ULIfAC:Usb Mass storage,WiFi, 512KB Ram/32XROM Board/256K Ram+16X Rom Board!

[ikonsgr]

Question regarding the diagnostic test. ran the memory test and its showing stuff in upper ram as failed. I assume this is the memory of the board itself? assuming it is, i guess the ram test doesnt apply to it thus it fails?

ram test diagnostic, shows up to 16MB or extra ram, so obviously only the 1st 512k (or 256k in dual mode) will seem ok.

[vasilisk]

Is there a way for future update to implement a new rsx command for showing the full name of the file instead of the 8+3 character limitation? I saw something similar in M4. 

[GUNHED]

Is there a way for future update to implement a new rsx command for showing the full name of the file instead of the 8+3 character limitation? I saw something similar in M4.

IIRC the module managing the files does only provide short names.

[vasilisk]

Is there a way for future update to implement a new rsx command for showing the full name of the file instead of the 8+3 character limitation? I saw something similar in M4.

IIRC the module managing the files does only provide short names.

Too bad. Would be nice though. Just for the info, different "module" in M4?

[kawickboy]

Hello, who is able to print some ulifac case please ?
Regards

[ikonsgr]

Too bad. Would be nice though. Just for the info, different "module" in M4?

Well, M4 uses... Arm Cortex-M4 microcontroller it self for that   
M4 is a 32bit "monster" RISC MCU, with overwhelming features like 100's of MIPS computing power, huge on board SRAM and Program RAM, on board fpu etc.
On the other hand, the 18F47Q10 PIC MCU used on USIfAC II/ULIfAC boards is 8bit MCU, with "only" 16MIPS computing power and ~3.5kB SRAM, so the use of an extra usb host module in order to access mass storage devices was mandatory.
Btw, you can have full names when you use a PC connection (either with uart cable, bluetooth module or wifi module) ,instead of usb stick 

p.s.  I wonder,  all of you who have such a desire for long file names, how on earth did you manage to work with Amstrad CPC back at the 80's, where only  8.3 names supported? 

[vasilisk]

I dont know if anyone else desired it. I ony asked because personally, would be nice. Now that I know that it is not physically possible, no problem at all. When you have similar file names for different versions, it is difficult to find them from ~1, ~2, ~3. 
We can always renane of course... 

[ikonsgr]

I dont know if anyone else desired it. I ony asked because personally, would be nice. Now that I know that it is not physically possible, no problem at all. When you have similar file names for different versions, it is difficult to find them from ~1, ~2, ~3. 
We can always renane of course... 

 Well, as Amstrad (e.g. Amsdos) can only load/save files in 8.3 format anyway, the "real" problem lies with the folder/directory names only.
But if i may say, looking at long file names on Amsrtad Screen, seems to me a bit strange, it's like as if something doesn't "fit right", as if i'm working with an "abominable" MSDOS PC, instead of Amstrad CPC... 
 And i have a feeling that all of us who spent 1000's of hours in front of an Amstrad CPC back at the 80's, feel the same too

[vasilisk]

I agree. Back in the day, things were simple. No disc images, just disks and files. But, since exapnsions make our life easier, we have to adapt for the above limitations. 

[ikonsgr]

Hello, who is able to print some ulifac case please ?
Regards

Soon (in a month or so),i believe i will be able to print 3d cases, i'll let you know for more details 

[jondavb1970]

Hello, who is able to print some ulifac case please ?
Regards

Hi i have a red one with grey buttons available if interested?

[kawickboy]

Thanks. As I haven't ordered my card yet, if ikonsgr is not able to build some xase within a few weeks I'll contact you.

[ikonsgr]

A small User's Guide update:

- Add CH340 link for usb2serial adapters (along with CP2102) for updating firmware with windows 10/11 in "Updating the Firmware of ULIfAC" section.

