exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

So I haven't made any purchases yet, I want to test my idea here before I pony up any money...

I want to have Dual TOS with an external switch on my STE. My STE has 4mb of RAM, an ICD AdSpeed Card, Floppy Drive (real), and I've installed a switch so I can flip to an external floppy and make it the A drive. I also have an UltraSatan. What I'd like to do is by way of an external switch, run either TOS 1.62 or 2.06 on boot up. Based on my reading so far I'd need the following:

ASSEMBLED STE DUAL TOS 1.62/2.06 (NO ROM) £32 23 In Stock [0139]
TOS162 / TOS206 ROM USA £12 13 In Stock [0140]
TOGGLE SWITCH £1 148 In Stock [0010]

Is that all? and would this work? (the AdSpeed wouldn't muck anything up? - I haven't even taken off the case, but I'm assuming it won't be in the way physically). Also if I buy this "assembled" version the soldering is really just limited to "from the jumper to the toggle switch"? Unless I decided to desolder the socket, but I shouldn't need to do that...

Any confirmation of this would be great...

All looks good to me.

In relation to the dual TOS switcher, yes that's what you need. I have 2 STEs that use this same sort of setup and that should be enough for the TOS switcher part.

I would add that you might need to solder the switcher in, as they come up pretty tight on the FDD drive when plugged into the ROM sockets as I did. Personally I have Goteks on custom 3d printed mounts, so it isn't really a problem for me. Just have a good read of the install instructions and do what will work in your machine.

I don't think the AdSpeed will be a problem, but you might need to look at the instructions for exxos 32Mhz STE booster to try and figure out how you can run the ROM at high speed like that booster does, because otherwise the ROMs will be fixed at 8Mhz. That booster has a pad that feeds the switcher board via a wire to speed up ROM accesses, but I don't think the AsSpeed will have an equivalent. I can't be 100% sure because I am unfamiliar with the AdSpeed.

Your Ultrasatan should be fine, but you may want to look at the mandatory fixes to give yourself the best chance of avoiding SD card corruption.

Mandatory fixes are here: https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =17&t=1585

Thanks. I've used this STE for years with the UltraSatan and confirmed I have the "good" DMA, so I'm okay there. I assume the AdSpeed would work fine because it's fine with the current ROMs? This machine is not new to me, I've own her a while...(10 years at least) I feel pretty comfortable with it, I even have a new EXXOS power supply for it, but I haven't installed it because I read somewhere it doesn't co-exist with NetUSB very well?

Any thanks for the detailed response, if it doesn't work, I'll just revert the machine back - but I feel like it's worth trying at this point.

8bitguy1 wrote: 06 Apr 2021 22:00 I even have a new EXXOS power supply for it, but I haven't installed it because I read somewhere it doesn't co-exist with NetUSB very well?

NetUSB Is a very fickle piece of hardware, if the planets are aligned it is enough to upset the thing.

8bitguy1 wrote: 06 Apr 2021 22:00 I assume the AdSpeed would work fine because it's fine with the current ROMs?

I cannot really comment on it because I have never owned that hardware or even known anyone who has.. But my boards will run at 32Mhz.. I doubt the AdSpeed runs that fast anyway ?

8bitguy1 wrote: 06 Apr 2021 22:00 Thanks. I've used this STE for years with the UltranSatan and confirmed I have the "good" DMA, so I'm okay there. I assume the AdSpeed would work fine because it's fine with the current ROMs? This machine is not new to me, I've own her awhile...(10 years at least) I feel pretty comfortable with it, I even have a new EXXOS power supply for it, but I haven't installed it because I read somewhere it doesn't co-exist with NetUSB very well?

Any thanks for the detailed response, if it doesn't work, I'll just revert the machine back - but I feel like it's worth trying at this point.

Given the AdSpeed is already running with 8Mhz ROMs I expect it will be OK with the switcher too and definitely worth a try, and will be fine without any connection to make the ROMs run faster as exxos booster does.

The AdSpeed is a very interesting accelerator board, advanced for its time.

I use one in my Mega ST4 that runs my BBS and it's been a real champ.

Page 4 of the owners manual talks about a high speed ROM option.

HTHs.

16mhz is fine for my dualtos ROMs, they are 55ns and I use them at 32mhz on the STE.

Darklord wrote: 07 Apr 2021 06:04 The AdSpeed is a very interesting accelerator board, advanced for its time.

I use one in my Mega ST4 that runs my BBS and it's been a real champ.

Page 4 of the owners manual talks about a high speed ROM option.

HTHs.


Page 004.zip

Nice.

BTW I am now a member of your BBS @Darklord :)

rubber_jonnie wrote: 07 Apr 2021 09:38
Nice.

BTW I am now a member of your BBS @Darklord :)

Welcome aboard! :)