Commodore 64 & DX394 decode RTTY and Morse

An afternoon spent rekindling my youth with my C64 and a Microlog SWL expansion cartridge.

I wanted to decode things with old kit a while back, but couldnt find the necessary hardware, so I started to program my own Morse decoder in CCS64 which would have had a sound switch based around a 741 op-amp. Then I found a firm who were selling the Microlog (G&G Electronics) SWL cartridge, which arrived here a few days ago. This is the first proper test at using it to decode both RTTY and CW.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• commodore
• commie
• 64
• c64
• microlog
• airone
• rtty
• cw
• morse
• teletype
• vintage
• computer
• computing
• dx-394
• dx394
• realistic
• radio
• shack
• ham
• swl
• amateur
• short
• wave
• listen
• itt
• sl-59
• sl59

[Prizmatic0]

Well done S, good to see you're keeping busy with the projects.

[Hanglands]

@Prizmatic0 'Ello mate, how you doing? The 'projects' are the only thing that keep me sane at the end of the working week... And Im not finished with the C64 stuff yet! Thought this video was too much waffle and not enough decode, so I did this one too : watch?v=48A3aZuMl3Y What you been up to of late?

[Hanglands]

@Hanglands Ah.. PCB etching... Long time since Ive done that, but it is a very satisfying process, and tinning the tracks is therapeutic. There was a time when every item of clothing I had was damaged by ferric chloride. Will be in touch via the usual means very soon mate. Take care.

[miserableoldcunt]

crikey mister. that's a big joystick.lol

cracking work there .

one thing I always wanted to ask was this....

back in the day, we used spectrums usually 48k, what made you go for the commodore instead ? just curious.

great vid mate really enjoyed it.

amazing mate, hope you are going to do more of these. brilliant stuff.

[Hanglands]

@miserableoldcunt Hi mate, thanks for watching. I didnt so much 'go' for the 64, it was just a question of what was affordable and available when my dad was looking to buy a second hand computer for one particular birthday or Christmas present - I forget which. Although all my school friends seemed to have Speccy 48s, the 64 out sold the 48, and remains the most sold single computer model of all time.

Thanks again mate. 73.

[radionut63]

Thios is so cool!! C64 nice computer, i have had about 4 over the last 10years, but they all keep dieing on me! :-( wild setup for sure!! 5 stars

[Hanglands]

@radionut63 Hi, thanks very much for the comments. Much appreciated. I've also owned four of these things, Ive only ever had one that died, the VIC chip went on that, but it was repaired. Looking at the video output on this unit, the VIC is probably on the way out too, and sadly I think the chances of repair are pretty slim, but its OK for now. 73.

[Prizmatic0]

@Hanglands Messing with pcb etching and RF pre-amps.. Just enough to be dangerous :) You're narration is great, keep it coming.

[itsabomberscope]

I was right, you are MacGyver! lol. I remember trying this on my Atari (must of been in the 1980s). The Atari system could play audio from the tape via the computer (lots of language courses etc). I recorded some morse and various radio signals, and tried to output them to some kind of image. I didnt know what i was really looking at, but it sure was fun.

[Hanglands]

@CelticReject Thanks for watching and commenting... Yeah, theres lots of fun to be had with the emulators, Ive also dabbled with a BBC Micro emulator, and one for the Atai ST - The Little Green Desktop was the site for that one IIRC. Viva La 80s indeed!

[CelticReject]

I receltly downloaded a free BASIC emulator ( for the ZX Spectrum) and have been having a bit of fun programing again. I have forgotten a lot but that's cool, I can always relearn. It's been a trip down memory lane for me. Viva La 80's!!!!