Podules Pi &Ti

Ref the new Econet mini podule – would it possible to have a converter that made it possible to use podules with the Pi & Ti?

To what end?

The Pi has a limited set of GPIO, less than is likely to be used by podules. Not to mention a lack of clock pulses. And there’s the 3.3V/5V issue.
So one might be looking at something like SPI into an FPGA to fake being a podule bus… or something.
Which means that, even if it were possible, existing podule drivers/code wouldn’t work. They’d need to be modified to talk to the new hardware.

These days, there are other options. Like an IDE to USB interface, for example. Or a USBVideo capture card. Twenty five to fifty euros will get you an SDR that can tune from 24MHz to 1.766GHz in all sorts of modes. And so on.

Heck, even that little Android portable given away with a magazine subscription works with things like USB video.

What we lack are drivers for this sort of stuff. Maybe if we had more drivers, modern equivalents to old clunky podules (easily 2-3 times the size of a Pi!) would be more attractive?

Well, USB MIDI is now usable on RISC OS. That’s a little step forward. ;)

Nice to see the USB midi module by Rick.

Could there be a USB to Econet adapter?

Could there be a USB to Econet adapter?

There could be, but who would bother to make one? Not only new hardware design, but would require low-level drivers to be redone to speak via USB. Guess it would require FIFOs as the USB won’t be generating FIQ, will it?

You can already get cheap Econet-to-Ethernet(AUN) bridges (using Pi) over on stardot that have extra functionality like clock, termination, print and file serving. https://stardot.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=25126

“I had a working bridge and file server inside of 25 minutes!” reported one happy user.

I’m not being derogatory, just curous: why does anyone want to use Econet today?

Let me channel my inner Paolo… ;)

I’m not being derogatory, just curous: why does anyone want to use RISC OS today?

More seriously now… maybe he has stuff on Beebs in an existing Econet setup that the newer generation of machines can’t talk to.

Let me channel my inner Paolo… ;)

I’m not being derogatory, just curous: why does anyone want to use RISC OS today?

Damn! lol Now I have nothing to comment XD

Econet is fun, but remember you’ll need more than just a USB-to-Econt to get it run stable (aka clock etc.)

maybe he has stuff on Beebs in an existing Econet setup that the newer generation of machines can’t talk to

yup that’s one use, but then again Super Sprow made Ethernet for the Beeb, which obviously it’s a bit easier to wire up and maintain

but then again Super Sprow made Ethernet for the Beeb

Actually that only fits the Master & Compact computers not the Model A/B/B+ which most people refer to as the “Beeb”

Actually that only fits the Master & Compact computers not the Model A/B/B+ which most people refer to as the “Beeb”

It did fit the Model A/B/B+ – but you had to solder in the appropriate chips to connect it – or have it done by a dealer, of course. The PCB had all the necessary tracks and through holes.

You’re thinking of Econet, Clive!

True, true! mea culpa

IIRC econet needs VERY quick response, because of the ADLC buffer (or lack thereof). Do do it over USB you’d need some sort of dedicated thing on ther other end of the USB device to talk to the ADLC. That said, I’d imagine a PIC would be more than enough to do so – the tricky bit would be the firmware / software side of it.