ARC Clock

[flashjazzcat]

Get well soon Jon

Thanks Paul. I've had tonsillitis this week and I feared it was going to develop into another quinsy (I was hospitalized with one of those four years ago: VERY painful), but I think I've got the better of it this time. I'll check in at the doctor next week to be safe, though. Feeling much better today.

[spookt]

Glad you're feeling better. I had my tonsils removed at around age 10. When I was 28 I went to the doctor and was told "You have tonsillitis". I pointed out my lack of tonsils which resulted in a withering stare (I think she had noticed when she looked in my throat) and the comment "You don't need tonsils to get tonsillitis".

 

Great - two weeks of pain following an operation and I can still catch the illness it was supposed to prevent! At least I don't get it multiple times a year any more

[flashjazzcat]

Well, you prompted me to read up on that phenomenon there, and while you apparently can't get tonsillitis in the literal sense without tonsils, you can still suffer throat infections of the same severity in the same area and with the same symptoms. So yes indeed - what's the point? I also did a lot of reading on tonsillitis when I was looking up home remedies the other day, though, and they don't seem like entirely useless organs. Admittedly it's a king size pain in the ass (or throat) when they flare up, but as it stands I had no problems for four years and I just broke a thirteen month stint without a single cold. I have a grave suspicion that if I did have my tonsils removed (and the doctor has recommended this if I were to get a quinsy again), I'd be on a head-cold per fortnight.

[Dropcheck]

So as I understand using the intSDX, we are looking at about three items on a board plus connections, a DS1210, a RTC-72421 and a battery. No other components? Seems too simple.

That's correct. I too was amazed, since it seems too simple to be true, but it does work. The most complex thing about it is routing the wiring. It would make a really nice etched PCB...

 

 

 

Did some work in Eagle tonight. Not quite sure I got all the connections right. Can you take a look and see if I missed something?

Edited January 10, 2011 by Dropcheck

[Dropcheck]

Get well soon Jon

Thanks Paul. I've had tonsillitis this week and I feared it was going to develop into another quinsy (I was hospitalized with one of those four years ago: VERY painful), but I think I've got the better of it this time. I'll check in at the doctor next week to be safe, though. Feeling much better today.

 

 

Hi Jon,

 

Hope you're feeling better too. Saw that beauty of a 1200XL you posted in another thread. Almost made me want one of those. But my first love was an older man err ah a 800XL.

 

I've cleaned up the schematic a bit. First time I'd created a whole new part in Eagle Cad and it wasn't quite the symbol display I wanted. This version should be easier to read. I'm unsure if or where the DS1210 CE pin is connected too. Doesn't seem like I should leave it hanging out there unattached though.

[flashjazzcat]

Hi Jon,

 

Hope you're feeling better too. Saw that beauty of a 1200XL you posted in another thread. Almost made me want one of those. But my first love was an older man err ah a 800XL.

 

I've cleaned up the schematic a bit. First time I'd created a whole new part in Eagle Cad and it wasn't quite the symbol display I wanted. This version should be easier to read. I'm unsure if or where the DS1210 CE pin is connected too. Doesn't seem like I should leave it hanging out there unattached though.

Hi. Thanks - I'm feeling quite a lot better now. The doctor reassured me this isn't the peritonsillar abscess coming back, which is a relief. It's just a really nasty cold.

 

As far as I can tell, the schematic looks good. I'm starting to wish I'd make accurate drawings when I made my ARC, since I just removed it from the CPU adapter to trace the 1210's CE pin and it's like trying to decypher uncommented assembly code written by someone else. Anyway, I have the CE (1210 pin 5) wired to A4 on the CPU. I had to dig back through emails with Hias to double-check this.

 

If you'd like, I'll run this schematic past Hias (or you might wish to do so yourself). He has a very clear head about these things.

 

If you turn this into a board, I definitely want one (and we might as well make a CPU adapter board with an offset 40 way header array to plug the ARC into while we're about it).

