SIPP RAM for the Hummingboard, a working "TheC64" Mini, and some super sharp probes

Welcome to Mid-Week-Mini-Mail-Call #51! On today's episode, a few fun random things. Two are things which are a bit of a re-visit from previous episodes.
0:00 Intro
0:30 Super Sharp Probes
8:11 SIPP memory for the Hummingboard
13:03 TheC64 Mini that actually works
22:18 Outro
-- Video Links
Hummingboard:
• A 386 A.I. Co-Processo...
TheC64 Mini
• A bricked TheC64 Mini?...
Adrian's Digital Basement ][ (Second Channel)
/ @adriansdigitalbasement2
Support the channel on Patreon:
/ adriansdigitalbasement
-- Tools
Deoxit D5:
amzn.to/2VvOKy1
store.caig.com/s.nl/it.A/id.16...
O-Ring Pick Set: (I use these to lift chips off boards)
amzn.to/3a9x54J
Elenco Electronics LP-560 Logic Probe:
amzn.to/2VrT5lW
Hakko FR301 Desoldering Iron:
amzn.to/2ye6xC0
Rigol DS1054Z Four Channel Oscilloscope:
www.rigolna.com/products/digi...
Head Worn Magnifying Goggles / Dual Lens Flip-In Head Magnifier:
amzn.to/3adRbuy
TL866II Plus Chip Tester and EPROM programmer: (The MiniPro)
amzn.to/2wG4tlP
www.aliexpress.com/item/33000...
TS100 Soldering Iron:
amzn.to/2K36dJ5
www.ebay.com/itm/TS100-65W-MI...
EEVBlog 121GW Multimeter:
www.eevblog.com/product/121gw/
DSLogic Basic Logic Analyzer:
amzn.to/2RDSDQw
www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Logic-DS...
Magnetic Screw Holder:
amzn.to/3b8LOhG
www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-...
Universal ZIP sockets: (clones, used on my ZIF-64 test machine)
www.ebay.com/itm/14-16-18-20-...
RetroTink 2X Upconverter: (to hook up something like a C64 to HDMI)
www.retrotink.com/
Plato (Clone) Side Cutters: (order five)
www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-5-10PCS-...
Heat Sinks:
www.aliexpress.com/item/32537...
Little squeezy bottles: (available elsewhere too)
amzn.to/3b8LOOI
--- Links
My GitHub repository:
github.com/misterblack1?tab=r...
Commodore Computer Club / Vancouver, WA - Portland, OR - PDX Commodore Users Group
www.commodorecomputerclub.com/
--- Instructional videos
My video on damage-free chip removal:
• How to remove chips wi...
--- Music
Intro music and other tracks by:
Nathan Divino
@itsnathandivino

[@bobsbarnworkshop]

The covers for the probes with the open tips are for IC legs to eliminate shorting

[@darkwinter6028]

And are VERY handy to have! 😎

[@tw11tube]

Exactly. To be specific, they are meant for standard DIP ICs with 2.54mm pin spacing. The dents on the covers go nicely into the space left and right of a pin. You usually get covers like that with your osciloscope probes, too.

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

How exciting to see the Hummingboard spawn help from all over the continent. I sat on that thing in my stock for something like 16 years after I got it at a Univ of Arizona auction. I'm so glad it has so many people helping to bring it back to life.

[@bitwize]

You will need a copy of Golden Common Lisp 386 Developer to use that Hummingboard. It was basically a "Lisp machine on a budget" solution for PCs back when AI meant logic-based inference engines such as expert systems rather than "statistics with sexier marketing". It was specifically commissioned by Gold Hill to accelerate their Golden Common Lisp product.

[@mrjsv4935]

The C-64 Mini has improved a lot with updates since the beginning, bought mine in 2018. Updates have brought new games and features, like easy joystic port switching with one of the latest updates, etc. :) Glad you got a working one now.

[@mrvellu]

digital basement ant appears 4:17!

[@markwrightrf]

would you look at that? it's a WORKING ant! ;-)

[@Yukatoshi]

lol

[@Dukefazon]

I think there's nothing wrong with talking about the candy you receive right as you open them. It gives variety to your videos.

