A new version of the firmware for the interface 1541 Ultimate II+and 1541 Ultimate II is released.

Release notes Ultimate-II+ v3.1a rev 495:

• USB fixes:
  • No more blocking timeouts, that may hang indefinitely
  • Fix for a bug accessing USB2LAN adapters
• Other:
  • U2 audio output fixed; as it was harsh and ugly.
  • Small bug fixes.

How to update?

• For the 1541 Ultimate-II:
  • Navigate to the unzipped file ‘update_audio_495.u2u’ or ‘update_dual_drive_495.u2u’ and select “Run Update”
• For the 1541 Ultimate-II+:
  • Navigate to the update_495.u2p file, and select “Run Update”.

Download:

• 1541 Ultimate II+ v3.1a rev 495 (1208)
• 1541 Ultimate II v3.1a rev 495 (1139)

source: facebook.com 1541ultimate.net

DiagROM is now OpenSource and is avaible at: https://github.com/ChuckyGang/DiagROM

source: diagrom.com

What is DiagROM?

DiagROM is a diagnostic tool for the amiga computers.

And it is to be used on defective machines, trying to help no-boot situations etc.

You simply replace the Kickstart roms in the Amiga with the DiagROM. and when poweron. your Amiga will start a diagnostic software. It will try to dump info on the serialport (and actual menus etc aswell) while also trying on the screen.

Changelog:

• A lot of internal changes.
• But changed keyboardhandling in “Manual Edit” mode, hopefully keyboard works better now.
• Chipmemdetect at startup does more tests to capture more biterrors.
• Also added tests if CPU can do odd/eveb reads and writes. Request by Terriblefire.
• Added a testpicture as GFX Test
• Added test for RTC Chip, reads both types you have to know what chip is in your machine.
• Added a experimental Autoconfig support for Zorro II boards and memory, Remember that you can only run this ONCE.
• Autoconfigcode is based on Terriblefires code with addons by me.
• Audiotest now includes several notes and waveforms and also a module.

Updatehistory:

• 2017-04-15: Added Support for OKI Chipset in RTC Test
  • Added (somewhat experimental) support for Autoconfig for Z2 boards.
  • Must say thanx to Terriblefire for autoconfig code. (with some changes by my)
  • Added test at startup to see if CPU can do odd/even byte read and writes
  • Bumped version to V0.9 – Next Stable release
  • Released while being at the Revision demoparty.
•  2017-02-25: Moved mainmenu alternatives to make space for more maintest-menus. also added some for future use.
  • Started on Others tests/RTC Test for the moment only showing ricoh RTC chip (A4k etc)
  • Removed temprary debugfunction added the 18:th.
• 2017-02-18: Minor changes. sometimes when exiting a testscreen you got to the mainmanu instead of the submenu. cleaned up now.
  • also added a fakefastmem allocation at the boot so you can run stuff in fakefast by pressing LBM at poweron if needed.
  • TEMPORARY DEBUGFUNCTION: while dumping serialport at beginnning, screen also flickers while doing a serial timeout.
  • this is to figure out if machine still runs to veryfy I can do serialstuff (and detect failures) if paula is missing.
  • will be removed soon as it screws up onscreen colorcodes.
• 2017-02-15: Added a testpicture, testscreen is moved in menu and will still bug. this will be reworked soon.
• 2017-02-04: Simple audiotest is now improved, it now plays different waveforms, I have checked the frequencys with my Rigol scope.
  • But 20.6Hz in my headphones sounds weird, maybe should remove it in the test. the only thing not working there now is setting volume.
• 2017-01-30: In Manual edit: added when using “goto memoryaddress” when pressing x it clears the string totally. Also hopefully fixed keyboardbug making
  • it more or less impossible to use keyboard on some machines.
  • Fixed bug showing strange flickering spritebugs random
  • Changed that in initial chipmemdetecting it checks more combinations of bits, this will make detect slower (due to serial output) but will detect more
  • biterrors.
  • TEMPORARY function: pressing fire/mousebutton in joystickport while poweron will totally disable serialoutput. this is to be able to run with broken
  • Paula. Will look into a better solution. so function will maybe be removed.
  • Added a testmodule, A groupmember will make a chipmodule for me later to have here. Now using the classic “Echoing”
• 2017-01-06: Long time since last update.  Hollidays etc.  Anyway some minor internal fixes and a basic low-res testscreen added.

