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Hi folks, good news... today I finished the assembly of the last batch - all orders not shipped out until now will be posted on Monday, the 12.th. As usual I will inform all purchasers by email seperately with tracking number and so on. I have some pieces left. If somebody is interested, please drop a PN or email, will respond soon with payment details. Thanks for all purchasers to make this project happen! Jurgen

PN sent!

Yes, agree. Using NTSC the change of the color display is impressive.... when testing with four different GTIA (NTSC) I have the same setting of the color pot, but the screen varies from blue (correct) background to purple... Using PAL there are also differences, but much less than using NTSC. Of course in the manual this behavior is mentioned

Yes. You got PN :-)

Although I set up the color pot for NTSC users before shipping out the PCBs, every user should optimize the setting using his own devices. The color pot circuit is dependent on the 12V rail. Because Atari uses different manufacturers of the 7812 voltage regulator, different manufacturers of the caps and so on, the effective output voltage varies a little bit from system to system. To get best results, please set up the color pot together with the most used television or monitors you want to use with the computer and the SCCC. Jurgen

There isn´t any magic... Portbit B1 (Bit 1 of Port B, pin 11 of PIA 6520 chip) is connected to the MMU. The MMU manages memory, ROM, cartridge(s), internal basic and I/O access to the whole 64 KB address space. When this portbit is set to 0, the internal BASIC ROM is enabled. A "1" means "BASIC disabled". The MMU´s logic checks this portbit and decides to map normal memory (BASIC disabled) or the BASIC ROM in the area between $A000 and $BFFF. If a cartridge (at least 8 KB one) is inserted, then internal BASIC is always seen "disabled", not depending on the status of Portbit B1. The XL/XE O.S. just checks during coldstart if OPTION is held - if OPTION is held, the value 1 is written to address 1016 (decimal). Otherwise 1016 is set to zero. This value is used during every RESET (also warmstart) to set portbit B1 to 0 or 1...

Thanks for the pictures No, the RF output is disabled. To enable this, the video output must be redirected to the Atari mainbaord, which would cause bad influence to the quality of the video signal. Jurgen

Hi all, a few days later than expected, but better late than never Here´s the complete and final Installation instructions & manual for the Super Color CPU Card Installation Instructions SCCC - Super Color CPU Card.pdf Special thanks to Dropcheck and FlashJazzCat for proof reading & correcting my english faults Jurgen

Hi, I don´t want to discuss such silly things... Steven always provided good service and friendly answers to me - since years. The people talking "bad" here... ever thought about the possibility of technical problems? I searched the AtariMax forum and found within 45 seconds (!) threads regarding the same "problem" and Steven answers quickly with an alternative email address: [email protected] So maybe trying there... Jurgen

Hi, wow, that´s pretty fast! From Germany to the U.S.A. within four working days... Sorry, I´m 80% ready with the manual. I thought the parcels need longer, so the manual is ready first Manual will uploadet here in the next 2 days... Jurgen

Hi, could you sent me an ATR file with some stuff to use the DragonCart? I haven´t found the time to play around with the D.C. until now. Thanks. Jurgen

Hi, when you are living in europe, I can sent you one working and tested Delay-Line chip. U.S. citizens better directly order at BEST or myAtari... Just sent me a PN. Regards, Jurgen

Maybe I missed the (or a) list, but I want 3 more plug-in kits if possible :-) Thanks, Jurgen

Hi Jon, count me in for one, please. Jurgen

Hi all, due some problems (solved) and less spare time (not solved) it take longer than expected, but this weekend I finished the first batch of the SCCC. Shipping out the first part will be done tomorrow (today it´s a public holiday here). All purchasers already got the information and tracking number by email. Next will be made... BR Jurgen

Yes, absolutely right. It´s experimental. And useful only with carts like the DragonCart, which doesn´t require / allocate memory using S4/S5 or RD4/RD5 (like ABBUC USB cart, DragonCart, some RTC cartridges, Turbo Tape carts and so on). Maybe I can fit both usages into the one little GAL, so that the Dual RA Cart Extender or the 130 XE ECI2PBI can be used in both ways - the original way like Lenore develope them and the 2nd usage for having two special carts at one system. Of course a little extra switch must be added to the PCB and a modified GAL logic. Before nobody can provide an ATR with "ready to test" software the DragonCart I can´t go further. I haven´t time for exploring the DragonCart by myself - other projects must be finished before. Jurgen

