FB-NET. A new Ethernet netrwork adapter solution for C64/128's.

Mangelore · December 17, 2007, 01:30 PM

Hi guys,

Just in time for Christmas! Here's my latest C64/128 project.

The FB-NET is yet another Ethernet adapter for the C64/128 that's compatible with both the RR-Net and TFE (The Final Ethernet).

Any of the following memory addresses can be selected using two jumpers.
$DE00, $DE08, $DF00, $DF08.

I was inspired by the TFE project.
http://www.dunkels.com/adam/tfe/

However, I'm using a different embedded NIC. It's from Olimex and the part number is CS8900A-H
http://www.olimex.com/dev/cs8900a-h.html

My cartridge is basically a "sub board" that interfaces the Olimex CS8900A-H to the C64/128.
There's no soldering required. You simply plug the Olimex CS8900A-H into my cartridge board.

Since Olimex have a number of worldwide distributors for their products, my thinking was that users would purchase the CS8900A-H from Olimex and the FB-NET sub board from me.

It not cost effective for me to purchase a heap of these boards from Olimex, pay shippings costs and then resell these assembled. This allows me to sell the FB-NET boards as cheap as possible and keep the postage costs down since I can send these as normal letters (no parcels) due to the small size.

What do you guys think?

Cheers
Fotios

Mathias Roslund · December 17, 2007, 09:49 PM

I think you are producing too many cool toys for us all to play with

OT: Any chance you could have a go at a SID cartridge for the Plus/4 and C16?

Mark Smith · December 18, 2007, 07:58 AM

Stop it will you! I havn't even got my other toys fro you to play with yet and you go and show off another "must have" gadget :-)

Mark

Moloch · December 18, 2007, 11:37 AM

Quote from: MangeloreWhat do you guys think?

Well, I'm getting behind on purchasing your products since they keep releasing so quickly.

I'll add this one to my "after Christmas purchase list" along with the FB-3XP (both versions), FB-SS (both versions), and FB-MIDI.

Mangelore · December 18, 2007, 12:30 PM

Quote from: MolochI'll add this one to my "after Christmas purchase list" along with the FB-3XP (both versions), FB-SS (both versions), and FB-MIDI.

No worries. After Christmas is fine as I have no more 3XP expanders left. There was a lot of interest in these, especially the 2+1 version so I'll make a second batch.

Just so you guys know, the asking price for the FB-Net sub-board with the logic chip, jumpers and header socket will be AUS $10. That's about US$8.60 or 5.96 EURO (at the moment). I've also ordered a very small number of Olimex CS8900A-H header boards which I'm happy to resell at cost (plus shipping). If required I could even solder these directly to my FB-NET sub header board.

Golan Klinger · December 18, 2007, 07:36 PM

Very nice work. I'm so glad you announced this because I was going crazy keeping that one under my hat. You need to set up a subscription service whereby we just send in money and every few months you mail out a new device. It would streamline things.

You're cooking with gas now, Mangelore.

airship · December 19, 2007, 01:22 AM

Mangelore, you rock. And I think my 2008 budget may even allow me to buy a couple of your wonderful gizmos.

Mangelore · December 19, 2007, 08:44 AM

Thanks guys.

I've been playing around with the Contiki 2.1 web server. The current C128 port doesn't seem to work at 2MHz fast mode but works fine at 1MHz and 20MHz!

nikoniko · December 24, 2007, 02:33 PM

Woohoo! Thanks again for another great piece of work (my favorite so far)! While I was laid up in the hospital the last couple weeks, I finished up that file transfer utility for FB-Net & RR-Net (works under VICE), so I'll forward it to you for testing with real hardware. At the moment it doesn't do $DE00/$DE08, but I'll get that added in.

Mangelore · December 24, 2007, 04:00 PM

Hey! Good to hear from you nikoniko.

Hope you're recovering well.

