About RGL/PLAION and THE RISE OF THEMACHIES

About RGL/PLAION and THE RISE OF THEMACHIES(From The Terminator... )
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I thought I add this so there was a place for it so abit like a extra Wikipedia page ...

The Atari2600+ is at the bottom of this post.

About the ZX Spectrum Vega
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THEC64 Mini/Maxi/VIC20/THEA500 Mini was designed by RGL(Retro Games LTD(UK) and manufactured by PLAION UK(New Name for Koch Media UK & Ireland), PLAION makes video games too for PS3/4/5 under the name Deep Silver, it was founded in 2002.

Old Company before RGL was: RCL: Retro Computers LTD, Retro Games LTD is made up of two companies: former RCL: Retro Computers LTD and active C64DTV Ironstone Partners LTD, they are still active so alive, they need it to be to keep the copyright of the C64 DTV.

Some features on the ZX Spectrum Vega was added to THEC64 Mini, like: CJM files and the way you can customise THEC64 joystick buttons.

Paul and Chris knew they could make more money from a recreated C64 then the ZX Spectrum, Chris and Paul never owned a C64 or Amiga, they both had the ZX Spectrum 48k when they were kids so they were not really Commodore fans, they were Spectrum fans, that's why they made the ZX Spectrum Vega first, Chris made the ZX Spectrum Vega's GUI Menu.

The concept design of the ZX Spectrum Vega and Vega+ cases was made by Rick Dickinson(RIP), who also designed the Sinclair ZX80, ZX81 and ZX Spectrum and QL computer, plus the ZX Spectrum Next.

Sinclair Research LTD died in 1986, it was in debt for £7 Million because the C5 that flopped in 1985 so Sir Clive sold its Sinclair ZX Spectrum IP to Alan Sugar(Amstrad) for 5 Million and then Amstrad started to make its own ZX Spectrum clones, ZX Spectrum +2, and its updated Black version with its big power brick(Cassette Tape Recorder connected as part of the computer), and +3 Black version with its big power brick(Disk Drive connected as part of the computer) computers, they were all based on the Amstrad CPC computers the Amstrad was sold to Sky in 2007 for 128 Million, they wanted the set top box part of the company so they could make they or box(Sky Q and NOW TV boxes and made inhouse by Amstrad), they are now owners of the ZX Spectrum IP(its licence).

Sky took the ZX Spectrum PI licence a way of RCL in the end so its now know as just the Vega+.
 
They left RCL because of differences with David Levy(under a cloud of smoke) then made RGL with Darren Melbourne and left RCL in the hands of David Levy because they had problems working together, then the ZX Spectrum Vega Plus Handheld never got a retail version, created only test versions, the Vega +, 400 units.

It was partly Paul, Chris fault because they left but was to difficult to work at RCL so they left and then make RGL and was then down to David Levy to deal with RCL and make the ZX Spectrum Vega Plus Handheld console but it didn't happen probably down to Chris Smith leaving RCL because he made its firmware and GUI Menu for the ZX Vega+ so killed it, and if you want to know the rest and deep drive.

Paul and Chis had to come back and sort out RCL and dissolve it, thats why some backers got the test version of  the `Vega+` but cause it was a test version so was not a finished product or a retail product so didn't do what it was meant too, problems with its buttons and directional pad and not reading games from its Micro SD Card so very good as a door stop or a very light brick.

Retro Computers website has gone now... Click here to see it on Wayback machine(Web Archive) and Click here too, two different versions of the site.

But this is what happens if you leave a project in mid air because you have differences, you need to stick it out and push them aside, if you do not then its the end of that product and no point making it in the first place, if you take money for something you need to finish it and make it, you can not just walk and think everything will be alright.
Paul and Chris liked the ZX Spectrum, thats why they made the ZX Spectrum Vega first, then Darren Melbourne came along and offered them a deal to make THE64(THEC64), he was the one that posted about it on the IndieGoGo website and that was because uses of the C64 DTV would reconise his name so to sell the idea, if they used Paul or Chris names maybe no one would of backed it(because of RCL) and anyway, it didn't get funded, only partly funded because uses were not sure about it, so now RGL needed a partner to finish the project and thats when PLAION(Koch Media) stepped in.

