The C64MegaCart Programmer Setup takes center stage in Martin Piper’s latest update, showing how hobbyists can build, test, and use his custom programming tool. Designed to work with a Raspberry Pi, the setup allows users to erase, write, and read data from 2MB C64MegaCart’s with ease.
The video begins with electrical safety checks. Piper demonstrates how to confirm that new boards from PCBWay arrive free of shorts and with proper voltage routing. Using a multimeter, he verifies continuity across key pins and inspects solder joints under magnification to rule out bridging. These steps ensure the boards are safe before assembly.
Assembly comes next. Piper walks through connecting the cartridge board to the programming board and attaching it to a Raspberry Pi. He points out important design details, such as the status LEDs that provide feedback when the board erases or writes. A push button on the board controls programming cycles, while the Pi’s GPIO pins handle orientation and power. Piper uses a spacer underneath the board to keep everything stable when inserting or removing cartridges, an important step to avoid stress on the connectors.
Software setup is guided through his GitHub repository. Piper explains how to SSH into the Raspberry Pi, clone the required libraries, and compile the programmer tool. Once built, the command-line options offer flexibility, from erasing the entire cartridge to writing new binaries or reading back data for verification. LEDs flash to show status, while SSH logs provide more detailed monitoring.
Performance is also highlighted. Writing 2MB of data takes about a minute, while reading back the same data is twice as fast. Piper demonstrates partial block erases and shows how the system handles errors, with flashing LEDs signaling problems during operation. Verification is included automatically during writes, ensuring accuracy without extra steps.
This hands-on demonstration makes the C64MegaCart programmer setup practical for anyone producing multiple cartridges or experimenting with custom binaries. For those interested in the technical details and software, the full project is available on GitHub.
