Author Topic: Setting up Amiga 2000 w/Video Toaster (Read 5765 times)

magnetic · « **Reply #14 on:** June 06, 2014, 02:05:35 AM »

btw those boards you mentioned should all function just fine in a toaster machine. Also, I doubt its PSU issues. Those a2000 psu last a very long time, they are well made unlike modern ones.

Oldsmobile_Mike · « **Reply #15 on:** June 06, 2014, 10:11:54 AM »

The 030 accelerator adds memory in the 32-bit address space. The HC adds it in the 16-bit address space. You should have no problems with these cards working together, and a total of 16MB of fast ram. Although you may want to remove a few of them just to test for a weak power supply issue.

Plaz · « **Reply #16 on:** June 06, 2014, 01:47:56 PM »

Quote from: magnetic;765798

Also, I doubt its PSU issues. Those a2000 psu last a very long time, they are well made unlike modern ones.

Over the years I've had two toaster systems go fritz. Refurbed the power supplies, toasters all better. Agreed, 2000 psu's were well made. But they still contain eletrolytic capacitors which have a limited life span. To the 2000's credit, the old PS still manages most things ok even with a basket full of dried up crusty capacitors.

Plaz

Plaz · « **Reply #17 on:** June 06, 2014, 01:57:20 PM »

Quote from: fordp;765741

I was considering upgrading it to a PicoPSU-160, adapter cable, and moving J300. However, I'm not sure if the P/S provided tick signal is relevant or not to proper Toaster operation.

I built a A3000 toaster/flyer system with a spare PC case/power supply with an adapter. I didn't have any issue with the toaster using the PS supply. But I'm not positive if that's relevant to your setup.

Plaz

fordp · « **Reply #18 on:** June 06, 2014, 02:09:52 PM »

Quote from: magnetic;765798

btw those boards you mentioned should all function just fine in a toaster machine. Also, I doubt its PSU issues. Those a2000 psu last a very long time, they are well made unlike modern ones.

That is my understanding as well. I've seen several toaster systems with the same boards in them in fact, I've just never used one of them. Pretty sure the last toaster system I used was in 1993, and I sure wasn't allowed to go peeking around in side it. I have my doubts its the PSU also, for the same reason. The things were built like tanks. My original plans to replace the PSU was purely based on reducing fan noise.

Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;765810

The 030 accelerator adds memory in the 32-bit address space. The HC adds it in the 16-bit address space. You should have no problems with these cards working together, and a total of 16MB of fast ram. Although you may want to remove a few of them just to test for a weak power supply issue.

This is exactly the case. The argument could be made that I should pull the HC+8 anyway, and just get another 8Mb for the Combo030. But GVP SIMMs aren't the most readily available of things. (And also, 16Mb of 32-bit + 8 Mb of 16-bit doesn't sound all that bad either.)

That said, my update is thus. Set up the system with just the Combo030, and the toaster in it. Pulled the ADSG, HC+8, and Indivision. Tested with both the
stock power supply, and a 250W ATX I had on hand. No change in how the toaster responds.

The very ancient ROM (3.07?) on the HC+8 means I can't boot my CF it seems, so I need to keep the Combo030. Basically it seems that in my minimal bootable configuration, I get "Video Toaster Not Responding".

I'm leaning towards a bad toaster card. Not sure what I can do about that, I've heard that NewTek actually does still do RMA work on old cards, though I've not looked into it, and while I'd applaud supporting the device after so many years, I'm sure not going to rely on it.

In the meantime, I've returned my system to its normal state sans Toaster and am contemplating next steps. I'm open to any ideas. It would be nice to see the toaster working, but I've got decades w/o having one, a bit longer isn't going to kill me.

Thanks for all your help thus far!

fordp · « **Reply #19 on:** June 06, 2014, 02:21:58 PM »

Quote from: Plaz;765815

Over the years I've had two toaster systems go fritz. Refurbed the power supplies, toasters all better. Agreed, 2000 psu's were well made. But they still contain eletrolytic capacitors which have a limited life span. To the 2000's credit, the old PS still manages most things ok even with a basket full of dried up crusty capacitors.

Plaz

Electrolytic's are pretty unavoidable in a PSU, but if I had to choose between dried up and crusty, or exploding and leaky, I suppose I'll take dried up and crusty.

While you were posting, I was posting, I actually did test the system with a PC power supply last night. I'm not convinced that PSU, despite much newer is any less suspect than the Amiga one. I'll revisit it when I have new PSU on hand, hopefully next week sometime.

Quote from: Plaz;765816

I built a A3000 toaster/flyer system with a spare PC case/power supply with an adapter. I didn't have any issue with the toaster using the PS supply. But I'm not positive if that's relevant to your setup.

