smashtv

I need either some art skills or a digicam w/decent macro zoom to write up some interconnect docs..... :-/ The "outer SO pin" is actually where SI for a DIN module would land if you use a 10pin IDC ribbon cable from J8/9.....Serial Input is not needed on the DOUT so that pad is not connected. Same story on the DIN module, except Serial Out is not needed, so SI is connected and SO is not. This method of madness keeps the core pin compatible to old revs. and allows for DIL IDC connector use. So......What if your box needs both, DOUT(s) on J8 and DIN(s) on J9? Make up a ribbon cable with 3 connectors, one for CORE:J8/9, one for DIN J1, and one for DOUT J1. Let me know if this answer causes more questions than it answers. :) Best Smash

ummm, installed the wrong way....There is a dot on the pin 1 end of the resistor pack. Let me mash two images from the datasheet into this: It's exactly this that makes me ask about the resistor pack orientation.....are the packs on one side of the board reversed? Hoping it's an easy fix..... :) Smash

I forgot to say, great work on your box! :) Smash

Hi Raikard, My guess is one (or more) of the SlL resistor packs on the DIN is backwards. Best Smash

R12 is just a pull-up resistor, You don't need it unless you are using a IIc_MIDI module. It is shown on the schematic, Near J4. Best Smash

Done. ;)

This is bad, if you can't trust your meter not much point in testing anything.... :-\ This is not too unusual. Most of these adapters are not very well regulated, and will output way more or less than printed spec in relation to load....Current draw goes up, voltage goes down and your meter pulls almost no load. hehe.... ;) Another thing to keep in mind, some PC MIDI interfaces tie the PC's ground to the center pin on thier MIDI input......This can cause jitter (ripple from the PC's switching supply leaking across the ground). To eliminate this possibilty disconnect the center pin of the CORE MIDI out (J12). The MIDI out will still work fine without this. I would strongly advise against this.....If your meter is lying to you 6 volts will kill parts..... Best Smash

Before you pull parts lets look toward your power supply.....can you give us the specifics on what you are using? (a noisy supply will cause jitter) It sounds like traktor is averaging the value(s) on the fly to avoid issues like this, while FL and midi-ox are not......Even though it works now if the jitter gets any worse* you might see jumpy values with traktor also. *"jitter gets any worse" like if you use the box in a different/higher noise environment, plug it into a dirty/noisy source of power, etc. Best Smash

Punch press.....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_press The CNC ones are very loud and scary, but the result is comparable with laser cut. I'm still looking for a DIY water saw project.... ;)

I did the same thing....Assumed the PIC was from me and wrote a big troubleshooting message about how it should show "ready." on the LCD, etc. ;)Luckily the coffee kicked in before I hit post.... :o Back to the kit mill! Best Smash

Hi Adam! Did the bootloader burn without issues/errors? Does the PIC pass a verify test with your programming software? Which burner software are you using? Did you add the 10k resistor to the JDM as shown on my JDM page? (http://www.avishowtech.com/mbhp/mbhp_jdmR2.html under "Design Modifications:") The top line black bottom line blank thing is really only telling you that the display has power.....-most- LCDs will show this without a PIC loaded in the Core! Sorry for all the questions, just trying to collect clues to lead us to the cause. ;) Best Smash

http://www.avishowtech.com/mbhp/idgen.html ;) Ignore the "WinPic800 Format:" line, unless you are burning your own. Best SmashTV

Hi guys! I rarely have enough time to etch these days, between my 4 year old and the store, my tinker time comes in 5 minute chunks. ;) I cheat several ways: I use press n peel blue transfer paper (no toner release issues). I use a modified laminator (makes for consistent transfers). I ditched the etch tank and spray etcher for a sponge and gloves, with room temp fecl etch time is about half, and it requires way less fecl (enough to soak the sponge vs. a tank full). This "rub etch" relies on the solid transfer the PnP paper provides, it does not sponge off when the blank is well prepped...... I dont use solvents to prep, just fine steel wool (or very fine sandpaper for D/S boards). Sometimes I cheat on D/S stuff by throwing a blank on the CNC, having it drill the holes, then sand flat and use the holes to align the transfer on both sides......no good for a one-off though, as a few hours of file optimization/conversion is needed for good GCode. (good GCode=does not make the CNC try to drill holes in the board vise) ;) Before anyone asks, this is not how the boards @ the store are made, those come from a pro fab house. Those are some of my tricks, I can provide more detail here if requested. ;) There are some good past discussions here about this too. Best Smash

No doubt.....its a constant thing, at this rate environmental cleanup services will be much more profitable (and costly) than the businesses that caused the damage. The worst is a lot of these look the other way actions are supported by the business/lobbyist/government chain. Did you know we still have/use asbestos brake pads in the US, and that OSHA (who is supposed to be looking out for worker safety) was pressured to remove exposure warnings? How about the gold business, where a cyanide/water mix is sprayed in the open air on beds of mined ore so the the gold will leach out, giving up an average of less than 1 ounce per ton of ore.......producing mercury (solid and vapor) that ends up in the soil and water. Crazy stuff, makes you think none of the people engineering these practices have kids or anything but a will to bake the planet and line the pockets. All that said I really do miss the fun of writing ASM on the 6502, and knocking up some fierce BASIC programs on the 64 :) Best Smash

