*NEW* Kick Start ROM Switcher V1.0 @ AUD$22!

[1985BMWK75]

KSRS v1.0

This is an old-school ROM switcher, with no IC's (chips) on board. ROM selection is accomplished by the physical flipping of a mini toggle switch.

Please note that I can make the ribbon cable shorter, or longer. It is best to keep it as short as possible however.



KSRS V1.0 Specifications etc

Compatible with any revision of MB for A500/600/1500?/2000/2500, and I have been told by someone that owns one, CDTV. Regardless, if you experience any issues using my KSRS V1.0, just send it back to me for a full refund of the unit price (@AUD$22 each).There is a jumper on the KSRS, which is either on or off, depending on your MB revison.

Dimensions (approx) of the unit: 69.5(L)x42.5(W)x14(H)mm. Height is with ROM chip installed, with no legs attached. Height with nylon legs attached (with ROM installed) = 18mm.

Ribbon cable length from KSRS V1.0 to ROM IC socket on MB (A500 & A600): 10cm (or less). This is to enable easy placement on the MB, and fit inside the shield. Ideally, there would be no cable, but that is how I designed it :-S A2000: 7cm. Please note that in regards to my KSRS V1.0 fitting inside the shield on an A600, I don't know if it will :-S (I don't have a top-shield for my A600MB.) I have made the ribbon cable long enough though, so that is reaches to a little spot near the KB connector. It looks like this is where there is the most height available. The nylon legs could also be removed, and some cardboard stuck to the bottom of the KSRS, to prevent shorting. If you buy a KSRS V1.0 for your stock A600, and you can't fit it inside your case & shield no matter what you do, just send it back to me for a full refund of the unit price (@AUD$22 each). I'm trying to obtain a top-shield for my A600 MB, so until then, any brave A600 users would be much appreciated! ;-)

Switch cable length: 35cm. The ROM is selected by flicking of the switch. It is safest to turn off the Amiga to do this. Although, I tried flipping the switch with the Amiga on! Of course, the Amiga froze/crashed, but this was remedied by simply resetting the Amiga (CTRL+A+A). I did this many times out of curiosity, and it worked everytime - I don't know how good this method is for the Amiga though!

There are two empty ROM sockets on the KSRS V1.0, for any two ROMS.

Oh, and any products that I make come with a lifetime warranty. Just send it back to me if it needs repair. Also, our relationship doesn't end after you hand over the money. I will always be willing to answer any e-mail and help out where I can :-)

How to Buy

Just PM, e-mail or post a reply on this thread, and tell me what you want - I'll then send you a PayPal invoice for the total ;-) Once you have paid, I'll get to work and post it a.s.a.p.!

Postage/Shipping Rates via standard air mail (all prices inc. mailing box)

Australia wide - AUD$5.75

UK - AUD$11.85
U.S.A. - AUD$10.35
Other - will more than likely from my experience be one of the above, but you can check here http://www1.auspost.com.au/pac/int_parcel.asp (0-250g)

You may request insurance, registered etc, but it will be extra, and you will have to pay for it.

Nathan

EDIT

P.S. I have put the price up by AUD$2, as I will be using a 40 PIN DIP IDC connector, instead of soldering the 40 wires by hand! This is to cover the cost of the extra part. This not only looks nicer, but saves me time too :-)

[doctorq]

So 20 Australian dollars for a fully assembled one?

If yes, I'll take one, no reason for me to buy the parts and try myself if the price is the same :-)

[1985BMWK75]

@doctorq

Yep, AUD$20, fully assembled ;-) Obviously, I am discouraging self-assembly, as it is a tedious job - I don't want people complaining :-S

I have added a link to AmiBay with plenty of pics on the threads to look at ;-)

PM me if you are serious, and we'll get the ball rolling ;-)

Nathan

[alexh]

Nice work.

[tonyyeb]

More good skills Nathan. You are becoming a valuable member of the Amiga community. Get yourself on EAB if you already haven't. A few people on there that aren't regular on here i've noticed.

[InTheSand]

@Nathan: nice job! Just out of interest, who do you use to manufacture the PCBs?

 - Ali

[amigadave]

alexh wrote:
Nice work.

I'll second that!

I wish I had known about your project earlier as I just purchased a couple of Kickstart switchers for my CDTV (which I think you left off your list of compatible Amigas that can use your ROM switcher) and my A500 w/A530 Turbo.  I would have gladly purchased yours instead of the used, or second hand ones if I had known you were making them.

If you bought the 40pin cable connector/male socket adapters (or whatever they are actually called), it would save you from having to tin 40 wires and individually push them into the mobo KS ROM socket.  At $8.19 in quantities matching your number of pcb's, it would appear to me to be worth the extra cost.  I need to get one of those things to replace one I have that has a few broken off pins.

Question: would it have been a lot of extra work to layout the pcb so that the wires of the cable did not have to be completely separated and the 40wire cable could be just placed into that 40pin cable connector/male socket adapter thing and then pressed closed?

Again, nice work.  Nice to see that Amiga fans are still creating new products after all these years.

[ws1968]

Hi Nathan,

Great project :hammer: ! I was just looking for a rom-switcher. I like to order two units.

Cheers,

Winston.  

[alexh]

What would most people use a KS switcher for? I've not used one in decades.

You all got lots of original games on FD?

[1985BMWK75]

Hi all,

I have updated my post. See text below. KSRS V2.0 coming soon!

Nathan

[1985BMWK75]

EDIT

No need to repeat myself :-)

Nathan

[Computolio]

    Could you post pics here? I can't use amibay because the assholes who run it decided to block gmail accounts.

[1985BMWK75]

@Computolio

Thanks for your interest. I would have liked to have posted pics here, that would have been ideal. It seems that I can only add url's that link to a picture on a server somewhere else though. I might set up a free site, just to have somewhere where my pics can be hosted, that only changes if I want it to, so that I don't have dead links on my posts. I could e-mail you a pic, it is less than 50kb :-)

In regards to the people that run AmiBay, I have found them to be very friendly and understanding :-) Really, they are nice people, maybe you should sign up with another e-mail address? I used my ISP address (same here). It's not a big deal :-)

Nathan

[meega]

Computolio wrote:
    Could you post pics here? I can't use amibay because the assholes who run it decided to block gmail accounts.

 :lol:

Don't worry about it 1985BMWK75. ;-)

[1985BMWK75]

@all

If you don't like having to toggle the ROMS with a switch, KSRS V2.0 will be toggled just by resetting the Amiga (CTRL+A+A).

Some people have said that they prefer having a physical switch to flip, that's why I am still offereing KSRS V1.0 ;-)

Nathan