Plaz

I think it is. I was concerned if the PSU's Tick signal was required by the toaster, or if letting the system generate it by flipping J300 (Required when using an ATX PSU) would be sufficient. Using the ATX last night, certainly didn't change the behavior I'm seeing. So I suspect the PSU Tick signal isn't relevant where the toaster is concerned.

Unrelated, I've been contemplating finding a spare A3000 case, and putting a PC in it. The opposite of your setup.

My Thank's again.

DWV · « **Reply #20 on:** June 06, 2014, 06:35:24 PM »

I have the Indivision ECS in my 2000 with the Toaster, and it works fine.
I recently inquired with Newtek about repairing a couple Toasters, and they told me they no longer support or repair them.
Check your memory board on the Toaster, and make sure it is plugged in the right way, the "Video Toaster" logo should be towards the center of the board.

SACC-guy · « **Reply #21 on:** June 06, 2014, 06:42:23 PM »

Quote from: DWV;765828

I have the Indivision ECS in my 2000 with the Toaster, and it works fine.
I recently inquired with Newtek about repairing a couple Toasters, and they told me they no longer support or repair them.
Check your memory board on the Toaster, and make sure it is plugged in the right way, the "Video Toaster" logo should be towards the center of the board.

Now... at least fordp has enough info to move forward.

BTW, I never said the boards wouldn't work...

JUST to build to basic spec, as newtek supported! (indivision didn't exist at the time)

M

mbrantley · « **Reply #22 on:** June 06, 2014, 06:50:23 PM »

Oops.... I have arrived late at another Toaster party.

I'll just throw in a second confirmation that Indivision ECS can co-exist with Toaster. I use one in my 2000/060 with Toaster and Flyer cards. Good luck!

Oldsmobile_Mike · « **Reply #23 on:** June 06, 2014, 06:57:46 PM »

Maybe I missed it further up in the thread, but is this the only Toaster card you have? Possible to test with another one? I've seen them going on Ebay & Amibay starting at around $50, if that's an option?

Shame that Newtek doesn't repair them anymore, but they did give them a pretty good long run! :pint:

fordp · « **Reply #24 on:** June 06, 2014, 07:25:33 PM »

@DWV, @mbrantley Thanks for the confirmation. I'd read as much, but never heard anyone mention having done it. Will make any future testing simpler.

@DWV, the board is one the right way around, based on every image I've ever seen, and your comment. I'd expect having it the wrong way about might let the magic smoke out... Shame about them not doing repairs anymore, but I can't say I'm surprised, I was quite surprised when I saw they still were even a few years back. They certainly went above and beyond what I would have expected, can't fault them for moving away from a product a few decades after its release..

@SACC-guy, I completely agree. Isolate any outliers than might be throwing off your test results. I came into this not knowing what my test-results should be, just that clearly mine were wrong. Seems I've got a better picture of it now thanks to all of you here.

@Oldsmobile_Mike, sadly it is my only toaster. I've a friend with a really nice 4000 Toaster/Flyer setup in his closet I've been trying to get my hand on for a few years, but no luck on that front. Not seen one quite that cheap, but I'll keep my eyes open, seems that is the most likely problem at this point.

Plaz · « **Reply #25 on:** June 07, 2014, 01:43:06 PM »

Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;765834

Shame that Newtek doesn't repair them anymore, but they did give them a pretty good long run! :pint:

Has to be some kind of record for hardware warranty support. 6-7 years ago when they repaired my flyer they said the planned to support the "gen 1" cards as long as they had parts to do so. Guess they finally ran out. Or maybe their hardware repair guy retired.

Plaz

fordp · « **Reply #26 on:** June 14, 2014, 01:32:19 AM »

Resolved. Or something like it. It turned out that the problem was indeed a bad toaster. I managed to get my hands on a brand-spanking-new-to-me-but-actually-24-year-old Video Toaster. And it works.

As per suggestions. I do need to run with a 2-color Workbench, but other than that, its working great.

Thanks for all you help!

SACC-guy · « **Reply #27 on:** June 14, 2014, 03:48:16 AM »

Quote from: fordp;766527

Resolved. Or something like it. It turned out that the problem was indeed a bad toaster. I managed to get my hands on a brand-spanking-new-to-me-but-actually-24-year-old Video Toaster. And it works.

As per suggestions. I do need to run with a 2-color Workbench, but other than that, its working great.

Thanks for all you help!

@fordp

no four will be fine. (get the free pdf manual) at dlh's page

M

mbrantley · « **Reply #28 from previous page:** June 14, 2014, 04:51:33 AM »

fordp, glad you are up and running! I have two Video Toaster cards, because the first one I got hold of had a cap explode on me when I powered it up for the first time. Maybe I should have shipped that particular board off to NewTek back when they were still repairing. But, getting my hands on a second card for a backup ought to be easy and affordable if I act on that plan before they eventually become scarce items. Not exactly commonplace now, but they can be found.