This version of firmware fixed some bugs on FDD mode. Please update your SD DISK][plus with this firmware.
What's changed in this firmware is,
1) Fixed an error what some images could not start up well at once during FDD booting.
2) NODSK??.NIB that automatically creates when formatting without selecting a disk and now this temporary file automatically inserted during Power ON Boot. If I have multiple temporary files, I had a little difficulties to find which was that.
But now, It is more convenient for FDD work for copying a real DISKETTE to image file.
3) Write FDD and then rebooting soon, It desn't updated the image file. Now it fixed and correctly update the FDD(*.NIB) image file.
Please refer to the link below for how to update the firmware.
I glad to annouce this information about the mockingboard for APPLE //c+ is completed.
This board could be installed over the CPU socket same and speaker volume also works as followd the volume control slide.
It was fully tested on APPLE //c+ and works great but, on 4Mhz, It generate higher tone and faster sound. For proper sound, you have to set on normal speed on APPLE //c+.
I ordered PCB for commercial boards and parts. it would take around 2 weeks and then I could start to ship to you.
** Pre-Order will be closed on 28th March **
Included items;
1) MB4c+ board 2) Two speakers 3) Volume control wire
*It doesn't include 3.5mm AUX cable.
**MB4C+ is compatible with APPLE //c & APPLE //c+
Price; $125
(Preorder closed)
For pre-orders, I will ship it for free but only for below countries.
* Shipping Issues *
Thesedays, I'm having difficulties to ship world wide. In this time, I can ship only those countries for free of charge.
--Free shipping countries-- USA GERMANY UNITED KINGDOM LUXEMBOURG ITALY RUSSIAN FEDERATION MALAYSIA VIETNAM CHINA THAILAND CANADA PHILIPPINES HONG KONG(CHINA) BHUTAN SANMARINO ALBANIA
For other countries, I have to check if it could be shipped byEMSorUPSand costs would be higher so, it wouldn't be a free shipping and need additional costs.
For this, Please let me know by email with your address to check the shipping costs.
For long time, I used this PS2 Keyboard adapter for my APPLE //e and there was no inconvenices.
And Yesterday, I obtain a MINI keyboard adapter. It is quite simple and looks good for small table for testing.
It worked with this PS2 adapter but, I found a issue.
PS2 Keybaord adapter was developed for full sized keyboard and there is 10keys pad is on right side. And adapter always the Num lock ON. it was OK with it. but for this mini keyboard is using this 10keys are overlayed over the alphabet area. It became a problem here. I can't key-in properly cause the num lock always ON and it send numbers insted alphabet..
'PS2 Keyboard Adapter didn't be designed to OFF the Num lock.'
I started to update firmware to handle Num Lock and now, I can OFF and ON. And It can save as Power Default. So, now It can ON or OFF Num lock when Power ON.
And Bonus function, Also Caps Lock also can save for Power ON default.
Unfortunatelly, This firmware coudn't be updated by remote so, only future ordered items would be apply this function. sorry for this.
If user could send the board to me, I could update firmware for free but, shipping costs is the matter.
About three weeks ago I suddenly had terrible pain on my back. First day, I had pain but, I could standup and can do limitted move but, the second day, I even can't standup.. What happend on my body. I lied on the bed whole days and night. I don't want to go to hospital just lied on bed.. maybe I'm idiot. My wife asked to go hospital by the emergency emblance. But, I think it doens't needed.. I just need to rest. I searched internet and I guess it is a type of Disk proble on my backbone.. I want rest.. During long months I couldn't have proper rest. almost of everyday I spent time only for developing on new products. When I hang on some point, I can't go ahead for other things. Maybe it is my style.
It took about a week to walk again with rely on the walking stick. Still had pain on my back and right leg. Now passed three weeks and I could walk without the walking stick. I can't run but, can walk.. My age is now above 50 and I'm not young anymore.. My body doens't good as before. Now, I started to consider to keep my health.
My develpment wan't easy. because all products before to develop, it required the understanding about the functions. I didn't make any things just copy from old device. Copy from old one and sell it, it could be much easier but, can't have knowledge from developer and this device doesn't make me feel as I developed, It is just one of copyed device andmore can't put unique fun functions.
