Building a REX - Revision history

Hackerb9: /* Program the CPLD */ Add mirror for JED file.

2026-03-06T03:44:29Z

Program the CPLD: Add mirror for JED file.

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:44, 6 March 2026
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	Now we need to flash the CPLD (Xilinx) with the '''.jed''' file. This configures the blank CPLD into a functional circuit that actually does something.		Now we need to flash the CPLD (Xilinx) with the '''.jed''' file. This configures the blank CPLD into a functional circuit that actually does something.

	*Get the '''.jed''' file from [http://www.club100.org/memfiles/index.php?&direction=0&order=&directory=Steve%20Adolph/REX/info here].		*Get the '''.jed''' file from [http://www.club100.org/memfiles/index.php?&direction=0&order=&directory=Steve%20Adolph/REX/info here]. [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bkw777/REX_Classic/refs/heads/master/VHDL/rexbrd/rexbrd.jed mirror]

	*Connect the jtag, 5vdc, and PORT_EN jumper.		*Connect the jtag, 5vdc, and PORT_EN jumper.

Bkw at 03:24, 13 November 2023

2023-11-13T03:24:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:24, 13 November 2023
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	*[http://bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?title=LaddieCon#LaddieAlpha LaddieAlpha]		*[http://bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?title=LaddieCon#LaddieAlpha LaddieAlpha]
	:The rex firmware updater needs a TPDD server.		:The rex firmware updater needs a TPDD server.
	:~~dlplus~~ and mComm above are both tpdd servers, which come with tpdd client installers, and previously you used to be able to just use one of those packages for everything.		:dl2 and mComm above are both tpdd servers, which come with tpdd client installers, and previously you used to be able to just use one of those packages for everything.
	:But there is a bug in the latest REX build 254 files, such that it only works (reliably) with LaddieAlpha as the TPDD server.		:But there is a bug in the latest REX build 254 files, such that it only works (reliably) with LaddieAlpha as the TPDD server.
	:But LaddieAlpha does not come with any dos installer.		:But LaddieAlpha does not come with any dos installer.
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	The original directions for that are here: [http://bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?title=REX_Release_4.9 4.9 update directions].		The original directions for that are here: [http://bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?title=REX_Release_4.9 4.9 update directions].

	Here are explicit/literal example directions to do that using [https://github.com/bkw777/~~dlplus dlplus~~] on a Mac, Linux, FreeBSD, or other unix pc.<br>		Here are explicit/literal example directions to do that using [https://github.com/bkw777/dl2 dl2] on a Mac, Linux, FreeBSD, or other unix pc.<br>

	(For Windows: instead of ~~dlplus~~,		(For Windows: instead of dl2,
	:Download & unzip the various files manually with a browser instead of cutting & pasting the wget & unzip commands.		:Download & unzip the various files manually with a browser instead of cutting & pasting the wget & unzip commands.
	:use [https://github.com/bkw777/tsend tsend.ps1] for the bootstrap in place of "~~dlplus~~ -~~vb ..~~."		:use [https://github.com/bkw777/tsend tsend.ps1] for the bootstrap in place of "dl -v -b FILE.100"
	:use [http://bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?title=LaddieCon#LaddieAlpha LaddieAlpha] for the TPDD server in place of "~~dlplus~~ -vu")		:use [http://bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?title=LaddieCon#LaddieAlpha LaddieAlpha] for the TPDD server in place of "dl -v -u")

	Back up any files off of M100. M100 will be wiped.		Back up any files off of M100. M100 will be wiped.
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	Power on the M100		Power on the M100

	'''Install ~~dlplus~~ on a PC:'''<br>		'''Install dl2 on a PC:'''<br>
	On the PC, in a terminal window.		On the PC, in a terminal window.
	$ git clone git@github.com:bkw777/~~dlplus~~.git		$ git clone git@github.com:bkw777/dl2.git
	$ cd ~~dlplus~~		$ cd dl2
	$ make all && sudo make install		$ make all && sudo make install

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	There is a timing/race-condition bug in the TPDD routines in the REX flasher util, in versions after 4.9 build 162, whereby it doesn't work reliably with all TPDD emulators on all host machines. In fact, it also does not work with a real TPDD drive.		There is a timing/race-condition bug in the TPDD routines in the REX flasher util, in versions after 4.9 build 162, whereby it doesn't work reliably with all TPDD emulators on all host machines. In fact, it also does not work with a real TPDD drive.

