Well lot's of things happened over the past 3 months.
NUCplus4
This got released on September 21st 2024 nearly 3 months ago, and there have been several people that jumped right on it and are building their own (Marek, LarryL, remowilliams, Panther, Jfcatari).
There were a few small issues that popped up, such as the solder pad holes for the battery holder being too small, and the FujiNet module's 3.3V supply needing a larger capacitor. But all in all things went pretty smoothly. I also introduced a new beta version of the TKNUC1MB firmware on November 15th, with a download at AtariAge in the World's Smallest Atari 8-bit forum thread (LINK).
EDIT: The new firmware now works very similar to the 576NUC+ original firmware, and only brings up the A8PicoCart aspect when you specifically want it via the F6 key. The 576K vs 1088K RAM selection is still automatic, being wholly dependent upon whether one of the internal Language/Game Slots is active. Yes I'll need to update the operating manual datasheet, and that will happen eventually.
I haven't updated the files yet on this website, but that'll hopefully be happening soon.
And probably worth mentioning, the SD Push-Push Socket P/N: RSMT-2-MQ-WF went obsolete soon after the project's release. Unfortunately there is no drop-in substitute that I've been able to find, and when it went obsolete it completely disappeared from the likes of Digi-key, Mouser, and Newark. So for those contemplating this build, you'll need to source this as a surplus item from eBay or AliExpress, with the cost being higher.
UGV-II
I wasn't 100% happy with the original UGV, and finally decided to do something about that. Thus the UGV-II was born.
- The NUCplus4 Project got released
- The UGV got a new, better, revised version released called the UGV-II
- I was in the hospital for 3 days because of massive blood clots in my lungs
- The 1200XL-1MB Project (a 1088K SRAM upgrade) got started
NUCplus4
This got released on September 21st 2024 nearly 3 months ago, and there have been several people that jumped right on it and are building their own (Marek, LarryL, remowilliams, Panther, Jfcatari).
There were a few small issues that popped up, such as the solder pad holes for the battery holder being too small, and the FujiNet module's 3.3V supply needing a larger capacitor. But all in all things went pretty smoothly. I also introduced a new beta version of the TKNUC1MB firmware on November 15th, with a download at AtariAge in the World's Smallest Atari 8-bit forum thread (LINK).
EDIT: The new firmware now works very similar to the 576NUC+ original firmware, and only brings up the A8PicoCart aspect when you specifically want it via the F6 key. The 576K vs 1088K RAM selection is still automatic, being wholly dependent upon whether one of the internal Language/Game Slots is active. Yes I'll need to update the operating manual datasheet, and that will happen eventually.
I haven't updated the files yet on this website, but that'll hopefully be happening soon.
And probably worth mentioning, the SD Push-Push Socket P/N: RSMT-2-MQ-WF went obsolete soon after the project's release. Unfortunately there is no drop-in substitute that I've been able to find, and when it went obsolete it completely disappeared from the likes of Digi-key, Mouser, and Newark. So for those contemplating this build, you'll need to source this as a surplus item from eBay or AliExpress, with the cost being higher.
UGV-II
I wasn't 100% happy with the original UGV, and finally decided to do something about that. Thus the UGV-II was born.
Piggybacks the GTIA Chip
Real Life PAL Display (NTSC looks similar) Improvements...
This got pre-released at AtariAge only 3 days ago (LINK), and will eventually make it's way over here (I gotta lot of changes to the UGV webpage in mind).
I Was in the Hospital for 3 Days
Yep you heard that right, due to a genetic deficiency my blood began clotting at an unrestricted rate and got to my lungs making it very difficult to breathe. My brother has a similar condition and went through this 23 years ago. For some unexplained reason my susceptibility to this took much longer to kick in. Anyway I got on top of it in the nick of time, and I'm doing fairly well now without any permanent damage.
1200XL-1MB Project
During my recovery I was getting a little bored, so I started a new Atari upgrade project for my 1200XL. That being to replace the noisy DRAM and its associated glue logic with SRAM instead. I called upon Juergen van Radecke (AtariAge: tf-hh) to help me out with this, utilizing a variant of his NUCplus4 1MB EMMU jed.
The new memory upgrade will piggyback 4 chips on the 1200XL: PIA, SALLY, MMU, and the 74LS138. From these it will get all the required connection points, and thus be a totally solder-less design. The prototype layout is complete, and sample boards are on their way from JLCPCB in China.
Oh did I forget to mention that this is a switchable 64K, 576K, 1088K upgrade. It's based on a RAMBO banking scheme, so the only downside is that it doesn't have true 130XE compatibility like the CompyShop banking alternative (more info on that HERE). However most programs, demos, and games never supported the separate Antic access of a 130XE, with the only examples being counted on one hand.
So that wraps it up for now.
Hopefully see all of you in the New Year.
- Michael
- Better quality video than even the 576NUC+, being on par with the latest UAV.
- Non-interference with stock video outputs.
- No modifications to Atari motherboard, other than the GTIA needs to be in a socket (W2 jumper is a non-issue).
- Simpler and easier build for a DIY person than the previous original UGV, being mostly THT components this go around.
This got pre-released at AtariAge only 3 days ago (LINK), and will eventually make it's way over here (I gotta lot of changes to the UGV webpage in mind).
I Was in the Hospital for 3 Days
Yep you heard that right, due to a genetic deficiency my blood began clotting at an unrestricted rate and got to my lungs making it very difficult to breathe. My brother has a similar condition and went through this 23 years ago. For some unexplained reason my susceptibility to this took much longer to kick in. Anyway I got on top of it in the nick of time, and I'm doing fairly well now without any permanent damage.
1200XL-1MB Project
During my recovery I was getting a little bored, so I started a new Atari upgrade project for my 1200XL. That being to replace the noisy DRAM and its associated glue logic with SRAM instead. I called upon Juergen van Radecke (AtariAge: tf-hh) to help me out with this, utilizing a variant of his NUCplus4 1MB EMMU jed.
The new memory upgrade will piggyback 4 chips on the 1200XL: PIA, SALLY, MMU, and the 74LS138. From these it will get all the required connection points, and thus be a totally solder-less design. The prototype layout is complete, and sample boards are on their way from JLCPCB in China.
Oh did I forget to mention that this is a switchable 64K, 576K, 1088K upgrade. It's based on a RAMBO banking scheme, so the only downside is that it doesn't have true 130XE compatibility like the CompyShop banking alternative (more info on that HERE). However most programs, demos, and games never supported the separate Antic access of a 130XE, with the only examples being counted on one hand.
So that wraps it up for now.
Hopefully see all of you in the New Year.
- Michael
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