My 500+ Project

[djos]

I built a lower shelf today for my Roland MT-32 Synth and Amiga external Drive (missing its mechanism atm), it's a bit rough but works great!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/71121999/Amiga/2012-12-29%2014.29.39.jpg

[djos]

My a500 project is coming along nicely now, I finally got around to mounting the HxC internally which required making a longer power cable and floppy cable (easy stuff) - luckily my a500 was supplied with an Epson FDD mounted on a tray (instead of stupid oversize Chinon style case) and a couple of old pc stand-offs did the trick nicely:



The SD card even sticks out of the FDD slot perfectly after I removed a small amount of plastic:



Today I ordered a bunch of momentary switchs, prototype boards and female headers so I can relocate the Display and switches to the top of the case. I also ordered 2 replacement Capacitor kits for my a500's yesterday to make sure my Miggy's live long and prosper ...  so stay tuned.


I've also got a custom KS rom being made for me by the chap that supplied my dual rom for my a500+ - it'll be dual rom too but the KS1.3 rom will be patched with the SCSi Driver from KS3.1 so I can install a CF-HD and run it under WB1.3 for Adventure games etc.

Btw, I removed the KCS Power PC board as  found I wasnt really using it now that I have DosBox working with my Roland MT-32 on my PC so I'll prolly sell it. Pm me if interested. :cool:

[djos]

Got a few mins tonight to start modding the a500 case and finished installing the display into the top of the case.





Im not completely happy with the exposed hole and might see If I can find a bezel to cover it like some others have done on their Amiga's. I also found some slightly taller standoffs for the HxC which makes it easier to get the SD Card out of the FDD slot. I just need the switches etc to show up now so I can finish the HxC work off. Im also considering adding a toggle switch to enable/disable the 2nd virtual Floppy drive for when I want to plug in my a1010.



Next upgrade will be one of the a500 CF-IDE Adapters Kipper is working on and a 4mb fast ram card although I do have one of TomThuls 8mb cards lying about and might use that instead.

[djos]

I finally came across an a520 Modulator on fleabay for a decent price ($15) and so I grabbed it - I also ordered a couple of packs of assorted capacitors and a few S-Video Jacks ($3 for 3) as this will be my next Amiga side project.

When they all arrive i'll be modding the a520 for S-Video output so I have some more portability without dragging my GBS-8220 around.

I found the plans for the mod over here: http://members.iinet.net.au/~davem2/overclock/a520.html

Dave uses the existing RCA jacks to supply the Y/C but I'll be installing a proper S-Video jack for better ease of use.

[djos]

Thanks Ben, TBH prolly not although if I came across a suitable and affordable a1200 then I would consider it more seriously.

[djos]

I got a Bag full of Amiga Caps today and an a520 too - Faaark the Picture on those is BAD and the colours suck too!

This Pic actually makes it look far better than it really is!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/71121999/Amiga/2013-01-22%2019.46.01.jpg

Anyway modding for s-video should be fun.

[djos]

I scored a Mitsubishi Diamond Digital DV191B 19" LCD Monitor (Black) from fleabay today for the auction starting price ($20) because it was pickup only from Victor Harbour (which is 1hr south of Adelaide and apparently too damn far to drive :p ) and I'll be there next weekend with family so I can pick it up then!

This monitor officially supports 24kHz-80kHz (lower then the normal 31kHz) so im hoping it might also unofficially support 15kHz too. *fingers crossed*

http://www.mitsubishielectric.com.au/1578.htm

[djos]

I started making the extension cables for my HxC last night, I got the connectors for the display all nicely soldered onto a prototype board, then soldered on the extension cables, then put some hot glue over the cables to add strength when I realised I'd made the damn cables too short!

*facepalm*

:p

[djos]

*smacks you back of the head*

Measure twice, cut once

Az

Yeah my enthusiasm got the better of me!

[djos]

So I tried out Ian Stedman's latest video cable design (It add's 3x 220uF 10v Caps to the RGB Lines) and the result was quite good, a slight but noticeable improvement in PQ - Less vertical banding and a little less motion artefacts around the mouse when using my GBS-8220.

I even managed to fit it inside the Connector shell!

Not my best soldering work (I've re-used that connector a few time hence the mess) but you can't see it inside the shell so I dont care! :p

[djos]

Did some more work tonight - I started by making some nice long extension cables for the display which worked great this time around. I still need to trim the ProtoBoards with my dremel (which is why they are shown installed back-to-front) but im really happy with the results:



Temporary Install for testing:


Yay, it works!:


So now All I need to do is wire-up and Install the switches! :cool:

[djos]

You seem to be a happy little vegemite

Getting close to the end of this project...  anything new on the horizon?

Az

Yep it's been a lot of fun and almost finished now, just need a custom 1.3 rom with the 3.1 scsi.device on it and a cf ide68k to finish it off.


For the next project I may have ordered an a1200 from Petro.

[djos]

Nice work, I love to see your updates, I keep reading The picture looks good from the photo

Thanks Som

[djos]

djos : Your pictures links seems to be broken.

Dropbox may have had an issue as they are working atm

[djos]

Picked up my 19" LCD today, still cant believe I got it for $20 and it has a superb picture!

I was hoping that it might support 15khz but it doesnt - im not really surprised tho and my GBS-8220 does a decent job of converting the pic so im not complaining. :cool:

[djos]

I finally found some time to trim down the ProtoBoards today - they fit perfectly around the right way now.