Print Page - Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.

Title: Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.
Post by: Bryce on 10:19, 11 November 18

Hi all,
this mornings "patient" on the repair workbench is a prototype ROMBox from the 80's. No name, numbers and every part of it has been hand built. A thing of beauty, so I thought I'd post a quick picture of it here.
The PCBs are hand etched and the casing is a standard project box (Maplins I believe), also hand cut.

Bryce.

Title: Re: Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.
Post by: Bryce on 10:50, 11 November 18

Here's what it's like inside. Two identical PCB's which each have 8 ROM images on 2x 64K EPROMs. The blue jumper sets the board addressing to either ROM 0-7 or ROM 8 - 15 and the 8x DIP switches enable/disable the individual ROMs. They are single sided PCBs, hence all the jumper wires. Most likely designed modularly, so that they could offer a 464 and 6128 version.

Bryce.

Title: Re: Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.
Post by: gerald on 13:34, 11 November 18

Quote from: Bryce on 10:50, 11 November 18
Here's what it's like inside. Two identical PCB's which each have 8 ROM images on 2x 64K EPROMs. The blue jumper sets the board addressing to either ROM 0-7 or ROM 8 - 15 and the 8x DIP switches enable/disable the individual ROMs. They are single sided PCBs, hence all the jumper wires. Most likely designed modularly, so that they could offer a 464 and 6128 version.

Bryce.

It looks like an updated version of the http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Campursoft_ROM_Board

Title: Re: Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.
Post by: Bryce on 14:31, 11 November 18

Well spotted. It is from Campursoft, it was @ComSoft6128 (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2226) who sent it to me.

Bryce.

Title: Re: Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.
Post by: GUNHED on 16:10, 11 November 18

Well, nice to have 64 KB EPROMs. :)

Title: Re: Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.
Post by: ComSoft6128 on 07:42, 12 November 18

I think that it is the only Rombox that could use 64K Roms. Speaking of which, I see that there is a spare socket for a 4th Rom - any ideas what I could put there?
Serious software, games?

Title: Re: Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.
Post by: Bryce on 08:42, 12 November 18

I haven't posted it yet, so if you want me to put an EPROM full of games, then let me know (there's enough serious software on there already). Check out the converted to ROM games and choose a few: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/ROM_List#Game_ROMs

Bryce.

Title: Re: Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.
Post by: ComSoft6128 on 09:52, 12 November 18

Thanks for the link,

Defend or Die, Sentinel and if there is enough space left the Rombo Vidi Rom.

Cheers,

Peter

Title: Re: Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.
Post by: Bryce on 10:41, 12 November 18

That's only 3 of 4. One slot still free.

Bryce.

Title: Re: Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.
Post by: ComSoft6128 on 10:45, 12 November 18

Super Romplus by Brittania software would be good.

Cheers,

Peter

Title: Re: Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.
Post by: Gryzor on 11:37, 13 November 18

That is super cool. Peter is lucky to still have it!!

Title: Re: Prototype ROMBox from the 80's.
Post by: ComSoft6128 on 14:45, 13 November 18

After checking it actually dates from 1995 but as Bryce has pointed out there is nothing amongst the components to indicate a build date.
Some background info on the commercially released version is here:

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Campursoft_ROM_Board (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Campursoft_ROM_Board)

http://www.paulslounge.co.uk/Computers/computers_index.htm (http://www.paulslounge.co.uk/Computers/computers_index.htm)

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General Category => Amstrad CPC hardware => Topic started by: Bryce on 10:19, 11 November 18