mos6507's Blog

Nice work - I'm assuming those two chips (apart from the Speakjet) are an EEPROM and a small amplifier? What is the third surface-mounted chip on the black PCBs - is it something for the Vectrex?

 

Chris

The pesky surface-mount chip is a PIC. You'd want to ask Richard how the PIC actually enables the AtariVox to behave like a VecVox or a VecVoice.The PCB has barely enough space to do what it's doing here. That's why it's a SMD PIC instead of a DIP.

You'd want to ask Richard how the PIC actually enables the AtariVox to behave like a VecVox or a VecVoice

VecVox mode - it changes baud rates, 9600 from the Vectrex to 19200 into the SpeakJet.VecVoice mode - is emulating the SPO256 speech chip used in the original.

You'd want to ask Richard how the PIC actually enables the AtariVox to behave like a VecVox or a VecVoice

 

VecVox mode - it changes baud rates, 9600 from the Vectrex to 19200 into the SpeakJet.

VecVoice mode - is emulating the SPO256 speech chip used in the original.

 

Thanks - I didn't realise it was emulating another chip. Can the PIC be programmed through the Atari joystick port, or is the programming fixed?

 

Chris

There is a 10-pin header that is for in-circuit programming of the PIC. That header is really expensive on Digikey so I didn't order it but I found a cheaper supplier. I'm having a really hard time getting the PIC wired in reliably and I now have a stack of boards that may or may not be redeemable with a PIC firmware upgrade. This is why I didn't want to formally announce something. I want to start consistently building working units and so far the only ones that are coming out functional are the hardwired AtariVox ones without the PIC.

There is a 10-pin header that is for in-circuit programming of the PIC. That header is really expensive on Digikey so I didn't order it but I found a cheaper supplier. I'm having a really hard time getting the PIC wired in reliably and I now have a stack of boards that may or may not be redeemable with a PIC firmware upgrade. This is why I didn't want to formally announce something. I want to start consistently building working units and so far the only ones that are coming out functional are the hardwired AtariVox ones without the PIC.

 

Surface mount soldering can be a real pain. Batari might have some tips as he has soldered over 50 Harmony carts now. I think he uses the drag soldering technique?

 

Chris