EasyFlash - Info, Compilations & Other Information 3 EFs

ARKANOID · Last edited by ARKANOID on Sat Jan 16, 2010 1:33 am; edited 5 times in total

I have just ordered 2 EasyFlash cards. I just Wondered what people have been or going to use them for, and is there going to be any more software/completions made up for it.

I have seen stuff on the CSDb and downloaded what is there.

c64endings.co.uk · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:20 pm Post subject:

where did you order them from? I'm intrigued as to how they work.
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SkydivinGirl · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject:

I just ordered two as well! I was just going to order one but they are not very expensive so I got two. You can order them at the following site:

http://www.for8bits.com/index.php

It's great to have such a great community for our retro gear. Smile

Heather

Diddl · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:29 pm Post subject:

Yes EasyFlash is a very fine cartridge. Now Alex has made a virtual drive for EasyFlash.

You can flash D64 and M2I files and use like a disk. For now only LOAD work, no speeder, no data by OPEN, no other floppy command.

sorry it is german: click

c64endings.co.uk · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:37 pm Post subject:

Flippin'ek! I can't build that. I wonder if they do them pre-built?

So have do you get the .CRT files onto the cart if the files are too big to fit on a 5.25" disk?
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Check out & contribute C64 endings at:
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Diddl · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:46 pm Post subject:

I don't use a 1541 disk but a SD2IEC (µIEC) device. So I don't have problems with file size ...

But Skoe is working on a splitter to make it possible to work with more than one 1541 disks.

anemo · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject:

It doesn't look like any of the components are surface mounted so it should be pretty easy to assemble with at steady hand and some training before.

See this as a good reason to learn how to solder... Smile

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SkydivinGirl · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:52 pm Post subject:

I'm not the best at soldering but having a board that uses sockets like this one makes it much easier. I'm confident I'll be able to assemble this with little to no difficulty. Smile

Unfortunately, I think it would almost double the cost to have someone else build then ship a completely assembled cartridge.

Take care,

Heather

c64endings.co.uk · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:53 pm Post subject:

I think it's a BRILLIANT concept, but I'm not a solderer and will never be. I will have to wait until I can find someone to build one for me, but I am certainly interested Smile

Would be great to have my fave games on a cart.

Doubling the cost to have a built version would be fine with me Smile

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Check out & contribute C64 endings at:
http://www.c64endings.co.uk/

Download my crazy hacks, demos, music hacks and more:
http://www.hackersoft.co.uk

Diddl · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:01 pm Post subject:

Yes it is very easy to solder. I'm not so good with soldering but I diddn't have any problems with my first board (my second board comes next week).

Only the socckets for the 29F040 Flash devices are very small. But with the correct soldering iron (a smaller one) it is ok.

Nils had made very good assembly instructions.

jsaily · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:01 pm Post subject:

One note for soldering small components. Do not be afraid and use lots of (no-clean type) flux. Flux is your friend, and a flux pen needs to be at hand when soldering! Short circuits between SMD component legs are simple to cure, just apply some flux and reheat the legs and voila!
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ARKANOID · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject:

I am pretty good at soldering I have been doing it most of my life. it may be an idea to buy more and sell them pre-assembled here or on ebay. for people who don't have soldering skills.

I would only charge £8 for doing the soldering and time, and I have to pay a Bank charge to Pay for them so I would have to get a lot at a time.

it depends on how many I could order in one go for the total cost to the person buying it. The more the cheaper it is.

I have to pay £6.78 and £15 Bank fees to get it to the UK per one card, 10 cards would divide that in 10.

Its £17.90 per card with case + £8 soldering and time = 25.90 not including Import cost as ABOVE £2.17 each @ X10

Postage out would very from country to country

How does that sound to anyone.

jerrykurtz · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject:

I ordered one back on the 30th and haven't gotten any communications back from them -- no order confirmation, no shipping email, nothing...

I'm sure it will get here soon enough, but they could be a little more coming with the information.
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SkydivinGirl · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:08 pm Post subject:

Hmm... I just ordered mine earlier today and received a confirmation from them. Might not hurt to drop them an e-mail.

Take care,

Heather

Diddl · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:09 pm Post subject:

ARKANOID wrote:

it may be an idea to buy more and sell them pre-assembled here or on ebay. for people who don't have soldering skills.

This is a very good idea, cause it seems many people don't want to solder it.

Maybe you could do same for Final Expansion 3? On Denial board some people want a FE3 but cannot solder.

jerrykurtz wrote:

I ordered one back on the 30th and haven't gotten any communications back from them -- no order confirmation, no shipping email, nothing...