Edited January 13, 2011 by flashjazzcat

[Dropcheck]

Hi. Thanks - I'm feeling quite a lot better now. The doctor reassured me this isn't the peritonsillar abscess coming back, which is a relief. It's just a really nasty cold.

 

As far as I can tell, the schematic looks good. I'm starting to wish I'd make accurate drawings when I made my ARC, since I just removed it from the CPU adapter to trace the 1210's CE pin and it's like trying to decypher uncommented assembly code written by someone else. Anyway, I have the CE (1210 pin 5) wired to A4 on the CPU. I had to dig back through emails with Hias to double-check this.

 

If you'd like, I'll run this schematic past Hias (or you might wish to do so yourself). He has a very clear head about these things.

 

If you turn this into a board, I definitely want one (and we might as well make a CPU adapter board with an offset 40 way header array to plug the ARC into while we're about it).

 

Ah! Knew it couldn't just hang out there all by itself. That sounds about right, but definitely see what Hias says.

 

I am considering creating a modified version of this. Along the lines of Lotharek's intSDX. Not a copy but an enhanced version with the ARC on board. Of course it will be a bigger board, longer to fit the battery and chips for the ARC function.. I'm working right now to see if I can get it to fit.

 

The CPU adapter board is a good idea. With all the connections these mods make to the original chips it would free them from the soldering day blues. I have concerns on the 800XL/600XL at least, that a CPU adapter board would raise the height too much at the front of the motherboard for the keyboard to fit. I can see two possible solutions. One would be a plug on a ribbon cable into the cpu socket going to the adapter board further back. Another of couse would be to unsolder the socket and solder the adapter board directly on to the motherboard.

 

Each presents additional issues. I'm not sure how a socket plug on a ribbon cable would affect signal timing. That might be an experiment all it's own. The other option has the (for me at least) undesireble requirement to desolder a 40 pin socket or brute force clip it up to remove it. I'm just a timid soul when it comes to desoldering chips and sockets from motherboards. That's the main reason I haven't done much to mod the 130XEs.

 

Let me know what Hias says about CE on the 1210.

 

Thanks

[flashjazzcat]

Hi

 

No doubt about where CE goes on the 1210, but I'll run the design as a whole past Hias.

 

I like the idea of the combined IntSDX/ARC adapter board. I really feel IntSDX should have had an RTC built into it from the get go, since a clock is a must-have with SDX. Your version would be a good alternative to Candle's 1MB upgrade for machines which already have a perfectly good RAM upgrade fitted.

 

The CPU adapter variations sound good, too. Hopefully if the cables are kept reasonably short, it shouldn't adversely increase capacitance. I fancy fitting an internal MyIDE to my 1200XL at some point, and the MyIDE is another upgrade ideally suited to plugging into this CPU bus adapater (of course I'd also want IntSDX in that machine, too!).

[HiassofT]

Hi!

 

I've cleaned up the schematic a bit. First time I'd created a whole new part in Eagle Cad and it wasn't quite the symbol display I wanted. This version should be easier to read. I'm unsure if or where the DS1210 CE pin is connected too. Doesn't seem like I should leave it hanging out there unattached though.

Your schematic looks fine, just connect the /CE input of the '1210 to A4 and it should work like the other ARC versions.

 

so long,

 

Hias

[+David_P]

As long as you keep the board low (nothing in a socket on the daughter board) you should be able to plug in to the CPU socket. The FTe Sweet16 65816 upgrade plugged directly into the CPU socket.

[Dropcheck]

Hi

 

No doubt about where CE goes on the 1210, but I'll run the design as a whole past Hias.

 

I like the idea of the combined IntSDX/ARC adapter board. I really feel IntSDX should have had an RTC built into it from the get go, since a clock is a must-have with SDX. Your version would be a good alternative to Candle's 1MB upgrade for machines which already have a perfectly good RAM upgrade fitted.