Why would you make `400 blanks`, THEC64 Mini and THEA500 Mini only had one prototype so you can make sure the idea works, you would not make 400 of them unless you know there was something very wrong with it in the first place, you make one prototype to check it all works, if anything needed changing or added then it will be added to test versions so they made 400 of them..wow.
Hardly anyone got a refund for the ZX Spectrum Vega Plus, most people were left out of pocket, so most uses got the test version or nothing, thats if they sent out 400 units, they lied a lot so you do not really know what to believe.

Video of the ZX Spectrum Vega
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Video of the Prototype ZX Vega Plus
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Retro Games LTD are made out of two companies:
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From Retro Computers LTD(RCL) ZX Spectrum Vega:
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(both were CEOs from RCL)
Paul Andrews RGL CEO*
Chris Smith RGL CTO
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From Ironstone Partners(IP) The C64 DTV:
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(both are CEOs from IP)
Darren Melbourne RGL CEO
Paul Gouge RGL CEO*
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*are entrepreneurs mainly(An entrepreneur is someone who starts their own company or business, seeking to make a profit or a difference in the world, or both!)
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Darren Melbourne and Paul Gouge is from Ironstone Partners that designed the C64 DTV in 2004, that's where the design of THEC64 Joystick came from and why some of the games are the same.

A bit of the C64DTV history:
Chris Smith built and designed the Carousel(THEC64/THEA500) and compiled the emulators(if you look at the source code C64OSS you see it says "Copyright 2017 Chris Smith") any update that is made for THEC64 Mini/Maxi/THEVIC20/THEA500 is built by him, he is a experienced technical architect, software and hardware engineer, product designer.

Chris wrote a book about the inner workings of The ZX Spectrum: The ZX Spectrum Ula

He made the firmware for the ZX Spectrum Vega too, it was made by Retro Computers LTD and where the CJM and TSG files and how they work came from.

All RGL machines are made by RichCo, Hong Kong, China and are designed in the UK and produced by Koch Media UK & Ireland(PLAION), its on the packaging. 

This is Darren Melbourne and Chris Smith talking about THEA500 Mini on YouTube, bottom screen, Left Darren Melbourne, Right Chris Smith.


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Retro Games LTD Main Address is: 166 The Mall, Luton, LU1 2TL, England.
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PLAION UK Main Address: 54 Portland Pl, London, W1B 1DY, England.
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RGL say:

It now looks like they have the rights to the Quick Joy joysticks so if there start making them they need to make them properly because THEC64 joystick wasn't and it still has problems, snapping(Red Stick version) or the stick unscrewing itself(THEC64 Micro Switch Version.

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All machines(Consoles) are made in Hong Kong, China by Rich Co Ltd for PLAION - en.myitrade.com/shangfang0755/aboutus.html

(In order of latest machines)

About THEA500 Mini
===========================

THEA500 Mini is basically made the same as THEC64 Mini but its carousel is made up of four binaries - skyline(shaders/languages), manhattan(carousel), resources.bod(Images for the carousel and that), Amiberry(the emulator RGL added), RGL spilt the carousel so its harder to change so its in a way blocked, THEC64 models only use two to three binaries - the64(carousel) c64emu.rgl(THEC64 Mini/THEC64 - VICE Emulator) vic20emu.rgl(THEC64/THEVIC20 - VICE Emulator) and its not blocked, RGL do not want just anyone messing with it, thats why they made it like that.

The True Blue Mini was made to run on THEC64 that added copyright games to its carousel that TTBMT(The True Blue Mini Team) had no rights to(TTBMT got arrested by the FBI in the US about 2 years ago for fraud and copyright infringement for using games on they USB devices they had no rights of using or selling, they made USB devices with games on for Sony PS Classic and Sega Mega Drive Mini too so they loaded on the mini consoles menu or carousel), so this is probably why RGL did THEA500 Firmware this way to stop copyright games been used on THEA500 carousel, its understandable.

It uses uss save states for Amiberry v3.3, 25 games that are compress in its resources.bod file they are about 6 to 8 mb in size if not packed and they are too big on its nandb.
its Amiberry is not compatible with all Amiga Games too, some games have glitches and crash.
it uses offsets to find its files and checksums to check its files in its resources.bod file so you can not replicate it, it has a key in its kernal too that checks manhattan(carousel)its key can mess up(get corrupt) and then stop THEA500 Mini booting so it powers on then powers off in 5 seconds, some have reported that there THEA500 Mini have stopped work altogether too so do not power on at all so the PMU IC could of blown in them, its the only part that not original thats inside the Orange PI 3 LTS, so THEA500 Mini has some bugs that needs addressing.



