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v2 Analog - Apple ][ VGA adapter build

Posted: 29 Mar 2023 13:45
by rubber_jonnie
I decided that as the v2 Analog was out of stock over on Tindie that I'd give it a try building my own.

I've now ordered everything from the BoM:

Screenshot 2023-03-29 at 13.35.36.png

There are some missing values, item 1, C1-C9, are 0.1uF and item 9, the Schottky diode, is an SS34.

To use the BoM save ibom.html.txt and remove .txt from the end and open in your web browser. It's interactive so you can tick parts off as you order.

The PCBs are being made and I'll post more up on here as everything arrives and I start the build.

The ibom is very useful.I've attached it here, just unzip and run in your browser.
ibom.html.zip

Re: v2 Analog - Apple ][ VGA adapter build

Posted: 29 Mar 2023 13:54
by PhilC
Looking to seeing how this works out as I’d been looking at doing this too at some point

Re: v2 Analog - Apple ][ VGA adapter build

Posted: 29 Mar 2023 14:11
by rubber_jonnie
PhilC wrote: 29 Mar 2023 13:54 Looking to seeing how this works out as I’d been looking at doing this too at some point
Well, I should have 4 spare PCBs once I've built mine, so I can probably provide you a bare board or possibly one with birdseed on it if you're interested once I've built mine.

Re: v2 Analog - Apple ][ VGA adapter build

Posted: 30 Mar 2023 13:25
by rubber_jonnie
The PCB's are progressing nicely :)

Screenshot 2023-03-30 at 13.25.07.png

Re: v2 Analog - Apple ][ VGA adapter build

Posted: 31 Mar 2023 12:51
by rubber_jonnie
Woo hoo, the boards are made :)

Screenshot 2023-03-31 at 12.48.32.png

Hopefully the parts will all be here by the time the PCBs arrive (Some are already here), though I have to say the 0402 surface mount parts are going to require a microscope to solder, which luckily I have, but I'd better not sneeze while I'm working or they'll be gone forever!!

Re: v2 Analog - Apple ][ VGA adapter build

Posted: 01 Apr 2023 15:57
by rubber_jonnie
So, the PCBs should be here Thursday, the only problem being that I have an eye appointment that means I won't be able to do anything that evening!! Still it is the Easter weekend, so with 4 days off who know what I'll get done.

I had a bit of a try to get my microscope and soldering set up for the ridiculously tiny 0402 components (1mm x 0.5mm) and it looks ok and is workable on my workbench laptop screen:


PXL_20230401_114055616.jpg


Yep, that tiny little bugger in the middle is 1mm x 0.5mm!!!

I need to adjust the lights a bit to try and avoid bright reflections in the flux, and I need some non-magnetic tweezers as every last set I have is steel and magnetic, and it is fun and games when the parts stick to them.

On a positive note, though the parts are tiny, the v2 Analog is very spacious without too many parts, so I think that will help.

Getting quite excited for the PCBs to arrive.

Re: v2 Analog - Apple ][ VGA adapter build

Posted: 03 Apr 2023 09:56
by rubber_jonnie
And the PCBs are out for delivery :)

Re: v2 Analog - Apple ][ VGA adapter build

Posted: 03 Apr 2023 10:49
by PhilC
Hopefully you can fix you Apple IIe before you get the card built.

Re: v2 Analog - Apple ][ VGA adapter build

Posted: 03 Apr 2023 10:57
by rubber_jonnie
PhilC wrote: 03 Apr 2023 10:49 Hopefully you can fix you Apple IIe before you get the card built.
Well, some parts won't arrive until 21st April (Maybe sooner if I'm lucky) so I do have a window. However my standard 80 column/64K RAM card arrived today and there's still an issue, in that if I run my simple basic test in 80 columns, after about 5 minutes, there is on screen corruption and the memory card becomes 'unavailable'.

I don't think that'll stop me testing the VGA board, but it does mean I need to find out what is wrong with the machine if I want to use more than 64K.

Re: v2 Analog - Apple ][ VGA adapter build

Posted: 03 Apr 2023 11:23
by rubber_jonnie
And they're here and look great :)

PXL_20230403_101816057.jpg