Omega-TI Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Recently I've been forced to explore alternatives other than the Nano-PEB, and it got me to wondering... Has anyone ever considered a device that would hook up to the HDX card (via the cable) that replaces the PC? It would be kind of neat to have a micro SD card as a functional solid state hard drive for the TI, without having to use a PC. I know the DSR programming might be too difficult to write and burn it into the chip as a PC replacement. I'm also not sure how many HDX boards are out in the wild to make this a viable venture. In essence this would instantly be the same as having a dedicated hard drive in the TI. I doubt the finished product would have to be any bigger that an Altoids tin with a power connector at one end and the RS-232 on the other. Okay... <FANTASY MODE OFF> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertLM78 Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Out of curiosity, how does the new nano look as far as construction is concerned? I recall someone mentioning some less than perfect work on your previous model. If it seems to be better construction, you should try and stick with it and resolve the issues you've been having - if not, why not consider the CF7+? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 17, 2013 Author Share Posted November 17, 2013 Out of curiosity, how does the new nano look as far as construction is concerned? I recall someone mentioning some less than perfect work on your previous model. If it seems to be better construction, you should try and stick with it and resolve the issues you've been having - if not, why not consider the CF7+? Well, I hate to come off as a cheap ba$tard, but but I've already put out $30.00 in postage just getting defective Nano's. If I have to pay for shipping both ways again that will bring me to $42.00. Where does one call it quits? While the construction does look better on this unit, this one functions like the last one looked. It's corrupted my programs and is essentially unusable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazoo Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Is this an open topic to suggest extremely useful new TI devices, or just to discuss the one you proposed? Gazoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMole Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 What you're after should be easy enough to achieve: simply port the HDX PC software to Linux and run it on a Raspberry Pi or something similar that reads from an SD card instead of a directory on a PC harddisk. All the TI hardware and software already exists, the PC part should be almost trivial to port... And as a bonus, you'd have that clock you're so eagerly looking for as well . Has Fred shared the sources of the PC utilities? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc.hull Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Recently I've been forced to explore alternatives other than the Nano-PEB, and it got me to wondering... Has anyone ever considered a device that would hook up to the HDX card (via the cable) that replaces the PC? It would be kind of neat to have a micro SD card as a functional solid state hard drive for the TI, without having to use a PC. I know the DSR programming might be too difficult to write and burn it into the chip as a PC replacement. I'm also not sure how many HDX boards are out in the wild to make this a viable venture. In essence this would instantly be the same as having a dedicated hard drive in the TI. I doubt the finished product would have to be any bigger that an Altoids tin with a power connector at one end and the RS-232 on the other. Okay... <FANTASY MODE OFF> Get a PEB and one of the existing hard drive solutions such as MFM, SCSI or IDE. Takes some time and effort so don't expect it to fall into your lap. Or keep hoping in one hand and crapping in the other... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazoo Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Get a PEB and one of the existing hard drive solutions such as MFM, SCSI or IDE. Takes some time and effort so don't expect it to fall into your lap. Or keep hoping in one hand and crapping in the other... Along this line of thought, it was Marc that helped me update both my TI & Geneve to CF 'Harddrives". I already had SCSI cards with Zip drives and EZ135s on both systems along with traditional hard drives. I worked out a trade with Marc where he gave me a SCSI to IDE converter & an IDE to CF converter. That allowed me to rid my Geneve of the mechanical hard drive and replace it with a CF card, easier to backup and transfer files because it can be read on a pc to provide an image file. So after upgrading my Geneve, I did the same to my TI, on my own. As Marc says, it requires some time and effort. It won't fall in your lap, you actually have to invest some time and effort to find the stuff you need. It's hard, but nowhere near impossible. JUST DO IT. Gazoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertLM78 Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Get a PEB and one of the existing hard drive solutions such as MFM, SCSI or IDE. Takes some time and effort so don't expect it to fall into your lap. Or keep hoping in one hand and crapping in the other... I think the problem is that both the PEB and drive solutions are pretty rare - nevermind something like the 32K expansion and an RS232, neither of which I've ever seen on eBay. I think TheMole might be on to something though using a Pi with ported HDX software. I know I'd like to do something for my son's 99/4a as far as expanding it - or just having something to replace the PEB should that ever go out on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazoo Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 I think the problem is that both the PEB and drive solutions are pretty rare - nevermind something like the 32K expansion and an RS232, neither of which I've ever seen on eBay. I think TheMole might be on to something though using a Pi with ported HDX software. I know I'd like to do something for my son's 99/4a as far as expanding it - or just having something to replace the PEB should that ever go out on me. What's going to go wrong with the PEB? Power supply? Replace it with a new PC power supply. Case get demolished? Unlikely. Backplane go bad? There's a possibility, but a piece of emery cloth will probably restore the contacts. Gazoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertLM78 Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 What's going to go wrong with the PEB? Power supply? Replace it with a new PC power supply. Case get demolished? Unlikely. Backplane go bad? There's a possibility, but a piece of emery cloth will probably restore the contacts. Gazoo Yeah, you're probably right - the thing is a tank . So maybe not so much the PEB itself, but the expansion cards I would reckon could go bad (I guess it's