Flashy QL

Any 680x0 based information, repairs, images, upgrades and other cool stuff that is not Atari and Amiga based but based on the Motorola 68K range of processors
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Icky
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Flashy QL

Post by Icky »

Screenshot 2022-08-03 at 17.14.51.png
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Have gone a little off-piste today. Was looking for a better way of doing ROM switching on the QL and there have been a few solutions around but due to various restrictions in the world they are not available to buy.

I looked at the old Flashy Clock dev boards and there were chips we used that are compatible with the QL so started to work out a board. This probably won't go anywhere than a few simple boards for my own QL but its interesting looking to see if a true Flashy could be designed where the ROM is uploaded via software on the QL like we do with the Flashy Clock in the ST world.
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Icky
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Re: Icky Projects

Post by Icky »

Almost there, just need to sort out the programming header.

Screenshot 2022-08-05 at 15.10.52.png
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Screenshot 2022-08-05 at 15.11.53.png
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I may make about 5x of these up if it works so @PhilC, @rubber_jonnie, @stephen_usher if you are interested in testing once I get them working and built.
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PhilC
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Re: Icky Projects

Post by PhilC »

@Icky yes that would be very cool, thank you. Just got a Gold Card 2 recently as well And a third QL arrived today but this one is in really nice external condition and will be fixed up and sold on once the work to it is done.
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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Re: Icky Projects

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Icky wrote: Fri Aug 05, 2022 3:14 pm Almost there, just need to sort out the programming header.


Screenshot 2022-08-05 at 15.10.52.pngScreenshot 2022-08-05 at 15.11.53.png


I may make about 5x of these up if it works so @PhilC, @rubber_jonnie, @stephen_usher if you are interested in testing once I get them working and built.
That would be a yes from me please :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: Icky Projects

Post by stephen_usher »

Yes, I’ll do some testing. I can use my second QL which has the vMap in it which needs the “ribbon” cables fixing anyway.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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Icky
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Re: Icky Projects

Post by Icky »

Just a little fettling done on the FlashyQL board and its away for manufacturing.

Screenshot 2022-08-16 at 13.17.11.png
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It's going to need an Arduino or PI to program the flash chip but it's similar to the code we have for the FlashyClock boards. Eventually would like to bodge one of these boards for the QL to flash internally from QL software but I expect I will never get the time to do that.
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Icky
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Re: Flashy QL

Post by Icky »

And we have an actual board, it was easier to have the whole lot assembled by JLCPCB

Pic of two boards next to a ROM PCB I purchased a while back.

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Re: Flashy QL

Post by stephen_usher »

:dualthumbup:
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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Re: Flashy QL

Post by Wrangler »

Neat! Do you have any plans to do other QL hardware, eg a mouse interface?
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Icky
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Re: Flashy QL

Post by Icky »

Wrangler wrote: Sun Aug 28, 2022 2:47 pm Neat! Do you have any plans to do other QL hardware, eg a mouse interface?
I don't think so. I have way too many Atari projects on the go. This was really down to the fact I wanted a flash based ROM board and one that was on SellMyRetro is no longer available due to various reasons. I had a load of flash chips left over from the Atari Flashy Clock initial development days so designed the board around those.

I actually plan on open sourcing this board here and the software to program it once I get it working. If I was to do any more QL related it would probably taking this further and programming it from with the QL itself as a software program just like we do with the FlashClock board.
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