exxosuk

Scan doubler really needs a new shifter designed to output HDMI. If someone did design it, then sure I will add it. Though I think nobody is likely to ever design one. I have enough projects to keep me going for the next 10 years, so nothing I am able to do myself.

28 hours and 36,000 mouse clicks..... http://exxosnews.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/st-remake-progress.html

Seems like the 12V and 5V are reversed on the Falcon then. I don't know why that would be, unless someone pulled all the wires out and put them back incorrectly. 12V into the floppy drive 5V rail will most likely kill the drive. Its also possible it may have killed the 1772 floppy controller (or ajax).

The schematic as it is has already been released. I will do a page on my site about it in due time. I want it to be open source so people can make addons for it and built it into a better machine over time. Currently I am just cloning the STFM to make sure it works, if anyone wants a PCB of this original prototype , then I may get some more PCB's made. Though I don't really plan to produce this current PCB, as I am already planning a version 2.

Yeah the RF box saves a lot of space. Not sure about the "RF hole". Some users in France don't even have the hole. I'm not sure what will go there in that space. Probably some IO port for alt-ram or something would probably be ideal.. Its a bit early to be thinking about that at the moment anyway. Currently I am just trying to clone the STF and get that working stable first.

Yes, There is easily room for 3 falcon sized expansion cards on this board so far. I think there will be a lot of room near the front of the case for stuff, but not enough room for expansion connectors. Ultimately it will probably be space for adding in my booster logic or something. I'm 30 hours in and about 160 wires to go. Had to move some stuff about.. now just left with all the fiddly bits to do really..

Some progress and more general info in my blog about this project. https://exxosnews.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/new-stf-motherboard-progress.html

Ah yes. I got a supra drive where the heads "stick" to the disk stopping it from spinning. I could move the head motor and it would unstick and start working again. I decided to buy some untested MFM drives from the USA, which cost a small fortune. Only to find they did not spin up, and while 3 were recognized by the controller, they wouldn't format. Seems to be a common problem with the MFM drives. No surprise really as they are like 700 years old now

The cartridge port can run faster. It was talked about before with the V2 booster. Though nobody with a booster would test if stuff like midi carts etc would break at higher speeds (or anything for that matter). I guess it could be made switchable anyway. Yes, STE is nice, but larger SMT chip... Just not viable to take it off a scrap board and solder it onto a new one. My board will use all through-hole parts so people can solder it easy.

I sell them in my store (UK) https://www.exxoshost.co.uk/atari/last/storenew/#0080

This is the motherboard I have been working with. With no RF parts there is a fair bit of room. Also a lot less parts around the shifter. Though half the parts there are the 32mhz gen. So can be replaced with a 32mhz osc like on the MEGA ST to save even more space and parts. Rodolphe also suggested the MAX232, so on rev2 will likely use that. Whole lot less parts saving cost and space. Also as future thoughts. A lot of the TTL logic could be replaced by a single PLD. It could also hold booster logic and many other things...

Thanks!!

Does anyone have the pinout for the ST MMU 80pin SMT version ? I am sure I had it or seen it somewhere but its being very illusive NOTE - The normal MMU is a PLCC 68 package.. which is not the one I am looking for...

As said above. TOS1.04 is the max you can go for on the ST without adding more logic to do the ROM decoding. My v2.2 booster actually gives 16MHz boost with TOS104 and TOS206 built on board. http://www.exxoshost.co.uk/atari/last/V22BOOSTER/index.htm I do sell a TOS104 kit which people have fitted to the ST. That does the 6 chip to 2 chip conversion onboard, so it can be used on any ST/F/M. https://www.exxoshost.co.uk/atari/last/storenew/#0085 There is a lot of info on my site if you want to hardhack it all yourself, or other guides on the net. http://www.exxoshost.co.uk/atari/last/tos/index.htm I do suggest that anything you upgrade, that once tested, solder it into the motherboard. Sockets end up causing so many issues long term that I could try and avoid it where possible.

