mytek

Not as good as LumaCode or Sophia because you are converting the analog video to HDMI, whereas the LumaCode digitizer is directly reading an interpreting the GTIA digital signals. Unless I'm mistaken, all you've done is repackage an off-the-shelf S-Video to HDMI converter. So I doubt that the video will be crystal clear since it's reliant on the quality of the stock Atari analog video circuits. I did something similar in this project (XEP80-II).

So using the joystick port to read a USB keyboard would have required a driver on the Atari side (your VB routine). I would think it would be much better to go through Pokey and mimic the stock keyboard matrix so as to be transparent to the Atari, and thus no need for a driver to interpret it. Curious as to why the console keys couldn't be made to work via your original idea. Seems like the same driver could have poked the appropriate registers.

First I gotta commend you on your ingenuity 👍 But then I look at the complexity to just adapt a USB joystick and it makes me wonder if there is a simpler way. Seems like a job for a single Atmel or PIC microcontroller that has built-in USB (there are several choices). Of course it would require custom firmware and PCB, so still a project.

Glad you spotted that 👍 It shows that the innovation began on the Atari, and then spilled over to the C64. However the idea for the RF Modulator replacement as a more universal interface came from a builder on the C64 which I incorporated into my design. Since the Atari 8-bits also has a modulator with two holes in the case (RCA Jack and channel switch) I'll have to investigate if such an interface board can be made for the UGV as well. And just like the C64 platform, there are differences between models, so it may take a couple of different versions. But I really do like the idea of the 3.5mm stereo jack being configurable to yield Composite Video, LumaCode, as well as left and right audio with the use of a dual RCA jack 'Y' adapter.

And now to agitate all you Commie Haters I got the newest member of the VGATE family almost ready for show time. VGATE Video Board for the C64 VIC-II It's actually a more integrated 2 piece board set, with a separate interface board meant to take the place of the original RF modulator. And because there were essentially two versions (long board and short board) there are also two different interface boards as well. Nice thing is that no new holes or case modification is required, and we get the S-Video, Composite, and Audio all available from the one interface board. It even accommodates the LumaCode video digitizer output or stereo. As can be seen below, not much is nested inside the socket area, with only the PIC chip and a couple other associated components, since there isn't a space issue in this application.

It happens to me all the time. Even if I double and triple check a BOM, it never fails that at least one thing is wrong when I go to assemble a board. Nothing like ordering and assembling from the early draft to really verify accuracy 🙄

You're in the UK so that would be a bit expensive. Better if I just add the board to one of my future JLCPCB purchases. But thanks for the offer for sure 👍 From what I understand it presently fits all Atari 8-bit systems, so there's really no need to shrink it down more. Also with all the components on the topside as they are now, it would be relatively simple to use a stencil and reflow oven for assembly if so desired. As for economics, I suspect there would not be a noticeable difference in cost to make it smaller than what it already is.

@Overange is your SM Edition ready for public release? I so, would you mind if I add it's gerbers and BOM to my UGV page? Of course I'd be sure to give you full credit

I sometimes feel that way if I post something about one of my projects before its conclusion, because it adds sometimes unwanted pressure to get it done. But on the other hand it does feel good to share, and as you pointed out, get inspiration that drives the project forward in an even better way.

GUI or CLI makes no difference to the scenario of my wife and kids ever wanting to use the Atari. And if they ever did, all they would be interested in doing on it would be games which are easily handled by the menus on the various Multi-Carts or SDrives. And I'd pretty much have to put myself in that camp as well a good majority of the time. I had a discussion over Zoom with a few other Atarians about this, and I openly voiced my opinion that from a practicality point of view there's really nothing I'd prefer doing on an 8-Bit Atari vs. my Linux box (maybe games). For instance in my opinion all these applications will require a modern PC of some kind with a GUI (Windows, MAC, Linux)... WYSIWYG Word Processing via Word or Libreoffice Writer Proper surfing on the internet via Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, ect. that can handle graphics Proper email client that can handle all attachments Proper spreadsheet such as Excel or LibreOffice Calc PDF Viewer Video editing Photo editing Ability to run development platforms for modern hardware (ESP, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, PICs, AVRs, FPGAs, CPLDs) PCB Design Suites 3D Printing and Design Posting on AtariAge And the list goes on, and on... So what's left? Retro Games. Pretty interesting coming from a guy that develops hardware upgrades for retro computers. Edit: Because it's a hobby for me very much like working on an old car. I'm just being realistic on whether my wife and kids would ever want to do something productive on an Atari 8-bit computer, irrelevant if it had a GUI or not But that doesn't mean I wouldn't want to see Jon's GUI finished.

I thought I should post this here as well on my website. !!! WARNING !!! Not all SGM Physical Carts are guaranteed to work, although the equivalent digital download versions using an AtariMax Ultimate Cart often times will work. This is something that came to light over the last 6 months. I and a fellow beta tester had run all the SGM game digital download tests via an AtariMax Ultimate SD Cart without any issues during the R&D development phase. But first one and then another end user discovered that a limited few SGM Physical Carts would not work (apparently they didn't pass the SGM test performed by the game). Obviously it's a timing issue between the physical and digital download versions, with the digital versions via the AtariMax cart usually working fine. If I knew specifically what that difference really is, there may have been a way to correct it possibly through a CPLD update. However I'm presently at a loss, and I'm obviously not going to rush out and purchase a bunch of physical SGM carts to find out, since I already spent a considerable amount to fund the R&D on this project. As I mentioned only a 'few' SGM physical carts have not worked, so it doesn't appear to be a chronic problem. But I felt it only right to point this out to potential buyers and/or builders.

@Overange thank you for finding that information, because I couldn't pin-point where I had posted that. Using those specific cables, here's the breakdown on what color does what. !!! IMPORTANT !!! notice the reversal on the Luma/Chroma connections.

The combo FujiNet/Cart board is not so much closed source, since the schematics for the various parts was shared a while back. But the PCB design and manufacturing files are closed source. Or in other words, it's only available as a purchase from TBA.

I received an inquiry today... Well other than this topic, and what little information has been provided at my AtariBits website, I would recommend checking this out. Hopefully that posted topic will help fill in some gaps for you from an operational point of view. However you will not find a BOM or assembly instructions for this particular variant on my website, or in these forums. Keep in mind that the FujiNet/Cart daughter board for the 576NUC+ is actually the creation of @Mr Robot and is solely manufactured by @MacRorie of The Brewing Academy where you mentioned purchasing it from. Currently I'm not aware of it being an open source project.

Sounds like Lotharek's mini SDrive is very similar to the SDrive-ng by @kbr that I was fooling around with a while back. It also can rotate 4 drive images with a press of a button.