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Tandy Nano - 3 Voice Soundcard ISA - Lowprofile

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Reply 120 of 138, by Maxx1234

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sofakng wrote on 2022-10-09, 21:04:

Thanks again so much. Do you have the gerbers for the larger Tandy PCBs with the PC speaker passthrough?

Unfortunately no...

Reply 121 of 138, by sofakng

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OK - Thanks for the help though!

Reply 122 of 138, by sofakng

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Maxx1234 wrote on 2022-10-09, 20:27:
sofakng wrote on 2022-10-09, 20:10:

I'm about to order a few PCBs from JLCPCB but does anybody have the actual gerber files? JLCPCB complains it doesn't know the dimensions of the PCB with the files from github.

Also, according to this video they mention certain Tandy voice samples not playing correctly? (ie. Space Quest)

I'm also interested in the "full" version of this card (with PC speaker passthrough) but it doesn't seem to have the gerber available publicly?

Tandy Nano v1.1 gerbers, successfully built on JLCPCB

Sorry to bother you again, but do you happen to have a parts list for either the Tandy Nano or Adlib PCB that you built? (or saved cart on Digikey/Mouser?)

Reply 123 of 138, by Maxx1234

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sofakng wrote on 2022-10-13, 15:05:
Maxx1234 wrote on 2022-10-09, 20:27:
sofakng wrote on 2022-10-09, 20:10:

I'm about to order a few PCBs from JLCPCB but does anybody have the actual gerber files? JLCPCB complains it doesn't know the dimensions of the PCB with the files from github.

Also, according to this video they mention certain Tandy voice samples not playing correctly? (ie. Space Quest)

I'm also interested in the "full" version of this card (with PC speaker passthrough) but it doesn't seem to have the gerber available publicly?

Tandy Nano v1.1 gerbers, successfully built on JLCPCB

Sorry to bother you again, but do you happen to have a parts list for either the Tandy Nano or Adlib PCB that you built? (or saved cart on Digikey/Mouser?)

No problem!

Here you are ...

Reply 124 of 138, by sofakng

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Thank you so much!!

Reply 125 of 138, by sofakng

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Can the LM386N-3 be substituted for the LM386N-1?

It looks like the LM386N-3 has higher output power (500 mW vs 250 mW). I'm worried that the higher output power might have increased noise/distortion or not be appropriate for line-level output?

Also, the SN74LS245N for the Adlib clone is completely out of stock... Can I use the SN74HCT245N instead?

It's hard to find all the parts since the component industry is still a mess. 🙁

Reply 126 of 138, by Maxx1234

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sofakng wrote on 2022-10-17, 17:11:
Can the LM386N-3 be substituted for the LM386N-1? […]
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Can the LM386N-3 be substituted for the LM386N-1?

It looks like the LM386N-3 has higher output power (500 mW vs 250 mW). I'm worried that the higher output power might have increased noise/distortion or not be appropriate for line-level output?

Also, the SN74LS245N for the Adlib clone is completely out of stock... Can I use the SN74HCT245N instead?

It's hard to find all the parts since the component industry is still a mess. 🙁

Using LM386N-1: I have no noise/distortion, although the 10K variable resistor is set at ~30% output to grossly approximate line-in levels. A wild guess (no electronics experience whatsoever) is that it should be much lower with LM386N-3....

SN74HCT245N: Actually you can get any 74LS245 dirt cheap from on-line stores (e.g. aliexpress). Since the 74HCT series are TTL compatible, chances are that it will work. If you try, let us know of the results...

Reply 127 of 138, by matze79

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All LM386 are Pin Compatible.

https://www.retrokits.de - blog, retro projects, hdd clicker, diy soundcards etc
https://www.retroianer.de - german retro computer board

Reply 128 of 138, by Jo22

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matze79 wrote on 2022-10-18, 14:08:

All LM386 are Pin Compatible.

Please let's be careful with models of Chinese origin, though.
Some are out of spec, ie. may not be able to handle low-impedance Walkman headphones (in my case).

Had this issue myself with a Pixie CW transceiver kit bought online.
The 386 shipped was faulty. Replacing it with a real LM386 from a know manufacturer fixed the issue instantly.
I got that IC in a totally old school way by buying it locally in an electronic shop.

You know, you leave the house (physically), get into a tram, leave the tram at the right station and enter the building.
Were a grim looking dude sits behind the counter, next to an LCD PC monitor displaying some ancient DOS program (article/solid state database). 😀

Then you go to the boxes of ICs and look for the genuine LM386s.
Which, if you're lucky, reside there for 20-30 years. Before China parts became ubiquitous.
That's my story, essentially. 😀

Edit: I think it's good that the LM386 is socketed, by the way! 🙂👍

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In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

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Reply 129 of 138, by Namrok

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Jo22 wrote on 2022-10-18, 15:33:
Please let's be careful with models of Chinese origin, though. Some are out of spec, ie. may not be able to handle low-impedanc […]
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matze79 wrote on 2022-10-18, 14:08:

All LM386 are Pin Compatible.

