Been distracted with the H4... But in the mix of it all, ive been trying to patch the IDE code to use a 1504 instead of a 1508.. Not having much luck.. I should have some flashy clock V3s to patch and test.. Also a few PeST cables to finish off.
There is also about 50 STE boosters needing the GALs fitted and tested. All that will take a while.. But I'm not messing about if the boosters start becoming a problem again. I also shouikd have the SRAM prototypes where only flashy clock can drive them currently. They will mash with the next SEC boosters, but because of the virus the PCBs are all held up
I've also been doing a lot for stock in my store this past week , so not had much time left for anything else.
Another one of my test machines has died.. Same thing as normal.. Works fine for months, goes on shelf for a couple weeks, comes off shelf and just won't boot up. Will be glad when I get my H4s all working so I don't have to keep spending so much time fault finding these old motherboards. Its mostly 5% developing new hardware, and 95% fixing motherboards. I think if they get slightly bashed or bent random solder joints or tracks break or something. One board was soldered that bad I had to resolder half the thing.
I also want to design a RAM adapter for the H4 at some point soon. One using ZIF sockets so I can test various DRAM chips.. Having separate motherboard for each DRAM type mixed in in with all the chaos has also become a nightmare lately. Its either trying to get chips to fit in turn pin sockets, which takes ages, or spring type sockets which break after a couple of chip changes.. Or the motherboard dies..
I think my H4s will be, one for testing chips out on.. One for testing addons and another form testing the FPGA stuff on. Then hopefully instead of 20 motherboards on my shelf, i can just have those 3 and gives me more shelf space to get more organised with parts for various projects.
