My summer project: A colour Stacy

[derkom]

Next, installation of the remote display for the OSSC (finally getting back to the original plan here)...

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...whose daughterboard plugs directly into the now unused TOS ROM sockets...

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...which provides convenient access to the OSSC menu system via the TOS ROM door on the bottom of the Stacy.

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[derkom]

SD card extension cable installed, to allow OSSC firmware updates without having to open the Stacy again...

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The other end is in the TOS door, next to the screen. Firmware updated to verify it works...

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[derkom]

For the first time, all internal pieces installed at the same time!

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The keyboard still fits.

[derkom]

I got access to a dual extruder 3D printer and decided to have a little fun with the switch panel for CPU and TOS bank selection...

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It clips into the holes in the battery compartment that were originally intended for the battery contacts, and feeds the wires inside the case via the same holes...

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In the final installation, the switch panel will be totally flush with the left hand side of the battery compartment, but I know from my test pieces that it won't come out without breaking, so I won't pop it all the way in there until I know I won't want to take it back out.

This basically completes everything in the main body of the Stacy, so it's time to get back to working on the screen.

[Darklord]

That looks great - really neat and professional!

I put the toggle switch for the Pak board inside the battery compartment as well.

The one that lets you switch between TOS versions. (I rarely switch).

[derkom]

Long time between updates. I've been very busy lately with a project that qualifies as very, very retro: Cleaning, repairing, and restoring to operation a 113 year old turret clock that has fallen (luckily not literally) into my hands. I'm afraid that has occupied virtually all of my free time, so the Stacy has been largely on hold lately.

After it became apparent that RGB2HDMI might be a better solution for my video than using an internal OSSC, I stopped doing much of anything on the Stacy until such time as I could give that a go and see how it compares. Today I finally found a few hours to build up the RGB2HDMI, which looks like this:

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Luckily that photo is out of focus enough to hide the sins of my rather poor surface mount soldering. But it boots fine, and programmed its CPLD fine, and as far as I can tell is working properly. It's too late to dig into the Stacy tonight, but I'll see about hooking it up tomorrow.

[derkom]

Oh bother, I've got no 16-pin IDC connectors to make the internal video connection. I could solder something up, but why pass up a perfectly good excuse to visit the electronics shop? Biggest problem there is I'll go in for a few IDC connectors and come out having spent the whole day's salary.

[derkom]

Well, the local place didn't have any of the necessary IDC connectors, but I don't really need them for a permanent installation inside the Stacy anyway. So, not letting that little disappointment slow me down, I did a test hookup...

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And it really is as glorious as they say...

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Total pixel perfection. So I think this changes my plans, and the OSSC I spent hours modifying will end up coming back out. Oh well.

[Atarian Computing]

Well done. Once again you're ahead of me. I might do it on purpose

Any way you can check what resolution it outputs in Mono and others as well?

[derkom]

Any way you can check what resolution it outputs in Mono and others as well?

Kinda thought you would ask that. It reads the EDID off the connected monitor, and outputs preferentially in that mode, so if you can get your panel to advertise itself as 1280x800, you *should* be able to get the RGB2HDMI to output that mode with no fuss. But you can also force the output on the RGB2HDMI to a variety of options, and 1280x800 is on the list.

Outputting 1280x800 to my Dell 1600x1200 monitor produces an image the Dell is happy with, but of course it's not a happy integer multiple here. A big caveat though: I'm getting some odd vertical white stripes when running in mono mode...

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I don't know if this is a problem with my hookup or with the RGB2HDMI. Will require some investigation.

Another caveat... As with other approaches to this problem, I've got the problem that the RGB2HDMI is outputting borders, which of course negates the whole value of having the 1280x800 screen. I've poked around in the menus a little bit, but haven't yet found a way to eliminate those borders. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, as there are numerous expert level settings I haven't poked at yet.

Edit: I find that in the settings menu, there's a Debug mode that turns on vertical lines for alignment aids, and curiously they're in precisely the same locations as my errant vertical lines, although in a different colour. But my lines are not the debug lines.