THEA500 Mini Main Board - "Cosmic Thing" named after B52 Songs like the board inside the Amiga.


Specs

• CPU:Alwinner H6 SoC, equivalent to A53, thats what's recommend to use with Amiberry.
  
• GPU:Mali T720 instead of Mali 450 SoC part of H6 as one package.
• RAM: 512MB 2x 128x16 256mb NT5CB128M16FP-DI chips - Download Datasheet PDF. identical to THEC64 Mini's RAM ICs.
• NAND: 256mb KIOXA(TOSHIBA) TC58NVG1S3HT A00 Chip like THEC64 Mini Download Datasheet  identical to THEC64 Mini's NAND ICs, 256mb Flash NAND Rom.
• PMU: Power Management Unit - A8038 0278100S - its different to the one used in the Orange PI3 LTS so could give THEA500 Mini a problem down the line, if this part blows then no power to the PCB, it looks like a cheap part, only found it in Whatsminer(bitcoin) PCB Boards, can not find them anywhere else - www.zeusbtc.com/ASIC-Miner-Repair/Parts-Tools-Details.asp?ID=2734
• Emulator: Amiberry, Carousel Skyline, Manhattan Carousel and uss save states(Amiberry v3.3) 25 games that are compress in its resource.bod file on the NAND.
• GUI: THEA500 Carousel Skyline, Manhattan, made with Flashlight library, like THEC64 Carousel, uses parts of its source code.
• Probably uses SDL2 for controller and Mouse cause emulator is Amiberry cause it can load WHDLoad games from a lha file, Amiberry can load from lha/zip files too.
• Emulates A500, A600 & A1200 (ECS/OCS/AGA Chipsets.
• Save & resume your progress at any time, uses uss save states same as Amiberry.

• 25 classic Amiga games, including all-time greats like Alien Breed, Another World, Chaos Engine, Simon the Sorcerer and Worms includes a favorites carousel screen for games you like the most.
  
• Add your own games via WHDLoad.
  
• 720p HD display, at 50 Hz (Europe) or 60 Hz (USA)
  
• Multiple scaling options and CRT filter
  
• Virtual keyboard, and USB keyboard support plus mouse support too.
  
• Upgradable firmware
  HDMI Port
  USB-C Cable ( For Power )
  
  Pictures of THEGAMEPAD and THEMOUSE insides
  =============================================================
   and showing the `GH001`IC `Game Hub` 001 IC Chip inside THEGamepad, RGL have used it in every Joystick(THEC64 Joystick, see below and THECXSTICK) and controller(THEGamepad) they have made, THEGAMEPAD GH001 IC is used in the THECXSTICK where its been donated from THEGAMEPAD because it uses the same name, it identifies itself as THEGamepad...weird.
  
  THEGamepad
• 
  
• 
  

• THEMouse
  
  
• 
• 
  About THEC64 Mini
• =========================
  
  From RGL:
  
  THEC64 Mini, THEC64 Maxi, THEVIC 20 collectively heading for the region of 400,000 units sold so far.
  
  THEC64 Mini is like the C64 DTV but in a 50% scale replica of the C64 Breadbin, not in a Joystick but THEC64 uses a emulator(VICE) that RGL added not made, the C64DTV used a C64 simulator on a chip that was made for it, it was made before ARM SOC boards were used, like the RPI.
  
  Adverts for THEC64 Mini
  
  
  
  
  
  THEC64 Mini is based on A20-OLINUXINO-LIME that Chris Smith used to compile the C64 emulator(from VICE 2.4) and then designed the Carousel on and around the C64 VICE Emulator, was originally going to be called THE64, was put on Indiegogo in April 2016 and took 2 years to finish and was release on 28th March 2018 in Europe(the PAL version) and 9th October 2018 in the US(the NTSC version) It got bad reviews at first but got better in time(it was the only machine that provides updates to its firmware) cause it could only could load one disk image at a time and had no keyboard so the case was cosmetic only, most of the games are the same games from the C64 DTV, there was some that were OK like Pitstop 2(it gives you a arm ache trying to go rounds the corners of the track) and Jumpman.
  
