NEW IDE Controller & TOS 2.06 board (with extras)

Post by **alanh** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 11:24 pm

Not as bad on cost - Just tested a normal height socket strip soldered to the 68000, with a low profile SIL header on the IDE board and it still works.

Post by **alanh** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 6:46 pm

O.k. a quote is in for the STE boards.

We'd need 25 orders to meet £50 per unit, excluding shipping costs. That includes the board and a cable to attach the IDE board to the DMA port pin 10 (ACSI interrupt), so it's solderless. It will be jumpered to disable it's TOS 2.06 decoder as well. Unfortunately any lower than 25, i.e. 10, it's more like £75 per unit.

Also ....

I can't be held responsible for damage to your STE if you want one. Note that once you plug this in the pins on the CPU may get compressed, and I can't guarantee that will never happen, so if you want one think carefully. If you value your STE that much, then you should probably consider the UltraSatan.

After, that, if you still want one, PM me and I'll collect numbers. Thanks.

I'll see if I can get another comparison quote just to be sure.

DarkLord · Post by **DarkLord** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 7:14 pm

I'm still in for a board for a regular ST (not STe), whenever you get the prices on
those sorted out.

Post by **alanh** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:34 pm

Oh, just to be clear. Any less than 25 and it won't be produced professionally. I'll end up doing them adhoc for £50 anyway myself, but they just won't look as good and will take longer to build.

So you can rest assured that £50 is the limit.

Post by **alanh** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:57 pm

One other note. I can't guarantee it works with every IDE device that gets thrown at it either, but I'll certainly try to help if things don't work out straight away.

wongck · Post by **wongck** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:49 pm

Just make a list of recommended IDE devices.

Post by **alanh** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:32 pm

I'd rather not do that, as it probably works with more than what I have.

rian_ata · Post by **rian_ata** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:20 am

How about powering internal IDE devices? Can the original power supply handle it?

Post by **alanh** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:17 am

All Atari power supplies are different and at different stages in their life, so I really can't say about the quality of the ones in personal STE's. I've certainly run two 2.5" IDE drives on my STE.

Also, I understand that some PSU's have a POT that can be turned to up the 5V line too, so if some find their 5V line is low, that's a possibility.

There are some smoothing capacitors on the IDE board to help with fluctuations though, so hopefully that provides some stability.

RA_pdx · Post by **RA_pdx** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 10:25 am

I have preordered two pieces (PM).

Hint: Maybe you should add "Preoder" to the topic of this thread - so you will get more attention.

Post by **alanh** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:32 pm

That's a good point.

Post by **alanh** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:39 pm

Now, MegaSTE's...... Humpfff.....

I'd expected things to work, just peachy, but that's never the case until you actually test it, does it.....

So, plugged it in, and no boot, not even detected.

Out with the logic analyzer. Mmm, yep, things go crazy. After a few hours of debug and pulling out the MegaSTE schematics, it's all to do with the MegaSTE's 16MHz switch and cache logic.

A few trace cuts on the prototype IDE board and solders to one of the PAL's and we're in business again. Basically the IDE board has to run at 8MHz as with other peripherals connected to the bus. There's probably potential to do an improved version primarily for the MegaSTE later, but that involves more logic and time which I don't have at the moment.

What this boils down to, to keep it solderless on the MegaSTE is a small adapter board where you unplug one of the PALs, plug in the adapter board and connect a ribbon cable with three wires to the IDE board to pick up the 8MHz bus signals.

What joy, but actually, I'm very happy my MegaSTE now has an IDE controller

Post by **alanh** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 12:17 pm

Hi folks, final update on the STE board. This one is for MegaSTE & STE now. Notice the lower left "MEGASTE" jumper block.

ideonly4-ste-smd.jpg

Anyway, we're up to 10 boards for the STE. So I think I'll probably make the first batch of 10 myself. And see how we go.....

flashjazzcat · Post by **flashjazzcat** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:12 pm

Looks great! Would like to get in on this if/when I can get the cash together... how long do I have?

Post by **alanh** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:41 pm

As long as you like. I'll keep it going.

flashjazzcat · Post by **flashjazzcat** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:55 pm

That's great - many thanks.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 12:44 am

hi alan
i would like to see what is missing from just about every project i can think of
a socket that allows breakout of signals
we can all solder to get signals once a board is fitted
i am just saying some sort of extra custom port perhaps a 50 pin dil or some riser pins etc on pads
around the mpu connections and at the critical other signals
all broken out
so many interfaces mods and other miss this
like ct63 even it has no user expansion ports
without this easy connect its just another drive interface
like ultra etc jookie and i think every single expansion port made
other than what i read about a TT transputer {very interesting to see the pics} machine
that seems to have EVERY signal broken out

just my usual 2p i give to every single project ive seen
ie i want to plug to a header also perhaps replace the mpu with 68010 etc etc etc other mpu
perhaps an arm , who knows

with this its x=(great * magic) and is a good addition to your wonderful project

really great work can be made better with just adding some pads and pins
or a header

this will encourage people to experiment and add to hardware
and spawn other interest and projects

Post by **alanh** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 11:33 am

I hear you, but with the *STE version, different design goals are forcing this board to be small. And if you're going to solder anyway, there are plenty of places to pick up signals.

The STFM version has a riser socket, so it would be possible to stack boards.

Post by **alanh** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:00 pm

NOTE: Mega STE owners .......

Can you check U11, which is the lower right PAL next to the 68000. Is yours socketed ?

On the two MegaSTE's I have it is. If yours isn't then 3 wires would need to be soldered. Can people check as those who have it socketed can use the small additional adapter board, if not, you obviously can't. I'm not sure whether all MegaSTE's have these PALs socketed or not though, hence my question.

dml · Post by **dml** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:52 pm

Nice. I'm also interested.

Will this work on a MegaST? (I'm interested for both STE and MegaST).

ToasTuk · Post by **ToasTuk** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:20 am

Mega STE U11 (part number C301898) is socketed on board type C400677 (UK)

Post by **alanh** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 9:12 am

dml wrote:Nice. I'm also interested.

Will this work on a MegaST? (I'm interested for both STE and MegaST).

Yes, the MegaST is supported with the STFM board.

Post by **alanh** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 9:13 am

ToasTuk wrote:Mega STE U11 (part number C301898) is socketed on board type C400677 (UK)

Right, that's the boards I have and they're socketed.

ToasTuk · Post by **ToasTuk** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:42 am

Make sure people are not getting confused with the line driver (UA11) which is soldered.

Post by **alanh** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:58 am

Right, you've listed the correct part number of C301898, so that'll help identify.

Atari-Forum