Download: DiagoROM v0.9 Stable (1181)

source: diagrom.com

A new version of the firmware for the interface Ultimate II+ is released. This version runs ONLY on the Ultimate II+ cartridge.

Release notes Ultimate-II+ v3.1 rev 474:

• USB fixes:
  • support for sticks that do not reliably reply to the ‘inquiry’ command
  • Byte alignment issue fixed when writing. This caused corrupted G64s to be written sometimes
  • Support for composite devices added
  • Added support for USB keyboards, to navigate the Ultimate browser menu

• Incorporated patches from Markus & Henning, including, but not limited to:
  • Audio squeal fix, speaker volume addition
  • Ultimate DOS V1.1 with added commands
  • Added Home Directory support
  • Added support for GeoRAM

• IEC fixes:
  • IEC now operates properly on the bus, when it is alone (disabled 1541 drives)
  • IEC filename fixes; saving a file to IEC adds the right extension and also removes the extension when loading directory
  • IEC should now work with JiffyDOS  (not yet supporting the JiffyDOS protocol)

• UltiCopy is working again!
• Small fix in TCP support (TCP hangup on retransmission)
• Other small fixes:
  • Save disk twice bug fixed
  • Fixed load errors on tape adapter cable with some USB 3.0 cables
  • Keyboard “racekeys” fixed
  • Reduced Link Up time for the Ethernet port
  • Ultimax mode ROMs now allow video data in ROM

How to update?

• Browse to the U2P firmware file on the USB storage and run it from the context menu.

Download: Ultimate-II+ Firmware v3.1 rev 474 (1258)

source: facebook.com 1541ultimate.net

Vampire GOLD2 Core Released for V600 v2 & V500 v2.

Changelog:

• AMMX greatly improved.
• Added CPU counters.
• Added TURTLE mode.
• Modified PCR register. 68080 now acts as a 060.
• Modified MOVEC Rc,Rn (reads in User mode and Writes in Supervisor mode)
• Improved some loops patterns.
• Improved self-modifying code support.
• Improved memory controller to be full 32-bit.
• Improved HDMI core.

Also, SAGA Driver package has been updated to v0.11 to accomodate new things.

Download: Vampire Core & Saga Driver (1473)

source: apollo-accelerators.com

It was released a new OS Update for the EverDrive N8 NES Flash Cartridge (Nintendo NES) by Krikzz. The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Changelog:

• Fixed MMC4 (glitches in Fire Emblem)
• New mappers support. 31, 137, 138, 139, 141, 147, 168
• Removed “audio mix vol” option. Now it always in “Hi” state.
• Removed “Mapper info” menu due the lack of memory space.
• Minor bugfix.

Download: -EverDrive N8 NES OS Update v14 (1360)

source: krikzz.com

What is DiagROM?

DiagROM is a diagnostic tool for the amiga computers.

And it is to be used on defective machines, trying to help no-boot situations etc.

You simply replace the Kickstart roms in the Amiga with the DiagROM. and when poweron. your Amiga will start a diagnostic software. It will try to dump info on the serialport (and actual menus etc aswell) while also trying on the screen.

Updatehistory:

• 2016-10-22: Fixed bugs in new Chipmemdetection that made it not detect any chipmem if there was missing/Broken chipmem in the beginning. Added errorhandling in the startprocess, so it can show on serialport if there was a exceptionerror. also will show colorcodes on screen.  done some smaller bigfixes. Will bump versionnumber and this will be the stable version.  It will take a while until next stable version is bumped. Need to do floppy, serial, paralell tests etc before that will happen. but you always have the daily version.
• 2016-10-12: New Chipmem detection now handles shadowram so it should stop detecting memory instead of giving false 2MB Chip. IF no Chipmem avaible and machine can detect fastmem (NON autoconfig. more or less only A3000/4000 motherboardmem) it will now start using fastmem only. (screen flickers in different colors instead of printing text, nullmodem only) Fixed addresserrorbugs at CIA and joystickport tests on machines with 68000CPU. also should have correct CIA timing on slow machines. IF fastmemshadowram is detected during memorytests, test will exit.  MANUAL test have a option to disable that test.
• 2016-10-07: LONG time no updates.  Familystuff.  Anyway. decided to do a total redo of initcode especially chipmemdetection. Detection is slower, but progress is printed on serialport so you can see address checked and if failure (in the beginning of the detection)  you will see what it wrote and what is read to help debugging of chipmemproblems. Screen should flicker in green while detecting.        drawback is that some tests (cia and joyport tests) now generates an addresserror. Will have a look of that.

