On Sun, Feb 21, 2021 at 6:03 AM Gregory Nutt <spudan...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Greg I was thinking about going the module route so I could use the eZ80F91 > > (same chip Byron is using). Sounds like I should just start getting some of > > the parts together, the board cost is not too bad which is nice. I know a > > few other people around who would probably also be interested even outside > > of NuttX. > > Too bad you cannot get access to the Ethernet from the module.
Yeah I am thinking I might be up for doing a custom module that includes an ethernet phy then it could just drop into the existing boards. > > When you get an estimate of the cost, I might be interested. My > motivation for board work has been low lately but I haven't passed on a > retro project yet! Great! I would be happy to send one along once I have some reasonable confidence that it is working. > > An improvement might be to get better serial console support. In the > current board, there are two PS/2 connectors labeled KBD/PTR and > PTR/COM. The UART is shared with the COM PS/2 connector and a > serial-USB bridge (MCP2221A). The thing that was maddening for me was > that there was no reset button so I had to cycle power to reset. If you > don't have a the MCP2221A isolated from the reset, then you lose the > serial connection to the serial console Windows. That makes it > essentially impossible to see debug output from power-up initialization. > > I ended up removing the MCP2221Aand using the socket to connect a RS232 > converter. Perhaps it is outdated, but there is nothing like an RS232 > to keep a stable connection during bring-up. (I should have been able to > get to the UART via the PS/2 connector as well.). Yeah that would be quite frustrating. Looking at the schematic I have a kind of hacky idea how to get around it, but maybe I can do something to help with this on the module as well. It actually would have been nice if one of the GPIO pins on the MCP2221 was able to drive the reset. > The LCD is a purchased separately from the board. It is a 7" SSD1963 > LCD. Really quite nice. I suppose these are still available. You could > order them from Alibaba or from eBay at that time. We just need to make > sure that the pin arrangement is the same. I have a few already coming from China, it is the same shop I ordered them from previously so hopefully it will work out, I also ordered some of the YM2413B. --Brennan
