I have a GB Smart Development Kit. Unfortunately it's the version without parallel port. However the mainboard has the necessary pins for a parallel connector. I wonder if I can solder a parallel connector to the board and then use it to download files from a PC. Does anyone know if that would work or do I need to solder additional components or even a different BIOS? Here is a hi-res photo of the mainboard. It would be very nice if someone could post a photo of the parallel version.
That's such a beautiful unit, why not just sell it and get a linker and not ruin the unit... You'd need to add the port as well as the bios and near the port is a spot for some kind of switching ic.
parts i see you might need are d1 = unknown diode p1 = male lpt port vc4 = variable cap ??? u7 = unknown ic
I don't want to ruin the unit. It should like like this one when I can finish the mod: well I hope that the actual BIOS has already the routines for parallel I/O. Adding the port and an ic isn't a difficult task. It would be worth a try. However I need to know which ic's, etc I have to add.
time to find a friend with the unit that has this feature and get him to high res scan or write out part numbers
Little chance of it working. The microcontroller is probably protected so you'll never know if the code is in the BIOS, same with the CPLD which would contain the handshake logic.
how do you figure little chance of it working? if its just lacking standard parts. then it might be just lacking those