	Steve has admitted that he only tests against LaddieAlpha himself, and so that is the only TPDD server that is garanteed to work (or rather, it's the only one he's likely to care about any bug reports). This is unfortunate, because for instance it complcates bootstrapping directions like these, because LaddieAlpha does not include any DOS bootstrapper. So you have to use ~~dlplus~~ or mComm to get TEENY or TS-DOS installed, and then use LaddieAlpha just for RF*49.CO		Steve has admitted that he only tests against LaddieAlpha himself, and so that is the only TPDD server that is garanteed to work (or rather, it's the only one he's likely to care about any bug reports). This is unfortunate, because for instance it complcates bootstrapping directions like these, because LaddieAlpha does not include any DOS bootstrapper. So you have to use dl2 or mComm to get TEENY or TS-DOS installed, and then use LaddieAlpha just for RF*49.CO

	MOST of the time, any TPDD server will actually work fine as long as the host machine isn't slow. But I have an old pentium-m laptop runing ubuntu 18.04 that would not work with anything but LaddieAlpha. ~~dlplus~~ actually worked fine for everything else, it's only RF149.CO that didn't work, and only versions after build 162.		MOST of the time, any TPDD server will actually work fine as long as the host machine isn't slow. But I have an old pentium-m laptop runing ubuntu 18.04 that would not work with anything but LaddieAlpha. dl2 actually worked fine for everything else, it's only RF149.CO that didn't work, and only versions after build 162.

	So, for simplicity I'll use ~~dlplus~~ in the visible directions below, but for reference, here are directions to use LaddieAlpha for this stage.		So, for simplicity I'll use dl2 in the visible directions below, but for reference, here are directions to use LaddieAlpha for this stage.

	$ mkdir LaddieAlpha		$ mkdir LaddieAlpha
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	$ unzip M100_OPTION_ROMS.zip		$ unzip M100_OPTION_ROMS.zip

	'''Use ~~dlplus~~ to start a TPDD server'''		'''Use dl2 to start a TPDD server'''
	$ dl -vu		$ dl -vu

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	F8 back to menu.		F8 back to menu.

	Leave ~~dlplus~~ running on PC while you load more rom images.		Leave dl2 running on PC while you load more rom images.

	Ctrl+C to exit ~~dlplus~~ when you're done with it.		Ctrl+C to exit dl2 when you're done with it.

	=Done!=		=Done!=

Bkw: /* Software */

2023-11-13T03:19:44Z

Software

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:19, 13 November 2023
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	*A [[TPDD_client]] to run on the M100		*A [[TPDD_client]] to run on the M100
	:There are several tpdd clients, and several ways to get one installed. These are a few options:		:There are several tpdd clients, and several ways to get one installed. These are a few options:
	::For Mac, Linux, FreeBSD, any other unix: Get [http://gitlab.com/bkw777/~~dlplus dlplus~~] and use the bootstrap option to install TEENY.100 or any of the other options listed by "$ dl -l"		::For Mac, Linux, FreeBSD, any other unix: Get [http://gitlab.com/bkw777/dl2 dl2] and use the bootstrap option to install TEENY.100 or any of the other options listed by "$ dl -l"
	::For Windows: Get [http://gitlab.com/bkw777/tsend tsend.ps1] and use it to install TEENY.100 or any of the clients found at https://github.com/bkw777/~~dlplus~~/tree/master/clients		::For Windows: Get [http://gitlab.com/bkw777/tsend tsend.ps1] and use it to install TEENY.100 or any of the clients found at https://github.com/bkw777/dl2/tree/master/clients
	::Play [[File:DOS100.CO.MP3]] into the cassette port to install TS-DOS. (SOUND OFF:CLEAR 0,57089:RUNM "CAS:DOS100.CO")		::Play [[File:DOS100.CO.MP3]] into the cassette port to install TS-DOS. (SOUND OFF:CLEAR 0,57089:RUNM "CAS:DOS100.CO")
	::Get a real tpdd and bootstrap it's utility disk to install "Floppy".		::Get a real tpdd and bootstrap it's utility disk to install "Floppy".

