Date   : Sat, 23 Jul 2005 10:27:40 +0100
From   : Sprow <info@...>
Subject: ARM copros, speech cartridges, real time clocks, etc

All,
In a recent thread I asked if anyone might be interested in a project that I
had been thinking about, and it turns out the basic answer was 'no'. No
problem.

There are a few guidelines I use to choose what to build in limited spare
time

 a) must be interesting (mentally challenging)
 b) must be of interest to others
 c) mustn't already be done by somebody else
 d) if it involves making a PCB then I quite like to recoup the costs of 
    the setup charges

though I should point out that making a profit isn't a criteria - indeed
none have yet!

So maybe I should list a few other things I've been thinking about?

As before if you think you'd be interested in buying one eventually please
email me off list (to reduce archive clutter), and I'll collate the results
over the next few weeks before announcing them. Lively discussion or extra
suggestions welcome on the list of course!

Here goes:

1.Real time clock module
 * Y2K compliant real time clock chip (as used on MiniB)
 * 8k of flash memory, or maybe EPROM
 * Squeezed onto a little carrier PCB the same size as a ROM
 * No soldering or flying leads required for installation
 * Supporting software to add *TIME/*CONFIGURE/OSWord 14 and 15
 * Electron, Compact, A/B, B+
 * Optional interception of BRKV to add TIME$ keyword to BASIC II
 * Probable cost about £25 each
 * Development time about 2 months

2.ARM7 coprocessor board
 * 75MHz 32 bit ARM7 with 256k RAM, 256k ROM (expandable)
 * Runs BASIC V unmodified
 * Simple supervisor prompt skeleton Tube OS
 * PCB can be fitted into cheese wedge box, or Master internal sockets
 * Cheese wedge plastic cases not available
 * Probable cost about £70 each
 * Development time about 6 months

3.Speech cartridge for Master/Electron
 * Recycles TMS5220/TMS6100 speech kit
 * Extra firmware squeezed into Doomsday ROM
 * All supplied on a single cartridge
 * Plastic cartridge cases not available
 * Probable cost about £35 each
 * Development time about 2 months

4.Second serial port
 * Project already exists but hardware not available
 * See http://www.sprow.co.uk/bbc/buildit.htm
 * Probable cost about £25 each
 * Development time about 0 months

5.DOSFS talking to GoMMC
 * Rip out the formatter and 1770 driver from DOSFS
 * Add code to handle FAT16 on multimedia cards for GoMMC
 * Access DOS/Windows long filename format MMCs natively
 * Probable cost about £20 each
 * Development time about 3 months

Specifications are flexible, cost and time estimates may vary!
Sprow.