 

The CPU adapter variations sound good, too. Hopefully if the cables are kept reasonably short, it shouldn't adversely increase capacitance. I fancy fitting an internal MyIDE to my 1200XL at some point, and the MyIDE is another upgrade ideally suited to plugging into this CPU bus adapater (of course I'd also want IntSDX in that machine, too!).

 

 

Well sorry for how long it's been. Life kinda got in the way.

 

I was able to come up with a board design that included all the features of IntSDX and RTC builtin. It was a squeeze and unfortunately the battery itself has to be attached seperately. I tried for days to mash everything together and finally gave up on having the battery onboard. I know next to Candle's upgrade this probably sucks, but I can't let him have all the glory.

 

I'm finalizing the board files to be sent off to the board house. Hopefully I'll have a proto in a few weeks. I'll let you know if it works after everything's put together.

 

And no Larry I haven't forgotten our previous conversations. Just lost track of the project. Hopefully it's back on track now.

[erazmus]

What type of battery are you using? You can get a vertical mount coin cell (CR2032) holder that has a much smaller footprint than mounting the battery flat on the board.

[Dropcheck]

What type of battery are you using? You can get a vertical mount coin cell (CR2032) holder that has a much smaller footprint than mounting the battery flat on the board.

 

 

Hi

 

Thanks for the idea, I will be designing for a CR2032 type battery. The height of the board already is pushing the limit. Its likely that the shield will have to be removed anyway or cut away over the OS section. What you gain in horizonatal space of course you give up in height. One thing I didn't try was putting parts on both sides of the board.

 

Not sure if Eagle can handle that. Might work. I'll take another stab at that before I send the files to the board factory.

[flashjazzcat]

Sounds great!

[erazmus]

What type of battery are you using? You can get a vertical mount coin cell (CR2032) holder that has a much smaller footprint than mounting the battery flat on the board.

 

 

Hi

 

Thanks for the idea, I will be designing for a CR2032 type battery. The height of the board already is pushing the limit. Its likely that the shield will have to be removed anyway or cut away over the OS section. What you gain in horizonatal space of course you give up in height. One thing I didn't try was putting parts on both sides of the board.

 

Not sure if Eagle can handle that. Might work. I'll take another stab at that before I send the files to the board factory.

Here's a link to the lowest profile vertical mount I could find:

 

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=BS-5-ND

[Dropcheck]

Board files submitted. Was able to incorporate coin battery onboard. Should recieve 2 test boards within 2 weeks. Then it's my sometimes incomprehensible soldering skills with the unsolicitated assistance from Tiger, my husband..... er my cat, 'Lookin' Out My Back Door' playing in the background and the Atari Gods to see if I miffed some critical connection.

 

Wish me luck.

[Dropcheck]

Board files submitted. Was able to incorporate coin battery onboard. Should recieve 2 test boards within 2 weeks. Then it's my sometimes incomprehensible soldering skills with the unsolicitated assistance from Tiger, my husband..... er my cat, 'Lookin' Out My Back Door' playing in the background and the Atari Gods to see if I miffed some critical connection.

 

Wish me luck.

 

 

Status Update:

 

Well Ole Man Winter has frozen the UPS transportation company in place. The boards came in and parts from Mouser arrived, but the rest of the parts from Jameco have been departed from Lenexa, KS for six days now with nary a recieve date anywhere else update for six days now. What galls is that the town is less than 500 miles from me.

 

I called Jameco today to see if they could track it any better and they weren't much help. The lady said she put a trace on it. I don't have much hope. The second major snow storm to hit the southern plains in a week is barreling down on us as I speak. Nothing's going to move the rest of the week. If it isn't already here, just not off the truck..., it'll be next week before it really leaves KS at this rate.

 

Anyone have a transporter handy?

[Dropcheck]

Status Update:

 

Jameco parts came in today. Will start putting the test board together tonight.