Thanks, though the board I have been using is the STF version. The image on my site was just one I grabbed to illustrate what was going on I had to take a STF to remove some sockets so Rodolphe could make a lib for me anyway. Lots of IC's are "missing" on this board as it was used for spares. May take a image on my next blog post.. As there will be no RF, and the Shifter stuff is like the MEGA ST (IE less stuff) then there isn't anything needed other than the RGB drivers. As such, the shifter will be placed where the RF box was. This means the RGB signals are going right to the port, not across multiple other signals on the PCB. This will mean the RGB output will be a lot cleaner. I always see odd patterns in desktop windows. So I hope this will help resolve such noisy patterns. 12V isn't actually needed on this board, So a smaller PSU could be used. Though if there is still noise on the RGB lines, I may drive them with 78L05 regulators to help stop the RGB "crosstalk". I've had similar issues with Digital Audio amps I have designed in the past. Its better to drive stuff individually to take the load of a signal supply rail. Though as to if there will be noise, I don't know yet, if there is, I can try regulators on the RGB circuit, though it will mean the PSU will need 12V again. I suppose there could be other options to add some filtering into the 5V line. Its what Atari attempted to do, though driving the RGB lines off 1 filter is a little pointless. Anyway, once a new board is done, I can see what it turns out like, and try some things out to resolve and find the best solution. In anycase, the RF port being removed is going to cut down on a lot of interference around the board and with the shifter and RGB drives being located next to the RGB port, hopefully that in itself will be enough to stamp out all the noise issues.

You could check out my site for a lot of common things.. http://www.exxoshost.co.uk/atari/last/index.htm

A sneak preview of the new "STF". This has some basic mods as talked about in my blog. http://exxosnews.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/stfm-rebuild-overview-of-basic-changes.html So this is just the "bare bones" of the new "Super ST". Or basically a STF with some IC package changes and a few others minor mods here and there. This way it is easier to debug why it doesn't work

Thanks

DB9 would make more sense yes, but needs a new case really. The high speed serial mod could be done, thats actually a good suggestion.

I'm trying to get quotes to design the case. Though can't start a kick starter for it until the cost is actually known.

Well, no harm in asking. I am having hard time just to get someone to make the 3D design.. at some cost that maybe possible.. But getting injection mold made.. I doubt community would be able to raise enough cash to fund it. I am just replicating the motherboard, it will use original cases from STFM (maybe STF) there are variations in the cases which need to be taken into consideration. Of course if a new case could be done, I would start making changes.. For example the 19pin DMA port would get replaced with a 25way one.. and have 5V routed on there also... 3D printing of cases, possible, £300 each. Nobody is going to pay that, and questionable quality over proper molding.

Yes indeed. Double resolution, double colours means machine runs slower. Though if the video was mapped to fast-ram, then it could have access to 32mhz CPU and RAM. Still would need special drives, but in anycase, say goodbye to software compatibility. Maybe OK for desktop apps, and GEM software. But my "mission" is to retain 100% compatibility with legacy software.

You may want to check out my blog with what I will and won't be doing... I'm not designing any new upgrades, just adding expansion ports. http://exxosnews.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/super-stfm-motherboard-project.html http://exxosnews.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/stfm-rebuild-overview-of-basic-changes.html I'm building a expandable platform for people to design and add whatever they want to easily. All my "free time" is taken up with stocks in my store and my CPU booster projects which I have hardly any time to work on recently. This new motherboard I can use as a platform to design sensible low cost boosters for which people can just plug in a 32mhz 68000 kit, or 32mhz 68030 or whatever. I am actually working on various CPU related upgrades. One thing has to be clear, that will take up ALL of my free time for a very long time. If people want anything else, then they will have to design it themselves. There is no use people making a "wish list spec" of this machine as I just don't have time to do any of it.

2 problems there... Mouse and joystick are on the keyboard not the motherboard... Secondly, it will need a new case and unless someone has around £15,000 to spare, then its not going to happen.

Exactly.. I could easily add a super video chip onto the bus, any resolution any colours.. but problem is, nobody is going to write drivers for it. Even if they did, nobody is going to write games to use the extra resolution, even if they did, only people who had the video chip would be able to play them. We have things like cosmosex with lan, usb etc. So no need to re-invent the wheel again. There are also people who don't want to "upgrade" their ST. If they want super video playback with CD quality sound.. use a PC. Part of the ST's "charm" is having 320x200 with 16 colours with crappy sound As I keep saying on a daily basis, over and over, I can't develop every single addon everyone wants. There will be addon ports for expansion, if people want something, then they do the work and add it.