A500 internal plipbox mod

[Hemiyoda]

Hello,

I like to keep the clutter behind the miggy to a minimum so I made an internal plipbox. Works great! 16-18kbyte/s gui-ftp sure beats 2kbyte/s serial transfers.

Thanks to Lallafa for his great efforts!

Pictures:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/143353...57677349663883

In addition to it's "stealthyness" it features:
- Onboard 2mhz 5>3.3V 90% efficiency regulator, no wall adapter or other powersupply solution needed.
- AVR+ENC28j60 reset/disable (tri-states the AVR & frees the parallellport to enable external hw. Resistors on every AVR datapin should hopefully save the day if I forget to disable the plipbox before plugging in something else.)

Todo list for v2: (if it will ever materialize.. v1 is good enough for me)
- Change PCB layout, put boxed pin headers somewhere smarter. Current design interferes with a couple of caps on the motherboard.)
- Fix EMI issue. It disturbs analog TV-reception via cable. Probably a non-issue if the Amiga is not hooked up to a monitor used for watching "TV".
- Move "active led" to a more visible place, interferes with boxed header.

//Erik

[eXeler0]

Nice one,
I agree.. Small naked arduino boards sticking out of the Amiga at the back is not very elegant..
v2 sounds like a good improvement..

[Gött mos]

[Hemiyoda]

A quick update on the EMI-issue. It seems that the ENC28j60 module is the main suspect..

Photos updated:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/143353...57677349663883

[utri007]

Do you sell these? I want one. Simple and elegant.!

Does it reset with Amiga? I mean I have plipbox and it need to reset separately.

[Hemiyoda]

Thanks eXeler0 & utri007!

It has a reset pinheader, so you can hook it up to a switch or something else that pulls it low to ground.

It would be very cool if someone wants it. I have 9 more PCBs of this current version but maybe it's better to correct the bugs and order new. I will show you a new layout suggestion soon.

I have to tell you right now that I can't compete with chinese prices. Too low volume. "copy" arduino nano boards and ENC28j60 modules are very cheap. I have not skimped on the components, it will be a bit overengineered.

I hand solder these & have to check some SMD stuff under a microscope. The PCB pins don't have a cage and have to be straight. Custom made cables, changed pin header on the ENC28j60. So the build time is in hours. Preferably a couple of hours of burn-in test on my Amiga. I don't want to ship crap.

//Erik

[utri007]

I'm sure that you could sell these on amibay etc. What is estimated price? Similar than others Plipbox solutions?

[Bastich]

That's a very tidy solution

[Hemiyoda]

Update: CKOUT signal (not used for plipbox) from the ENC28j60 was connected to the ribbon cable by mistake. Now it is quite quiet. I don't want to mess up my neighbours TV reception hehe..

[Hemiyoda]

I have to get back to you regarding the price.
Although smaller than the usual parallel port solutions this one is more complicated to build, workmanship is much higher.

Thruhole base PCB with standard arduino + enj28j60 connected via pin headers v.s. THT/SMD design with switching regulator, cables and connectors.

I recently bought enc28j60 modules for $2.18 a pop and nano boards for $1.7/pc from aliexpress. Just the atmega328 chip is $2.66 from farnell at my volumes. Can't compete with China.

Just saying that don't be surprised if this is more expensive.

[Hemiyoda]

Hello,

Proposal for a new PCB layout below. It should install painlessly without any component relocation on the motherboard on all A500 revisions.



//Erik

[eXeler0]

Nice job :thumbsup:

[utri007]

Would it be possible to make it reset with amiga?

[Hemiyoda]

Originally Posted by utri007

Would it be possible to make it reset with amiga?

Yes I think so, there is a reset line available at each CIA-socket.
AVR-reset line connected to the amiga reset with a schottky diode would retain the enable/disable function of the plipbox and also reset the AVR when the amiga is reset.

[utri007]

Any news about this? I want one to my CDTV.

[BMD]

Is this still in the works? BUMP? Willing to opt in for one, i have the external version but would love an internal version?

[utri007]

Originally Posted by BMD

Is this still in the works? BUMP? Willing to opt in for one, i have the external version but would love an internal version?

Seems that Hemiyoda has been online last time 10 May 2017 18:47

Is thre any other contact info for him?

[BMD]

Bumps post so hard the mods get a headache!

[utri007]

He is selling them! Just bought one 60€

Here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/143353...57677349663883

In picture you see a PCB wich has a email address wich is his nick here and @gmail.com


PS. They do reset with Amiga.

[utri007]

Here

[Hemiyoda]

Hello,

4 years later haha! Sorry I totally forgot about this, where does all time go?
Aaah it was you utri007 who contacted me, did not realize that until now.

utri007 now has the only one I have made so now I need to make a new one(s). I am almost ready with the new design that will clear the mobo better for easier install.

//Erik