  If you look at THEC64 Mini, it like a direct copy of the C64 DTV,(you could call it the next version of the C64 DTV, cause it is a device that plugs into your TV, it is a C64 Direct to TV,) just its logic board is not in the Joystick, its in a Mini Case of the C64 Breadbin, its joystick is identical but don't have the little reset button, Darren Melbourne has the design rights to the C64 DTV, most users who bought a C64 DTV did not use its joystick, they used a db9 connector that was soldered to its logic board in the joystick, so used there own joystick that they would use on there original C64.(I even did it.. )
  
  Orange PI H3(what THEC64 Maxi is based on) can run Android 4.4(Jellybean) like the Olinuxino A20 lime can(what THEC64 Mini is based on) so that why THEC64 Mini and Maxi can use a Android kernal, the boards can run it.
  
  And both boards are open source too (OSHW).
  
  THEC64 Mini in Argos Catalogue 2019
  
  
  THEC64 Red Joystick that came with theC64 Mini was prone to snapping off, it tool RGL 4 different redesigns(4 Joysticks) to get it right... they learned more with every redesign.
  
  THEC64 Mini was only made to make money so KM could manufacture THEC64 Maxi, because RGL were obligated to do cause of the Indiegogo campaign, THEC64 Mini was a Prototype for THEC64 Maxi and to improve on its design, RGL added there own money so THEC64 Mini got made.
  
  THEC64 Mini Red Joystick on the back left and C64 DTV on the back right, THEC64 Micro Switch Joystick in front.
  
  
  A picture of THEC64 Joystick and C64DTV Joystick side be side to compare(insides), they are the same, but no reset button on THEC64 Joystick.
  
  There was going to be included a Handheld version of THE64 but that was dropped and cancelled and replaced with THEC64 Mini, each backer got THEC64 Mini too and then later on got THEC64 Maxi.
  THEC64 Mini was made to raise money for the Indiegogo Campaign and to be able to build THEC64 Maxi and to prove to KM that they could design it, KM built and distributed it and all the other machines RGL designs(THEVIC20), KM is RGLs partner cause they needed a manufacture(like C64 DTV needed Mammoth Toys to build it for Ironstone Partners, to build it in bulk) to make it and cause they never got funded on Indiegogo they needed a partner who had the means to build in mass production and take the financial risk.
  
  TheC64 Emulator(x64sc,VICE) running on a A20-OLINUXINO-LIME
  
  
  First Show of THEC64 Mini at MGW(Milan Games Week) in 2017.
  Been shown running on a A20-OLINUXINO-LIME with a prototype model of the THEC64 Mini,
  uses only played the THEC64 Mini Carousel with a SNES controller,
  users did not know what THEC64 Joystick was like then cause it was just a protype model.
  
  
  When users pre ordered THEC64 Mini from Amazon, the stock has already been bought by Amazon from RGL, when a item is on pre order, they have bought a number of the stock so say like 500 so once that 500 has been filed with pre orders then there is no more stock or units until they buy more stock from RGL, the more stock they buy the more money they get to make the item.
  
  It works the same way like on Kickstarter or IndieGoGo, they are pre order sites.
  
  THEC64 Mini Specifications and First version of THEC64 Mini Board for retail.
  SoC Allwinner A20 @ 1ghz Arm CPU.
  DRAM 256 DDR Memory, Nanya Technology Corporation, DDR DRAM, 128MX16, 0.225ns, CMOS, PBGA96, Number on the IC.. nt5cb128m16fp-di
  - www.datasheets360.com/part/detail/nt5cb128m16fp-di/7251930131555224175/
  NAND 1 or 2GB (nanda -  Android image based on Allwinner 3.4.39 kernel, 4.3 Jellybean ~16MB, nandb Buildroot 2016 ~186MB, rest of the space on the nand is not used)
  Power DC 5V @ 1A(better if you use a PSU thats 3A)
  
  (Right click on pictures and click on "Open image in new tab" to see a closeup)
  
  A20-OLINUXINO-LIME
  
  
  
  The first prototype of THEC64 Mini Board
  
  This is the first version of the board and it's the PAL Version with the Toshiba nand IC on it, with the hold under it's label underneath it.
  
