Smokeless Joe

I'm taking a break from my 1200XL and trying to get some modern upgrades working on an 800XL. I'm hoping than using a more widely used system will give me less trouble. I'm naïvely optimistic that way. To wit, I'm installing a VBXE in an 800XL. I'm almost done installing the various wires, but... What does removing Q8 and R110 accomplish? Do I really need to remove them?

If I set the preference to "Classic" to seems to boot SDX okay. The U1MB BIOS says it's running at 2.something MHz, which I guess is a little faster. The CPUs I have are stamped with either Korea or Thailand on the underside. It doesn't feel warm when I'm failing to boot to SDX. I guess I can try it without an U1MB.

I'm working on getting a Rapidus to work in an 800XL before transferring it to an experimental 1200XL. I think I'm close. The 800XL in question also has a U1MB, TransKey-II, one of Bryan's wonderful UAVs and an SIDE-2. I also just updated the BIOS on the U1MB with the latest from FJC's website (ubios102, upbi162, upload105). The Rapidus is up and running. Here's some important screenshots: The Rapidus GND wire is plugged into S0 of the U1MB, and my understanding is that it's logic is reversed, so I have Device 1 set to Disabled in the U1MB BIOS. I can load a XEX of Karateka and it's ridiculously fast. I love the intro where Mariko speeds across the floor using tiny steps and then collapses like she's been shot. ZOOM, then BAM! But when I try to simply boot to SDX (4.47), I see the Ultimate PBI v.1.6.2 line, the system farts at me a couple times, and then nothing. Sometimes I'll see a config error SPARTA with the SIDE-2 plugged in; I don't get config errors if it's not plugged in but I never get past that Ultimate PBI v.1.6.2 line. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong? Thanks, -Joe

I got the boards three days ago, and they sure are pretty! Here's the bare board, and an assembled board together: Here's plugged in, but not fully booked up, to a 1200XL: It fits better than I expected, with plenty of clearance using right angle headers for J1 instead of straight. I'm a little worried about the clearance of the 74HC08 with how tight everything can be with a full load of upgrades (U1MB, VBXE, Rapidus and Simple Stereo, maybe a TK-II) but that's a problem for another day. I haven't actually tried hooking up anything that needs an ExtSel line. I'm experimenting with trying to get the Rapdius and VBXE properly working on any system before I try it on the 1200XL. So... the Slightly Easier eXtsel board has an acronym that belies what it's really worth. How about Slightly Easier Extsel (SEE)?

I'll take a hit, er... I mean, one please!

I'm really looking forward to this audio board. Right now I've got wires running between my 400 and breadboard with the circuit from http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n1/littlebrother.html(Figure 2). It works, but damn.

Demopac? There's a few of them at: http://www.atarimania.com/documents-atari-400-800-xl-xe-technical-documents_3_8.html.

The RAMGS/4 showed up early - today! I plugged it in and boom, 4 MB memory instantly recognized. That was easy! Thanks for the recommendations!

Sure! I'm all for using whatever works better. The 74HC08 idea comes straight from Bob's PBI for 1200XL instructions at http://www.retrobits.net/atari/pbi.shtml. Are these the latest instructions? I guess that's one advantage of the adapter board, it'll allow easy swapping of chips to see which works better. I sent my latest design to OSH Park yesterday. $5.45 for three boards! Last time it took maybe two weeks from ordering to receiving.

Kind of? I don't have a good vocabulary for part names, but I got the idea from the way mytekcontrols designed his TransKey-II, using pins and a spacer like at http://www.electronicsurplus.com/augat-740-ag14d-ic-socket-40-pin-break-away. But yes, pins that push straight into the motherboard socket U17.

Yes! The Antic adaptor! That's what it's called. Me use words. I don't think the XL adaptor is gonna do it, even if I desolder it, rotate the board and figure out how to orient the Antic chip. Darn. One of these days I'm going to compile everything I've learned about modding the 1200XL into one document. Maybe it'll help the next poor bastard like me.

Okay, I see my problem. I ordered the VBXE for XL series when I should have ordered the VBXE for XE/XEGS. Is there any problem with just turning the bottom adapter around?

Printing out proofs revealed a couple quirks. Now I'm thinking something like this: This fits much better on the motherboard since there's a convenient space just above U17, with the top of the board just shy of Q14. J1 pins are probably better off being straight, but they'll be clear of both Rapidus and VBXE boards (if I can figure out how to get both Rapidus and VBXE boards on the same 1200XL). Also, I had to make it a 2 layer board to get R1 tied in, so now I feel all advanced.

