Nostr notes by Davide Bucci

I saved a beautiful #Palm IIIe device from e-waste at work. It is ...

2026-08-29T10:05:06Z

I saved a beautiful #Palm IIIe device from e-waste at work. It is in perfect shape and seems to work fine. What can be used for in 2026? I would like to see if I can use it as a serial terminal via IR but I don’t know how to upload app with a modern macOS computer. #retrocomputing

The #3Dprint of the upper part of my new power supply for the ...

2026-04-19T15:32:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…hfju
_________________________

The #3Dprint of the upper part of my new power supply for the #C64 took about 8 hours, but the results seem very good. The test fit is OK and the result looks very nice. I love that beige PLA filament 🥰 I just have to wire everything together, but I still need to buy the cable for the C64 side. #retrocomputing #DIY

I’m printing the top part of the case for the #VIC CR and #C64 ...

2026-04-19T11:44:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…t4c7
_________________________

I’m printing the top part of the case for the #VIC CR and #C64 power supply. It takes a while to print, so let’s hope I haven’t messed with the sizes and the position of the different parts. #3Dprint #retrocomputing #Commodore

A mains transformer with a 9V 1A secondary and a 3A 5V switching ...

2026-03-29T22:39:58Z

A mains transformer with a 9V 1A secondary and a 3A 5V switching power supply module. I have an old #VIC20 CR power supply that still works, but I definitely need to retire. I’m planning to use the new power supply also for my #C64, that I repaired a few months ago. I designed and 3D-printed the bottom part of the case, I will print the top part in the next few weeks. I found a nice beige PLA filament that looks cool #retrocomputing #3dprint

I dropped #RSS support on my website years ago, as it was not ...

2025-08-05T10:43:09Z

I dropped #RSS support on my website years ago, as it was not directly supported anymore by #Firefox. Now I think it would be useful to support them again. Do you think it would be worth it? Is there anyone here who uses #RSS to follow updates to websites?

If you prefer, here is the complete piece of #Music: ...

2025-07-31T13:35:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…3z67
_________________________

If you prefer, here is the complete piece of #Music: Réminescence. #MastoArt #MastoMusic #IndieMusic
https://mastodon.sdf.org/system/media_attachments/files/114/948/102/114/628/357/original/a46646416b756f81.mp3

I wrote another piece of original #music, inspired by #minimalism ...

2025-07-31T13:33:15Z

I wrote another piece of original #music, inspired by #minimalism and exploring some orchestral as well as electronic soundscapes. It is called Réminescence and I find it quite atmospheric and #intense, I hope you'll enjoy! #orchestral #IndieMusic #MastoArt #MastoMusic #NoAI #composition https://soundcloud.com/user-375194295/re-miniscence

Nice find! I have a Logitech Scan Man that works with my SE/30 ...

2025-06-07T22:19:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…4rjr
_________________________

Nice find! I have a Logitech Scan Man that works with my SE/30 via SCSI. I should find a way to use it for some fun project.

Getting back to the #IBM PS/2 model 30 repair, I have some ...

2025-05-19T19:41:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…28d5
_________________________

Getting back to the #IBM PS/2 model 30 repair, I have some troubles with the Alps 720KB disk drive. I am trying to follow certain signals (the motor does not spin), but having a schematics would ease things a lot. #repair #PS2 #retrocomputing #retrorepair #floppy #alps

Ah, here’s the culprit! A 470uF capacitor in series with the ...

2025-05-15T21:09:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…y2q2
_________________________

Ah, here’s the culprit! A 470uF capacitor in series with the deflection joke vertical coil reads about 1/10 of the rated capacitance. The TDA1170 is perfectly fine! That was an easy repair. #IBM #repair #retrocomputing #capacitor

The screen is also horribly dirty. I opened it (after buying a ...

2025-05-15T20:29:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…lacx
_________________________

The screen is also horribly dirty. I opened it (after buying a set of long security Torx bits). Its electronic circuit is quite simple, as it’s a monochrome monitor, yet it is not very nice to work on: you have to disassemble almost everything to check components. I was suspicious of the capacitors and the TDA1170 that controls the vertical deflection. #repair #IBM #monitor

I can now start trying to repair the #IBM PS/2 model 30 computer. ...

2025-05-15T20:17:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…ggth
_________________________

I can now start trying to repair the #IBM PS/2 model 30 computer. After a deep clean and a global check, the computer starts, but both the disk drive and the hard drive do not work. The screen, a nice #IBM8503 002, does not work properly, neither: the vertical deflection is very distorted. #retrocomputing #IBMPS2 #repair

I mean, look at that beauty 😍 #IBMmodelM ...

