USIfAC II, technical problems & support [MERGED with Plus-related posts from original thread]

ikonsgr · 12:30, 21 February 23

Quote from: GUNHED on 17:46, 20 February 23Thanks, and b3 to b0 are used for selection of internal registers? Right?

Actually is b8=1 (b8=0 is for motor control and it's ignored), and if b0=0 you read main status register, if b0=1 then you read/write data register

GUNHED · 15:28, 21 February 23

Thanks, I asked because I had this information about reading:

inp(&fbd5) : get currently selected dsk image slot
inp(&fbd8) : get USIfAC ROM NUMBER
inp(&fbdd) : get serial speed code
inp(&fbde) : get USB mode state (1=enable, =disable)
inp(&fbdf) : get FDC emulation state (1=enable, 0=disable)

mdal · 10:48, 21 April 23

I hope I am on the correct thread this time.

Recently received the new board and start learning its functions!!!

I printed the case as described in the relevant topic USIfAC II:Convert a PC or USB stick to Amstrad HDD,access dsk's,and many more! (cpcwiki.eu) from the thingiverse repository (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4974135) board doesn't seem to exactly fit

Specifically I had to do some filing in one corner (see picture attached red circle) for the PCB to sit flat inside the case.

Did you have face sth similar?

ikonsgr · 19:29, 04 May 23

@mdal, everything about 3d cases is created by "3rd party", personally i don't mess with 3d printing, so i'm afraid i can't help on such matters...

Audronic · 00:01, 05 May 23

@ikonsgr

Hi John

The ULIFAC That I have has some problems.
Its at the point where if I Issue |SW The Machine Crashes.
I was Able to Get 1 Rom installed BUT as soon as I Turned the Power Off and On again it was GONE.
Also When I Issue |rom It flashes something on the screen for a few Microseconds "Unreadable"so I cannot use the |Rm command

Can you supply the Code for Me to Flash The PICs so I can eliminate the possibility that the Problem May be there ?
I have had a look around and cannot find a link to the files to flash

Thanks

Keep Safe

Ray

GUNHED · 00:27, 05 May 23

Did you switch the RAM into ROM mode after Flashing? Yes, probably you did, but I got no better idea.

Audronic · 01:57, 05 May 23

@GUNHED

Yes I Did using |sw and or the Ram/rom Switch

I am about 5 days into looking ay this ULIFAC .
I think Most of the other features appear to work.
Its Just the Installation of the ROMS and their ability to be Retained after Power Down.
I have asked for the Files to re Flash the PICs
I am at the Moment looking at putting Replacements for the 2 74xxx IC's on the Board
I am not sure that I Have any.

Thanks for the thoughts

Keep safe

Ray

ikonsgr · 11:54, 05 May 23

Quote from: Audronic on 00:01, 05 May 23Its at the point where if I Issue |SW The Machine Crashes.
I was Able to Get 1 Rom installed BUT as soon as I Turned the Power Off and On again it was GONE.

This is normal, mind that Rom board function on ULIfAC works with sram memory not eeprom, so you can't power off Amstrad and retain rom. So, if you power off Amstrad, any rom installed in the SRAM chip is gone! However one solution to do that, might be to use the external power supply for ULIfAC (remove power jumper cap if you do so), so because ULIfAC will not power off when Amstrad powers off, you might be able to "Cold boot" Amstrad using pre-installed roms directly.

Quote from: Audronic on 00:01, 05 May 23Also When I Issue |rom It flashes something on the screen for a few Microseconds "Unreadable"so I cannot use the |Rm command

Most probable you tried to use |ROM on rom/dual mode. Rom configuration utility can be used ONLY on default 512K RAM mode as this is the mode to install and configure roms. Obviously you can't configure/change setup roms while in rom/dual mode as in these modes roms are active! So, if you want to install and configure roms, you do it using the default 512K RAM mode, you just press ram/rom button to swap between RAM mode and rom/dual mode.

