[v2.0] MECB TMS9918 / TMS992x VDP Video Card

[lenzjo]

I'm part way through a compact flash attempt since I have hundreds of them from old cisco devices - I have no idea what I'm doing though. If you know much about anything along those lines, I'd love to hear about it...

I'm assuming you've seen this for the compact flash? I've got the hardware to build it, but then there's the firmware. I'm okay doing it in 6502 but the 6809 is really giving me headaches at the moment, I just have to work thru it I guess. There's also SD cards, they're slightly easier to do. Either way I need to get an RTC working to timestamp the files first. Whichever one I settle on (or I might do both for the sheer hell of it ) I see a lot of research and reading in my future

[Editor]

I've just updated the sticky post on this topic to say: I've now finally tried a TMS9928A on the VDP Display Card, which provides a really clean and nicely framed 60Hz RGB Video output, displayed on my small workbench monitor.

I'm very happy with the result, which you can see here: Minimalist Europe Card Bus (MECB) - A TMS9928A on the VDP Display Card!

[bugeyedcreepy]

I'm assuming you've seen this for the compact flash? I've got the hardware to build it, but then there's the firmware. I'm okay doing it in 6502 but the 6809 is really giving me headaches at the moment, I just have to work thru it I guess. There's also SD cards, they're slightly easier to do. Either way I need to get an RTC working to timestamp the files first. Whichever one I settle on (or I might do both for the sheer hell of it ) I see a lot of research and reading in my future

I haven't, no, so thank you for that one! I've found a number of guides and tutorials, some referencing the cf pinout and some for the ide pinout connecting to a cf, but it's all been too much for my miserly clump of neurones to grasp - if I were smart, I'd start a topic on this, because I'd LOVE to port this to some of my other 8-bit systems too, and it sure would make a basic system wrapped around MECB with something like this cf/sd mass storage setup a convenient arrangement...

[Editor]

I'm part way through a compact flash attempt since I have hundreds of them from old cisco devices...

I'm also interested to hear your plans regarding use of a CF / SD storage interface.

I may also have some interest in experimenting with a CF card, but it's more a case of the intended use?
eg. If I was looking to run a disk OS like OS/9 or Flex 9 on the 6809, then that would drive me to want a CF/SD type disk.

[bugeyedcreepy]

I'm also interested to hear your plans regarding use of a CF / SD storage interface.

I may also have some interest in experimenting with a CF card, but it's more a case of the intended use?
eg. If I was looking to run a disk OS like OS/9 or Flex 9 on the 6809, then that would drive me to want a CF/SD type disk.

On an MECB CF/SD storage solution, I can send you a handful of CF cards to play with, say some 32/64/128meg, and maybe even a 256meg compact flash to play with, along with some recovered CF slots off the Cisco boards I have too many of - naturally I have a vested interest in a working setup, and envisioned a combined card with a CF and an SD slots on board, but small steps to start with... I also want a working floppy controller too, of course, but that's a problem for future bugeyedcreepy.

perhaps we can trade some of my surplus gear for your surplus knowhow? ...and offer extends to you too @lenzjo? Even these CF cards would have more than enough space for a healthy array of 8-bit software to play with...

[Editor]

On an MECB CF/SD storage solution, I can send you a handful of CF cards to play with...

A kind offer. But, I'm pretty sure I have some CF cards and connectors, somewhere in my storage boxes.

It definately is something I'm interested in exploring further, but my main issue at the moment is simply my available time. No doubt I'll eventually get to it, but I currently have about 6 projects in active progress (and several more on the "waiting for me" shelf).
So, I definately don't want any expectations that I'll be playing with CF cards soon.

Hopefuly, as more enthusiasts start playing with MECB, more hands will make more MECB Cards available to play with, sooner rather than later!

[bugeyedcreepy]

A kind offer. But, I'm pretty sure I have some CF cards and connectors, somewhere in my storage boxes.

It definately is something I'm interested in exploring further, but my main issue at the moment is simply my available time. No doubt I'll eventually get to it, but I currently have about 6 projects in active progress (and several more on the "waiting for me" shelf).
So, I definately don't want any expectations that I'll be playing with CF cards soon.

Hopefuly, as more enthusiasts start playing with MECB, more hands will make more MECB Cards available to play with, sooner rather than later!

I can only ask. I'll battle on with it, there's some new info to work through when I get back now, so I might even surprise myself if I can figure this out...!!

[Editor]

I'll battle on with it, there's some new info to work through when I get back now, so I might even surprise myself...

Have faith. A lot of this stuff is just a process of discovery and problem solving. You'll get there with perseverance!

[lenzjo]

Do you guys watch The 6502 Show on YT? Despite the title, recently he has started off down the 6802 path as well. He has added a CF "drive" to it and yesterday added FLEX to it. Besides that he provide a number of links to the relevant 6802/09 docs. All good stuff.

Thank you @bugeyedcreepy for the offer, but I've already got the hardware waiting to be put together. I'm just lacking the software I'm coming at it from the 6502 side as I can work with that a lot faster, once I have the drivers working I can hopefully translate it to 6809 speak. I would really like to get os9 working but that's far off at the moment.

I would still like to get SD cards working as then I can transfer files between the 6809 and my linux box. But that means getting SPI working first.

[Editor]

Do you guys watch The 6502 Show on YT? Despite the title, recently he has started off down the 6802 path as well. He has added a CF "drive" to it and yesterday added FLEX to it. Besides that he provide a number of links to the relevant 6802/09 docs. All good stuff.

No. I hadn't come across that channel. But I'm definately interested in the mention of MC6802. I was a Flex user in the early days running on one of my first 6800 builds, and later Flex 9 on my MicroBox II 6809 system. I'll take a look. Thanks for pointing this out!

... I would really like to get os9 working but that's far off at the moment.

Yes. I've had an initial look at the NitrOS9 repository. That would be awesome to eventually get up and running.
It would certainly promote the desire for a CF (or SD) drive solution. I do have some WD floppy controller chips, and some 5 1/4" floppy drives from the era, but just dropping in a CF card would be much more convenient these days.

Hmm... why is it always: So much I want to do, but only limited time availability. But, we get there eventually. One step at a time!