What I find works in addition to large amounts of flux is to apply a very small amount of solder to the tip of the iron, then some of the solder onto the RAS line. This intermediary step helps to further diminish the amount of solder at the eventual joint at the Strong Arm pin. Then hold the end of the wire to the proper pin and briefly touch the iron to the end of the wire where the solder is.

I just think it's easier to transfer a small amount of solder from the tip of the iron onto the RAS wire then to take it directly to the wire and pin.

Stu

Update:

My modded player developed stability issues -- random crashes and the like.

My theory is mechanical issues -- the memory expansion card adds a lot of stiffness to the main board, and when the main board is subsequently screwed back into the stainless steel enclosure, it wants to bend to match the enclosure screw posts (flat?). This puts stress on the connections between the two boards, and I think something just "gave" in the end.

So, I've put enough hours into this for now, and tonight I disassembled the player and removed the memory card again. Not quite as clean a removal this time around -- destroyed several of the test pads, but they're not really important or needed for anything other than the (removed) memory card, so no big deal.

Back to 16MB for now, but I do still have a couple of pairs of chips to do the stacking method with eventually.

Cheers

Quote:
steady hand

and

Quote:
Amersfoort

Doh!

The first 10-15 boards should ship by the end of the week. Most of the rest will go out next week, with a bit of luck. I'm waiting for some antistatic bags to turn up, and finishing the manual.

pca

I can't wait!

Any more updates Mark?

Were these sent out? I was very early in the queue...

By the end of tomorrow, the first 25 boards will have shipped. There will be a slight delay for the next twenty-five.

pca

Thank you, thank you! I hope I didn't come off as complaining about any delays or doubtful about any progress. Just curious.

Quote:
Will start disassembling the player tonight...

Carefully...

The manual with revised wiring description are being written at this very moment.

Yup - I would suggest someone start a thread with a list of "parts wanted" for Amersfoort, and I'll make sure I have the bits ready. Gotta go!

Rec'd 2 of my 3 boards today. I'm going to upgrade one of my mk2 units first, once instructions are available. These are very nice looking boards. Thank you for your time and effort on these Patrick Also, thank you Mark for the expanded memory kernel

In addition to the RAS line, you'll also need to run extra (SHORT!) power and ground signals from the capacitors on the main board just above the main board memory chips over to the capacitors on the memory board. One set of power and ground should do it, I'd think.

Failure to do this may result in all sorts of weird memory errors, or having things appear to work, and then fail when operating at a different temperature.

Cheers

I just found the postal notice saying they tried to deliver my memory board on Saturday. Now I can go pick it up when I ship out buttons in the morning!

But then my only lit player goes to Eutronix for the upgrade. I will be back in the dark ages.

Any news on the manual for the memory board? Am I right that it is not yet available? (At least I have not found it)
I've got the board yesterday and can't wait to upgrade the player. I don't need a full featured, colored manual. I'm happy with a simple step by step installation guide.

Only a little while before it's ready.

Rockin'. Picked up my two boards from the post office today.

Patrick,

Any update on when the next batch might be ready?

Bump...is the second batch still on hold? I've held off ordering a larger hard drive and installing 3.0a11 until I have the memory board installed. I believe I was #32 in the queue.

i guess we'll just have to wait...
i have order #2 - pca's last reply in july was they'll go out soon.

too bad there's a great deal of flexibility in the word 'soon'...

well i don't complain as i have no idea yet how i get those boards into my empegs...i really don't think i should do that myself...