The Sinclair QL Forum

I've got schematics, layout, code etc. for Jochen Hassler's QL Eprommer II (the one shown at the bottom of my post here https://www.kilgus.net/2017/03/05/german-minerva-rom/). It can do GALS using adapter boards and had a pretty PE GUI. BBQL only of course. If there's enough interest I can dig the stuff up. But then there are the 35€ China USB el-cheapo burners that work like charm, so there is probably not so much point to it these days.

Marcel

NormanDunbar wrote: Kicad I quite like, but it has its foibles. CERN use it and help develop it, so if it's good enough for CERN, I can probably get used to it.
.

Norman. I have just been using KICAD to design an Arduino based datalogger PCB for a project my students and myself are involved in, I actually quite like it, although it does take some getting used to. Always with these programs I have more issues with the component libraries and adding components than anything else.

I don't do enough PCB design these days to really get proficient at any single piece of software, although I might try more with KICAD! Last time I was designing PCB's in real anger I used Easy PC from Number one systems and that was DOS based. I actually did a fair few QL interface prototypes with that software. Still have it but no reason to use it now.

Now to find an online Fab to upload my design to and get a few boards made. Any suggestions?

Wayne...

Hi Wayne,

I used https://oshpark.com for my first attempt. Boards were good, no problems. I have another couple to try for whenever I get something designed, https://aisler.net and a Chineses one https://jlcpcb.com who offer a decent price for your first project plus free shipping too, if I remember correctly.

There are hundreds of others though.


Cheers,
Norm.

NormanDunbar wrote:https://jlcpcb.com

Their prices are unbeatable, and their quality is excellent. They do laser drilled vias, can do blind vias, etc. They can make the very most complex boards without any difficulties and go down to 6 mil clearances at no extra charge.

They also have an online EDA portal that is.... "almost adequate" - it has some serious flaws and blind spots, but will not really stunt the hobbyist or small run user like QLers are. It only becomes a problem for things like sub-mil positioning/grid, and the library is a little fiddly. Still, beats the pants off Eagle/KiCAD etc. for just running out designs quickly, or for collaborative work.

When ordering, they will panelise your boards for you. They can also do laser cut solder stencils for $15. Huge time saver.

mk79 wrote:I've got schematics, layout, code etc. for Jochen Hassler's QL Eprommer II (the one shown at the bottom of my post here https://www.kilgus.net/2017/03/05/german-minerva-rom/). It can do GALS using adapter boards and had a pretty PE GUI. BBQL only of course. If there's enough interest I can dig the stuff up. But then there are the 35€ China USB el-cheapo burners that work like charm, so there is probably not so much point to it these days.
Marcel

It would be really interesting to see what Jochen did. I've being trying to track down details on GAL programming for years, only the very early stuff is available. The hardware side is quite simple, fortunately back in 1988 I bought the (now unavailable) Elektor software for the Amiga, very easy to use with clever software to realise complex logic simply into JEDs. Be nice to realise same on QL

Hi,

The Elektor Gal Programmer was featured in Elektor 1992 May, with updates in Elektor 1993 June, featuring the Amiga AmiBURN and AmiGAL software.

The programmer looks to be connected to the parallel port on a PC and Amiga.

I am sure the Amiga people will have a copy of the software.

Derek_Stewart wrote:Hi,

The Elektor Gal Programmer was featured in Elektor 1992 May, with updates in Elektor 1993 June, featuring the Amiga AmiBURN and AmiGAL software.

The programmer looks to be connected to the parallel port on a PC and Amiga.

I am sure the Amiga people will have a copy of the software.

Ah yes, I didn't have it to hand, IIRC 1988 was first issue with info on how to program GALs which led to later projects.

I don't think you'll find the software available online, I looked for any Amiga update to cover 22v10 devices (only PC version). Elektor are quite strict on that.

I have one of these GAL programmer kits from Elektor - It didn't have any intelligence on board if my memory serves me - just TTL registers and serial shifters to setup the various pins and voltages.

The programming logic for the GAL chips was documented in the LATTICE data books - and there have been several GAL programmers based on atmel, pic, ttl logic and so on published.

Whilst I agree - it's a lot of effort given the cheap USB based programmers that are out there, but many of them are limited to a subset of the GAL range - very few of the cheap programmers will touch the 26V12 device, or the 6001/6002 devices. And given the move towards using smaller FPGA's and CPLD's to do those jobs, support for those devices may never be given.

And also, there is always the mountain climbers view point - why do it - because you can, even though someone else has climbed the mountain, you may want that experience for yourself...

janbredenbeek wrote:I have uploaded the schematics, binary and source of my QL EPROMmer to GitHub, it's at https://github.com/SinclairQL/EPROMmer.

Have fun,

Jan.

Thanks!

mk79 wrote:I've got schematics, layout, code etc. for Jochen Hassler's QL Eprommer II (the one shown at the bottom of my post here https://www.kilgus.net/2017/03/05/german-minerva-rom/). It can do GALS using adapter boards and had a pretty PE GUI. BBQL only of course. If there's enough interest I can dig the stuff up. But then there are the 35€ China USB el-cheapo burners that work like charm, so there is probably not so much point to it these days.

Marcel

Holy thread resurrection Batman! If you have the information to hand would you be able to post up the details?

many thanks in advance.