https://docs.beamracer.net/ 2026-04-21T05:22:07+00:00 https://docs.beamracer.net/ https://docs.beamracer.net/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=wiki:favicon.ico text/html 2022-07-18T11:24:49+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=beamracer_installation&rev=1658168689&do=diff Preparation While BeamRacer installation is a relatively easy task, requiring neither specialised skills nor equipment, a few preparation steps need to be taken in order to properly conduct the process. The assumption is that the person performing the installation does not have access to a specialised electronic workplace but is still comfortable with using common household tools. text/html 2020-09-09T21:48:32+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=c64c_installation&rev=1599713312&do=diff Commodore 64C specific installation procedure The Commodore 64C is defined as having one of the "narrow" boards AND the “flat” casing. This combination imposes additional, mechanical restrictions on how the BeamRacer can be installed as following the regular installation would typically lead to a situation where the computer casing could not be closed after the installation. To work this around we need to forfeit the additional text/html 2020-10-04T21:38:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=caveats&rev=1601872706&do=diff Caveats Here are some things that you need to be aware of when programming BeamRacer. Badlines If you ever did any VIC-II programming, you are probably very familiar with the concept of so-called badlines. Briefly, badlines are the display lines during which VIC-II is doing additional memory fetches from color RAM and video matrix text/html 2020-10-16T04:05:56+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=computer_preparation&rev=1602846356&do=diff NOTE: THIS PAGE IS IN A WORK IN PROGRESS STATE Computer disassembly Disconnect everything from your computer and place it in the position “upside-down” on the table with the rear-end connectors facing away from you. Place the saucer somewhat away from the computer so that it remains in reach but doesn't get in the way during disassembly. The disassembly procedure varies slightly depending on the casing model your computer is equipped with. Follow the section appropriate for your particular uni… text/html 2021-09-10T01:49:32+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=introduction_to_programming_the_beamracer&rev=1631263772&do=diff Introduction to BeamRacer Programming Overview Producing non-trivial visual effects on Commodore 64 requires tight cooperation between main CPU and VIC-II: as VIC-II is generating video image, the 6510 waits for the electron beam sweeping the screen to reach a specific location, and then immediately writes to one or more VIC-II registers, changing colors, graphic modes, video banks, or perhaps affecting the chip’s internal circuitry to make it behave in ways unforeseen even by its designers. text/html 2022-07-26T12:53:49+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=isa&rev=1658865229&do=diff VASYL instructions General remarks: bits, rasterlines and cycles are counted from 0. NTSC video display thus contains lines 0 to 261 (262 on 6567R56A VIC) , while PAL 0 to 311. The first cycle in a rasterline is 0, the last -- depending on VIC model text/html 2020-10-18T21:56:56+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=making_full_use_of_memory_ports&rev=1603083416&do=diff In-depth look at ports Attentive readers of introductory section on local memory may have noticed that out of five registers that constitute a port, only four were described. Now is the time to dive deeper into port operation and explain the role(s) of registers REP0 and REP1. Inside a port text/html 2020-09-08T13:59:11+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=narrow_boards&rev=1599598751&do=diff Commodore 64 "Narrow" Boards * 250469 REV.3 * 250469 REV.4 * 250469 REV.A * 250469 REV.B text/html 2022-07-14T15:23:04+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=programmable_bitmap_sequencer&rev=1657837384&do=diff Programmable Bitmap Sequencer Bitmap sequencer is a VIC-II circuit responsible for feeding non-sprite display data to the video pipeline. It has two modes of operation: direct and indirect, i.e. the plain bitmap mode and the text mode. In the direct mode, the sequencer fetches data from memory and then displays it directly, while in the text mode, every so often it fetches a pointer, which is then used to decide where to get actual display data from. In other words, it first fetches a code of s… text/html 2022-07-27T13:35:19+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=registers&rev=1658954119&do=diff VASYL registers Read/write registers accessible to both 6510 and VASYL itself. Address:bit(s) Name Width [bits] Description $D031 CONTROL 8 Main control register. Also used to activate BeamRacer after boot or Run/Stop-Restore by writing values text/html 2021-08-26T04:21:47+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=start&rev=1629976907&do=diff Installation BeamRacer Installation ---------- Programming Introduction to Programming the BeamRacer - instructions WAIT, MOV, DELAYH, DELAYV, BRA, SETA/B, DECA/B, END Making full use of memory ports - instructions WAITREP and XFER. VASYL interrupts and VASYL/CPU coordination - instruction IRQ Programmable Bitmap Sequencer Caveats VBASIC Reference VBASIC Tutorial VBASIC Examples ---------- BeamRacer Hardware Reference Registers - list of registers. ISA - list of instructions. text/html 2021-04-15T12:04:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=vasyl_interrupts_and_vasyl_cpu_coordination&rev=1618513468&do=diff VASYL interrupts and VASYL/CPU coordination While BeamRacer makes it easy to offload many graphics-related operations to VASYL, there are situations where some precisely-timed assistance from the main CPU may be needed. These can be chiefly grouped into three categories: text/html 2022-11-24T09:40:39+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=vbasic&rev=1669311639&do=diff Introduction If you followed the other chapter you already know that BeamRacer is an extremely powerful new tool allowing you to explore the VIC-II and Commodore 64 graphics and visual effects in both old, well-known as well as new, completely uncharted ways. At the very core of BeamRacer lies a programmable coprocessor called VASYL with its own registers, instruction set and memory. text/html 2022-12-04T12:01:44+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=vbasic_tutorial&rev=1670184104&do=diff VBASIC tutorial Foreword In this document we don't want to introduce you to BASIC programming language. We assume that you know it well enough to write more sophisticated programs than the immortal 10 PRINT “HELLO, WORLD!” 20 GOTO 10 first programming experience of every BASIC programmer. With this assumption in mind we want to give you a peek into areas where VBASIC can quickly become one of your closest friends: text/html 2020-09-08T13:47:08+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://docs.beamracer.net/doku.php?id=wide_boards&rev=1599598028&do=diff Commodore 64 "Wide" Boards * 326298 * KU14194HB * 250407 * 250425 * 250441 - the Yeti board * 250466