  
  Final version of THEC64 Mini's board, the US NTSC version, it has a ATO Nand IC, bottom right near to the A20 SoC IC in the middle, heatsink on top of it, first model I have seen with a heatsink, its probably why THEC64 Maxi board has a heatsink too.
  
  
  more info here... linux-sunxi.org/Retro_Games_Ltd_RGL001 and here... www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/THEC64Mini
  
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  About THEC64/VIC20/Capcom Home Arcade
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  Capcom Home Arcade(CHA) uses a PCB board inside it that is based on THEC64 Mini, it has a H3 SoC instead of the A20 SoC thats being upgraded with more memory 512mb and a MMC IC that has replaced the NAND and a onboard WIFI Network Card.
  Specs are the same as a Orange Pi One H3, Orange PI PC H3(that has 1GB Ram) or H3-OLinuXino-NANO.
  THEC64 Maxi uses the same PCB board as the CHA, but with 256MB ram and no wifi and the same NAND IC as THEC64 Mini so it can run the same firmware as THEC64 Mini.
  
  
  
  
  I always thought that the CHA PCB Board was a copy of THEC64 Maxi PCB Board but I was wrong, it the other way round..
  
  Capcom Home Arcade was created by Ben Jones in January 2018 so before THEC64 Maxi...
  
  
  Twas a hot, humid afternoon in a dusty busy factory somewhere in  Dongguan China in January 2018. The noise and bussle of thousands of C64 minis being assembled was whipping me up into a frenzy of excitement. I wanted more of this feeling.
  
  What else could we bring out I asked the factory boss, he proceeded to fill the table with every console made in the 80s and 90s, Megadrives, Dreamcasts, Pc engines, Nes, Snes, Neo Geos, all different region variants and oddities, I was getting real pumped up, we can do it all I thought! One thing stood out though - a pandoras box sitting there like the odd one out. Straight away I thought about arcade manufacturers like Capcom never made a home console (If we disregard the CPS Changer). I reminisced about all the fun times I'd had playing 1942, Street Fighter 2, Golden Axe back in the day at my local social club.
  
  I couldn't stop thinking about it for the rest of the trip and particularly whether my memories of how great the gameplay and general experience of those arcade games was being seen through rose tinted spectacles. So I got home and ordered a pandoras box, it arrived and played 1944 and BAM! I realised that feeling was exactly what I felt as a teenager, the games were just as eye poppingly gorgeous with intense gameplay that required real skill and concentration from the start of level 1.
  
  I did more research on particular arcade game catalogues, which consisted of playing arcade game all day for many weeks and by far I considered Capcoms CPS era to be the most attractive in terms of consistence of quality and of course it had Street Fighter 2 as the jewel in the crown.
  
  So how would I deliver this idea, I checked out CPS changer, Capcom Power Stick Fighter, Mini Cute and Q25 cabs, all of them nice and feasible. But then I noticed that the Capcom logo was roughly the same dimensions of the Pandoras box sitting in front of me. So I just photo shopped the logo onto a photo of the Pandoras box and it fit. I then added a gausian blur around the edges of the logo'd Pandora image to give it a shadow and by accident filled in the shadow by mistake - it then dawned on me that looked like an awesome base to the machine.
  
  And the rest is history.
  
  Ben Jones - Koch Media UK.
  About THEVIC20
  ======================
   
  
  
  THEVIC20 will have the same specs cause its really THEC64 Maxi in the VIC-20 First Edition white or Ivory Breadbin case, THEC64 Limited Edition, the Carousel has been changed from Blue to Purple, it has C64/VIC20 games included(its not RGL's fault what games comes with the machines, it down to if they can get the copyright to that game to include it, only about 26 VIC-20 games included and the rest are C64 games. 
  I understand why RGL building it, they added the Vic 20 mode to THEC64 Maxi probably to see if anyone liked it as a test to see if THE VIC 20 was a good idea to build.
  
  I have THEVIC20 and THEC64 Mini, I bought THEC64 Mini to support RGL cause they didn't get funded on Indiegogo, I think the machines are great and makes it easier to use, no need for other devices connected to it like a 1541 Disk Drive or Datasette(Commodore Tape Deck), it's a All In One Machine...  and easier to transport or move, all you need it the Machine and a USB Stick.
  This would of not been possible 10 years ago, until the Raspberry PI was invented in 2012, we have a lot to thank the Raspberry PI for now, cause alot of things we have now is because of the RPI and Emulation and the ARM Processor.
  
  THEC64 Maxi/Capcom Home Arcade Specs and insides
  =====================================================================
• 
  
  SoC: System on a Chip.. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_on_a_chip
  
  CPU: Maxi/Vic20/CHA
  Alwinner H3 Quad-core Cortex-A7(ARMV8) @1.296GHz and GPU: Mali400MP2 GPU @600mhz(SoC CPU and GPU in one chip on top of each other, like they are piggybacking or like a sandwich.)
  
