The Sinclair QL Forum

Peter wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 9:53 am

lliont wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 12:59 am Your case Peter is different and I understand but I believe and maybe I'm wrong that most users prefer the improved version of the ula than an exact clone.

It depends on whether you want to set up a production and sales channel for a wider audience.
If you do, I think you would sell most as 1:1 replacement for the ULA as spare part. Just my personal guess.

Hmmm. Not so sure. As I tend to break my ULAs rarely I'd rather like the enhanced colours. And I don't care so much for exact replication of timing, probably. When there's a picture, there's a picture. When there's a nicer picture, it's nicer

Nice Chrismas hoidays for you all!

Would that be extra colours in mode 4 as well, or just mode 8? I'd love 8 (or more) colours in mode 4. I have a feeling it's been mentioned that it's not for mode 4 though, is that right?

Is the board compatible with other upgrades like Hermes, SGC, etc? I'm assuming yes but not knowing anything much* about how the electronic side of things works, I thought I'd volunteer to be the one to ask the daft questions!

* at all

If there was a vote I'd vote for the one with all the bells & whistles

IMHO if there are variations no worthwhile software will get written for them.

Sparrowhawk wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 10:48 am Would that be extra colours in mode 4 as well, or just mode 8? I'd love 8 (or more) colours in mode 4. I have a feeling it's been mentioned that it's not for mode 4 though, is that right?

In mode 4 there are only two bits available per pixel, so extending that would require relocation of the display memory (or expanding it by moving up the system variables, which would introduce incompatibility with legacy software).

mode 4 will only have different palette option, but 4 colors

Hi,

I assume there is a way to change palettes with a software command.

Can colours from different palettes be displayed on the screen at the same time?

No sorry, 4 colors only with this basic pcb.

This design is only the minimal basic design to replace ULA. If I understood it correctly there are other designs in the pipeline with more advanced features. Or at least that’s the way I understand it.

Very impressed by your designs and hard work.

Exactly, this is the basic cpld minimal replacement pcb. No vga output, no sprites, no extra ram, no extra sound channels etc
This can produce 16 colors in mode 8 but it's not it's purpose and will not have proper support for this.
For more capabilities and functions see the topic of my other project the fpga board.

Thanks for the explanations.