Problem with Hydra HX512KSRAM

Giemme

Hi

I am testing the Hydra 512K Sram with following code. This code should write a byte into the address 0000 and then read it back ( nothing impossible :-(

OBJ
· VGA··················· : "VGA_Text"
· SRAM512K··········· : "HX512KSRAM_ASM_DRV_010.spin"

PUB Start

' Initialise the SRAM card
· SRAM512K.SRAM_Start_ASM_Driver(%000_11_11)

' Initialise the values
· Address := $0000
· bytVal := 81

'· SRAM512K.SRAM_LoadAddr64K_A($0000) ' Fetching the memory didn't bring to much :-(

' write a byte into the address
· SRAM512K.SRAM512K.SRAM_Write64K_A(Address, bytVal )

' Read the byte from the address·
· bytVal := SRAM512K.SRAM_Read64K_A(Address)

· VGA.str(string("$"))
· VGA.hex(Address, 4)
· VGA.str(string(": "))
· VGA.hex(bytVal, 2)

Expected result should be 81 but I usually get 04 !!
What did I wrong?? Any Idea?
I don't think that the card is broken because its leds are flashing properly.

Thanks in advance·if you can help me.
Regards
Gianni

Post Edited (Giemme) : 3/25/2008 7:24:34 AM GMT

Jasper_M

Try giving the card some time to initialize, add eg. waitcnt(8_000_000 + cnt) after SRAM512K.SRAM_Start_ASM_Driver(%000_11_11). The ASM driver needs some time to load to the cog and program the SRAM.

Giemme

Thanks Jasper

I will try tonight

Regards

Gianni

JT Cook

I don't think you can use both VGA and an expansion card because·I believe they·both use the same bus lines. I think if you are using the 512k card you need to use the TV as output.

Jasper_M

Ah, that's true too. Didn't notice that. You can't use VGA with an expansion card.

AndreL

The VGA is used for my bus [noparse]:)[/noparse] So only one at a time.

Andre'

Giemme

hi Andre'

thanks for this information.

mmmhh now I have to buy a tv :-( and my desk doesn't have a lot of space.

Questions:
how many pins not used by the memory card are still available? are there any pins (TV, Audio, Net, etc) that I can cannibalize??

what if I use a second propeller that generates the vga output?

Regards

Gianni

Jasper_M

In the expansion port there are USB TXd and I2C bus for the EEPROM. 3 pins in total. Then you could use the NES gamepad pins if you don't need them, 4 extra pins. Mouse has two pins. But neither mouse nor gamepad pins are available on the expansion card. And you can't use these for VGA, because you'd need 8 pins that are right next to each other.

Using another propeller pretty much negates the advantage of having SRAM, at least for using the SRAM as display buffer. Unless the SRAM is connected to the bvideo generating prop of course.

Giemme

not so much...
...as alternative remains a video2vga converter
http://www.svideo.com/video2vga.html
or
http://www.aver.com/mpd/tvbox9_spec.html

Regards
Gianni

Post Edited (Giemme) : 3/25/2008 8:54:39 PM GMT

Jasper_M

Or a video capture device maybe (some TV card?) Be sure to check it's real time enough if you decide to buy one.

Giemme

Hi All

this is the workaround to the problem when you are using the hx512ksram, you cannot use the vga and you don't have a TV.

I found this TV2VGA card that recognize NTCS and PAL signal (so I don't have to convert the video driver)

http://www.grand.com.tw/tvpc_console2.html·

for 120 swiss francs = 120$· (the dollar is almost 1 to 1 with the swiss francs!!·A good reason to make another trip to the states and buy a lot of gadgeds...)

Additionally the card allows Picture on Picture (this is helpfull if you have only one vga output)

Idea!! why we don't build a propeller tv2vga converter???

Now I can continue with my zx81 emulator project.


See you

Gianni


P.S.Are there any solutions to have more resolutions on tv than 256x192??

Post Edited (Giemme) : 3/30/2008 7:20:50 AM GMT

Forrest

That converter looks a lot like this one - though there's no mention of PAL compatibility www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=TV-BOX-HD

Considering this one costs $47.99 - it looks like gadgets are cheaper on this side of the pond.