Omega-TI Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 Over the years there have been some electronic projects developed for the TI-99/4A. Some of these projects are massive in scale, like the TIPI, so beyond the capabilities of most here. Then there have been some simple projects, like Vorticon's model rocket launcher for the TI. I'd like this thread to become a combination repository for projects, and a place to hookup, discuss and even make some electronic projects that can interface with the TI in "ONE WAY OR ANOTHER". And in the hope of more active participation, I'm asking the electronics engineers here to "please dumb it down a little" so others not at your level, or just starting out can feel free to get their hands dirty, learn and build along with us. So, to hopefully get the ball started, does anyone have an idea for a low to moderately priced project? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share Posted January 21, 2021 (edited) I'm short of ideas at the moment, but it occurs to me, one practical or useful project could be a board that plugs into the UberGROM with a temperature sensor or possibly even with a barometric and humidity sensor that works with a program on the 49F040. It could all fit inside of a special 3D printed case. I bet many of you have some old tech like this hanging on your wall at home. It might be kinda of neat to have the TI do it! I bet it could be done on a spare bare bones TI you have hanging around the house. Edited January 21, 2021 by Omega-TI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 How about an interface port for digital devices, an easy way to interact with sensor boards, raspberry pi and other soc devices. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share Posted January 21, 2021 7 minutes ago, GDMike said: How about an interface port for digital devices, an easy way to interact with sensor boards, raspberry pi and other soc devices. I'm up for ANYTHING at this point, but that sounds good to me! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 (edited) 36 minutes ago, Omega-TI said: I'm up for ANYTHING at this point, but that sounds good to mm Or how about another way of connecting a PEB to a console... Oh, I have a geneve coming.... maybe that's my answer.., ok, your on your own.. Edited January 21, 2021 by GDMike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 1 hour ago, Omega-TI said: I'm short of ideas at the moment, but it occurs to me, one practical or useful project could be a board that plugs into the UberGROM with a temperature sensor or possibly even with a barometric and humidity sensor that works with a program on the 49F040. It could all fit inside of a special 3D printed case. I bet many of you have some old tech like this hanging on your wall at home. It might be kinda of neat to have the TI do it! I bet it could be done on a spare bare bones TI you have hanging around the house. I have another option, do I get to go twice? How's about supporting a "PLAYTI DAY" Each day, someone, picks an alphabetical listed game, Introduces the game, and participants play,run,use, critique and score the results on a tipi site. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share Posted January 21, 2021 I'm wondering what we could do with the << RPi Pico >> hooked to a TI? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 Just now, Omega-TI said: I'm wondering what we could do with the << RPi Pico >> hooked to a TI? Uh.. make a tipi? Sounds good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share Posted January 21, 2021 Just now, GDMike said: Uh.. make a tipi? Sounds good Already have that, I'm thinking more of an interface, diagnostics device, or something else? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 (edited) I've always wanted a cucumber sorter https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2021/1/21/22242619/raspberry-pi-pico-microcontroller-tiny-computer-diy-projects Edited January 21, 2021 by GDMike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Omega-TI said: Already have that, I'm thinking more of an interface, diagnostics device, or something else? Ok, for real this time. We need to make a TI console tester circuit. Leaving a board intact, no power and using your pico cucumber sorter, pinout chips add power and test. .no, maybe?? Can logic and memory chips test in circuit by just adding power and injecting signals? Edited January 22, 2021 by GDMike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FarmerPotato Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 It's not networked, so it needs to plug into a USB port somewhere. While they say it will run MicroPython just fine, this is not in the same class as a Pi. The Cortex M0 133 MHz is a very nice baby brother to the Gigahertz range quad-core Cortex A7 in the Pi. It's not going to run the same Linux as the Pi. Cortex M0 is very nice, but you're more likely to program to the bare metal in C, or use Python. So, not a great fit for the TiPi, where cheap Pi Zero is already tested. