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{{NavHardware}}
{{NavHardware}}
==Hardware design and integrated circuits==
Internally the CoCo 1 and CoCo 2 models are functionally identical. The core of the system is virtually identical to the reference design included in the Motorola MC6883 data sheet and consists of five LSI chips:
*MC6809E [[Microprocessor Unit]] (MPU)
*MC6883/SN74LS783/SN74LS785 [[Synchronous Address Multiplexer]] (SAM)
*MC6847 [[Video Display Generator]] (VDG)
*Two [[Peripheral Interface Adapters]] (PIA), either MC6821 or MC6822 chips
==Audio Digitizers==
==Audio Digitizers==
*[[Delta Pro]]
*[[Delta Pro]]
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==Audio Output Devices==
==Audio Output Devices==
*[[Orchestra-90 CC]] - Stereo Music Synthesizer
*[[Orchestra-90 CC (26-3143)]] - Software Affair Stereo Music Synthesizer DAC recreated by Zippster as the [[CoCoDAC-16]]
*[[Speech/Sound Cartridge]] - Music and Speech Synthesizer
*[[Speech/Sound Cartridge (26-3144A)]] - General Instruments Music and Speech Synthesizer AY3-8913 Programmable Sound Generator (PSG) and an SPO256-AL2 Narrator Speech Processor
*[[Super Voice]] - Speech Systems' device that could sing.
*[[Symphony-12]] - Speech Systems' 4 x AY-3-8912 PSG for 12 channel sound, recreated as the [[Philharmonic-12]]
*[[Super Talker]] - Speech Synthesizer
*[[Game Master Cart]] - RetroTinker's Flash ROM and SN76489AN Digital Complex Sound Generator (DCSG)
*[[CoCo PSG]] - Zippster's YM-2149 Software-controlled Sound Generator (SSG)
*[[MEGA mini MPI]] - Zippster's YM-262F OPL3 FM Synthesizer
*[[The Voice]] - Speech Systems' Speech Synthesizer with the Votrax SC-01
*[[Super Voice]] - Speech Systems' Speech Synthesizer device that could sing with a Votrax SC-02 / SSI 263A
*[[Real Talker]] - Colorware Voice Synthesizer with the Votrax SC-01


==Computers==
==Bus Expander==
*[[Multi-Pak|Tandy Multipak (26-3024)]]
*[[Multi-Pak|Tandy Multipak (26-3124)]]
*[[Colorburst|Colorburst By Maxsys]]
*[[Howard Medical Slotpak]]
*[[Orion Technologies XPort]]
*[[CoNect Xpander]]
*[[CoNect Y Box]]
*[[Y-Cable]]
*[[Solderless Proto Board]]
 
==Computers & Clones==
*[[TRS-80 Color Computers]] (A list of all available models)
*[[TRS-80 Color Computers]] (A list of all available models)
*[[Dragon]]
*[[Dragon]]
*[[MC-10 Micro Color Computer]]
*[[MC-10_Micro_Color_Computer|MC-10 Micro Color Computer]]
*[[CP400]]
*[[CP400]]
*[[TDP-100]]
*[[TDP-100]]
*[[LZ Color64]] Brazilian clone
*[[Dynacom MX-1600]] Brazilian clone


==Tandy/Radio Shack Tape Drive Systems==
==Tandy/Radio Shack Tape Drive Systems==
*[[CCR-81]]
*[[CTR-80A]]
*[[CCR-81 (26-1208)]]
*[[CCR-82]]
*[[CCR-82]]
*[[CCR-83]]
*[[CCR-83]]
==Tandy/Radio Shack Floppy Disk Systems==
*[[26-3022]]
*[[26-3029]]
*[[26-3129/FD-500|FD-500]]
*[[FD-501]]
*[[FD-502]]


==Other Floppy Disk Controllers==
=== Other Tape Drive Systems ===
*[[Disto Super Controller]]
*[[Exatron Stringy Floppy]]
*[[Disto Super Controller II]]
 
