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

[Steve]

@Badwolf & @exxos Here is a little video of me testing, does it seem correct?

drive.google.com/file/d/1Y00zCK0xe4HTTbeuqsyRmvZBICLYWs50/view?usp=sharing

[Badwolf]

@Badwolf & @exxos Here is a little video of me testing, does it seem correct?

drive.google.com/file/d/1Y00zCK0xe4HTTbeuqsyRmvZBICLYWs50/view?usp=sharing

I can't tell much from that video at all as I don't know where pin 1 is meant to be on that CF board of yours.

But like you say, it doesn't explain the CPLD dying anyway as there's no 3V3 connection on the drive side and a common ground throughout so it's hard to see how you could blow up the CPLD by fiddling with the drive port.

BW

[stephen_usher]

If programming via a Raspberry Pi it's important that the 3.3V voltage reference pin on the CPLD isn't connected to the Pi's 3.3V GPIO pin as this can fry the CPLD. It's only supposed to be reference and not power input.

[Steve]

Okay how about if I test the pins on the adapter board to the actual CF output pins that go into the CF card.
According to:
https://allpinouts.org/pinouts/connecto ... pactflash/ - pin 1 is GND & Pin 41 is RESET

Testing the adapter continuity to the CF output pins, pin 1 on the adapter corresponds with pin 41 on CF (reset) pin 2 on the adapter corresponds with pin 1 on the CF (gnd)

So this would be correct? Here is another video of me testing: drive.google.com/file/d/1Y0FhkT7lIiF4SD2gyJL6dB9c0bjgS75v/view?usp=sharing


edit: @stephen_usher thanks Stephen, yeah, I have made sure not to connect that.

[Badwolf]

Square pad is pin 1 and pin 1 is reset, so sounds about right.

BW

[Steve]

@Badwolf Success! It's booting a byte-swapped image on my CF! Phew!

So in summary:
* If someone wants to install pin-headers instead of sockets
- yes, they do need to solder the pins on the opposite side to the sockets (same side as as the host connector pins)

And I think there was something strange going on with my first xilinx chip. The fact that it took 3-4 attempts to program. etc. The new chip programmed first attempt and works great. Could have been my soldering on the first chip, but I did inspect it under a magnifying glass, who knows.

Here's how I have it mounted in my falcon:

PXL_20230809_140717815.jpg (178.48 KiB) Viewed 1392 times

[Badwolf]

Here's how I have it mounted in my falcon:

BW

[PhilC]

Well done @Steve, to successfully solder that pitch CPLD you really need a microscope as those pins are so very easy to bridge where a magnifier wouldn’t show.

[exxos]

Is there any interest if I got a small batch of these IDE boards built ? I use one in my Falcon and I find it incredibly useful as I can more easily transfer files from the Falcon to my PC.

I am also running into the same issues on the STE536. As currently I am booting from UltraSatan so I can use a byte swapped CF card to use on my PC So I am thinking of making a single channel more compact version as a in-line IDE adapter for the STE536.

If there isn't much demand, I may just build a couple myself and a couple for the store when I get time.. Or maybe just with SMT stuff soldered on as to not soak up my time.

[leonk]

@Badwolf I've now made 3 of your adapters and they work great in my Falcon. I use an SD2IDE mounted inside the machine and then an SD extension that goes into the SD2IDE to route the SD slot outside the machine. The thin ribbon easily fits between the 2 parts of the shell and is connected to the back using double sided tape. Moving files from my Mac to the Falcon is as simple as plugging the 8GB SD card into my SD reader.

Thank you for sharing your project!

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