Quote from: Audronic on 00:01, 05 May 23Can you supply the Code for Me to Flash The PICs so I can eliminate the possibility that the Problem May be there ?
I have had a look around and cannot find a link to the files to flash

I'll send them to your email

Audronic · 13:27, 05 May 23

@ikonsgr

Thanks John

The reply was VERY helpful

I will do some more tests and see how it goes

Thank

Keep Safe

Ray

charger73 · 07:35, 10 May 23

Hi
Now, I also have a problem with some ROM's with my UliFac Board.
I like to install the ORGAMS Assembler ORGAMS. (Strange Name, but the Tool is very cool

) This tool contains 4 ROM's:
· ORGAMS.ROM: Base Rom place in any rom position 1 to 15 (or up to 31 with the proper firmware).
· ORGEXT.ROM: Expansion Rom placed at any rom position 1-127.
· MONOGAMS.ROM: Monitor placed at any rom position 1-127.
· BRICBRAC.ROM: Additional additional Rom at any position 1-127.
The ROM's are stored on the Stick. In 512kb Mode, I like to load the ROM with:

¦MROM,"ORGAMS.ROM",1
(i have tried almost every ROM slot)

The CPC chrashes immediately (during loading!) How is this possible? The ROM is not switched on...
Any info's, help would be nice..
Thank you
Tobie

PS: with the WinAPE Emulator this tool works fine..

Audronic · 07:47, 10 May 23

@charger73

The only roms that I was to Install were the Roms that were 16k (Without header) and that was very Intermittent ?

That may help

Keep Safe

Ray

ikonsgr · 11:00, 13 May 23

@charger73: Roms must be in standard 16KB (e.g. 16384 bytes) binary form, no extra headers should exist. (note also that roms with headers, usually indicate that they are made for Amstrad plus -classic example are cpr files- so they might not function properly on Standard Amstrad cpc models)
I've checked the 4 orgam roms and all seem to include headers, so what you need to do is to remove the first 128bytes of each rom file (i'm using this very good and free hex editor to do it).
I've already done that for orgam.rom (attached file), this should work ok.

charger73 · 12:55, 14 May 23

Quote from: ikonsgr on 11:00, 13 May 23@charger73: Roms must be in standard 16KB (e.g. 16384 bytes) binary form, no extra headers should exist. (note also that roms with headers, usually indicate that they are made for Amstrad plus -classic example are cpr files- so they might not function properly on Standard Amstrad cpc models)
I've checked the 4 orgam roms and all seem to include headers, so what you need to do is to remove the first 128bytes of each rom file (i'm using this very good and free hex editor to do it).
I've already done that for orgam.rom (attached file), this should work ok.

thank you John. Now it works.
great support!

ikonsgr · 16:40, 14 May 23

Quote from: charger73 on 12:55, 14 May 23thank you John. Now it works.
great support!

Are you preparing something "good" with it?

poulette73 · 18:32, 14 May 23

Quote from: ikonsgr on 16:40, 14 May 23Are you preparing something "good" with it?

Orgasm is always "good" !
... sorry i couldn't help it

ikonsgr · 18:34, 14 May 23

Quote from: poulette73 on 18:32, 14 May 23Orgasm is always "good" !
... sorry i couldn't help it

Creative orgasms using orgam...

GUNHED · 14:37, 15 May 23

org AMS

Audronic · 01:34, 25 May 23

Hi All

a simple way to load up some ROMS for the ULIFAC
Unzip the file to the root of your USB Stick and run " AUTO.BAS"
This will install 2 roms.

|ROMAN
|P

Have fun with it

Keep Safe

Ray

poulette73 · 06:56, 25 May 23

ROMAN 2.0 is a great tool for managing roms.
I've been using it for quite a while for my FlashGordon romboard.

And there are 2 ways to use it:

either assign the .ROM file to a location defined in a romboard (ULIfAC, FlashGordon, others).
either launch it directly from its Basic launcher, only when you need it. The result is the same, but the advantage is that you don't block a slot in the romboard for storage.

To use the file launcher occasionally, there's the attached DSK.
Launch by RUN"DISC

Or by this little Basic launcher :

Code Select

10 LOAD "ROMAN.ROM",&C000
20 CALL &C040