Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
I used a $25 xilinx programmer and all free software and a 10 year old netbook to flash the xilinx. And a Model 100, $3 Monoprice 479 cable, $10 generic usb-serial adpter, and that same netbook to load the REXMGR image. I can help get that going if the sketchy pointers on tandy.wiki aren't good enough. It took a while dinking with the software to figure out what you're supposed to do exactly, especially getting the special usb drivers working on linux, but in the end, there isn't actually very much *money* or equipment required. And I somewhat documented at least the main points to getting the xilinx software and the usb drivers. It's mostly just the "missing links" not a complete step by step recipe, partly because, the exact steps would different for you or anyone else, unless you are also going to be using exactly the same ubuntu 16.04... but I wrote down each part that was a mystery so that now it's not a total mystery. Basically, you just need a $25 xilinx programmer and some time to tinker. On Jul 5, 2017 3:22 PM, "Josh Malone" wrote: > Yeah - can't test anything w/o programming equip. I have stuff to program > EEPROMs and some MCUs but not Xylinx > > On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 3:09 PM, John R. Hogerhuis > wrote: > >> >> On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 12:06 PM Josh Malone >> wrote: >> >>> I'm willing to help *build* REX units, I just don't have the equipment >>> to program or test them. I'm getting a decent repair/mod bench set up. Did >>> some work on an Atari 800xl yesterday. >>> >>> -Josh >>> >> >> By test do you mean program and validate? >> >> It seems like we could come up with a test fixture and software to >> validate REX units. >> >> If we ever wanted them professionally manufactured we'd have to do that >> anyway. >> >> -- John. >> > >
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
On Jul 5, 2017, at 1:54 PM, Lee Olivares wrote: > Whatever it is, it sold for $850. > > o_0 It appears to be a multi-ROM switcher from Portable Computer Support Group, and the three-sided board surrounding the option ROM socket looks like PCSG’s RAM banks. Looks to be in fine condition, but I was surprised at the final price.
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
As far as REX's convenient memory bank backup mechanism, yes having what you mentioned gets you somewhat close due to the easy nature of transferring files to/from the NADSBox. But for REX's multi option-rom capability, the only thing that gets you there is a multi-ROM bank which never seems to be as convenient due to its physicality outside the machine. Nope, there's nothing that quite matches a REX for its amazing option ROM provisioning and switching capability. Hmm, I wonder how I might be able to build an adapter board for one of my M100 molex-style REX units and retrofit it to an NEC... On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 7:12 PM, Chris Fezzler wrote: > With a NEC PC 8300 upgrade to 3 Banks of Ram, plus a Ultimate ROM II and a > NADSBox - it's not REX but pretty darn good, no? > > > -- > On Wed Jul 05 2017 20:36:36 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time), Gary Weber < > m100l...@gweber.org> wrote: > > > I'd probably pay double that for a REX3 for the NEC to be completely > honest. I love them on my M100s, but it is painful *not* to have the same > capability on my main "enthusiast" machines of which I am known for... > > Gary > > > On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 5:33 PM, John R. Hogerhuis > wrote: > > > > On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 5:21 PM, Chris Fezzler wrote: > > The unit that went for $850 was for its collectability rather than > functionality, no? > > > > Yeah, kind of tongue in cheek. I don't think this validates a market > price of $850 for REX. > > But it's probably more than what Steve was (kindly!) charging. > > I'd say, at least $100, possibly up to $150 without demand seriously > dropping off. > > -- John. > > >
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
With a NEC PC 8300 upgrade to 3 Banks of Ram, plus a Ultimate ROM II and a NADSBox - it's not REX but pretty darn good, no? On Wed Jul 05 2017 20:36:36 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time), Gary Weber wrote: I'd probably pay double that for a REX3 for the NEC to be completely honest. I love them on my M100s, but it is painful *not* to have the same capability on my main "enthusiast" machines of which I am known for... Gary On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 5:33 PM, John R. Hogerhuis wrote: On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 5:21 PM, Chris Fezzler wrote: The unit that went for $850 was for its collectability rather than functionality, no? Yeah, kind of tongue in cheek. I don't think this validates a market price of $850 for REX. But it's probably more than what Steve was (kindly!) charging. I'd say, at least $100, possibly up to $150 without demand seriously dropping off. -- John.
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
I'd probably pay double that for a REX3 for the NEC to be completely honest. I love them on my M100s, but it is painful *not* to have the same capability on my main "enthusiast" machines of which I am known for... Gary On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 5:33 PM, John R. Hogerhuis wrote: > > > On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 5:21 PM, Chris Fezzler wrote: > >> The unit that went for $850 was for its collectability rather than >> functionality, no? >> >> >> > Yeah, kind of tongue in cheek. I don't think this validates a market > price of $850 for REX. > > But it's probably more than what Steve was (kindly!) charging. > > I'd say, at least $100, possibly up to $150 without demand seriously > dropping off. > > -- John. >
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 5:21 PM, Chris Fezzler wrote: > The unit that went for $850 was for its collectability rather than > functionality, no? > > > Yeah, kind of tongue in cheek. I don't think this validates a market price of $850 for REX. But it's probably more than what Steve was (kindly!) charging. I'd say, at least $100, possibly up to $150 without demand seriously dropping off. -- John.