just a fear I have, losing half my system's capabilities - like Michael thinking about his 9938 going out ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc.hull Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 (edited) Yeah, you're probably right - the thing is a tank . So maybe not so much the PEB itself, but the expansion cards I would reckon could go bad (I guess it's just a fear I have, losing half my system's capabilities - like Michael thinking about his 9938 going out ). Mike Dudek has full and tested (cards as well) PEB's for sale. That's A PEB, 32k, rs232, fdc and drive. Last one I got was 125.00 plus shipping. Look for MDUDE on eBay. Great place to start your hard disk quest, even you Kev... Edited November 18, 2013 by marc.hull 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 18, 2013 Author Share Posted November 18, 2013 Is this an open topic to suggest extremely useful new TI devices, or just to discuss the one you proposed? Gazoo Hey Gazoo, it's a wide open thread! Anything you think is new and cool... is cool! Go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 18, 2013 Author Share Posted November 18, 2013 What you're after should be easy enough to achieve: simply port the HDX PC software to Linux and run it on a Raspberry Pi or something similar that reads from an SD card instead of a directory on a PC harddisk. All the TI hardware and software already exists, the PC part should be almost trivial to port... And as a bonus, you'd have that clock you're so eagerly looking for as well . Has Fred shared the sources of the PC utilities? We'll see what develops in the future, as of now I'll be getting a 'tank' (P-BOX) with two 3.5" drives, 32K and RS-232 with the HDX modification and whisper quiet fan. My biggest problem is going to be finding a place to shoe-horn that thing in. That was the one outstanding thing about this Nano... it was small. Were I go from here is too far out to figure yet. The clock is still a possibility, and IF everything works out, they may become available for anyone to obtain as well. Now I really wish the Nano had worked out, as they are a nifty little gadget when they work properly. I will give the man kudos, he does try to work things out when there are problems, and to his credit he refunded my money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 What you're after should be easy enough to achieve: simply port the HDX PC software to Linux and run it on a Raspberry Pi or something similar that reads from an SD card instead of a directory on a PC harddisk. All the TI hardware and software already exists, the PC part should be almost trivial to port... And as a bonus, you'd have that clock you're so eagerly looking for as well . Has Fred shared the sources of the PC utilities? I already suggested this to Fred.. he's very windows-centric in his development. and no source for hdx on his site.. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertLM78 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 I already suggested this to Fred.. he's very windows-centric in his development. and no source for hdx on his site.. Greg That's too bad - not that I have coded anything special, but I feel like sharing source is really the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazoo Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Hey Gazoo, it's a wide open thread! Anything you think is new and cool... is cool! Go for it! Ok, The one best piece of TI hardware I can imagine that has not yet been created is a replacement for the v9938. This replacement would be pin compatible and be in the form of a Daughter Board that plugs in where the v9938 was. It would have a vga output, as well as a mouse port. The full 192k vram would be included on the board. The board would be an excellent way to help keep all of the existing TIMs, Digit Cards, Mechatronic sidecars, EVPC cards, EVPC2 cards, and Geneves up and running if the supply of compatible monitors drys up. Thankfully there seems to be a pretty decent amount of 910MPs floating around to keep the community going for a little while. An offshoot of the project could be a pbox card that would accept the Daughter Board, It could be much less complicated than existing V9938 cards as it would not need to contain the Vram. Seems as if a voltage regulator and a few logic chips would be all that's necessary. Those that never had a TI with a v9938 could finally find out what they've been missing, and those that had one in the past could replace what they had. And the code to do it already exists! I don't know if it's complete and bug free, but it's here: http://sblive.narod.ru/ZX-Spectrum/V9938/V9938.htm All we need is someone with the skills to make it work. I volunteer to help solder. Gazoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXB Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Wish I knew hardware I would love this, I really miss the kick ass graphics and extra VRAM I had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 23, 2013 Author Share Posted November 23, 2013 You know another option would be some kind of hack to use the HDX with a cellphone. Androids phones are popular, I bet someone out there could make a small App that would allow a the phone to be used as the TI's main storage unit. Besides the program itself, the only other small problem would be all the different cords that would be needed... but then that could be overcome with a basic RS-232 to standard USB socket. The cellphone users probably already have a USB to mini jack that their phone uses. I'd probably need to buy a smartphone though if this ever came to pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted December 2, 2013 Author Share Posted December 2, 2013 An even more obvious solution could be printed circuit board, made into a card for the Peripheral Expansion Box. All it would would need is support circuitry and programming to interface a memory card or stick of some sort. I can see this easily being done for about the same price as a Nano-PEB or F18A. How many of you with PEB's would like to have an INTERNAL SOLID STATE HARD DRIVE? The speed of access would also be a plus over mechanical drives, and with some of the new possible games for the F18A on the horizon, the extra space would sure come in handy for new games with multiple levels or screens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkeey Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 I think some are doing this by getting from SCSI to CF card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted December 2, 2013 Author Share Posted December 2, 2013 I think some are doing this by getting from SCSI to CF card. Sounds good, I'll investigate this route AFTER I get my box and get it up and running. I still would prefer an all-in-one designed for the task. How about it Matthew? I'll buy one if you make it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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