QIMSI Gold - getting started

[Cristian]

The user manual says "While QIMSI is electrically capable of hot-swapping the card during QL operation, this is not recommended to avoid mechanical fluctuation of the QIMSI board.".
So, to avoid the repetitive use of a PC to rename the "QL_ROM.SYS" file, I might prepare a second SD card without the file in order to boot the system without the "gold" features. Then, very carefully, remove the SD card and insert the main one. Am I right? Or am I risking damages?

[Peter]

So, to avoid the repetitive use of a PC to rename the "QL_ROM.SYS" file, I might prepare a second SD card without the file in order to boot the system without the "gold" features. Then, very carefully, remove the SD card and insert the main one. Am I right? Or am I risking damages?

Yes, you are absolutrly right. I was just very cautious in the manual. As long as the QIMSI device is not moved, no problem at all! You can even change cards during operation for other purposes, like copying files to/from ramdisk. Just make sure to wait a second after writing to SD card, until the red LED no longer shows activity.

You remind me that I even considered writing a QL-side tool, which can switch back and forth between classic and acclerated QIMSI without removing the card. Would be nice to have, and not too diffcult, I just had different priorities.

[Cristian]

Thank you very much for your quick reply Peter.
By the way, I think that a ql-side tool to switch calssic/gold would be very useful!

[tofro]

For that matter:

I have one QL that somehow had its ROM port connector broken lengthwise without me realizing it at first. Means it lost quite a bit of contact pressure. The slightest touch to something connected there made the QL crash (potentially damaging something, but fortunately nothing happened). It might be worth checking your connector before using something as delicate as QIMSI.

[Peter]

"Delicate" is nicely worded. What do you (all) think of an adaptor board, so QIMSI can live at the expansion slot?

[Pepperm]

I’d go for an expansion slot connector version. Not that I should have much sway in the decision.

Mark

[Peter]

I didn't mean a new version of QIMSI. Just an additional adaptor board, which would provide connectivity and spacing to "relocate" QIMSI from ROM slot to expansion port.

[Pepperm]

Yes, that would be even better. I could make one myself with a schematic or PCB design.

Mark

[tofro]

I didn't mean a new version of QIMSI. Just an additional adaptor board, which would provide connectivity and spacing to "relocate" QIMSI from ROM slot to expansion port.

You definitely could do a lot more to the QL from the expansion port than from the ROM port - like, for example, mixing the QL video output into the LVDS output in non-Gold operation mode...

[Peter]

For the fun of it, I even did that over the ROM port with just a single extra wire, including MODE 4/8 switching - only for GC/SGC though.
Can demo at the next QL meeting if there is interest.
However, Olivers VGA converter is so good that I don't really need something else for QL video.