General Discussion on Mini X-Pander

Warlock · May 15, 2013 6:43am

Post your topics here on anything related to Mini X-Pander.

mozartpc27 · October 30, 2015 8:13am

So, I bought one of these... and it does not seem to want to let my 1750 REU work when plugged into my 128 through the mini XPander. Any ideas?

This forum seems... under-utilized... but I am hoping someone checks it!

Added later 01 minutes 30 seconds:
Huh... you guys are in Jersey? I am in Philly's northern suburbs, work out of NJ most days. Small world, etc. Why did the mini XPander ship from the UK?

Last edited by mozartpc27 (October 30, 2015 8:13am)

Warlock · October 30, 2015 11:11am

hi Mozartpc27

Thanks for posting here about this. Let me explain what the Mini X-Pander was intended to do. The Mini X-Pander was to allow certain cartridges that did not work previously due to some bus noise in the expansion port of the C128. Specifically most people had issues with Network Cartridges like C64 Nic+ that would not run Contiki applications, WarpCopy64 and GeosLink an GEOS IRC client. So even those these carts work with it in c64 mode the communications parts would not functions this was main idea behind this unit. THis unit was never design to actually run 2 carts at one time UNLESS the cartridges can be switch to use a different memory address (e.g. $de00, $DF00 etc) on the bigger expanders this is easily done with flip of a switch or a jumper change since Mini Expander was to be a simple unit this was not added there are far too many units to create "Another cartridge expander". So to your question of why he is selling them. I ran out of connectors and send him over a couple blank pcbs to get some sales on it for Europe, However looking at his auction he should have copied like my eBay auction so that you can see more details before you bought it. My auction gives you a lot of detail on it and I think the misconception is that it works like every other Expander (which is not true).

I am in NJ. I live in Northern Jersey. Philly about 2 hours away from me.

Please take a look here this is main post for info on Mini X-Pander: http://www.arkanixlabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=691
You would actually be the first to post questions about this unit here since I created this forum to help answer questions for Mini X-Pander no one has posted any questions so thanks for posting.

Let me know if you have any other questions?

mozartpc27 · October 30, 2015 8:27pm

I hear you that it was not designed for running two carts at once, and while that remains my ultimate goal, at this point all I am trying to figure out is why the mini XPander will not run the REU properly with nothing else plugged into it. If I put my REU directly into the cart slot, it works. If I put my REU into an older 80s port expanded (built by a company called Navarrone), and then run that into the 128's cart slot, the REU works. It only doesn't work if I try running it through the mini XPander, and I am trying to ascertained that is.

For what it's worth, yes, I also have a 64NIC+, which has always worked just fine for what I want it to do when it is plugged directly into the 128. However, the 64NIC+ has not worked properly when plugged into EITHER my old Navarrone port expander, and then plugged into the 128, OR when plugged into the XPander 3, which I bought and tried before I purchased the mini XPander. The 64NIC+ DOES work perfectly when run through the mini XPander and then into the 128, so at least I have that worked out.

Warlock · November 4, 2015 6:54am

Mozartpc27

It could be the fact that some extra lines are buffered that affect the REU from working. This is my only guess. The way to test this is for me to build another unit just connecting all lines to connectors like a navarone cart expander and test it if it works that's the case.

Will have to build one soon. Can you let me know which software you were using with your 1750 REU so i can test with it also.

Thierry · December 22, 2015 9:26am

Hi people! , i'm a question , is Mini X-Pander compatible with C64 Reloaded and 1541 Ultimate II?

regards

Thierry

Warlock · December 23, 2015 6:37am

Hi Thierry

No the unit is not compatible with 1541 Ultimate the way its currently configured. If you by pass the ic doing the buffering by soldering the pads it should work as a standard expander(possible allowing REU to work with it also, but it would not work with network carts on C128 as it was originally designed for. I will have to try this soon, as I have been wanting to do this for quite some time.

redback · July 9, 2017 7:56pm

Now a 3D case from COREi64: Mini X-Pander+ Case (Lemon64)

Arkanix Labs Forum

#1 May 15, 2013 6:43am

General Discussion on Mini X-Pander

#2 October 30, 2015 8:13am

Re: General Discussion on Mini X-Pander

#3 October 30, 2015 11:11am

Re: General Discussion on Mini X-Pander

#4 October 30, 2015 8:27pm

Re: General Discussion on Mini X-Pander

#5 November 4, 2015 6:54am

Re: General Discussion on Mini X-Pander

#6 December 22, 2015 9:26am

Re: General Discussion on Mini X-Pander

#7 December 23, 2015 6:37am

Re: General Discussion on Mini X-Pander

#8 July 9, 2017 7:56pm

Re: General Discussion on Mini X-Pander

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