I/O Interface

Discuss the CreatiVision hardware: models, revisions, fixing, hacking and modding.
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Scouter3d
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Re: I/O Interface

Post by Scouter3d » Mon Jun 10, 2024 4:02 pm

Hi @username@,
Edited on 21.06.2024

Sound passtrough is always active

THIS IS WRONG!!!!"but sadly no INT Signal on the cartridge connector"
Correct: Creativision MKII has the INT (IRQ on the 6502) Signal routed to the cartridge port!!!!

Cheers, TOM:0)
Last edited by Scouter3d on Fri Jun 21, 2024 12:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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@username@
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Re: I/O Interface

Post by @username@ » Mon Jun 10, 2024 10:06 pm

Would it be safer to dump the adapter BIOS through software?

https://www.8bitclassics.com/product/co ... -pc-board/

Here you can get a DIP socketed board for less than 10USD - so possibly cheaper local deals.

More than happy to knock up the Z80 code required to do a similar job to the disc interface, should someone still have a working setup.
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MADrigal
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Re: I/O Interface

Post by MADrigal » Tue Jun 11, 2024 5:00 am

Unfortunately my disc interface is still not working and (also regrettably) not a priority to fix at this stage. My disc drive power supply is broken.
I have made arrangement with a friend that lives locally - he will have the BIOS dumped in the next few days via a professional lab. I am looking forward to that!
If I am in luck, I may be able to have the disc drive power supply fixed and have finally a working setup
Cheers
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@username@
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Re: I/O Interface

Post by @username@ » Wed Jun 12, 2024 2:53 pm

So exciting! I'll be here every day now asking - is it here yet! :lol:

Hope it all goes well !!
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MADrigal
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Re: I/O Interface

Post by MADrigal » Thu Jun 13, 2024 11:44 am

I will be giving the Colecovision interface to the guy tomorrow. Then hope to get the dumps done in a couple of weeks...
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Scouter3d
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Re: I/O Interface

Post by Scouter3d » Fri Jun 21, 2024 12:36 pm

Hi,

i just realized i was wrong about the Creativision has no "INT" signal on the cartridge port!
the Creativision MKII provides this signal on the cartridge port!

Cheers, TOM:0)
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MADrigal
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Re: I/O Interface

Post by MADrigal » Tue Jul 09, 2024 10:27 am

MADrigal wrote:
Thu Jun 13, 2024 11:44 am
I will be giving the Colecovision interface to the guy tomorrow. Then hope to get the dumps done in a couple of weeks...
Unfortunately one of the 2 4KBye PROMs forming the Colecovision Converter BIOS got a little damage while being unsoldered, and this has resulted in incorrect dump. What we got is:
- first PROM: lower 4KBytes ($0000-$0fff): addresses seem to be OK but data bit 6 is always set to 1. So every dumped byte could be either good or bad depending on the original value of 1.
- second PROM: upper 4KBytes ($1000-$1fff): the dump appears to be correct.

The person in charge of dumping will do a few more attempts. Worst case scenario, if there's no way to get a stable and good dump, I will talk to the decap team working for MAME and offer the PROM for repair and dumping.

Not the best of news but it could have gotten much worse (e.g. 2 data lines corrupted, or an address line corrupted)

The dump is attached anyway... if you wish to have a look at it. It is Z80 code ORG at $000
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@username@
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Re: I/O Interface

Post by @username@ » Tue Jul 09, 2024 11:07 am

So sorry to read of the damage to the ROM - hopefully you can get a good copy to repair one of the rare remaining adapters.
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Re: I/O Interface

Post by MADrigal » Tue Jul 09, 2024 11:25 am

The data within the PROM should be good because I did use the converter not long ago and it was perfect.

The problem with this particular PROM resides within the die package, which prevents it from dumping and yes, if I solder the PROM back into the Coleco converter, it won't work anymore. I need to burn the data into a brand new EPROM.

The PROM is here in town and I can post it to a reliable laboratory capable to read the content via decapping - bypassing any issues within the die package (e.g. faulty solder between die and pin).

So at the end of the day, it is not a failure, just a little delay (hopefully!)
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@username@
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Re: I/O Interface

Post by @username@ » Tue Jul 09, 2024 1:28 pm

It looks like the lower 4K dump has bit 5 set on, when compared to ntsc and pal colecovision roms.

Using binary compare, NTSC (313_10031-4005_73108a.u2)

Code: Select all

00000003: C3 E3
00000004: 6E 6B
00000005: 00 3B
00000008: C3 E3
00000009: 0C 2C
0000000A: 80 A0
00000010: C3 E3
00000011: 0F 2F
00000012: 80 A0
00000018: C3 E3
00000019: 12 32
0000001A: 80 A0
00000020: C3 E3
00000021: 15 35
00000022: 80 A0
00000028: C3 E3
00000029: 18 38
0000002A: 80 A0
00000030: C3 E3
00000031: 1B 3B
00000032: 80 A0
00000038: C3 E3
LASER.BIN when viewed as bitmap

Code: Select all

0000 [  XX   X]
0001 [X XXX  X]
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