From this week, I could move much better. I must not carry any heavy things but, I can do soldering for my customers and could go to post office to ship the good for my customers.
Sorry for delays on orders, I hardly soldered for orders but I feel much better now.
It was long years have passed since I develope the MB4c. First time, I really want to have Mockingboard for my APPLE IIc and finally could have Mockingboard for //c computer. it was really happy experianced and It was enough for me. And revised some version for perfect compatibility as now. But, the Mockingboard doesn't work on APPLE //c+. Physically and logically it doesn't support APPLE //c+. I received some of email who want to have Mockingboard for his APPLE //c+ and finally I promised to finished it. Infact, When I develped the MB4c, I also tried to make it run on APPLE //c+ but failed. APPLE //c+ has own cache for faster run and it working different with APPLE //c. Some of friends want a Mockingboard with a memory board. But, It woudn't be easy due to low space.
Anyway, This is a beginning for APPLE //c+ so let me to complete the Mockingboard for C+ first and consider next step on next version.
WAV file is simple wave sound data and isn't compressed data.
So, It was easy to handle by APPLE II.
To make sampling rates, It used an integrated NMI interval generator to generate sampling rates.
Interrupts handler sending data on time to DA port for sound.
Main program monitoring buffer and filling data from SD DISK II Plus at the same time.
It used a 12KB buffer(maybe can reduce this size).
Due to the power of NMI, it doesn't lose sampling sync.
So. no need for any clock counting to sync sound and It can read SD DISK II plus data while producing sound.
The program size is less than 1KB and works very efficiently and fast.
SD DISK II Plus is working busy and Accelerator also working nicely to play songs.
And CPU power still has left processing power so can increase sound sampling rates some more.
I think some hobbyists could try other fun things with this NMI/IRQ interval function.
Thanks
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Since I was young time, I like to programming on APPLE II+ (It was my first computer).
And tested functions and even try to make games such as Block out and some shooting games.
But, Only my available language was BASIC and hard to make a sound on BASIC. Just toggle sound was possible.
After some research, I could generate tone and melody by ASM power.
Why APPLE II is slow? Can I make my program run faster?
Some months later, I could find a way... it is BASIC compiler.
It accelerates about 2 times than BASIC speed but still not enough to describe my idea. so have to stop to making arcade game.
Learning ASM was too much hard. I can't understand why there are just AND,OR,ADD... and MOVE and some branch commands... there is no sound-generating commands...?
Now, I want to make a gift for me.
CPU Accelerator card for my APPLE II.
I'm mostly using APPLE //e so, I try to accelerate my APPLE //e.
After some months of research, I could find a way to design it.
And tested it.. but, It didn't work of course.
Several actual research again...
Finally, I could make it run. But no screen output and I only could hear a high pitch beep.
What's wrong? and How to solve this issue?
it was my first problem.
Explained about the solving ways.
APPLE II is using video area from base memory and it doesn't read from the I/O BUS.
APPLE II is automatically reading from the main board RAM for video.
Due to this reasons, my first design doesn't show proper screen output.
So, What should I do?
I need video output.
It needed to push Video data to APPLE II and APPLE II output the video.
It required I/O sync to match CPU speed with APPLE II BUS speed anyway.
Also I/O have to send APPLE II properly to have sound(toggle) and keyboard input.
So, now APPLE II has video output and speaker, Keyboard input.
Another Revision of PCB was ordered and I'm waiting for it.
In the first design, I used AY3-8912 and good parts going to hard to obtain so change it to AY3-8910 chips.
And now, 6522 part also getting harder to find good one And more failure rates are too many.
So, Tried it to use 65C22 but it doesn't fit well and needs to change circuit redesign.
Designing a new device isn't simple due to old vintage parts need to be provided properly.
it is harder to obtain good working parts.
Due to a lack of good working parts, I also considered replacing it to CPLD but, it isn't good mate for vintage APPLE II so didn't emulate it and now CPLD is just used to replace some of TTL chips.
Once it finished, I could prepare enough amounts of MB4c board.