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 (edited) 2 minutes ago, FarmerPotato said: It's not networked, so it needs to plug into a USB port somewhere. While they say it will run MicroPython just fine, this is not in the same class as a Pi. The Cortex M0 133 MHz is a very nice baby brother to the Gigahertz range quad-core Cortex A7 in the Pi. It's not going to run the same Linux as the Pi. Cortex M0 is very nice, but you're more likely to program to the bare metal in C, or use Python. So, not a great fit for the TiPi, where cheap Pi Zero is already tested. My ideas are always blown away First...geees:) Edited January 22, 2021 by GDMike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FarmerPotato Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 2 minutes ago, GDMike said: Can logic and memory chips test in circuit by just adding power and injecting signals? No, because once you touch the power and ground, the other chips come on too. But sure, you could build a chip tester box around this Pico. That might previously have been a good fit for a Arduini ProMini ($3 board about the size of the Pico, 2 square inches) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 (edited) 1 minute ago, FarmerPotato said: No, because once you touch the power and ground, the other chips come on too. But sure, you could build a chip tester box around this Pico. That might previously have been a good fit for a Arduini ProMini ($3 board about the size of the Pico, 2 square inches) Outta the PEB of shame Edited January 22, 2021 by GDMike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FarmerPotato Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Just now, GDMike said: My ideas are always blown away First...geees Well, when I saw the Pico earlier today, I patiently thought through "Can this go on a TiPi?" pros and cons thereof. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 (edited) Hmm we need a video Chip tester, ram tester, but I think that just got blown outta the water, be nice to have a peb card tester..?? Whatever that means.. I guess check for address, power.. Oooh, does RXB do that too? Edited January 22, 2021 by GDMike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 (edited) Aha, how about a keyboard tester... don't know why, do they go bad..gees, I've had mine, for like, ever... Or type ahead buffer for the keyboard Edited January 22, 2021 by GDMike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FarmerPotato Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 3 minutes ago, GDMike said: Hmm we need a video Chip tester, ram tester, but I think that just got blown outta the water, be nice to have a peb card tester..?? Whatever that means.. I guess check for address, power.. Oooh, does RXB do that too? Now that you bring it up, this board has similar specs to the little board I use to test the V9958 chip and verify its RAM! I mean it would be a good start to making a tester, the kind where you de-solder or pull a chip first, then drop it in a ZIF socket to be tested. Writing tests in Python would be nice. That would be practical for the 9918, 4116 RAM chips, 9901s. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 (edited) Win win scoooooore Congrats, you have a winner. ?? @Omega-TI Edited January 22, 2021 by GDMike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 (edited) 19 minutes ago, FarmerPotato said: Now that you bring it up, this board has similar specs to the little board I use to test the V9958 chip and verify its RAM! I mean it would be a good start to making a tester, the kind where you de-solder or pull a chip first, then drop it in a ZIF socket to be tested. Writing tests in Python would be nice. That would be practical for the 9918, 4116 RAM chips, 9901s. And throw a prom test code on it to test with .oooh... might be asking way to much. But this would be a thing I need Edited January 22, 2021 by GDMike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 It needs micropython to code. And, I haven't gotten 9900 assy down yet. Matt.....? Do you need something to do. ? Btw, speaking of coding 9900 stuff, can someone point out a pdf that tells a better story on how DSR works and has some fine examples of WRITING a file out with a PAB in assy. I'm using a couple books, ea manual shows a fine example of READING a file that doesn't exist, and learning assembly does the same thing. Ty in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 @Omega-TIdo you know python? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted January 22, 2021 Author Share Posted January 22, 2021 17 minutes ago, FarmerPotato said: I mean it would be a good start to making a tester, the kind where you de-solder or pull a chip first, then drop it in a ZIF socket to be tested. You could mount it all on the new TI-99/4A matching project board. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDMike Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Looks wobbly..fix that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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