Troubleshooting ABI Boardmaster 4000

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dorkshoei

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The datasheet says it outputs csync on 20 THAT CAN BE USED to generate a rs-170 compatible signal. I don't read that as the chip actually generates comp video itself.

I'm in the UK for Xmas so finally got to see the ABI. It does nothing but spin the fan. No floppy activity but someone mentioned it won't progress that far if the rtc battery has failed. I won't be able to debug till I get home, based on above, I'll need an mda monitor or construct a circuit to generate composite video from VIDEO and CSYN outputs.dorkshoei2016-12-28 16:07:25
 
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dorkshoei

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Okay. So I have v1.00 software on my ABI Boardmaster (serial #15, no LCD).

I dumped them, they are on two NEC 27C1001 (1 megabit)

I was going to update, reading the txt file for 3.10 I came across the following:

NOTE: This document is applicable to upgrading a BoardMaster 4000 system which is already fitted with version 2.XX or 3.XX software. If your

system is fitted with version 1.XX software, contact our product support department for advice.

Clearly ABI won't be giving me any advice. Anyone here know if an upgrade is even possible. v3.1 uses a 27C020 which is obviously a 2 megabit device.

dorkshoei2017-01-03 22:13:49
 
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dorkshoei

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This is probably because the newer firmware is bigger and requires 27C2001s
Click to expand...
I realize this.

Is an update even possible? Both 27C1001 and 27C020 are 32 pin packages, the warning from ABI seems to preclude a simple swap, new PAL? or maybe I'm reading too much into the note?

dorkshoei2017-01-03 22:16:52
 
Ace`

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I don't know of anyone else that has the 'non lcd' version but I don't think you need to change the PAL as the only mention of changing the PAL I've ever seen was for when using the pc software (which still hasn't been found).

ABI did offer an upgrade for the DDS40xp where you had to ship it to them and basically turned it into a BM 4000, I remember seeing pictures maybe on j+.

Anyway I don't think it could be that drastic? I guess the only way to know for sure is to try 3.10 and see.
 
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dorkshoei

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In case this helps anyone, the correct 120v jumpering for the early revision UUT psu is two jumpers, 1->2, 3->4 (240v is one jumper 2->3).dorkshoei2017-01-20 18:41:57
 
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dorkshoei

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Ace` said:
Anyway I don't think it could be that drastic? I guess the only way to know for sure is to try 3.10 and see.
Click to expand...

Why the warning then? ABI supplied physical EPROMS for upgrades I assumed, not just data. So if you can just remove the 27C1001 and insert the 27C020 there would seem no need for any warning.
 
Ace`

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Who knows maybe advice meant contact us and we'll sell you on a nice new lcd upgrade. I think if it needed a PAL they would've just included it with the eproms.

Edit: I was wrong, DEC-401 PAL is for pre 2.00 firmware and DEC-402 upgrade is needed for the later versions.
smiley9.gif

Ace`2017-01-07 17:16:10
 
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dorkshoei

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Ok. So my unit seems to work. I bought a GBS-8219 for a good price (US$124 shipped). Image is not the greatest, I'll try a different LCD. The GBS-8219 is way better than the 8200. The keyboard I reprogrammed (Quantel) works also. Just need to make some ICT cables.

I'll try socketing the PAL and upgrading from v1.0 to v3.0 in the next day or so.

I'd like to extend a big thanks to Ace and Porchy for their help!





edit: PAL not PROM.

dorkshoei2017-01-20 18:43:54
 
DanP

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This is great work. I wonder if there's any way to retrofit what you've done into the units with LCD's? Really wish the Masterlink software could be found, would love to see what you can do from a PC...
 
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dorkshoei

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Yes, that's very easy. What I've done isn't complex. My unit is a very early one (#15). Later units that had the LCD still had the video chip present until Dec 1993 according to the manual, when they stopped installing the CRT9053 chip. This is the only source I've found for them, not cheap.

Alas, my unit only works with v1.0 and the original unmarked PAL16L8 installed. Garbage on screen if I try and use the DEC402 pal and v3.10 roms (in any of the 4 combinations). Ace has been helping me a lot, he recently picked up #18 and it has DEC402 pal and I think v2.5. I'm guessing the previous owner followed the step in the v3.10 upgrade instructions which says "NOTE: This document is applicable to upgrading a BoardMaster 4000 system which is already fitted with version 2.XX or 3.XX software. If your system is fitted with version 1.XX software, contact our product support department for advice".

