Recent posts

#51

News & Events / Re: ZX Spectrum Next Kickstart...

Last post by Prodatron - Yesterday at 19:13

Ok, only 15 backers left, so the CPC Core for the Spectrum Next will come for sure  That is fantastic!

#52

Amstrad CPC hardware / Re: VGA through rpi pico - How...

Last post by eto - Yesterday at 18:34

It still requires lot of times, requires a lot bigger upfront money investment, and it still is a lot more complicated/expensive to ship.
I still don't wanna do that, especially with so few potential people interested.

I answered only to your comment that it would be hard to source all components.

I totally understand that you don't want to spend money upfront. 

#53

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Technical support - Hardware related / Re: Power supply problem?

Last post by Brocky - Yesterday at 17:45

GT64/65 are 40 years old now, they deliver too few power. Try to use more PSUs for expansions. Never get power directly from the 5 V line of the monitor if you can use an extra PSU.

My MX4 Version is "without Diodes" and not has power connection:
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/issue-with-a-mx4-board/msg168022/#msg168022

Can I try powering the AMX Mouse separately with a 5V 2A PSU

And should I power the CPC with a 5V 4A power supply instead of the GT65?

4A power supply is a bit high... remember if anything shorts its going to pull as much amerage as it can... 4A@5v is 20watts...thats alot of heat to dissipate..and will cause chips to burn up if there is a short...
the cpc464 itself doesnt need much more than about 800mA, so a 2A supply is plenty enough to drive the CPC and expansions...

im not sure what you mean about a MX4 "without diodes".. mine has none... and it can be powered externally by connecting power to the header and changing a jumper on the MX4..

#54

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Technical support - Hardware related / Re: Power supply problem?

Last post by angelcaio - Yesterday at 17:34

GT64/65 are 40 years old now, they deliver too few power. Try to use more PSUs for expansions. Never get power directly from the 5 V line of the monitor if you can use an extra PSU.

My MX4 Version is "without Diodes" and not has power connection:
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/issue-with-a-mx4-board/msg168022/#msg168022

Can I try powering the AMX Mouse separately with a 5V 2A PSU

And should I power the CPC with a 5V 4A power supply instead of the GT65?

#55

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Amstrad CPC hardware / Re: CPC464 Wireless Controller...

Last post by Brocky - Yesterday at 17:06

i dont think you even need the ULN2803A... should be able to connect the esp32 directly

this has given me an idea to upgrade my DIY arcade style joystick i built for my CPC, to wireless, by hooking up an esp32 and battery inside it.. and an ESP32 on the cpc side....
and the benefit, i could then use a ESP32 on my PC and use the joystick for things like mame!

#56

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Technical support - Hardware related / PPC640 External Monitor Sync P...

Last post by Rodders - Yesterday at 16:51

I've recently acquired a PPC640 and I have plans to upgrade the screen and add some form of hard disk storage.
However I've run into a problem.
The built in screen works OK (as OK as it gets) albeit with a line of text near the bottom missing.
However, when I connect to an external monitor, either using an RGBtoHDMI or GBSC (with sync combiner) I get a strange flashing effect.
The screen displays fine for about 1/2 second and then it either goes blank or goes scrambled for 1/2 a second.
I've have attached a video to show this.

I was wondering if anyone had seen this effect before and could give me clue about how to fix it.
I've scoped the Hsync and Vsync lines and they seem OK if a little noisy.
Could it be a power problem due to failing caps?

#57

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Amstrad CPC hardware / Re: CPC464 Wireless Controller...

Last post by dannyh - Yesterday at 16:48

Hi Arnold,

Currently I've wired up the two fire buttons. Apparently there's a third (undocumented) FIRE button pin for a mouse or something like that? I didn't bother with that. The joystick port allows connection of 2 joysticks using the COM/COM2 pins, so technically you could connect two controllers to the same ESP for 2 player games etc.

I'm not 100% on the diodes, but the ULN2803A does have internal suppression diodes, so I don't think external are needed. I didn't notice any keyboard noise during use.

#58

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Amstrad CPC hardware / Re: VGA through rpi pico - How...

Last post by Brocky - Yesterday at 16:43

I've noticed.

And ? I don't see your point.

It still requires lot of times, requires a lot bigger upfront money investment, and it still is a lot more complicated/expensive to ship.
I still don't wanna do that, especially with so few potential people interested.

i could sell you a spare complete board i have, or the one i have without the vga connector (i didnt order enough!)
but shipping from australia to france isnt going to be cheap...

i ordered 5x the components (including the picos) from digikey all in one order just over the $60 threshold to qualify for free shipping...

#59

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Amstrad CPC hardware / Re: CPC464 Wireless Controller...

Last post by arnoldemu - Yesterday at 16:41

How many fire buttons on the amstrad side are supported?
Also does this have the equivalent of diodes to prevent keyboard/joystick clash?

#60

Amstrad CPC hardware / Re: VGA through rpi pico - How...

Last post by orzel - Yesterday at 15:47

I've noticed.

And ? I don't see your point.

It still requires lot of times, requires a lot bigger upfront money investment, and it still is a lot more complicated/expensive to ship.
I still don't wanna do that, especially with so few potential people interested.