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Cloning the Interware Booster 30

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
Madness? Been there, done that, now I'm about as sane as I've ever been. Laying out five relatively complex circuit board's and cutting Rubylith Art for process photography PCB production around 1988 was a manic episode at its best. Got my diagnosis long before announcing such was a fashion statement in Hollywood! 🤪
 

CC_333

Well-known member
@Trash80toHP_Mini I've known people with that kind of "madness", and if it's properly managed (with medication, if necessary), it can be OK. But if left untreated, things can get pretty ugly.

I'm glad you're better!

For KiCad, I'll have to start with a really small project and build up from there. I tried to replicate an AM radio transmitter kit's PCB and it was deceptively complex enough that it left me feeling overwhelmed.

Perhaps I can revisit that and it won't look so bad once I've had some experience.

c
 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
Thanks. Yep, thirteen years and counting since last hospitalization, meds are a gift from heaven. Still crazy after all these years, but it's the kind a lot of people around me appreciate, especially the problem solving thing. They tell me I'm not right, but they also tell me I'm OK. :)

Doing passive, multiple slot risers and simple gate switching logic on a PCB is fine for routing manually in AI. One day I'll have someone give me a hand and get some boards made. Haven't etched any copper clad in a very long, long time.
 

max1zzz

Well-known member
First pass of the layout is done, still needs a bunch of tweaking (Mainly pulling traces away from the through holes) but I think it's looking fairly good so far :)
22-06-22.JPG
 

superjer2000

Well-known member
Wow - @max1zzz shipped my new Interware Booster from the UK last Friday and it was delivered to my home in Canada today - that came a lot faster than I expected.

I put it into a Colour Classic and the difference is pretty notable. Most operations (including booting, app launches etc.) seem to be ~15-20% faster. I am going to play around with it a bit more but it definitely makes the CC seem a lot less "pokey" than it normally does.

Thanks for doing this project!!
 

CC_333

Well-known member
Interesting project!

I have a Color Classic I could've tried this on, but I "mystified" it (installed an LC550 board), so it's essentially got one of these built in.

c
 

jajan547

Well-known member
So I tested this on my Color Classic II and it doesn't seem to want to display. It powers on and the fans run, no bong tone and no image....strange? @superjer2000 how'd you get yours to work or was it just a simple drop in?
 

Bolle

Well-known member
The CC II already has a 33MHz CPU, why would you want to install this in the first place?
 

max1zzz

Well-known member
Looks like the CCII is LCIII based, I know these don't work on the LCIII but never did any investigation as to why as they already have a easy 33mhz upgrade
 

superjer2000

Well-known member
So I tested this on my Color Classic II and it doesn't seem to want to display. It powers on and the fans run, no bong tone and no image....strange? @superjer2000 how'd you get yours to work or was it just a simple drop in?
In a Color Classic I it’s just a drop-in install. I actually tried it in two different CCs and it worked in both. If you really want to give it a shot let me know and I can trade one of my CCs for your CC II, but remember, I’m doing you a favour!
 

jajan547

Well-known member
Looks like the CCII is LCIII based, I know these don't work on the LCIII but never did any investigation as to why as they already have a easy 33mhz upgrade
I guess so. I know it was pointless to try but figured eh might be fun to see.
 

jajan547

Well-known member
In a Color Classic I it’s just a drop-in install. I actually tried it in two different CCs and it worked in both. If you really want to give it a shot let me know and I can trade one of my CCs for your CC II, but remember, I’m doing you a favour!
Haha I had to go through a lot to get one. If you want there's a Performa 275 (CCII) on buyee for a buy it now price of $180.
 

max1zzz

Well-known member
Received a batch of PCB's today, Initial testing on the TH version is looking good! I need to do some stability testing but the LCII at least boots with it installed :) Also need to change the footprints used for the caps as it seems 2.54mm pitch would have been better for the polymer (or tantalum) caps and 5.08mm would hae been a better pitch to use for the ceramics
IMG_2217.jpg
 

robin-fo

Well-known member
Aaand that‘s another ColourClassic saved from….being….veeery…..sloooow!

(Ok, at least it‘s now somewhat usable with System 7.1)
 

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