Minimig PCB run - interest thread

[freqmax]

"swap pin81 and pin 79 on the FPGA. This way you still have four user-IO's left. You do need to change the .UCF file though and recompile the core."

This means non-patched and patched boards won't be compatible. Please let's at a minimum have this patch incorperated. Or we might end with two fpga binaries.. (for no good reason).

The other fixes doesn't seem to affect the plain software aspect of the board.

[voyager]

count me in for 2 compleet boards.

[Xenepp]

Well it looks obvious to me that the majority are looking for the original board size of 12x12, which makes sense. The whole point of Minimig afterall is it's a titchy Amiga!

Is everyone in agreement about the pin headers? It would be the best option for case fitting plus allow people to decide what ports they really need.

Dennis, I'll make the neccessary changes then as you have suggested. Thanks for letting me know.

I'll get started now then and let you guys know when I'm done.

Joel

[Xenepp]

Just to clear a couple of things up:

Would there be any way of making the VGA port output composite sync? If so, that enables the usage of a RGB SCART cable for TV hookup.

Composite or S-video would need a separate video encoder. There's no room on-board for this. You can probably modify an old Amiga RF modulator for RF output though, they ran through RGB, which afterall, is all VGA is. You can probably use an RGB SCART lead with most European TVs too as the Minimig outputs 50hz. All you need to do is tie the horizontal and vertical syncs together to get composite sync for normal RGB (doesn't mean you can use composite video this way).

Also ready-assembled is much better. I don't see the point of a bare PCB (for the majority of potential customers...)

I beg to differ. Most guys who'd want to have a go at this project don't have the means to fabricate the PCB. It's really the hardest part to get past, the rest is trial and error.

[AmigaUSR]

Ya can count me in

[PaSha]

Xenepp wrote:
Just to clear a couple of things up:

You can probably use an RGB SCART lead with most European TVs too as the Minimig outputs 50hz. All you need to do is tie the horizontal and vertical syncs together to get composite sync for normal RGB

It's composite SYNC I want, for RGB.
'Tie together': as in simply join the two pins together, or should I stick something in between?

[Xenepp]

As far as I remember, the sync from VGA is rated higher than standard RGB so might need to be resisted slightly, but generally, you should be fine just combining the two.

Joel

[Oli_hd]

Put me down for one too, Assembled!
(/me looks right at the wall of SMD rework machines and smiles)

[alexh]

PaSha wrote:
It's composite SYNC I want, for RGB.
'Tie together': as in simply join the two pins together, or should I stick something in between?

You have a chuffin FPGA, just change the verilog!

'OR' the H&V signals internally, wire out the new Csync instead of one or the other, voila ;-)

Even better, wire up the functionality to the 15KHz/31KHz jumper.

31KHz = Separate H & V
15KHz = CSync

Ask nicely and I'll provide you with a modified Amber.v

Oh, BTW: Those wanting to make mods to their MiniMig CORE will need to get hold of this:

http://www.xilinx.com/ise/logic_design_prod/webpack.htm

[Belial6]

I would also suggest adding a few extra dollars per unit so that Dennis could be sent one or two free units.

[ShawnDude]

I will take one fully assembled, any size is fine.  Maybe you can set up a paypal account for taking funds.  I am willing to prepay to help out on the upfront cost.  I am pretty sure others would be willing to put money upfront also (for proof refer to those coupon deals; at least this one is real.)  I also feel that a cost between US$100 to $125 would be very reasonable for this. Distribute a portion of any extra funds to the related parties to this project.

[Everblue]

I suggest that European orders are shipped directly from an EU country, so to save on shipping + import taxes!!

[koaftder]

I'll purchase one if Dennis is getting a cut of the profit.

[Mikkel]

Just checked out some PCB pages to see the cost of manufacturing the board.

I don't know too many details about the minimig board (didn't bother to count SMD pads, for example), so I used some numbers that seemed reasonable. I just wanted to get a rough quote anyways.

I checked with http://www.4pcb.com

I specified a 5'' by 5'' board, double sided, 0.062'' FR4, 2 layers, lead free, 1oz copper, 0.008'' min trace width, min. 0.02'' holes, 500 SMD pads on top, 0 on the bottom, 0.01'' SMD pitch, green solder mask on both sides and silkscreen on the top.

Qty    Same-day    1-day    2-day    3-day    4-day    1-week    2-week    4-week
50    $49.10    $39.32    $22.21    $18.29    $16.83    $15.85    $13.89    $9.98
150    $33.43    $26.76    $15.08    $12.41    $11.41    $10.74    $9.41    $6.74
250    $30.30    $24.24    $13.66    $11.23    $10.33    $9.72    $8.51    $6.09

The NRE is $149.

Surprisingly cheap!

I was going to check with Gold Phoenix too, but their page is down ATM.


Anders M.

[billt]

For everyone wanting to keep 12x12cm size, if that is chosen as the thing to do, at least go with Nano-ITX which I believe is that size. I think there are some Nano-ITX to Mini-ITX coversion kits to fit standard Nano boards into standard Mini cases, and there are probably Nano-ITX cases by now. Whatever is done, at least pick some standard to do it in.

[trip6]

I would buy at least two fully assembled\populated... Put my name on the list if your taking advance orders or just getting a head count...

trip6