Basics

The V6Z80P system, as supplied, comprises of 3 main elements:

1. The PCB itself, this is the actual "V6Z80P".
2. The default hardware design for the FPGA called "OSCA" (Old School Computer Architecture)
3. A simple command line operating system called "FLOS" (Freezer-Like Operating System)

The PCB requires a 7.5 volt (or 9 volt max) DC regulated mains adapter capable of delivering around 1 Amp or more. The jack plug should be 2.1mm type, centre-pin positive.

Starting out

As a minimum, connect power, PS2 keyboard, video/audio cables, make sure the VGA-mode jumper is installed if using PC Monitor for display, the JTAG jumpers (J1 and J2) should be uninstalled for normal EEPROM configuration. (If you have a board with an "OSC SEL" switch at the bottom/right, it should be in the down position.)

Format an SD card to FAT16 (please use a good brand to ensure compatibility). Copy the contents of the "V6_SD_Card" folder from the main project archive to the card (the *.OSF file should end up in the root dir of the card) and insert into the V6Z80P's card slot.

Switch on the V6Z80P with the switch near the DC power socket. The yellow LED should light up, the boot-up display appears on screen and afterwards the OS loads and starts up.



You can load user programs from the SD card (use the command line to navigate similar to how you would in DOS) or download them into memory via serial link from a Windows PC using the serial_link cable and utility provided. Most of the demos etc can be quit by pressing the ESC key.

Quick Example using serial link

With the V6Z80P powered off, connect the serial link cable to the PC. On the PC under Windows, load the serial comm link util (in \PC_based_apps) and set to the COM port to that which you have the V6Z80P connected to. Power on the V6Z80P.

Under FLOS, type:

RX * 5000 (meaning "receive any file and load to $5000") then Enter.

At the PC, click "send file" and browse to "hello_w.exe" (in \FLOS_based_programs\simple_examples\hello_world) - click OK. The file should download and FLOS report "n bytes received" (the serial download will time out after a few seconds of waiting, if that happens just cursor up to the command you previously typed and press Enter again and resend.)

To run the program, type:

G 5000 (Enter)

Notes:

• The command "RX !" performs a serial load and JP $5000 in one step.

• You can send multiple files and have them save directly to the SD card with the FLOS "sercopy.exe" utility.)

Other brief info

An offline version of these docs including OSCA hardware manual is in the folder "Documentation" in the full project archive.

The V6Z80P's EEPROM can hold three (or more, depending on the EEPROM type used) FPGA configurations. The first 7 can be selected with Keys F1-F7 on the boot screen, or from FLOS with the "BOOT n" command (where n is the slot number to reconfigure from).

By default, OSCA (PAL) in held in config slot 1, OSCA (NTSC) is in slot 2 and a Spectrum 128/48 emulator is in slot 3. The slots can be updated with new confgurations by using the tool EEPROM.EXE (care is advised!)

About the various connectors

On the original V6Z80P the video connector is an 8-pin mini-DIN socket, with a custom pin-out (see documentation for diagram). On the V6Z80P+ the video socket is standard DB15 VGA socket. Output is RGB+sync type and OSCA supports PAL (50Hz) and NTSC (60Hz) TVs, and VGA 60Hz (+50Hz non-standard) PC monitor timing. The VGA jumper (see 10 pin header) should be installed for VGA output and removed for TV output.

The RS232 serial connector is a 4 pin mini-Din connector (3 pin on V6Z80P+ v1.0). Only RX, TX and Ground are connected - the pin-outs are custom to the V6Z80P (see physical hardware section of docs for diagrams).

Joystick ports are standard Atari/Amiga style. 2 buttons supported. Megadrive pad support can be achieved on the original V6Z80P with a small, simple PCB modification (megadrive pad support is standard on V6Z80P+ onwards)

Mouse / Keyboard connectors are standard PC-compatible PS/2 6-pin mini DINs.

The audio socket is a standard 3.5mm stereo jack socket.

The SD card slot accepts MMC or SD cards (the code does not as yet support SDHC cards)

Avoid connecting or disconnecting anything to the V6Z80P whilst the power is switched on.