- Add a new tip in "Hints & Tips - Troubleshooting" section: If you are having issues with a usb stick you are using, try to format usb stick using this free 3rd party partition software

[tomii]

how can i get the amstrad USIfAC II board
can you help me where i can buy it
please

[nikos_a]

how can i get the amstrad USIfAC II board
can you help me where i can buy it
please

ikonsgr is the maker of the board. You can get more info (and contact email) here:

http://retroworkbench.blogspot.com/p/usifac-use-pc-hdd-or-usb-stick-as.html

and here for ULIfAC

http://retroworkbench.blogspot.com/p/ulifacusifac-ii-512kb-ramrom-board-best.html

[harzretro]

Important update about the "freezing upon booting" issue on some CPC 464:

Finally, after a lot of speculation about the cause of the problem (since i don't have a CPC 464 with a booting issue to investigate it myself),a couple of good retro community members from Croatia ( @kiFla  and another one  which is a professional electronics engineer), and with the "help" of a couple of "sticky" CPC 464, found out that the problem can be fixed very easily, by simply soldering an A09-103 9pin 10k network resistor, which acts as pull up resistor on Amstrad's CPC data bus:

You cannot view this attachment.

Of course i've already started to make ULIfAC boards with the added pullup resistors, but you can apply this very easy fix, on any existing ULIfAC board too!
 As for the cause of the issue, it seems that upon cold booting of Amstrad CPC, a specific combination of Z80 CPU and/or 6845 CRT chips that happen to have somewhat weaker sourcing current capabilities, couldn't supply the required 5v for any data bit at high/5v state, resulting in the freezing of Amstrad CPC! Although this issue is rather rare, concerning only a few Amstrad CPC 464, i wanted to share this information, for anyone having this issue, and how to easily fix it! ;-)

Thank you, didn't look up here for a long time and i've a Schneider CPC464 with a problem. I thought about my cf card, but after a long time i didn't used it anymore - last time i was using a cpc 6128 without any problem And it was really nice to see old peaple playing pinball fantasies on a green monitor at a exhibition (my two cpc were the only one there, one loading programs from cassette ...
Now it is time to get a second card ... *G*

Update:
And YES, i'm happy about the disk creating function! - hopefully - another reason to take a second one ...

[harzretro]

Today i wanted to test the new symbos 4.0 and got some problems. I don't know if i'm doing Something wrong or not ...

I start the cpc and want to change the directory with |cd,sym
After it i get a ready.

But cat and |cat show the main directory. 
But a next |cd,sym make an error ....

How i can change the directory and run Something there?

Hope you can understand my english - would attach a picture but i don't see how with my mobile Phone.

[eto]

want to change the directory with |cd,sym

It's probably

|cd,"sym"

[harzretro]

want to change the directory with |cd,sym

It's probably

|cd,"sym"

I tested it. With " i got another error.
I put two Pictures on my Website. ( Wring order, but i dont see how to change with my mobile phone)

[eto]

tested it. With " i got another error.

Ah, on a 464 you have to do it like this:

Code Select Expand

a$="sym"
|cat,@a$

[harzretro]

tested it. With " i got another error.

Ah, on a 464 you have to type it like this:

Code Select Expand

a$="sym"
|cat,@a$

Ill test it

[harzretro]

tested it. With " i got another error.

Ah, on a 464 you have to type it like this:

Code Select Expand

a$="sym"
|cat,@a$

Ill test it

And it works ... Thanx, now i've to get symbos to run .... i try it with a 464 and 6128 ....

[Prodatron]

Hi Axel, I wonder if you have a Usifac or a Ulifac?

As this is the Ulifac thread, I wonder if you have this one, as it has a 512K expansion, so it should work with a 464 as well (SymbOS needs 128K minimum).
If not, I will dig out a 464 and try it here again as well.

[ikonsgr]

I tested it. With " i got another error.
I put two Pictures on my Website. ( Wring order, but i dont see how to change with my mobile phone)

ON CPC 464 you can give:|R before issuing the |CD command, then you will not have to give the tiresome: a$="sym":|cd,@a$ ,but instead use directly the easiest: |CD,"SYM"

[Jungsi]

I've also a problem with the ULIfAC V4 board. SymbOS 4.0 is starting and you can see the "starting screen" but when it should load the desktop the loading stops and you have a black screen.
In the V3 manual of the ULIfAC I found this section about the 464/6128 switch:
Although the above method seems to work fine in most cases (e.g. mostly games),some applications like SYMBOS and Future OS don't seem to "like" this trick, and will not load on a CPC 464. Also C3 mode is currently not supported, so CPM PLUS can‟t be loaded on CPC464 either.
I've also tried a CPC6128 which is working without a problem with ULIfAC and SymbOS 4.0