F18A DIY?

[J-Data]

On 4/12/2021 at 10:56 PM, rootboy said:

I'd love to have someone share their Digikey BOM with me

Here is an export of my DigiKey BOM.  Let me know if it does not import.  I can't vouch for the SPI Flash DigiKey suggested as a substitute, but the rest should be good.  F18A BOM.csv

[rootboy]

20 minutes ago, J-Data said:

Here is an export of my DigiKey BOM.  Let me know if it does not import.  I can't vouch for the SPI Flash DigiKey suggested as a substitute, but the rest should be good.  F18A BOM.csv

Thank you!

[J-Data]

On 2/20/2021 at 12:13 PM, matthew180 said:

The JTAG update using the Xilinx tools was always a PITA

 

Took some doing, but wasn't as bad as I thought.  I did discover my Xilinx ISE 14.1 was corrupted since the last time I used it. 

 

By the way, none of the new Xilinx programming module are backwards compatible with ISE and/or this Spartan 3E part (Smartlynq or Platform cable II) so can't be used for this.  The latest Digilent HS3 cable does works, but won't work for the XC95144XC used on the TIPI/Final GROM.  I hear some of the knock-offs of the old Xilinx platform cables on ebay do work, but they certainly won't support with the latest MPSoC FPGAs or Xilinx Vivado. 

[Hans23]

I've stopped soldering in the JTAG adapter and instead program the flash using the TL886II+ - This is much faster than using the pesky Xilinx tools.

[J-Data]

Wow, it works!   I didn't think I was actually going to pull this off.  Amazingly how good the VGA picture is.  No doubt HDMI will be even better.  Can't wait to play with the demos. 

 

10 minutes ago, Hans23 said:

I've stopped soldering in the JTAG adapter and instead program the flash using the TL886II+ - This is much faster than using the pesky Xilinx tools.

I have a TL886II+, but not the SOIC-8 adapters.  I had the Xilinx pods handy so, you go with the tools you have in your tool box.

 

 By the way, both my consoles came from the factory with the TMS9918A socketed.  Been in my possession since 1982 so I'm certain about that. 

 

 

[Tursi]

Yeah, the 9918A is always socketed on the TI.  One of the few chips you can count on it.

 

 

[wierd_w]

I have recieved my unit, but have not installed it yet.  Been busy.

 

 

[gferluga]

Tested with this adaptor and works very well.

https://www.amazon.it/dp/B088699FJV?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[GDMike]

On 4/16/2021 at 11:21 PM, wierd_w said:

I have recieved my unit, but have not installed it yet.  Been busy.

 

 

I've got one on order. What a great upgrade.

[+wolhess]

On 4/3/2021 at 8:11 AM, Hans23 said:

I'd also appreciate if we could see some photos by people who have installed theirs for inspiration.

Hi Hans and all,

 

Yesterday I installed the F18A board in my TI system.

The result is impressive!

       Image with 9929 and PHA2030                                        Image with F18A

 

     

 

 

       Image with 9929 and PHA2030                                        Image with F18A

           

 

 

Here are a few pictures of the installation process:

 

1. Test the system with the 9929 video processor

 

2. Open the housing and test again

 

3. Prepare the upper part of the housing for the VGA connector

    

 

4. Prepare the upper shielding plate and swap the video processor 9929 with the F18A board

 

5. Test the system with the built-in F18A

     

 

6. Put everything back together in the case

 

7. Final test after everything is reassembled.

     

 

Installation is very easy and the result is a great picture!

 

 

[+retroclouds]

I also bought several F18a’s I still need to install. Looking forward doing that (3 weeks vacation coming up early July).

 

[pcoderdude14]

Hey there,  Hans! ?  Great work on the new f18a's!!!  I would like to put my

order in,  if possible.  I just found this thread, and so,  hope you are still  making them.

 

Sincerely,...

 

JT

[Hans23]

2 hours ago, pcoderdude14 said:

Great work on the new f18a's!!!  I would like to put my

order in,  if possible.  I just found this thread, and so,  hope you are still  making them

There seem to be quite some people who still want F18A's - I will be going to build a few more, but it won't be before later this summer before I get to it.  I'll reach out to everyone who is on my list once I'm finished with the builds.

 

-Hans

[pcoderdude14]

OK...Hans...

Thanks for keeping me "in-the-loop"...I appreciate your work and consideration :-)

 

 

JT

[SpaceEdu]

Hans,

 

I think I replied to someone else's thread so if you see a repeat of this message, apologies. I have added my name to your survey for two boards, Thanks for keeping this technology alive!

