Sporniket's log on hardware stuff
Re: Sporniket's log on hardware stuff
So how close is the routing to the original STE ? I'm thinking maybe it could be seen exactly how Atari did the grounding around the DMA to CPU areas...
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
Re: Sporniket's log on hardware stuff
@exxos , for all traces except grounding, I try to keep the same relative position between traces and components. Meaning if trace A goes between B and C on the real mother board, it will be the same on the motherboard, 90% of the time.
A picture to illustrate, here is a close up of the component side around the GSTMCU, and the result of my work :
So you will get a rough idea of through which area a signal goes between CPU and DMA, but I don't know if it will be of help to you. I am quite sure that if someone make a build from my PCB, it will be mostly luck that it works. At least there should be no short.
For the grounding I am cheating with 2 inner ground planes. On the real motherboard, I can see that any unoccupied space of the board constitute grounding.
A picture to illustrate, here is a close up of the component side around the GSTMCU, and the result of my work :
So you will get a rough idea of through which area a signal goes between CPU and DMA, but I don't know if it will be of help to you. I am quite sure that if someone make a build from my PCB, it will be mostly luck that it works. At least there should be no short.
For the grounding I am cheating with 2 inner ground planes. On the real motherboard, I can see that any unoccupied space of the board constitute grounding.
Re: Sporniket's log on hardware stuff
No big deal anyway . Glad you're doing away with those right angles at least
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/ All my hardware guides - mods - games - STOS
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
Re: Sporniket's log on hardware stuff
At least one thing that I'm doing right
Re: Sporniket's log on hardware stuff
The routes are all done, now I am working on the copper fillings, meaning also the separation of analog parts. There are 2 analog areas, the sound and the video. Like the traces, I loosely follows what I see on my motherboard.
I left some disclaimers on the silkscreen...
Anyway, the front side is done.
I hope to make a new release candidate by next week. Then I plan to add comments about some fixes that would be helpfull and their references ( #mandatoryFixes ).
Anyway, doing a complete PCB proved to be a valuable tool to proofread my schematics.
edit : the github repository is up to date, as usual. (see my signature for the repo).
I left some disclaimers on the silkscreen...
Anyway, the front side is done.
I hope to make a new release candidate by next week. Then I plan to add comments about some fixes that would be helpfull and their references ( #mandatoryFixes ).
Anyway, doing a complete PCB proved to be a valuable tool to proofread my schematics.
edit : the github repository is up to date, as usual. (see my signature for the repo).
Re: Sporniket's log on hardware stuff
Well done! Looks really nice.
Re: Sporniket's log on hardware stuff
Yes, it is very satisfying in itself
Re: Sporniket's log on hardware stuff
The back side now.
Now it's time to tidying things before release...
Now it's time to tidying things before release...
Re: Sporniket's log on hardware stuff
Today I am working on the Lynx 2 that is still running, but with a screen too bright and around 7V at C41, and non working off-on, the only way to put-remove batteries.
Before that, I assembled a battery holders for easier testing when the console is opened :
Now, back on this "still running Lynx", I had noticed a suspicious bodge wire :
It turns out that it is a mode using the headphone pins to bypass the voltage regulator circuitry, so I removed it -and reflowed the solder joints-.
Side note : I can now compare non-leaded vs leaded solder handling, and now I understand all the frustration I read here and there regarding non-leaded solder. With leaded solder, I became magically good at soldering, and at using the solder wick. I guess that my faithful 25W-entry-level soldering iron and its pointy tips, while totally suitable for leaded solder, are barely suitable for non-leaded soldering (especially on pads connected to ground or large copper areas...)
Then I prepared to for testing...
... And nothing happens . A close look at the mother board, I can see that it is brownish around Q8, so next time I can make an order to mouser, I will try to replace that transistor.
Before that, I assembled a battery holders for easier testing when the console is opened :
Now, back on this "still running Lynx", I had noticed a suspicious bodge wire :
It turns out that it is a mode using the headphone pins to bypass the voltage regulator circuitry, so I removed it -and reflowed the solder joints-.
Side note : I can now compare non-leaded vs leaded solder handling, and now I understand all the frustration I read here and there regarding non-leaded solder. With leaded solder, I became magically good at soldering, and at using the solder wick. I guess that my faithful 25W-entry-level soldering iron and its pointy tips, while totally suitable for leaded solder, are barely suitable for non-leaded soldering (especially on pads connected to ground or large copper areas...)
Then I prepared to for testing...
... And nothing happens . A close look at the mother board, I can see that it is brownish around Q8, so next time I can make an order to mouser, I will try to replace that transistor.
Re: Sporniket's log on hardware stuff
The last -hopefully- release candidate before the real one.
https://github.com/sporniket/kicad-conv ... /1.0.0.rc4
This release includes :
https://github.com/sporniket/kicad-conv ... /1.0.0.rc4
This release includes :
- A standalone Kicad project (all custom libraries included and ready to use)
- A PDF of the schematics
- A PDF of the silkscreen
- A small gallery
- DMA pull-up on databus (done on the floppy disc controller U301)
- WD1772 pull-ups (done on U305)
- LMC audio mix fix (done near U508)
- RGB Video ghosting fix (done at C411)