P.R.E.S. AP5 - Original and Re-Design - all sold, new batch on the way

[Elminster]

I want mine in rainbow strips.

Err, this is an Acorn forum, not a Spectrum forum

Mark

I actually had the Amiga Boot screen ranbow tick in mind.

[daveejhitchins]

I'm perfectly happy to have a kit with case instead.

Kit it is . . .

Dave H

[-B-]

Hi Dave,
I was just saying to someone the other day that I was sure I asked you about a New AP5 and I should get on StarDot more often.

Well here I am and I see my name is on the list at the beginning of this thread (#18).

I am still very interested in buying one, either built or kit, its up to you, plus a case.
I can collect next time I'm over (end of May '18) or you can post it, but beware, I have moved since I got the AP6.

Right, I have several months of forum posts to get through.

Neil.

[1024MAK]

I'm perfectly happy to have a kit with case instead.

Kit it is . . .

Dave H

Mine arrived today
See the Today I Received thread...

Thanks Dave

Mark

[Elminster]

I'm perfectly happy to have a kit with case instead.

Kit it is . . .

Dave H

Mine arrived today
See the Today I Received thread...

Thanks Dave

Mark

Ditto. Minus my rainbow stripe.

[jms2]

Mine too - I have just put it together and it looks great! The extra solidity really brings puts the finishing touch to the AP5. As Dave says, it was worth it.

One thing to look out for though - one of the M3 nuts wasn't an M3 nut! It was slightly taller than the others, and didn't fit. 1/8" BSW perhaps?

[fatbob_gb]

My kit also arrived safely - The case looks very nice indeed.

[daveejhitchins]

One thing to look out for though - one of the M3 nuts wasn't an M3 nut! It was slightly taller than the others, and didn't fit. 1/8" BSW perhaps?

Hmmm! Sorry about that - They were taken from a new bag of M3 nuts from Rapid!

Dave H

[Budgie]

Hi Dave

Do you have any AP5s and cases still available please ? I’ve sent you a PM,.

Thanks

Andy

[daveejhitchins]

Do you have any AP5s and cases still available please ? I’ve sent you a PM,.

PM sent . . .

[Elminster]

I have tested the Beeb compatible user port with my AMX mouse and the hacked version of AMX Art that the genius that is Mr Barr did for me a few years back and that works fine too.

I've now got to this point as well, and have copied the contents of the Elk AMX Art disc onto the BeebSCSI HD along with the rom which I believe Stuart is referring to above. This came from here, and reports "AMX Mouse for Elk" in response to *ROMS.

However, something is still not right. The disc software runs, and so does the ROM, to the extent that I can get a pointer to appear on the screen. However, moving the mouse doesn't make the pointer move. It must be generating some interrupts though, because any movement of the mouse causes the machine to freeze, necessitating a press of break to get things going again.

EDIT: Oh hang on, this is exactly the same problem that I found back in this thread, when I was using the EUP board instead of the AP5. I've fallen into the same trap of using the "AMX Art for Elk" rom rather than the V2.1 version which was later shown to be better; but the real problem appeared to be an "evil Plus 1" symptom, for which there is no known cure...

I'll try the correct rom image first, but what really solved the problem last time was putting the ROM into an ABR board rather than EUP. I have absolutely no idea why this helped, except perhaps shorter traces affecting a marginal timing situation perhaps? This time I'm using sideways ram in the AP6, but several other options exist, which I'll explore.

Sorry for the long quote but has everything in it and a little way up the thread.

So When I do this I get the error 'AMX ROM not found at line 50'. I.e. when the run-art program runs the last thing it does is E-ART.

I am using the ART package mentioned above. 'Elk AMX Art' but using the v2.1 ROM later down the thread. Have I misunderstood this. And using the wrong package etc?

[MartinB]

Right Duncan, I’ve just re-read this thread myself (which is hard work coz that MartinB bloke doesn’t half waffle on ) and the rom you have downloaded is the correct one that I patched and it DOES work with the Elk, BUT, many of the disc-based art applications DON’T work with the Elk in conjunction with this rom which is what I think you’re experiencing. Why don’t you drop a PM to Stuart and ask what packages he successfully uses?


.

[Elminster]

Hmm. Okay I thought I followed the link to the one he used but maybe I didnt.

Also I might test the mouse interface on the Master first as it hasnt been used, so that maybe that is the issue.

Also I think jms reported an issue if he loads the ROM into cart SRAM/EPROM, perhaps I will try it in an EEPROM on AP6.

[MartinB]

No, I’m saying you do have the correct rom and it should work, just not with all the disc-based packages.

[Elminster]

No, I’m saying you do have the correct rom and it should work, just not with all the disc-based packages.

Yes. There is a link above that goes to a software package. It implied that was the package used but with the 2.1 ROM. Clearly not.

Switched to another mouse interface I have that I know was working and moved ROM off SRAM on cart to EEPROF on AP6 but no effect. So only two things left are wrong package or user port not happy. Probably the former.

[MartinB]

If you go to the small type-in I posted here, you should be able to carry out a basic mouse test. I’m assuming of course that an AP5 is providing the same configuration as does EUP but I think that’s a safe assumption....

Ignore the references to bare wires and touching them to supplies, the ditty works with a mouse connected normally to the User Port as Mark K testified a few posts further down.



.

[Elminster]

I have 2 user port to USB adaptors. the untested smallymouse2 and the hacked (by me) BBC to Amiaga to USB adaptor. Both work in user port1 on AP5. By work I means I get stars if i move in any of the 4 cardinal points.

So that sounds very promising then.

That is very helpful thanks.

[MartinB]

No worries, I’m pleased it works...

[daveejhitchins]

DaveB (Hoglet) has found an Error with the AP5 design! See this thread.

So far it doesn't look as if it's very serious - e.g. Just remove it for now, if you experience any issues with the 1MHz Bus operation (none reported, so far!) or any issues with > See above link.

Any updates on this issue will be posted in this thread.

Dave H

[daveejhitchins]

All of the first batch of AP5 now gone. And I'm already getting requests, from eBay, for more. So, second batch being considered.

One problem . . . Not enough cases for a second batch - may have to consider a 3D printed case! Thoughts?

Dave H

[Leew]

One problem . . . Not enough cases for a second batch - may have to consider a 3D printed case! Thoughts?

Well Dave, I would prefer the original case, but hey, if you haven't got them then a 3D printed plastic substitute would be ok just as long as I can get my hands on the AP5

[daveejhitchins]

PM sent . . .

Dave H

[daveejhitchins]

I'm building a second batch of AP5s and wondered if anyone has any suggestions for improvements/extras etc?

I've already added a 3 way connector for adding a BeebSCSI . . .

The AP6 or Plus 1 ROM now supports Bank Switching (for the AP5) e.g. *SRPAGE <0/1> This command removes the current ROM, switches the ROM Page and then inserts the new ROM. More details later as there are more changes!

Dave H

[mr-macrisc]

How’s the new batch coming along...

[daveejhitchins]

How’s the new batch coming along...

I've had 5 prototypes made a JLCPCB - BUT see here I'm still in discussions with them. They've made 5 PCS (with the Electron/Master edge connector) before with EXACTLY the same documentation - but this time they've decided to use my dimensions layer (which is just positional mark-up) to route-out and plate one of the connection fingers. It's worse, I've used the same format, for layers, for the past 20+ years!

I'll post the outcome in the linked (above) thread . . .

Dave H.