Richard H.

Hi, you probably don't know me, but I build Vectrex hardware (speech synths, RAM / FLASH carts etc) - www.vectrex.biz My latest Vectrex speech synth, the VecVox, is based around the SpeakJet chip (go to www.speakjet.com for some sound examples). Anyway, Alex Herbert has written an Atari software driver to make it work on the 2600 / 7800. So I'm now thinking of making the Atari version. Anyone interested in such a device ?

Yes, I could do with 2 or 3 - It'd be easier for me to PayPal you, than order direct from the UK Rob, try asking for a discount on a bulk purchase

Are these chips available any where else ? (besides having to de-solder them from carts)

Any one upgraded to the CCII and want to get rid of their CCI ? Thanks...

I gave Mark my AnimAction PCB design - so he'll have them available soon.

Try - www.vibribbon.com

http://www.zektor.com/zvg/index.htm

mark@vectrexcarts.com

........for anyone that's interested, this is what the VecVoice speech sounds like - www.vectrex.biz/VV-Demo.wav (from Verserk)

Keep posted to RGV - cause Alex is releasing Protector and YASI (with VV speech) on one glorious cart (produced by Mark Shaker). And it's gonna happen VERY soon (me and some guys are beta testing the cart right now)

Yes, it's very easy - you just need to wire in resistors on the switches. Rob, what's the values to use ?

Rob, that's my page and I don't make controllers You want Brett's site - http://www.jitterring.com/playvectrex/ Although, I think he's put production of Vectorcades on hold for a while. BTW I have one and they are REALLY good - probably THE best homebrew controller ever made.

Yeah, I can vouch for him - but if you don't believe me, check out rec.games.vectrex - you'll get loads of good references there.

Believe it or not there's NO flicker - it's just like playing on a B/W TV with scanlines. It's a very cool effect

Whoops ! - I'd completely forgot they're based in Ireland What would be great is if someone starting making dev cart PCB's. Like the one in the Atariage store but with a large protyping area tacked on the end. I'm sure it'd encourage more hardware developers. BTW What did you use to write your flash-cart downloader software ? Richard H.

I've been playing around with EEPROM recently and found that they can't be written to at speed like SRAM Have you seen those Dallas smart sockets ? - they're very nice to use when prototyping. Have you tried using www.pcbpool.com ? They always give me a good price Richard H.

Rob sent me the circuit (he has it installed) a while ago and suggested it'd make a good PCB. I haven't yet tried it myself, but he says it gives a good picture + sound. The boards will definitely be made - I suggested to Rob it'd probably be cheaper + more convenient to have them made in the US (I live in the UK). Richard H.

Here's a pic of the proto mod PCB - it's got soldermask and component-id print to make assembly easier. The board size is 42mm x 56mm. Richard H.

Rob, I can make you a 2K/4K Atari adaptor to use on the VecRAM for the time being, if you want ? Richard H.

Ahh.....yes...that would explain the glitches I've been experiencing. SH*T ! - I did suspect it was that Looks like I'm out of the race untill I find something more powerful The SRAM is fully connected to the MC's ports. A byte received by the PIC from the PC and placed on the SR's data port. It's then written by controlling the WE, and the Addr port incremented ready for next byte etc - it's very simple in practice. It's also got a rock solid verify, as the SR is read after the write, and sent back to the PC. 64K (32K on VecRAM) + on a 877 there's plenty of free ports to go much higher. It uses SRAM, but could use FLASH / EEPROM just as easily. I was planning on putting them all in, but it's turning out to be more complicated than I had at first imagined Hey ! - the fun part is the experimenting bit right ? Richard H.

Yes, you are correct. It's being used for the bank-switching + also to download data serially from a PC to the SRAM. The download bit is tried and tested and works great (see VecRAM) The bankswitch bit on the otherhand is not working correctly. I'm really hoping it's just the address read glitch, and not something serious like the PIC not being fast enough. I did have it sort of working on a 2 bank-switching game the other day, but the display was continually rolling for some reason. I've left it alone for quite a while to concentrate on Vec hardware. But recently I've gone back to tinkering with it, as Rob suggested there might be some interest in a Cuttle cart type device.

Here's a pic of my 2600 RAM-cart proto. The EPROM is in place of the SRAM for bank-switch testing purposes. Richard H.