[Coco] COCO FPGA

[Frank Swygert]

Nearly all the functions supplied by things that plugged into the 
expansion slot are provided for on the FPGA CoCo -- mainly disc and 
serial I/O, and then the flash access for storing ROMs. So there is 
little need for the expansion port as it was originally. I can't argue 
with Tony's last statement though, and there are a few little used items 
(such as the speech/sound pak) that might be wanted. I don't think I'd 
worry about the original form factor though -- cards for the original 
connector are non-existent. Use a connector you CAN get cards for. 
Doesn't have to be a card edge connector -- a double row header would be 
good. If it has a few more positions that's fine -- they can be left 
disconnected. If someone really wants to connect legacy hardware they 
can make a connector adapter (or someone could supply them). The main 
function I see of the expansion port in any "new" CoCo with most items 
built-in is for experimenting or new hardware projects. With the legacy 
stuff getting so old (and that is one reason for the new CoCo!) it's 
usefulness is questionable (remember, most of them would be built-in to 
the new system). A header for experimenters (properly buffered this 
time!) would be nice though. Wire-wrap a better speech/sound pack!!

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Replying to:
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:35:38 -0600
From: Frank Pittel <fwp at deepthought.com>

With a good way of storing and accessing a bunch of rom packs from the 
flash rom on the fpgacoco3 there's little need for an expansion port or mpi.

Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:39:40 -0800
From: Tony Cappellini<cappy2112 at gmail.com>

Rompacks aren't the only thing people plug into the expansion slot, right?
The SuperIDE controller comes to mind, not to mention the No-Halt floppy
controller from Tony DiStefano.
I used to have the BurkN-Burke adapter, as well as Disto's 2MB Ram Disk
cartridge.

Who knows, there may be other hardware plugins in the works in the future.

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars"
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://www.amc-mag.com
(free download available!)