[Coco] A cartridge to hack

[Mark McDougall]

On 21/09/2012 1:41 PM, Luis Fernández wrote:

> Hello friend I am interested in your card, but since there is a lot of
> electronica, I would like to ask that I can use, please correct me if
> I'm wrong. I can record onto a file BIN or any program but only from
> the Color Computer, is this correct?, And as this is cleared to record
> another? one poke? or unplugging?.What you recorded in the Blast, stays
> until the computer turns off? The region begins at address C000?What is
> the difference between RAM burn or Blast? The version 1 was for
> external ROM? one could record it and put it in a cartridge for unarlo?
> if you pulled the ROM or EPROM maintaining the information not it, that
> if you are good, the EPROM is erased with ultraviolet light Flash ROM
> but not USB or PC Input? Actually I wonder what I can do with it, as
> seen not understand anything, lol, forgive my ignorance

Forgive me if I'm not addressing your questions correctly, but your
wording is a little ambiguous. I'll try my best to explain...

The OP asked about a stand-alone ROM pack. I don't have access to the OP
right now, but IIRC the question was asking about hacking a Coco cart and
replacing the ROM with an EPROM, which can be erased via UV light.

My cart has a socket for an (E)EPROM. Typically you'd use an EPROM,
programmed via an EPROM programmer. There's no mechanism to program that
*directly* from a PC or the Coco - you need a programmer. Once programmed,
the EPROM does not require any power or external connection to retain its
contents - it's effectively a normal Coco cartridge.

Others have pointed out that the SuperIDE, which contains banks of
programmable FLASH ROM, could be used. This has the advantage of being
programmable from the Coco, for example, and there's no lengthy UV erase
step in the process. It's your "deluxe" solution, that's for sure.

So it comes down to your budget, existing equipment, and intended use. My
cart is good for a 'burn once' solution on a tight budget if you have
access to a programmer. If you want a 'development cart' it's probably not
ideal, as you're better off with either a RAM-based solution, or the SuperIDE.

Regards,

-- 
|              Mark McDougall                | "Electrical Engineers do it
|  <http://members.iinet.net.au/~msmcdoug>   |   with less resistance!"