Clay Williams Multigame Question...

andykmv

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Just got myself a Clay Cowgill Multigame Board Set (2001) V1.0. Whoo Hoo! :D

Firstly i am wondering:
Is there anyone here who is able to repair these if the xilinx or lattice chips go faulty ?
Is the code available anywhere for the kit Xilinx/Lattice chips for owners thereof ?
Or can anyone simply supply the preprogrammed Xilinx/Lattice chips as replacements where needed ?

Secondly i am also wondering which is the better choice to use for the clay multiwilliams boardset - robotron or joust ?
 
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Code is not available, and the kits are unsupported.

I've got several non-working Cowgirl kits I've acqured in trades from others... one day I'll hack together replacement code for some of them... I've had a lattice dev kit for like 8 years that I've never touched...
 
Code is not available, and the kits are unsupported.

I've got several non-working Cowgirl kits I've acqured in trades from others... one day I'll hack together replacement code for some of them... I've had a lattice dev kit for like 8 years that I've never touched...

can the compiled code be extracted from a xilinx xc9572 fpga chip so that it can be reloaded into another ?
 
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Robotron or Joust board set is fine... no difference.

Clay's kits are a bit touchy... You need a good clean board with a good clean power supply ... heck even the ribbon cable to the sound board can be an issue if not placed in the proper location. I had tied mine up nice and neat and the sound would always go out...

I had no real issues with mine other than the sound... but once jrok's multi-williams board came out, that was it for me. I sold it. Since they are not supported anymore I would recommend getting a jrok board.

FWIW, I had received a Clay kit from a friend that did not work and was able to get a replacement lattice device from Clay. If its something you need try sending him an email, ask if he has any kicking around... You might get lucky.
 
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Clay's Multiwilliams

Believe me, I tried what you suggest and was even polite about it. He was even going to install it for $25. I sent my board, paid him and he never followed through. Now I don't even have the board. I gave up after four years of trying.

This is one of only two times I have been ripped off in the hobby. All things considered that's not too bad over 18 years of collecting.


Robotron or Joust board set is fine... no difference.

FWIW, I had received a Clay kit from a friend that did not work and was able to get a replacement lattice device from Clay. If its something you need try sending him an email, ask if he has any kicking around... You might get lucky.
 
can the compiled code be extracted from a xilinx xc9572 fpga chip so that it can be reloaded into another ?

It's just a CPLD, not an FPGA ;)

I'm sure he blew the security bit, so there's prob no way to re-extract it via JTAG.

The biggest problem with those kits is the poor physical design. He uses the electrical connections as mechanical connections and vibrations can crack the solder joints and make the whole setup flakey.

Only time I put one together (for sale), I replaced all the mating headers and added standoffs to screw the daughterboards into the back grounding plate -- it was the only way to make the damn thing reliable in practice.
 
It's just a CPLD, not an FPGA ;)

tomato tomarto =O)... i read so many docs when researching what they were i lost the plot!

I'm sure he blew the security bit, so there's prob no way to re-extract it via JTAG.

i would i guess, one can be hopeful though!

The biggest problem with those kits is the poor physical design. He uses the electrical connections as mechanical connections and vibrations can crack the solder joints and make the whole setup flakey.

Only time I put one together (for sale), I replaced all the mating headers and added standoffs to screw the daughterboards into the back grounding plate -- it was the only way to make the damn thing reliable in practice.

thanks for the tips! i shall do the standoffs and check over the solder joints.
 
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Robotron or Joust board set is fine... no difference....... You need a good clean board with a good clean power supply ... heck even the ribbon cable to the sound board can be an issue if not placed in the proper location. .......

cool, got a spare joust set, but i have some work to do to make it a "good clean" boardset!!!!!!!
 
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