  RAM: Maxi/Vic20
  256MB Memory datasheetspdf.com/datasheet/NT5CB128M16FP.html
  
  NAND: Maxi/Vic20
  2MB Fidelix FMND2G08U3J printed on NAND Chip but Hynix HY27UF082G2B ID in nand_rw program, Fidelix was taken over by Hynix www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2018/12/693_21042.html .
  
  
  Picture of the CHA logic board with the Allwinner SoC H3 with no heatsink and H3 clearly seen on the chip, THEC64 Maxi logic board is the same.
  A mock up picture I made so it looks like your looking through the heatsink to see the H3 SoC Chip on the CHA PCB Board... 
  
  
  
  It has a heatsink on it because the H3 can get hot very quickly, It's rated to run at 1.296GHz, anything higher is overclocking (and usually overvolting). If you run it without heatsink, fan and proper dvfs settings, you risk overheating.
  And it probably overclocked on the CHA board to run the emulator better so needs a heatsink too get rid of the heat or you will start getting crashes or lockups.
  
  You can see THEC64 Maxi/CHA Logic Board was built with the same design that THEC64 Mini's Logic Board uses, they are both the same size, it has markings on the left side of the board for 2 USB ports and a Power button, it even has the hole in the board, top right if board is upside down, top left if board facing up, where one of the screw posts goes through it on THEC64 Mini's top part of the case to screw the case together, you could fit the maxi board into THEC64 Mini's case, if you soldered 2 USB Ports and a power button on the board, it should work in it too but might have to test the USB Ports first to see if they work and not missing any resistors and that, you would need to cut a hole in the back on THEC64 Mini's case for the other USB port on the board too.
  
  The Picture below shows THEC64 Maxi PCB board above and THEC64 Mini PCB board below and are both exactly the same size in width and length and has the same screw holes, they have the same PCB footprint.
  
  The screw holes are in the exactly the same place too, they replaced the sd card slot on THEC64 Mini PCB for a USB port on THEC64 Maxi PCB for USB OTG.
  The CHA PCB was manufactured first cause its a copy of THEC64 Mini PCB just has a different SoC, that why it has V01 on it, then the CHA board design was used on THEC64 Maxi.
  
  You can put the C64 Maxi PCB in THEC64 Mini Case and would be able to use the Keyboard Mod for THEC64 Mini with it... :0
  
  Here is a picture of THEC64 Maxi PCB in THEC64 Mini Case, it fits exactly as if it was built for it...
  
  It even has a connector, bottom left for the FEL Button that came with the first version of THEC64 Mini.
  
  USB HUB PCB on the right side on the case that connects to the the main board and then to the keyboard.
  
  --------------------------------
  Cables
  --------------------------------
  Power Cable(RED C64 LED)
  --------------------------------
  From left to right.
  --------------------------------
  RED=v5
  BLACK= GND(Ground)
  
  USB HUB 3 USB Port
  --------------------------------
  RED= 5v
  WHITE= D-
  GREEN= D+
  BLACK= GND(Ground)
  --------------------------------
• The Keyboard: Keyrah V2... wiki.icomp.de/wiki/Keyrah_V2
  
  Its based on the Keyrah V2, it uses the same keymap for Windows (Switch normal) on the Keyrah V2 but they have just moved the keys around so there are not all in the same place but most of them are (like CTRL is LEFTCTRL) and if you mod it, it can be used on a PC(the Keyrah V2 can), if you wire it up to a USB Male connector, it can be used with VICE on a PC or on the RPI3 but would need to remap the VKM file inside VICE so it keys would work properly.
  If you look at THEC64 Maxi Keyboard with evtest and then looked at the Keyrah V2 they use the same keys but some have been remapped so like the RESTORE Key is KEY_TAB (and on the Keyrah V2 its KEY-PAGEUP) to make it work like a windows keyboard so if you plug in a usb keyboard in to THEC64 Maxi it would match the keys on it.
  
  THEC64 Maxi Keyboard Mapping is here... thec64community.online/thread/688/c64-keyboard-mapping
  
  Power supply:
  5V 2A or 3A(Sometimes it has the wrong type of power adapter in it box with THEC64 MAXi/THE VIC 20, its best if you use a 5V 3A with it like the Orange PI PC board uses and stops THEC64 Maxi crashing randomly and the more devices you add to it(Joysticks, USB Stick) the more amps it uses.
  
