73 replies to this topic

[Dropcheck]

Just trying to gauge demand for this. I was very hesitate to make the necessary trace cuts for Candle's U1mb board upgrade. Something about puting a sharp blade anywhere near fragile 30 year old boards and traces filled me with the tremors. I perservered and successfully made the necessary mods, but it got me wondering if others were like me. I realize that Candle will probably include the mods onboard any other board runs he does. So there might not be a real future for my idea, but then again......


Okay what I'm thinking about is a small adapter board that has the resistors and connections onboard. You plug the board into the MMU socket and then plug Candle's cable harness into the adapter board. No cutting traces. No soldering the resistors into place. I've drawn up an Eagle schematic and am ready to send to a board house for a proto type. I don't know how much it would cost $10-15 is an estimate plus shipping.

Any takers?

[Rybags]

Already installed mine, I imagine many others have too and that he'll likely modify the design and put some SMRs in place next time around.

Good idea though - I never really considered an alternate method, it is nice to keep those kind of modifications to a minimum.

[candle]

Sorry I haven't replied to Your PM
I'll make that adapter, and put gerber files on spiflash.org just for anyone who might need it
also they will be available (on demand) with next u1mb run (that is before i'll have to order another batch of boards - i have aprox 140 boards left)

[venom4728a]

I will purchase 2.

Best Regards
Robert

[BillC]

Dropcheck, on Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:39 PM, said:

Just trying to gauge demand for this. I was very hesitate to make the necessary trace cuts for Candle's U1mb board upgrade. Something about puting a sharp blade anywhere near fragile 30 year old boards and traces filled me with the tremors. I perservered and successfully made the necessary mods, but it got me wondering if others were like me. I realize that Candle will probably include the mods onboard any other board runs he does. So there might not be a real future for my idea, but then again......


Okay what I'm thinking about is a small adapter board that has the resistors and connections onboard. You plug the board into the MMU socket and then plug Candle's cable harness into the adapter board. No cutting traces. No soldering the resistors into place. I've drawn up an Eagle schematic and am ready to send to a board house for a proto type. I don't know how much it would cost $10-15 is an estimate plus shipping.

Any takers?

I've found the easiest way to cut a trace is to use a hot soldering iron until it delaminates from the circuit board.

[Philsan]

Sebastian, when those adapters will be made?
I would like to buy one not to wound my 800XL.

[BillC]

candle, on Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:16 PM, said:

Sorry I haven't replied to Your PM
I'll make that adapter, and put gerber files on spiflash.org just for anyone who might need it
also they will be available (on demand) with next u1mb run (that is before i'll have to order another batch of boards - i have aprox 140 boards left)

Removed, I misread the message.

[candle]

Phil, not very soon i'm affride

[Larry]

The adapter board seems like a really good idea to me.

I'd be a willing buyer for the U1MB kit I have remaining.

BTW, looking at the XE installation guide, the resistor mod certainly looks easier to accomplish than on the XL.

-Larry

[Dropcheck]

If I can get 10 confirmed orders, the adapter boards will come populated with socket, header connector and resistors and ready to go for $8 each plus $4 US shipping. Higher numbers within reason will be a little less plus shipping. I'm a little unsure how to do overseas shipping so that amount will vary depending on where it's going and in what style. PM'me and I will give you my paypal address for pymt. Order deadline will be 2 weeks. I think that is a reasonable time frame if you really want it. I don't plan on ordering more than a couple extra for what ifs and (^*(&^**^ happenings.

These adapter boards should fit both 1200XL and 800XL. I am assuming you will be using a XL/XE MMU and will have made the necessary mod on the 1200XL to use that version of MMU

So far there is a request for 3.

Failing getting the necessary # of order confirmations I will immediately refund all monies paid. Board run and parts procurement should take about 2 weeks and shipping of finished boards should start within a week of that. If the demand is there I will do multiple runs of 10 boards at a time. But lets see if we can get the first 10 confirmed.

[BillC]

Dropcheck, on Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:25 PM, said:

If I can get 10 confirmed orders, the adapter boards will come populated with socket, header connector and resistors and ready to go for $8 each plus $4 US shipping. Higher numbers within reason will be a little less plus shipping. I'm a little unsure how to do overseas shipping so that amount will vary depending on where it's going and in what style. PM'me and I will give you my paypal address for pymt. Order deadline will be 2 weeks. I think that is a reasonable time frame if you really want it. I don't plan on ordering more than a couple extra for what ifs and (^*(&^**^ happenings.

These adapter boards should fit both 1200XL and 800XL. I am assuming you will be using a XL/XE MMU and will have made the necessary mod on the 1200XL to use that version of MMU

So far there is a request for 3.

Failing getting the necessary # of order confirmations I will immediately refund all monies paid. Board run and parts procurement should take about 2 weeks and shipping of finished boards should start within a week of that. If the demand is there I will do multiple runs of 10 boards at a time. But lets see if we can get the first 10 confirmed.

