Kroko

No, don't create the file yourself ! Copy it from the CD or download it from my site. The application can not create it. It is part of the application and has to be copied to the drive together with the Krokodile Commander.

I tried loading the program from the cd, then copied it onto my HD, then tried both ways on another computer...nothing.... Any ideas ? Both the application and the database have to be in the same directory on your harddrive. Then you should be able to start the application. If you can't find the database on your CD, please go to http://www.arminvogl.de/KrokodileCartridge/ and download it from there. You can also download the Krokodile Commander from there. If you are still having trouble, please PM me :-)

I like this one:

I want to know why everyone has there a new CRC type key for rom signatures? the CC2ROMDB has it own version of CRC16 and this Stella one has MD5 and the CRC in zip files is another. I know bitch, bitch. I used MD5 because I am lazy and wanted to be able to use the stella.pro files to import info into the database

I have made an Access Database out of Stella .PRO files. It may not be what you are looking for, but it already contains SOME info: http://www.arminvogl.de/KrokodileCartridge...1.0/vcsbase.zip

I asked Atmel support for a typical endurance of their flash chip and here is the answer:

We are currently not able to ship more devices than have already been preordered. To be honest I am a bit behind with production. I don't want people to pay and then have to wait too long. But more devices will be made soon after we have shipped all preorders As soon as they really arrive at AtariAge and are ready for shipping, you will be able to add them to your basket. Our first priority is now to ship the preordered devices.

Thanks, works great :-) I have never come across a PAL version ... but that doesn't mean anything.

How are you dumping the chip ? are you using an edge connector and plug the cart in, or are you directly reading from the chip ? When I first looked at a PacMan rom chip, i found that the pin assignment on the pacman rom is NOT identical to a 2732 EPROM. The wiring on the PCB is such, that the right lines come out at the edge connector, but you can't treat the chip as if it was an EPROM. Here is the Pin assignment for a PacMan ROM: Pin 1 to 17: same as 2732 EPROM Pin 18: A11 Pin 19: A10 Pin 20: CE (A12) Pin 21: OE (bridged to VCC) Pin 22: A9 Pin 23: A8 Pin 24: VCC You should use the edge connector to dump ROMs, not the chip. Custom ROMs may have any Pin assignment. If you are already using the cart connector, can you please explain a bit better which problems you have. What do you read ? From a different location or rubbish ? You can easily compare what you read with existing ROM dumps.

It is only for transferring. You can use a 2600 adapter.

I sent them to Albert last friday. They should arrive at AtariAge very soon.

Before you say flash rom is not a good choice: What is better than flash memory pure RAM: game lost after power down. timekeeper/zeropower RAM: very large package size, very expensive and I could not get a device larger than 32K. Will only be able to hold its data for a few years, then fail. MRAM: not available for krokodiles, yet Memory cards together with menu system and RAM: Better, but would have made the design much more complicated and expensive. parallel EEPROM: far too expensive in 512K size. So there were 2 possible ways to go: memory card or flash-rom. I chose flash ROM, because: * less expensive * can be produced at home (so I can make more any time) * cart can exactly behave like the original cart (instant on) disadvantage: If you are unlucky, you may have to pay 5$ for every additional 10000 writes to the cart. A question of taste, if you ask me

Works fine on the KC ! Thanks ! One game less that will not run on the Krokodile

http://focus.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/ua7805.pdf No it doesn't, atleast not anymore... :wink: However; I have found a 7812 datasheet in my stuff from 1976 that quotes 20V max so it definitely matters how old the device is, and the manufacturer. I am usually careful about differences between newer and older RF transistors, but I usually ignore really common stuff and ICs thinking they are all the same, I guess I know better now. Ah I think I got it now ! You were looking at page 2 of the datasheet. The absolute maximum rating is 35V. I was using the recommended operating range on page 3, and that is up to 25 V. I don't think it would be a good idea to use a 35V power supply. I am a coward, you know ...

Except when you use the menu, right? Yes, in a multicart, the RAM is cleared and the game starts from bank 0. Each ROM of type 4K,F8,F6 and F4 can be patched such, that RAM is cleared and that it is started from a fixed bank. When it is patched, the ROM is a multicart with only one game which is selected immediately.

Yes, thats also what I think. The 10000 is the absolute minimum that is guaranteed, but in reality they survive much longer. Even for the developer, who may download quite often (Thomas!) we have invented this incremental download feature, which will only change parts that really need to be changed. This is also a good way to make it survive longer

ALL chips on the Krokodile Cart are socketed. The flash chip, the chip for the serial communication and RAM can be replaced by anybody. The controller and the logic chip can only be replaced by me, because they have to be programmed ... The Krokodile Cart does not do anything before startup. It starts as if it was the original ROM. So the state of all VCS registers and RAM will not be changed.

Texas Instruments UA7805 for example has 25V. It definitely depends on the manufacturer

The Atari needs 5V for its chips and other circuitry. So it is using a device that is called voltage regulator, that can make 5V out of any voltage that is higher than 5V. The ideal input voltage for the consoles regulator is 9V and that is what the original power supplies have. There is also a maximum voltage such a voltage regulator can handle at its input. If there is more voltage, it will be destroyed. In general the higher the input voltage is, the warmer the regulator gets until it is destroyed. Different regulators can handle different maximum input voltages. Modern 7805 have a maximum input voltage of 25V. (But i would not rely on that for the old VCS regulator) use 9V and you are fine ! Now to the current. The current in Amps or milliamps just tells you, how much current the supply CAN supply. So the higher this value is, the better. In theory you cann directly connect an atomic plant with 100 Terra Ampere to your vcs, as long as it produces exactly 9V. The power that is drawn from it will never be higher than the maximum rating of the voltage regulator. If it can supply 1A, there is no way to draw a lot more from your power supply (Some power is lost at the voltage conversion process) 6 switch supplies have 400mA, the juniors have 500mA rating. So If you buy a supply, don't buy one that has less than 500mA. If it has more, it will work as good as the 500mA supply, but it will be more expensive

I hope Andrew Davie will make a Java Commander in the future. But it is not available yet and I am not sure if Andrew has enough time to write it in the near future. If you want to make your own Java Commander, I will be happy to send all necessary information to you. Just send a PM with your e-mail

Yes, you will be able to order the device later. I do not plan to stop production unless there is a good reason. But it will no longer be possible to preorder them. You can just order them in the AtriAge store if they are available. Maybe it will take a while until I can make more devices than those that were already preordered, but I definitely will make more.

I have made a prototype of such a device. But I don't think its worth the effort. cbm4win will do the job in the future. And there is cbm4linux ... If you want to have a look at the prototype: http://www.bitcity.de/1541%20Serial%20Interface.htm I would just have to replace the max232 with and USB chip and the serial connector with a usb connector ...

Is there a technical description available anywhere ? All I know is, that there is a cool sound chip on Pitfall II. But are there any specifications available where one could see what it does (exactly) ?

And how much are you willing to pay for that ?

Yes it does :wink: