USIfAC II:Convert a PC or USB stick to Amstrad HDD,access dsk's,and many more!

Started by ikonsgr, 08:17, 01 December 20

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GUNHED

Quote from: Audronic on 06:33, 21 July 21
Could a "Type" RSX Command be added
Type,"Filename.doc(txt)"
Actually X-DDOS has an RSX to be used as: !TYPE,"FILE". You need to check if X-DDOS works with USIfAC II thoug.
http://futureos.de --> Get the revolutionary FutureOS (Update: 2023.11.30)
http://futureos.cpc-live.com/files/LambdaSpeak_RSX_by_TFM.zip --> Get the RSX-ROM for LambdaSpeak :-) (Updated: 2021.12.26)

Audronic

Quote from: ikonsgr on 19:14, 02 August 21
I think this:   
Is exactly what you need!  ;)
And maybe some time in the future,i might add it as an RSX command too.

Hi John

Phew thats Magic,
Thanks for doing that
An RSX would be preferable

Keep up the good work
Keep Safe


Ray
Procrastinators Unite,
If it Ain't Broke PLEASE Don't Fix it.
I keep telling you I am Not Pedantic.
As I Live " Down Under " I Take my Gravity Tablets and Wear my Magnetic Boots to Keep me from Falling off.

Devlin

I got my mitts on a pickit 3 and updated the firmware :)


i like.
CPC464 & CPC6128 + USIfAC II + Revaldinho 512k(universal cpld ver) - Schneider CRT TV
Administrator of Amstrad Discord : https://discord.gg/ksWvApv

ikonsgr

[UPDATE]
Finally i receive the first pcbs, for the ram/rom board:

[attach=1,msg206701]

And after a bit of work, i think it works ok:

[attach=2,msg206701]
[attach=3,msg206701]

I suppose since SYMBOS recognizes correctly 576kb total ram, and ramtest passes all blocks without problem, it should be ok.
The only problem is that i made a layout mistake on the 50pin connector for the pin header, and i had to use the passthrough edge connector for the USIFAC II....  Well, that's what prototype boards are for  ::)

ikonsgr

And here is the results using Amstrad Diagnostics 1.2:
[attach=1]

[attach=2]

I suppose this "C3 config:supported" is a good thing right?  :)

Mark_wllms

Is there any way to use the board as a second drive, e.g. boot CPM off a physical disc and then use the Dsk image as the B drive?
It would be great to write a driver for CPM to allow it to use the the USB as a second drive.
Actually, CPC CPM+ doesn't support drivers, so it would be necessary to patch the EMS file as described at https://www.seasip.info/Cpm/cpm3semi.html

ikonsgr

Further tests with my Schneider CPC464 revealed a rather strange behavior:
- Amstrad dignostics recognize and test 512k RAM correctly (576k in total) on CPC464, exactly like with CPC6128
- RAM expansion test from syx gives a rather strange result:
[attach=1,msg206745]
- No game seemed to recognize the expansion (but i manage to run gryzor -a 128k only game- by patching the basic loader program).
Also, i discover that, whenever i write a byte to extra RAM, same byte is written on the same address of the internal ram too!
All other operations (read/write to internal ram, read from external ram) seemed to work ok.
Does this behavior is "normal" for 464, or i might have a problem with expansion port signals of my cpc (like RAMDIS maybe...)?


Quote from: Mark_wllms on 09:48, 05 September 21
Is there any way to use the board as a second drive, e.g. boot CPM off a physical disc and then use the Dsk image as the B drive?
It would be great to write a driver for CPM to allow it to use the the USB as a second drive.
Actually, CPC CPM+ doesn't support drivers, so it would be necessary to patch the EMS file as described at https://www.seasip.info/Cpm/cpm3semi.html

I suppose you need to patch the cpm file access routines, exactly like i did for amsdos (CAS_IN_OPEN,CAS_OUT_DIRECT,CAS_IN_DIRECT etc). Unfortunately my knowledge of cpm is rather limited sο i'm afraid i couldn't undertake such a task... ::)

Devlin

If you're making a RAM expansion now, does that mean that the usifac 2 is done and dusted, support-wise?


Also, if that is the case (and even if not) would you object to people modifying the firmware for potential "fan-supported" patches et al?
CPC464 & CPC6128 + USIfAC II + Revaldinho 512k(universal cpld ver) - Schneider CRT TV
Administrator of Amstrad Discord : https://discord.gg/ksWvApv

SkulleateR

@ikonsgr 


Gryzor isn't 128k only, it just plays other/better music if 128kb is detected :)

ikonsgr

Quote from: Devlin on 18:51, 10 September 21
If you're making a RAM expansion now, does that mean that the usifac 2 is done and dusted, support-wise?
In terms of abilities and functionality, i don't think there is anything extra to add anymore,at least with the current design :)
Perhaps, some time in the future i will "merge" RAM expansion and USIfAC II in a single board, offering USIfAC II functionality+ RAM expansion+ ROM board emulation in a single board! ;)
Having 512K SRAM on board, gives a great potential for adding extra abilities. For example, using ROM board emulation, it would be possible to add AMSDOS ROM or change BASIC ROM on a CPC 464, or replace/add with any custom ROM,perhaps even firmware low rom too!
Finally, the 2nd PIC MCU will also enable adding of new RSX commands and/or extra ROMS embedded in Microcontroller's program memory too!

Quote from: Devlin on 18:51, 10 September 21
Also, if that is the case (and even if not) would you object to people modifying the firmware for potential "fan-supported" patches et al?
Here you can find all code used for USIfAC II development, including  main rom assembly code. So i think anyone is free to modify/patch the code for custom usage  ;)

Quote from: SkulleateR on 19:07, 10 September 21
@ikonsgr 
Gryzor isn't 128k only, it just plays other/better music if 128kb is detected :)
Well, the game version i'm using has a BASIC loader that does not allow to run the game unless it has exta RAM  ::)

Devlin

Quote from: ikonsgr on 10:22, 11 September 21
In terms of abilities and functionality, i don't think there is anything extra to add anymore,at least with the current design :)
Perhaps, some time in the future i will "merge" RAM expansion and USIfAC II in a single board, offering USIfAC II functionality+ RAM expansion+ ROM board emulation in a single board! ;)
Having 512K SRAM on board, gives a great potential for adding extra abilities. For example, using ROM board emulation, it would be possible to add AMSDOS ROM or change BASIC ROM on a CPC 464, or replace/add with any custom ROM,perhaps even firmware low rom too!
Finally, the 2nd PIC MCU will also enable adding of new RSX commands and/or extra ROMS embedded in Microcontroller's program memory too!
Here you can find all code used for USIfAC II development, including  main rom assembly code. So i think anyone is free to modify/patch the code for custom usage  ;)
Well, the game version i'm using has a BASIC loader that does not allow to run the game unless it has exta RAM  ::)




From this thread: the version of Gryzor i'm using that works on a plain 464 with usifac2
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/software-related/didnt-get-gryzor-to-run-with-m4board/msg205733/#msg205733
Quote from: XeNoMoRPH on 06:21, 10 August 21
CPC464 & CPC6128 + USIfAC II + Revaldinho 512k(universal cpld ver) - Schneider CRT TV
Administrator of Amstrad Discord : https://discord.gg/ksWvApv

GUNHED

Quote from: ikonsgr on 10:22, 11 September 21
Here you can find all code used for USIfAC II development...
Sadly the forum mixed up the link. Maybe you can provide it directly.  :)
http://futureos.de --> Get the revolutionary FutureOS (Update: 2023.11.30)
http://futureos.cpc-live.com/files/LambdaSpeak_RSX_by_TFM.zip --> Get the RSX-ROM for LambdaSpeak :-) (Updated: 2021.12.26)


kolleykibber

A few pics of online adventures with a cpc464 and a USIFAC.


kolleykibber


ikonsgr

Quote from: SkulleateR on 22:01, 18 September 21
Nice @kolleykibber
Which Client are you using ?
I've already included it, in the sofware documentation for USIFAC II.
Check here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/owrt05zisa0fjca/connect_to_bbs.zip?dl=0
kolleykibber made a really nice work with required software and documenting the hole procedure for anyone to use it!  ;)

Cwiiis

With how things are, it appears the M4 won't be available for quite a while - I was wondering how likely it'd be for SymbOS to get mass storage support via the usifac2? I can live without the other features, but that's a big thing I'd quite like...


Vokgear

Hi there !

Thanks for all the work to this great device, I really like it!
There is a new case for 3D printing for it, you can download it on thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4974135

best regards
Vokgear

ikonsgr

@Vokgear, thank you very much for your time and effort to make the case!
Btw, i've updated 1st post of the thread,so anyone interested can easily find the details for it!  ;)

thomas

Vokgear, this is great, thank you! However, the file is not downloadable at the moment (... 404 error on thingy ...). Can you post the zip here?

Vokgear

It always takes some time til all the files are downloadable at thingiverse, but of course here is the zip-file of the case (see attachment)  :D

thomas

Thank you @Vokgear ! :-) Looks well made. What tool(s) are you using for designing cases?

Vokgear


thomas

Thank you.

Seems that lots of people use Autodesk Fusion for designing cases. I'm trying to stick to open source (FreeCad, OpenSCAD)....

Printed your case, it fits nicely! :-) The decals/embossings are not that good in my print, but maybe the bed temperature is just too high .... (65° C).

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