Re: [M100] REX build progress

[John R. Hogerhuis]

On Tue, Oct 17, 2017 at 9:58 AM, Brian White  wrote:

>
> Oh I just had a brainstroke.
>

Never heard called that ;-)

-- John.

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Jim Anderson]

> -Original Message-
> 
> 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

What I did when programming mine was to solder several inches of solid 24ga 
wire (telephone jumper wire, because that's what was lying on my bench) to the 
3.3V pin of the JTAG connector header just below the insulator.  With the 
staggered pins, the header won't go in all the way anyway, so there's lots of 
room - I just made sure there was insulation on the bit of the wire that was 
next to the GND contact of the socket, Just In Case.  :)  I bent the wire so 
that when the JTAG is plugged into the REX the wire is suspended an inch or two 
above the board and I can easily just grab it, touch it to the spot on R3 
(which I don't find hard, so I guess YMMV), and when I let go of it it springs 
up nicely out of the way again.

> 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.

5V supply could be fed into the unused C2 pad right next to that pin (right 
beside TP2), or the bottom end of R1 (right beside TP1).  Of course the JTAG 
header already has your GND so you could solder a wire for that onto the header 
like I did for my programming enable lead...







jim

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Jerry Stoner]

Create a resistor pad with a trace connecting them. When you're done
programming you cut the trace. If you ever need to reprogram you can solder
a zero Ohm resistor on and off. See this link for an example:

https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/learn_tutorials/5/5/4/teensy-jumper.png

On 17 October 2017 at 13:14, Jim Anderson  wrote:

> > -Original Message-
> >
> > 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/
>
> Haven't had a chance to build more than the one, yet, although I did
> manage some time with the kids this weekend sanding down the edges.  They
> did a pretty good job and just needed a little help with staying square and
> even.
>
> Next step is to work on a little soldering practice with them.
>
> Next step for me is to see if I ruined that voltage regulator or not, and
> build another board.
>
> Oh, I did take the one I built last week and re-flashed it with release
> 162 and observed the y2k fix (yay!), and then for fun I put it in the T200
> and re-flashed it again with the load for that machine - working great.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> jim
>



-- 

-
Jerry Stoner
jerry...@gmail.com

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Jim Anderson]

> -Original Message-
> 
> 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/

Haven't had a chance to build more than the one, yet, although I did manage 
some time with the kids this weekend sanding down the edges.  They did a pretty 
good job and just needed a little help with staying square and even.

Next step is to work on a little soldering practice with them.

Next step for me is to see if I ruined that voltage regulator or not, and build 
another board.

Oh, I did take the one I built last week and re-flashed it with release 162 and 
observed the y2k fix (yay!), and then for fun I put it in the T200 and 
re-flashed it again with the load for that machine - working great.







jim

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Brian White]

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  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  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  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"  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
> >>>  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"  >:
> >
> > 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  >
> > wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 5:22 AM Josh Malone 
> >> 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 

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Brian Brindle]

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  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"  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" :
>>>
 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 
 wrote:

>
> On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 5:22 AM Josh Malone 
> 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.
>


>>

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Brian White]

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"  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" :
>>
>>> 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 
>>> wrote:
>>>

 On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 5:22 AM Josh Malone 
 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.

>>>
>>>
>

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Josh Malone]

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" :
>
>> 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 
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 5:22 AM Josh Malone 
>>> 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.
>>>
>>
>>

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Georg Kaeter]

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" :

> 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 
> wrote:
>
>>
>> On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 5:22 AM Josh Malone 
>> 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.
>>
>
>

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Gregory McGill]

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  wrote:

>
> On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 5:22 AM Josh Malone  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.
>

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Stephen Adolph]

Josh,
Castellation was easy but I am not going to verify it buy buying it and
building a board.  I have shared a design now on Oshpark that should be
correct for castellation.  Other changes would have been more time
consuming.
I agree that the sanding thing takes a lot of effort.  I used power tools
to solve this, but this is a good improvement.
You can try this PCB but no guarantees.
Steve


On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 8:22 AM, Josh Malone  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.
>

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Josh Malone]

On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 6:12 PM, Mike Stein  wrote:

>
>
> > I got GREAT results from using chipquick 63/37 solder ...
>
> Paste or wire?
>

Wire. 0.02 but the size actually is not that important for the techniques
used here. Paste seems like a lot of work and expense for not much benefit
- at least with boards this small.



