Commodore Flyer

Retroswitch has released an updated version of the Commodore Flyer Cloud Server Application for Windows with the following updates and fixes:

• Fixed bugs dealing with disk/program filenames which contained spaces.
• Fixed media scan to now recognize D64s w/extra error blocks correctly.

If you are a Windows user and also own a Flyer Internet Modem, you’ll want to grab the latest Cloud Server Application from the Retroswitch Flyer product page.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed that at some point there will be an Apple Mac and Linux version of the Flyer cloud server application.

Both the Telnet and IRC clients have been posted on the Retroswitch Flyer product page for download. These are 100% custom written for the Flyer in C/asm and are currently available for the Commodore 64 (and Commodore 128 in C64 mode).

Native ports for the Commodore 128 and 16K+ PETs are planned for the future.

Use the Retroswitch contact page to drop Brandon a line and let him know what machines you’d like to see supported first, any issues or feature requests you might have, and any suggestions for future Flyer apps!

This past week Brandon over at Retroswitch was able to make good progress on the Flyer IRC client. Here’s a current photo showing a screenshot:

Basic stuff is there – line wrapping, member list, and a small command set (current version supports more commands than are shown in the screenshot).

The Commodore Flyer IRC client currently displays up to 128 channel members (w/ scrolling), and can only join 1 channel at a time currently (really just a UI limitation – could definitely use feedback/suggestions on how to present multiple channels).

Brandon would really like to coordinate testing with a few people to get feedback, work out any bugs and prioritize the next block of commands to be added. Anyone interested should contact him via the Retroswitch contact page.

After checking out Sean’s Commodore Flyer speed tests using the SX-64 Christmas Demo, I wanted to do my own using a variety of other programs and games.

For my speed tests I used the Top 5 voted games on Lemon64 comparing the Flyer against the 1541 Ultimate (1541u):

1. IK+ (sequel to International Karate)
2. Maniac Mansion
3. Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
4. Pirates!
5. Last Ninja 2

For the setup, I used my C64 that has the option to enable or disable JiffyDOS and since the Commodore Flyer and 1541u both support JiffyDOS, this seems to be a fair test.

My time results are in the following order: Flyer (no JiffyDOS), Flyer (JiffyDOS on), 1541u (no JiffyDOS) and 1541u (JiffyDOS on). Take a look:

IK+ (sequel to International Karate) published in 1987 by System 3:

Maniac Mansion published in 1987 by Lucasfilm Games:

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders published in 1988 by Lucasfilm Games:

Pirates! published in 1987 by MicroProse Software:

Last Ninja 2 published in 1988 by System 3:

As you can see from my speed tests above, the Flyer is definitely faster than the 1541u on all counts. It seems to be twice as fast when JiffyDOS is enabled.

Something to note is the 1541u is 100% emulation of a real 1541 disk drive and since Flyer by design is faster then a real 1541, it makes sense for it to be a little faster.

Flyer firmware version 1.1.7 has been in beta testing since February 23, 2012 however it’s now ready for public distribution as a maintenance release with the following updates:

• Directory formatting fixes
• NET-AVAIL command fix: Now includes IEC cached byte in count (if any)
• TCP channels now send packets on EOI (was per byte)
• New NET-STAT command: Returns bytes available and connection status
• New status: Firmware command – returns current firmware version
• Added additional TCP error handling

To update your Commodore Flyer firmware, check out an earlier post of mine where I provide details on how-to update your Flyer firmware over the internet.

You can also check out the Flyer Firmware release notes page for specific updates and fixes from previous versions.

Thanks to Commodore Flyer user Marc Honey for creating the network Flyer modem PDF cheat sheet:

The Commodore Flyer modem cheat sheet is in the Adobe PDF format. If you do not have a PDF viewer already installed, please download a free copy of Acrobat Reader.

About a week ago Retroswitch released the Commodore Flyer Cloud Server Application for Windows and today we have an update with the following updates and fixes:

• Directory scan for disks and programs now recursive.
• Fixed bug when receiving multiple disks in a single upload package from Flyer.
• Fixed unterminated disk listing returned to Flyer when downloading disk(s).
• Fixed issue with some error messages not getting returned to the Flyer (for display on the LCD).

If you are a Windows user and also own a Flyer Internet Modem, you’ll want to grab the latest Cloud Server Application from the Retroswitch Flyer product page.

At some point Brandon will release an Apple Mac and Linux version of the Flyer cloud server application.

Since the Flyer Internet modem and disk drive emulator was released into the wild back in November 2011 there have been a handful of firmware updates that included new features and enhancements. Now there is an updated user’s guide covering all the new features:

So what are you waiting for? Head over to the Flyer product page to grab your Adobe PDF copy of the 1.1 Flyer User’s Guide today!

The initial public release of the Commodore Flyer Cloud Server application for Windows is now available for download directly from the official Flyer Internet Modem product page.

With this awesome little Windows application you can now serve all your Commodore disk images and programs on your LAN to your Flyer.

Commodore Flyer firmware version 1.1.6 will be publicly available in the near future.

To check and see if it’s available for you now, use the Flyer update firmware load command from your Commodore computer by typing:

LOAD “up arrow:*”,7 (then press the RETURN key)

Where you see the words up arrow in the above firmware load command, replace with the actual up arrow key which is to the left of the RESTORE key as seen in the picture below of a C64 keyboard:

After you’ve pressed the RETURN key look at your Flyer display. You will see the following take place with progress bar:

• Download
• REBOOT..
• Writing
• Verify
• Updating Display

This process only takes a few seconds with a high speed internet connection.

Once complete the display will show your current Flyer firmware version. If you see 1.1.6, then you’ve been updated, if you still see 1.1.5 then try again a little later (*).

I’ve been beta testing the 1.1.6 firmware for a couple of weeks now and there are some nice improvements and features that the Flyer community should be super happy to see:

• DHCP exposed via new config program
• Relaxed file name parsing rules
• Port settings for clouds
• Bug fixes

To access the new Flyer configuration program type LOAD “1:CONFIG”,8 (or whatever your device number is set to) on your Commodore computer, then RUN it once loaded.

You can also check out the Flyer Firmware release notes page for specific updates and fixes from previous versions.

(*) Update February 11, 2012 – 9:21 am PST: Flyer firmware 1.1.6 is now globally available.