HYDRA SD Max Storage Card all done.
![AndreL](https://forums.parallax.com/uploads/userpics/141/n2HIHMVK7J31M.jpg)
The HYDRA SD card has been done for quite some time, but I have been writing the manual for it. There is a ton of information on internet about SPI, SD, and FAT16, but putting it all together is quite challenging, so part of the value of the card is the manual that comes with it that explains everything you ever wanted to know about writing SD card drivers. Starts with SPI communications, then goes onto SD card protocal, then layers FAT16 on top of that. So if you ever wanted to REALLY know what's under the hood if the FAT file system you will learn that too. The manual is about 85 pages give or take.
Anyway, the card is called "The HYDRA SD Max Storage Card" and the latest PCB is shown in the pic, they are going for final manufacturing this week.
I am trying to decide between making the card black and silver like the hydra or making it white PCB and black lettering. I am tired of yellow, red, blue, so those are out.
Anyway, should ship right after chinese new year which end the 1st week of february.
Andre'
Anyway, the card is called "The HYDRA SD Max Storage Card" and the latest PCB is shown in the pic, they are going for final manufacturing this week.
I am trying to decide between making the card black and silver like the hydra or making it white PCB and black lettering. I am tired of yellow, red, blue, so those are out.
Anyway, should ship right after chinese new year which end the 1st week of february.
Andre'
Comments
Question: What propeller pins were used to communicate with the SD on this board?
OBC
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
New to the Propeller?
Getting started with the Protoboard? - Propeller Cookbook
Got an SD card? - PropDOS
A Living Propeller FAQ - The Propeller Wiki
(Got the Knowledge? Got a Moment? Add something today!)
Any chance at getting a sneak-peek at the manual ???
Bean
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
www.iElectronicDesigns.com
·
Andre'
Understood. I can wait.
Bean.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
www.iElectronicDesigns.com
·
Andre'
Andre'
Definately go with black and silver. What hardware is on the card? Does it use the VGA/IO pins?
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Post Edited (Parallel Universe) : 1/27/2008 12:03:45 AM GMT
Andre'
One more question: is the loop-back line always engaged (so the onboard EEPROM is disabled) or is it only engaged when a SD card is inserted?
Andre'
Does this configuration work?
OBC
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
New to the Propeller?
Getting started with the Protoboard? - Propeller Cookbook
Got an SD card? - PropDOS
A Living Propeller FAQ - The Propeller Wiki
(Got the Knowledge? Got a Moment? Add something today!)
' SPI (serial peripheral interface) interface pins
spiDO = 16
spiCLK = 17
spiDI = 18
spiCS = 19
sdWP = 22 ' write protect
sdCD = 23 ' card detect
Looks like we have a winner!
Andre'
Looks like the current SpinStudio recommendations parallel the Hydra.
(Standards arise! yeah. [noparse]:)[/noparse]
OBC
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
New to the Propeller?
Getting started with the Protoboard? - Propeller Cookbook
Got an SD card? - PropDOS
A Living Propeller FAQ - The Propeller Wiki
(Got the Knowledge? Got a Moment? Add something today!)
So that's the deal. Those interested, check the xgamestation.com site this weekend, the product should be up by then. Hopefully, everyone that owns a HYDRA buys one, and everyone that buys a new HYDRA gets one as well, so its almost "standard" equipment. This way, much cooler programs and apps can be written.
If you have any questions, please ask.
Andre'
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Timothy D. Swieter
tdswieter.com
One little spark of imagination is all it takes for an idea to explode
HYDRA SD MAX+128K CARD USER MANUAL 6
1.0 HYDRA SD MAX STORAGE CARD MANUAL OVERVIEW 6
2.0 PRODUCT CONTENTS 7
2.1 CD-ROM CONTENTS 7
3.0 INTRODUCTION AND QUICK START 8
3.1 QUICK START GUIDE 10
3.1.1 Re-programming the HYDRA SD Max Card with the Menu Demo Program 10
3.1.2 Re-formatting the SD Card with the Demo Binary Images 11
4.0 CIRCUIT DESIGN, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL INTERFACE 12
4.1 ELECTRICAL INTERFACE DESIGN 12
4.2 MECHANICAL INTERFACE 15
5.0 INTERFACING TO THE HYDRA SD MAX CARD 16
5.1 SD CARD OVERIEW & HISTORY 17
5.2 SPI BUS BASICS 18
5.2.1 Basic SPI Communications Steps 20
5.3 SD CARD COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCAL 22
5.3.1 Placing the SD Card into SPI Mode 25
5.3.2 Reading a Sector 26
5.3.3 Writing a Sector 27
5.4 FAT16 FILE SYSTEM OVERVIEW 29
5.4.1 FAT16 SD Card Disk Structure 30
5.4.2 Master Boot Record 31
5.4.3 Partition Entries in the MBR 32
5.4.4 Parition Boot Record (PBR) 32
5.4.5 A Quick Recap and Locating the Primary FAT16 Data Structures 33
5.4.6 The Root Directory 34
5.4.7 The File Allocation Table 37
5.4.8 Understanding Directories 39
5.4.9 Final Aspects of Navigating the FAT16 File System 39
6.0 UNLEASHING THE SD MAX DRIVER API 40
6.1 Driver API Constants 42
6.2 Driver API Globals 44
6.3 Initializing the SD Max Driver 45
6.4 Master API Listing 46
7.0 THE HYDRA SD MAX DEMOS 61
7.1 THE MENU LOADER PROGRAM 62
7.1.1 The Menu Loader Software Architecture 62
7.1.2 Building the SD Card for the Loader 63
7.2 THE SD MAX DEMO API PROGRAM 65
7.2.1 The Main Menu 66
8.0 SUMMARY 66
APPENDICES 67
A. HYDRA SD MAX SCHEMATIC 67
B. PCB REFERENCE LAYOUT 69
C. API DRIVER SOURCE CODE LISTING 70
NOTES 89
Andre'
Where was you're manual back then Andre' [noparse];)[/noparse]
I can't wait to get one. I'll keep checking www.xgamestation.com for it.
Bean.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
www.iElectronicDesigns.com
·
Andre'
In any case, the price is $49.95, comes with the SD card reader, 1GB sd card, 80 page eBook on SPI, SD protocal, and FAT16 driver development along with drivers and demos to show how to read DOS FAT16 files from the PC. The direct link is here:
http://www.xgamestation.com/view_product.php?id=44
5-10 days to ship each unit, since they are being assembled manually locally, not by robots in china for now, so if "made in america" is important, now's your chance [noparse]:)[/noparse]
Andre'
Also, do you have the Hydra boards available by themselves for those of us who had already purchased the book ahead of time to check it out first and now may want to pickup an actual Hydra board?
Robert
Andre'
I didn't mean blank Hydra boards (although that would be cool). I was asking about assembled Hydra boards. I'm sure there are several others out there like myself who bought the book and afterwards thought it might be neat to get an actual Hydra board. I would think that some people who already have one may eventually want a second one so they can play with the networking port but may not need a second copy of the book. That is why I asked about just buying the Hydra itself.
Building one isn't a problem. I've got all the parts sitting here and can get one together. It's just that your board is a nice finished unit and I had thought about getting one to go with the book.
If they aren't available separately then i'll just see about wiring one up with the parts I have on hand.
Best Regards,
Robert
So for now, I doubt this will happen anytime soon. Right, now we will stick with the product as-is.
Andre'
Andre'
Have you done any performance testing? Are file names limited to 8.3?
Thanks,
Doug