The UK is nearly always the one that comes up with the best retro-upgrade candy! Oh how vintage computer accelerators make my mouth water, but DANG they're elusive as hell! Oh what is a lowly American computer collector like me to do, in the magical land of NTSC?
Thinking out loud here - 24:00 could you split the wires for the ribbon cable going from the U1MB to the OS ROM socket, and lay that cable flat on the PCB, pinching it in place with the cover for the cart slot?
Interesting notion, but unfortunately both cables are already in front of the cartridge pylon where they attach to the Adaptus and MMU socket. I'm not wild about using long cables with multiple bends in them, but they're about the same length as the ribbon cables in my U1MB 130XE (with the U1MB mounted directly above the RF modulator).
Well, you are not alone in wondering that. :) I guess a lot of people who didn't buy Rapidus also asked the same question. For my part, even if I found the prospect exciting, every machine I put Rapidus into ends up unstable, so mine sits in the drawer.
I think the ribbon cables are the absolute pain in of the whole installation. I don't have any ribbon cable at the moment, or spare bits. I really need to get some practice on these too. Over all great job so far, nice and clean.
Thank you. :) Having to keep purchasing ribbon cable is about the only irritation for me now, and in the majority of situations I'm actually _shortening_ the supplied cables, and therefore only having to replace the connector at one end or the other (well, more often both ends, since the original orientation of the connector is rarely optimal). To counteract the other issue (having enough IDC connectors), I simply bought loads of 20 and 30 way connectors.
Probably too many to list. Support problems, lack of firmware updates, disagreement between the vendor and the developer, cost of production vs demand... I don't imagine it will go on sale again without some design changes, at least. As usual, the moment something becomes unavailable, everyone wants one. :)
OS ROMs (four of them, in fact) are built into the Ultimate 1MB. Rapidus has its own 65C816 OS, meaning five in total. All of this is configurable/flashable in software.
Yes: I understand that. Unfortunately I get the same cringe feeling when I see upgrades flapping around inside the machine attached by nothing but ribbon cables. :)
The UK is nearly always the one that comes up with the best retro-upgrade candy!
Oh how vintage computer accelerators make my mouth water, but DANG they're elusive as hell!
Oh what is a lowly American computer collector like me to do, in the magical land of NTSC?
Almost all of the upgrades were designed and produced in Poland. Rapidus will work as well in an NTSC Atari as it will in a PAL machine.
That slap around 20:00..... God, you almost gave my a heart attack. :)
Just what I needed for an ugly Corona Virus day.
Thinking out loud here - 24:00 could you split the wires for the ribbon cable going from the U1MB to the OS ROM socket, and lay that cable flat on the PCB, pinching it in place with the cover for the cart slot?
Interesting notion, but unfortunately both cables are already in front of the cartridge pylon where they attach to the Adaptus and MMU socket. I'm not wild about using long cables with multiple bends in them, but they're about the same length as the ribbon cables in my U1MB 130XE (with the U1MB mounted directly above the RF modulator).
Good work as always!
Another interesting and fun video !
Still wonder what the use of a 20Mhz A8 is though but that’s just my personal opinion....
Well, you are not alone in wondering that. :) I guess a lot of people who didn't buy Rapidus also asked the same question. For my part, even if I found the prospect exciting, every machine I put Rapidus into ends up unstable, so mine sits in the drawer.
I think the ribbon cables are the absolute pain in of the whole installation. I don't have any ribbon cable at the moment, or spare bits. I really need to get some practice on these too. Over all great job so far, nice and clean.
Thank you. :) Having to keep purchasing ribbon cable is about the only irritation for me now, and in the majority of situations I'm actually _shortening_ the supplied cables, and therefore only having to replace the connector at one end or the other (well, more often both ends, since the original orientation of the connector is rarely optimal). To counteract the other issue (having enough IDC connectors), I simply bought loads of 20 and 30 way connectors.
Yay!
Wish I could find a Sophia :/ sold out
Same here. I keep checking and I guess my timing just sucks.
Any reasons why Rapidus aren’t sold anymore?
Probably too many to list. Support problems, lack of firmware updates, disagreement between the vendor and the developer, cost of production vs demand... I don't imagine it will go on sale again without some design changes, at least. As usual, the moment something becomes unavailable, everyone wants one. :)
Vbxe?
@flashjazzcat - I can tell this is very much soul repair, for you. :)
Wow... you are absolutely correct.
@@flashjazzcat It is precisely the same, for me. :)
Yes: one does whatever works. :) I still have Fujinet to explore yet, so at least there are a few things in reserve.
@@flashjazzcat #FN's getting more awesome, by the day :) I am hacking on it and using it constantly, trying to get all the gaps filled in.
Yes: there will soon be a series of pleading, plz bro style posts from me asking how to set the thing up and apply the most recent firmware. :)
Does the OS ROM not go back in anywhere?
OS ROMs (four of them, in fact) are built into the Ultimate 1MB. Rapidus has its own 65C816 OS, meaning five in total. All of this is configurable/flashable in software.
Hurry up with part 2... I'm on the edge of me seat here! ;)
The 65816 is Western Design Center, not Western Digital. Common misconception
Not a misconception here but a slip of the tongue. Thanks for the correction! :)
Thanks for not biting my head off for being one of those anal people in the comments 😁 Enjoyed the video, by the way
No problem! If I am wrong or misspeak, I welcome corrections. :)
I understand those are just ground planes...but seeing a drill go through a vintage Atari motherboard still makes me cringe a little. lol
Yes: I understand that. Unfortunately I get the same cringe feeling when I see upgrades flapping around inside the machine attached by nothing but ribbon cables. :)
Stay safe people