Making Boards
Bad Assumption When I first started the F18A project I figured getting a minimal FPGA board to run it on would be easy. After all, I bought my fully loaded devboard for about $150, and the only thing...
View ArticleToobin’ Arcade Game
I recently restored a Toobin’ arcade coin-operated (coinop) video game. Operators have a habit of doing some of the most awful things to games, so I had to undo some damage and stupid modifications,...
View ArticleF18A PRE-ORDERS Open!
Update: March 19, 2012 I learned over the weekend that ceramic SMD capacitors cannot be reliably soldered using a soldering iron. It seems the ceramic material expands at a different rate than the...
View ArticleF18A Features
Since the F18A is now shipping (finally!), and the feature list is stable (heh, yeah right…) I need to get my website updated, and eventually write some documentation so people can use the enhance...
View ArticleMounting the F18A VGA Connector
Mounting the F18A VGA connector to your system case is *highly* recommended! The F18A is not designed to withstand any pulling on the VGA cable and requires good strain relief. One good “tug” can...
View ArticleF18A Programming Introduction
1.0 Introduction Programming the F18A is very similar to the original 9918A VDP. Because the F18A is a pin-compatible replacement for the 9918A, the host system interface and all of the 9918A core...
View ArticleF18A Pinout
Anyone interested in using the F18A in their own computer or microcontroller system, please start with the TMS9918A datasheet since the electrical interface, host CPU interface, and timing...
View ArticleF18A In-System Update
Thanks to the help of several fellow 99/4A enthusiasts (Rasmus and Tursi), I’m happy to announce an in-system software update for the F18A firmware. Currently the update program only runs on a 99/4A...
View ArticleF18A Firmware Update
After a year of work I’m happy to announce the release of the F18A V1.6 Firmware. There have been many changes (see below), most of which were driven by suggestions, wishes, and feedback. The main...
View ArticleF18A MK2
F18A MK2 Isometric Introduction The F18A MK2 is the next iteration of the 9918A VDP replacement project I started back in 2011. When I first set out to make the F18A one of my primary goals was to have...
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