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
The unit that went for $850 was for its collectability rather than functionality, no? On Wed Jul 05 2017 15:17:17 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time), John R. Hogerhuis wrote: On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 12:06 PM Josh Malone wrote: I'm willing to help *build* REX units, I just don't have the equipment to program or test them. I'm getting a decent repair/mod bench set up. Did some work on an Atari 800xl yesterday. -Josh By test do you mean program and validate? It seems like we could come up with a test fixture and software to validate REX units. If we ever wanted them professionally manufactured we'd have to do that anyway. -- John.
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
Yeah - can't test anything w/o programming equip. I have stuff to program EEPROMs and some MCUs but not Xylinx On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 3:09 PM, John R. Hogerhuis wrote: > > On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 12:06 PM Josh Malone wrote: > >> I'm willing to help *build* REX units, I just don't have the equipment to >> program or test them. I'm getting a decent repair/mod bench set up. Did >> some work on an Atari 800xl yesterday. >> >> -Josh >> > > By test do you mean program and validate? > > It seems like we could come up with a test fixture and software to > validate REX units. > > If we ever wanted them professionally manufactured we'd have to do that > anyway. > > -- John. >
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 12:06 PM Josh Malone wrote: > I'm willing to help *build* REX units, I just don't have the equipment to > program or test them. I'm getting a decent repair/mod bench set up. Did > some work on an Atari 800xl yesterday. > > -Josh > By test do you mean program and validate? It seems like we could come up with a test fixture and software to validate REX units. If we ever wanted them professionally manufactured we'd have to do that anyway. -- John.
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
I'm willing to help *build* REX units, I just don't have the equipment to program or test them. I'm getting a decent repair/mod bench set up. Did some work on an Atari 800xl yesterday. -Josh On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 2:42 PM, John R. Hogerhuis wrote: > > On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 10:54 AM Lee Olivares wrote: > >> Whatever it is, it sold for $850. >> >> o_0 >> >> - Lee >> > Meanwhile REX is the best storage device ever. > > If they could fetch $850 each I'm sure we could get them manufactured > professionally for much less than that :-) > > -- John. >
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 10:54 AM Lee Olivares wrote: > Whatever it is, it sold for $850. > > o_0 > > - Lee > Meanwhile REX is the best storage device ever. If they could fetch $850 each I'm sure we could get them manufactured professionally for much less than that :-) -- John.
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
Whatever it is, it sold for $850. o_0 - Lee
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
Don't know what I was thinking; it's a Cryptronix/PCSG RAM+ memory expansion
module, not an ExtRAM. I've got both of them and should have known better;
getting confused in my dotage...
I think it needs an option ROM though...
m
- Original Message -
From: Mike Stein
To: m...@bitchin100.com
Sent: Monday, June 26, 2017 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
Kinda looks like an ExtRAM, a poor man's REX.
- Original Message -
From: Josh Malone
To: m...@bitchin100.com
Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2017 6:06 PM
Subject: Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
Judging by the cheat sheet in photo 6, I'd say that has to be some sort of
bank-switched RAM/ROM board. Probably RAM from the presence of what looks like
a backup battery stuffed in there.
On Jun 25, 2017 1:48 PM, "Lee Olivares" wrote:
Interesting ROM board and a battery backpack/kickstand on this M100
listing today:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/172747974546
Everything looks normal until pic 4, what are we looking at here?
- Lee Olivares
- (909) 437-0250
- The Future or Bust.
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
Kinda looks like an ExtRAM, a poor man's REX. - Original Message - From: Josh Malone To: m...@bitchin100.com Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2017 6:06 PM Subject: Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay Judging by the cheat sheet in photo 6, I'd say that has to be some sort of bank-switched RAM/ROM board. Probably RAM from the presence of what looks like a backup battery stuffed in there. On Jun 25, 2017 1:48 PM, "Lee Olivares" wrote: Interesting ROM board and a battery backpack/kickstand on this M100 listing today: https://www.ebay.com/itm/172747974546 Everything looks normal until pic 4, what are we looking at here? - Lee Olivares - (909) 437-0250 - The Future or Bust.
Re: [M100] Battery backpack on eBay
Judging by the cheat sheet in photo 6, I'd say that has to be some sort of bank-switched RAM/ROM board. Probably RAM from the presence of what looks like a backup battery stuffed in there. On Jun 25, 2017 1:48 PM, "Lee Olivares" wrote: > Interesting ROM board and a battery backpack/kickstand on this M100 > listing today: > > https://www.ebay.com/itm/172747974546 > > Everything looks normal until pic 4, what are we looking at here? > > - Lee Olivares > - (909) 437-0250 > - The Future or Bust. >
