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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: kirk_m on April 17, 2017, 02:32:20 PM

Title: Project RED A500+
Post by: kirk_m on April 17, 2017, 02:32:20 PM
She has arrived!

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2913/33710394770_59fcab9f75_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TmSzUW)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/TmSzUW) by kirkmdds (https://www.flickr.com/photos/42208216@N07/), on Flickr

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2901/33283619913_21e660bb8e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/SHafBK)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/SHafBK) by kirkmdds (https://www.flickr.com/photos/42208216@N07/), on Flickr

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2896/33938165792_6c5a780d80_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TGZYiw)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/TGZYiw) by kirkmdds (https://www.flickr.com/photos/42208216@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: shaf on April 17, 2017, 04:12:01 PM
Mine arrive last week, I'll post a picture tomorrow of the partial build.
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Matt_H on April 17, 2017, 04:17:31 PM
Are these being sold as PCBs only or is there a way to get a fully assembled board?
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Methuselas on April 17, 2017, 04:28:34 PM
Wait..... what is this? Please tell me more.
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on April 17, 2017, 05:33:24 PM
Quote from: Methuselas;824662
Wait..... what is this? Please tell me more.


You had to have been a member of A1k website and be able to read German to get one. :(
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Jeff on April 17, 2017, 05:47:28 PM
and pay with an international bank transfer... I tried to order two and it didn't work out :(

Congrats to everyone that did get one! What a board for the Vampire!
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: klx300r on April 17, 2017, 06:20:39 PM
ah just love the site and smell of 'new' Amiga hardWARE:hammer: please post progress pics here of the assembly
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on April 17, 2017, 06:23:32 PM
Quote from: Jeff;824666
and pay with an international bank transfer... I tried to order two and it didn't work out :(

A shame, I would've paid for one if they didn't make it so many hoops to have to jump through.  Bet a few others would, as well (if they'd publicized it beyond Facebook and their own forum).  Frustrated that it feels like one of those "old boys clubs" (snooty exclusivity, blahblahblah).

Will probably bid on one when they inevitably show up on ebay.  :laughing:
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: giZmo350 on April 17, 2017, 06:30:13 PM
Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;824671
Will probably bid on one when they inevitably show up on ebay.  :laughing:


If you find one ebay it will probably show up looking something like this! :laughing:

(http://www.mikebarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DSCF1656-4x3-sharp-300x225.jpg)
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Jeff on April 17, 2017, 06:44:09 PM
I have an extra GBA1000 blank board from the run a few years back that I'll trade for one. So, who ordered that extra one ? :D
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: LoadWB on April 17, 2017, 06:55:04 PM
Shiny and chrome.

I'm patiently waiting for mine....
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: paul1981 on April 17, 2017, 08:16:53 PM
Quote from: gizmo350;824672
If you find one ebay it will probably show up looking something like this! :laughing:

(http://www.mikebarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/DSCF1656-4x3-sharp-300x225.jpg)


:rofl:
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: motrucker on April 17, 2017, 09:14:46 PM
Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;824671
A shame, I would've paid for one if they didn't make it so many hoops to have to jump through.  Bet a few others would, as well (if they'd publicized it beyond Facebook and their own forum).  Frustrated that it feels like one of those "old boys clubs" (snooty exclusivity, blahblahblah).

Will probably bid on one when they inevitably show up on ebay.  :laughing:

Maybe the boards are set to blow up in a month - if installed:roflmao:
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Acill on April 17, 2017, 09:17:32 PM
I cant wait for you to send these in for me to build them!!! Super excited!!

I do plan to document and post updates as I go on this. His will be the first one done and take the most time to make it absolutely perfect since he did hook me up with getting one in his order too!
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: kirk_m on April 17, 2017, 09:24:55 PM
Quote from: Matt_H;824657
Are these being sold as PCBs only or is there a way to get a fully assembled board?

Kits only.  They provided all the parts as a package if you wanted, or, you could source them yourself.  I chose the former.  Now, it's off to Acill to assemble it for me.


