Bizarre CD32 SX-1 Expansion Question

12 March 2010, 06:53

Greetings I have a weird question that I wanted to see if any of you very knowledgeble folks may be able to answer.

I recently got the itch to get back into my Amiga's again and started to pull out my CD32 stuff. To my dismay my old SX-1 CD32 Expansion box was gutted and I only was able to find the mainboard and the bottom of the metal case.

The backpane/connector piece appears to have been tossed out by some Doof (Phineas & Ferb reference) of a person so I am left with just one question.

Do any of you owners of the SX-1 know if the backpane piece is absolutely required to use this? Do you know if the backpiece is just a passthough or did it have necessary circuitry necessary to function?

Since I am sure finding this piece is impossible...

Do you know if it would work if I were able to find to connectors from the internet and solder up a connection piece?

If my remember correctly the backpane allowed the SX-1 to connect to the CD32 and connect the FMV card, since I dont need to connect my FMV card I wonder if there is a solution that I can craft or find?

Thank you so much for any help you may be able to give on this bizarre question. I would just hate to toss out the main SX-1 board for something that can be created if possible.

(I posted this on Amiga.org as well in hopes maybe someone might know this weird answer?, but I am not really counting on it..)

alexh · 12 March 2010, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by imstarryeyed

Do any of you owners of the SX-1 know if the backpane piece is absolutely required to use this?

Only from a physical point of view. The SX-1 board is a PCB edge and the CD32 expansion is also a PCB edge. Without the backplane board there is no way of connecting the two together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by imstarryeyed

did it have necessary circuitry necessary to function?

Pretty sure that it was passive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by imstarryeyed

Do you know if it would work if I were able to find to connectors from the internet and solder up a connection piece?

You'll struggle to find the 182-pin MCA (VESA) connectors online for under £1000 because you'll have to order 100 units or so. I know I tried several years ago. If you are a VERY VERY good at blagging then you could MAYBE get 1 or 2 free samples from a company who manufactures them, such as http://www.adam-tech.com/.

Even then you'd have to make your own PCB.

Loedown · 12 March 2010, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexh

Only from a physical point of view. The SX-1 board is a PCB edge and the CD32 expansion is also a PCB edge. Without the backplane board there is no way of connecting the two together.

Pretty sure that it was passive.

You'll struggle to find the 182-pin MCA (VESA) connectors online for under £1000 because you'll have to order 100 units or so. I know I tried several years ago. If you are a VERY VERY good at blagging then you could MAYBE get 1 or 2 free samples from a company who manufactures them, such as http://www.adam-tech.com/.

Even then you'd have to make your own PCB.

I did a search online, they are available from Asian countries, I emailed but no reply, do a search for MCA 182 pin

FOL · 12 March 2010, 10:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loedown

I did a search online, they are available from Asian countries, I emailed but no reply, do a search for MCA 182 pin

I started a project to hard solder mine, but I got it mixed up and killed it,

and it took out my CD32 too,

.

I realised after that the connector is reversed via the inter-connecting board. Lesson learnt the hard way. I cant believe I got it reversed as I spent hours tracing each track, lol.

I may still have the connector at home some where.

alexh · 12 March 2010, 10:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loedown

I did a search online, they are available from Asian countries, I emailed but no reply

Most of the websites which advertise them are distributors for Adam-tech. But they do not hold stock. They make them to order. Hence the large MOQ (Minimum order quantity) to cover tooling costs.

alexh · 12 March 2010, 10:33

That said, I think they have some on Digi-Key at $4 each.

Loedown · 12 March 2010, 11:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexh

That said, I think they have some on Digi-Key at $4 each.

Yay, I win

alexh · 12 March 2010, 13:25

You only win if someone is able to successfully buy some.

Retro1234 · 12 March 2010, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexh

That said, I think they have some on Digi-Key at $4 each.

If! they do hows about some cheap memory upgrades

Loedown · 12 March 2010, 14:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexh

You only win if someone is able to successfully buy some.

I do my best to assist the community, like you.

12 March 2010, 17:28

Thank you all so much for your insight, I sent FOL a PM to inquire if he/she may still have the connector.

Worst case scenario is that I may try to use it on some tower or case mod project assuming I can find out the correct signals as FOL spoke of.

12 March 2010, 06:53	#1
imstarryeyed Posts: n/a	Bizarre CD32 SX-1 Expansion Question Greetings I have a weird question that I wanted to see if any of you very knowledgeble folks may be able to answer. I recently got the itch to get back into my Amiga's again and started to pull out my CD32 stuff. To my dismay my old SX-1 CD32 Expansion box was gutted and I only was able to find the mainboard and the bottom of the metal case. The backpane/connector piece appears to have been tossed out by some Doof (Phineas & Ferb reference) of a person so I am left with just one question. Do any of you owners of the SX-1 know if the backpane piece is absolutely required to use this? Do you know if the backpiece is just a passthough or did it have necessary circuitry necessary to function? Since I am sure finding this piece is impossible... Do you know if it would work if I were able to find to connectors from the internet and solder up a connection piece? If my remember correctly the backpane allowed the SX-1 to connect to the CD32 and connect the FMV card, since I dont need to connect my FMV card I wonder if there is a solution that I can craft or find? Thank you so much for any help you may be able to give on this bizarre question. I would just hate to toss out the main SX-1 board for something that can be created if possible. (I posted this on Amiga.org as well in hopes maybe someone might know this weird answer?, but I am not really counting on it..)

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12 March 2010, 10:33	#6
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,400	That said, I think they have some on Digi-Key at $4 each.

12 March 2010, 13:25	#8
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,400	You only win if someone is able to successfully buy some.

12 March 2010, 17:28	#11
imstarryeyed Posts: n/a	Thank you all so much for your insight, I sent FOL a PM to inquire if he/she may still have the connector. Worst case scenario is that I may try to use it on some tower or case mod project assuming I can find out the correct signals as FOL spoke of.

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