[Video] New Falcon auto-byte-swapping IDE adapter (enhanced twisted cable)

[tOriman]

Hi Steve,

I don't know why you have troubles.
I use iMPACT from ISE14.7 and parallel port programmer. If chip is not broken I can program it without problems.

Maybe it is programming software or programmer hardware problem.

Cheers
tOri

[Badwolf]

Looks like a good build. Best of luck.

Is that using the Pi to program? I've only ever done that with PiStorm (which isn't a Xilinx chip), but obviously it does work eventually. Perhaps just a loose GPIO connection or a speed synchronisation issue? You've not overclocked the GPU core, for example?

Anyway, let us know how you get on. The biggest headache I had was actually with drivers on the ST-side: getting the paritioning right for my use case!

BW

[exxos]

Finally had chance to test mine. Had some odd things happen at the start, like "SanDisk" and "sanDisk" like the name was wrong case in places and not sure the other info was correct. But since I wiped the card and started again, it seems fine now.

So I created TOS & GEM partition (About 1GB) in HD11 (no byte swap). Installed HD11 on the CF. Put it in the PC then copied GB6 over. Back in the Falcon and loaded GB6 fine. So at first look it all seems to be working fine

IMG_0908.JPG (435.2 KiB) Viewed 1183 times

[Steve]

Good to hear yours is working, mine isn't unfortunately. I think my CPLD chip died somehow. So I've ordered a new one.

[Badwolf]

So I created TOS & GEM partition (About 1GB) in HD11 (no byte swap). Installed HD11 on the CF. Put it in the PC then copied GB6 over. Back in the Falcon and loaded GB6 fine. So at first look it all seems to be working fine

Result! Cheers.

BW

[Steve]

@exxos can I please pick your considerable brain? As I don't have sockets for master/slave, if I put pins in their place and use a small ribbon cable between the adaptor & cfcard, do I need to worry about the pin-outs changing/swapping? I'm getting really confused.

[exxos]

As I don't have sockets for master/slave, if I put pins in their place and use a small ribbon cable between the adaptor & cfcard, do I need to worry about the pin-outs changing/swapping? I'm getting really confused.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't use pins instead of sockets.

[Steve]

@exxos ok, yeah I got all confused and thought I'd need to put the pins on the opposite side - I think doing that broke mine. I'll put the pins back on the same side as where the sockets were supposed to be and try again when my new CPLD arrives.

[exxos]

@exxos ok, yeah I got all confused and thought I'd need to put the pins on the opposite side - I think doing that broke mine. I'll put the pins back on the same side as where the sockets were supposed to be and try again when my new CPLD arrives.

It's possible if the cf ended up rotated it could have shorted the PLD to 0v. Though connectors confuse the hell out of me as well I screwed up the db19 adapter boards first time around.

I can double check your proposed arrangement when I get home tomorrow night anyway. I don't see a problem but cables and connectors are not my thing. Look at the remake Alpha connectors , I think I screwed up the whole lot

[Badwolf]

It's possible if the cf ended up rotated it could have shorted the PLD to 0v. Though connectors confuse the hell out of me as well I screwed up the db19 adapter boards first time around.

I hate cables. I'd either plug and hope or have to buzz it out.

If I'm thinking clearly, if the IDC plugs are on the 'same' side of the cable (eg. both pointing down if you're holding the cable flat) then the pinouts should be identical and it can be treated as straight through. If one is on the 'bottom' and one is on the 'top', though, I think you'd get odd<-->even pin number inversion.

That is, pin 1 should always be on the side of the red strip, but it may be on the opposite row to that you're expecting.

I'd buzz out the back of pin one on one board to the back of pin one on the second board *when the cable's in place* and the power's off.

Beware that pin 2 is GND, however. It may buzz to various places even when the power is off. Use pin 1.

BW