Add VGA Output, Wi-Fi Connectivity to Your Apple II using a Raspberry Pi Pico #AppleII #VintageComputing #RaspberryPi @HacksterIO
Vintage computing start-up ∀2 Retro Computing has launched a new video card designed for the classic Apple II family of eight-bit microcomputers, powered by a Raspberry Pi Pico W mounted above a thin add-in board.
“Extending the great work of Mark Aikens,” ∀2 Retro Computing’s David Kuder explains, referring to the earlier AppleII-VGA add-in card, “the ∀2 Analog is a VGA video solution for your Apple II computer. We’ve added support for 16-Color 140×192 and Monochrome 560×192 ‘Double-HiRes,’ 80×48 ‘Double-LoRes,’ and 80 column modes for Apple IIe computers.”
The ∀2 Analog has a little more up its sleeve than simply adding in VGA-compatible video output and unlocking some handy display modes, though: Its creator describes “alternate function modes” which offer Wi-Fi modem and network card functionality — explaining why the Raspberry Pi Pico W, with its integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radio module, was chosen over the cheaper but radio-less Raspberry Pi Pico.
“The firmware of the ∀2 Analog has been expanded to support Apple IIe compatible DGR, DHGR, and 80 column video, as well as Apple IIgs-compatible registers for Text, Background and Border colors,” Kuder writes. “Multiple alternate firmware modes including a PCPI Appli-Card emulator and more features are still being added.”
Design files and source code are available on GitHub under an MIT license.
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