  USB..
  It does not use an internal USB hub therefore the 4 available USB ports don't have to share bandwidth.
  
  THEC64 Maxi was built by Koch Media and designed by Retro Games LTD.
  
  THEC64 Maxi board build date was 23.08.2019 and Capcom Home Arcade board build date was 30.07.2019,  the Capcom Home Arcade board was made first and has a one month gap between each other.
  
  Capcom Home Arcade board
  ----------------------------------
  It has different NAND and RAM chips only..
  
  NAND:
  Kingston EMMCO4G-M627 and is 4GB in size.
  
  RAM:
  Memolink ML5TQ4G16CFR 4G= 4Gigabit = 512MB.
  
  WiFi:
  RealTek 8188eu for Network for downloading updates and for updating Scoreboard from the games the user plays, cool idea.. .
  
  You can fit a SD card slot on its board, the CHA in Germany come with a SD Card Slot fitted already.
  
  The Boards nickname is the Orange PI board, it a copy of the Xunlong Orange Pi PC board, the board is open source... linux-sunxi.org/Xunlong_Orange_Pi_PC   
  Here is the Orange Pi PC Schematics 1.2.. drive.google.com/file/d/0BwQT0FP7IkTbRFJQamNwWTAzWms/view
  
  The Capcom Home Arcade has a USB Board in side it, it connects to the joysticks and buttons and then connects to the CHA Board, it uses the same USB chips from THEC64 MS Joystick "GH001"(Game Hub 001) IC.
  
  GH001 USB IC Game Hub Chip
  ===============================================
  it has 4 compactors on it for each IC, there on the left side of the ICs and above the IC on THEC64 Microswitch Joysticks "GH001" IC, look at its pictures below, you can see "GH001" IC, it has 4 compactors on it, they are next to the IC.(Named C1, C2, C3, C4)
  
  
  THEC64 Joystick PCB with "GH001" USB IC on its board
  
  
  And a close up of the IC and brightness on the image turned up.
  
  
  CHA has 8 buttons and one stick for one player and for two player, the same, THEC64 MS Joystick has one stick and 8 buttons too - 2 fire's, 2 triangle buttons and 4 buttons for A B C and Menu, TheC64 MS Joystick works on the CHA all buttons work but there are just in the wrong place, That why it works on the CHA, it shears components with THEC64 Maxi and cause it made by Koch Media that manufactured THEC64 Mini/Maxi and THEVic20.
  
  
  
  
  "GH001" USB Chip is the original chip that's in the Pre order THEC64 Mini(Released on March 28 2018 in EU and October 9 2018 in USA), THEC64 Red Stick Joystick that came with it, the first version of the THEC64 Red Stick Joystick works with Capcom Home Arcade where the second version of the joystick where it has the chip in the middle of the board, does not work with Capcom Home Arcade.
  
  I have a Pre order THEC64 Mini with the original Red Stick Joystick, and the second version of that joystick and a THEC64 Micro Switch Joystick I tested on Capcom Home Arcade.
  
  One thing I have noticed is if you are moving a character on the screen with the stick, in a game and press one of the button to punch or kick then you can't move the character with the stick on Capcom Home Arcade with THEC64 Red Stick Joystick or with the THEC64 Micro Switch Joystick, once you stop pressing the button then you can move again using the stick.
  
  
  The Orange Pi PC H3
  ===========================
  The Orange Pi PC H3 is a Chinese development board, a bit like a RPI3, or 4 or a Cubleboard 3 or 4, the Orange PI A20 board can use Cubleboard 2 images too.(Orange Pi, Raspberry Pi, they saw how many RPi's were being sold and wanted a piece of the PIE..  )
  
  THEC64 MAXI firmware can run on the Orange Pi PC H3 fine.. (jj0) for the picture, he can work anything out...wow)
  It's the closest you get to how the CHA mainboard works in THEC64 MAXi, it was exactly the same.
  
  TheC64 Maxi board and CHA board are based on Xunlong Orange Pi PC linux-sunxi.org/Xunlong_Orange_Pi_PC
  
  CHA users even call the CHA board the Orange PI board.
  
