numpad, you can always use the onscreen keyboard for convenient maze navigation and monster dodging.)
October 31, 2025 at 5:09 PM
If you haven't a PET, you can get your retro themed Halloween experience in online emulation here:
masswerk.at/pet/?prg=3d+...
(If you haven't a keyboard with a numpad, you can always use the onscreen keyboard for convenient maze navigation and monster dodging.)
masswerk.at/pet/?prg=3d+...
(If you haven't a keyboard with a numpad, you can always use the onscreen keyboard for convenient maze navigation and monster dodging.)
What better way to spend Halloween than playing 3D Monster Maze on the green screen CRT of a PET in the dark.
I fixed this one last week, it was quite a horror show when it arrived.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/cbm-...
Get my PET 3DMM remake from itch.io
tynemouth.itch.io/pet-3d-monst...
I fixed this one last week, it was quite a horror show when it arrived.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/cbm-...
Get my PET 3DMM remake from itch.io
tynemouth.itch.io/pet-3d-monst...
October 31, 2025 at 2:48 PM
What better way to spend Halloween than playing 3D Monster Maze on the green screen CRT of a PET in the dark.
I fixed this one last week, it was quite a horror show when it arrived.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/cbm-...
Get my PET 3DMM remake from itch.io
tynemouth.itch.io/pet-3d-monst...
I fixed this one last week, it was quite a horror show when it arrived.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/cbm-...
Get my PET 3DMM remake from itch.io
tynemouth.itch.io/pet-3d-monst...
Hmm, an AVR microcontroller at 24MHz runs 24 million single cycle instructions in a second.
Yet a PIC microcontroller at 64MHz runs only 16 million of their "single cycle" instructions, as 1 "cycle" is 4 clock cycles.
Well that was a waste of time and money, thank you @microchip-makes.bsky.social
Yet a PIC microcontroller at 64MHz runs only 16 million of their "single cycle" instructions, as 1 "cycle" is 4 clock cycles.
Well that was a waste of time and money, thank you @microchip-makes.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Hmm, an AVR microcontroller at 24MHz runs 24 million single cycle instructions in a second.
Yet a PIC microcontroller at 64MHz runs only 16 million of their "single cycle" instructions, as 1 "cycle" is 4 clock cycles.
Well that was a waste of time and money, thank you @microchip-makes.bsky.social
Yet a PIC microcontroller at 64MHz runs only 16 million of their "single cycle" instructions, as 1 "cycle" is 4 clock cycles.
Well that was a waste of time and money, thank you @microchip-makes.bsky.social
Also useful for testing. That's why I made these "joystick emulators".
October 30, 2025 at 1:50 PM
I've just been checking back on some old repairs and I found this 8032 repair from 2017. That was a similar date to the 4016 in this weeks post.
It had sockets on all main chips apart from the 6545, might explain why that had been desoldered on the 4016.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/cbm-...
It had sockets on all main chips apart from the 6545, might explain why that had been desoldered on the 4016.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/cbm-...
October 29, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I've just been checking back on some old repairs and I found this 8032 repair from 2017. That was a similar date to the 4016 in this weeks post.
It had sockets on all main chips apart from the 6545, might explain why that had been desoldered on the 4016.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/cbm-...
It had sockets on all main chips apart from the 6545, might explain why that had been desoldered on the 4016.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/cbm-...
Reposted by Tynemouth Software
New blog post - CBM 4016 Repair - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/cbm-...
Since Halloween is approaching, this is a bit of a horror show special. Those of a nervous dispositions should look away now.
Since Halloween is approaching, this is a bit of a horror show special. Those of a nervous dispositions should look away now.
October 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
New blog post - CBM 4016 Repair - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/cbm-...
Since Halloween is approaching, this is a bit of a horror show special. Those of a nervous dispositions should look away now.
Since Halloween is approaching, this is a bit of a horror show special. Those of a nervous dispositions should look away now.
