[AQUARIUS] Micro-Expander: RAM, ROM, AY-8910 and more!

[jltursan]

1 hour ago, Pernod said:

Thanks, I managed to build it myself. The older 0.9 version doesn't handle directories.

Oh, that's a nice addition. The changelog doesn't mentions this feature as part of 1.0; but indeed the versions log is a bit confuse, there's no "0.9" release in there.

I'm not sure about what exact version I have, seems it's worth to try updating.

[chjmartin2]

4 hours ago, jltursan said:

Oh, that's a nice addition. The changelog doesn't mentions this feature as part of 1.0; but indeed the versions log is a bit confuse, there's no "0.9" release in there.

I'm not sure about what exact version I have, seems it's worth to try updating.

So where is @Bruce Abbott, as I think he would be excited to see you work in developing Mame to support the Mini-expander!  I know that I am.  All this Aquarius activity has be itching to pull my Aquarius out - it is super small - I have to be able to find a way to get it on my desk. 

[Bruce Abbott]

On 7/16/2021 at 2:23 AM, jltursan said:

The changelog doesn't mentions this feature as part of 1.0; but indeed the versions log is a bit confuse, there's no "0.9" release in there.

Well that's embarrassing. The 1.0 ROM should have been on my Website, but I didn't upload it - until now!  

aqubasic_rom_1.0.zip

[jltursan]

Better late than never!. Btw, nice to hear from you ?

[N.K.Chavez]

I come back after a long hiatus of looking for work and dealing with some money issues and see this thread still has life left in it!

 

I am tickled to see Bruce has uploaded the 1.0 ROM BIN. I'll get that flashed to my MicroExpander ASAP. I could have assembled it (maybe?) but now I don't have to. Cheers and thank you, Bruce.

 

I haven't really done much with code or anything yet, but maybe I'll get a chance to flesh some more out once I get back to work. I did at least learn some more Z80 ASM (usually I'm a 6502 person) so I'm getting closer.

 

Not much else to add right now, but tickled to see there's still action going on here. I'll check back in when I've made some more progress with something.

[jltursan]

Waiting for it...?

[SchLikA]

Hello Aquarius fans !

 

I was requested by two friends who own Aquarius's (I unfortunately don't) to build them this quite original expander. After four different AliExpress orders I finally got the correct CH376 module and mostly successfully built the thing.

 

Thanks a lot for the work btw, that is quite amazing.

 

I borrowed one of these Aquarius's to test the thing (NTSC model behind a step-down converter, we are in PAL region) and finally can test it.

 

It seems mostly OK :

 

The ROM (1.0) menu appears, I can load and play pt3 files, sound mostly works but I have some weird sounds from time to time (AY3 were tested OK on an arduino+breadboard player contraption).

 

When loading ROM's, it seems to have no effect. I can browse content, choose a ROM, then the computer reboots as if there was no cartridge at all in it, I see the color cycling screen requesting to press RETURN to get to basic, and I get to the plain basic without the added ROM.

 

If I power cycle the computer and go to the extended basic, the 'dir' commands reboots to the first ROM screen, and 'cat' simply hangs.

 

Do you have any idea of what could be wrong ?

 

Thanks a lot !

 

BTW : If you have issues with the board not being able to access files on usb stick, try another stick. I first tested with a recent 16Gb one (FAT32), it didn't work, when an older 8Gb (FAT32) worked fine.

BTW2 : I may have three more of these to sell when I get them to work and if OK with Bruce & everybody here, at the price everybody is comfortable with.

[jltursan]

Welcome aboard!

 

I finally got the correct CH376 module and mostly successfully built the thing

 

I would be interested to know about the seller!, seems that they're now really hard to find and I still need one of them.

 

 I have some weird sounds from time to time

 

My first thought is, hey, that AY is bad; but you say you've tested it using an Arduino. Have you tested the AY in the same conditions required to play a PT3 file?, chinese ICs nowadays could be faulty in very subtle ways.

Try the AY in a different platform, that random sounds seems not related to the interface logic but the IC itself.

 

About the other problems:

 

1) Have you double-checked the ROM is correctly written?. I've successfully used an AM27C512-175 or a W27C512-45; but I remember having some problems with some EPROMs/Flash ICs although they were written correctly.

2) Have you checked the extra RAM is being correctly detected?

 

I really think that the micro Expander is a must for every Aquarius user, hope that more can be built!

 

[SchLikA]

5 hours ago, jltursan said:

Welcome aboard!

 

 

 

 

I would be interested to know about the seller!, seems that they're now really hard to find and I still need one of them.

