Update PIC on Minimig

[boing4000]

Im also happy about this reaction and service. No matter if this exchange will take some days, minimig is still operating well with this (static) older firmware version.

When I have the new PIC, I will try to place the adf files into a subfolder (\adf) to make more images accessable as in main directory.

[TheDaddy]

Hi guys,

I haven't been around for a while and I need a summary.

The pic on our Minimigs (I have one of the very first ones from ACube) from what I understand can't be flashed with new firmwares using serial/pc, is this correct?

Also which firmwares are we talking about?

Have new firmwares been released? If so what's new and where are they?

Have compatibility issues and writing to ADF been solved?

Thanks in advance.  :-)

[TheDaddy]

Sorry if it's off topic but I couldn't find my original Minimig thread about the case so here it goes:

@All

Just a quick update on the case for the Minimig:

I have been away for a bit because of some transport problems, basically my car broke and needs repairing but I also had to make a decision; repair the car or use the money to pay for the Minimig prototype case.

I have decided not to have the car repaired, sell it, and use the money to finance the Minimig case.

So the prototype case for the Minimig has now taken 4 months of my time, borrowing some  money (loan) plus the money from the sale of my car...(mad, I know).

I am now using my bike....(push bike)  

Anyway...the prototype should be ready soon, it will also depend on deciding if people need/want an internal anti-EMI/RFI coating or not and getting an answer back on whether the case will need a CE mark on it or not.

You won't believe the amount of things (plus money and time) you have to get through to create a product...(and a product for the tiny Amiga market)!

Anyway, let me know if you are interested in the EMI/RFI coating (this will add a bit extra on the final price obviously...).

Thank you,

 :-)

[alexh]

TheDaddy wrote:
The pic on our (ACube) Minimigs can't be flashed with new firmwares using serial/pc, is this correct?

It would appear so, but I've not confirmed it yet.

TheDaddy wrote:
Also which firmwares are we talking about?

PIC & FPGA updates from Dennis

TheDaddy wrote:
Have new firmwares been released?

Where have you been?

TheDaddy wrote:
If so what's new and where are they?

New in this release is support for 256KB kickstart files as well as Amiga Forever encrypted Kickstart files. Improved error debug.

http://home.hetnet.nl/~weeren001/downloads.html

TheDaddy wrote:
Have compatibility issues and writing to ADF been solved?

No and no.

[TheDaddy]

Thanks for updating me alexh...appreciated  :-)

[Fingers]

boing4000 wrote:
Today Vesalia insure me to swap the PIC with another one contain tiny bootloader, also for all their minimig customers :-)
They are still waiting for a response from ACube but will do this exchange anyway.

I noticed that AmigaKit stock supply has been delayed "due to firmware upgrade".

Maybe this means the new ones will be update capable?

I hope :-)

PZ.

[boing4000]

Fingers wrote:
I noticed that AmigaKit stock supply has been delayed "due to firmware upgrade".

Maybe this means the new ones will be update capable?

I hope :-)

PZ.

I also hope that. Vesalia AND ACube ensure me that the new PIC do have the tiny bootloader inside, also the current firmware version. So this PIC should work fine and can be updated via RS232 and PC

[straycat]

@TheDaddy

ACube will also exchange your PIC for you if you contact them. I've been in touch with them but I might hold back until SD write access is sorted out - I'll be more worthwhile for me posting my PIC at that stage.

[HenryCase]

straycat wrote:
@TheDaddy

ACube will also exchange your PIC for you if you contact them. I've been in touch with them but I might hold back until SD write access is sorted out - I'll be more worthwhile for me posting my PIC at that stage.

If you're looking forward to SD write access I'd keep an eye on this Minimig development forum:
http://gamesource.groups.yahoo.com/group/minimigtg68/
There is a beta version of adf write access being discussed now, but please note that it would need extra work to be ported to Minimig v1.1.

[straycat]

@HenryCase

Thanks for letting me know. Good to know there's stuff going on  :-)

[boing4000]

If you're looking forward to SD write access I'd keep an eye on this Minimig development forum:
http://gamesource.groups.yahoo.com/group/minimigtg68/
There is a beta version of adf write access being discussed now, but please note that it would need extra work to be ported to Minimig v1.1.

I also asked for that and this "Minimig" is not based on a PIC but on a Z80 CPU to init the (Altera) FPGA and Floppy emulation. So this kind of code and write support will not work on the "original" minimig we have.

Perhaps I am able to test and try something out with the new PIC. There are some ideas for writing support and storing .adf files somewhere else for a higher amount of files.

[CD32Freak]

@TheDaddy

Is this your original thread about a Minimig case? Could you share some sketches of your design? :-D

[TheDaddy]

>>Is this your original thread about a Minimig case? Could you share some sketches of your design?  


How the heck did you manage to find the original thread? :-?

I couldn't! :-o

Anyway, yes that is the thread and no I can't share or show any sketches because I am in the final stages already. This is it.

This Wednesday I am going to the factory and they are going to make a prototype for me and for the money I got from selling my car, a loan and selling my beloved pc (Intel Quad, 4GB machine :-( )

Anyway, hopefully making a case for the Minimig would have been worth it, if people buy it obviously.

 :-)

[CD32Freak]

@TheDaddy
I entered 'minimig case' in the search field, I clicked on 'Show all results' and voilà there is a thread by TheDaddy about a Minimig case :lol: :-D

[TheDaddy]

Argh! That is what I did this morning... :-?

Weird!

Anyway thanks :-)

[TheDaddy]

@all

What are the following pins on the Minimig for?

JTAG

Spare I/O

FPGA

and 15KHz/31KHz

Thanks :-)