>
> > I also learned lots of reasons not to use paste flux in a syringe.
>
> For example?
>
>
Well, it's impossible to control the flow of flux, so I ended up getting
way too much out of the syringe. In the end I just spread it on some
cardboard and dabbed it where I needed it with a spudger.

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Mike Stein]

- Original Message - 
From: Josh Malone 
To: Model 100 Discussion 
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2017 4:31 PM
Subject: [M100] REX build progress

> I got GREAT results from using chipquick 63/37 solder ...

Paste or wire?

> I also learned lots of reasons not to use paste flux in a syringe.

For example?

m

Re: [M100] REX build progress

[Stephen Adolph]

It's my design of course;  when I did this board back in the day,
castellation was not available from a cheap board shop I ordered from.  I
have actually never used Oshpark for a REX board, yet.
I use a grinder to quickly deal with the extra fibreglass.
I generally don't spin boards when they are "known good" and "I have
several hundred of them"  ;).
Should be good enough as is.

Steve


On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 4:31 PM, Josh Malone  wrote:

> (I figured this might be of general interest to the group, so I'm posting
> here rather than directly to Greg.)
>
> I've completed construction of the first of the REX boards that Greg sent
> me.
>
> I've learned quite a few things through this process and have a bit of
> feedback to on both the instructions and the actual board. Is the person
> who maintains the board project on OSH park open to some changes for
> optimizing hand-assembly? Basically, it would be great if some of the pads
> for the resistors and caps could be made slightly longer. Not sure if
> that's possible or not. Also, sanding the board is a big time sink, so it
> would be great if it could be updated to use the castellation at the
> factory.
>
> http://docs.oshpark.com/tips+tricks/castellation/
>
> Even if the router edge only partly cuts into the vias, it would still
> save a fair amount of time in hand-handing down to the actualy center of
> the vias.
>
> I got GREAT results from using chipquick 63/37 solder and a concave drag
> tip. I also learned lots of reasons not to use paste flux in a syringe.
>
> I'll have to find time to write up my exact assembly tools and procedure.
> I also took plenty of pictures using a magnifying glass in front of my
> phone camera :)
>
> https://twitter.com/48kRAM/status/913859915281829888
>
> Greg:  I'll try to get the programming done this weekend. I'm still
> uncertain of my 102's stability, so I might end up only programming the
> CPLD and then shipping you the first board to finis programming in the
> Tandy and verify. Is that okay? Obviously, if it doesn't work, we'll
> discuss further :)
>
> -Josh
> https://twitter.com/48kRAM/status/913859915281829888
> https://twitter.com/48kRAM/status/913859915281829888
> https://twitter.com/48kRAM/status/9138599152818
>

[M100] REX build progress

[Josh Malone]

(I figured this might be of general interest to the group, so I'm posting
here rather than directly to Greg.)

I've completed construction of the first of the REX boards that Greg sent
me.

I've learned quite a few things through this process and have a bit of
feedback to on both the instructions and the actual board. Is the person
who maintains the board project on OSH park open to some changes for
optimizing hand-assembly? Basically, it would be great if some of the pads
for the resistors and caps could be made slightly longer. Not sure if
that's possible or not. Also, sanding the board is a big time sink, so it
would be great if it could be updated to use the castellation at the
factory.

http://docs.oshpark.com/tips+tricks/castellation/

Even if the router edge only partly cuts into the vias, it would still save
a fair amount of time in hand-handing down to the actualy center of the
vias.

I got GREAT results from using chipquick 63/37 solder and a concave drag
tip. I also learned lots of reasons not to use paste flux in a syringe.

I'll have to find time to write up my exact assembly tools and procedure. I
also took plenty of pictures using a magnifying glass in front of my phone
camera :)

https://twitter.com/48kRAM/status/913859915281829888

Greg:  I'll try to get the programming done this weekend. I'm still
uncertain of my 102's stability, so I might end up only programming the
CPLD and then shipping you the first board to finis programming in the
Tandy and verify. Is that okay? Obviously, if it doesn't work, we'll
discuss further :)

-Josh
https://twitter.com/48kRAM/status/913859915281829888
https://twitter.com/48kRAM/status/913859915281829888
https://twitter.com/48kRAM/status/9138599152818