*[[Disto Mini Controller]]
== Floppy Disk Controllers ==
*[[J&M/Owlware]]
 
*[[Hard Drive Systems]]
* [[Other Floppy Disk]] - notes and information about the CoCo FD controllers
 
=== Tandy/Radio Shack floppy disk controllers ===
* [[26-3022]]
* [[26-3029]]
* [[FD-500 (26-3129)]]
* [[FD-501 (26-3131)]]
* [[FD-502 (26-3133)]]
 
=== Third party floppy disk controllers ===
* [[SDC Floppy Emulator]]
* [[Disto Super Disk Controller]]
* [[Disto Super Disk Controller II]]
* [[Disto Mini Controller]]
* [[J&M/Owl-Ware]]
* [[Hard Drive Specialists]]
* [[Sardis Technologies 'no-halt' Controller]]
 
=== Hacking floppy disk  ===
*[[Hacking Disk]] 40, 80 Track, 2 Sides
*[[26-3029 CoCo Disk Controller High Density Modifications]] - ([http://users.digitalindigo.net/~techno/coco_floppy.html source])
 
=== Alternate floppy disk controller ROMs ===
*[[ADOS/ADOS-3]]
*[[RGBDOS]]
*[[JDOS]]
*[[MYDOS]]
*[[CDOS]]
*[[OWLDOS]]
*[[HDB-DOS]]


==Hard Drive Controllers==
==Hard Drive Controllers==
*[[Burke & Burke]] - CoCo XT/CoCo XT-RTC
* [[Disto Hard Disk II Adapter]]
*[[Tandy Hard Drive Controller]]
* [[CoCo XT]] / CoCo XT-RTC by [[Burke & Burke]]
*[[KenTon]] - SCSI
*[[KenTon]] - SCSI
*[[Gleside IDE Interface]]
*[[Gleside IDE Interface]]
*[[Cloud-9 SuperIDE Interface]]
*[[Cloud-9 SuperIDE Interface]]
*{[Cloud-9 TC^3 SCSI Interface]]
*[[Cloud-9 TC^3 SCSI Interface]]
*[[Owl-Ware]]


==Input Devices==
==Input Devices==
See also
[[Joysticks]]
=== Tandy / Radio Shack ===
*[[Joystick]]
*[[Deluxe Joystick]]
*[[Color Mouse]] (1 Button)
*[[Deluxe Color Mouse]] (2 button)
*[[Tandy Hi-Res Joystick Adapter]]
*[[Pistol Grip Joystick]]
*[[X-Pad]]
*Archer Cat. No. 270-9207.  With both a Tandy 6-pin DIN and an IBM PC 15-pin connector, plus a "Tandy/IBM" switch on underside.
=== Third party ===
*[[CoCo-150]] - Flight Sim Yoke, Alban Scientific, [https://archive.org/details/rainbowmagazine-1985-02/page/n273/mode/2up ''The Rainbow'' Feb 1985]
*[[The Glove]]
*[[The Glove]]
*[[Le Stick]]
*[[Le Stick]]
*[[Joystick]]
*[[Deluxe Joystick]]
*[[Wico Deluxe Joystick]]
*[[Wico Deluxe Joystick]]
*[[One Button Mouse]]
*[[WICO Computer Command Trackball]]
*[[Two Button Mouse]]
*[[WICO Computer Command Analog Joystick]]
*[[X-Pad]]
*[[HJL-57 upgrade Keyboard]]
*[[HJL NumberJack]] numeric keypad
*[[Koala Pad]]
*[[Koala Pad]]
*[[Diecom Light Phaser Interface]]
*[[Diecom Light Phaser Interface]]
*[[Comrex ComMander Deluxe]]
*[[Altai DR-2B]]
*[[Spectrum Mach II Joystick]]
*[[Spectrum Paddle]]
*[[Spectrum Stick]]
*[[MAXX Flight Control Yoke]] - [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/cm1991_software_buyers_guide.html?fb3d-page=71| 1991 Software Buyers Guide p. 71] listed it as CoCo compatible. Cat. No. 900-2176
*[[Advanced Gravis Mark VI Competition Joystick]] - [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1991_rsc-22.html?fb3d-page=38| RSC-22 p.38] listed Tandy-specific version Cat. No. 900-2380, also advertised in ''The Rainbow'' starting around Feb 1989.
*[[Endicott Joystick]]
*[[JARB Dual Joystick Unit]]. "Single unit assembly enhances playability of multi-joystick/player games; convenient press-to-fire buttons." [https://archive.org/details/rainbowmagazine-1982-11/page/n69/mode/2up Ad in November 1982 ''Rainbow'' p. 71]
=== Accessories ===
*[[Atari to CoCo Joystick Adapter]]
*[[Atari to CoCo Joystick Adapter]]
*[[Tandy Hi-Res Joystick Adapter]]
*[[Colorware Super Hi-Res Interface]]
*[[Colorware Super Hi-Res Interface]]
*[[Hawksoft Dual Hi-Res Joystick Adapter]]
*[[Hawksoft Dual Hi-Res Joystick Adapter]]
 