2025-05-11T09:57:49Z

In reply to nevent1q…6qtv
_________________________

I mean, look at that beauty 😍 #IBMmodelM

Well, I could put together again the #IBM model M keyboard. Now ...

2025-05-10T20:00:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…n63d
_________________________

Well, I could put together again the #IBM model M keyboard. Now it is very clean! I also got an USB to PS/2 converter and it works very well. I love the feeling when I am typing. Just one ALT keycap cover is missing. Love it! #mechanicalkeyboard #retrocomputing #IBMtypeM

I could also save the computer that went with the keyboard, an ...

2025-05-08T21:27:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…m38z
_________________________

I could also save the computer that went with the keyboard, an #IBM PS/2 model 30 with a screen that seems to be monochrome. I could not resist saving also a #SUN #SPARCstation 5, that I found there. I don’t know if they work, and they stayed one night under heavy rain. I will check them also to remove #batteries. #retrocomputing

I could save an #IBM model M #keyboard that was about to be sent ...

2025-05-08T17:54:44Z

I could save an #IBM model M #keyboard that was about to be sent to the e-waste. It is the dirtiest keyboard I have ever seen 😅 But it works and will be cleaned. It is in a good shape, too! #mechanicalkeyboard

Great stuff! In my (very superficial) look at the page I did not ...

2025-05-05T18:13:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…pzgj
_________________________

Great stuff! In my (very superficial) look at the page I did not find them. Probably it is my fault, but that place is maybe where a complete newbie would find comfortable to start. Maybe a link to there at the very beginning of the doc page would be enough?

Very nice and interesting project! I haven't explored your ...

2025-05-05T18:01:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…x3d0
_________________________

Very nice and interesting project! I haven't explored your website in detail, but I had a few peeks to the Uxn documentation. Examples are usually great in the documentation. Would it be possible to have a sort of "philosophical" introduction to the whole concept? I mean, treating questions such as "which kind of problems would benefit from such tools?"

Looking back at the archive I downloaded from the #birdsite, I ...

2025-01-11T09:13:58Z

Looking back at the archive I downloaded from the #birdsite, I found some fun pictures. Those are from 2016, when I got a #Tektronix 576 curve tracer. It was designed to be #repaired! It even sported a roll of special soldering wire for the repairs. I love the notice "IT IS DESIRABLE THAT ONLY SILVER-BEARING SOLDER BE USED ON THE CERAMIC TERMINALS AND FOR THINNING THE IRON. ORDINARY TIN-LEAD SOLDER MAY BE USED BUT REPEATED USE WILL BREAK THE SOLDER TO CERAMIC BOND. SEE YOUR INSTRUCTION MANUAL"

I started working again on the MIDI2SwinSIDs project after about ...

2024-12-15T20:58:14Z

I started working again on the MIDI2SwinSIDs project after about two years. It kind of works in the sense that it generates sounds responding to MIDI events. However, it lacks a real user interface and some bells and whistles. I’d like to add an arpeggiator and experiment with the ring modulation, for instance. Mastering STM32 programming is difficult if you do not spend your life in it, though… #electronics #diy #stm32 #sid #midi #retrocomputing #music #synth

I received the Gerber files for the PCB of the #MIDI #interface ...

2024-10-19T18:47:35Z

I received the Gerber files for the PCB of the #MIDI #interface for the #Commodore #Amiga, from a person nicknamed Buttersoft. It's a nice design, employing SMD components that fits inside a standard DB25 shell. They authorized me to publish the files on my webpage, so here they are: http://davbucci.chez-alice.fr/index.php?argument=elettronica/midiint/midiint.inc #retrocomputing #music I like to see that people seem to appreciate my design, based on a few transistors and passive components.

First of all, thank you to all those who gave useful advice about ...

2024-09-23T20:11:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…6s6n
_________________________

First of all, thank you to all those who gave useful advice about the #gotek floppy emulator, I’ll do some research. In the meanwhile, I put together an adapter to use the #Amiga mouse on the #MacintoshPlus and it works perfectly. #retrocomputing

I could not repair the floppy disk. I would like to adapt a ...

2024-09-22T20:17:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…u92r
_________________________

I could not repair the floppy disk. I would like to adapt a #Gotek to the #Macintosh Plus. I never used a Gotek. Has anyone some experience on this? Is it easy to adapt and configure? #retrocomputing

ma è quello che ha ispirato il film di Tarkovski? Io conosco ...

2024-08-07T15:30:53Z

In reply to nevent1q…tx56
_________________________

ma è quello che ha ispirato il film di Tarkovski? Io conosco solo quello e se si riesce ad entrare nel mood confermo che è un capolavorissimo. Fai sapere cosa pensi del libro.

