Carnivore2 : First impressions and bugs... | MSX Resource Center (ページ 6/54)

By Sebbeug

Champion (400)

10-09-2017, 23:19

My USB blaster cable pins was female too...

By Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3603)

11-09-2017, 21:57

The firmware and the boot block that supports saving the desired volume of FMPAC and SCC into the small EEPROM chip on board is being tested now. If the tests are successful, the files will be uploaded into the repository.

By Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3603)

16-09-2017, 18:37

The firmware and boot block that allow to save the defalut volume into the optional EEPROM is now in the repository. Enjoy!

https://github.com/RBSC/Carnivore2

If the optional EEPROM is missing, the volume will be set to default values - FMPAC: 4, SCC: 4.

By Pentarou

Hero (523)

18-09-2017, 18:48

You forgot to mention that the new firmware/boot block now integrates SCC+ functionality!!!
Not that it's a big deal, but why is the optional EEPROM necessary? Why not use the ROM to store the additional parameters?

Btw. Congrats! This card keeps getting better and better!

By Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3603)

18-09-2017, 22:43

Pentarou wrote:

You forgot to mention that the new firmware/boot block now integrates SCC+ functionality!!!
Not that it's a big deal, but why is the optional EEPROM necessary? Why not use the ROM to store the additional parameters?

The SCC+ was already supported in the previous version of firmware (with volume control). This update allows to save the setting into the small EEPROM. About your question - why to waste a 64kb block of FlashROM when you need to store just one byte? The optional EEPROM was designed exactly for the purpose of storing small, but valuable data. The cartridge will work fine even without this EEPROM, but it's good to have it anyway.

By Pentarou

Hero (523)

18-09-2017, 22:58

Alexey wrote:

The SCC+ was already supported in the previous version of firmware (with volume control).

I'm sorry! I skipped one revision and just found out about the improvement.

One more question: What is the assembler used to generate the firmware?

By Pablibiris

Paragon (1815)

18-09-2017, 23:12

Is there any way to don't loose the settings? (installing a battery or something
Thanks for this great work ^^

By Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3603)

18-09-2017, 23:42

Pablibiris wrote:

Is there any way to don't loose the settings? (installing a battery or something
Thanks for this great work ^^

Without the small EEPROM the volume settings will survive the reboots and will be kept until the computer is powered off. When the small EEPROM is installed, it will keep the selected volume even after powering off, it doesn't need a battery.

The cartridge has a connector for a 3V battery, but that is only used for RAM - in case you want to keep your FMPAC savegames and games loaded into the PseudoMegaRAM. Most of people won't need a battery in the cartridge.

By Wierzbowsky

Guardian (3603)

18-09-2017, 23:50

Pentarou wrote:

One more question: What is the assembler used to generate the firmware?

The Altera's firmware is generated by Quartus software package if I remember correctly. To compile the Z80 binaries we use the AS80 assembler:

The syntax is a bit different but the best thing is that it works on x64 systems unlike its rivals that only work on x86 systems.

By max_iwamoto

Hero (644)

19-09-2017, 04:40

Alexey wrote:

Pablibiris wrote:

Is there any way to don't loose the settings? (installing a battery or something
Thanks for this great work ^^

Without the small EEPROM the volume settings will survive the reboots and will be kept until the computer is powered off. When the small EEPROM is installed, it will keep the selected volume even after powering off, it doesn't need a battery.

The cartridge has a connector for a 3V battery, but that is only used for RAM - in case you want to keep your FMPAC savegames and games loaded into the PseudoMegaRAM. Most of people won't need a battery in the cartridge.

How FMPAC saves data by default? Is it in eeprom? Since battery is not required.