*[[Puppo Keyboard Adapter]]
*[[OWL Keyboard Adapter]]
*[[Cloud-9 AT Keyboard Adapter]]


==Memory Upgrades==
==Memory Upgrades==
*[[Tandy 512K Upgrade]]
*[[Tandy 512K Upgrade]]
*[[Performace Peripherals 512K Upgrade]]
*[[Performance Peripherals 512K Upgrade]]
*[[Cloud-9 512K Upgrade]]
*[[Cloud-9 Triad 512K SRAM Upgrade]]
*[[Boyson Tech Boomerang 512K Upgrade]]
*[[Disto 512K Upgrade]]
*[[Disto 1MB Upgrade]]
*[[Disto 1MB Upgrade]]
*[[Disto 2MB Upgrade]]
*[[Disto 2MB Upgrade]]
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==MIDI Interfaces==
==MIDI Interfaces==
*[[CoCo MIDI]]
*[[CoCo MIDI]]
*[[MIDI Maestro]] and [[MIDI Maestro+]]
== Monitors and displays ==
* Radio Shack
** 26-3010 - [[TRS-80 Color Video Receiver]] introduced in the [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1981_rsc-04.html?fb3d-page=30 1981 Radio Shack Computer Catalog RSC-4] and the [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/1981_radioshack_catalog.html?fb3d-page=174 1981 Radio Shack main catalog].
** 16-230 - 13" color TV, model number TC-130. Introduced in [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/1983_radioshack_catalog.html?fb3d-page=154| the 1983 general Radio Shack catalog], and shown as the CoCo's display in [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/1983_radioshack_catalog.html?fb3d-page=184 that same catalog's back cover]. Also shown on [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1983_rsc-08.html?fb3d-page=01| the cover of 1983's Radio Shack Computer Catalog RSC-8] and [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1983_rsc-08.html?fb3d-page=31 once in the CoCo section] where the Color Video Receiver was still more prominent. Not fully shown in the interior of an RSC [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1983_rsc-09.html?fb3d-page=46| until RSC-9 later in 1983].
** 16-231 - a 13" TV. Introduced in the [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/1985_radioshack_catalog.html?fb3d-page=104 1985 Radio Shack main catalog]. Shown as the display [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/1985_radioshack_catalog.html?fb3d-page=164| in the CoCo's listing in that same catalog] as well as (in 1985's RSC-12 Computer Catalog) on both [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1985_rsc-12.html?fb3d-page=01 the cover] and [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1985_rsc-12.html??fb3d-page=50 the CoCo's own listings].
** 16-232 - a 13" TV/Video Monitor. Introduced in the [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/1986_radioshack_catalog.html?fb3d-page=89 1986 Radio Shack main catalog]. Shown as the display in [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/1986_radioshack_catalog.html?fb3d-page=166 the CoCo's listing in that same catalog] as well as in [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1986_rsc-15.html?fb3d-page=42 1986's Radio Shack Computer Catalog RSC-15].
** 16-233 - a 13" TV, model number TC-171. Introduced in the [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/1988_radioshack_catalog.html?fb3d-page=99 1988 Radio Shack main catalog]. Also shown as the display [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/1988_radioshack_catalog.html?fb3d-page=162| in the CoCo 2's listing in that same catalog] and in [https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1988_rsc-19.html?fb3d-page=26 1988's Radio Shack Computer Catalog RSC-19].
* Tandy