And here is the finished keyboard, with still the “6” key cap ...

2024-07-26T15:54:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…v48f
_________________________

And here is the finished keyboard, with still the “6” key cap still missing. It looks much better now #retrocomputing #MacintoshPlus #Repair

That’s much better! Now the reassembly can start 😊 ...

2024-07-26T14:41:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…20jm
_________________________

That’s much better! Now the reassembly can start 😊 #retrocomputing

This #MacintoshPlus keyboard is one of the dirtiest I have ever ...

2024-07-26T14:03:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…hvcr
_________________________

This #MacintoshPlus keyboard is one of the dirtiest I have ever seen. Yuck! It needs some TLC.

It looks that Amiga mice are very similar to early Macintosh ...

2024-07-21T21:34:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…znng
_________________________

It looks that Amiga mice are very similar to early Macintosh mice. It should be possible to create a small adapter, while I search for an original Mac mouse at a sensible price.

I used the SE/30 to remove all the extensions and… SUCCESS 🤩 ...

2024-07-21T16:41:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…t6vk
_________________________

I used the SE/30 to remove all the extensions and… SUCCESS 🤩 Now I really need a compatible mouse 😅

I tried to install 4MB of RAM on the #MacintoshPlus since I have ...

2024-07-21T16:15:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…7lxu
_________________________

I tried to install 4MB of RAM on the #MacintoshPlus since I have a SCSI hard disk with System 7.5.5 (IIRC). I don’t think it is the best OS choice for this computer (I will go for System 6), but it was just a try. It kind of starts, but then it bombs. I have to find a keyboard cable now (and a mouse btw) to investigate more.

It seems that the analog and digital boards of the Macintosh Plus ...

2024-06-30T15:27:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…clhz
_________________________

It seems that the analog and digital boards of the Macintosh Plus work, but not the 800K drive. I tried cleaning the heads and a general service. I checked the electrolytic capacitors that were OK (even putting fresh capacitors in parallel didn't help). The best I could obtain is the smiling Mac icon, but then the X icon indicating failure to read the system. Has someone a suggestion? Maybe having a look at the eye diagram? Probing the signals with a logic analyzer? #retrocomputing

SUCCESS! The analog board of the Macintosh Plus seems to work ...

2024-06-26T22:30:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…mj48
_________________________

SUCCESS! The analog board of the Macintosh Plus seems to work fine, now. I will check the disk drive and see if I can boot a system on this neat machine. #repair #vintagecomputing #vintageApple #retrocomputing #macintoshplus #CompactMac

I received a BR103 SCR that can be used at the place of the ...

2024-06-26T22:14:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…eks5
_________________________

I received a BR103 SCR that can be used at the place of the E10122 in the analog board of the Macintosh Plus (but the pinout is different). I found another resistor that was open circuit. I tried it and it welcomed me with the classic “bong” indicating that the logic board was correctly powered and the self test was a success. Yay! Now I have to investigate why the screen remains black.

I found two problems in the Macintosh Plus analog board for the ...

2024-06-20T17:18:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…re8d
_________________________

I found two problems in the Macintosh Plus analog board for the moment. A low-value resistor was open circuit and the fast SCR of the power converter oscillator is blown. I found a somewhat supposedly similar SCR on eBay as the original is unobtanium and I am waiting for it.

The analog board is affected by only a normal level of dirtyness ...

2024-06-16T21:52:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…0d6e
_________________________

The analog board is affected by only a normal level of dirtyness 🤪 While cleaning it, I found a 1N4001 inside the loudspeaker. Thank’s something quite strange and disturbing. The fuse is blown, there’s a problem here 😠

I cleaned the motherboard. It was one of the dirtiest compact ...

2024-06-16T18:07:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…88r3
_________________________

I cleaned the motherboard. It was one of the dirtiest compact Mac’s motherboards I’ve ever seen. #retrocomputing

With no surprise, the Macintosh Plus is very dirty inside. The ...

2024-06-16T14:04:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…uz9u
_________________________

With no surprise, the Macintosh Plus is very dirty inside. The battery was still there, but hadn’t leaked too much 🤩

I visited a flea market in #Grenoble this morning and I ...

2024-06-16T11:57:53Z

I visited a flea market in #Grenoble this morning and I couldn’t believe to my eyes when I saw a Macintos Plus. It’s the first time I see something like this, vintage computers usually are incredibly rare in such markets. I bought the Mac that is needing some TLC. I also saw an Amstrad 6128 (I already own one) and an eMac, but they are not my cup of tea. I need a mouse for the Mac and the 6 key (French). Anyone in France or in Europe has them available at a reasonable price? #Retrocomputing