Expansion board for the CD32

[Amiga1992]

I noticed something probably very wrong with my interface, hopefully not a design-wide problem happening in all boards (Anyone had the same issue?).
When it's connected to my machine, the Amiga CD32's volume gets REALLY LOW. I didn't know what was happening but realized the sound volume level was much higher when the interface isn't connected to the machine.

This happens when the unit has nothing connected to it. I am just using the CD32 as normal through its Svideo port.

Is this a problem with my unit, kipper? As of now this scared me so I removed the interface from the CD32, who knows what is actually going on to generate such a problem?

I hope it can be fixed

[Vot]

Originally Posted by Akira

I noticed something probably very wrong with my interface, hopefully not a design-wide problem happening in all boards (Anyone had the same issue?).
When it's connected to my machine, the Amiga CD32's volume gets REALLY LOW. I didn't know what was happening but realized the sound volume level was much higher when the interface isn't connected to the machine.

This happens when the unit has nothing connected to it. I am just using the CD32 as normal through its Svideo port.

Is this a problem with my unit, kipper? As of now this scared me so I removed the interface from the CD32, who knows what is actually going on to generate such a problem?

I hope it can be fixed

Eeek that doesn't sound good (literally)

[spudje]

Which version do you have, with or without additional SCART? Mine, without SCART, seems to have normal sound. At least it has never struck me being much lower with the unit connected. I'm using RGB from the expansion and audio from the RCAs, all running to a SCART on a TV and audio all the way from the TV to my Receiver via ARC HDMI.

[kipper2k]

Originally Posted by Akira

I noticed something probably very wrong with my interface, hopefully not a design-wide problem happening in all boards (Anyone had the same issue?).
When it's connected to my machine, the Amiga CD32's volume gets REALLY LOW. I didn't know what was happening but realized the sound volume level was much higher when the interface isn't connected to the machine.

This happens when the unit has nothing connected to it. I am just using the CD32 as normal through its Svideo port.

Is this a problem with my unit, kipper? As of now this scared me so I removed the interface from the CD32, who knows what is actually going on to generate such a problem?

I hope it can be fixed

Hi,
Without any rgb and scart connection attached is sound normal, I will have to build one and check mine. ?

[Amiga1992]

I have the version with SCART, maybe the latest (got it like a month ago).
As said before I can't try SCART because it gives a black image, probably related to what was said before, that cables NEED to be crossed.

Kipper, this WAS without ANYTHING attached to it. I was using the CD32 as normal, connected through SVideo. As soon as I removed the interface, sound went to normal levels. The problem is VERY noticeable, like, normally my TV is set to 10 to hear well the machine, and now I had to turn it up to 40 to hear anything!!

When I used it with a monitor, using the 23 pin video port, I got the same issue of lower volume. I just realized, because after using it, I turned the monitor on the other day and volume was super loud, now I know it's because I turned it up to hear the CD32! So this is a general issue of the card when plugged in regardless of if you use it or not, and apparently, according to spudje's testimony, only present in the latest version with the SCART port.

You know, if the SCART port isn't standard because it needs a special cable, and it's giving issues with sound, maybe it's not worth having it at all. I managed to use a 23 pin videoport to SCART cable just fine so maybe it's redundant and takes valuable space on the PCB.

[kipper2k]

Originally Posted by Akira

I have the version with SCART, maybe the latest (got it like a month ago).
As said before I can't try SCART because it gives a black image, probably related to what was said before, that cables NEED to be crossed.

Kipper, this WAS without ANYTHING attached to it. I was using the CD32 as normal, connected through SVideo. As soon as I removed the interface, sound went to normal levels. The problem is VERY noticeable, like, normally my TV is set to 10 to hear well the machine, and now I had to turn it up to 40 to hear anything!!

When I used it with a monitor, using the 23 pin video port, I got the same issue of lower volume. I just realized, because after using it, I turned the monitor on the other day and volume was super loud, now I know it's because I turned it up to hear the CD32! So this is a general issue of the card when plugged in regardless of if you use it or not, and apparently, according to spudje's testimony, only present in the latest version with the SCART port.

You know, if the SCART port isn't standard because it needs a special cable, and it's giving issues with sound, maybe it's not worth having it at all. I managed to use a 23 pin videoport to SCART cable just fine so maybe it's redundant and takes valuable space on the PCB.

for scart cables, wires can not be crossed, i am not sure of what the proper protocol of scart cables is but of the first 2 that i tried i found that certain pins were crossed, i am not sure why as scart is relatively new to me. I bought a European TV with scart, modified a scart cable to give 1:1 wiring and it worked fine.

