New Minimig, possible problem

[Darrin]

The early minimig cores (such as the one you may have downloaded from aCube's site) doesn't support encrypted Kickstarts such as the ones distributed by Cloanto.  Either download a KS 1.3 image from the net or "rip" the Cloanto image from within a running Workbench environment on WinUAE (you'll end up with a decrypted image that way).

Here's a pic of a bare Minimig board:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Minimig_2890.jpg

The PIC socket is the long socket to the right of the SD Card slot.  In the picture it is unpopulated.  In order to work, you will need a PIC chip in this socket or the ARM board.

It shouldn't cost too much to get one from aCube.

[Darrin]

The main benefit of the 4MB one is that WHDLOAD works pretty well. I'm not so sure how well it will work with just 2MB.

Not very well for multi-disk games as you really only get 1.5MB because the Kickstart takes up the other 0.5MB.  So you either have to configure it as 1MB Chip 2MB Fast or 2MB Chip 1MB Fast (if you assign all available memory).  At least with the 4MB option you can do 2MB/1.5MB.

I think you get HD support even with the PIC. I believe it just goes slower.

Correct.  For small HDF files the PIC is fine, but if you use large HDF files then you'll notice a hell of a difference.  I have the ARM controller that replaces the PIC and it is worth the extra money.

The interesting thing is that the exit keys for WHDLOAD actually work and it's not supposed  to work with a 68000 (only 68010+)

Interesting.  Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the Minimig has a 68SEC000 rather than the 68000 that came with the original Amigas.

[Darrin]

Yes. I have the ARM controller as well.

I ended up not doing much with my Minimig initially and then recently I started messing with it again when I got the new case and bluetooth adapter and buzzer. I'm really impressed with the latest core. I really want the new minimig.

Bluetooth adapter and buzzer???!!!  I'm missing something.  Tell me more!  

When I initially configured it i don't believe it supported FAT32 or long filenames I just had a bunch ADFs with 8 character filenames in the root of a 2GB FAT16 card. No wonder I did not do much with it.

I remember those days (a pain in the backside).  I can't remember when FAT32 support came in.  I think I got it with the ARM prototype and then it came in later for the PIC.  It certainly made life a lot easier.

Did you do the SPI Mod? If you do the SPI MOD (like I did) can you even use the PIC anymore without putting the resister back?

Yes, I did the mod.  I was going to do the RAM mod myself too, but bottled out and sent it to AmigaKit instead.  I still have 4 unused RAM chips.  Again I did the mod SPI mod when I got the ARM prototype and never went back to the PIC.  I don't even have a PIC anymore as I gave it to another user who had problems with his board.

[Darrin]

If you put a buzzer on pins 5 & 6 you get simulated floppy noise. It is pretty cool except those AntiClick and NoClick utils don't seem to work like they do on my 1200.

the bluetooth thing is this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812191154

I made a little program in .NET to transfer files to and from my MiniMig you can see in this post

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showpost.php?p=672956&postcount=2

I also have been trying to get AmiTCP to connect with ppp.device to my windows7 machine over the bluetooth link, but I'm unsuccessful so far...

Oh, very nice!  

[Darrin]

Hopefully with the Replay board will have better options than serial port.

For the existing 1.1 Minimig it is not bad. With the speed in turbo the serial is able to go 115200 which is the limit for the bluetooth serial adapter anyway.

Before I was booting the SD card's HDF files on UAE and transferring files that way. This is much better for just getting just a few .LHA files from aminet.

the adapter was $75 which is expensive considering a USB BT adapter is $15 or so.

Same method I use.  I keep a "Minimig" config on WinUAE to boot from the SD card and then drag any files I need onto it from the PC side.  Not exactly an elegant solution, but fast and functional.  ;-)

[Darrin]

Just wanted to post a follow up here--my Minimig is now working great.   Thanks to all for suggestions/help.  I was able to purchase the PIC from Acube and install myself and resolve wrong/outdated kick.rom and minimig.bin issues.  It's been operational for a few weeks now.  While some games are glitchy, many run just fine and I'm now enjoying a whole new world of games and making up for lost time, having never owned an Amiga in the past.

Thanks to all who posted with suggestions.

Glad to hear it.  Have fun with it and try not to break too many joysticks.  

Edit:  Remember, if you're having trouble with a particular game then try switching between OCS and ECS, try adjusting the Chip and Fast RAM amounts, try different Kickstarts (I keep 1.3 and 3.1 on my SD card).