Albireo - USB/SD interface for CPC (new version without serial)

Started by Zik, 22:02, 26 September 22

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Zik

Hello!

In agreement with @PulkoMandy, I designed a new version of the Albireo interface. The main goal is to make the interface available again for purchase.

Like the previous version, it provides one USB host port and one µSD slot with built-in support for mass storage and FAT filesystem. However, please note serial port has been removed. It is fully compatible (same port address). Of course, nothing is mapped on serial port addresses.

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You can read more on this interface in the original thread:
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/albireo-usbsdserial-interface-for-cpc/

Why was the serial port removed?
The serial chip component is no more available at decent pricing and small package. Alternative chips were not proven to work. Little software support has been developed so far. Technically, it is possible to use the USB host port to support a USB-serial cable or a USB transfer cable. Also, other serial interfaces do exist.

How to use it?
To make the best use of Albireo, you will need a ROM expansion interface (RamCard, Rom Board, MegaFlash, FlashGordon, X-Mem or similar) with the DOS ROM of your choice (several already support Albireo).

How to buy one?
I need first to have an idea of the volume I need to produce. There was already a waiting list for the original Albireo, the latest version is pretty old and should be this one:
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?msg=183715

I cannot contact each one of you. So please, if you are interested in this version of the Albireo (with no serial port), please contact me (even if you are not already on the list).

I expect the price to be about 30€ or lower, including shipping and, I hope, a µSD card. It will ship from France.

Prodatron


GRAPHICAL Z80 MULTITASKING OPERATING SYSTEM

zhulien

Sounds good, any chance the board can accommodate the components for the serial bit so they could be added by the purchaser if sourced in future?

Zik

Quote from: zhulien on 22:20, 26 September 22any chance the board can accommodate the components for the serial bit so they could be added by the purchaser if sourced in future?
No. My first intention was to have footprints on bottom side for serial related parts, but it complicated the design too much.

PulkoMandy

Thanks for taking care of production of the Albireo, nice to see this hardware being built again!

Ast

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HAL6128

...proudly supported Schnapps Demo, Pentomino and NQ-Music-Disc with GFX




Richard_Lloyd

Richard
CPC464, CPC6128, PCW8512, PCW10, BSA & NSP

zhulien

Please add me down for one, maybe two dependent on postage cost.

Rennert

...KC Compact

Kris


Zik

Ok great! I ordered a batch of Albireo and µSD cards to cover the requests I got so far. I captured all you ordering and will confirm with each of you later on. Manufacturing will take some weeks, anyway.

The cards is about 25g and postage threshold is at 100g. So, fees should not change up to 3 cards.

Some additional points I did not mention in the top message:
  • I do not provide the connection cable
  • This Albireo version has solder jumpers on bottom side (JP2 & JP3) to change the I/O address from the default &FE80/81 to &FE40/41. You need a cutter and a bit soldering to do this change, though. This allows to plug two Albireo cards simultaneously. The latest Albireo and Unidos ROMs together can already handle this (yay!)

entelle42


Squeekboxandj

Hello, what is the benefit of having more tan one card? Is it to provide multiple storage drives ?

Great work btw
CPC464 & 6128

Zik

Quote from: Squeekboxandj on 08:27, 01 October 22what is the benefit of having more tan one card? Is it to provide multiple storage drives ?
Yes, it allows to have multiple storage drives (2x µSD and 2x USB), which may not be that useful given the capacity already available on a single drive. Ones could argue it makes USB-key to USB-key transfer easier.

However, if you use one of the USB host port for something else than mass storage class (a mouse, a joystick, a serial cable or whatever), there is more interest. Of course, software support needs to be there (mouse support is there AFAIK).

This advantage may be reduced in the future if USB hubs are ever supported, but it is not available today.

Also, is was for free as I used solder-jumpers (so, no additional component).

roudoudou

Quote from: Zik on 10:56, 01 October 22
Quote from: Squeekboxandj on 08:27, 01 October 22what is the benefit of having more tan one card? Is it to provide multiple storage drives ?
Yes, it allows to have multiple storage drives (2x µSD and 2x USB), which may not be that useful given the capacity already available on a single drive. Ones could argue it makes USB-key to USB-key transfer easier.

However, if you use one of the USB host port for something else than mass storage class (a mouse, a joystick, a serial cable or whatever), there is more interest. Of course, software support needs to be there (mouse support is there AFAIK).

This advantage may be reduced in the future if USB hubs are ever supported, but it is not available today.

Also, is was for free as I used solder-jumpers (so, no additional component).
ok, mets-m'en, deux alors s'il te plait ;D
My pronouns are RASM and ACE

zhulien

Sounds great. If there were 2 usb ports on one albeiro would that be much harder?

PulkoMandy

With the chip used for Albireo there are some limitations to what we can do. It could be used with hubs, but that need specific code on the CPC side (basically, a USB stack) and we didn't manage to use that at the same time as the built-in mass storage support of Albireo.

Zik

Hello! All people that ordered one or several boards should now have them in hands or are about to. ;)

If I forgot you or if you would like to place a new order, you are welcome to do so. Just send me a PM. I will build a new batch when I get enough orders.

d_kef

I received mine a couple of days ago and I started coding the driver for HDCPM.

What a wonderful little piece of hardware!!!

Thanks

d_kef

poulette73

Hello,
I'm interested too, count me for one please.  :)

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