Quote from: Jeff;824666
and pay with an international bank transfer... I tried to order two and it didn't work out :(

Congrats to everyone that did get one! What a board for the Vampire!

I paid them via Paypal.  I asked very nicely, auf Deutsch... :)


Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;824664
You had to have been a member of A1k website and be able to read German to get one. :(

Or use Chrome with automatic translate turned on :)
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: kirk_m on April 17, 2017, 09:25:30 PM
Quote from: Jeff;824666
and pay with an international bank transfer... I tried to order two and it didn't work out :(

Congrats to everyone that did get one! What a board for the Vampire!

I paid them via Paypal.  I asked very nicely, auf Deutsch... :)
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: kirk_m on April 17, 2017, 09:31:07 PM
Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;824664
You had to have been a member of A1k website and be able to read German to get one. :(


Or use Chrome with automatic translate turned on :)
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Acill on April 17, 2017, 09:34:23 PM
Quote from: kirk_m;824686
Or use Chrome with automatic translate turned on :)


This is how I use A1k.org as well. I have never had any issues having a conversation other than they tell me my German is terrible! Not my German though, I blame Google!!
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: kirk_m on April 17, 2017, 09:42:01 PM
Quote from: Acill;824688
This is how I use A1k.org as well. I have never had any issues having a conversation other than they tell me my German is terrible! Not my German though, I blame Google!!


Their translation isn't too bad...but, it becomes really retarded when dealing with idiomatic expressions.  Many colloquial phrases in other languages just don't translate to English very well, and vice versa.
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: LoadWB on April 17, 2017, 11:35:42 PM
Bummer is I misunderstood the whole project. I was expecting a fully-assembled system but using my own chips.  Aw, well.  My board did arrive a couple of days ago, I just picked it up from the Post Office.
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: apsturk on April 18, 2017, 12:45:30 AM
Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;824671
A shame, I would've paid for one if they didn't make it so many hoops to have to jump through.  Bet a few others would, as well (if they'd publicized it beyond Facebook and their own forum).  Frustrated that it feels like one of those "old boys clubs" (snooty exclusivity, blahblahblah).

Will probably bid on one when they inevitably show up on ebay.  :laughing:


I would have as well to bad. Proper business people and Amiga seems like a problem that goes back to Commodore and has not changed much :(
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: wawrzon on April 18, 2017, 01:01:35 AM
Quote from: apsturk;824698
I would have as well to bad. Proper business people and Amiga seems like a problem that goes back to Commodore and has not changed much :(


why should that be proper business its fun enough?
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: kirk_m on April 18, 2017, 02:01:02 AM
Quote from: apsturk;824698
I would have as well to bad. Proper business people and Amiga seems like a problem that goes back to Commodore and has not changed much :(



Well, it was clearly stated it was a private, hobby project, never meant for commercial sales, and was sold as such.   The project was all over this board back in November or December when the information was first disseminated on A1K.  I found out about it HERE on A.org, and just so happened to already have an A1K account to follow up on it and get one ordered.
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Rob on April 18, 2017, 04:09:32 AM
Quote from: wawrzon;824699
why should that be proper business its fun enough?


Not so fun for the people who miss out because they didn't get to hear about it untill the opportunity to order one has passed.
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Acill on April 18, 2017, 04:20:06 AM
Dont take it so personally. A1K has been doing things like for several years. They did a 4000T kit awhile back from a batch of unassembled boards found, they did the GBA 1000 which is very similar to this project and the project red. I am sure it wont be the last time it comes up. I recommend any of you angry go sign up for an account and follow A1K like you do this site.

Let me just put this out as something to look at. These are not easy builds. You will need good equipment for this and a very steady hand to solder them. I plan to take my time and do it very carefully.
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: LoadWB on April 18, 2017, 04:22:31 AM
I first heard about it here on AO:

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=71641

Mind you it's a thread pointing to a thread pointing to a thread, but still.

