Anyone interested in a RR-net/TFE compatible Network cart ?

Schema · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:32 pm

RaveGuru wrote:

But on the other hand, the schematics are freely available so anyone could infact produce these carts. And perhaps adding a RR-net compatibility jumper while at it?

Where are the schematics? Can you post a link?

65coupei6 · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 1:37 am **Posts:** 47

Schema wrote:

Where are the schematics? Can you post a link?

http://www.harbaum.org/till/c64/index.html

They are at the bottom of the page.

Schema · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:11 pm

Thanks Marco!

Next question: What could we use for a protective case for this? I'd love to see a custom-fit transparent cartridge case (like the Retro Replay carts).

Or would it fit in a "normal" C64 cart/Retro Replay case and just use the bottom half? I'm not sure where the center hole/post would end up, and you'd have to get a very short RJ45 extension to take the plug to the outside, but that might be easiest.

tnt/beyond force · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:10 am **Posts:** 177

Schema wrote:

Or would it fit in a "normal" C64 cart/Retro Replay case and just use the bottom half? I'm not sure where the center hole/post would end up, and you'd have to get a very short RJ45 extension to take the plug to the outside, but that might be easiest.

Quick and dirty "measuring" with Opera zoom and real cartridge positioned over picture (:)) suggests that you there is very little rerouting to do because of center hole if you make board slightly longer. If you use full-length board to move RJ45 connector to end/top of cartridge case then there's no need for extension, but there are one or two signals to reroute. You have planty of room to do so tho.

65coupei6 · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 1:37 am **Posts:** 47

Making the board longer to fit current cases would make the project cleaner.

Also, since the layout of the board would have to be changed. Why not move the RJ-45 connector so it comes out on the right side instead of the back? This might make it look cleaner when used with a cartridge port extender.

MagerValp · **Joined:** Sat Oct 14, 2006 9:30 am **Posts:** 138

Devia wrote:

Config FLASH ROM, please ;-)

IIRC the config rom only sets default values for the CS8900. After that you can still change all settings the usual way.

RaveGuru · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:22 pm **Posts:** 779

65coupei6 wrote:

Making the board longer to fit current cases would make the project cleaner.

True, but I like how a short cart would become less wiggly and take less space between the C= and the monitor.. but no, it won't fit with standard cart cases.

65coupei6 wrote:

Also, since the layout of the board would have to be changed. Why not move the RJ-45 connector so it comes out on the right side instead of the back? This might make it look cleaner when used with a cartridge port extender.

Yes! DEFINITLY to the right. Don't repeat the same mistake as others and put it on the top

Devia · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:00 am

Argh.. I think it's bad enough already that you have that annoying c64 power cable sticking out to the right :-/
But in all fairness, having the ethernet cable sticking out to the right too might be the lesser of two evils here.. I just remember always being annoyed with my A1200 having the PCMCIA NIC sticking out to the left instead of the back

..but with SX and Port Expanders, the back-faced connector is definately a pain :cry:

If I was designing it, I'd probably add an option on the pcb for moving the RJ-45 connector for those solder-cabpable retro hardware hackers ;-)

Schema · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:16 pm

That would be one advantage of keeping the board short, and using a very short RJ45 extension cable from the PCB to the outside of the case. You could gouge the hole for the RJ45 connector wherever you wanted back, right side, left side, even top or bottom.

Alternately, is there a right-angle RJ45 backshell or adaptor? Something like this, except to the side instead of up?

From http://www.rjfield.com/news_en.htm

RaveGuru · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:22 pm **Posts:** 779

The advantage of having the RJ45 connector on the right, is that you could have a half-size cart and still be able to put it in a full-size cartridge case if you want. Or, just skip the case to be able to save precious space between the cart and monitor (in opposit to the RR/RR-net scenario which apart from the cart and adaptor also requires space for the cable to make a healthy bow to not break it).

Schema · **Posted:** Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:46 pm

RaveGuru wrote:

The advantage of having the RJ45 connector on the right, is that you could have a half-size cart and still be able to put it in a full-size cartridge case if you want.

You could still use a short RJ45 extension cable to get the connector to the end of the full-size cartridge.

Any more news on this, i.e. from Till?

RaveGuru · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:22 pm **Posts:** 779

Sorry. I completely forgot to email Till.

Did anyone of you take a look at the schematics and is anyone willing to make the essential changes unless Till feels like it?

Schema · **Posted:** Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:12 pm

The schematics are great, but it would have been easier for someone else to modify if he had posted the original schematic files instead of GIFs.

Did you hear back from him?

RaveGuru · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:22 pm **Posts:** 779

Arrgh! I forgot about it again. But I have now sent him an email asking if he is interested in changing the design to make them RR-net compatible, possibly putting the RJ45 connector to the right and make a production run of about 40 units. And if not, would he perhaps agree to share the original schematics.

Until Till's answer....

RaveGuru · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:22 pm **Posts:** 779

Got Email from Till:

Till Harbaum wrote:

Hi,

i'll have to think about that. I just checked some of the parts. The cs8900 is
EUR 10 in these quantities, the transceiver is 4 EUR. So all parts are EUR
20-25. A PCB at these quantities is ~10 EUR. So the total parts alone may be
about 35 EUR. Perhaps it's possible to find a cheaper source for all parts.
But then you'd still find a way to get these things soldered at that price
and you probably want to earn some money as well .... sounds tricky to me :-)

I just checked with the sources of the vice emulator that there seems to be
an inverted address line 3 on the rr-net. Is that true? What mappings do you
think are necessary? The rr-net compatible one a3-mirrored at de00-de0f and
the tfe directly mapped at the same address?

Mounting the connector sideways may be a good idea, i agree.

Do you have someone who'd be interesting in a cooperation? I'd easily design a
new pcb. Perhaps you know someone with cheaper sources for the parts.

Regards,
Till

Anyone willing to help out bringing the perfect network adaptor to the community?

Anyone interested in a RR-net/TFE compatible Network cart ?

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