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Post by saehn on Feb 2, 2009 9:28:00 GMT -5
OK, that's way over my head. :-) I encourage you to create an account at CSDb (the Commodore Scene Database) and discuss this matter with Groepaz and everyone on the forums. I certainly don't mind passing along information (like below) but I don't know that it's very efficient for you! :-) noname.c64.org/csdb/forums/?roomid=7&topicid=63514"btw another thing you can pass along... the reversed v5 schematic that is floating around on the net is buggy. he should look at a v5 board and crosscheck it (i forgot what exactly the error was, but it was easy to spot) he might also want to look at the vice sourcecode, you can easily see how ar hardware works in there, depending on his way of doing fpga programming it might be easier to simply translate the code from vice into vhdl. (just two registers, quite simple actually) "
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Post by Adoreware on Feb 4, 2009 17:08:45 GMT -5
OK, that's way over my head. :-) I encourage you to create an account at CSDb (the Commodore Scene Database) and discuss this matter with Groepaz and everyone on the forums. I certainly don't mind passing along information (like below) but I don't know that it's very efficient for you! :-) noname.c64.org/csdb/forums/?roomid=7&topicid=63514"btw another thing you can pass along... the reversed v5 schematic that is floating around on the net is buggy. he should look at a v5 board and crosscheck it (i forgot what exactly the error was, but it was easy to spot) he might also want to look at the vice sourcecode, you can easily see how ar hardware works in there, depending on his way of doing fpga programming it might be easier to simply translate the code from vice into vhdl. (just two registers, quite simple actually) " Thanks for searching around like that to help find the answer. I really appreciate it. Right now, I'm putting this issue on the back burned until I get the flash routines working. Update... Moving to a 3rd ROM was quite time consuming but its behind me now. I had to beta test everything using the new ROM. Once I was sure everything worked, I had to add the hardware to the FPGA. This took a few days also. The bank switching is finally working and now I off where I left off before I ran out of space. I added drive and disk error check in the file browser and all is working. The bad news is that the FPGA I'm using can only hold 3 ROMS, so I MUST make the rest fit in the last ROM. 8K left!!! Keep your fingers crossed.
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Post by Adoreware on Feb 9, 2009 6:17:02 GMT -5
I finally had to create the SRAM state machine because I need space to copy to before writing to the Flash ROM. The flash sectors are 64K except the first eight 8K sectors, so I will have to write 64K at a time. Reading is working fine, and I just figured out what I was doing wrong with the write mode. I should have it working this week. The nice thing is that now I can add this ram model to carts that have RAM up to 512K. The first carts I will be working on with RAM will be Action Replay and Super 1750 Clone (512K). I was having the same problem with writing with the Flash ROM so I did a work around using registers for read/write modes, but I don't like it. Now I can fix it like the RAM so all you have to do is map an 8K page to $8000-$9FFF or $A000-$BFFF and read or write to it. The R/_W pin from the C64 will control the read/write state and the cart TYPE will control the CE and OE pins.
With this milestone behind me, I should be writing (not just erasing) to the FLASH ROM for the first time from the C64 very soon. Up until now, I have been programming the Flash ROM using the a PC, USB Blaster cable, and modified version of the Cyclone II Starter Kit Control Panel software.
So far, most of the work is happening in the FPGA firmware so most of the 3rd C64 software ROM is still free for code. If I run out of code space, it may be necessary to use some of the Flash ROM. I REALLY don't want to do that, so I'm looking into other options.
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Post by Adoreware on Feb 14, 2009 17:11:56 GMT -5
I cant believe two weeks flew by so fast. EC2 development is going to be on hold until the end of the month because I am in the process of moving again. I expect to pick up where I left off around the first or second week of March. I will be working a little on the project and if I complete any major progress, I will let you know. Moving is such a head ache. ARRGGG!!!
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Post by saehn on Feb 14, 2009 17:19:38 GMT -5
Good luck with your move... we're all keeping an eye on this project!