 

 

 

 

My first thought is, hey, that AY is bad; but you say you've tested it using an Arduino. Have you tested the AY in the same conditions required to play a PT3 file?, chinese ICs nowadays could be faulty in very subtle ways.

Try the AY in a different platform, that random sounds seems not related to the interface logic but the IC itself.

 

About the other problems:

 

1) Have you double-checked the ROM is correctly written?. I've successfully used an AM27C512-175 or a W27C512-45; but I remember having some problems with some EPROMs/Flash ICs although they were written correctly.

2) Have you checked the extra RAM is being correctly detected?

 

I really think that the micro Expander is a must for every Aquarius user, hope that more can be built!

 

Hi !

 

Thanks for the welcoming.

 

I think I got my CH376's from here : https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32765670473.html?spm=a2g0s.12269583.0.0.1fab4361WX8Ds2

 

Since I tested the AY I think it is ok, my problems may be down to timing issues ?

 

1) Since I can see and use the the EPROM menu and basic functions I think it is correctly burnt.

2) How can I check that ?

 

Thanks for helping,

 

Marcel

Edited October 15, 2021 by SchLikA
Added link to CH376

[jltursan]

Constant timing issues would cause bad sound always, not random weird sounds from time to time (is that what happens, isn't it?). Do you have any other working machine to test an AY with?

 

Don't trust the menu & Basic working, I would check the EPROM with your programmer, just verify the content against the programmer buffer loaded with the firmware 1.0. And even if it's successfully verified,  try with another different chip, do you have spares or any other brands (EPROM or EEPROM)?

 

Here's a quick guide I've copied from the web with some instructions to test the RAM part:

 

This SRAM expansion board is tested as follows:

 

 

1) Before testing the board, turn on your Aquarius computer and type in the

below BASIC command at the prompt.

 

 

PRINT FRE(0)

 

Without any memory expansion, you should get 1724 bytes reported! Please see

the last image.

 

 

2) Turn OFF the Aquarius. Plug in the SRAM expansion board with the TOP side

of the board (the side with the chips) facing DOWN. Please see the 2nd photo.

 

 

3) Now turn on your computer. And Type in the below BASIC command at the

prompt.

 

 

PRINT 65536 - FRE(0)

 

With the memory expansion board, you now have 34113 bytes available, 32KB +

some of the built-in 1724 bytes of RAM.

 

 

4) You can test by issuing the POKE and PEEK commands to memory address in the

range $4000-$BFFF. Remember that the Aquarius computer's BASIC works with

signed integers. So, any address above 32767, you must subtract from 65536.

 

 

Examples:

 

 

10 REM POKE and PEEK at address $4000.

15 REM THIS ADDRESS IS LESS THAN 32767. SO NO NEED TO SUBTRACT FROM 65536.

20 POKE 16384,25

30 IF PEEK(16384) = 25 THEN PRINT "SRAM WORKING!"

 

 

Running the above BASIC program will verify that the SRAM is working by

POKEing and PEEKing a value into address 16384, respectively!

 

 

Now try with address $BFFE (49150 in decimal and the last addressable location

of the SRAM expansion board), you will need to subtract 65536 from it; that

is, 49150 - 65536 = -16386 (a negative number!!!). BASIC will understand this

"negative" address.

 

 

POKE -16386, 25

PRINT PEEK(-16386)

 

 

You should get 25 from the PEEK command!

[SchLikA]

Hi, thanks for the tip. I tried the FRE(0) stuff and it seems to hang the machine. Maybe an issue with the RAM chip ? The EPROM was tested when burnt, I'll try another one eventually.

[jltursan]

The GAL can also be bad, I mean bad programmed or simply faulty. I've always struggled trying to find good parts (GALs are since long time superseded), the right programmer (the best I've been able to found is the TL866II+) or practical info to program them correctly.

[jltursan]

On 10/15/2021 at 3:46 PM, SchLikA said:

Hi !

 

Thanks for the welcoming.

 

I think I got my CH376's from here : https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32765670473.html?spm=a2g0s.12269583.0.0.1fab4361WX8Ds2

 

Since I tested the AY I think it is ok, my problems may be down to timing issues ?

 

1) Since I can see and use the the EPROM menu and basic functions I think it is correctly burnt.

2) How can I check that ?

 

Thanks for helping,

 

Marcel

Great!, indeed the seller send me the correct CH376 PCBs and voilà, I've finished building my own micro-Expander, working 100% so far.