Quote from: Acill;824708
Dont take it so personally. A1K has been doing things like for several years. They did a 4000T kit awhile back from a batch of unassembled boards found, they did the GBA 1000 which is very similar to this project and the project red. I am sure it wont be the last time it comes up. I recommend any of you angry go sign up for an account and follow A1K like you do this site.

Let me just put this out as something to look at. These are not easy builds. You will need good equipment for this and a very steady hand to solder them. I plan to take my time and do it very carefully.


I don't suppose you'd be willing to undertake transplanting components from a donor A500+ board, re-capping as you go, would you?
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: giZmo350 on April 18, 2017, 04:39:12 AM
Quote from: LoadWB;824709
I don't suppose you'd be willing to undertake transplanting components from a donor A500+ board, re-capping as you go, would you?


Dewd..........  :python:
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: EugeneNine on April 18, 2017, 12:40:10 PM
So is this board released as open source, can I download it and make one myself?
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on April 18, 2017, 01:42:36 PM
If someone were willing to take on mass producing these, and make them available through a normal distribution channel, they could sell these all day long. :idea:
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: LoadWB on April 18, 2017, 04:50:27 PM
Quote from: gizmo350;824711
Dewd..........  :python:


Wot?
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: EugeneNine on April 18, 2017, 05:10:21 PM
Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;824726
If someone were willing to take on mass producing these, and make them available through a normal distribution channel, they could sell these all day long. :idea:
Thats why I ask about the design being open.  If you do that then no one needs to take on the task of trying to mass produce, we can each just upload to a pcb service we prefer.
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on April 18, 2017, 05:24:55 PM
Quote from: EugeneNine;824732
we can each just upload to a pcb service we prefer.

Not everyone has a PCB service on speeddial, lol. :laughing:
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: EugeneNine on April 18, 2017, 06:35:00 PM
Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;824735
Not everyone has a PCB service on speeddial, lol. :laughing:

There is this new fangled thing called the internet so we all do.  OSHPArk for example or the one dangerous prototypes uses, or one of the many others.  Its super simple now a days.
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Jeff on April 18, 2017, 07:01:38 PM
Quote from: EugeneNine;824724
So is this board released as open source, can I download it and make one myself?

I would order a couple myself but I don't think the gerbers were released. Someone did the A2000 PCB recently also, is that private too?
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: EugeneNine on April 18, 2017, 07:51:05 PM
Thats why I'm wondering what is/was released.  I know they schematics have been redrawn a couple times too, but in what format.

I started playing around with redrawing the schematics in KiCAD, so if I ever get finished it wouldn't be much more to make a board.
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Acill on April 18, 2017, 10:12:03 PM
Quote from: LoadWB;824709
I first heard about it here on AO:

http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=71641

Mind you it's a thread pointing to a thread pointing to a thread, but still.



I don't suppose you'd be willing to undertake transplanting components from a donor A500+ board, re-capping as you go, would you?


Thats a lot of parts to transplant and a lot of change to get bad parts. The chips are fine, as are the ports and connectors. the caps and resistors and other things not so much.

I would do it if you sourced all the other stuff as new other than chips, ports and power connectors. I would never reuse a cap or resistor after removing it. Not worth it. I am working with a friend in sweden to get a list of replacement parts for his, he didnt get everything and wanted to source parts on his own.

Also your 3rd in line after Kirk and mine get done, lol!
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on April 18, 2017, 10:25:06 PM
Quote from: Acill;824753
Also your 3rd in line after Kirk and mine get done, lol!

When do you sleep? :laughing:
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: EugeneNine on April 18, 2017, 10:41:43 PM
Looks like they might have had an A2000 board as well?
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: giZmo350 on April 18, 2017, 10:47:59 PM
Quote from: gizmo350;824711
Dewd..........  :python:

Quote from: LoadWB;824731
Wot?

Acill's response is exactly what I meant by "squash that idea" LOL

Quote from: Acill;824753
Thats a lot of parts to transplant and a lot of change to get bad parts. The chips are fine, as are the ports and connectors. the caps and resistors and other things not so much.

