RetroBrew Computers Forum
Discussion forum for the RetroBrew Computers community.
Home » RBC Forums » General Discussion » uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library)
uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #8300] Sat, 06 February 2021 10:18 Go to next message
just4fun is currently offline  just4fun
Messages: 273
Registered: May 2017
Location: Dark side of the Moon
Senior Member
I was curious to try the FabGL library that allows to make a multi-emulation terminal with a common ESP32-WROOM32 module, and wanted to do that using TH components (with the only exception of the ESP32 module).

These the main spec of uTerm2-S:

* RS232 connector
* VGA output
* "transparent" port for a serial-USB adapter (as in the uTerm-S)
* secondary serial port for ESP32 programming using a second serial-USB adapter
* RTS/CTS support between the RS232 and the "transparent" port (as in the uTerm-S)
* on board power supply
* colours, graphic and sound capabilities (FabGl library)
* multi language keyboard support (FabGl library)
* various terminal emulations (FabGl library)
* PS/2 connectors for keyboard and mouse
* on board amplifier for an external speaker

Here a first attempt to place the components (without routing):

/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=1980&private=0

I've attached the first draft of the schematic.

[Updated on: Fri, 12 February 2021 05:07]

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #8302 is a reply to message #8300] Sun, 07 February 2021 01:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
beb is currently offline  beb
Messages: 10
Registered: October 2019
Junior Member
Wow, great work (both yours and the maker of libray) !

It's crazy to see that such a "simple" board is able to do this !

I will probably give a try to it Smile

Benoit

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #8306 is a reply to message #8300] Mon, 08 February 2021 08:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lynchaj is currently offline  lynchaj
Messages: 1080
Registered: June 2016
Senior Member
Hi
Any consideration to adding a processing element to this design? It sounds a nearly complete home brew computer as it is

Something like this STM32 MCU or something similar

https://www.ebay.com/itm/STM32-Core-Board-Core746I-for-STM32 F746IGT6-IO-Expander-1024kB-64M-Bit-SDRAM/282937723576

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #8307 is a reply to message #8306] Mon, 08 February 2021 10:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
just4fun is currently offline  just4fun
Messages: 273
Registered: May 2017
Location: Dark side of the Moon
Senior Member
lynchaj wrote on Mon, 08 February 2021 17:05
Hi
Any consideration to adding a processing element to this design?


Hi, not sure what do you mean with "processing element"...

This board has an ESP32 module with a dual core CPU inside, so it has a "processing element". In fact it can emulate a whole CP/M system or a Commodore VIC20 too (with the same FabGl library).

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #8308 is a reply to message #8307] Mon, 08 February 2021 11:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lynchaj is currently offline  lynchaj
Messages: 1080
Registered: June 2016
Senior Member
Hi
I saw the ESP32 but it would be normally busy with the tasks it currently has such as serial ports, graphics, sound, etc. The additional MCU would be free for more general purpose processing and also have more memory. The STM32 on a PCB shown comes with 64mbit SDRAM so you could do a lot with it while not trying to simultaneously trying to keep up with serial ports, graphics, sound, etc. I suppose any MCU would work such as PIC32MX or PIC32MZ or one of many others.

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #8309 is a reply to message #8308] Tue, 09 February 2021 04:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
just4fun is currently offline  just4fun
Messages: 273
Registered: May 2017
Location: Dark side of the Moon
Senior Member
Ok, now I understand what you mean.
Yes, it can be done of course, but for a such board it would be probably better to use SMD components and probably re-design it. I've some STM32H750VBT6 "around" and they are little beasts running at 480MHz (cheap too).

Currently I haven't a clear idea of a board using them, but for sure I'll make "something" with them in my "to do" list (but not for now, as my next toy probably will be a sort of "lab board" for "experiments" with a 68SEC000 CPU, STM32F030R8T6 MCU, a MT48LC16M16A2 SDRAM and a MAX II 240 or 570 CPLD).

The uTerm2-S is intended (at least in my mind...) as an easy to build stand-alone terminal (i.e. for the 68k-MBC board), so only TH parts...

[Updated on: Tue, 09 February 2021 05:03]

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #8316 is a reply to message #8300] Fri, 12 February 2021 06:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
quarterturn is currently offline  quarterturn
Messages: 86
Registered: April 2018
Member
I like that this library uses the 'modelines' format to set the display timing parameters. See here: https://github.com/fdivitto/FabGL/blob/master/src/fabglconf. h
This should make it easy to adapt to other types of displays, eg. 15 KHz Amiga/Commodore RGB without having to 'reinvent the wheel' trying to figure out timing.