Did some more research... I changed the logic for the GAL (used in both adapters from Dropcheck, not depending which PCB I use for this trial) and insert the SiDE2 into slot #1, the DragonCart into slot #2. The DragonCart registers are always visible, independent on the position´s switch. Signal CCTL is always pass-through to slot #2 (where DragonCart is plugged in), sginals S4 and S5 are always high - and signals RD4 & RD5 or slot #2 are ignored. This works fine. But the SiDE2 seems to use anything in $D5F0...$D5FF. When I start up the system, then the screen looks like: Ultimate clock installed SIDE not present SpartaDOS X 4.48 23-07-2016 Copyright (C) 2016 by FTe & DLT So the RTC is found, but I think the APT driver won´t initialize. After detaching the DragonCart all is fine. Next try... I set the DragonCart to use $D5D0...$D5DF. This seems to work - but more tests must be done. I need some software to test the functionality of the DragonCart. Help wanted. Second... what I didn´t know... does the area $D5D0...$D5DF is used by SDX in any way? If so, then some time using SDX or the SiDE loader the system may crash. Otherwise this should be a good way to co-existence. New GAL logic for this experiment is sent to Dropcheck Jurgen

This was also my first thought... but I´ve to revise. The DragonCart just uses 16 bytes in the I/O area of $D500...$D5xF, it doesn´t set RD4 or RD5 to high (because no ROM or similar is mirrored) and also need no S4 nor S5 chip select. So an coexistence should be work fine plugging the SIDE2 in one slot, enable it with the switch and insert the DragonCart in the other. Inside the DragonCart four DIP switches exists on the solder (back) side of the PCB. Per Default all are set to "ON", which means that address range $D500...$D50F is selected. Switching all to OFF position sets the address range to $D5F0-$D5FF. The SIDE/SIDE2 mode and RTC registers are located in $D5Ex. The addresses below $D5E0 are used for SDX bank switching I assume. So, theoretically, $D5F0-$D5FF should be fine and usable for the DragonCart. I just setup such an config and SIDE2 starts normal. But I haven´t have any time to play with the DragonCart yet, so I haven´t any to test. Maybe anyone have tinkered with the DragonCart and can publish an "ready to use" ATR file as a proof of example? This should be enough to test if SIDE2 further works fine after DragonCart were accessed or not. Jurgen

Thanks for the link and this suggestion First time (see the old picture in the first post of this thread) I decide to use a standard angled header like used at the 3-pin internal audio connector. But then I realize, than the Dupont connector won´t fit through any hole, so there would be the need to assemble the Dupont connector after running the cable through the hole - bad idea. Now I use the same terminal block as on UAV, so the wires can be easily mounted and also easily removed, if necessary - without soldering. Of course any user who is able to can modify the metal cage in such way you show. I will include both ways in the manuals, ok? The cable for internal audio remains under the metal cage, so there´s no break-out needed. Jurgen

Yes, I change the position away from the original place. When I publish the first version´s pictures (without UAV), I got some feedback here in the thread and by PN/EMail that my intention to drill a new hole for the video cable isn´t liked. So I decide to move the color pot and enable the usage of the hole for a breakout place of the new video cable. So there´s no need to make irreversible changes to an good old 400 or 800. And - from a technical view - this is also not mandatory. You have only to set up the SCCC once you´ve built it in your favorite computer. The "color pot" in every 2600, 7800, 400, 800, XL, XE and so on system is nothing more than a simple voltage regulator feeding the CADJ input (pin 17) of GTIA with a constant voltage between 0 (zero) and approx 9 volts DC in maximum. Typically for best picture and colors something between 5,5 and 7 volts must be setup depending on TV system (PAL or NTSC) and GTIA manufacturer. The thing here is, that the Atari 400 and Atari 800 have 12 volt rails and these are used for the color pot. IMHO this is the one and only reason why 12 volts are located at the CPU card connector. The old DRAMs need 12V of course, but expect the color pot / CADJ input there´s nothing which takes 12 volts. A resistor of 330k drops the effective voltage down to approx <7 volts maximum. At my SCCC I change this resistor to 220k to enable a wider regulation like in the XL/XE systems. These 12 volt come from a linear voltage regulator (7812, located on the power board), so the output voltages is always the same - not depending which power supply you´re using or in which country (110 volts, 115 volts, 230 volts, ...) the computer is used. When the power supply fits to the electrical system, all is fine. The output (12 volt and of course also 5 volts etc.) are always the same. So you only need to setup the color pot one time. I suggest to built in the card without metal cage, set up color pot and delay pot to the best case values and then re-assemble the whole computer. When using any 8-Bit computer with 5 volts input (all XL models except 1200 XL, all XE and XEGS models), you´ve to change the color pot most times when you´re changing the power supply. Because these computer models haven´t more than 5 volts, a simple loading pump is used to raise the voltages with a micro current up to approx 9 volts. This raised voltage will be used to feed the CADJ input. The loading pump is a discrete circuit, so the input voltage of the whole computer has an immediate effect on the output of this loading pump - the color changes with each power supply, more or less. Nice to see if a labour power supply is used This also affects to the consoles with 9 volt DC power supply, where the unregulated power input is used for the color pot circuit. Jurgen

