Minimig PIC1826K20 help needed

[FOL]

Originally Posted by alexh

Interesting...

Could you include a programmed PIC 18F26K20-I/SP (I think that's the right one) with TinyBootloader & the new firmware from Mathesar?

I think they RRP about £2? You can even keep the old PIC

That shouldn't be a problem.

[Mathesar]

I have uploaded a new version of the PIC18F26K20 firmware here:
http://www.minimig.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=629

The new version has a new ADF trackloader that fixes loading problems with titles like Darkmere, Agony, Dane and others.
It also implements scrolling long filenames similair to the ARM version .

I still have to try HDD part, haven't tried it before as I have standard minimig 1.1 with 2MB ram so WHDLoad is out.

Mine is only 2Mbyte as well. But even without WHDload an HDF harddisk is still usefull. Some games are HD installable without WHDload like Dune II. The HDF speedup is one of the big advantages of the 26K20 version! it's fun to boot into workbench on a Minimig in turbo mode.

[Solo761]

I finally tried new version and I'm really impressed, I didn't expect that file name scroll would be so fluid, and more importantly ADF compatibility is really better. Lotus Turbo Esprit III didn't work with original PIC and previous version. In this one it boots perfectly. Great work .

[Mathesar]

This is an old thread but when cleaning up my stash of electronics parts I found some PIC18F26K20 controllers. I have programmed them with the latest version found here:
http://www.minimig.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=629
They thus also include the bugfix by gamma0511

For those who haven't followed the thread.
The PIC18F26K20 is a replacement for the Minimig PIC16LF252 controller.
It is a sort of "mini-ARM" upgrade. It has almost all of the features of the ARM controller board and is almost as fast when using harddisk files. I also has much better ADF compatibility than the original version.


If anyone is interested, I can send them for just the cost of the chip and shipping.

[alexh]

I'd be interested in one.

My MiniMig has long since been replaced with a MiSTer but maybe I'll upgrade it and offer it to a friend.

[Heywood]

Hey Mathesar

I was able to find a PIC on ebay and eventually bumble my way through programming it late last year, so I don't need to grab one off you but just wanted to drop a note to say thanks for your work!

For those that have a MiniMig lying about that don't have the ARM upgrade, this is definitely worth pursuing.

[Mathesar]

Originally Posted by alexh

I'd be interested in one.

My MiniMig has long since been replaced with a MiSTer but maybe I'll upgrade it and offer it to a friend.

I think the chips were around 3 euros, posting is 1,45 over regular mail making it 4,45 euros per chip. The ARM version costs more .

[Mathesar]

Originally Posted by Heywood

Hey Mathesar

I was able to find a PIC on ebay and eventually bumble my way through programming it late last year, so I don't need to grab one off you but just wanted to drop a note to say thanks for your work!

For those that have a MiniMig lying about that don't have the ARM upgrade, this is definitely worth pursuing.

Glad you like it. I especially like the huge hardfile speed increase

[Mathesar]

Latest release of this firmware
KGL140914.zip
EDIT: this is the version from 2014 which I posted here as the files are no longer to be found on minimig.net.

[Heywood]

Hi Mathesar,

Thanks for making this available, I'm interested in giving this a shot - just to double check the procedure in using the how to update the firmware using tiny bootloader if I may:

• The bootloader should already be installed from the first time round the firmware loaded onto the PIC
• Set the Minimig Serial jumper to MCU (instead of the normal FPGA)
• Connect a Serial cable between the MiniMig and my PC
• Use http://www.etc.ugal.ro/cchiculita/so...bootloader.htm to send the new PIC code (KGL140914.hex)

[robinsonb5]

Originally Posted by Heywood

Thanks for making this available, I'm interested in giving this a shot - just to double check the procedure in using the how to update the firmware using tiny bootloader if I may:

(For the avoidance of confusion, I believe this is the same firmware as was previously posted back in 2014 - I asked Mathesar if he still had it, and he's kindly posted it here since the minimig.net forum previously linked isn't there any more.)

[Heywood]

Ah okay - I did check the readme and while it did seem to be from way back when, I wasnt sure if I was missing out on something new that somehow didn't get wider distribution from when it was released.

In this case, my upgrade process is quite easy

• Do nothing

[MrDBUG]

Hello ! Barging in on the thread a little - I have one PIC 1,1 and one ARMbased 1,1
I have a lot of problems with the ARM one - disk access has a tendency to "crash" the activity light stays on and then needs a hard reboot (power off and on via powerstrip switch on the floor) - Im not sure what I'm doing when it crashes, quite odd. :-/ just wanted to ask if anyone had experience with this - its been like that since I got it. From AmigaKit some years ago .. 4 MB ram btw. Otherwise the 1.1 is a lovely MiniMig. Better Image quality than for example the TC64 or the MiST I think. And the 68000 is nice to have instead of softcore... Well thanks for any input..

[robinsonb5]

When you say "disk access", do you mean floppy disk, HDFs or both? Does it make any difference if you're reading or writing?

(Wasn't there a hardware mod of some kind which allowed the SPI speed to increase when using the ARM? Make sure you're not using the fast SPI mode if your board doesn't have the mod!)

And yes, the Minimig's still a very nice board to have.

[Mathesar]

Yeah, what Robinsonb5 says. Make sure your ARM board is set to normal SPI speed or to have your board modded.

btw, any interest to upgrade your pic based Minimig?

[MrDBUG]

Originally Posted by robinsonb5

When you say "disk access", do you mean floppy disk, HDFs or both? Does it make any difference if you're reading or writing?

(Wasn't there a hardware mod of some kind which allowed the SPI speed to increase when using the ARM? Make sure you're not using the fast SPI mode if your board doesn't have the mod!)

And yes, the Minimig's still a very nice board to have.

Hey ! Thanks for reply ! Im not 100% sure - but I think its on read. I have to investigate more. And I saw the option for fast SPI mode but I dont think its enabled :-( Have to investigate and try to replicate the occurrence reliably, only thing I'm 100% sure right here is that I have to hard reboot (powercycle) to get it working again !

EDIT: Seems its on read from hdfs !

[MrDBUG]

Originally Posted by Mathesar

Yeah, what Robinsonb5 says. Make sure your ARM board is set to normal SPI speed or to have your board modded.

btw, any interest to upgrade your pic based Minimig?

Might be !! I just hope I dont break it swapping chips ! :-( Ten thumbs ... ! )

Any price for a new chip ?

I might be interested in two ! Always good to have one in reserve and the next owner can swap the chips if I don't dare myself.
I even have a case from "the daddy" that I haven't mounted it in yet :-D
Still using the plexicase.

[MrDBUG]

And I just wonder how big SD (SDHC?) cards the MiniMig 1.1 supports ? ARM or PIC (oldish PIC) ? And btw what is the most recent MiniMig core (or ARM firmware?)

And the SPI speed does that have anything to do with CPU turbo too ?

[MrDBUG]

Just read on A1k that Sascha - Boing4000 is no longer with us :-(
what a loss :-( He was mr Minimig.net for one. its a few months back even. I wondered why there were no more postings and then I found out he had been sick and passed away.
RIP boing4000 !

[alexh]

Oh no! He helped me with my prototype minimig trying to get it working again after a decade in a drawer. RIP boing4000 whoever you were