The Sinclair QL Forum

pmonstad wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2025 7:23 pm

dilwyn wrote: Wed Dec 27, 2023 4:59 pm Is the mode 4 one from Futura Datasenter in Norway? I've never seen one of those before. It would make it earlier than ones by Jochen Merz if that's the case. All I could see on the PCB was "QL-SHIFTER-PICKUP" (I think, it's not sufficiently clear magnified on my phone screen). Well worth taking good pictures for posterity, even if we can't see the chip details.

Yes, this is probably the original board designed and sold by Futura Datasenter in Norway. I made a few myself after I got the spare parts and left overs when Futura Datasenter stoppet hardware development and changed name to Omega around 1990 (omega.no). This was their start and now they have more than 2000 employees.

Hi,

Do you have any construction data?

I have 2 x Extended 4 boards, requiring installation into a Atari STFM or Mega ST.

I also have a Mode 8 Emulator board installed in a Atari STFM, with T28 accelerator in place of the 68000 CPU, quite a fast QL at 28Mhz, and ASCSI hard drive access.

I have the Atari QL emulation board manual, maybe a candidate for scanning.

I think, the two pictures in #1 are the Extended mode 4 emulator from Jochen Merz. I've never had the original Futura Datasenter Emulator card, which I think is shown in the Wiki and looks very different to the two in #1. The Futura card still needs an QL ULA.

Hi,

The 2 QL Emulator board I have are Extended Mode 4 and Mode 8 Emulator.

The Mode 8 Emulator board, needs a 8301 from the QL.

But both board connect to the Atari ST Video Shifter Chip socket anf the Atar chip is plugged into the emukator board.

I will get the Atari STFM with the Mode 8 Emulator out of storage and see if it still works.

Yes, my brain recalls a little more. The pictures are not showing the original Futura Datasenter board. The original board had several SMD soldered chips and the QL ULA 8301. The board was soldered on top of the 68000 CPU of the ST, or more correct put into a soldered socket on top of the CPU. Then several wires were soldred to different parts of the main board.

More than 30 years since I soldered such a board from scratch.

I do not know, who designed the Extended Mode 4 adapter. Perhaps Jochen can tell, I have asked him. If it was Edwin Holtmann, who designed the QVME board, there is a little chance to get answers.