[Coco] MPI (was Re: A new idea for a CoCoSDC expander)

[Zippster]

Me too if you don’t mind.

- Ed


On Oct 15, 2014, at 2:15 PM, Louis Ciotti <lciotti1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I would like a copy of the"clone" information.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Bill Pierce via Coco" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Sent: ‎10/‎15/‎2014 1:50 PM
> To: "coco at maltedmedia.com" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Subject: Re: [Coco] MPI (was Re:  A new idea for a CoCoSDC expander)
> 
> 
> Jim,
> Here's a link to the owner's manual for the original MPI
> http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/coco/Documents/Manuals/Hardware/Multi-Pak%20Interface%20Owners%20Manual%20(Tandy).pdf
> 
> 
> This should answer a lot of your questions.
> John also has another design for a "clone" of the original 4 slot MPI. It includes the Eagle files for the schematics and board as well. Let me know if you want a copy.
> 
> 
> Bill Pierce
> "Today is a good day... I woke up" - Ritchie Havens
> 
> 
> My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3
> https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
> Co-Webmaster of The TRS-80 Color Computer Archive
> http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
> Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
> E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RETRO Innovations <go4retro at go4retro.com>
> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Sent: Wed, Oct 15, 2014 1:24 pm
> Subject: [Coco] MPI (was Re:  A new idea for a CoCoSDC expander)
> 
> 
> On 10/15/2014 11:58 AM, Kandur wrote:
>> CPLD would be the right way to go, if the TTL stuff would fit in it.
>> IMHO very few people need to plug in 8 cartridges at once.
>> Adding a MAX-232 chip would come handy for the Coco 2 and 3s
>> providing RS-232 signals, then we could power it with a simple 5V wall-wart.
>> 
>> Kandur
>> 
> I'll be honest, I am very interested in doing a design, if for nothing 
> else, just to understand how the unit works.  I'd prefer to take the 
> daughtercard of John's design and marry it up to Gunnison's design, but 
> his design is very hard to follow.  I think it'd be easier to design 
> something from scratch, but I'm new to the community, and I am not sure 
> I understand all of what the unit does.
> 
>  * It looks like it allows hardware selection of 1 of 4 slots by
>    switching the SCS, CART, and CTS lines.
>      o Any other lines switched?
>  * It looks like it buffers the Address and Data lines
>      o Any other lines buffered?
>  * It has a memory register to switch the cart part under SW control
>      o I assume the register will show which cart port has been
>        selected, and allow one to override the switches.
>      o If I am correct, and someone selects another port via SW, do the
>        switches allow one to override the SW selection?
>  * Some LEDS
>  * a switch for cart autostart
> 
> Is there a document that describes what the unit does, without talking 
> about the schematic per se?
> 
> Jim
> 
> 
> 
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