[+dhe]

Hi RetroCloud,

   Was the install mainly painless?

 

[WicoKid]

On 4/16/2021 at 5:04 PM, J-Data said:

Wow, it works!   I didn't think I was actually going to pull this off.  Amazingly how good the VGA picture is.  No doubt HDMI will be even better.  Can't wait to play with the demos. 

 

I have a TL886II+, but not the SOIC-8 adapters.  I had the Xilinx pods handy so, you go with the tools you have in your tool box.

 

 By the way, both my consoles came from the factory with the TMS9918A socketed.  Been in my possession since 1982 so I'm certain about that. 

 

 

Which  SPI Flash (digikey suggestion) did you end up using?

[Hans23]

8 hours ago, WicoKid said:

Which  SPI Flash (digikey suggestion) did you end up using?

I ordered a whole bunch of M25P16's from different sellers at AliExpress.  They were very cheap and all worked fine.  I remember that Matt Haggerty mentioned other types that could be used but I could not find the message last time I was stocking up and then ended up on the Aliexpress route.  If you figure out other types that work, please share.

[+arcadeshopper]

On 8/4/2021 at 12:38 PM, WicoKid said:

By the way, both my consoles came from the factory with the TMS9918A socketed.  Been in my possession since 1982 so I'm certain about that.

all TI's have it socketed

 

[WicoKid]

Collecting pieces to give this a shot.

 

1) Looking at the board I see some Capacitor and resistor values, see some capacitor and resistor numbers, but several areas not so clear. For instance on the right of the XILINX FPGA I see a C7 but punch out second digit, a C16 but punched out value (0.something), etc all over the board. If I go to the gerber files I can see the value is 0.1 uF but for , say C17, C12 and C6 just below pin 1 of  XILINX FPGA there are no values on the board or gerber images....I know its in there somewhere, just can't pick it out for an easy reference....novice here

 

2) To verify...the only thing I am going to flash is  the IC flash 8 bit SPI 50mHZ 8SOIC using the usb adapter in the picture.

[Hans23]

4 minutes ago, WicoKid said:

1) Looking at the board I see some Capacitor and resistor values, see some capacitor and resistor numbers, but several areas not so clear. For instance on the right of the XILINX FPGA I see a C7 but punch out second digit, a C16 but punched out value (0.something), etc all over the board. If I go to the gerber files I can see the value is 0.1 uF but for , say C17, C12 and C6 just below pin 1 of  XILINX FPGA there are no values on the board or gerber images....

The capacitors are easy because there are only two values - 1uF with a 0805 footprint and 100nF with a 0603 footprint.  The five 1uF caps go into the lower left area with the two voltage regulators.  As for the resistors, there is not much that you can do except cross reference the BOM.  If you can't figure something out, let us know.

6 minutes ago, WicoKid said:

2) To verify...the only thing I am going to flash is  the IC flash 8 bit SPI 50mHZ 8SOIC using the usb adapter in the picture.

There is nothing else that needs to be programmed, correct.  You'll want to use the binary flash file that I've attached to this thread earlier.

[WicoKid]

Made a screenshot of silk screen only maybe helpful.

[+arcadeshopper]

fyi I am stocking the vga ribbon cables for the original f18a now at arcadeshopper

[WicoKid]

I think I have a short between The positive  of C18 and negative of C8 through the FPGA chip or a bridge. I might meed better magnifiers but going crossed eyed looking at it with 3.5x and I can't see a bridge. Have used flux and tip and wick multiple times but it is still there. C18 and C 8 are between the oscillator and FPGA. If anyone has a board out can you verify continuity or not between positive C18 and negative C8 after FPGA placed. On a bank board there is no continuity. 

[Hans23]

6 hours ago, WicoKid said:

I think I have a short between The positive  of C18 and negative of C8 through the FPGA chip or a bridge.

C18 and C8 are not polarized, but I can confirm that there should be no continuity between them on the FPGA side.  They're both connected to ground and there should also be no continuity between the FPGA side of either of them and ground.

 

I have found bridges between the pins of the FPGA pin to be almost impossible to see even under the microscope, and I totally stay away from wick to fix such problems as it usually makes things worse.  Lots and lots of flux and heat are what helps me in such situations.  I have also removed and re-soldered the FPGA once or twice when I could not get a board to run, but I've also given up on a few FPGAs that seemed to have died due to my abuse.