Icky Projects

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Icky
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Icky Projects

Post by Icky »

I thought it about time I wrote another members blog but this time its around all the projects done, am involved in or wanting to do in the Atari space. I have been working a lot with Exxos recently on a few projects and thought this best to help keep track of this mad world.

I know a lot of us have many, many projects on the go so I would encourage any of you to drop a blog on what's on your plate as its an interesting read of what lives we live in this Atari world whilst juggling with the real world.

These projects range from the very small like recapping a PSU, putting an upgrade board into an Atari, such as a Lightning VME, to major projects like building the STF Remake Alpha and developing the IDE board.

Completed
In-flight
  • Making sure all mandatory fixes are in place on ST(E)'s in collection
    - This is a must for your ageing machines. It's a miracle these things still run after ~30 years as even when they came out of the factory they were on a shoestring budget.
    - I think you may of heard the analogy before - its like having a 30 year old Ford Fiesta and every time you turn it on something or other breaks.
    - It's a wonder any of these boosters etc work on the machines.
    - In another analogy its like strapping a V8 onto that Ford Fiesta and driving it at 130 mph down the road and expecting to arrive at your destination intact.
    - So doing these fixes at least try to make something stable out of an old jalopy so to speak
    - Almost finished this project until another ST lands on my doorstep :)
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =17&t=1585
  • Testing HDMI / DVI board for Smonson
    - This is a great project and the image quality is awesome. Any of the photos in the threads don't do it justice. It's how the screen should be for the ST
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=29&t=330
  • Building a stable STFM DEV environment to easily test boards and other items out
    - This is a must for me at the moment. These machines are so temperamental as they are ~30 years old. Testing any board or add-on I need a machine that is rock solid and easy to expand
    - Have socketed a lot of the chips so they can be removed and replaced with boards or other chips
    - Added extra jumpers into vias on the board. ST vias are pretty large and normal header pins fit nicely.
    - An example is a header for the SYNC for the HDMI / DVI board and the ACSI_10 line for the IDE board
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =18&t=1806
  • Atari TT NetBSD 7.1 build
    - Oh this one is taking a long time to get through. Had a lot of traction but it has now slipped down my list
    - Currently I am trying to get the Thunder IDE interface to work in the kernel but I haven't looked at this since last year
    - The other area is compiling Xfce4 as an environment for this build. Currently running out of ram on compiling one of the packages
    - Following that would like to get the et4000 driver working as its in the source code of the kernel
    - Note to self update this thread :roll:
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=18&t=398
  • Production version of IDE ROM Board "Trudie"
    - This one has been fun. I have designed and routed a board as a release candidate as there are bound to be a few issues with it
    - Exxos has been checking my schematic and layout as I alway forget the power-rails. Just like Exxos forgets pull-ups :)
    - We will also need to wait for the BETA testers to finish testing before we get to production with this board
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =90#p19213
  • Flashy Clock - production board
    - Improvement on the Flashy Clock Dev Board to make it slimline and fit with the ALT-RAM board
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =30#p24141
  • ST Case Remake
    - This one is a long saga. Exxos and I have discussed many options and I have been cleaning up the CAD files form the case scan. There is a lot to do still but even with the files done finding a 3D print manufacturer with the right size bed etc, etc is nigh on impossible
    - However I do have a cunning plan which I will be revealing soon - watch this space
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=62&t=224
  • Building a large 3D printer
    - With the work on the ST Case remake making progress it has become apparent the need to have a bigger printer so that a full case can be printed
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =18&t=2086
  • Sparkalaphobia - FPGA Blitter
    - Working with Exxos on building a Blitter board using the FPGA Blitter core
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 120#p20010
  • STFM Keyboard Remake
    - Well we have the STF Remake board in flight, the STFM case in flight so its only fitting we should complete the picture with a keyboard remake
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =19&t=2021
  • H4 - The Three Amigos + MAD10
    - Board for the H4 that is used for development
    - It also includes a test circuit to try out a 16MB hack
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 244#p36237