** 26-3512 [[CM-8]] Specifically made for the CoCo 3. Affordable but no composite input, thus many CoCo 1/2 programs would show in black-and-white.
** 25-8056 [[RGB-11]] [https://colorcomputerarchive.com/repo/Documents/Manuals/Hardware/RGB-11%20Color%20Monitor.pdf Listed in the Color Computer Archive]. Perhaps only for composite input use rather than RGB.
** 26-3211 [[VM-2]]  Monochrome (green-screen) composite. Had "Tandy TRS-80" branding; part of the brief attempt to hold on to "TRS-80" while still moving to "Tandy" instead of "Radio Shack". Introduced in RSC-14 in 1985; intended for the Tandy 1000 and the Model 100's Disk/Video Interface rather than the CoCo, but when the CoCo 3 complete with composite port came along two years later, it could be an inexpensive option for those intending their CoCos for productivity, telecom, text adventures, and monochrome graphical games like Daggorath and Nebula, and wanted the higher resolution than a TV could provide.
** 25-1020 [[VM-4]] Successor of the VM-2. Mentioned by [[Marty Goodman]] as being [https://archive.org/details/rainbowmagazine-1987-08/page/n71/mode/2up "perfectly compatible" with the CoCo 3] - but, again, being monochrome, was not ideal for most games or graphics. Perhaps any monochrome composite monitor would work.
* Magnavox
**[[8CM505]]
**[[8CM643]]
**[[8CM515]] - Analog RGB and composite color. The August [[Rainbow_Magazine_1987|1987]] ''[[Rainbow]]'' ran a [https://archive.org/details/rainbowmagazine-1987-08/page/n141/mode/2up favorable review by Ed Ellers (p.140-141)] and a [https://archive.org/details/rainbowmagazine-1987-08/page/n71/mode/2up recommendation from Marty Goodman (pp. 70,73,75)]. [[Cloud-9]] [http://www.frontiernet.net/~mmarlette/Cloud-9/Hardware/Video%20Cables.html still offers a CoCo 3 adapter cable].
**[[1CM135]] - Replaced the 8CM515, adding stereo sound input, Commodore-style S-Video with chorma-luma input, and CGA RGB. [https://archive.org/details/rainbowmagazine-1991-03/page/n13/mode/2up?q=8cm515 Recommended by Marty Goodman in the March 1991 ''Rainbow''.]
* Sony
**[[KV-1311CR]]. Howard Medical Computers and [[Spectrum Projects]] sold CoCo 3 cables for the analog RGB connection.
**[[KX-1211HG]]
*[[15KHz SVGA Monitors]]


== Monitors==
==Arithmetic Processor Units==
*[[Tandy CM-8]]
*[https://github.com/barberd/coco9511pak CoCo AM9511 Pak]
*[[Maganavox 1CM135]]
*[[Maganavox 8CM515]]


==Multi Devices==
==Multi Devices==
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*[[SuperBoard]]
*[[SuperBoard]]
*[[FHL Eliminator]]
*[[FHL Eliminator]]
*[[Disto MEB]]
==Printers==
*[[CoCo Printers]]


