How is zx-multicard doing? :)

ZXNet echo conference «hardware.zx»

From Kamil Karimov To All 13 March 2006

Hello caro To those who ordered bare boards, I sent them immediately (4 pieces so far). But with the assembled ones (7 pieces were ordered) I held off for now send because I wanted to some logical end resolve the issue with the firmware. Yesterday I finally made it to this end :). Since the board has a very high potential, I cannot immediately write the final version on which it would be possible put an end to it. Now the firmware has been made (version 1.1), which supports: 1) PS/2 keyboard; 2) PS/2 mouse according to the Campston Mouse standard (with wheel support); 3) RS232 port and modem according to the Kondratiev scheme; 4) real-time clock with access at your own pace standard (not according to Gluk :)). This whole thing takes up 2.5 kbytes of memory out of 8 available. As a result, I decided to build the initial a bootloader that will allow any user to flash program by connecting the controller to any IBM computer via null modem cable to COM port. The bootloader is only about 500 bytes in size and sewn into the BOOTRST area of the microcontroller. To initialize the bootloader, one free port E bit (pin 29). Setting this input to 0 when when the power is turned on, the bootloader starts, otherwise it starts main controller program. For programming, AVRProg from ASTUDIO is used -free development kit for AVR controllers. In the future I plan to make a bootloader option, which will allow you to download the firmware directly on the Spectrum. I think this is relevant for modifying the keyboard layout.