New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

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Jeff
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New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by Jeff »

More than words :
:D

Image



Sale point :
http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=114

Spede
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Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by Spede »

Very good and useful board but wanted to add some feedback.

On gaming usage (for example Amiga) found annoying that display and 2 buttons are missing - sometimes selecting images with this board is lottery. Another point is that disk drive sound is too high pitched.

Jeff
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Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by Jeff »

Spede wrote:Very good and useful board but wanted to add some feedback.

On gaming usage (for example Amiga) found annoying that display and 2 buttons are missing - sometimes selecting images with this board is lottery. Another point is that disk drive sound is too high pitched.
About the LCD : There is a new firmware supporting external I2C screen :
SlimLCD.jpg
SlimLCD.jpg (98.65 KiB) Viewed 28770 times
You can get this kind of LCD kit for few $ or Euros on ebay :


There are based on a simple I2C IO expander (PCF8574).

Only 4 wires is needed to connect these screen to the Slim HxC.

About the sound : You can change the volume into the settings.

Spede
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Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by Spede »

Ok. Ordered display module but just need to find out where to get those wires.

Volume is ok but sound is too high pitched :wink:.

Jeff
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Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by Jeff »

Spede wrote:Ok. Ordered display module but just need to find out where to get those wires.

Volume is ok but sound is too high pitched :wink:.
mhh wait, i have just changed for another screen module, more widely available than this one. the pinout between the lcd and the pcf8574 is different.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IIC-I2C-TWI-SP- ... 484f235c20

:oops:

Spede
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Joined: Thu Jan 16, 2014 6:02 pm

Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by Spede »

Ok - ordered 2nd module but I assume that display was good.

So pinout should be clear? Connect wires with same "text" on the board? I don't want to burn the board nor display.

Audronic
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Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by Audronic »

Hi Jeff - All

Is there a link to the technical details to add the Display.

Thanks

Ray
If it ain't Broke then PLEASE DONT fix it.

Procrastinators Unite !

Jeff
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Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by Jeff »

Hi,

The new firmware supporting these external I2C LCD screen is now ready !

You have just to update the Slim HxC Floppy Emulator with this firmware :
https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... rmware.zip

These kind of I2C LCD board is compatible with the firmware :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IIC-I2C-TWI-SP- ... 484f235c20
(board only - without the LCD)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IIC-I2C-TWI-SPI ... 258afcd8e4
(board only - without the LCD)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Blue-IIC-I2 ... 338ed80545
(board + LCD)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IIC-I2C-TWI-SP- ... 484f1ed4cd
(board + LCD)

Any I2C address is supported : The firmware scan automatically the I2C bus at power up (0x20-0x27 and 0x38-0x3F address range scanned)
So there is no specific requirement about the I2C address setting.

To connect the I2C LCD, just follow the Slim HxC Floppy Emulator J3 pinout :
SlimHxCFE_I2C.jpg
SlimHxCFE_I2C.jpg (85.86 KiB) Viewed 28695 times
Only 4 wires is needed : SDA,SCL,GND and +5V.
After this, the LCD is ready :)

If you want to build the I2C board yourself, here is the schematic:
ExtSlimHxCFE_I2CLCD.jpg
ExtSlimHxCFE_I2CLCD.jpg (65.05 KiB) Viewed 28695 times
https://hxc2001.com/download/floppy_driv ... ematic.pdf

Have Fun !
(Next update planned : Additionnals buttons support ;) )
SlimHxCFE_I2CLCD.jpg
SlimHxCFE_I2CLCD.jpg (126.79 KiB) Viewed 28695 times

Audronic
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Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by Audronic »

@ Jeff

Thanks for the Update, i have ordered the parts.

"" (Next update planned : Additionnals buttons support) ""
I will be looking foreward to the Buttons update.

Thanks

Ray
If it ain't Broke then PLEASE DONT fix it.

Procrastinators Unite !

kreutz
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Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2014 12:50 am

Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by kreutz »

Jeff;
Any news on additional buttons for the slim board's update?
Thanks,
kreutz

Jeff
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Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by Jeff »

kreutz wrote:Jeff;
Any news on additional buttons for the slim board's update?
Thanks,
kreutz
Is there someone who have tried the I2C LCD ? I got no feedback at all...

rikbliz
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Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:17 pm

Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by rikbliz »

Hi Jeff

I have one of these in the post from eBay - I2C Arduino LCD 1602 16x2 Character LCD Module Blue Backlight - which should work fine I hope.

I also have a Noritake Itron VFD part #CU16025-UW6J which is supposed to be a drop in replacement for 1602 LCDs. I managed to get the VFD for free so whilst I really hope it works, it won't be the end of the world if it doesn't. It has the same pinout as the usual 1602 LCDs above so I will use one of those generic LCD to I2C backpacks from eBay with it.

I'll update on this thread in approx 10 days once I have had time to test.

Cheers

rikbliz
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Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by rikbliz »

Me again. So it worked great. Updated my Slim to the firmware Jeff linked to above, and then the LCD started working! Photo of my blue LCD working below (model is linked in my post above). This was just to test really as the LCD was only $5 off eBay, my a1200 will have a Noritake VFD built in to the case. Thanks Jeff.

rikbliz
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Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by rikbliz »

Is there any limitation on the current draw on the +5v pin on the I2C header on the Slim , or is it just directly connected to the incoming +5V PSU power ? My VFD requires 200mA power, average LCD is only 50-100mA.

Jeff
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Re: New Slim/cost reduced SD HxC Floppy Emulator !

Post by Jeff »

rikbliz wrote:Is there any limitation on the current draw on the +5v pin on the I2C header on the Slim , or is it just directly connected to the incoming +5V PSU power ? My VFD requires 200mA power, average LCD is only 50-100mA.
This is the +5V PSU power but there is some protection between. Anyway at 200mA i don't see any issue possible.

BTW thanks for the feedback :)

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