[@PJBonoVox]

Not a big deal, but when he does that stuff on his main channel, most of the comments are about that and not the hardware. Whatever, I'm just one guy, but doesn't interest me in the slightest. Perhaps do them at the start or the end so we can skip it?

[@checksum00]

@@PJBonoVox Candy crap can stay on the 2nd channel, fuck that shit seriously. Boring as fuck and it takes an eternity to get on and on. It's always the same crap people send, and it's candy every-fucking-body can buy at their corner store. Kill the candies or leave it on the 2nd channel.

[@astrokorn]

@@checksum00 Not so sure about that. Adrian is/was (Retro-)Computer stuff and candies and I enjoyed every episode. Unless analytics prove it I would actually consider going back to the old format.

[@andychamplin]

You need to download the sound capture app for the Elgato. Whenever you you use the Elgato you need to pull up the app as well as the capture program so you can use the sound. I use it for live streaming and the app takes priority of the audio if you don't turn it off before exiting out of the software.

[@jacksat2252]

Hi A. Nice video as usual. Some bring me back memories i get tears in my eyes. I was born in 1970 so this is bang in the middle of my teens. Man those were great years. (for kids at least, don't know for adults? jobs, cold war, aids, etc) Little tip: If you plan to use those needle probe tips, put some shrink tubing on them so just the points are clear, protects you from possible unwanted shorts .😉 If you look for real silicone probe cables try the probemasters , a bit pricy but once used you never use others even Flukes feel cheap compared.

[@fred_derf]

It's fun to see "old" unboxings of tools I've seen you use in later repair videos.

[@JosiahGould]

From what little I can find out about the Hummingboard it was paired with a Data General Dasher/286 and intended to run GCLisp 286 and some other software from Gold Hill. The cofounder of AI Associates has a website, his name is Richard Mark Soley. I doubt he would have the software but he might be able to give you some more history on it.

[@danilko1]

Sometimes, in a very cute way, Adrian's hands have their very own decimal dance party, as he talks. It's very soothing.

[@alerey4363]

17:20 be warned that those translucid apple keyboard (at least connected to iMacs in their time) are not well suited for data transfer, i.e. the "hub" on the sides is mostly made for mice/joysticks, I remember reading official apple docs pointing to plug data drives into dedicated iMac or G4 usb ports; so if you have problems reading from the pendrive connected to the keyboard don't blame the miniC64

[@freddyburger5574]

Adrian- Keep those sharp probes in a ULINE 1-1/2" x 6" clear plastic mailer tube w/ vinyl end caps, stuff a chunk of black conductive foam in each end. It's what I do, cheap & easy. To get em out, remove both caps & push from the blunt end. Return em to the case by pushing them into the foam that's already pushed to the center of the tube. Great for any sharp implements.

[@dwaynezilla]

That AN-8008 is great for what it is! It's an inexpensive all-around decent meter that's perfect for ordering 3 or 4 of so you can put them throughout your circuits and have them going _at the same time_ (seriously, game changer). The ones I have came with two sets of probes, one regular and one with the screw type ends which are great for the alligator clips .

[@KevinNguyen1]

Love that he does not have ads in his videos!

[@FirstWizardZorander]

Adrian, I think you have ants! 4:19

[@rager1969]

Maybe a 3rd channel - Adrian Tastes. You can use it to taste any food or drink, including restaurants and grocery items

[@mattpierce5009]

Adrian's Digital Confectionary

[@vincenzocompare6501]

Adrian has the best intro music track. never skip

[@jjjohnson5732]

Hey there! Wasn't sure I'd ever hear Adrian say "Hello to my Nebraska viewers", but here we are! Hello from another fan of yours from Nebraska

[@jonathancombe9991]

Thank you for explaining the lack of audio. I was disappointed not to hear "Stay a while ... stay forever"!

