Commodore VIC-20 (PET-style keys) fiddling: Part 1 - character ROM
7Very rough video about using C64 fonts on the VIC-20 (inspired by TechTinkering).
Finally got a VIC with the PET-style keys - love it. Have replaced all the electrolytic capacitors and the single ceramic capacitor, plus the ROM sockets with machined versions. Case is scrubbed clean and the keyboard stripped and also cleaned. New decals applied and the "boring" red LED replaced with a "futuristic" blue LED.
Next will be replacing the rectifier and regulator with modern versions, replacing the 40-pin sockets with machined versions, applying heat sinks and also replacing the kernel with switchable VIC-20 & JiffyDOS version.
Had a go at replacing the original 2332 character ROM with a 2332-to-2764 converter board and 2764 ROM with switchable VIC-20 and C64 fonts ... not entirely successful, so some further thinking is required.
Although you can switch between fonts in realtime, on boot the VIC-20 ROM results in a two-column wide screen and the C64 results in a six-column wide screen.
I have had it working on another VIC, and this VIC seems a little flaky with the video output so definitely need to tinker more on this one.
TechTinkering's original video:
https://youtu.be/NeRNb4vB54U
SukkoPera's 23-to-27 converter board:
https://github.com/SukkoPera/Open2327RomAdapter
EzSBC for replacement LM323 regulators (PSU5):
https://www.ezsbc.com