	*A [[TPDD_server]] to run on a modern host machine		*A [[TPDD_server]] to run on a modern host machine
	:For Mac, Linux, FreeBSD, any unix: [http://gitlab.com/bkw777/~~dlplus dlplus~~]		:For Mac, Linux, FreeBSD, any unix: [http://gitlab.com/bkw777/dl2 dl2]
	:For Windows: [http://bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?title=LaddieCon#LaddieAlpha LaddieAlpha]		:For Windows: [http://bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?title=LaddieCon#LaddieAlpha LaddieAlpha]
	<!--		<!--

Bkw: /* Program the CPLD */

2023-11-13T03:17:09Z

Program the CPLD

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:17, 13 November 2023
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	</gallery>		</gallery>

	*[https://~~drive~~.google.com/~~open?id=~~10KIFE5Zo7FUw-gWCkEibTjgq-EmEbtgugif0lVh8Q2I Use iMPACT to program the .jed file]		*[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10KIFE5Zo7FUw-gWCkEibTjgq-EmEbtgugif0lVh8Q2I/edit?usp=sharing Use iMPACT to program the .jed file]

	==Snap the PCB Into the Carrier==		==Snap the PCB Into the Carrier==

Bkw: /* References */

2023-11-13T03:14:56Z

References

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:14, 13 November 2023
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	[http://www.club100.org/memfiles/index.php?PHPSESSID=0iltg2un40287et7flm4m54387&direction=0&order=&directory=Steve%20Adolph Original sources and support files from Steven Adolph]		[http://www.club100.org/memfiles/index.php?PHPSESSID=0iltg2un40287et7flm4m54387&direction=0&order=&directory=Steve%20Adolph Original sources and support files from Steven Adolph]

	[https://drive.google.com/~~open~~?id=~~0Bys6eLbSbYyhV3NEdjhvWFlYMDg~~ Backup copies of some of the sources and support files]		[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0Bys6eLbSbYyhV3NEdjhvWFlYMDg?resourcekey=0-MKkAnbTYHoSeNHfjYqjsIQ&usp=sharing Backup copies of some of the sources and support files]

Bkw: /* Parts & Materials */

2023-11-07T23:55:34Z

Parts & Materials

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:55, 7 November 2023
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	All tracks & spaces are well over 6 mil (everything is 0.2mm which is almost 8 mil), and that setting drops the price from $50 to $5		All tracks & spaces are well over 6 mil (everything is 0.2mm which is almost 8 mil), and that setting drops the price from $50 to $5

	ENIG adds a lot of cost on PCBWAY and JLCPCB lately. Currently the cheapest way to get an ENIG version for gold contacts (other than OSHPark) is [https://www.elecrow.com/ Elecrow]. Upload the gerber zip from the [https://github.com/bkw777/REX_Classic/releases/latest releases], and manually select ENIG and Castellated Holes, and just use the cheapest shipping.		ENIG adds a lot of cost on PCBWAY and JLCPCB lately.<br>
			Currently the cheapest way to get an ENIG version for gold contacts (other than OSHPark) is [https://www.elecrow.com/ Elecrow].<br>
			Upload the gerber zip from the [https://github.com/bkw777/REX_Classic/releases/latest releases], and manually select ENIG and Castellated Holes, and just use the cheapest shipping.

	<!--		<!--

Bkw: /* Parts & Materials */

2023-11-07T23:54:28Z

Parts & Materials

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:54, 7 November 2023
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	=Parts & Materials=		=Parts & Materials=
	<!-- ==For Tandy 100/102/200== -->		<!-- ==For Tandy 100/102/200== -->
	* PCB: [https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/~~PyS8QKo5~~ OSHPark] or [https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/REX_Classic__BKW_re_spin.html PCBWAY]		* PCB: [https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/2aTIo5Fq OSHPark] or [https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/REX_Classic__BKW_re_spin.html PCBWAY]
	* BOM: [https://www.digikey.com/short/tj7bzf3h Digi-Key]		* BOM: [https://www.digikey.com/short/tj7bzf3h Digi-Key]
	* Carrier: [http://shpws.me/SGNn Shapeways] or [https://www.sculpteo.com/en/print/molex78802_pcb_28-13/Bw4x3yG6 Sculpteo]		* Carrier: [http://shpws.me/SGNn Shapeways] or [https://www.sculpteo.com/en/print/molex78802_pcb_28-13/Bw4x3yG6 Sculpteo]