[@phantom2012]

Wow, I had a newer version of that humminboard, different company Delta AI. As far as I know it's just a block of ports that acts like a high speed terminal. You send data through an IDE or something like a terminal, and the board responds with the answer. Transputer cards are very similar. Some of these cards had pc-less operation as well, once sent code they just run on their own.

[@mikeuk666]

Love your work Adrian

[@djdjukic]

20:30 Adrian's serious 🗿 dance party face is somehow even funnier without the dance music

[@xn0gaming]

The RODE mic looks like these explosive neckpieces in Running Man.

[@kaitlyn__L]

Hey I’d totally take pure-candy videos on the second channel. I think that’s what some of the other people are expecting too, since I’ve seen some comments like “where’s the candy videos” - implying focussed videos?

[@guffaw1711]

You can make those sleeves round again if you connect them with the probes, then heat them up with a hot air soldering station on the lowest setting and then let them cool off. Repeat multiple times if necessary.

[@SidebandSamurai]

Adrian, Craft Computing reviews beers. After the main feature, for example repairing his server, he talks about the beer he is sampling that day. Maybe you can do the same thing. Put it at the end of your main channel videos as a little "After Dinner mint"

[@JustinEmlay]

Whenever you have plastic that's malformed like that, just put it in hot water (hot enough to be uncomfortable but not hot enough to burn), form it then shock it in ice water (while it's formed properly). You can also use a blow dryer. Anyway, just a quick tip for anyone that gets something like that but "time" doesn't help.

[@bobingabout]

The "Banana jack" probes you have there... I think I have a pair of those that I borrowed from work before I lost my job. They used to have a huge box of them. Fairly sure all that went in the bin after I left. if it turns out I don't still have any, oh well, but they are something I used to use all the time.

[@Psychlist1972]

4:27 that sugar ant on your table. People are sending you too many sweets :D

[@ikke1981]

You're overthinking the candy segments. Just put them on the second channel as byte sized videos. Nice short video for during a short break or something. You'll get feedback and improve. If Ben Heck gets away with a cheese curds video, I'm pretty sure your Haribos will do fine.

[@checksum00]

Fuck no, really have no interest to see shit candy all the time, improvement or not. That's fine on the second channel if really people want to see that shit. It's not like every-fucking-body had the same candy all around the world, and that people were sending the same fucking candy over and over and over again. It breaks the flow and is boring AF. No. one. cares. about. Haribo. bears.

[@21stcenturyrambo16]

@@checksum00 I just dont want to see someone eating on camera.

[@kilianhekhuis]

"Bite sized" :D

[@pedrofelck]

@@checksum00 chill, man, it's not like Adrian's pointing a gun to your head and making you watch it.

[@teekay_1]

Beware of the cheap meters; while they're fine if you're careful with them, they generally do not have internal fuses so if you have current higher than expected, they'll simply burn up the traces on the board destroying them.

[@ghostmouthzach56]

4:25 ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNT!

[@Stormbolter]

999/1000 ants approve this channel.

[@Dukefazon]

18:45 - Hessian is a pretty neat new game for the C64, it was released in 2016, it's a really complex game. I just ordered the last Collector's Edition box from the guy last month :)

[@piratestation69]

Those Buffalo joypads ROCK!!! I have about 3 or 4... They simply work.

[@rangercv4263]

Adrian - The needle like probes are probably great for probing SMD components like 0201s and integrated circuit SMD. The normal tipped probes are kind of huge when your trying to probe the legs of a SMD IC under a microscope.

[@awesomefacepalm]

You had an ant inspecting your probes at 4:27

[@pefclic]

"Squish that probe" !

[@kathrynradonich3982]

I’d just casually throw the candy review in the middle of a video as a snack while doing something.

[@corvus00]

Love your iMac Bondi blue keyboard!

[@rich1051414]

I only use silicone-coated leads now. They are so nice, don't tangle, and don't get all nasty.

[@sonorafx]

Adrian, I love your retro-style intro. Can you make a video about it? like a behind-the-scenes or something? how you achieve the 80s look? the music? thank you and congratulations on your great channel. Greetings from Sonora, México.

