Hi just bought this new DIY Maplin ROM box, Type 1 'cheap' from Ebay. Maplin ROM Box - CPCWiki (http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Maplin_ROM_Box) From the complex instructions in the PDF it seems all I need do is connect the dots in the upper right corner to fit 6 new RAMS. 0 is left for Basic and 7 for the DDI-1. I was wondering however about the Expansion on the left, would there be any point in me extending this, it says it can take 6 'Eurocard' plugs in...so would I be able to use some of the new dongles like MiniBooster XMem? They do mention it will become compatible with VidiDigitiser and Satellite Receivers in 1986 etc or have I got this totally wrong, they use such arcane language in the lit.
Also it gives details for differing connections at the pins for the ROMs depending on their size 2,4,8 or 16k...so duh I'm thinking most of the ROMs I have should be 16k, but there is no way of telling sometimes from lit or the ROM, is there a possibility some ROMs might be under 16k?
Cheers, Spooks
[size=78%](http://www.spookspring.com/Ebay/DSCN2869.JPG)[/size]
Quote from: spookspring on 17:18, 10 September 14
Hi just bought this new DIY Maplin ROM box, Type 1 'cheap' from Ebay. Maplin ROM Box - CPCWiki (http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Maplin_ROM_Box) From the complex instructions in the PDF it seems all I need do is connect the dots in the upper right corner to fit 6 new RAMS. 0 is left for Basic and 7 for the DDI-1. I was wondering however about the Expansion on the left, would there be any point in me extending this, it says it can take 6 'Eurocard' plugs in...so would I be able to use some of the new dongles like MiniBooster XMem? They do mention it will become compatible with VidiDigitiser and Satellite Receivers in 1986 etc or have I got this totally wrong, they use such arcane language in the lit.
The wiki page says it decodes D0-D3, but I can't see where it includes D3, so it probably repeats at every 8 roms positions, which would be an issue on a 6128 (Rom at position 1 would also be initialised at rom 9). Do you have a 464 or a 6128 to try it on? You'd probably do better with an X-mem or any other modern rom board, you get more slots, and it's easier to update.
The IO port on the side of the board is not a standard expansion connector, it's buffered for a start. You could possibly patch it to be a standard connector, but it's probably not worth the effort. I'd try and keep it as original as possible, can't be very many of them about now.
Quote from: spookspring on 17:18, 10 September 14
Also it gives details for differing connections at the pins for the ROMs depending on their size 2,4,8 or 16k...so duh I'm thinking most of the ROMs I have should be 16k, but there is no way of telling sometimes from lit or the ROM, is there a possibility some ROMs might be under 16k?
You are unlikely to have anything other than 16K Roms, the 2 & 4K roms have fewer pins (24), so you have to use the links to re-route the power supply to the pin futher down. 8K roms are 28-pin (like 16K) so worst case, the data will appear twice if it's set up for 16K roms.
Ok thanks! so a buffered interface is for streaming Video and TV, so even if I do connect it up I'll need to a buy a compatible card that might work in those slots. It seems unlikely that a Video Card or Satellite receiver to fit will ever turn up on Ebay. I do have a VidiDigitizer, one assumes I could plug that it in there. So I'll have a go at upgrading the left side, the semi conductors are still abundant.
Quote from: spookspring on 19:44, 11 September 14
Ok thanks! so a buffered interface is for streaming Video and TV, so even if I do connect it up I'll need to a buy a compatible card that might work in those slots. It seems unlikely that a Video Card or Satellite receiver to fit will ever turn up on Ebay. I do have a VidiDigitizer, one assumes I could plug that it in there. So I'll have a go at upgrading the left side, the semi conductors are still abundant.
The buffered interface is for a very specific set of cards produced by Maplin, it's not a standard cpc expansion port. So unless your "VidiDigitizer" is from Maplin, it's very unlikley to work, and may damage one or the other, or both.
Thanks again. I'll upgrade anyway as a project and wait for a Maplin Card to turn up