Download: DiagoROM v0.8 Stable (1104)

source: diagrom.com

Ikari has released a new firmware for the SD2Snes Flash Cartridge (Super Nintendo/Famicom). The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Changelog:

• Reworked the in-game hook code again, squeezing out a couple more CPU cycles – compatibility improved further
• BS-X: new bsx page file by LuigiBlood!
  • contains a proper channel map, notably fixes Fuurai no Shiren: Surara o
  • sukue and most likely more games
  • enables a great number of town features
• BS-X: better detection for script-type ROMs (e.g. various magazines)
• Cx4 SKIP instruction timing sped up a bit. Core felt a bit too slow. (this is a makeshift “fix” until I implement the proper Cx4 instruction timing I recently figured out)
• Fixes:
  • fixed occasional black screen after soft reset (L+R+Select+Start)
  • in-game hook memory area visibility quirks fixed in various situations, notably fixes BS Kirby no Omochabako: Pinball
  • BS-X: fix PSRAM corruption on SNES WRAM writes, fixes a number of games, notably BS Kirby no Omochabako: Pinball (tough one)
  • PPU2 H/V count odd/even read flag is reset on ROM load, this fixes games that depend on it when run after games that leave it in a dirty state – notably audio glitches and freezes in Super Punch-Out when run after Fuurai no Shiren.
  • SPC Player: Fixed a long-standing transfer corruption bug that occurred because the original bulk transfer routine didn’t account for CPU stalls by HDMA (which is abundant in the sd2snes menu). This fixes occasionally missing instruments, corrupted samples etc.
  • fixed an occasional deadlock on bootup where the menu would hang at the “Loading…” screen.
  • fixed hard freeze when selecting a file immediately after disabling the “Hide file extensions” option
  • fixed persistent hard freeze in recent games list handling when running games with long path names (> ~120 characters)
  • revert DAC I2S timing to pre-v0.1.7c behaviour, hopefully reducing audio glitches for sd2snes Rev.G units
  • fixed corrupted file list display after playing an SPC file with a scrolled file name
• Cosmetic changes:
  • “Loading” window is replaced by status bar notification to be less
  • disruptive with very short load times
  • configuration settings no longer have the wrong color when changed

Download:

• SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7d (893)
• SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7d (Sources) (859)
• SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7d (Changelog) (929)

source: sd2snes.de

A new version of the firmware for the interface Ultimate II+ is released. This version runs ONLY on the Ultimate II+ cartridge.

Ultimate-II+ fixes: 3.0c rev 423:

• Fixed speaker disable
• Fixed G64 loading
• Fixed IEC for use with JiffyDOS and single byte fetches
• Increased output volume on codec output
• Auto audio / REU select for MOD player (yet to do for SID player)

How to update?

• Browse to the U2P firmware file on the USB storage and run it from the context menu.

Download: Ultimate-II+ Firmware v3.0c rev 423 (1140)

source: facebook.com 1541ultimate.net

Fortunately a year ago i have also updated the CPLD code (Xilinx) of the Ultimate 1MB to version v2, needed for this update!

Gallery:

source: atariage.com

Ikari has released a new firmware for the SD2Snes Flash Cartridge (Super Nintendo/Famicom). The upgrade instructions can be found here.

