RSVE mod?

[+DarkLord]

Anyone have experience with actually installing and using the RSVE serial port mod?

 

I'm looking for helpful suggestions, comments, hints, do's and don'ts, etc, etc,...

 

Thanks!

[+DarkLord]

Dang, I was hoping someone had actually installed and was using it. :-(

 

Oh well....

[krupkaj]

My friend installed it in his MEGA long time ago, but there were some troubles with it and I do not remember how it ended. So any info is welcome.

Edited February 22, 2006 by krupkaj

[+DarkLord]

My friend installed it in his MEGA long time ago, but there were some troubles with it and I do not remember how it ended. So any info is welcome.

1022352[/snapback]

 

I'd love to know what problems he had. Any chance of finding out?

 

Thanks!

[Gunstar]

Anyone have experience with actually installing and using the RSVE serial port mod?

 

I'm looking for helpful suggestions, comments, hints, do's and don'ts, etc, etc,...

 

Thanks!

1019164[/snapback]

 

I don't even know what that is...an acrinim for?

[+DarkLord]

Anyone have experience with actually installing and using the RSVE serial port mod?

 

I'm looking for helpful suggestions, comments, hints, do's and don'ts, etc, etc,...

 

Thanks!

1019164[/snapback]

 

I don't even know what that is...an acrinim for?

1024450[/snapback]

 

Honestly, I don't really know what the letters "RSVE" stand for, but I know what it does. Its a hardware based serial port enhancer for ST computers.

 

Using the RSVE mod and HSmodem you can get 38,400 speeds on standard STs, upwards of 115,200 on accelerated ones.

 

Love to have a new one installed in my Mega ST...

[belboz]

Atari Archive at Umich has had the RSVE stuff for quite awhile.

 

The archive contains scematics, layour, docs, and jedec code for the GAL chip you need to program.

 

The docs are in german and english. Each file starts off in German and then the bottom half is the english translation.

 

http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/Utilit...xes/rsve_ge.lzh

 

Seems pretty straightforward to hook up. You just need someone to program the GAL for you, if you don't have that capability.

[+DarkLord]

Atari Archive at Umich has had the RSVE stuff for quite awhile.

 

The archive contains scematics, layour, docs, and jedec code for the GAL chip you need to program. 

 

The docs are in german and english.  Each file starts off in German and then the bottom half is the english translation.

 

http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/Utilit...xes/rsve_ge.lzh

 

Seems pretty straightforward to hook up.  You just need someone to program the GAL for you, if you don't have that capability.

1024691[/snapback]

 

Thats the catch - I have no idea how to program a GAL chip...

 

Thanks for the reply.

[belboz]

Sorry I didn't gather that the GAL was your problem from your posts. I thought you couldn't find any info on it.

 

Regardless, the docs spec out the Gal chip you need to buy. A GAL16V8

 

Here is a blank GAL chip you can order.

 

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/se...productId=37452

 

Now you need a programmer device to program the chip with the code from the RSVE archive (the JED file).

 

Here are a couple build your own GAL programmer projects.

 

http://elm-chan.org/works/pgal/report_e.html

 

http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/...70/galblast.htm

 

You can buy them through many vendors like Digikey, Jameco, etc. The commercial ones usually run $200 - $300 though.

 

Maybe someone one here has a PAL/GAL programmer and can help you.

 

You could also reverse engineer the GAL and just build a circuit to do the same thing. I believe the docs describe the circuit, and there are programs that can decompile jedec code.

Edited February 26, 2006 by belboz

[krupkaj]

I can program the GAL chip for you. So in case you don't find anyone in your neighbourhood just pm me.

[+DarkLord]

Sorry I didn't gather that the GAL was your problem from your posts.  I thought you couldn't find any info on it. 

 

Regardless, the docs spec out the Gal chip you need to buy.  A GAL16V8

 

Here is a blank GAL chip you can order.

 

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/se...productId=37452

 

Now you need a programmer device to program the chip with the code from the RSVE archive (the JED file).

 

Here are a couple build your own GAL programmer projects.

 

http://elm-chan.org/works/pgal/report_e.html

 

http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/...70/galblast.htm

 

You can buy them through many vendors like Digikey, Jameco, etc.  The commercial ones usually run $200 - $300 though.

 

Maybe someone one here has a PAL/GAL programmer and can help you.

 

You could also reverse engineer the GAL and just build a circuit to do the same thing.  I believe the docs describe the circuit, and there are programs that can decompile jedec code.

1024717[/snapback]

 

Thanks for all that info. I'll save it for when I need it. :-)

[+DarkLord]

I can program the GAL chip for you. So in case you don't find anyone in your neighbourhood just pm me.

1024731[/snapback]

 

Thanks! When I get started on it (never enough time), I'll keep you in mind for that part.

 

[Greenious]

Anyone have experience with actually installing and using the RSVE serial port mod?

 

I'm looking for helpful suggestions, comments, hints, do's and don'ts, etc, etc,...

 

Thanks!

 

Well, hi speed serial port mods are a dime a dozen for atari. And which one to use is up to each to decide on his own.

 

But, it is an extremely simple mod. Why anyone would complicate it with a GAL is beyond me.

 

Just get the MFP datasheet, and you'll see that all you need to do is feed a new RS-232 baseclock to it. (quartzoscillator 1.8432 MHz) since you can't get one that matches exactly what you want, you'll need a binary counter (74HC4040) to derive a speed that's 1/4 of the quartz I believe it was. And finally, you could use a nandgate or similar method to be able to switch back & forth if you want to be able to keep it "original".

 

As someone already pointed out, more than 38.400 bps is hard to utilize without an accelerator.

[Xebec]

On 4/24/2006 at 5:03 PM, Greenious said:

 

Well, hi speed serial port mods are a dime a dozen for atari. And which one to use is up to each to decide on his own.

 

But, it is an extremely simple mod. Why anyone would complicate it with a GAL is beyond me.

 

Just get the MFP datasheet, and you'll see that all you need to do is feed a new RS-232 baseclock to it. (quartzoscillator 1.8432 MHz) since you can't get one that matches exactly what you want, you'll need a binary counter (74HC4040) to derive a speed that's 1/4 of the quartz I believe it was. And finally, you could use a nandgate or similar method to be able to switch back & forth if you want to be able to keep it "original".

 

As someone already pointed out, more than 38.400 bps is hard to utilize without an accelerator.

I'm going a little off topic from my original ask - but it sounds like 38400 bps is stable even with the stock ST (68000@8 MHz), with the updated port?   For faster you need both the updated port and an accelerator?   Any chance you can link me to a 'preferred' serial port mod?  I'd like to study and learn.  Thanks! 

[+DarkLord]

Yes, that is correct. The RSVE mod worked at higher speeds with a stock 8mhz ST...

 

IIRC...