[alexh]

AFAIR there is no cross wiring ever on RGB SCART

[Amiga1992]

Well it was said above that the standard requires that but I don't know.
In any case that's unrelated t the problem at hand,m which is the interface is doing something weird with the audio circuitry

[alexh]

My mistake. Standard over the counter SCART cables you would buy at a TV store DO cross wire the audio pins and video pins.

[Amiga1992]

So that needs to be changed too, no wonder I was getting no image on SCART RGB.

[kolla]

Originally Posted by Stedy

@Akira & Kolla, Calm down children!

The schematics and PCB will be open source, if you want a better variant, make one yourself.

Great, that may lead the way for more

Hermes has an option for a clockport for transfer.

Aha, excellent!

You can also use the Aux port on the CD32 for file transfers. I'm not getting involved with Wireless modules, the certification is a headache.

Yes, I once upon a time had a special cable splitter for the CD32 AUX port, what I recall from using it was that it was very slow and not so reliable. That a very long time ago though. No worry about wireless modules, anyone who want wireless null modem can buy a bluetooth module for close to nothing from DealExtreme and others. I am currently using JY-MCU bluetooth modules successfully with Minimig and MIST, as I describe here:

http://minimig.net/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=656

A serial port would be possible but device resources an issue. Have not tried to see how much logic a PC16550 UART would require. My feature set is locked so this is out for now.

If there is a functional clockport, I already have Silver Surfer ready for it

There is a compact flash slot for a CF HDD and a 44 pin ATA/IDE connector. I did consider purchasing the chips used for ATA to SD-card adaptors and mounting on board. I could not easily obtain the chips from a reputable source so my compromise was to provide the 44 pin ATA connector, this allows you to buy a cheap ATA to SD adaptor from Ebay.

Excellent! This also allows the storage on the 44 pin IDE connector to be located so that it can be reached from the outside, for example a small slit for a (micro) SD slot, or CF slot.

Once I'm happy with the schematics and PCB layout, I'll upload a few piccies to my blog. Trying to balance time spent dealing with admin and design work with a busy day job is challenging.

Yes, no rush

[kolla]

Originally Posted by Akira

So that needs to be changed too, no wonder I was getting no image on SCART RGB.

I have made and modified quite few scart cables up through the years, it should not be too difficult for you to fix your your own cable, simply opening up one end and swap the pins.

[kolla]

Originally Posted by alexh

My mistake. Standard over the counter SCART cables you would buy at a TV store DO cross wire the audio pins and video pins.

"video" here is composite though, right? RGB is still straight through.

[xArtx]

I still would like to know where the CD32 edge connector part comes from.
Noone else is going to have a go without that!

[Amiga1992]

Originally Posted by kolla

it should not be too difficult for you to fix your your own cable, simply opening up one end and swap the pins.

It's not difficult, but it isn't standard. That cable will then only work with this adapter.
It's best if the standard is maintained.

Originally Posted by xArtx

Noone else is going to have a go without that!

But the beauty of kipper's adapter is that you don't have to deal with that part at all. It's an extender, so all you have to do is plug INTO the connector, a male PCB header, no need for anything extra.

[alexh]

Originally Posted by kolla

"video" here is composite though, right? RGB is still straight through.

Correct. But composite video on scart is rgb sync?

[Amiga1992]

Originally Posted by alexh

Correct. But composite video on scart is rgb sync?

Yeah, the composite signal is needed for sync, this is why I am not getting anything but a black screen, there's no sync.

[Amigajay]

Bit late to reply but thanks for the update Stedy, interesting following your progress, look forward to some proto pics and final hardware design.
Did you decide on taking this to Kickstarter etc, or just do a pre-order on here when the times ready to bulk order?

[xArtx]

If the problem is composite vid wires crossed over on the PCB couldn’t you just cut the
correct composite signal in the cable and short them at one end?
Since there’s no composite video ever coming back to the Amiga.

[Amiga1992]

Originally Posted by xArtx

If the problem is composite vid wires crossed over on the PCB couldn’t you just cut the
correct composite signal in the cable and short them at one end?
Since there’s no composite video ever coming back to the Amiga.

As said before: I don't want to ruin a SCART cable just for this.