[@Ramdileo_sys]

WHAT!!.. but Adrian @Adrian's Digital Basement ..... at 16:40 you forgot to pray !!... please don't brick 🙏.... please don't brick 🙏🙏.... please don't brick 🙏🙏🙏 .... 🤣 😂 🤣

[@edquin8]

I for one, would watch an entire episode of you reviewing candies

[@dougjohnson4266]

All those snacks on the floor.

[@bobingabout]

I have a 386SX somewhere, where the motherboard is basically just an IO board with 2 ISA slots. a board similar to your hummingboard with a bus mouse port on it (and possibly other things) plugs into one of those ISA sockets. and the processor on that ISA board is the ONLY processor in the computer. A very non-standard layout.

[@nathanmead140]

The elgato HD60S does capture audio over HDMI, the setting for that just needs to be turned on in your video recording software unless it's already turned on but the card is broken or it's not supported by the software (I use version 1.1.0.1 of the capture card driver with OBS Studio and the HDMI audio works for me)

[@EdwinNoorlander]

Nice, mr Ant said hallo at 04:18

[@Gadgetman1989]

Whatever you want to do is okay by me Adrian, I'll watch your content regardless, it's always a pleasure watching you

[@magnustveten492]

10:25 make mini 80s looking “adds” for the candy similar look to you intro :) could be fun quirky way to do it :)

[@Wikcentral]

Couple months ago, someone swiped my Fluke 87v out of my tool bag. My nice silicone leads, and my fluke needle point leads, temp probe and magnetic strap. Pretty much worked for free at that client that day. Somebody somewhere probably got a great deal on a tricked out Fluke at a pawn shop. grrrrrr

[@Yukatoshi]

Random ant @ 4:20 lol.

[@prozacgod]

You had a guest star show up @5:45 !!

[@misterkite]

I have a set of those needle probes.. they're pretty handy for testing the female half of a 9 pin din connector for example. Although to be honest, just a short jumper wire works just as well.

[@ericpaul4575]

Front and back probing of electrical connectors especially automotive ones.

[@enigma776]

Dance Party...denied.

[@talideon]

Part of the problem with running it in NTSC mode is that the pixel size ratio was really weird for NTSC, something like 0.75:1, whereas in PAL is was almost 0.94:1, which was annoying, but means the sizing issues on HDMI aren't as obvious in PAL mode. I wonder why Commodore picked such odd sizes? My best guess is it was something to do with squeezing 320px into the same space as other machines do 256px to minimise bus contention between the VIC-II and the 6510, but that's pure speculation on my part.

[@geotechmore8855]

Wow! Adrian has gotten popular on KZbin!

[@JohnSweevo]

Put a bit shrink tube on the "needle" probes to stop shorts on tight spaces

[@Poki3]

4:18 - SimAnt!

[@peteregan9750]

the hummingbird board probably will not work with DOS - try a unix system install.

[@mikapirinen2403]

Long needles is used for connector measure.

[@Doug_in_NC]

Pure candy reviews would work for me. You don’t have to overdose on sugar by testing for half an hour though. Even quick 5 minute videos would be great

[@organiccold]

I just bought some of those probes. ;)

[@emblemi6345]

5:50 I swiped the screen to get rid of ant :)

[@ligius3]

It looks like those plastic tip covers are formed in a way that you can get onto an IC lead and not slip. Or maybe it's just bad molding :) I have a similar set of probes, the issue is that they are top-heavy and kind of long and heavy overall.

[@jamesbarantor7094]

Was that an ant on your desk when you were looking at the probes?

[@bathsidius]

use some heat shrink to make larger caps for the long probes

[@bruceinaustin]

Just my opinion: nice that people send candy but I like watching you work on electronics.

[@MikeStavola]

I use Pomona precision needle probes at work. They're way better than standard sized ones for precision work, especially.

[@questionablecommands9423]

5:47 Hiii bug friend! 6:06 Bye bug friend :-(

[@SeltsamerAttraktor]

God I wish I had the Hummingboard

[@An_Onion]

3:09 Put the pokey bit into the pokey bit receptacle.

