kynikos Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 Will the firmware on the pre-production Concerto cart be upgradable? Obviously not for the extra memory support as stated but what about other improvements along the way? Also, do the pre-production carts also feature sockets for a POKEY chip? It looks like it does but just wanted to make sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+x=usr(1536) Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 22 minutes ago, kynikos said: Also, do the pre-production carts also feature sockets for a POKEY chip? It looks like it does but just wanted to make sure. Mine does, and I believe that all pre-production units could accommodate a POKEY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+batari Posted July 18, 2021 Author Share Posted July 18, 2021 7 hours ago, kynikos said: Will the firmware on the pre-production Concerto cart be upgradable? Obviously not for the extra memory support as stated but what about other improvements along the way? Also, do the pre-production carts also feature sockets for a POKEY chip? It looks like it does but just wanted to make sure. Yes, there will be firmware updates to all Concertos for improved functionality. As of this writing, all current Concertos have a POKEY socket for a sound chip (POKEY, or the upcoming HOKEY.) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+batari Posted July 19, 2021 Author Share Posted July 19, 2021 14 hours ago, Muddyfunster said: My guess is that it will allow running of ROMS that are 512K + 16K RAM and probably larger sizes up to 1mb. This is true, the upgraded Concerto with an additional 512k of memory will support 524k ROMs, plus it will support 512k games like EXO when it's released. On 7/17/2021 at 11:57 AM, Muddyfunster said: My understanding is that the current 512k limit allows 512k carts but not any RAM (as everything has to fit inside the 512k the Concerto has available). It is true that the standard (512k) Concerto will not support 524k ROMs. Also, while the 512k will easily support some 512k mappings, since it's your game, I will mention here that I haven't sorted out how to get EXO's mapper working on 512k Concertos due to certain design constraints. The design constraints are related to Concerto's reverse-compatibility with Harmony Encore. With the upgraded memory, however, the extra 512k is available in 7800 mode only and so upgraded Concertos will easily support EXO out of the box. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+batari Posted July 19, 2021 Author Share Posted July 19, 2021 I have just added stock of both the pre-production and the production Concerto. https://erstwhile-technologies-7800.square.site/ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeguychicago Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 Will there be some type of option for those of us who already have the pre-production model to upgrade to the production version? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+groundtrooper Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 4 minutes ago, bikeguychicago said: Will there be some type of option for those of us who already have the pre-production model to upgrade to the production version? Fred stated on the previous page... On 7/17/2021 at 1:46 AM, batari said: To upgrade the memory in a production Concerto will probably require sending it back to me, as it requires removing and installing a few soldered-on, surface mount chips. At a later date, you will also be able to buy an already upgraded Concerto. Upgrades of existing production Concertos will be available after the firmware support for extra memory is finished. Patience. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Karl G Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 9 hours ago, groundtrooper said: 9 hours ago, bikeguychicago said: Will there be some type of option for those of us who already have the pre-production model to upgrade to the production version? Fred stated on the previous page... That doesn't really answer the question about pre-production units, though. I'm guessing that there probably is not a hardware upgrade path for those. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DrVenkman Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 I suspect that was a typo; it makes more sense that pre-production Concertos would need to be sent back to be upgraded, but @batari would have to confirm. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebor Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 2 hours ago, DrVenkman said: I suspect that was a typo; it makes more sense that pre-production Concertos would need to be sent back to be upgraded, but @batari would have to confirm. @batari I believe was referring to the 512k to 1024k upgrade for the production version. Current production units are shipping with 512k: Quote Presently, production Concertos are functionally the same as their pre-production cousins. However, they use an updated circuit board that has upgradable memory. The memory can be upgraded from 512k to 1MB. As the firmware support for upgraded memory is not finished yet, all are shipped with 512k. To upgrade the memory in a production Concerto will probably require sending it back to me, as it requires removing and installing a few soldered-on, surface mount chips. After the 1024k production Concerto becomes available, then games like E.X.O. will be supported, as it requires 512k + 16k RAM: Quote It is true that the standard (512k) Concerto will not support 524k ROMs. Also, while the 512k will easily support some 512k mappings, since it's your game, I will mention here that I haven't sorted out how to get EXO's mapper working on 512k Concertos due to certain design constraints. The design constraints are related to Concerto's reverse-compatibility with Harmony Encore. With the upgraded memory, however, the extra 512k is available in 7800 mode only and so upgraded Concertos will easily support EXO out of the box. In summary: -Current pre-production Concerto carts support up to 144k ROMs and have a socket for a POKEY or (when available) HOKEY chip; the chip is not installed or provided. -Current production Concerto carts support up to 512k ROMs (Excluding 512k + RAM) and have a socket for a POKEY or (when available) HOKEY chip; the chip is not installed or provided. -Ultimately, production Concerto carts will be made available that support up to 1024k ROMs (Including 512k + RAM), and have a socket with a HOKEY provided and installed (Optionally). 