Lower ROM Board

[RockRiver]

I'll make it with a generic through connector so that you can connect a MegaFlash, SF2 or whatever.

Great!!!! then, man. Thanks another time for your ideas.

[TFM]

I started thinking about the LowerOS card and I hope to have time to create some software for it during the holidays :-)

[MacDeath]

There is a cool thing on the Arduino, it is called the "shields".

are those Amstrad extension peripheral designed so you can "shield" them ?

It's like a sandwich, the more you put the better...

[Bryce]

Because they are custom designed for the CPC, they don't need a "shield", they can be directly connected.

Bryce.

[MacDeath]

shields would be extra function, extra hardware and so on...

This makes racks useless... I guess.

[Bryce]

Well you could have CPC specific interface shields, such as an Arduino <-> CPC Expansion Slot shield or an Arduino <-> CPC Printer Port shield. They wouldn't be difficult to design.

Bryce.

[00WReX]

Bringing up a slightly old post.


Bryce, I know you got tied up with the USB adapters over Christmas & the New Year, but was wondering if this project was still a possibilty, or have you decided to scrap it ?


I personally am still very interested.


Don't get me wrong, I'm not being pushy, just interested if this was still on the cards.


Cheers,
Shane.

[Bryce]

Hi 00WReX,
       as you say, it got slightly sidelined due to the mouse project (I'm still building them!) and I also don't have loads of time at the moment as I have quite a bit of travel due to work. When I get back I will at least release a layout and build a prototype, but I doubt there is enough interest for a full batch. As well as that, I would really like to get a RAM expansion built, so that has kind of taken priority at the moment.

But it's not forgotten, just "on-hold"

Bryce.

[00WReX]

Thanks for the update Bruce, that's great news.
I'm also interested in a RAM expansion...so it's all good news. 

Cheers,
Shane

[Bryce]

Thanks for the update Bruce, that's great news.
I'm also interested in a RAM expansion...so it's all good news. 

Cheers,
Shane

"Bruce" the Australian version of Bryce

Bryce.

[00WReX]

Hahaha...bloody autocorrect.
Typing on my phone at the moment...

Bryce...Bruce...could have been a lot worse really 

Cheers,
Shane

[SyX]

I can not resist 
[attachimg=1]

[TFM]

This guy seems to have increased blood pressure. I suggest 3 hours of meditation[nb]What's that? Well, look at an Amiga [/nb]

[TFM]

Any news / ideas about the LowerROM-Box?

(Hey, I'm just curious and got not idea what to do with my time  )

[Bryce]

Having a week of sitting around in Hotels, Airports and in Airplanes has its advantages. For one, you get to do some stuff that you can't get the time to do at home. So I managed to actually put together a layout for a LowerROM board. Here it is:

[attach=2]

Before you say, "Wait a minute, that looks more complicated than the one in the Magazine" or whatever. It is, I've made some changes. This version has a 64K ROM which stores 2 versions of matching Firmware/Basic, so that you can use the one device to have BASIC 1.1 on a 464 or BASIC 1.0 on a 6128, or whatever two you prefer to have. The PCB is exactly the same width as the MegaFlash and about 55mm deep (about 2/3 the size of a MegaFlash). It has a jumper to select which version you want, another to disable the board (ie: use the Firmware/BASIC inside the CPC) and a small Reset button. It needs to be plugged between the CPC and the MegaFlash (sorry to those who have already installed the MegaFlash in  a box), but it also works without a MegaFlash attached.

It would cost about €35 to build plus postage. So if those who said they want one in the original poll still want one, then send me a PM and I'll see if it's worth making a batch of them.

I also looked at the possibility of making it writable from the CPC like the MegaFlash, but this doesn't make sense at all. It would be bigger, more complicated and more expensive than a MegaFlash and it's not like there are loads of alternative versions you'd want to keep swapping.

Bryce.

[00WReX]

Hi mate,
A quick question please.
Will you be supplying the 64k ROM programmed with ROM's of our choosing (for those people that don't have programmers) ?
If yes then count me in please.
Also, will you provide the option to supply a connector cable to link this to the MegaFlash ?
Cheers,
Shane

[Bryce]

That price includes a pre-programmed EPROM and a cable to the MegaFlash (the cable is permanently connected on the board). Your original MegaFlash cable connects the CPC to the LowerROM. If you don't own a MegaFlash, I might be able to supply that cable too, I'll have to check whether I can get some more connectors again.

Bryce.

[00WReX]

Sounds good to me 

Cheers,
Shane

[Cpcmaniaco]

For me, it's OK.

[HAL6128]

Hi togehter, on Flynn's Website (WinCPC) there is a modified ROM (OS6128).
If you switch it on a emulator "512kB" information appears and a different font is implemented.
Could this ROM work on the Lower-Rom-Board?
Does anybody know what's about the 512kB information or another gadgets?
Is anybody in contact with flynn?
http://www.wincpc.ch/index.php?topic=projects-wincpc-download

[beaker]

Hi Bryce,

I am in if there's the possibility of a Plus version to work with the ACID Inside modification (when I finally get around to it)?

I am thinking no, but what are the chances if it's even possible to have the original 464 and 6128 firmware/basic AND Amstrad Plus (EN) with ParaDOS select between the three, or would it be something like the Amstrad Plus (EN) with ParaDOS and the Amstrad Plus (FR) 'Downgrade' with classic CPC v3 OS rom (was there an English version?) images on it?

Thanks in advance,

Beaker

[Bryce]

@HAL6128: Flynns version will work, but it wont magically give you 512K

@Beaker: With an AcidInside it should work, but I haven't tried it out.

Bryce.

[TFM]

First I'm sorry for getting OFFtopic a while...

@HAL: Just get in contact with Flynn, he'll answer you (maybe it takes a bit, he has to care a lot about his grown family).

BTW: Since you use WinCPC, I attach an Update for you...

Back to topic!

@Bryce: I hope your voyage back from Japan worked out well. Now I'm looking forward to get some new "updates" from you about the Lower ROM Box. I'm still fond of this project :-)))

[00WReX]

Ooh, WinCPC update...this emu is my personal favourite...light weight and handles pretty much everything I throw at it.
Thanks for posting.

Cheers,
Shane

[Bryce]

@TFM: As you see above, I actually did something The layout is just about finished, although I might try to reduce it's size further, or maybe go to a PLCC EPROM (the little square type used on the MegaFlash) to get the size down. Other than that, I'm just waiting to see how many people really want one. So far I have got 2 people. Two people is NOT a batch I would need at least 20 confirmed people interested before I would consider making it.

Bryce.