XOra Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Hey all,I'm new to the forums but have been retro ever since i can remember, and once they stopped making SID chips the price for the Stations just skyrocketed so i'm real eager to make my own instead. Im really new to soldering and the whole hands on hardware stuff but i've been working with technology since i was 4 and i've built 5 of my own computers, so i know my way around hardware pretty well.Anyway the point of the post. I have some question about the way i should go about this, i've check the site and got enough info that i was able to get out of it but the question i have i either couldn' t find the answer or i just didn't get it. (so pretend i'm retarded when your explaining ;))1. What is a PCB? Is it the board that you place everything on?2. What is the JDM for the PIC? and is it hard to burn the PIC or whatever?3. Whats an AIN and do i need it for the SID box?4. How do i go about doing this?So far i figured that i'd do the following things,1. Get the info about the stuff that i dont know2. Order all the stuff3. Just start building.If anybody has any pointers or any help that they can give me i'd really appreciate it, or if you could just tell me exactly the steps that you first took when you were building your first SID box.Right now i'm not too daring and dont really want to build a mega stage c box just a simple 1 Chip, 1 Core type one with a simple cheap LCD. Just so that i can get a feel for the whole project. And once thats dont maybe create a stage C. So i would really love if one of you could just have some pity on me and give me your e-mail so that i can just ask you questions to death so i know that i'm doing the thing right.I'm really anal retentive and a perfectionist when it comes to technology so i like to know that everything i'm doing is perfect and right the way it should be. So if one of you could just "take me under your wing" type of a thing while i'm going through this first project i'll find some way to pay you back. I'm really good with webdesign and would be more than happy to build you a site if you want. Some exampes that i've made are.www.aastudios.tkhttp://www.sportforum.cz/More can be given on request.Thanks alot and i truly appreciate any help you can give me.Best Regards,-=X=-//You can reach me on the following addresses//SamuraiX1988@hotmail.comAmbu-XOra_at_spymac.comAnbu.XOra_at_gmail.comxora_at_fmxtech.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheater Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 a PCB is a printed circuit board. it is what you thought it is.as for AIN and JDM - you can find the descriptions of the modules on http://ucapps.de, on the left, under "MB Hardware Platform"If you're buying the kits, just buy the PICs from SmashTV, burned. Less hassle for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srmaietta Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Xora, AFAIK, you can get PrintedCircuitBoards and the parts for the kits from SmashTV's website (check UcApps)..  youll still need a few parts besides whats in the kits, but maybe get the kits and start building and youll see what you need eventually. (some cable, jacks and a case, use your imagination here! ) Order the rest of the stuff later. (jameco.com or mouser.com)I dont know that Smash will actually program the pics fully for you, but he can burn the bootloader for you. AFAIK, the bootloader is what allows you to program the PIC via MIDI. So you build the box with the PIC w/the bootloader in it.. there is a MIDI dump utility prog on the ucapps site which will take the program files (also on ucapps site, dload them) and get them into midi code ready to burn.   You attach your device via MIDI cable to your computer, dump the code and hope for the best..  I have some boards and parts but havent started building yet.. Ive got another project that Im almost done with here, but SID is next!!!  So now you know as much as I do! : )I think all you need for the most basic version is a core module and a SID module. you can get these boards and parts from smash TV site.. (except the SID chip, youll have to hunt for. Expect to pay around $20 for one) order away!!have fun!Good luck!~Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XOra Posted June 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Hey all,Thx for the quick replies. I guess i'll just start ordering then, and try and get myself a c64 to unleash myself upon. I know for a fact that i already have one in my cousins house in sweden, and one in poland but i dont really feel like going around and finding one during the summer. Does anybody know were i would be able to get one in Prauge Czech Republic? If not i guess i'll just scrounge ebay.Also if i were not to get the kits from smash as i would need to order from the US over half the world, would i just need to get the stuff on the order list as it says or is there any extra stuff that i'll need to order?Thx again,Regards,-=X=- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XOra Posted June 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Hey All,And then a problem struck. SmashTV doesn't shit to the Czech Republic =/ What do i do now? I'm wondering about what i should order and from were now? I heard of some Czech Site that sells electronics in Prague but the problem is now that i dont know what it is that i should be ordering? Can Anybody help me out?Regards,-=X=- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p-cord Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Hi Xora,you should try Mikes/Joergs Shop: http://www.mikes-elektronikseite.de/shop_englisch/index.htmJust order the complete Midibox-SID kit. It has everything you'll need, besides of the PIC processor and the SID. But you can get a PIC there too, even programmed.As far as I read there they ship to everywhere in Europe.fabian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XOra Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 Hey p-cord,Thx man!! i'll be ordering this either today or tomorow. I'm going to get the Midibox-SID 6581 kit and then get an extra PIC18F452 and hope for the best, I might get an LCD and some LED's but what size shout the LCD be? or is there no real point in getting one for the uber simple kit yet?Thx again,Regards,-=X=- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p-cord Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 Hi,in my opinion, an LCD is absolutely necessary, especially for the initial debugging after you've built the unit.An LCD tells you if the Bootloader is loaded (black squares) and what MIOS actually does, like rebooting starting etc.You can get a 2x16 or 2x20 character-LCD; the 2x20 is supported by default in the MBSID app; in case you'll build the simple control-surface…Other sizes need adjustment and recompiling of the source code.For a start, you could get a cheap one without backlight, it's better than none… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XOra Posted June 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 Hey,Thx man, just went on and sumbited for my order. Just wondering but how long and whats supposed to happen now? I know that i didn't give any of my account details yet so thats cool but is he supposed to send me his account details by mail? Also is there anybody that has successfully ordered from mikes? Just wondering so i feel a little more reasured.//Order//MIDIbox SID 6581MIDI cables, 1:1, 2x 5pol DIN-plug, 2mPIC18F452LC Display 20x2 with backlightLED, red 3 mm / 50 pcs.This is my order so far for the minimal req of the mini MIDI Sid. Can you tell me what you think about the order, if theres anything else that i need or should get? Im already getting my cousin to ship over his c64 for mutilation.Regards,-=X=- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srmaietta Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 you need to make sure that the order includes one Core board and parts..~Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheater Posted June 10, 2005 Report Share Posted June 10, 2005 whats supposed to happen now?A big green bird comes flying down from the sky and takes away your newborns.Seriously though, dude, just wait. Don't be so hasty :) Just wait off. Try figuring out that stuff on your own, dang.. we both know you CAN :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XOra Posted June 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2005 Hey all,@srmaietta,The MIDIbox SID 6851 includes bot the Core kit and the SID Kit just not the SID Chip or the PIC. So that parts done. @cheater,Nah its just that i'm a little worried and would like some reasurance because i'm moving and i'm not going to be here in 3 weeks. and i'll be moving through about 4 different countries and only 1 in which i know the address, currently here. So i'm on a pretty tight schedule, otherwise i would be totally fine with the times ;) Anyway its always been helpfull for me to be a little paranoid, that way things seem to go less wrong when and if they do =)Thx for all your help again,Regards,-=X=- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analofbrotha Posted June 11, 2005 Report Share Posted June 11, 2005 High Ya'll I'm About in the same position this guy when first posting...Help i want to rock my c64..But i'm in canada and need kit and instructions.Any help and or direction would really help me out thanks :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XOra Posted June 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Hey man,When i've got myself on my feet and actually know what im talking about i'll be more then happy to help you out. But untill then just check out www.ucapps.de and click on the link for stores, mikes one ships there as well as the other one (dont remember the name =/)Regards,-=X=- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analofbrotha Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Thanks.goodluck...anything i might be able to help you with let me know..peace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanstaafl Posted June 13, 2005 Report Share Posted June 13, 2005 Yeah, in Canada, you will want to contact SmashTV, he's in Oklahoma, USA.here's the link to his site:http://avi.dezines.com/mbhp/good luckgb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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