[flashjazzcat]

Great!

[GoodByteXL]

just in case somebody likes a more mobile version of the rtc, being put into a cart together with SDX flash. It is made following the layout of Pasiu. Had troubles with it, which were caused by a faulty rtc chip. Took me some time to realize that. With a new chip and a small mod using CCTL as activation line on pin 2 of the 72421A rtc chip it runs fine.

[Dropcheck]

just in case somebody likes a more mobile version of the rtc, being put into a cart together with SDX flash. It is made following the layout of Pasiu. Had troubles with it, which were caused by a faulty rtc chip. Took me some time to realize that. With a new chip and a small mod using CCTL as activation line on pin 2 of the 72421A rtc chip it runs fine.

 

 

What kind of case is that?

[Dropcheck]

Update:

 

Well the SMT chips and resistors are soldered in. I found most of my hair and was able to glue the roots back in.

 

Found that the Epson RTC footprint was larger than library part Eagle had. Pins are hanging off the pads on one side. Ugly, but it should work on the prototype okay. That will get fixed on the production board. I really flubbed the battery holder. Made an assumption that the part Eagle had would be easy to find. Not! Again since it's a prototype I'll make what I have fit. I have ordered 3 different types from Mouser and will use one of them to make a library part to use on the production board.

 

Programed the GAL, OS and SDX chips and will attempt to finish putting the board together by Wednesday. Then it's wiring the board into a willing 800XL. That should be even more fun.

[venom4728a]

Update:

 

Well the SMT chips and resistors are soldered in. I found most of my hair and was able to glue the roots back in.

 

Found that the Epson RTC footprint was larger than library part Eagle had. Pins are hanging off the pads on one side. Ugly, but it should work on the prototype okay. That will get fixed on the production board. I really flubbed the battery holder. Made an assumption that the part Eagle had would be easy to find. Not! Again since it's a prototype I'll make what I have fit. I have ordered 3 different types from Mouser and will use one of them to make a library part to use on the production board.

 

Programed the GAL, OS and SDX chips and will attempt to finish putting the board together by Wednesday. Then it's wiring the board into a willing 800XL. That should be even more fun.

 

Will you be making any of these to be sold, if so I would like to get on the list to purchase one.

 

Thanks

Venom4728a

[Dropcheck]

Update:

 

Well the SMT chips and resistors are soldered in. I found most of my hair and was able to glue the roots back in.

 

Found that the Epson RTC footprint was larger than library part Eagle had. Pins are hanging off the pads on one side. Ugly, but it should work on the prototype okay. That will get fixed on the production board. I really flubbed the battery holder. Made an assumption that the part Eagle had would be easy to find. Not! Again since it's a prototype I'll make what I have fit. I have ordered 3 different types from Mouser and will use one of them to make a library part to use on the production board.

 

Programed the GAL, OS and SDX chips and will attempt to finish putting the board together by Wednesday. Then it's wiring the board into a willing 800XL. That should be even more fun.

 

Will you be making any of these to be sold, if so I would like to get on the list to purchase one.

 

Thanks

Venom4728a

 

Whoa!! I'm not ready to start taking requests yet. I want to make sure that I haven't made a fatal flaw in my design first. I would like to see how many would prefer one of these options though.

 

1. Bare board with parts list and instructions (Pretty cheap from me $10-15 USD)

 

2. Kit form (board, parts and instructions) (Not so cheap from me $25-40 USD)

 

3. Finished Board (Most expensive from me $50-$70 USD)

 

I'm also thinking about putting out a 130XE version. I've got a 800XL MMU adapter board already designed and ready for production. Handy for the intSDX board. I'm also designing and will be testing an internal OSS compatible 4in1 Cart board.

 

Not really thinking massive numbers here. Just trying to gauge the interest.

[danwinslow]

Post a poll...I'd buy a finished board.