Is anyone trying to fit both a VBXE 2.1 and a Rapidus into a 1200XL? I just started to see how they'd fit in the same system and they really don't.

Here's my latest design. Unless anyone spots some serious errors, I'll probably submit this to OSH Park this weekend: U1 is the existing 74LS08 from socket U17 on a 1200XL U2 is a 74HC08 R1 is a 2.7K resistor J1 are pin headers If I'm interpreting Bob's instructions correctly: U2 pins 7 and 14 connect with U1 pins 7 and 14, respectively U2 pin 2 connects (via R1) to U1 pin 14 (Vcc/+5V) J1 pin 1 connects to U14 pin 16 J1 pin 2 is CasInh J1 pins 3,4,5 are ExtSel (for VBXE, Rapidus and/or a PBI connector) J1 pin 6 connects to the pad above U11 And I'll still need to cut the trace from U14 to U11 and remove Y1 and Q4. Anything else? EDIT: Huh, it's exactly like my last design only with a slightly different program. Oh well.

I use a Sony MFM-HT95 (LCD). It gives a pretty good picture using S-video, if the video has been cleaned up a bit or with one of Bryan's wonderful UAVs. I would really prefer to keep using an LCD, but the VBXE image is awful with an Ambery upscaler connecting with a VGA cable. I'm thinking of biting the bullet and investing in a Framemeister.

I just flashed my PIC chips using the TKprog_V1_5F.atr posted above. My TK-IIs (and Joy2Pic) continue to work like a dream. Thanks again for the great product and support! -Joe

Cool! Even one less wire is a very happy thing. Now it'll look something like this: How many 1200XL upgrades require an ExtSel or CasInh line? I only know of VBXE (one of each) and Rapidus (ExtSel). It'd be nice to make J1 practical for other/future upgrades.

Oo! A request! That's a good question. I don't know how the MPD signal is normally added to an XEGS. Anyone know?

I'm convinced! I ordered a GGLabs RAMGS/4. It looks like they're not shipping until late July, so now I wait.

This is my very first time doing something like this, so be gentle, but constructive criticism is encouraged. I kinda boned the ExtSel mod on my 1200XL. It just seems so drastic to cut the pins off a perfectly good 74HC08. Soldering things directly to chip is also kinda unaesthetic. Also, I kinda suck at it. So I'm thinking something like this (borrowing entirely from Bob's Wooley's PBI instructions): The existing 74LS08 gets plugged into U1, which is then plugged into socket U17 on a 1200XL motherboard. An unspoiled 74HC08 gets plugged straight into U2. R1 is a 2.7K resistor, just like in Bob's instructions. J1 could be right angle or straight headers. It's really simple, and I'm sure I could use a few lessons on PCB design. Also, I don't know how much work it cuts down. You still need to: 1. Cut the trace and solder a wire to the pad above U11 (connects to J1 pin 6) 2. Solder a wire to U14 pin 16 (connects to J1 pin 1) 3. Solder a wire to +5v (connects to J1 pin 3) 4. Remove Q4 and Y1 from the motherboard But then you have J1 pin 2 for CasInh and J1 pins 4 and 5 for ExtSel (VBXE and Rapidus). A larger J1 could be added if more ExtSel and CasInh lines are needed. Waddya think, sirs?

I don't know if it's still available, but is this what you're looking for? http://sheboygan.craigslist.org/sop/5587608710.html

Upgrading my official Apple IIGS Memory Expansion Card by 768K to it's full 1 MB capacity will run me about $20.08 with shipping, or about $0.026/K. So now I want to compare with some other options. Here's what I'm seeing so far: ByteBoosters 4MB/XLP (https://www.ebay.com/itm/182145297283) for $59 + free shipping. That's $0.014/K. GGLABS RAMGS/4 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/401095297373) is $79 also with free shipping, which comes to $0.019/K. Anyone have any experience with the above two options?

Thanks! That was exactly the information I needed! Jameco has them for $0.79 each, or $0.69 if you buy 10 or more. Since I need 24, that's $16.56 + shipping. Now the question is, do I want to bother with a measly 1 MB, or should I research one of the 4 to 8 MB options? Hmmm...

I've got an official Apple IIGS Memory Expansion Card but it only has one of the four banks filled. Any ideas on where to look to buy enough RAM to fill it up? It looks like each bank needs 8 DRAM of whatever type it uses. Thanks!