[Coco] New Video from Cloud-9!

Fri Apr 5 12:04:35 EDT 2013

John,

As I have several different types of memory boards and didn't want to actually destruct one of those. I used a prototype 512K SIMM board from C-9. To do this test pin 2 of CN6 is removed. It is kind of like ripping the pin out of the board. I placed it back in but would rather not on a vintage board. I can wreck my products but have a hard time taking the knife to the Tandy board. :)

Since the chips are of all the same type, just different package, basically the same results will be obtained. Might be a few mA difference but it won't be a 50% reduction.

Being an Test Engineer, I could test till the end of time.... :) I elected to move on to USB....

Regards,

Mark
http://www.cloud9tech.com

________________________________
 From: John Guin <johnguin at hotmail.com>
To: 'CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts' <coco at maltedmedia.com> 
Sent: Friday, April 5, 2013 10:15 AM
Subject: Re: [Coco] New Video from Cloud-9!

So how much less power does this use compared to the Tandy version?  Did I
miss that somewhere in this (multi-forked) email thread?

I'm more curious than looking for .0001 milliwatt accuracy.

Thanks and good work!

-----Original Message-----
From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com] On
Behalf Of Mark Marlette
Sent: Friday, April 5, 2013 6:15 AM
To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
Subject: Re: [Coco] New Video from Cloud-9!

Thanks to all, without you we wouldn't exist. 

One thing I have learned in this business is that you can't please
everyone. 

Steve- I find it hard to believe that if you REALLY wanted to see the new
board that you couldn't reach for the volume or just endure the extremely
long video/audio for one minute and twenty-one seconds....... :)

Working 10+hrs a day at my day job then returning home to work till whenever
then doing it all over the next day for months on end....Do tend to wear one
out, so if the music sounds a little crazy, then it probably is because WE
ARE!!!!!! We have to be for doing this for our beloved machine. It is still
fun for us, when it is not we will move on.

Boisy and I discussed this product in great detail. I did have a Stealth B2
board layout but it came at too much of a cost. Board sq in. loss and then
the complex board outline route from the PCB manufacture. Plus being 2D PCB,
didn't do the 3D Stealth / CoCo justice. :) So we balanced it with the final
version.

I designed this board start to finish in one day, CPLD equations, schematics
and board layout. This was after many days of research of the SRAM and board
layout outline attempts. Took a couple more days when I go the prototypes in
and they didn't work.... Fun to debug when the coco won't boot and you have
a dynamic test environment. So I configured my Atmel STK500/501 board to be
a CoCo and test every aspect of the boot process. The prototype board had a
test port connector on it that the final production board did not. Found the
problems, yes more than one. :( :) Then acquired RFQs from board
manufactures, obtained large quantities of SRAM, etc.... Total process took
several months. I wish I could do this for my day job!!! This is way more
fun! 

The end result is a COOL blue board that the CoCo's over taxed power supply
GREATLY appreciates after working hard for 20+ years. The temperature  /
current drops are amazing. You can say the CoCo has gone GREEN now....It has
done it's part. :)

Boisy created the videos and updated the web page. A VERY nice job, IMHO! As
I do take all feedback. As of this morning Steve, 76 views have been on our
YouTube channel of the TRIAD since yesterday. This channel is Cloud9CoCo on
YouTube, some have subscribed and this will be our new product release
format in the future. Heck might even do updates on this channel as a
picture is worth 1K words, a video? :)

The board is 512K x 16 or 1M x 8. The upper 512k is not used as it would
take another board to add bits to the MMU to utilized it. Rather than have
another part number stocked, it is easier and costs the same to use a 1MB
solution and not use the upper 512K. The is an Altera CPLD on the backside
that performs the DRAM -> SRAM conversion.

With that said...This is the memory that will be on the SB(SuperBoard). Had
a REAL problem putting SIMMs on the SB you no longer can procure.

There are several other improvements that I am currently working. Not going
to get in to a big discussion over it as it is WIP and the equations are
still be worked. It does involve SD, USB and... I have had for over a year a
working prototype dual port SD interface. The target for this device is 10
second megareads, this is challenging as testing has yielded that in NOS the
overhead is 7 seconds alone.

USB itself is VERY complex. Hardware is simple, software/firmware is not. We
are close..... :) I have already had a USB keyboard, mouse and thumbdrive
inserted and read data from each. There is a lot of work to be done yet. It
is easy to make a few examples work, but to make a full blown product that
will not be a support nightmare is a time magnet. Then it needs to pass our
quality requirements....One step forward, two back etc...

This target I/O processor for Cloud-9 products, is Atmel's Xmega 32MHZ AVR
platform. Currently developing the firmware to support the above and a few
more that I haven't mentioned...Can't tell you all of them.... :) Just
things you expect a computer to have these days.

Just when you thought your CoCo3 couldn't be ANY COOLER!! It now REALLY
is!!!

Thanks again!!!!!!

Mark
http://www.cloud9tech.com

________________________________
From: Nick Marentes <nickma at optusnet.com.au>
To: CoCoList <coco at maltedmedia.com> 
Sent: Friday, April 5, 2013 4:02 AM
Subject: [Coco] New Video from Cloud-9!

Bravo Boisy!

A very nice 512K board!

I also like the extend you have gone in promoting it.

The video presentation, imagery on your website and tjhe design of the board
itself ooze professionalism... something that you don't normally see in a
small market such as the CoCo.

I admire people who actually go and *achieve* rather than talk and
critisize. Such actions motivate others and helps build a community.

Again, good work!

P.S. I didn't mind the music... but if I did, the mute button is just a
click away.

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