New ST/Falcon hardware

[V.R]

Hi guys. Just thought I'd let you know about my website (crappy looking I know). Have a few hardware solutions for you to look at. Including USB and ethernet cards. As well as the new portable ST. Thanx

[+Sauron]

So what website would that be?

[V.R]

Yeah you might need the link, funny that!-http://www.angelfire.com/electronic2/projectst/

[krupkaj]

It is very interesting. I am looking forward to some schemes.

[Goochman]

Hmmmm,

 

Looks awesome! I wish there was better TCP/IP software for my Mega2ST w/TOS 1.4

 

I ahve a network/cart already but simple FTP is all I can do with my M$ machines

[krupkaj]

Hmmmm,

 

Looks awesome!  I wish there was better TCP/IP software for my Mega2ST w/TOS 1.4

 

I ahve a network/cart already but simple FTP is all I can do with my M$ machines

 

Did you try networking with MiNT or MagiC? You can run Samba for example with both.

[+Stephen Moss]

Yeah you might need the link, funny that!-http://www.angelfire.com/electronic2/projectst/

 

You USB projects look very interesting espically as I am looking to make a USB adaptor for the Jaguar and so although not complete/tested I would be interested in looking at your circuit diagrams, alternatively if you could just list the USB device you are using that may prove usefull.

 

One worry though is that where you mention the Revision 1 schematic you state that "So far the schematics only allow for one USB device to be connected at any given time. However new schematics are under development to allow two devices to be connected."

Once you have a USB port you should be able to connect any number of devices to it, you just need to enumerate each one, your inference that another device has to be added looks like you may be falling into the same trap as others in that your acutally using a USB slave device which are quite common for creating object that connect to a USB bus as opposed to using a USB Host device to build a USB Host which you need for communicating with devices on the bus.

 

A company called Cypress have a device called an SL811HS which is the device I'm looking at using, it can be a little hard to get hold of but its advantages are that it can be used as a either a Host or Slave and has a 8 bit combined data/address bus for commumication with a Microcontroller or in you case the cartridge port.

[V.R]

Hello Stephen. Your criticism is worthy. Thankyou. At the moment Iam using a national semiconductor chip, which can only drive one data line at a time. Therefore two chips are needed to drive two devices. As the USB card will be using the cartridge port of the ST, using two devices is hardly worthwhile because of slow bus transfers. The card also incorporates an ethernet interface which slows down transfers even further. However a USB interface using the jaguar would be an excellent idea.

I'am currently trying different USB drivers, including some from NEC, which I will definetley let you know about. I'am not an expert with USB so your advice is greatly acknowledged. Thanx. Ben

[stevens]

Anyone who can get even close to getting usb to work on Atari hardware

has my support!

 

Let us know if you need any help in any areas, 'cos usb would open up a whole new world for Atari users.

 

Thanks,

 

Richard.

[+Stephen Moss]

I'am currently trying different USB drivers, including some from NEC, which I will definetley let you know about. I'am not an expert with USB so your advice is greatly acknowledged. Thanx. Ben

 

I'm no USB expert either as its highly software based and I'm more of a hardware person.

 

Have you heard of the USB adaptor Guus Assmann is working on for the Atari 8 bit computers (again via the cartridge port)? If not you might want to take a look although I can't recall the URL at this this time.

I believe he is also trying using Slave devices and if IIRC someone has already pointed this out to him however he feels sure he can get it to work - time will tell but you may get a few conceptual ideas from it.

 

Good luck with your project, hopefully between the three of us one will create a working design.

[V.R]

Yes I have looked at Guus's design and have decided to use the same chip!. This is a very simple design and I have completed the schematics and a prototype will be built as soon as I get the chips. A host USB IC would just over complicate things, which is not really needed. Most host devices are built for a PCI interface which is totally unnecessary, not to mention a waste of space; which is integral to me design.

Although the chipset Iam using only supports USB 1, there is no need for further USB support because the bus is only 16 bit.

For the Atari ST, Im confident my design is the correct solution for all users.

Making a jaguar USB interface out of this same chip would be a piece of cake. If anyone would like to collaborate or share ideas on a Jaguar USB project, just drop me an email. Cheers.