New blog post - CBM 4016 Repair - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/cbm-...
Since Halloween is approaching, this is a bit of a horror show special. Those of a nervous dispositions should look away now.
Since Halloween is approaching, this is a bit of a horror show special. Those of a nervous dispositions should look away now.
October 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
New blog post - CBM 4016 Repair - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/cbm-...
Since Halloween is approaching, this is a bit of a horror show special. Those of a nervous dispositions should look away now.
Since Halloween is approaching, this is a bit of a horror show special. Those of a nervous dispositions should look away now.
Just a quick public service announcement.
If you try to buy something from my Tindie store or TFW8b (or anyone's online store for that matter) and it's not working, please let them know.
These days it's often a question of "is the store still working or is it just that no one is buying anything?"
If you try to buy something from my Tindie store or TFW8b (or anyone's online store for that matter) and it's not working, please let them know.
These days it's often a question of "is the store still working or is it just that no one is buying anything?"
October 23, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Just a quick public service announcement.
If you try to buy something from my Tindie store or TFW8b (or anyone's online store for that matter) and it's not working, please let them know.
These days it's often a question of "is the store still working or is it just that no one is buying anything?"
If you try to buy something from my Tindie store or TFW8b (or anyone's online store for that matter) and it's not working, please let them know.
These days it's often a question of "is the store still working or is it just that no one is buying anything?"
Reposted by Tynemouth Software
And here is a blog post on the matter of the PET keyboard test program (includes #mos6502 code):
www.masswerk.at/nowgobang/20...
www.masswerk.at/nowgobang/20...
(Now Go Bang!) PET Keyboard Test
A little tool to test and explore the keyboard matrix of any Commodore PET.
www.masswerk.at
October 22, 2025 at 1:25 PM
And here is a blog post on the matter of the PET keyboard test program (includes #mos6502 code):
www.masswerk.at/nowgobang/20...
www.masswerk.at/nowgobang/20...
Reposted by Tynemouth Software
New blog post - The Minstrel ROM Cart for the Minstrel Expansion Bus.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/mins...
Replace the ROM on a Minstrel 2, 3, ZX81 or TS1000 with an 8K or 16K ROM image.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/mins...
Replace the ROM on a Minstrel 2, 3, ZX81 or TS1000 with an 8K or 16K ROM image.
October 19, 2025 at 11:23 AM
New blog post - The Minstrel ROM Cart for the Minstrel Expansion Bus.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/mins...
Replace the ROM on a Minstrel 2, 3, ZX81 or TS1000 with an 8K or 16K ROM image.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/mins...
Replace the ROM on a Minstrel 2, 3, ZX81 or TS1000 with an 8K or 16K ROM image.
More info on the Minstrel Input Monitor here:
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/05/mins...
Shipping worldwide from here:
www.tindie.com/products/tyn...
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/05/mins...
Shipping worldwide from here:
www.tindie.com/products/tyn...
October 20, 2025 at 9:38 AM
More info on the Minstrel Input Monitor here:
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/05/mins...
Shipping worldwide from here:
www.tindie.com/products/tyn...
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/05/mins...
Shipping worldwide from here:
www.tindie.com/products/tyn...
New blog post - The Minstrel ROM Cart for the Minstrel Expansion Bus.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/mins...
Replace the ROM on a Minstrel 2, 3, ZX81 or TS1000 with an 8K or 16K ROM image.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/mins...
Replace the ROM on a Minstrel 2, 3, ZX81 or TS1000 with an 8K or 16K ROM image.
October 19, 2025 at 11:23 AM
New blog post - The Minstrel ROM Cart for the Minstrel Expansion Bus.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/mins...
Replace the ROM on a Minstrel 2, 3, ZX81 or TS1000 with an 8K or 16K ROM image.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/10/mins...
Replace the ROM on a Minstrel 2, 3, ZX81 or TS1000 with an 8K or 16K ROM image.