ChipMusic.org - Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-03-15T22:45:58Z

Ahhhhh, I do the exact same thing, reset for a few uS, this is not enough to trigger the page swap, or at least not right after power up (Do you have power control over the cart too?) My Gen2 could remove power and float all the I/O so I could choose either page.

I apply around 100ms pulse to swap the page (this is going from memory, I can dig through my source if you like)

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-03-15T22:42:12Z

Oh, actually... ALTANE always flips the reset line at startup to make sure the cartridge is in a known state before doing any operations. This means that it should always consistently access page 2 and never 1. I always assumed that was a problem with my cart. (Which I once got sent as being faulty.) I could make it not touch the reset line so that it can access page 1 as well. In the meanwhile, you should be able to access what ALTANE wrote to the cart but by turning the power on-off-on quickly when the cart is in the *Gameboy* to move the cart to the page that the flasher wrote to.

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-03-15T22:27:59Z

Or... Just toggle the carts reset line. It is how my Joey can switch pages via the PC software... It can only switch from page 1 to 2, you need to cycle power either via removing and inserting the cart, or usb power to get back to page 1

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-03-15T21:33:43Z

Hum easy solution mod the ALTANE so that there is a push button switch that disrupts power to the cartridge.

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-03-08T07:53:21Z

Don't disconnect the ALTANE. That will make the software lose its connection to the hardware. You could still do it while it's not running. But I'm still not really fond of the "USB cable with a switch" idea. The only two known ways to externally change the page as of now are to manipulate the cartridge power supply (removing/inserting the cart and so on) and through the cart's own USB port (as EMS's own application does.) Someone did once post a trick where you would short a certain point on the cart PCB to ground to permanently activate one page. Maybe this can be done with a switch where it either connects to ground or +5V. Just a thought.

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-03-08T07:50:30Z

egr wrote:

Think there's any danger to the altane or cart by doing this?

Not to the altane but potentially a danger to data integrity on the flash cart, if the cart is battery-backed or if there are write operations occurring upon the Altane boot.

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-03-08T07:47:44Z

Think there's any danger to the altane or cart by doing this?

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-03-08T07:45:36Z

A small switch or NC bushbutton on the USB power line would probably do it, if you wanted a cleaner solution. You could just grab a USB extension cable and splice a switch into the red 5v line.

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-03-07T19:39:59Z

*double post*

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-03-07T19:39:53Z

Apeshit wrote:

Does a quick USB disconnect do the trick? I don't have one to test at the moment.

I couldn't reconnect the USB fast enough but I succeeded switching pages by pulling out the cart and slapping it back in. Good idea! Pretty fiddly but good enough for now.

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-03-07T19:23:50Z

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-03-07T18:48:41Z

I think this has already come up but is there hope for an update that can access page two of an ems64? Or possibly a manual hardware trick that could do it (like a jumper added to the cart PCB or some such)?

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2016-01-22T21:46:55Z

Also interested to get one when/if it is produced again!

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2015-09-23T19:45:57Z

Oh yeah, I forgot about the Fighter Carts! Hope things get back on track for ASM, all their products are great.

Re: Introducing ALTANE, nitro2k01's cartridge flasher project

2015-09-23T02:30:09Z

trekeyus wrote:

Is the BennVenn 256M GB Flash Cartridge supported with the current ALTANE software? I'm tempted to get one from kitsch-bent as it fully supports LSDJ unlike my everdrive with it's partial support. The cart is a GB/GBC compatible re-programmable flash cartridge with 256M (32mbytes) ROM space. it can manage up to 16 different save files on one cartridge. fully LSDJ compatible! I might hold out till you come back from your reorganization and get a fighter cartridge instead.

Funny, I just noticed those on KB tonight too. I have the same question. The BennVenn carts are great, but his flashers are fragmented and poorly supported. I also have a fightercart and it's just ROCK SOLID, but having a cheap BennVenn cart would be really nice to have around. I really hope ASM comes back soon because their products are just awesome.