==RS232 Devices==
==RS232 Devices==
*[[Tandy RS232 Pak]]
*[[Deluxe RS232 Pak]]
*[[Tandy DC Modem Pak]]
*[[Direct Connect Modem Pak]]
*[[Orion Technologies RS232 Pak]]
*[[Orion Technologies RS232 Pak]]
*[[Disto RS232 Pak]]
*[[Disto RS232 Pak]]
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*[[Quad Serial Port Pak]] - Who made this?
*[[Quad Serial Port Pak]] - Who made this?
*[[CoCoPro! RS232 Pak]]
*[[CoCoPro! RS232 Pak]]
*[[CoNect Dual RS232 Pak]]
*[[CoNect RS232 Pak]]
*[[CoNect RS232 Pak]]
*[[CoNect 16550 Pak]] - what is the official name?
*[[CoNect 16550 Pak]] - what is the official name?
*[[Metric Model 101p Serial to Parallel Converter]]
*[[Dayton Industries Blue Streak Ultima Serial to Parallel Converter]]
*[https://github.com/barberd/cocousbserial CoCo USB Serial Pak]


==Video Digitizers==
==Video Digitizers==
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== Video Out==
== Video Out==
=== Historical Solutions ===
*[[PBJ Wordpak/Wordpak II]]
*[[PBJ Wordpak/Wordpak II]]
*[[CoCo-2 Composite Monitor Adapter]]
*[[Lucas Industries 2000 AutoDim]]
*[[RGB to VGA Converter]]
*[[RGB to VGA Converter]]
*[[RGB to S-Video Converter]]
*[[CoCo 3 RGB to CGA/EGA Adapter]]
 
=== Build it yourself ===
*[[CoCo 1 Monochrome Video]]
*[[CoCo 1 composite video]]
*[https://imgur.com/a/XYjvAl8 Coco 1 S-Video Circuit, Simplified] (requires disabling RF) Convert to Composite by adding a 470pf capacitor between the yellow and blue lines and replace the S-Video connector with an RCA connector with center connector on the yellow side of the new capacitor.
*[https://imgur.com/a/Pu7vdHB CoCo 1 and 2 S-Video and Composite Out Circuit]
*[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iawKo8rM3PNL5g4nWRu-KFlnn0n_WJ4P CoCo 2 S-Video and Composite Out Circuit]
*[https://imgur.com/TIrk3AE CoCo 1 or 2 YPbPr/YUV Component Out Circuit]
*[https://hackaday.io/project/7366-coco-3-rgb-to-scart-to-hdmi-cable CoCo 3 RGB -> SCART] Use with a SCART to HDMI adapter.
 
=== Current Solutions to Purchase ===
*[[Video without RF Box]] Use existing RF out on your CoCo 1, 2, or 3 into your TV tuner.
*[https://github.com/hoglet67/RGBtoHDMI RGBtoHDMI] Requires Pi Zero, RGBtoHDMI hat board, and Analog board. Mostly used with CoCo 1s and 2s, but can also be used for PAL CoCo3s to simulate NTSC artifact colors.
 
==== CoCo 1 or 2 Only ====
Note that these CoCo 1 and 2 solutions require installation.
*[http://cocovga.com/ CoCoVGA for CoCo 1, 2, MC-10, Dragon] A FPGA-based solution that outputs VGA.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc_3TPBjFf4 CocoDV for Coco 1 or 2] An FPGA-based solution that plugs into the MC6847 Video Display Generator IC socket on the board and provides HDMI video. Also adds extra functionality like sprites and fonts. Order via email from AC-8 Bit Zone.
*[https://thezippsterzone.com/video-adapters/ Composite Video Out boards for CoCo 2]
 
==== CoCo 3 Only ====
*[https://thezippsterzone.com/2019/03/27/gime-x/ GIME-X for CoCo 3] Replace your GIME chip with this FPGA-based solution that adds VGA output. Also has even more video modes and allows overclocking the CoCo.
*[https://thezippsterzone.com/video-adapters/ RGB2NTSC] CoCo3 to (a better) Composite and S-Video
*[https://cocoman.onlineweb.shop/details/p7004829_20319861.aspx Switch-a-roo CoCo3 to SCART cable] Use with a SCART to HDMI adapter.
 
