Next is someone (I would love to take a stab at it sometime, but it probably won't happen soon) actually modifies the cad files to provide a better way to pull PORT_EN up for cpld programming. It's only a one time, 5 second operation, so it's not worth anything too fancy like jumper pins. But even simply making that resistor pad into a bigger contact point would help a lot. Points to supply 5v without a special socket would be nice too. I personally prefer to aim for having the design allow for all necessary operations in some practical way, rather than for instance, temporarily tacking on wires and then removing them.
Oh I just had a brainstroke. Maybe I could just solder small "U" hoops of wire onto existing locations, which does not require modifying the cad files, and provides little hoops that can be grabbed easy with standard j-clips. I know I could do that on that resistor for PORT_EN. I assume there must be some place I could manage it for the 5v supply too. On Tue, Oct 17, 2017 at 11:34 AM, Josh Malone <josh.mal...@gmail.com> wrote: > I got my castellated boards on Monday but haven't had time to do > anything but take some neat pictures: > > https://www.vintageboot.net/2017/10/castellated-pcbs-are-here/ > > On Tue, Oct 17, 2017 at 8:35 AM, Brian Brindle <bbrin...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Quick update: > > > > Well, the castellated boards look good after I deburred them. Took about > 30 > > minutes to fully assemble one with hot air and solder paste. If I can > make a > > solder mask I think I could do it even faster. Should be able to do > several > > at a time in the $15 toaster oven once I get rolling but I am still > waiting > > on my FLASH from China.. Tried to flash one this morning but keep having > > issues where Impact crashes or reports invalid ID on the chip.. Maybe my > $20 > > programmer wasn't such a good deal. Could be an issue with the friction > hold > > header pins. I plan on making a programming jig where I can put the > boards > > face down on top of some contacts (metal screws) and quickly program > them. > > We will see how that work. > > > > > > > > On Sun, Oct 1, 2017 at 4:21 AM, Brian White <bw.al...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> > >> Note, those directions are just the latest versions of everything I > could > >> find. But as far as I can tell, and I think Stephen said as much in a > post > >> sometime, that all the updates take the form of a full write, meaning > you > >> can use any update also as a fresh/initial load or downgrade, not just > to > >> update. > >> > >> So the end-user can switch to any version they want with no special > tools > >> or software. > >> > >> So if you want one of the earlier versions instead of the last build > >> number of 4.9, you should be able to just install it, either as the > builder > >> doing it the first time, or as the end-user wanting something different > than > >> what the builder loaded. > >> > >> To flash any version of the firmware, you only need: > >> > >> * the update files (see bitchin100 and Stephen's directory on club100) > >> > >> * a modern pc (any os) running a tpdd server (laddie alpha, dlplus, etc) > >> > >> * serial connection (9f-25m "modem" cable, 9pin mini null-modem adapter, > >> any usb-serial adapter) > >> > >> And you needed all that stuff anyway just to load ordinary software. The > >> end-user can do it any time. > >> > >> You only need the special Xilinx programmer and software the very first > >> time you program the cpld (or I suppose if the cpld somehow ever gets > wiped > >> or corrupted), so only the builder needs that, not the user. > >> > >> -- > >> bkw > >> > >> > >> > >> On Oct 1, 2017 3:14 AM, "Josh Malone" <josh.mal...@gmail.com> wrote: > >>> > >>> The CPLD load is coded April 24, 2011 (no rst). The REX SW version is > >>> 4.9. > >>> > >>> http://tandy.wiki/Building_a_REX > >>> > >>> > >>> On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 5:25 PM, Georg Kaeter > >>> <georg.kae...@gk-engineering-services.de> wrote: > >>>> > >>>> Is there an opportunity to get at least 3 of the "new REX" ? I would > >>>> like to update my M100 and 2 M102 with REX (I've already one running > in my > >>>> M200). > >>>> Additional question: What Revision you're using for the generic > >>>> programming? > >>>> > >>>> Regards > >>>> Georg > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> Am 30.09.2017 21:08 schrieb "Gregory McGill" <arcadeshop...@gmail.com > >: > >>>>> > >>>>> woohoo! good job Josh!! my 3 months of procrastination pays off :D > >>>>> > >>>>> Greg > >>>>> > >>>>> On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 8:26 AM, John R. Hogerhuis <jho...@pobox.com > > > >>>>> wrote: > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 5:22 AM Josh Malone <josh.mal...@gmail.com> > >>>>>> wrote: > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> Success! I have a working REX built from the parts Greg sent. Turns > >>>>>>> out that my 102 has no memory issues -- rather, CoolTerm was being > stupid > >>>>>>> about flow control and probably corrupting the transfer when I > tried to load > >>>>>>> TSDOS before. The CPLD programming went swimmingly and the REX > flashing was > >>>>>>> super easy thanks to mComm for Android (thanks Kurt!) > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> Now I see what all the buzz is about with the REX. This is an > awesome > >>>>>>> product Stephen! I can't wait to build more of them. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Congratulations Josh. The more people that can build a REX the > better. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Club100 is us. It was even when Rick was minding the store, but now > >>>>>> even more so. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> -- John. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> -- John. > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>> > > >