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Post by Adoreware on Feb 16, 2009 8:12:19 GMT -5
Good luck with your move... we're all keeping an eye on this project! I'm going to need all the luck I can get moving all my stuff. Even though I have not physically worked on the EC2, I have been writing things down in a word doc so I wont forget once I start back on the development. Keep the suggestions, scans, ROMS, and schematics coming. This order of business starting in March will be... Finish SRAM read/write functions. Finish Flash ROM write function. Finish C64 software (about 50% complete already). Create custom Flip-Flop model (need this for a lot of carts). Action Replay 512K REU SuperCPU or similar CPU accelerator (I need the schematic and cant afford the unit)
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Post by Adoreware on Mar 28, 2009 9:46:51 GMT -5
Great news, I finished moving in and have started back on the project. I have been getting quite a lot of request to support C128 mode so I have started looking into how it works internally. I have also recently purchased an Expert Cartridge (by popular demand) and a Retro Replay cartridge.
Right now, I need to get back to finishing the Flash write routines. I have to get back into the groove of things because a month has went by and everything has began running together. I will keep everyone updated.
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Post by Adoreware on Mar 29, 2009 17:22:08 GMT -5
I'm very aggravated with myself for waiting over a month to get started. I can't even get the ROM's to start from the menu right now. I was in the middle of a lot of changes to the ROM and RAM busses inside the EC2 to make the write routines work. This is just a temporary set back and I will soon be back on track. The write routines are now on the back burner until I get the ROMs loading again.
The good news is that I did discover the problem I was having with the FLASH write routines before I moved and once I get the ROM's loading again, the write routines should follow rather quickly.
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Post by smallcleverdino on May 6, 2009 1:46:08 GMT -5
You can find most of the information available about the EC2 on this site.
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Post by racob on May 6, 2009 20:31:56 GMT -5
If I may ask some comments:
Looking at the site, whenever this product will be "finally" finished, I wonder how much it is going to cost once made available for sale. Being practical, my estimate would probably cost between $350 to just under $500 US or more in CDN dollars. BTW: The estimated price when finished is <=> $200 at this site.
Will I consider buying one? How bad do I need a replacement / or alternative to the current available products using SD technology for the C64.
On the other hand, this is something that is the ultimate add-on for the C64 hobbyist to have.
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Post by Adoreware on May 7, 2009 10:54:55 GMT -5
The estimated price will be in the low $200 dollar range (US) as I have stated on my web site (www.adoreware.com).
I'm not creating these expecting to make a lot of money, in fact I started this project for my own personal use. Because there seems to be so much interest in this, I decided to give other people an opportunity to own one. I do this in my spare time as a hobby and can't really say when I will be able to offer them for sale. I have not even worked on the project for several months but you can be sure that I plan to finish!
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Post by racob on May 8, 2009 0:27:45 GMT -5
Adoreware,
Apologies if I had made some negative tones. Actually, that sort of negativity was part ignorance on my part but somehow did clarify some questions I had.
I am also one of the guys that is very anxious to see the finished product. I have been watching the exchanges in this forum about your stuff. I don't know what has gotten to me to post the last message.
Keep up the good work...
R. Acob
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Post by Adoreware on May 11, 2009 8:17:09 GMT -5
I didn’t perceive your comments as negative, so no apology is necessary. I will try yo work a little harder at answering questions a little more diligently because I welcome questions and comments. I have seen various posts online suggesting capabilities, incapability, costs, and other things about the EC2 that are not accurate and I want to be careful that the capabilities and cost of the device are accurately reported.
Your not alone, a lot of people are eagerly awaiting for this project to complete. The release of the cartridge has moved out because a lot of people want C128 mode supported and my time recently has been limited to work on it. Adding C64 and C128 modes is like making two cartridges.
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Post by Adoreware on Aug 16, 2009 15:04:10 GMT -5
I am selling off a bunch of Commodore hardware. See my stuff on E-Bay at shop.ebay.com/jreece7744/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=I am still working on the EC2, so don't be worried that selling this stuff will stop me from completing it. I still have at least one of everything I'm selling that I plan to keep.
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Post by c64web on Oct 31, 2009 8:47:57 GMT -5
Been watching this one for a while. Look forward to you finishing this great project, getting good vibes from others in the Commodore community. enjoy c64web.com
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