== Light Controller ==
*[[X10 Lighting Control]]
*[[Remote Command Controller 26-1182]]
 
== Mods & Hacking ==
*[[CoCo Turbo Light]]
*[[DCModem to RS232 Pak]]
*[[Disk Drive power LED]]
*[[CoCo repack in PC]]
*[[Speech & Sound Pack Modification for High Speed]]
*[[CoCoEPROMpak]] Schematic board
*[[Fahrfall]] New Game Cartridge and pak
*[https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2247877/ Nowhereman999's Color Computer 3D printable Raspberry Pi case]


[[Category:Hardware]]
[[Category:Hardware]]

Latest revision as of 22:33, 28 February 2024

WELCOME
Looking for CoCo help? If you are trying to do something with your old Color Computer, read this quick reference. Want to contribute to this wiki? Be sure to read this first. This CoCo wiki project was started on October 29, 2004. --OS-9 Al

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This page was last updated on 02/28/2024. Total Pages: 728. Total Files: 992.


Home / Hardware - Hardware


Hardware design and integrated circuits

Internally the CoCo 1 and CoCo 2 models are functionally identical. The core of the system is virtually identical to the reference design included in the Motorola MC6883 data sheet and consists of five LSI chips:

Audio Digitizers

Audio Output Devices

  • Orchestra-90 CC (26-3143) - Software Affair Stereo Music Synthesizer DAC recreated by Zippster as the CoCoDAC-16
  • Speech/Sound Cartridge (26-3144A) - General Instruments Music and Speech Synthesizer AY3-8913 Programmable Sound Generator (PSG) and an SPO256-AL2 Narrator Speech Processor
  • Symphony-12 - Speech Systems' 4 x AY-3-8912 PSG for 12 channel sound, recreated as the Philharmonic-12
  • Game Master Cart - RetroTinker's Flash ROM and SN76489AN Digital Complex Sound Generator (DCSG)
  • CoCo PSG - Zippster's YM-2149 Software-controlled Sound Generator (SSG)
  • MEGA mini MPI - Zippster's YM-262F OPL3 FM Synthesizer
  • The Voice - Speech Systems' Speech Synthesizer with the Votrax SC-01
  • Super Voice - Speech Systems' Speech Synthesizer device that could sing with a Votrax SC-02 / SSI 263A
  • Real Talker - Colorware Voice Synthesizer with the Votrax SC-01

Bus Expander

Computers & Clones

Tandy/Radio Shack Tape Drive Systems

Other Tape Drive Systems

Floppy Disk Controllers

Tandy/Radio Shack floppy disk controllers

Third party floppy disk controllers

Hacking floppy disk

Alternate floppy disk controller ROMs

Hard Drive Controllers

Input Devices

See also Joysticks

Tandy / Radio Shack

Third party

Accessories

Memory Upgrades

MIDI Interfaces

Monitors and displays

Arithmetic Processor Units

Multi Devices

These are items that serve more than one purpose, such as Cloud-9's SuperBoard.

Printers

RS232 Devices

Video Digitizers

Video Out

Historical Solutions

Build it yourself

Current Solutions to Purchase

  • Video without RF Box Use existing RF out on your CoCo 1, 2, or 3 into your TV tuner.
  • RGBtoHDMI Requires Pi Zero, RGBtoHDMI hat board, and Analog board. Mostly used with CoCo 1s and 2s, but can also be used for PAL CoCo3s to simulate NTSC artifact colors.

CoCo 1 or 2 Only

Note that these CoCo 1 and 2 solutions require installation.

CoCo 3 Only

Light Controller

Mods & Hacking