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #8317 is a reply to message #8306] Fri, 12 February 2021 06:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
quarterturn is currently offline  quarterturn
Messages: 86
Registered: April 2018
Member
FWIW the ESP32 is dual-core, so graphics tasks can be pinned to one core while the other handles UI and communication tasks. Not sure if the library is doing that, but it could.

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #8854 is a reply to message #8317] Thu, 15 July 2021 03:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
just4fun is currently offline  just4fun
Messages: 273
Registered: May 2017
Location: Dark side of the Moon
Senior Member
I've just "reloaded" this "project" and finished the PCB:

/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=2253&private=0

Currently waiting for the PCB fabrication. We'll see...

[Updated on: Thu, 15 July 2021 03:46]

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #9041 is a reply to message #8854] Mon, 23 August 2021 01:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
just4fun is currently offline  just4fun
Messages: 273
Registered: May 2017
Location: Dark side of the Moon
Senior Member
I'm currently testing the board:

/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=2352&private=0

/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=2355&private=0

/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=2356&private=0

In this short video a demo of the audio capabilities of the FabGl library: https://youtu.be/tD1-ueFuSVk

and some relax playing Space Invaders (FabGl library) Laughing :

/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=2357&private=0

[Updated on: Mon, 23 August 2021 01:40]

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #9120 is a reply to message #9041] Sat, 11 September 2021 08:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bigpete is currently offline  bigpete
Messages: 7
Registered: May 2020
Junior Member
I am so excited for this. Mostly because I was never able to get my hands on a STM32 for my original uTerm. Maybe in the mean time I'll order the stuff for a 68K-MBC.

I kinda want to build a little box and switcher so I can toggle between the v20 and 68k machines.

[Updated on: Sat, 11 September 2021 08:41]

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #9232 is a reply to message #9120] Mon, 18 October 2021 02:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
just4fun is currently offline  just4fun
Messages: 273
Registered: May 2017
Location: Dark side of the Moon
Senior Member
The uTerm2-S page is out. All the details are here.

It is possible order a small lot of PCB using this "easy" link.


/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=2445&private=0

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #9426 is a reply to message #9232] Fri, 26 November 2021 09:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
just4fun is currently offline  just4fun
Messages: 273
Registered: May 2017
Location: Dark side of the Moon
Senior Member
Just out of curiosity I've done a little add-on module (uHat, the blue PCB) that adds a PSRAM and an SD:

/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=2500&private=0

With this add-on and using the FabGL library it is possible emulate a PC XT running Windows 3.0:

/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=2501&private=0.

I'll publish all the details when ready.

[Updated on: Fri, 26 November 2021 09:29]

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #9431 is a reply to message #9426] Sun, 28 November 2021 04:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
just4fun is currently offline  just4fun
Messages: 273
Registered: May 2017
Location: Dark side of the Moon
Senior Member
...and tanks to Michel Bernard the Z80-MBC2 can be completely emulated with the uTerm2-S + uHat. You have to use the same SD of the real one:

/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=2502&private=0

/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=2503&private=0

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #9433 is a reply to message #9431] Mon, 29 November 2021 01:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
b1ackmai1er is currently offline  b1ackmai1er
Messages: 396
Registered: November 2017
Senior Member
Both very impressive acheivements.

What sort of speed does the IBM PC/XT do ? > 4.77Mhz?

Is the base system linux?

Best Wishes Phil.

Report message to a moderator

Re: uTerm2-S: a multi-emulation color terminal with graphic and sound (FabGl library) [message #9434 is a reply to message #9433] Mon, 29 November 2021 10:58 Go to previous message
just4fun is currently offline  just4fun
Messages: 273
Registered: May 2017
Location: Dark side of the Moon
Senior Member
If I remember well it should be something around 4MHz. All the magic is inside the FabGL library.

The base system uses a cheap ESP32-WROOM32 module flashed with the Arduino IDE.

Report message to a moderator

Previous Topic: N8 SBC 3.5" Floppy Support
Next Topic: Disk image of Uni-Flex disk

[ Syndicate this forum (XML) ] [ RSS ] [ PDF ]

Current Time: Mon Mar 24 23:12:18 PDT 2025

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.03862 seconds
.:: Contact :: Home ::.

Powered by: FUDforum 3.0.9.
Copyright ©2001-2018 FUDforum Bulletin Board Software