___________________________________________
title: Bubblegum Crash
tags: macintosh retro tty
date: 2024-09-13
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After my last gopher post there's been a lot of updates on using my Mac Plus.
To start, I started using System 7.0.1, which opened up a lot of oppurtunities
in terms of more "modern" software. For example I'm typing this in a session 
connected in BetterTelnet and connected to a RaspberryPi 3, and it resolves
many of the issues I was previously having using a serial terminal. Now things
like ESC and CTRL work as expected, as well as not having to enable local
echo.

With Telnet/remote resolved I also spent some time making System 7 more 
"friendly", installing some control panel utilities like removing Balloon
Help and Labels to give the menu bar some more room on the smaller CRT. I also
setup aliases to common applications and sorted them in the Apple Menu for
faster access. These small tweaks have gradually added up, and while System 7
is slightly slower than System 6, it's worth it.

Recently I also picked up a RaspberryPi 5 and set it up with Linux and libvirt
to run VMs for my DNS and GotoSocial servers. These were previously running
on two RaspberryPi 3s, and consolidating into a single RaspberryPi makes 
things easier to work with and frees up the hardware to do other things with.

The first thing I did was setup on of the RPI 3s to output compositie video
to my 9in Sony Trinitron CRT. I have done this before using an OG RPI 1 and
it worked well, but having an RPI3 is a nicer since it's newer and I can use
a TRRS connector. This worked well, except the video signal was distorted
and didn't look nearly as nice as I knew it could. I tested my sony PSP TV
out and it's signal was clean, so the TV was fine and it was something with
the pi. The issue happened on two seperate Pis too, and after spending
time modifying the configuration, and even getting a "proper" TRRS cable, I
finally realized it was because the Pi didn't have enough power. The tipoff
was the "undervoltage" warnings, so after connecting a more powerful USB power
adapter the signal came through completely clean and looked fantastic.

Now as I'm typing this on the Mac Plus, I have Bubblegum Crash Episode 01
playing on the CRT via the Pi and it looks gorgeous.