Hi, some time is passed... But here are some good news for all purchasers of the Super Color CPU Card: Yesterday the final batch with the PCBs has arrived! After some delay for making a new version with UAV integrated I also have some trouble with german customs... they didn´t want to clarify the parcel from the PCB maker. But after endless phone calls and emails finally yesterday I got the PCBs. And of course I just assemble one for testing and these photos Here´s the final "gold" version for all orders: This is the top site. There´s a jumper for choosing PAL or NTSC (for color clock input of GTIA), an enable/disable jumper for inverting the color signal polarity (a part of UAV), the GTA color pot, the UAV delay pot, two pads for easy soldering the needed connections by Incognito and finally five jumpers for selecting the CPU type. This is the back (bottom) side of the PCB. Some parts there, but nothing special. The both "lenses" at the upper corners are made of silicone and prevent the PCB from touched the grounded metal cage. With every order these both cables come with. The one is the video cable which can be passed through the pot hole in the metal cabinet. The pinout of the DIN 5 coupling connector is the same like used at any Atari 8-Bit computer with CVBS and S-Video. So absolutely no drilling is needed. The cable could use the outbreak formerly used for the RF / antenna cable. The 2nd, smaller cable is for the audio signal. When using an Atari 400, both wires must be soldered to two points at the 400 main board within the metal cage, so no drilling etc. needed. You will get (not finished yet, but with first shippings I will offer the manuals) full instructions how to built the new card into your Atari 400 or 800 with pictures. Only two (Atari 400) or one (Atari 800) wires must be soldered, all other is solderless. You have also the option to re-use the existing monitor jack at the Atari 800 computer, if you want. Detailed informations are found in the instruction manuals. What next? I will start assembling and shipping out the PCBs upcoming weekend. Depending on my spare time I will make small batches of 5 or 10 pieces, make them ready, test them, make parcels ready and ship them out. All purchasers got their position on the order list by email already. Of course every shipping out is receipted with tracking number by email. I hope I can make all existing orders ready until the end of march, but it may take some time longer. Jurgen

No, I won´t Thanks for feedback. I´m always curious to find out what other hardware wizards are using. I take a look at DipTrace for example, but this program is not my best friend. I´m using Eagle for years, but the last three projects I also start to route manually or route all power traces and important signals (video, audio etc.) by hand and let the autorouter make the rest on data-/adresslines. My intentions is also "a silly one": It looks better Jurgen

I´m just curious... wha´s for an PCB layout program you´re using? Jurgen

I think the answer depends on the area where you live... from my personal experience I would say: - Most NTSC 400 or 800 computers have the 6502B CPU with discrete HALT logic (74LS74, 74LS02, two more 74LS244) on their CPU boards - Most PAL 400 or 800 computers have the 6502C CPU without these extra parts installed on their CPU boards But also I have had NTSC computers on my desk using a CPU board with 6502C CPU. And also PAL computers with the old CPU board and the 6502B. Of course untouched boards... Jurgen

This mod is IMHO located at all XE mainboards. Sometimes it´s done by the factory with manual wires, sometimes it´s done directly on the PCB (newer revisions). This mod buffers PHI2 a 2nd time specially for the ANTIC chip. This mod will prevent video display from some timing issues with Freddie, which results in disturbations in some graphics modes or PMG.