Geister Posted April 18, 2021 Share Posted April 18, 2021 I would like a couple of these. Not because I can't solder, but because they can be moved between machines easily. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1200XL M.U.L.E. Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 Just wanted to say, above all else that was mentioned here in 11 pages of posts, that I think it is absolutely fantastic and outstanding the Atari community has people all over the world developing upgrades, modifications, and other bits of new hardware for what is essentially a dead and historic product. Such a vibrant community! People like @candle and @flashjazzcat deserve some sort of medal! I'm actually a little surprised that someone in China hasn't tried making an 1:1 8-bit clone/knockoff and selling it on eBay or AliExpress for $100-$200. I'm not talking about emulated hardware but a real machine with reverse engineered GTIA, ANTIC, 6502, etc chips. Make the whole thing socketed so it can easily take these awesome upgrades. U1MB, Sophia, 32-in-1 ... it would be an experimenter's dream come true. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikesk8 Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 Will it require 16kb->64kb mod in Atari 600xl first? Or it will have it included as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beeblebrox Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 3 minutes ago, mikesk8 said: Will it require 16kb->64kb mod in Atari 600xl first? Or it will have it included as well? @mikesk8 I'd guess it's unlikely it would be included and you would have to upgrade your 600XL to 64kb first as the mod would presumably be standardised/require a base minimum. (Just a guess mind). It's dirt cheap to upgrade to 64kb (in the UK see here and in EU here). Of course the 64KB upgrade itself requires some desoldering/soldering work which if you are after an external memory upgrade in the first place to avoid such work rather defeats the object. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillC Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 1 hour ago, mikesk8 said: Will it require 16kb->64kb mod in Atari 600xl first? Or it will have it included as well? 58 minutes ago, Beeblebrox said: @mikesk8 I'd guess it's unlikely it would be included and you would have to upgrade your 600XL to 64kb first as the mod would presumably be standardised/require a base minimum. (Just a guess mind). This upgrade is supposed to combine a 1064 type 64KB RAM upgrade, U1MB upgrade, and SIDE 3 cartridge into a single external PBI/ECI device. The first post video was done with a stock 16KB PAL 600XL. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikesk8 Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 7 minutes ago, BillC said: This upgrade is supposed to combine a 1064 type 64KB RAM upgrade, U1MB upgrade, and SIDE 3 cartridge into a single external PBI/ECI device. The first post video was done with a stock 16KB PAL 600XL. It would be amazing! Do we know any timeline? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beeblebrox Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 51 minutes ago, BillC said: This upgrade is supposed to combine a 1064 type 64KB RAM upgrade, U1MB upgrade, and SIDE 3 cartridge into a single external PBI/ECI device. The first post video was done with a stock 16KB PAL 600XL. @BillC I stand corrected. Thanks. Sounds amazing. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikesk8 Posted September 19, 2021 Share Posted September 19, 2021 Is there maybe any timeline shared for this device? do we talk months or years? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarilux Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Hi, yes, following on from the post above, is there any news on when this would be available? Otherwise I may buy another 800xl and mod that. I quite like to keep some unmodded kit as well you see, the original is sometimes the best Or at least the most authentic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 23 minutes ago, atarilux said: Hi, yes, following on from the post above, is there any news on when this would be available? All I can say is that I still haven't had hands on it yet (supposedly it currently travels from Poland to my house) and have yet to begin the long job of writing the firmware for it (which will require porting the existing U1MB firmware with significant changes, and blending into that the SIDE3 loader which is currently experiencing a huge re-write), so 'imminently' can safely be ruled out. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 When this device will see the day of light, I would most certainly be interested. But... I really hope it will have -just like the Turbo Freezer 2011, and just like the black box- a button that make the atari stop doing everything and let the user jump to a menu. So the user can make changes, like mounting/demounting another ATR, or swap drives... and then return to the program the user was running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 (edited) 17 minutes ago, Marius said: So the user can make changes, like mounting/demounting another ATR, or swap drives... and then return to the program the user was running. I wholly agree and asked Candle months ago to remember to implement a PBI IRQ. And even when the IRQ doesn't work (say, if the application disabled interrupts), entering the setup menu via RESET and running the loader should be a non-destructive operation (unless one actually launches software from it) so that reset-protected applications will still be intact when one leaves the loader after performing volume mounts, etc. Edited March 12, 2022 by flashjazzcat 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarilux Posted March 12, 2022 Share Posted March 12, 2022 6 hours ago, flashjazzcat said: All I can say is that I still haven't had hands on it yet (supposedly it currently travels from Poland to my house) and have yet to begin the long job of writing the firmware for it (which will require porting the existing U1MB firmware with significant changes, and blending into that the SIDE3 loader which is currently experiencing a huge re-write), so 'imminently' can safely be ruled out. Thanks for the update, it does indeed sound like a lot of work. Also thanks for your hard work in supporting the community, plus thanks also to the others involved in this project. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candle Posted March 16, 2022 Author Share Posted March 16, 2022 all i have right now is 2 xe prototypes and 3 xl ones any production runs are postponed till noone knows when since the situation on component maket - there is absolutly lack of any CPLD/FPGA chips that would be usable I was cosidering even a board redesign just to address the issue, but there is nothing i could change current CPLD to (in comparable price range) 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Well, hopefully I'll get a prototype soon so that when production is possible, the firmware will be done. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiassofT Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 5 hours ago, candle said: any production runs are postponed till noone knows when since the situation on component maket - there is absolutly lack of any CPLD/FPGA chips that would be usable Maybe it's time to go oldschool and switch back to good old TTL chips again ? Or maybe not, even those are low on stock ATM. Damn crisis... so long, Hias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reifsnyderb Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 28 minutes ago, HiassofT said: Maybe it's time to go oldschool and switch back to good old TTL chips again ? Or maybe not, even those are low on stock ATM. Damn crisis... so long, Hias I wouldn't be surprised if it would take 20 or 30 TTL chips to do what one of those CPLD's are programmed to do. The beauty of a CPLD is you can re-program it to add features or fix a problem after you get the boards made. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiassofT Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 32 minutes ago, reifsnyderb said: I wouldn't be surprised if it would take 20 or 30 TTL chips to do what one of those CPLD's are programmed to do. The beauty of a CPLD is you can re-program it to add features or fix a problem after you get the boards made. Absolutely - or maybe even more. My comment wasn't meant too seriously ? so long, Hias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Larry Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 @flashjazzcat Hi Jon- Did you ever get the prototype(s)? I do think that by making this external (and transportable), it really will be the "Ultimate!" -Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 3 minutes ago, Larry said: Did you ever get the prototype(s)? Not yet. The status of its arrival is perpertually 'soon'. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted August 5, 2022 Share Posted August 5, 2022 Previously known as "the cheque is in the post" 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattykan Posted September 4, 2022 Share Posted September 4, 2022 It lives! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted September 4, 2022 Share Posted September 4, 2022 Candle, you and Lothrek have been mighty busy... Thank you all... Jon inc...Obviously.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 external all in one, sounds pretty darn sweet! Hope it comes around sooner than later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 In other words, 'bump', since you didn't just this minute learn of this device. I intend to start working in the firmware soon. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.