I'm sure it will get here soon enough, but they could be a little more coming with the information.

Don't worry, Nils is very reliable!

But he hasn't thougth it would give such an amount of orders.

He has a normal job and can do the work on his new WEB shop only at free time (evening, weekend).

And he spoke about a problem with duty for USA orders. They want a exact definition what it is in the package. Nils hasn't know this problem bevore.

And the shop homepage include a information delivery can take up to 6 weeks: look here

jerrykurtz · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject:

Diddl wrote:

ARKANOID wrote:

it may be an idea to buy more and sell them pre-assembled here or on ebay. for people who don't have soldering skills.

This is a very good idea, cause it seems many people don't want to solder it.

Maybe you could do same for Final Expansion 3? On Denial board some people want a FE3 but cannot solder.

jerrykurtz wrote:

I ordered one back on the 30th and haven't gotten any communications back from them -- no order confirmation, no shipping email, nothing...

I'm sure it will get here soon enough, but they could be a little more coming with the information.

Don't worry, Nils is very reliable!

But he hasn't thougth it would give such an amount of orders.

He has a normal job and can do the work on his new WEB shop only at free time (evening, weekend).

And he spoke about a problem with duty for USA orders. They want a exact definition what it is in the package. Nils hasn't know this problem bevore.

And the shop homepage include a information delivery can take up to 6 weeks: look here

I totally understand about things take time and that we all have our day jobs...

I wasn't complaining about the amount of time it takes for delivery, I was simply stating that an email confirmation once the order had been placed would have been nice.

When the items ships, another email should be sent stating that it's been shipped.

We don't pay any kind of duty on packages coming from other countries, but they do generally want a description of the contents. Just say something like "computer parts".
_________________

My favorite game houses: Broderbund and Synapse.

John64 · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:48 pm Post subject:

@ARKANOID:

Sounds like a great idea Very Happy

I would love to buy 1 or 2 Easyflash cartridges but I'm afraid of the soldering. I have very little experience with soldering and I'm afraid that I'm gonna ruin the cartridge whilst soldering Embarassed

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enthusi · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:47 am Post subject:

Dont worry about killing the cart with beginner's soldering.

a) there is a very minute description of what to do:
http://for8bits.com/efaufbau_en.htm

b) all ICs have sockets. So you cant burn them - only yourself... :)

I'd say its as safe as it can get...
Cheers,
enthusi

airship · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:22 pm Post subject:

Put me down as another who would buy a reasonably-priced pre-built version. My hands no longer allow me to solder. Sad

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airship
(Former Managing Editor, INFO Magazine)

SkydivinGirl · Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:26 pm Post subject:

I've had the same feeling about other kits out there. I've seen projects that sell just the PCBs or just give the layouts of the PCBs and leave it up to the end user to get the rest and put everything together (I believe the Amiga IDE68K project was like this).

Unfortunately, many of us just want to use the equipment, not build it. If the EasyFlash were any more complex then I would not even attempt to assemble it myself. Kudos to Arkanoid for stepping up and offering to build these. I hope it works out in the end.

Take care everyone!

Heather

skoe · Groupie in Training Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 121

There's one simple reason why many of these hobbyists projects can't be bought ready-to-run: Because it would be illegal in most countries.

It's quite simple to sell electronic parts legally. But as soon as you sell a complete device, you'll need CE, FCC certification, warranty and so on.

If you can't solder, find somebody who does it for you. And if you think about selling mounted devices on e*ay or whereever, make sure it's legal in your country (or if nobody cares, at least...).

SkydivinGirl · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:06 am Post subject:

Just got an e-mail this evening! I'm very excited!

for8bits.com wrote:

Hello Heather, Your order XXXXXX shipped today.

Heather

ARKANOID · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:10 pm Post subject:

Got my easy flashes today, came with some Haribo sweets. Not sure where to plug the jelly teddies in. No I am not going to try to push a jelly teddy in a DIL socket!

Anyway, soldered one together flashed it, and works perfectly. Takes some time to flash the games collection. but it was worth it.

I found that the LED was not very bright so I put a lower value resistor in. Not to low otherwise it will blow the LED.

All we need now is more compilations.

Or just put your own stuff on it.

Time to put the other one together.

SkydivinGirl · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:41 pm Post subject:

Excellent news Arkanoid! I can't wait to get mine!

Take care,

Heather

mistermsk · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject:

ARKANOID wrote:

I found that the LED was not very bright so I put a lower value resistor in. Not to low otherwise it will blow the LED.

What value you put in?