Sold KS MASTER - USB Programmable ROM with Auto-Switch/KickSwitch (1MB)

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pc13589

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Edit: I'm taking a break from making these, eventually I might build more :)

Selling a few USB Programmable 1MB ROMs I recently designed. They're a good replacement not only for Kickstart ROMs, but for pretty much all kinds of 40 pin 8/16bit ROMs

ksm1.jpg
It's not visible from the pictures but of course they have rounded pins to avoid damaging the socket :)

How are they different from regular EPROMs and other flash ROMs?
Regular EPROMs require a separate programmer and UV eraser, other replacement ROMs with a flash chip on board require a compatible programmer and at least one adapter.
The KS MASTER can be easily programmed by connecting it to a PC via USB with a Micro USB cable and using the "KS Programmer" software

The software is written in Python and it works on Windows, Mac and Linux. If you're experienced you can also use it from the command line, it's quite "hackable" since communication with the board is done over serial.

Running on Windows:
win.png

Running on Linux:
linux1.png

Command Line:
linux2.png

I think the only other product similar to these was the BooBip's 27C400 Emu which is apparently no longer available. Note that these are not a clone of the 27C400 Emu, they share some of the features but the circuit and firmware/software is completely different

Main Features:

Switchable 512KB Banks with Auto-Switch (aka KickSwitch)
Banks can be switched manually with an external switch or jumper wires, or automatically by holding Ctrl-Amiga-Amiga for a couple of seconds.

You can keep 2 separate versions of Kickstart in a single ROM, or maybe Kickstart and DiagROM, and easily switch between them!

Optional 1MB Mode
Defaults to 512KB mode but can be set to 1MB to hold a single larger ROM image. This effectively turns it into a 42 pin 27C800 equivalent and you just have to connect a wire from the ROM to the A18 pin of the socket (Pin 1 on the top left)

Oops Bug Fix Included (A500 Rev 5, A2000 Rev 4.2)
These can work on an A500 Rev 5 and older or A2000 Rev 4.2 and older without any adapter, there's a jumper on the board that can be moved to enable the fix and it's easily reversible, no need to cut traces or bridge jumpers with solder on the board.

No Soldering Required
All useful signals, like the external reset pin and A18 line for manual bank switching, are on the connector on top of the board. Easily accessible with common dupont wires, no need to solder anything

Wire-less Bank Switching (Experimental)
Switch between 2 Kickstart images with Ctrl-Amiga-Amiga without connecting a wire to the reset line.
If you have the option to add the wire I still recommend it because it also enables the Hot Programming feature mentioned below, it's pretty easy and you don't have to solder anything since the reset line is available on the CPU socket and in other convenient places on the motherboard, but if you're just interested in the convenience of the Auto-Switch feature you don't have to add the extra wire.

Hot Programming (Experimental)
Erase and reprogram the ROM without removing it from the socket, with the Amiga switched on

I tested the last 2 experimental features on my A500 and A1200, I currently have no way of testing them on other Amiga models/configurations so I can't 100% guarantee they will work on all systems. If you find any issues you can report them to me for future improvements to the firmware :)

Price:
55€ + shipping
60€ + shipping for new units due to increased costs of components

Not planning to make a lot more of these, probably just a few

If you're only looking for a simple Kickstart ROM replacement there are of course cheaper options, especially if you already own a programmer. These are pretty handy if you plan to experiment with different Kickstart versions, for modding purposes, etc.
Keep in mind that these are all hand soldered by me with no special equipment, due to the small size of components it takes a long time to assemble one of these and I'm also not making them in large quantities so I'm not paying "bulk prices" for components and boards

Finally here's a picture of a KS MASTER in my Amiga 500 :check:

ksm3.jpg

I later routed a short micro USB extension cable through the expansion port so now I can mess with my ROM burn different Kickstart versions and mods from the outside, without making any permanent change to the original case!