 

Also, thanks to the new Expander I've been able to fix some problems I've been having with my first one (purchased through eBay), flaky USB loading that seems to work much more stable now after resoldering the cables between CH376 and expander PCB and thoroughly clean the solders.

[Ringwall]

Hi guys, happy new year! 

I bought the kit of 3 pcb on ebay and I'm still assembling them, but I still need to understand what I have to place inside  the EPROM 27C512 and in the GAL16V8. Can you send me the right files to burn? many thanks.

[jltursan]

All you need can be found in the Bruce Abbott's Micro-Expander page. The EPROM file has been recently updated with a USB BASIC version 1.0 and the equations for the GAL are already compiled into a JED file.

[Ringwall]

I'm experiencing problems with the usb reader, I receive a "disk error" message, due to the pinout differences I used a 375B module and seems it doesn't works, or the trouble can be the GAL because I used two different GAL16V8-25 and one brand seems to not works (maybe because a chinese fake) , and one with a kind of Lattice logo printed on the top make the firmware boots up.

I'm searching the right CH376S with the right pinout... can you confirm me that the CH375B doesn't works? thanks

[jltursan]

Try with the seller above, he send me the right CH376 modules and worked flawlessly; maybe he still have them in stock.

[+sixersfan105]

Anybody want to make me a Micro Expander? Would love to have one but I possess neither the skills nor the equipment to make one myself. Willing to pay cost of materials + agreed upon time/labor charges! ?

[Ringwall]

On 1/12/2022 at 9:31 PM, jltursan said:

Try with the seller above, he send me the right CH376 modules and worked flawlessly; maybe he still have them in stock.

Who is the seller?

[theloneraider]

Have just built a Micro Expander myself, though I am awaiting a couple of parts to finish it off.

 

I can boot to the menu, and read a USB stick, so that is good start!!

 

I will see how it's looking once I get the remainder of my parts and have had a chance to try loading some stuff.

[Ringwall]

2 hours ago, theloneraider said:

Have just built a Micro Expander myself, though I am awaiting a couple of parts to finish it off.

 

I can boot to the menu, and read a USB stick, so that is good start!!

 

I will see how it's looking once I get the remainder of my parts and have had a chance to try loading some stuff.

Can you post a pic of the usb module pls? thanks

[theloneraider]

8 minutes ago, Ringwall said:

Can you post a pic of the usb module pls? thanks

Heres a few pics, hopefully one will show you what you need:

 

 

[jltursan]

3 hours ago, Ringwall said:

Who is the seller?

It's a link to Aliexpress, check message #134

 

Seems that theloneraider has found also a supplier for the exact CH376 module, good job!. You've the hardest part already finished: the GAL and USB module; the AY (I've noticed that you are still missing IC3) usually works if the IC is a legit one.

[theloneraider]

15 minutes ago, jltursan said:

It's a link to Aliexpress, check message #134

 

Seems that theloneraider has found also a supplier for the exact CH376 module, good job!. You've the hardest part already finished: the GAL and USB module; the AY (I've noticed that you are still missing IC3) usually works if the IC is a legit one.

My CH376 was from eBay. I moved the jumpers to the end near the edge connector just in case they were wrong and I needed to adjust. IC3, well I was sent the wrong item, so waiting for a replacement and a couple of other components I didn't have to hand.

 

Whilst I do see files if I try to load the ROMs off USB, I'm getting a reboot to the standard basic prompt. Checking memory available, I can see that the RAM has been consumed compared to checking when I go straight into basic, but the ROM doesn't start.

 

I am also unable to save basic files to the USB stick, either. I'm using the command SAVE "PROGRAM.BAS" and get a file create error.

 

I'm also struggling to load basic programs as well. 'RUN program' name fails with '?SN Error' and LOAD "PROGRAM.BAS" fails with "filetype mismatch ?FC Error". That may be me getting the command wrong, but I did try LOAD "PROGRAM.BAS", * and LOAD "PROGRAM.BAS", *A but got '?SN Error' and ?FC Error respectively.

 

I'm guessing this 'should' work without IC3, but it'd be nice to know one way ot the other, since it looks like IC3 may just be a clock divider for the PSG.

 

Also, is there anything that documents the jumper settings for the ROM module please?

[utri007]

On 1/12/2022 at 10:56 PM, sixersfan105 said:

Anybody want to make me a Micro Expander? Would love to have one but I possess neither the skills nor the equipment to make one myself. Willing to pay cost of materials + agreed upon time/labor charges! ?

I would also like to get build Micro Expander. Any one selling them? How is that game controller port?