Omega-TI Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 It's time to move on... to something NEW and exciting! I’ve been away for a few weeks, but the last I read, there was something about trying to get the Geneve to work with the TIPI. For those that own one, it sounded like a very worthy goal. I hope it was successful. Back in the day I had a passing interest in the Geneve, but could never ‘bite’ because of the expense and the small user base on a then dying platform. When I got back into the TI the video incompatibility and lack of cartridge support also kept me away, and now, like then, the expense to benefit ratio was too out-of-whack (for me) to justify. Now, what about a ‘new and improved’ Geneve like VARIANT using modern components? Possibly FPGA? I’m thinking a modern Geneve type expansion board that would support... 1) A modern USB wireless keyboard Cheap wireless or wired PC keyboards are a dime a dozen. 2) A plug in F18A or F18A Mk2 video adapter. It would keep the unit cost down, but give people the ability to use an existing video adapter or a new one if/when released. 3) Support for Cartridges If a cartridge is present it would bypass the normal boot routine. This would allow people to use the new mega cartridges like Dragon’s Lair. Cartridges would probably require a ribbon cable from the plug-in board and a 3D printed enclosure for most P-Box owners, but could be ‘doable’, possibly even a 3D printed half-height face plate. 4) Of course it would have to play well with the TIPI-PEB. I figure if you already have a TIPI or an F18A you’re not a purist, so a project like this might be welcome. Granted something like this would probably take a couple of years to design and develop, but since more consoles are starting to die and people want to explore new horizons, a new plug in replacement option with extra capabilities could keep us all happy… and probably for less money or ongoing hassle than a genuine Geneve. Just an idea... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FDOS Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 (edited) In the mean time you could get ready for the product(s) you're describing by using the MAME emulator (no video upgrades needed), for both Geneve & TI software development. I'm headed that way due to my destructive ways with both TI & Geneve hardware/firmware. MAME supports both platforms rather well, so BITD, I used MESS for SW development for both, especially when assembling AL code, thereby preserving valuable Geneve & TI hardware. Even before this I assembled TI AL code on the Geneve, as it didn't give me "out of buffers" errors, and was much faster. As everyone knows I'm not an AL programmer, but TI Forth and others come with lots of AL code, and other helpers provided me with AL assistance, so I did assemble lots of AL code BITD, and I believe or have hopes of doing so again. We shall see. Edited April 30, 2019 by FDOS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willbilly Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 I like this - I'm definitely down to design the cartridge caddy casing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteE Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 Keep an eye out for the CollectorVision Phoenix, a FPGA-based board for simulating ColecoVision, Atari 2600, TI 99/4a, and is open source so that other systems (Geneve?) might be simulated in the future. 1) It has PS/2 keyboard connector. (No USB) 2) It has F18A already on the FPGA. 3) Someone would need to design a cartridge adapter for TI cartridges. (But it has SD card for software also.) 4) Someone would need to make an adapter for the expansion port to interface with existing peripherals. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted April 30, 2019 Author Share Posted April 30, 2019 I like this - I'm definitely down to design the cartridge caddy casing. Sweet! Keep an eye out for the CollectorVision Phoenix, a FPGA-based board for simulating ColecoVision, Atari 2600, TI 99/4a, and is open source so that other systems (Geneve?) might be simulated in the future. 1) It has PS/2 keyboard connector. (No USB) 2) It has F18A already on the FPGA. 3) Someone would need to design a cartridge adapter for TI cartridges. (But it has SD card for software also.) 4) Someone would need to make an adapter for the expansion port to interface with existing peripherals. Interesting! If something similar, or a redesign of something like this comes out for the TI and can plug into the P-Box I'll be all over it. There are so many design paths a person could go with something like this. I'd like to see something that would get along with existing hardware as a way to keep production costs down, but I'm not picky, if it happens, I have faith whatever may be released will be well thought out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted May 3, 2019 Author Share Posted May 3, 2019 I'm really curious, how few components it would take to make one of these in FPGA? Slipped in right next to the TIPI, I imagine with a Geneve like variant, I'd get at least another decade out of new software development and other new things to keep me interested, occupied and active.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+9640News Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 What would it take for something like a USB plug to PEBox card allowing something like MAME (TI and Geneve emulation) to talk to the PEBox peripherals? Beery 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 isn't this just the cecure box? albeit without the geneve bits.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+9640News Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 isn't this just the cecure box? albeit without the geneve bits.. I'm not aware of the Cecure box???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 I'm not aware of the Cecure box???? Maybe I have the name wrong.. Didn't you just buy one? They showed it at the Chicago faire Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick99 Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 Maybe I have the name wrong.. Didn't you just buy one? They showed it at the Chicago faire Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk Is it the TI-99/5C you referring to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+9640News Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 The TI-99/5C is a standalone computer. What I meant was a device with a USB interface that plugs into a Windows PC running a modified version of MAME with the other end of the USB device plugging into a PEBox. The PEBox device communicates back and forth across the USB device for all I/O. Have no idea if it can be done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retiredqwest Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 I've never heard of what you are talking about, a USB bridge of sorts.... You might be thinking of this company that is long gone: Cecure Electronics Inc. c/o Don Walden, P.O. Box 132, Muskego, WI 53150, fororders/sales write to P.O. Box 2, Muskego, WI 53150-0002, 1-800-959-9640(ORDERS ONLY 9AM - 5PM M-F), (414) 422-1010, BBS (414) 422-9669, TECH Line(414) 422-994A, FAX (414) 422-9889 (Texas Instruments TI99, CC40 and MyarcAuthorized Repair Centers, sales of MBP, MBPII Clock and ADC cards as wellas SNUG products from Germany including HSGPL, HSGPLII, EVPC 80 column cardand SGCPU cards...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+9640News Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 I'm not saying one exists. I'm saying it might be something useful if someone could produce one and interface it with MAME. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retiredqwest Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 ya mean like this one..... http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/usb/usb.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 Is it the TI-99/5C you referring to? probably.. fpga device with emulation of popular hardware and a cart port and side port, as spoken of in message 1 of this thread.. just its a 4/a .. not a geneve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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