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Re: Pluggy Reloaded

Posted: 29 Jan 2020, 21:17
by norgate
The CardTest.gcl is not related to Pluggy Reloaded, so it's not supposed to work with it. Instead its part of the Expansion Bus discussed here: https://forum.gigatron.io/viewtopic.php?p=1118#p1118

The serial command for loading gt1 files should work however.

Try running the code from the page linked below for some possibly helpful diagnostic information
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/CardInfo

I have also experienced the hanging issues with the ProMicro a few times. I'm currently quite busy with work/uni but when I have the time, I'll try to find the cause.

Re: Pluggy Reloaded

Posted: 30 Jan 2020, 00:48
by PurpleGirl
Yeah, CardTest.gcl works with the expansion card with the memory and SD cards. The reason for the random pixels is because it uses the undefined instructions that won't work unless something external is putting stuff on the bus. So, with no expansion card plugged into the memory socket or intercepting the bus elsewhere, all you'll get is random data, hence the screen corruption.

Re: Pluggy Reloaded

Posted: 30 Jan 2020, 10:56
by at67
Yeah, more research less assumptions, I'll learn one day.

Anyway, I followed the guide here https://lastminuteengineers.com/arduino ... -tutorial/, re-soldered the SD module, reformatted the SD cards using the sanctioned tool mentioned in that guide and now everything works perfectly and consistently every time; even with large 30+ *.gt1 files in the root directory.

Re: Pluggy Reloaded

Posted: 30 Jan 2020, 17:51
by walter
I also did another check and also resoldered using a higher wattage soldering iron. Problem seems to have vanished now.

Re: Pluggy Reloaded

Posted: 30 Jan 2020, 18:56
by norgate
Very nice to hear its working for you both now! Still kinda weird you both had the same issue.

J2 male or female?

Posted: 01 Feb 2020, 18:26
by ECL
in the schematics you might denote J2 as male or female, as with the other J's. :idea:

Re: Pluggy Reloaded

Posted: 01 Feb 2020, 20:36
by norgate
Not quite sure where you want me to denote that. For J2 I'm using the schematic symbol and footprint found here: https://www.te.com/usa-en/product-57491 ... gnId=32493
The description does mention that is is a receptacle.

Re: Pluggy Reloaded

Posted: 02 Feb 2020, 03:15
by jbailey
I received a set of Pluggy Reloaded's from the second batch yesterday... and twins were born:
IMG_2216.PNG
IMG_2216.PNG (614.28 KiB) Viewed 8080 times

receptacle / plug terminology

Posted: 02 Feb 2020, 05:33
by ECL
norgate wrote: 01 Feb 2020, 20:36 The description does mention that it is a receptacle.
In their lingo, "receptacle" means female in engineer-speak while they use "plug" for male. So Mr Pluggy McPlugface does not ship with a plug actually. ;) Although it ships with an interface for one.

Great to see those photos with SD card capability for the Gigatron desktop workstation. I'm thinking of modifying the ROM to use the good old Sinclair ZX homecomputer font. Should be a blast in the ZX Speccy scene...

"Pluggy Reloaded" = circuit board with SD card, Arduino

Posted: 02 Feb 2020, 05:59
by ECL
monsonite wrote: 21 Oct 2019, 10:06 I would connect all of the spare I/O pins of the ATmega to suitable headers so that you can use them for connecting for example Blinkenlights, and other input and output devices - the Arduino becomes your I/O slave.
I was thinking the whole time: Why not replace one of the red Blinkenlights with INFRAred LED ?

Allowing for some sort of "plug-less Pluggy McPlugface" or "Pluggy unplugged" , given that it does not ship with a plug anyway but with a (female) receptacle.

It is an almost trivial change of the circuitry but if working well, you could do infrared networking or an infrared "bus" of sorts.

There are several infrared receiver circuit options to choose from. replacing a somewhat sizeable board dangling at the back of the Gigatron desktop workstation might be a good idea.