  
  Orange Pi PC H3 Specs and detailed pictures.
  -----------------------------------------------------
  
  Hardware specification
  CPU:H3 Quad-core Cortex-A7 H.265/HEVC 4K
  GPU:
  ·Mali400MP2 GPU @600mhz
  ·Supports OpenGL ES 2.0
  Memory (SDRAM) :1GB DDR3 (shared with GPU)
  Onboard Storage:TF card (Max. 64GB) / MMC card slot
  Onboard Network:10/100 Ethernet RJ45
  Video Input:A CSI input connector Camera:
  Supports 8-bit YUV422 CMOS sensor interface
  Supports CCIR656 protocol for NTSC and PAL
  Supports SM pixel camera sensor
  Supports video capture solution up to 1080p@30fps
  Audio Input:MIC
  Video Outputs:Supports HDMI output with HDCP,Supports HDMI CEC,
  Supports HDMI 30 function,Integrated CVBS,Supports simultaneous output of HDMI and CVBS
  Audio Output:3.5 mm Jack and HDMI
  Power Source:DC input, USB OTG input don't supply power
  USB 2.0 Ports:Three USB 2.0 HOST, one USB 2.0 OTG
  Buttons:Power Button
  Low-level peripherals:40 Pins Header,compatible with Raspberry Pi B+ GPIO(1x3) pin:UART,ground.
  LED:Power led & Status led
  Key：IR input,POWER
  Supported OS：Android Lubuntu, Debian, Rasberry Pi Image
  Interface definition
  Product size 85mm × 55mm
  Weight 38g
  Power supply 5V 3A
  Operating Temperature -10 ~ 65℃
  

The Atari2600 Plus
=========================

I added this too because its made by PLAION and made in the same factory in China as THEC64/CHA.






Hardware insides:
=========================


RoRockchip RK3128: Quad-core Cortex-A7 up to 1.2GHz Mali-400MP2 GPU RK3128 - Rockchip Wiki

NAND: 256mb: TOSHIBA TC58NVG1S3HT A00 NAND IC like THEC64 Mini Download Datasheet

RAM: 256mb: H5TQ2G63GFR Hynix Semiconductor DRAM Chip DDR3 SDRAM 2Gbit 128Mx16 1.5V 96-Pin FBGA Download Datasheet

This uses the same nand from THEC64 Mini and its say TOSHIBA on it so it must be old stock, the company changed its name in 2019 to KIOXA because the same nand is used in THEA500 Mini too but has KIOXA on it so this must be old stick from when they made THEC64 Mini in 2018, well its cheaper to use old stock then new stock.

I/O Board
============

This in/Out board that reads the Atari 2600/7800 rom cartridge and sends it to the tmp/ folder and then loads it into Stella.









Chips:

U1: MCU to detect and dump the cart ROM

U2: MCU to convert controller ports to USB

U6: CH444G quad analog switches chip. Used to connect the USB-C connector to one of the two MCUs or the mainboards rock chip.

U7: CH442E dual analog switches chip. connects MCU U2 to the D+/- pins of the mainboard header going to the rockchip or connects the MCU to U6.


Some interesting lables:

USB_S: USB switch connected to the B/W switch. B/W mode selects one of the MCUs. Color Mode selects the rockchip.

BOOT_KEY (on header) connected to the RESET switch. When reset is pulled down and power is switched on the Rockchip enters update mode.

CAR_TEST (CARD_TEST on main board) goes to dumper MCU U1. Probably a request from the main baord to the dumper MCU to test the cart (again)

1PA_1PB, 2PA_2PB are opposite of the A and B difficulty labels on the case. Must have been confusing determining which is which.


other interesting things:

J8 is the dumper MCU's UART that is used to send roms to the emulator. There's 1 1K resistor added between GND and 5V. There was probably an issue with the 5V and this resistor was added as a fix.

The Controller port MCU also has a small UART header available. probably used for debugging.

Both MCUs U1 and U2 have their chip markings removed. One has a bar mark to distinguish the one from the other. Maybe @ben from Plaion can tell us what mode MCU is used?

Back of the In/Out Board
------------------------------




USB Ports on the I/O board
====================================



D-, D+ is USB Port 1 and D-1, D+1 is USB Port 2, you could use 5v and GND for both ports or just to solder a USB Hub on it.

You could solder a USB Hub on solder points 5v, D-, D+, GND so then you can use the USB Ports on it.


Atari 2600+ dumper
===========================

You can add a cart dumping feature to the Atari 2600+ by connecting a FTDI cable (USB to serial cable) to the Ataro2600+ I/O board serial header

github.com/MrBlinky/Atari2600plus-dumper/



More to come.... THE400 Mini.... THECXSTICK