Blacklord · December 24, 2007, 04:09 PM

Quote from: nikonikoWoohoo! Thanks again for another great piece of work (my favorite so far)! While I was laid up in the hospital the last couple weeks, I finished up that file transfer utility for FB-Net & RR-Net (works under VICE), so I'll forward it to you for testing with real hardware. At the moment it doesn't do $DE00/$DE08, but I'll get that added in.

Hospital ?? what happened ?

Lance

airship · December 25, 2007, 06:08 AM

Me and nikoniko down and out both at once. There's 2/3 of your posts in jeopardy, Lance.

Golan Klinger · December 25, 2007, 06:40 AM

I'll have to pickup the slack.

nikoniko · December 25, 2007, 07:25 AM

Quote from: adminHospital ?? what happened ?

Had a really bad reaction after some changes to my asthma prescription, and it took a while to recover. Thank goodness a friend went and got my laptop for me, because the lone working channel on the room TV showed nothing but a short looping video on, "How to Decide if Breastfeeding is Right for You and Your Baby."

Blacklord · December 25, 2007, 08:17 AM

Quote from: nikoniko
Quote from: adminHospital ?? what happened ?
Had a really bad reaction after some changes to my asthma prescription, and it took a while to recover. Thank goodness a friend went and got my laptop for me, because the lone working channel on the room TV showed nothing but a short looping video on, "How to Decide if Breastfeeding is Right for You and Your Baby."

And have you decided to breast feed ?

Actually I sympathise - I developed chronic asthma in 2001, it's a pain.

cheers,

Lance

airship · December 25, 2007, 03:42 PM

Hey! I'm a wheezy old geezer, too!

nikoniko · December 25, 2007, 05:10 PM

So many health issues among the users here...

Bil, just what did you guys put in those 128s??

airship · December 26, 2007, 06:17 AM

Didn't you see this message from German member wte when he tried to order 1520 plotter parts from the states?

QuotePlease be advised that this order has been cancelled because we do not ship to EU countries due to the R.O.H.S law now in effect. Note that your credit card has not been charged.
Regards,
The Electronic Goldmine

Lance then posted an explanation of the law itself:

Quote"The RoHS Directive stands for "the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment". This Directive bans the placing on the EU market of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants."

My response to that was:

QuoteAnd, of course, everyone knows that the ALPS 1520 plotter mechanism is made of nothing BUT lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), all slathered with a thick coating of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.

It's almost as though the law was written to SPECIFICALLY prohibit the import of ALPS 1520 plotter mechanisms into the E.U. Makes you think, doesn't it? Can you say 'conspiracy'?

By extrapolation, it would make sense to assume that ALL Commodore products were composed of similar noxious materials.

So now you know.

Blacklord · December 26, 2007, 07:01 AM

Doesn't hold up! I developed adult on-set asthma after several years of exclusively using PCs

airship · December 26, 2007, 07:26 AM

Oh, man, EVERYONE knows that PCs are made of MUCH worse stuff than Commodores!

wte · January 02, 2008, 12:01 AM

Quote from: airshipDidn't you see this message from German member wte [...]
By extrapolation, it would make sense to assume that ALL Commodore products were composed of similar noxious materials.
So now you know.

Ho, ho, ho! I don't have any health problems due to toxic substances and I have a lot of C= computers in my house.

WTE

airship · January 02, 2008, 03:19 AM

Well, obviously the EUROPEAN models of Commodore machines were composed of much safer materials than the US and Australian models.

Blacklord · January 02, 2008, 04:39 AM

Quote from: airshipWell, obviously the EUROPEAN models of Commodore machines were composed of much safer materials than the US and Australian models.

Australia mostly got Euro models - and Hong Kong ones - must check mine, early version of Asian flu maybe ?

Lance

Mangelore · February 01, 2008, 03:41 PM

I finally sourced a bunch of Olimex CS8900A-H boards so I'm able to supply assembled FB-NET cartridges.

More info here http://www.c64net.com/fotios/fbnet.php

Drop me a PM if interested.