Atari SIO2USB User Manual page 35

9. Background
9.1. The Developers
Thomas Grasel
Harry Reminder
Carsten Strotmann
Florian Dingler
Support: Roland Reminder, Hans Boffo, Mathias Hüsler
We want to say a big "thank you" to everybody not mentioned here who contri-
buted his or her help!
9.2. The Stoy behind the SIO2USB
It all began in 2003. Single density 5 1/4 diskettes were more and more hard to
get and the ABBUC-RAF the regional group of the ABBUC computer club star-
ted to think about a suitable solution. We closely examined the existing SIO2I-
DE which was easily available at that time. Missing documentation, no casing,
the need for an external power supply and some things more showed us that
the SIO2IDE did not fullfil our needs.
What to do? Continue to improve the SIO2IDE or develop something comple-
tely new?
The USB-interface then was gaining more and more market share, it was well
documented (as we thought) and prices were in acceptable regions.
To understand the USB-interface and its functionality we had to develop and
build a rudimental interface. The USB-cartridge by Guus Assmann was a-
vailable as a prototype, but was not usable for our application. After redesig-
ning it and including an USB-controller we were able to present a well docu-
mented and fully functional USB-cartridge for the ATARI™ 8-Bit computer line,
complete with functional input devices: we connected a steering wheel and
used a slightly patched version of Pole Position™©. At the annual convention
of the ABBUC club 2005 an astonished crowd could give it a try on the race
track!
SIO2USB User Manual
Specification, hardware, SIO2USB software (boot-
code and firmware), Flasher software, frontplate,
assembly, overall coordination
USB-Cartridge, hardware, test software, tests, test
documentation, casing, assembly, translation
USB-DOS for USB cartridge, tests
Flasher software, Shell (DUP for SIO2USB), tests,
assembly, user manual, translation, reference card,
packaging design
Chapter 9 The Story Behind The SIO2USB 35