Cheap and easy way to add Real Time Clock for your C64 if you don't yet have one.
Requires DS3231 or DS1307 RTC to be connected to C64 userport:
C64 UserPort Pin Pin Name DS1307 RTC pin
1 GND GND
C PB0 SDA
D PB1 SCL
Also the +5V needs to be connected.
User port pin 2 may not be able to provide enough current so, I don't recommend
using that so, you dont fry anything. Getting +5V directly from C64 PSU is propably always safer.
Module needs a battery backup. There are very cheap ready made modules which already have one
added, for example:
Tiny RTC DS1307:
NOT RECOMMENDED - GET DS3231 BASED MODULE INSTEAD.
Note, that you may need to remove the pullup resistors (R2 and R3) from Tiny RTC DS1307
for proper operation. Also, the battery holder in my unit was not very good and
there was a risk of battery falling out or not having a proper contact.
I added just a bit of folded plastic to force the battery holder's "spring" - so, nothing difficult, really.
The board is designed to be used with rechargeable battery. However, it is recommended to use normal battery (CR1225) and disable the charging circuit by removing R4, R5, R6 and D1. And if there is a resistor installed in R7 - remove that as well.
Short R6, for example, by soldering a short wire between the pads.
In general this is probably the version you'll want to use. It is more accurate than DS1307 and also seems to be more reliable.
Just like Tiny RTC (DS1307) this board also is designed to be used with rechargeable battery.
It is recommended to use standard CR2032 instead and remove the charging diode.
Included programs (same SW for both DS1307 and DS3231):
Included native programs:
fetchrtc.prg
- Fetches and shows date and time from DS3231
- Updates basic TI$ variable with current time
- Updates TOD with current time
setrtc.prg
- Same as fetchrtc but also lets you change the date & time
fetchrtc0.prg
- version that is not crunched with exomizer.
This leaves basic in better health after running the prg
setrtc0.prg
- version that is not crunched with exomizer.
This leaves basic in better health after running the prg
Included GEOS programs:
rtcgeosload.prg
- C64 GEOS driver (auto-exec) which loads the time & date from DS1307 during GEOS boot and updates the C64
registers so that GEOS gets the correct time
setrtcgeos.prg
- C64 GEOS utility for setting the correct date & time into DS1307 RTC.
Setter uses the same input method as Maciej Witkowiak's DS12C887 utility
Installing and testing rtcgeosload.prg and setrtcgeos.prg:
1. Copy these files into your GEOS boot floppy
2. Load GEOS: load"geos",8,1
3. Once GEOS has booted - use CONVERT utility to convert rtcgeosload.prg
and setrtcgeos.prg into GEOS format.
4. Now you can run "SetRTC" utility to set correct time & date.
5. Return to basic and switch off C64 for a few seconds
6. Switch on C64 and load GEOS
--> After GEOS has booted, the correct time & date should show in upper right corner
