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anyone own a commodore 64 ??

  • dave_lillis
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19 years 3 months ago #6962 by dave_lillis
anyone own a commodore 64 ?? was created by dave_lillis
Hi All,
I just thought I'd share a nifty modification I made to my scope here at home.
I was going through some old boxes last week when I came across my old Commodore 64 "computer" , if you want to call it that.
Good old Commodore, those were the days when writing a game was an artform, since you had to pack the entire program into less then 50KB of memory.!!

I was looking at the joystick and was thinking wouldn't be cool if I could control the scope (12" LX200 classic GOTO scope) with it, so I took apart the handcontroller and found the solder points where the bottons are attached to the main board of the handcontroller, and re-wired the joystick and hey presto, I can now control the telescope in the 8 cardinal directions and select 2 speeds from the joystick, the handcontroller is still alive so you can use it simultaneously.
The joystick is a simple 6 microswitch arrangement, 4 for direction and 2 for buttons, so pushing the joystick is equivilant to pressing a button on the hand controller, but it is way easier.

Looking at the autostar, such an arrangement would also be possible.
I bought a second handcontroller from astromart as the joystick is permanently attached the the orig handcontroller, and incase I blew the hell out of the orig handcontroller, its good to have a backup :)

If you want to do this, your joystick cannot be of the variety where the further you push in a direction, the faster you go (e.g a variable speed character in a game), it must a simple on/off joystick (uses microswitches).

Its a mod I'd highly recommend, you need a small bit of electrical knowledge, but is well worth it.
I can give a more detailed explaination, if anyone wants it.

Dave L. on facebook , See my images in flickr
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)

Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go. :)
+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor

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  • DaveGrennan
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19 years 3 months ago #6964 by DaveGrennan
Replied by DaveGrennan on topic Re: anyone own a commodore 64 ??
Nice one Dave. I suppose the next thing is to integrate the C64's CPU into the LX200 so when its cloudy you can play Dig-Dug or maybe even Bomb Jack :)

Really interesting mod WTG:)

Dave.

Regards and Clear Skies,

Dave.
J41 - Raheny Observatory.
www.webtreatz.com
Equipment List here

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19 years 3 months ago #6965 by albertw
Replied by albertw on topic Re: anyone own a commodore 64 ??
Yea I want more details...

I didnt think you could just send voltage signals down to the autostar and have it respond, I thought you would need to implement the instruction set for this. Then again I dont own an LX200!

Albert White MSc FRAS
Chairperson, International Dark Sky Association - Irish Section
www.darksky.ie/

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19 years 3 months ago #6966 by mjs
Replied by mjs on topic Re: anyone own a commodore 64 ??
Dave,

Obviously these cloudy nights are getting to you!! :lol:

Michael Scully

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19 years 3 months ago #6967 by voyager
Replied by voyager on topic Re: anyone own a commodore 64 ??
That is such a cool idea!

..... and I thought I was a nerd ........ :wink:

My Home Page - www.bartbusschots.ie

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19 years 3 months ago #6972 by albertw
Replied by albertw on topic Re: anyone own a commodore 64 ??

That is such a cool idea!

..... and I thought I was a nerd ........ :wink:


What would be cool would be to build a voice activation box to accept the commands!

"left" "left" "up" "left" "follow that star!"

clouded over, no more geminids for me :(

Albert White MSc FRAS
Chairperson, International Dark Sky Association - Irish Section
www.darksky.ie/

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