Update PIC on Minimig

[bloodline]

HenryCase wrote:

bloodline wrote:

HenryCase wrote:

bloodline wrote:
How Unamiga... Should not these functions be performed by the keyboard as is the Amiga way? I think so ;-)

D'oh! Got me there! However, I think my point still stands, as what happens when you create HDL-Megadrive for Minimig? No three finger salutes then eh?!  ;-)

Very good point... Perhaps the PIC should handle such functions, thus the keyboard would always offer a menu and reset option.

That's a possibility, but it means keeping a keyboard plugged in all the time. What about when you want to take your Minimig around to your friends house to play a few games? Keyboard is a bit unnecessary then, you should be able to just have joysticks/joypads and the main Minimig unit itself. Which requires that you can use the Menu and Reset buttons on the Minimig, preferably without removing the case.

Then you should by the MiniMIG console case :-D If/when I get a MiniMIG I plan only to run it as an Aaiga...

[TheDaddy]

@Henrycase and bloodline

The reset and the menu switch on the Minimig board are not that necessary. The keyboard can do what the Menu Switch does. The reset is slightly more important as when the Minimig doesn't answer to the three fingers salute the reset is the only option (together with unplugging the power). But implementing a solution for the case would mean making an expensive case, in the region of £75 (per unit in GBP), which in my opinion is too much. :-)

[boing4000]

It is also possibe to change the PIC/FPGA core and let the OSD be controlled by joystick. Pressing the menu button will display/hide OSD then joy2 up/down/fire to move and select.
This will make it more easy and dont require a keyboard. If in menu the joystick input will also affect the Amiga/Hostsystem (Game) or could be disabled in active OSD.

Almost everything is possible and practicable, the whole Minimig is programming hardware to act/react as it should.

But lets come back to reality... :-) nice to speculate all this, still the real minimig needs some alignment and "bug fixing" to be a real A500.

First the blitter problem should be solved, many games act like running on an ECS Amiga (with kick 2.x), showing the same graphics error.
I will compare this in UAE using debug mode, checking copperlist and blitter access to find the problem.
somebody else could recompile the FPGA core and lets see what we can do.

[HenryCase]

TheDaddy wrote:
@Henrycase and bloodline

The reset and the menu switch on the Minimig board are not that necessary. The keyboard can do what the Menu Switch does. The reset is slightly more important as when the Minimig doesn't answer to the three fingers salute the reset is the only option (together with unplugging the power). But implementing a solution for the case would mean making an expensive case, in the region of £75 (per unit in GBP), which in my opinion is too much. :-)

You are quite correct, £75 is too much for a Minimig case. As you say, you can always unplug the power if the keyboard wouldn't allow resetting another way, but it's a shame that a keyboard will need to be used to get the Minimig to do something useful (though I suppose this could be fixed if joysticks/joypads could control the boot menu and if the boot menu was made to load by default after the Minimig was given power).

[BraindeaD]

Hi there!

I'm trying to program my PIC with PICKit 2, and when I import the new minimig's hex file (27-04-2008 update) the pickit reports an message like "warning: no configuration words in hex file. In MPLAB use File-Export to save hex with config". If I program the PIC, the minimig doesn't works. I've tried to program the old firmware and pickit program the PIC without problems. I've tried the hex files from Dennis' and Acube's pages...
Anybody knows what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks in advance

[boing4000]

Please try to write only the tiny bootloader file in PICs flash space. then you are able to update the actually pic firmware via minimigs RS232 port. thats the propper way.

[BraindeaD]

Thanks boing, it works doing it as you say!!!
I'm blinded flashing the minimig1.hex directly with PICkit (*)

Regards


(*) it works with the original version but doesn't with the second version of minimig.hex

[boing4000]

You are welcome. The next days I will receive the new PIC from my dealer containing tiny bootloader and the current firmware.
Then I will try to make adf files writeable.

[boing4000]

Hello,

I finished a new FPGA core with some features and changes:
- slowmem can be deactivated via jumper (Spare-I/O pin 3-4) as in the real A500 (see included picture).
- power led will turn completely off, no dimming (as in my first A500 rev. 5).
- OSD color changed to design "nightshift".
Download

Since there was no source code for PAL60 patch, I could not include it.
This firmware still offer 15/31KHz @ 50Hz display mode.

Have fun :-)

[Darrin]

boing4000 wrote:
Hello,

I finished a new FPGA core with some features and changes:

It's good to see you gettimg into the swing of the Minimig.  I'm afraid I'll have to stick to the old core because this damn LCD monitor needs it.   :-(

Any change you can knock up write support on the disk images and hard drive emulation before you go to bed tonight and then post the new core in the morning?   :-D

Now I'm home again I'll get back to testing some more games and add them to the list

[boing4000]

Today the new PIC with current (Dennis) firmware arrived here! This PIC also contain tiny bootloader so I am able to modify the firmware and re-flash via RS232.
Write support is my first priority. Also storing adf files in a sub folder, this should be more simple but I have to compile the C sources and generate the necessary .hex file.

Maybe I can realize my own PAL60 patch, but certainly without that additional video filtering. Too bad...

I'll let you know about any success.

[TheDaddy]

Good news!

Writing support for ADFs and improved compatibility, very nice!

 :-D

[alexh]

@boing4000

Remember you HAVE to release the source code with every release ... or dont do any releases.

[boing4000]

Im doing the best I can... Until now VHDL is still a bit strange to me. In time and practice it will become easier. (as writing in english ;-) )

@alexh
you DONT need to remind me, I've already released a new core firmware with (comment) source code.
Also I was unhappy myself due to previous release with binary only.
In fact PAL60 is unnecessary to myself, its all for you who need it.

[alexh]

VHDL?? I thought MiniMig was written in Verilog?

My previous comment about releasing source was in response to the link to this ZIP file which has just a binary.

Nice to see active people... if I can just get round to getting a shaver power adapter for my MiniMig...

[TheDaddy]

>>Nice to see active people... if I can just get round to getting a shaver power adapter for my MiniMig...



Go on go and buy one, we need more developers (compatibility issues and adf writing), I am as active as I could possibly be with my case design, soon on a desk near you!  :-D