We have already discovered that on his board the 47uF 25V electrolytic caps at c8 and c14 (next to the PSU header) seem to have been removed, and seem unpopulated on the images of newer rev boards on this thread. They are present on my PCB. I suspect that these and other board changes are needed in addition to the DEC402 PAL and v3.1 EPROMS. I've sent Ace some hi res pics of my board so hopefully he can spot the differences from his.

I can't thank Ace/Paul enough for his help! I would not have got this far without his generosity!

dorkshoei2017-01-20 18:47:34
 
Ace`

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Thanks for the kind words Tony.
smiley1.gif


I did just email you but in short I think the only problem is that the 402 jed file you're using is meant for a gal 16v8 and not a pal16l8. I don't know if it's easy to convert it with software to work with a standard pal? but probably just easier to pick up a gal or pull one off a scrap board.
 
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dorkshoei

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Does anyone have a spare mainboard for an ABI 4000 (running v2/v3) they would sell? Or know of anyone who does?

Working preferred but I'd take non-working/complete.

I'd a) like a backup b) like to examine to see if I can figure out what is different from my v1 board (which won't boot with v2/newer and updated PAL).

I'll be back in the UK from April 9th to 16th so was "hoping" to find something.

dorkshoei2017-04-03 17:17:29
 
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dorkshoei

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http://www.jammarcade.net/files/Equipment/Firmware/ABI/bm4k-310.zip

Can anyone verify that the EPROM data in the above zip is correct for v3.10.

My first ABI unit had v1.00 and I was totally unable to upgrade to v3.10 even after burning the new PAL.

I just got a second unit. This second was running v2.21 (2x 27C2001) and has the DEC402 PAL. According to the ABI documentation, upgrading to v3.10 should be a simple matter of burning 2 new EPROMS.

I still had the v3.10 EPROMS (2x 27C020) from my previous upgrade attempt. I verified they still matched the zip contents but the new unit will not boot with them.

My Elnec programmer had no issue verifying the new 27C020 EPROMS but it was suggested they were somehow incompatible with the ABI. To test this I erased and reprogrammed the 27C020s using the v2.21 data. The unit booted fine using v2.21 on the 27C020s.

So I re-downloaded v3.10 and reprogrammed the two 27C020. Same outcome. Unit will not boot.

This are the checksums I see for the contents of the zip file:

bm40.u2

CRC32Bdc5f0b8f
CRC32cafc16c9
SHA18dc9d2eaa1c7298d1b30d57f4744a0907c5ed61b
FLUKE SIGC72F
CHECKSUMD698

bm41.u3

CRC32B544f16a9
CRC325f4c72c6
SHA1d5daf778314f9313b3634395da4d9fd24bdc7d9e
FLUKE SIGD9E9
CHECKSUM053B

dorkshoei2018-10-07 15:54:04
 
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dorkshoei

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backflipper said:
From memory upgrading to 3.1 required a hardware mod as well.

I had some documentation here:

link
Click to expand...

Steve. That same text file is in the zip file. It infers a hardware change from upgrading from earlier than v2.0 but I see nothing that would indicate a hardware change when going from v2.21 to v3.10.

Ace` said:
Have you tried 3.00? there's not a huge difference and that would rule out a software issue.

http://www.jammarcade.net/wiki/index.php?title=ABI_Boardmaster_4000_Tester

Also might be worth trying some 27C040s with the data doubled if you don't have any other 020s to try.
Click to expand...

I'll try v3.00 (though some additional clarity from Retromaniac2 might make this pointless). I'll order some more chips also.

Retromanic2 said:
Checked the data, all Ok from zip file.

Checksum Ic 40 U2 018AD698

Checksum Ic 41 U3 019C053B
Click to expand...

Hi. What exactly are you saying? That you removed the 2 chips from your ABI, read them using a device programmer and their checksum compares to the contents of the zip file? If so, did you do a full full verify?

dorkshoei2018-10-07 15:55:30
 
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dorkshoei

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3.0 doesn't work either when programmed onto the 27C020. I'm going to try 2.73 next (http://www.jammarcade.net/files/Equipment/Firmware/ABI/bm4k-273.zip) but I'm juggling this and taking care of 2 and 4yo :)

As I said, 2.21 (read from the original 27C2001) works correctly when programmed onto the 27C020

Pictures attached of the installed PAL and what I see at boot with V3.00 and V3.10

IMG_20181005_132530_lo.jpg


IMG_20181007_092842_lo.jpg


dorkshoei2018-10-07 17:45:27
 
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