INICRON RAM-ROM-BOX : How to ... ?

[Mage]

Hello,

I'm quite done with soldering my CPC to get the enhancements I had back in the days.

My next move is to use the INICRON RAM-ROM-BOX Antoine gave me around 1997. Of course it remained unused all those years.

I read those docs from those website I often rely on :
- https://cpcrulez.fr/hardware-interface_ROM-inicron_ramrom-box__MANUAL.htm
- https://acpc.me/ (via search function)

It remains hard to me to understand what can i do with it, which way to initialise it and how to play with those switches.

Does anyone here have additional information please ?

[GUNHED]

Basically it's a 512 KB (or less, depends on the used amount of chips) ROM expansion.
However it's not using Flash, but S-RAM. To program it please use the Softbrenner Software (on disc or from ROM). It's very pretty and comfortable.

The four DIP switches in the middle can select the ROM select for an EPROM you can put (in addition) in the socket for it. The feature is not too often used.

The eight DIP switches right allow you to activate / deactivate ROMs 0 to 7.

The two switches left allow you to activate / deactivate the expansion iirc.

The metal switch at the upper side allow you to enable WRITE mode (green LED on), please ONLY swtich it on IF the Softbrenner tells you so (of when installing FutureOS).

Let me know if I can help you in any other way.

[Mage]

Thank you for you answer. 

INST-RBB seemed to fail so i tried with the DSK version of SB https://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=11640

Four switches on the left are off (away from user), but SB still indicate ROM slot as "abgeschaltet", wheter their switches are up or not.

Maybe it's not working anymore after those years ? I left it plugged to the power CPC a couple of hours in case it could help.

[GUNHED]

Yes, it's needed to load the accumulator before it works, else the S-RAMs wont't keep the content. Here some pictures of my RRB (512 KB version)

1. Picture: Overview
2. Picture DIP switches
3. Picture EPROM select (select 16 KB of o 64 KB iirc)

The very left DIP switches are: down, up

The main DIP switches are: up, down // up,up,up,up // 8x down (all ROMs on)

The silver switch (right) is up (L = Lesen = Write only). Only switch it down for programming the ROM, then up again.

[Mage]

Thank you, I'll spend more time on it this week end.

[GUNHED]

Usually it works very reliable on the CPC. Since the timing of the 6128plus is a bit different it may or may not have effects (crash due to delayed read from ROM), but that's problem for a hardware person.
If you need any kind of software for it I can try to look it up. 

[Mage]

Well it seemed that at least one chip had failed. You can see it on the right of the red disc in my picture : the 74LS23 turned green. Thank @TotO for seeing it.

Seems to work better but I still have issues I'm investigating on.

It remains me unclear what are the 4 DIP switches for ? (Picture 2 on your post)

[Bryce]

It remains me unclear what are the 4 DIP switches for ? (Picture 2 on your post)

Have you read the manual that you linked to above? Obviously not...

"(3) CHOOSE ROM-NUMBER EPROM-SOCKET
The user is allowed to choose the ROM-number of the EPROM-socket. The
number is binary encoded. You can choose a number between 0 and 15
with the four DIP-switches. Turning a switch up represents a set bit
(one) and a down switch stands for a reset bit (zero).
Examples:
The EPROM-socket should have number 0:
down down down down (binary 0 0 0 0)
The EPROM-socket should have number 1:
down down down up (binary 0 0 0 1)
Number 7:
down up up up (binary 0 1 1 1)
Or number 15:
up up up up (binary 1 1 1 1)
etc."

Bryce.

[Mage]

@Bryce I think I might have another hardware problem. What I hava tried is what the manual (and you) say