[@bsvenss2]

Me at 1:16: Zoom in, zoom in, zoom IN! Me at 2:10: Thanks! :)

[@jamesthompson7694]

I think FreeBSD has a port for the Hummingboard. Hell if I know how to install it.

[@chemmerling]

There's another person I follow, and they just work in a shot of them doing candy/coffee/etc at the beginning of the video. Short 2 minutes of "got these from x, and they were made here" then they move on to their video. Seems to work well because it's not something to skip over (it's not super long) and it's something you can just add in :-)

[@OzzFan1000]

I think you should review a piece of candy before or after each episode/video. I don't know if you've heard of the KZbinr Craft Computing, but he reviews all kinds of strange brands of craft alcohol at the end of each video.

[@chrisappellof5682]

You could always make KZbin shorts that are only a few minutes long

[@godzilla001]

And the purpose of that would be...?

[@Lachlant1984]

I'm pleased your clone SNES controller works with THEC64 Mini, as an owner of the full sized THEC64, I can tell you the unit is very picky about what controllers you use with it, Apart from the joystick supplied with the unit, the only other controller I own that works with it is a Logitech Wingman Cordless RumblePad from 2001, my PlayStation Classic controllers don't work, my Logitech Attack 3 joystick does not work, neither does the HyperKin Pixel Art controller I own, which ironically is a clone SNES controller. I think XBOX wired controllers work with THEC64 units, but I don't own one to test.

[@andlabs]

Do they make multimeter or oscilloscope probes that are tubes that you shove the pin to probe into? That would be useful... if only I knew what they were called.

[@themax4677]

Time for my Mid Week not that Mini Lunch Break!

[@rivards1]

Who else tried to squish the bug on their screen starting at 5:50?

[@nilz23]

I've been seeing ants in my house more this year too!

[@Centar1964]

The C64 Mini has mouse support now...

[@bitoxic]

I did not read the title... saw the photo of the c64 logo with the computer and thought it would be another awesome c64 repair.... sneaky click bait Adrian! 😁👍

[@JernD]

I really like the Aneng AN8002 because it has better current ranges than the AN8008. (see EEVBlog's video about the AN8008)

[@kippie80]

that meter is so expensive now. Looked at getting another recently

[@lordsethos2000]

4:19 hey - got any candy in this mail call??

[@twocvbloke]

Even normal meter probes I jab my fingers on, so those sharp ones, ouch... :S

[@HeikosGarage]

check out Craft Computing on KZbin. The guy on that channel does beer reviews at the end of his Computer content videos.

[@jeromethiel4323]

An expensive with crap leads is a waste of money. You need good leads to get the best out of your DMM. I strongly recommend the deluxe meter lead set from Fluke. They aren't cheap, but again, you need good leads.

[@NoshAbroad]

You could do something similar to pileofstuff where he starts the video off with a beer review.

[@timballam3675]

Do we all watch the same creators?

[@DanPellegrino486]

@@timballam3675 Seems that the circle is growing, but yeah.

[@NoshAbroad]

@@timballam3675 one of us… one of us…

[@bramsoens1143]

Haribo Cherriers are very addictive, mmmmmmm I like them mmmmm

[@GEKKOGAMES_RETRO]

wow i saw an ant going under the keyboard 😅

[@HometownUnicorn]

Wow the easy flash thing is great how do I set that up on my c64 mini?

[@tmilker]

Just put the image on a flash drive and make sure you have the latest firmware. Cartridge support is a pretty new feature.

[@UpLateGeek]

A little disappointed about missing out on the 8-bit dance party. Maybe if you get the audio capture working you could put a video up on the second channel comparing the audio with a real C64 using the 8-bit dance party?

[@richfiles]

NGL, I say candy makes a nice way to break up your regular mailbag videos.

[@douro20]

Any custom firmware for the C64 Mini?

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

Make the candy reviews into #shorts ?

[@tomr3422]

We ADB Classic and New ADB, what would a candy review channel be called ADB Lite.

[@tux1968]

Hope you sort the sound issue out one way or the other :-)