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+batari Posted July 22, 2021 Author Share Posted July 22, 2021 There isn't a hardware path to upgrade the memory in pre-production units. Those will be trade-in items, like I did with Harmony Encore. What I did there is I simply resold the traded-in Harmony carts for a $10 discount and I didn't have any particular issue reselling them. As long as I have no issue reselling the traded-in Concerto carts, I will allow trade-ins of older Concertos. However, if I start to amass a number of pre-production carts that don't sell promptly then I will have to suspend trade-ins until they do sell. Production carts do have a hardware upgrade path so these will always be upgradable, but I recommend sending these back for upgrades. Although if you want, you can just get the chips directly from me and solder them yourself and save some money, I still recommend sending it back for the upgrade unless you are adept at surface-mount desoldering/soldering. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+batari Posted July 22, 2021 Author Share Posted July 22, 2021 I added stock of a few more production Concertos. If you miss out on these, I will add more early next week. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMarcoux66 Posted July 26, 2021 Share Posted July 26, 2021 Got mine in today... popped in a Pokey I bought a few months back from Best and everything worked great! Thanks so much Batari! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teuton17 Posted July 26, 2021 Share Posted July 26, 2021 Got mine setup today - 7800 and 2600! Really sweet! Only bummer is that i cannot get 7800 Battlezone working. Anyone can help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nathan Strum Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 There's a 7800 Battlezone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teuton17 Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 Sorry, I was in a rush before. 2600 version would not go past splash screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PacManPlus Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 11 hours ago, Nathan Strum said: There's a 7800 Battlezone? Kind of... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sn8k Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 On 7/22/2021 at 5:17 PM, batari said: I added stock of a few more production Concertos. If you miss out on these, I will add more early next week. I want one of these things so bad. Paypal is my only way of buying things online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nathan Strum Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 6 hours ago, PacManPlus said: Kind of... If you ever get back to Battlezone, I'd love to beta test it. It's my all-time favorite arcade game. I'm fair-to-middlin' at it, too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nathan Strum Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 4 hours ago, sn8k said: I want one of these things so bad. Paypal is my only way of buying things online. I'd suggest asking around to see if someone (who takes PayPal) would buy one for you. Bribery might help. Maybe in the Marketplace. (Sorry... not volunteering.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+batari Posted July 27, 2021 Author Share Posted July 27, 2021 I will be opening up limited PayPal sales this week. I am getting a page set up for it but it will be private as I don’t want more orders than I can handle in a reasonable amount of time. When I get that set up I will send an order URL to those who have contacted me about it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sramirez2008 Posted July 27, 2021 Share Posted July 27, 2021 4 hours ago, Nathan Strum said: If you ever get back to Battlezone, I'd love to beta test it. It's my all-time favorite arcade game. I'm fair-to-middlin' at it, too. +1 for Battlezone testing? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjrb007 Posted July 28, 2021 Share Posted July 28, 2021 6 hours ago, batari said: I will be opening up limited PayPal sales this week. I am getting a page set up for it but it will be private as I don’t want more orders than I can handle in a reasonable amount of time. When I get that set up I will send an order URL to those who have contacted me about it. @Batari, I want to buy one unit. Please let me know the PayPal link. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+batari Posted July 29, 2021 Author Share Posted July 29, 2021 I haven't got the Paypal link set up yet but that is on the agenda for Thursday, then I will be contacting people. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Bloke Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 Every now and then I go looking for a 7800 SD cart, im keeping my eyes on this thread. (BTW how much would postage to the UK be?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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