USB & Networking solution for Amiga 4000 in 2023?

[PacificState]

I've acquired a battery-rotted Amiga 4000 and, when it's up and running, am looking to add USB and networking to it. I've used a combo of the X-Surf 100 and Rapid Road board years ago but I think the RR is no longer in production.

What's the best networking/USB solution in 2023 - would it be to post a request for a Rapid Road on the Wanted forum (I think the X-Surf card is still available?), or something else? The ZZ9000 would appear to check all the boxes and more, but I'm not sure that the networking & USB support on there is well regarded(?). Thanks!

 

[Unimatrix]

I use the ZZ9000 in my 3000. For networking via Ethernet and Roadshow (licensed software), it works flawlessly.

There were issues in the early days with the ZZ usb, so I use a Freeway adaptor and (licensed) software that comes with each Freeway product. There is an excellent source of Freeway cards listed in this Sales forum. I do not know their current availability.

 

[matt3k]

The best performing solutions will be:
1. X-Surf100
2. Ariandne 1

If you have the X-Surf, Roadshow is the way to go. If the have the Ariandne 1 you also can use Miami with the Ariandne MNI Driver or Roadshow.

If you want USB, the Xsurf100 with RR is the only way to go. Just be careful with the USB. Read up on what you should plug into it.

The ZZ9000 works sorta, the NIC is really slow compared to the other options and USB doesn't do much. I really like my ZZ9000, but it really needs to be finished. The Audio and video are pretty solid though. I haven't check for updates on the ZZ in awhile so they might be fixed, although I doubt it.

 

[BlindGerMan]

Well, the Freeway Triton is a very food USB card...

 

[PacificState]

Thanks! Based on my prior experience, I will go for a RapidRoad.

 

[Xanxi]

Deneb USB card + USB ethernet dongle is what i use since 12 years with great satisfaction.

Alternatively, the new Triton Pro USB board should be almost as good as Deneb.

 

[PacificState]

Hmm - I posted over on the Wanted Hardware thread, but I’m taking another look at the Freeway in the meantime.

One thing I can’t figure out - is the 100 euro difference between the Lite and the Triton worth it? The delta seems to be the flash(?).

 

[Xanxi]

The flash allows just like the Deneb to load multiple things to complete the rom (usb stack to allow to boot from usb, rom patches such as scsi.device or preparemul). The Deneb also has a flashrom, hence my A4000 boots straight into the os without any reboot.