---
title: "Cenbe’s Commodore 64"
url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/WIZnet/projects/cenbe%E2%80%99s-commodore-64/"
markdown_url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/WIZnet/projects/cenbe%E2%80%99s-commodore-64/md"
type: "UCC: User Created Content"
author: "Glenn Holmer"
author_url: "https://www.lyonlabs.org/commodore/"
editor: "WIZnet"
editor_url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/"
original_author: "Glenn Holmer"
original_url: "https://www.lyonlabs.org/commodore/"
published: "2023-04-03"
language: "en"
hardware: ["WIZnet W5100"]
likes: 0
views: 61
comments: 0
source: "WIZnet Makers (https://maker.wiznet.io/)"
---

# Cenbe’s Commodore 64

> A Commodore 64 (Ascent home computer) uses a Flyer Internet Modem (Base on W5100)

Original author: Glenn Holmer (source: https://www.lyonlabs.org/commodore/)

## Components

- **WIZnet W5100** x 1 ([docs](https://docs.wiznet.io/Product/Chip/Ethernet/W5100))

## Article

[URL](https://maker.wiznet.io/user/kitwan/)

A big topic of interest these days is Ethernet cards for the Commodore 64. There are two main types; the ones that use the CS8900A chip (“RR-Net compatible”), and those that use the WIZnet W5100 chip. On the right (click to embiggen) are pictures of my machines with some of these cards: the Flyer (WIZnet chip), and a 1541 Ultimate V1 (with a CS8900A). The big problem with the CS8900A-based cards is that they require having a TCP/IP stack running on the Commodore, which is really quite a stretch, in terms of both speed and memory. The newer generation of cards is based on the WIZnet chip, which has an on-board network stack. The best of the batch so far seems to be the Flyer, which implements networking as I/O commands sent to device #7. (Unfortunately, it’s currently unavailable; I encourage you to contact Brandon and ask him to do another run of them.) I gave a presentation about this card at ECCC 2012, and discussed a reusable PROMAL module I wrote for the Flyer in my talk on that language at ECCC 2014.

[![](https://maker.wiznet.io/uploads/2019/03/flyer-800x600.png)](https://maker.wiznet.io/uploads/2019/03/flyer-800x600.png)

Jonno Downes wrote Kipper BASIC and BASIC on Bails, which let you write networked programs for your Commodore 64 in BASIC. They only support the CS8900A-based (“RR-Net compatible”) network cards. I’ve put up a page about these projects with disk images, API docs, and a copy of the presentation I gave at ECCC 2010.

There are now wifi adapters available as well, based on the ESP8266 chip, although they generally seem to be nothing more than RS232-to-TCP/IP adapters rather than true network devices (there also seems to be little standardization of AT command extensions and even RS-232 implementations). Among them are Schema’s Commodore Wi-Fi Modem, CBMSTUFF’s WiModem, Melbourne Console Reproductions’ Telnet Wifi Adapter, and Alwyz’ Strikelink. You can also build your own Strikelink, or use Bo Zimmerman’s design. A card using Bo’s firmware is available here, along with some very complete documentation. More information on WiFi cards for the Commodore 64 can be found here.

Source: [lyonlabs.org](https://www.lyonlabs.org/commodore/)

---

Source: https://maker.wiznet.io/WIZnet/projects/cenbe%E2%80%99s-commodore-64/