A link to info about the ongoing cleanup for those interested: http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/npl/PAD093730174.htm Best Smash

First I'm hoping you read the copyright statement (and have permission).......otherwise we need to pull this now: Second this should be a wiki entry so the gaps in the info can be filled in to correctly paint them as profiteers rather that hero innovators.....The chip fab was an EPA "superfund" site, meaning American taxpayers are still paying big for the precious SID chips, and people were made sick and caused genetic damage due to VOCs and other nasties leaking into the public water supply.........all to produce stuff based on stolen IP. When someone teaches you something (and pays you like a rock star while you learn) do you turn around and immediately compete with them using that skill? These guys were a bunch of salesmen, and everyone who knew about the leaky tanks not being emptied as needed should be made to live on the site, with families...... Sorry for the rant, but this is too much revisionist history for my taste. Dude having his hot wife act like she is pushing the greatest CPU ever behind a table full of fab rejects is a peek at the true nature of these people. :/ To be fair almost everyone in that biz and time frame were just as bad, the good stories come from the quiet engineers who really created this stuff, not the pushers who capitalized on it. Besides, these reposts are making my novel-length posts look short......can't have that! ;) Best Smash

Hi Matte! Thanks for the kind words ;) Take a look at the info section on my site http://mbhp.avishowtech.com and you should find what you seek..... :) Best Smash

Hi PG.... Since it acts the same with just the LCD, and the I/O looks right when the LCD is not working, I would suspect these as cause: -Dodgy LCD cable- it is obviously wired right, but one or more connections might be loose enough at startup time when the init is happening....I would specifically look at the enable line, and for any lines that are close to touching at both ends.... -Soldering issues- How does the soldering on the pinheader(s) look? Sometimes a reflow (re-heating all connections) cures unseen bridges and weak connections....... -Defective LCD module- This is extremely rare but it does happen....since it works right some of the time I really doubt the module is the cause. Side note: I have seen LCD modules on commercial equipment not startup due to failing switching power supplies (super noisy +5 rail) but since you were able to re-upload MIOS i'm guessing your PS does not have ramp up issues. ;) Hopefully a quick reflow will make it play nice. :) Best Smash

Hi PG Did you have use feedback from CORE enabled during your MIOS upload attempt? I don't know if it has anything to do with your LCD init issue but you need to be using "mios_v1_9c_pic18f452.hex" instead of the without_MIOS_installed file.......it is for PICs with older bootloader versions. All of this is covered in detail in "README.txt" in the MIOS zip file. Best Smash

Congrats Chris! The four holes on the LCD are probably pads for an EL backlight that is not used on these displays. The LCD fabs usually use one board layout that supports all available options. Best Smash

Whoops I missed Mr modnaR's question.....pre-loaded PICs won't cost more, and I can ship with just bootloader or tested+erased for those with burners.....just let me know what you need. :) Unless specified otherwise, these days i'm shipping them with bootloader and MIOS loaded. Best Smash

Hi guys! Sorry about the formatting, I'm on the mobile and the lo-fi wap version of the forum is missing a few features like quotes and smilies.... First off this is another one of Thorsten's great ideas, it came up in some discussions we had and now its done. ;) On the F4620s avail time, very soon. I have those and the F88s in, new uber-burner built and tested, but I still need to make up some new chip labels and add everything to the order page. On the test app pre-loaded idea, how about we make a list of commands to cut & paste into MIOS Studio to exercise and test things in the various apps? Just thinking out loud without proper coffee intake..... ;) Best Smash

Hi guys. The fumes are mostly from the rosin, and it can be nasty enough to cause you some health problems not related to lead.....But the big issue is surface transfer. Touch the solder, then a tool, and the next time you handle that tool you get a little contact exposure. This is why smoking or eating while soldering is about the worst thing, touch solder, take a drag/inhale cig, you just transfered lead to your mouth via the cig. A good practice is to keep hands off everything except "leaded" tools, doorknobs between your bench and hand wash sink, etc. and scrub up like a surgeon when done. I was told the term "mad hatter" comes from the guys who hand formed lead shape inserts when shaping a hat in the old days.....apparently it was common for them to show signs of massive lead poisoning before anyone knew the dangers of lead. Note to self: put a box of latex gloves next to the Weller. ;)l best Smash

Looks like they would work, 10k and linear are the magic words here. ;) Best Smash

I think he's here: http://synth.stromeko.net/DIY.htmlThe attached photo is from his setup. More info on smart cards: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_7816 http://www.cardwerk.com/smartcards/smartcard_standard_ISO7816.aspx Best Smash