	Note if ordering from PCBWAY: On the order page, change "Min tracks/spaces~~: 4/4mil~~" to "6/6mil"<br>		Note if ordering from PCBWAY: On the order page, you may have to manually change "Min tracks/spaces" to "6/6mil"<br>
	All tracks & spaces are well over ~~6mil~~, and that setting drops the price from $50 to $5		All tracks & spaces are well over 6 mil (everything is 0.2mm which is almost 8 mil), and that setting drops the price from $50 to $5

			ENIG adds a lot of cost on PCBWAY and JLCPCB lately. Currently the cheapest way to get an ENIG version for gold contacts (other than OSHPark) is [https://www.elecrow.com/ Elecrow]. Upload the gerber zip from the [https://github.com/bkw777/REX_Classic/releases/latest releases], and manually select ENIG and Castellated Holes, and just use the cheapest shipping.

	<!--		<!--

Bkw: /* Flash the Firmware */

2022-09-11T04:52:51Z

Flash the Firmware

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:52, 11 September 2022
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	$ sudo apt install mono-complete		$ sudo apt install mono-complete
	$ wget http://bitchin100.com/files/linux/LaddieAlpha.EXE		$ wget http://bitchin100.com/files/linux/LaddieAlpha.EXE
	$ wget http://bitchin100.com/wiki/images/4/4f/~~R49_M100T102_254_rebuild~~.zip		$ wget http://bitchin100.com/wiki/images/3/38/R49_M100T102_260_rebuild.zip
	$ wget http://bitchin100.com/wiki/images/6/63/M100_OPTION_ROMS.zip		$ wget http://bitchin100.com/wiki/images/6/63/M100_OPTION_ROMS.zip
	$ unzip ~~R49_M100T102_254_rebuild~~.zip		$ unzip R49_M100T102_260_rebuild.zip
	$ unzip M100_OPTION_ROMS.zip		$ unzip M100_OPTION_ROMS.zip
	$ mono ./LaddieAlpha.EXE /dev/ttyUSB0 6		$ mono ./LaddieAlpha.EXE /dev/ttyUSB0 6
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	$ mkdir rex_setup		$ mkdir rex_setup
	$ cd rex_setup		$ cd rex_setup
	$ wget http://bitchin100.com/wiki/images/4/4f/~~R49_M100T102_254_rebuild~~.zip		$ wget http://bitchin100.com/wiki/images/3/38/R49_M100T102_260_rebuild.zip
	$ wget http://bitchin100.com/wiki/images/6/63/M100_OPTION_ROMS.zip		$ wget http://bitchin100.com/wiki/images/6/63/M100_OPTION_ROMS.zip
	$ unzip ~~R49_M100T102_254_rebuild~~.zip		$ unzip R49_M100T102_260_rebuild.zip
	$ unzip M100_OPTION_ROMS.zip		$ unzip M100_OPTION_ROMS.zip

Bkw: /* Snap the PCB Into the Carrier */

2022-09-11T04:48:26Z

Snap the PCB Into the Carrier

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:48, 11 September 2022
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	==Snap the PCB Into the Carrier==		==Snap the PCB Into the Carrier==
	~~Place the end of the PCB without the hole into the carrier first, then snap the rest of it in.~~
	<gallery>		<gallery>
	REX_and_carrier.jpg		REX_and_carrier.jpg

Bkw: /* Snap the PCB Into the Carrier */

2022-09-11T04:48:09Z

Snap the PCB Into the Carrier

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:48, 11 September 2022
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	Place the end of the PCB without the hole into the carrier first, then snap the rest of it in.		Place the end of the PCB without the hole into the carrier first, then snap the rest of it in.
	<gallery>		<gallery>
	~~Rex in carrier start~~.jpg		REX_and_carrier.jpg
	~~Carrier finish~~.jpg		REX_in_carrier.jpg
	</gallery>		</gallery>