I would do it if you sourced all the other stuff as new other than chips, ports and power connectors. I would never reuse a cap or resistor after removing it. Not worth it.

Also your 3rd in line after Kirk and mine get done, lol!

But hey! He's willing to do it!

Geeeeeze! I didn't know it doesn't come with basic components! How many of these did they sell? Is everyone supposed to find donor motherboard? That would be like murdering 250 hamsters (errr, Rock Lobsters) then chucking their little corpses! The horror!!!  :eek:
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: LoadWB on April 18, 2017, 11:13:41 PM
Quote from: Acill;824753
Also your 3rd in line after Kirk and mine get done, lol!


Count me in, then!
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Acill on April 18, 2017, 11:31:38 PM
Quote from: LoadWB;824759
Count me in, then!

I've got a donor board with faults in it that I am using to have an idea of how things should go in. Not a lot of diagrams out there for the A500+ and even less complete parts lists.

As far as the numbers sold, I think it was a couple hundred. They gave the option to order a complete kit with all the parts that included adapter boards to build so you can use A600 parts on these as well if you decided to go that way.

Element14 and Digikey have most of the non custom chips in stock. Not the 23 pin connectors or the square DIN PSU connectors though. Once My friend John gets his parts list together I will share it here.

Mike: Sleep? What is that sleep in which you speak of? It sounds amazing!

All: I've been told over at A1K that a chance for the files to be released openly for this is not going to happen. It was intended to be a small project and copyright was questionable on it which prevents any chance of a commercial release. Thats all they will say.
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: whiteb on May 21, 2017, 07:58:28 AM
Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;824735
Not everyone has a PCB service on speeddial, lol. :laughing:


DirtyPCB ?
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: kirk_m on May 22, 2017, 02:19:16 AM
Hell yeah....SHE LIVES!

A big thank you to Acill for his excellent, as usual, work!

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4173/34771205816_4e23eb0f92_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Acill on May 22, 2017, 02:50:22 AM
That was one BIG project, but a damn blast!!!!!!!! Thanks Kirk for trusting me to get it done. Now I have to build mine soon. I'll need some time off first, lol!!!!

LOTS OF AMAZING PROGRESS AND THE FINAL PICS AND VIDS IN HERE!!!!!

https://goo.gl/photos/d3xfSNepJpZMDGMk6
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: kirk_m on May 22, 2017, 02:55:08 AM
Please send your wife my apologies for taking up all your free time that could have been spent with her, lol!
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Rob on May 22, 2017, 03:11:25 AM
I have a complete A500+ with some battery damage.  My brother did change the battery for a coin cell type but obviously didn't do a proper job of cleaning the did since I just found it doesn't work and after opening the case their is still corrosion.

I don't have the time or money to build a new board at the moment so I'm open to offers if anyone wants to raid it for parts.  Ideally I'd like to sell the whole system because I'll have no use for the rest of it.  I also have a 1MB upgrade board and an MTEC 68020 board available too.
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: Acill on May 22, 2017, 04:29:58 AM
Quote from: Rob;826076
I have a complete A500+ with some battery damage.  My brother did change the battery for a coin cell type but obviously didn't do a proper job of cleaning the did since I just found it doesn't work and after opening the case their is still corrosion.

I don't have the time or money to build a new board at the moment so I'm open to offers if anyone wants to raid it for parts.  Ideally I'd like to sell the whole system because I'll have no use for the rest of it.  I also have a 1MB upgrade board and an MTEC 68020 board available too.


Kirk may want it for the case and other stuff for his!
Title: Re: Project RED A500+
Post by: LoadWB on May 22, 2017, 01:17:12 PM
I'll throw in about the MTEC 020.  For anyone who wants an inexpensive* and good upgrade for the 500, that MTEC 020 is solid as a rock.  I had one as my first accelerator with 4MB on-board.

* at the time, anyway. I have no idea how things sell these days.