An XL/XE MMU isn't required for the 1200XL, the XILINX PLD eliminates the MMU which is why the resistors/adapter are needed. The jumper reconfiguration, and socket replacement if required, for a single 16K ROM is necessary

I would take 3.(PM sent)

[Raul Vasbutin]

I would take 2 of the adapter boards.

[Dropcheck]

BillC, on Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:57 AM, said:

An XL/XE MMU isn't required for the 1200XL, the XILINX PLD eliminates the MMU which is why the resistors/adapter are needed. The jumper reconfiguration, and socket replacement if required, for a single 16K ROM is necessary

I would take 3.(PM sent)

I wasn't sure if there was some special need for that version on the 1200XL. Good to know. Sending PM.

We are getting at 8 requested now

[DarkLord]

Put me down for one!

[w1k]

i want one please

[Dropcheck]

Someone recommended an image. I don't have a finished board but I can show the Eagle image of the board. The board size is 22by38mm. About .8by1.5 inches. Also there is some interest in a 65/130XE version. I'll do some research on that and see if it is doable.

Edited by Dropcheck, Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:28 AM.

[Rybags]

What's the header for? Does it provide extra points for some of the signals - that might come in handy for IDE +2

[candle]

it won't fit inside 600xl if i view this correctly
ofcourse one can swap locations of pin headers to make that work

[Dropcheck]

Rybags, on Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:33 AM, said:

What's the header for? Does it provide extra points for some of the signals - that might come in handy for IDE +2

The premise is that this board/adapter allows the user to simply plug it into an empty MMU socket on the motherboard and then plug in Candle's supplied cable. No muss no fuss. That's the reason for the header so you can simply do a plug and play so to speak.

It can definitely be moded to expose other connections on the MMU. In fact I am working on something akin to that for intSDX type boards. So instead of having to solder eight wires to the MMU and socket you plug this bad boy into the socket and put in the MMU and connect the wires via slipon connectors on the adapter. It's kind of a kludge, but for those timid souls afraid to take a soldering iron to their Atari, this makes it a little easier.

On the 65/130XE front, I believe the adapter will work just fine with no modifications in the adapter itself. That said you would need to unsolder the MMU from the mb, solder in a socket and then plug this adapter in. So it might not be the best solution unless you are going for full socketed bliss on the mb anyway.

[flashjazzcat]

How difficult / expensive is it to use a pecision socket countersunk into the board, instead of the header array and offset socket on top?

[candle]

how would you add resistor then?

[Dropcheck]

flashjazzcat, on Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:16 AM, said:

How difficult / expensive is it to use a pecision socket countersunk into the board, instead of the header array and offset socket on top?

If I am seeing Candle's VBXE adapter right......he is piggybacking the precision socket onto a dual row of speciality headers. Not sure what the part # or source would be. That and the precision socket would determine the cost. I know the precision socket is always going to be 2x and 3x times cost of regular value socket. Aside from the obvious quality advantage this does help height wise.

But.... there's always a but. This works fine if all you want is a one to one connection, but not when you are hijacking a sig from a IC pin to run it through other circuitry and then back to the connection on the mb. The two cannot be directly connected. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Edited by Dropcheck, Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:04 AM.

[flashjazzcat]

Dropcheck, on Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:58 AM, said:

But.... there's always a but. This works fine if all you want is a one to one connection, but not when you are hijacking a sig from a IC pin to run it through other circuitry and then back to the connection on the mb. The two cannot be directly connected. Correct me if I'm wrong.

You're not wrong... in fact you're absolutely right! The low-profile socket would be no good here.

Just testing, obviously.

[HiassofT]

A completely different idea: Instead of cutting traces on the PCB or using an adapter board one could also cut the 2 wires of the ribbon cable and install the resistor there (and use a little bit of heat shrink tube around each resistor to isolate the stuff).

Cutting the wires shouldn't be too complicated, peel away the wires (at some distance to the MMU socket) with your fingernails, when you separated the 2 wires from the rest it's easy to cut them. I'm sure candle could tell us which wires are the right ones

so long,

Hias

[Dropcheck]

HiassofT, on Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:18 AM, said:

A completely different idea: Instead of cutting traces on the PCB or using an adapter board one could also cut the 2 wires of the ribbon cable and install the resistor there (and use a little bit of heat shrink tube around each resistor to isolate the stuff).

Cutting the wires shouldn't be too complicated, peel away the wires (at some distance to the MMU socket) with your fingernails, when you separated the 2 wires from the rest it's easy to cut them. I'm sure candle could tell us which wires are the right ones

so long,

Hias

That would work unless the two wires are buried in the middle of the ribbon cable and not side by side. Then you'd have a mess and as much teeth gritting as cuttng traces and soldering direct to the mb. It could be done, but God forbide you fracked the ribbon cable doing it. Then it's replacement time and you have to try again. Don't you just love it when I play the devil's advocate.