Future or I haven't got many hours in the day to get to any of these projects

  • Atari TT NetBSD 7.1 build
    - I would like to get the et4000 driver working as its in the source code of the kernel
    - Now I have no idea where to start with adding in support for the Mach64 cards and Lightning VME board
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=18&t=398
  • Giving the TT more love
    - I feel that the Atari TT is a little unloved in regards to a bit of speed boost. There are boosters, fast rom upgrades etc for the ST range and even the Falcon but nothing really out there for the TT.
    - Tuxie is working in this space but it would be nice to have some small steps along the way for the TT
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=29&t=487
    - guus.assmann came up with a speed up on the ROM
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =17&t=1659
    - However I would like to see a FastROM board or kit for the TT like Exxos does for the ST's. Have spoken with Exxos a few times on this. Might if I get some time look at that space


Abandoned

  • Having a life other than Atari :D
  • STF Remake Slimline Edition - abandoned as the H4 took over
    - I have a second remake board and am looking to try to build with out all the towering boards of the ALPHA build
    - This is one may have to slip into the future section
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =64&t=1587
  • Working Atari ST Wall Art - abandoned as am using the STF Remake ALPHA as my wall art
    - Well its on my wall and I managed to get it powered up
    - I need to update this thread as I have got a load of parts to get this project finished
    - https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=18&t=700
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PhilC
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Re: Icky's Project List

Post by PhilC »

Yep, that abandoned column sounds familiar :)
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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Re: Icky Projects

Post by Icky »

Thought I would follow the likes of a few of you on the forum and use my projects list blog to post my ramblings.

I will update the list above as its a bit out of date but in the mean time am currently cleaning a few ST's and the Giant Panda printer, as it was designed to print an ST case, is actually a good table top to place these. The one at the back is my DEV board which is used to test boards out that @exxos and I build, it is screwed onto a tatty STFM case bottom to make moving it around easier. The one in the middle is the H4 I have built and am looking to place this in a complete case.

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The Atari office is getting a clean through and the 520ST board at the front is going back in its original case and no longer being working wall art https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=18&t=700 and have put the original STF Remake Alpha on the wall in it place alongside a few other boards. There is plenty of space for any spare or dev board that never made the cut.

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Re: Icky Projects

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One job down - H4 cased with Gotek, Exxos PSU & Flashy Clock V3.

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Re: Icky Projects

Post by JezC »

:coolpics: :goodpost: :thumbup:

Looking good!
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Re: Icky Projects

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Another project to add to the list. @exxos pointed me to the scart kit that he had done on his 2600 https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 110#p25746

I didnt send mine off to be fitted but got hold of the kit to install myself so expect some pics.
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Re: Icky Projects

Post by exxos »

Icky wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2020 10:36 pm Another project to add to the list. @exxos pointed me to the scart kit that he had done on his 2600 https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 110#p25746

I didnt send mine off to be fitted but got hold of the kit to install myself so expect some pics.
:bravo:

I purchased a kit originally, then sent it back with the console to get him to fit it for me :lol: I should really find that console and actually play some games on it at some point. supadupa sent me a multicart a few weeks back with some stuff, so will have to load it up and take it to dawns next time I go :)
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
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Re: Icky Projects

Post by Icky »

exxos wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2020 10:39 pm I purchased a kit originally, then sent it back with the console to get him to fit it for me :lol: I should really find that console and actually play some games on it at some point. supadupa sent me a multicart a few weeks back with some stuff, so will have to load it up and take it to dawns next time I go :)
I found the woody up in the loft the other day. Thought I would bring it down for the family to play but had nothing to plug it into that would work.

I also thought about getting the harmony cartridge.
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Re: Icky Projects

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The woody got some love today. It was in a really dirty state inside and out. A bit of a clean was required before starting. That wipe was bright white before I started.

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Down to the main board and the green cap to the left of the TIA (chip marked with a 0) needed replacing with a more modern one so that the SCART board could fit.

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SCART board fitted and made the cable go out the case like the RF cable as I didn't want to drill into the case.

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All is up and running well, nice stable picture.
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Re: Icky Projects

Post by Icky »

If you ever wondered what we are aiming for with the H4 platform and its add-on cards then this may help. All the cards apart from Trudie have come to the party today on my H4.

We have the SEC Booster (running at 32MHz) dead centre, Flashy Clock bottom right and the HDMI Shifter top middle.

This gives us a stable ST platform as the base with the H4, 32MHz boost, 8MB ALT-RAM, 4x ROM Flash Banks, RTC and HDMI out. This still allows more expansion as you can see there are 3x slots still available.

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And just for reference here are the GB scores.

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