Changelog:

• major overhaul of the in-game hook code, with more help from the FPGA, to significantly reduce CPU footprint. This improves hook compatibility with a variety of games.
• in-game hook: avoid disruption of manual controller reads (fixes controls in Super Star Wars games)
• new option: “Hide file extensions” (effective after next directory change)
• do not silently fail to load saved games when the sd2snes/saves folder does not exist (create the folder instead)
• do not silently fail to load/save cheat files when the sd2snes/cheats folder does not exist (create the folder instead)
• Cx4 core now runs at exactly 20Mhz
• fixes:
  • MSU1: avoid missed control register status changes on rapid rewrites (fixes FF3 Dancing Mad, Zelda FMV missing audio)
  • fix auto region patch timing (hopefully)
  • fix DSP1 header detection (fixes Ballz 3D JPN)
  • add reset hook to boot games on start of frame only (fixes Boogerman PAL)
  • clear entire SPC700 RAM (do not spare IPL area) – fixes echo artifacts in many games
• minor cosmetic changes:
  • resize SPC player loading window
  • prevent flickering letters on System Information screen

Download:

• SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7c (937)
• SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7c (Sources) (915)
• SD2Snes Firmware v0.1.7c (Changelog) (1560)

source: sd2snes.de

Below the post of the author on Atariage Forum.

A new firmware and flashtool is availible for Sys-Check V2 series.

The new flashtool now supports both Sys-Check PCBs equipped with a SST39SF010A flash chip (V2.1 and V2.2). When you start the flashtool, it will ask you which version you have. To be absolutely sure, the flashtool shows a simplified graphic view of both versions. I think, everybody can handle it :)

Of course the flashtool (and all other documents) are written in german and english.

Also there´s a new firmware V1.4 out. This firmware can be used with ALL Sys-Check versions – also with the old V2.0 (without flash). Owners of the V2.0 must burn the 16 KB firmware image into a 27128 EPROM. All other please use the flashtool to update their Sys-Check.

V1.4 has this minor changes:

• Sys-Check can be used with the U1MB expansion.
• The new version first checks the whole memory (to be more exact… the first 48 KByte) and then displays the defective bits (if there are any…)
• When bad memory within the first 48 KB is found, the upper 16 KB will not be tested.
• If memory is fine, OS-ROM will be tested as before.
• If both tests are fine, then pressing START after this will set Sys-Check into endless loop test mode. Memory and OS-ROM are tested infinite – until any error occurs.
• During memory tests the background will be coloured red if defective bits were detected.

Download: Sys-Check Firmware & Tools v2.2 (1065)

source: atariage.com

A new version of the firmware for the interface 1541 Ultimate II is released. This version runs only on the 1541 Ultimate II cartridge (new fpga).

Release notes 3.0 beta 7:

r297 | gideonz | 2016-04-15 21:27:25 +0200 (Fri, 15 Apr 2016)

Download: 1541 Ultimate II Firmware v3.0 Beta 7 (1270)

source: 1541ultimate.net

Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports:

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.8.2a

• HD floppy disk format issue corrected : write buffer size corrected.

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.0.8.2a (1181)

source: hxc2001.com

Jean-François DEL NERO (who’s behind the HxC SD Floppy Emulator) recently has released a version of the HxC emulator firmware that is compatible with the STM32 chip used in the Gotek floppy emulators.

This means that the great functionality of the HxC SD emulator is now available on cheaper and more widely available hardware.

The bootloader to convert the Gotek floppy drive in HxC compatible must be purchased on the website HXC 2001 by sending an email to Jean-François DEL NERO. The price of the bootloader is one-off 10 Euro per Gotek that you want to update. Future updates of the software are free and can be made from a USB stick

The HXC Usb (Gotek) firmware supports:

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.8.1a

• Last selected image save issue corrected.

Release notes Firmware USB HxCFloppyEmulator v3.0.8.0a

• “Autoboot”/ File selector mode :
  • Fast backward/forward mode : Keep the button pressed to speed up the image change.
  • Press both buttons in the same time to jump the autoboot/file selector image.
• Indexed mode :
  • Fast backward/forward mode : Keep the button pressed to speed up the image change.
  • Press both buttons in the same time to jump the DSKA0000 image.
• Up to 1000 indexed images (DSKA0000-DSKA0999).

Download: USB Stick STM32 (Gotek) HxC Firmware v3.0.8.1a (1037)

source: hxc2001.com