NEW USB Host Controller via ACSI

[alanh]

Hi all,

Another project I've been working on is a new USB controller via the ACSI port.

I have a Medusa T40, but it doesn't have a ROM port, so I couldn't use the NetUSBee, and to keep it simple, I just wanted USB, so I can write a USB->Ethernet driver too.

I have it working with the MiNT USB drivers and the usb-storage driver currently, but I'm working on ethernet support next.

* It's got ACSI through port for connecting your traditional ACSI devices, such as the UltraSatan.
* It has a jumper selectable ACSI ID.
* It only has a single USB port, the second is purely to provide 5V power to the board. So you're likely to need a USB hub anyway.
* Doesn't use the ROM port so it's free for those musicians that need their ROM port dongles.

Here's a picture of my prototype plugged into my T40.

If anyone feels interested in a unit, PM me, as currently I don't expect many people to want one. I'll probably make a case for this too.

[wongck]

Amazing !!
Your pre-production development board looks like it's ready for sale
Looks great.

LOL where is that ASCI port on my Falcon... none.... Now you just need to make one for SCSI port.

[DarkLord]

I agree, looks really good.

Alan, I have to ask though - as far as software
goes, how much is out there supporting it?

Honestly, I've not paid too much attention
to USB for our Atari's, and the only thing
I've consistently heard is a lack of drivers.

Thanks!

[alanh]

USB support is lacking on the Atari, but David Galvez has made it possible using FreeMiNT and it supports USB storage such as USB sticks.

As I said, I'm going to bring USB Ethernet support into that mix as well as it's primarily why I did the project to get my T40 onto my network.

Keyboard & Mouse support should be doable without too much work as well.

[Cyprian]

alanh, that looks very interesting. What about price?

[simonsunnyboy]

The idea sounds nice. How about something for stock Falcons without CT6x fitted which won't use the ROM port either? I'd be interested in such in the end.

[alanh]

Well, the title says it all - "ACSI". Move along those folk who have Falcons......

[Cyprian]

alanh, what about ACSI DMA channel? are you going to implement its support into Eth driver?

[alanh]

No DMA on this board.

[devo]

After adding your brilliant IDE board to my STe, I was looking at ethernet and usb from Lotharek's expected NetUSB card. Would this ACSI unit offer a faster equivalent and more importantly, would it work reliably in Tos 1.06 and with a the faulty DMA chip which my STe has?

[alanh]

Hi devo, that's a good question, and I have a faulty STe here. Given I don't use DMA, I think we'll be o.k. but I'll do some more testing on 68000 machines.

Only tested on my T40 and a TT at the moment.

[wongck]

* It only has a single USB port, the second is purely to provide 5V power to the board. So you're likely to need a USB hub anyway.

Routing network via a hub would it not slow down the networking?

[DarkLord]

Meant to ask this question last message but forgot, sorry...

With the ACSI pass through, I'm assuming it will also work
with Ultrasatans that are hooked up using your internal STacy
/Mega STe adaptor cable? (the one that does away with the
internal SCSI board on those machines).

Thanks.

[alanh]

* It only has a single USB port, the second is purely to provide 5V power to the board. So you're likely to need a USB hub anyway.

Routing network via a hub would it not slow down the networking?

No, the hub works at an electrical level.

But how the USB code manages hubs may cause a slightly slower response, but pretty negligible.

[alanh]

Meant to ask this question last message but forgot, sorry...

With the ACSI pass through, I'm assuming it will also work
with Ultrasatans that are hooked up using your internal STacy
/Mega STe adaptor cable? (the one that does away with the
internal SCSI board on those machines).

Thanks.

Yes, it should be fine.

[Galvez]

Alan, which controller are you using? isp116x?

[alanh]

No, Cypress.

[anodyne]

Hi Alan,
Nice job, as always! With a USB-ethernet adapter, what kind of ethernet throughput do you anticipate? Currently I get 50-60kB/sec using a SCSI/Link on my TT. It would be nice to up that to say 250kB/sec .

[alanh]

Hi Roger, With USB storage I'm getting 150-175Kb/s using HOWFAST, so I'd expect something slightly less for ethernet as reception will be slower. Hopefully not by too much though.

Oh yes, I forgot to say, that I never got the SCSI/LinkT working over ACSI, which is another reason I embarked on this project.

[delvis]

Alan,

So this will work on a Mega ST 4 without FreeMint? It looks very cool not sure if I can use it or not.

[alanh]

Hi Delvis, no, currently you will need FreeMiNT.

[frank.lukas]

To use MiNT on a Atari Mega ST, Alan must build first a 16MB real ST Ram Extension for the Computer …

http://phoenix.inf.upol.cz/~opichals/li ... P&index=44

[delvis]

Frank, so the next project will be Alan building a 16MB upgrade board for Mega ST, I like that idea.
Of course it will work with the other stuff too. (IDE / TOS 2.06 card)

[frank.lukas]

Which requires a new MMU or a expansion of the existing MMU from two Memory Bank´s a 2MB to four Memory Bank´s a 2MB or maybe eight ...

[delvis]

How is the project going with the USB?