--- Edit ---

I also created a small module to program these roms from an Amiga instead of a PC. It plugs into the serial port and you can connect a KS MASTER like this:

amiprog.png

Of course this is completely optional, programming with a PC using the USB port it's still the fastest and most convenient way, it's just nice to be able to use an Amiga to make roms for another Amiga :)

The Amiga version of the software is really basic, it has no GUI at the moment, you just run it from the shell and with 2 simple commands you can erase and program the rom from a binary file

amiprog2.png

Price for the programmer module: 25€

(I only have 2 of these)
 

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Declaring interest.
Interested in one.
(Marked as sold/completed by pc13589)
 
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Declaring interest.

2 pieces please
(Marked as sold/completed by pc13589)
 
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Declaring interest.
2 if there is another batch please.
(Marked as sold/completed by pc13589)
 
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Sent PMs to nikos.rizos and grosi, the first 3 from this batch are probably gone unless one of them changes his mind

I'll probably have a few more available in a couple of weeks for Neztik (do you eat roms for breakfast? 😅) and PRS
 
Declaring interest.
(Marked as sold/completed by pc13589)
 
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I would like it without soldered pins. I want the original flat pins unless you have them. I don't want to damage the socket. Please do not write that the precision pins work perfectly, because I know that they work, but not on all sockets and not many times. Thank you.
 
Declaring interest.
Interested in two for A1200

(Interest marked as expired by pc13589)
 
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Payment received from nikos.rizos and grosi, packages are ready and will be shipped on wednesday :)

@Picard I will let you know when more are available, it'll take a while since the next ones are going to people before you in the queue
 
Declaring interest.
Interested in two for my A4000D
(Marked as sold/completed by pc13589)
 
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Declaring interest.
Declaring interest in x2 (if available)
(Marked as sold/completed by pc13589)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Item received today
That was fast, if you have any questions just send me a pm, remember to leave a feedback when you have some time please

Declaring interest.

Declaring interest in x2 (if available)
I'll let you know when they are available, more boards and components are on the way but there are other people in queue before you

While I wait I'm also working on a firmware update, here are the changes:

- Faster programming
Time to program the entire rom:
v1.0 - 6 minutes 53 seconds
v1.1 - 2 minutes 11 seconds!

- Warp speed mode

The default serial speed is 115200 baud for maximum compatibility but in case you want to reprogram the rom very frequently or just hate the "long" wait you can now switch to 921600 baud and significantly speed up the transfer

Speed comparison

v1.0v1.1 @ 115200 baudv1.1 @ 921600 baud
Reading / Verifying1:351:35 (no change)0:13
Programming6:532:111:08

At 921600 baud a program+verify cycle only takes slightly longer than a minute

- Interactive terminal
Blatantly inspired by the BooBip's 27C400 EMU 😄
I had to write my own code of course but the idea of using a generic terminal to talk to the rom and being able to program it without using my KS Programmer software sounded pretty cool so I had to implement it

Here's a preview:
term1.png

term2.png
 
Declaring interest.
Item received. Thank You

(Interest withdrawn here)
 
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I guess it's compatible with the A600. Right?
Yes the pinout is compatible, the wireless autoswitch and in circuit programming features should work as well but I can't 100% guarantee it since I don't have an A600 to test them myself at the moment

If someone reports an issue I'm happy to update the firmware and make changes to improve compatibility, you can easily update the firmware via USB with no special programmer, but hopefully that won't be necessary
 

Interest Queue

  1. nikos.rizos
  2. grosi
  3. Neztik
  4. PRS
  5. dargrz1977
  6. Picard
  7. AwakeningStar
  8. ChrisHammond
  9. dargrz1977
  10. grosi
  11. Isense
  12. highpuff
  13. nicoppc
  14. dayowalker
  15. Wrangler
  16. erique
  17. Reborn
  18. abundantmussel
  19. St233t
  20. McTrinsic
  21. Dindi
  22. bedrock
  23. McTrinsic
  24. bedrock
  25. neocdtv
  26. St233t
  27. botfixer
  28. nicode
  29. fpmpaolo
  30. dargrz1977
  31. polarstar
  32. Leoncjo
  33. neffets22
  34. mr.spiv
  35. veper
  36. gnyx
  37. jym
  38. ElectroBlaster
  39. dargrz1977
  40. PPow
  41. EagleRacing
  42. Czig
  43. atomontage
  44. II-IRON
  45. Thirty-Thirty
  46. Romel
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