Please let's be careful with models of Chinese origin, though.
Some are out of spec, ie. may not be able to handle low-impedance Walkman headphones (in my case).

Had this issue myself with a Pixie CW transceiver kit bought online.
The 386 shipped was faulty. Replacing it with a real LM386 from a know manufacturer fixed the issue instantly.
I got that IC in a totally old school way by buying it locally in an electronic shop.

You know, you leave the house (physically), get into a tram, leave the tram at the right station and enter the building.
Were a grim looking dude sits behind the counter, next to an LCD PC monitor displaying some ancient DOS program (article/solid state database). 😀

Then you go to the boxes of ICs and look for the genuine LM386s.
Which, if you're lucky, reside there for 20-30 years. Before China parts became ubiquitous.
That's my story, essentially. 😀

Edit: I think it's good that the LM386 is socketed, by the way! 🙂👍

A physical IC shop? Did you ride a unicorn between the tram and there?

I kid of course. I'm also super jealous. I'm not sure there is any such place within 100 miles of me.

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Reply 130 of 138, by matze79

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Oh well, Chinese Lm386 also sounds often shitty.

And maybe contains different circuit (muting circuit not working then..)

https://www.retrokits.de - blog, retro projects, hdd clicker, diy soundcards etc
https://www.retroianer.de - german retro computer board

Reply 131 of 138, by sofakng

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How can you tell a genuine LM386 from a fake?

Reply 132 of 138, by Kahenraz

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matze79 wrote on 2020-06-26, 14:07:
A Building Kit Version of the Tandy Card, featuring only necessary Stuff: […]
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A Building Kit Version of the Tandy Card, featuring only necessary Stuff:

tndy_nano.jpg
tndy_nano_operating.jpg

properly one of the smallest Soundcard existing.
I needed a extra low profile Version for a Friend.
Why not make one ?
and here it is!
Only 3.8cm in height with Connector.

Its almost similar to the First Version but with added Fixes.

What is this? A sound card that adds "Tandy Sound" support to IBM compatibles? Don't a lot of games do weird checks for that, like scanning the BIOS for the word "Tandy"?

Reply 133 of 138, by Benedikt

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Kahenraz wrote on 2023-09-29, 02:20:
matze79 wrote on 2020-06-26, 14:07:
A Building Kit Version of the Tandy Card, featuring only necessary Stuff: […]
Show full quote

A Building Kit Version of the Tandy Card, featuring only necessary Stuff:

tndy_nano.jpg
tndy_nano_operating.jpg

properly one of the smallest Soundcard existing.
I needed a extra low profile Version for a Friend.
Why not make one ?
and here it is!
Only 3.8cm in height with Connector.

Its almost similar to the First Version but with added Fixes.

What is this? A sound card that adds "Tandy Sound" support to IBM compatibles? Don't a lot of games do weird checks for that, like scanning the BIOS for the word "Tandy"?

Yes, exactly that. There are collections of patched game binaries to take care of the Tandy detection problem.

Reply 134 of 138, by holoprox

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what is the absolute fastest pc that is compatible?

150+ retro computers on board!
80+ flightsticks!

Reply 135 of 138, by theelf

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Sorey to ask, but after read all pages still have doubts

With this card i can have tandy audio in patched games, like Maniac Mansion in a 286 PC?

For example i can in a 386 with temu+covox but my idea is to use my 286 Pc

thanks

Reply 136 of 138, by Benedikt

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theelf wrote on 2025-06-09, 06:33:

With this card i can have tandy audio in patched games, like Maniac Mansion in a 286 PC?

Yes.
For pre-AT machines, patching then involves the circumvention of Tandy hardware detection, where present.
For AT and later machines, where port 0c0h is not available, the relevant "out" instructions have to be patched, too.

Incidentally, once the games are patched, the TEMU+Covox approach becomes an option on 286, too, provided that the machine is fast enough.

Reply 137 of 138, by theelf

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Benedikt wrote on 2025-06-09, 08:28:
Yes. For pre-AT machines, patching then involves the circumvention of Tandy hardware detection, where present. For AT and later […]
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theelf wrote on 2025-06-09, 06:33:

With this card i can have tandy audio in patched games, like Maniac Mansion in a 286 PC?

Yes.
For pre-AT machines, patching then involves the circumvention of Tandy hardware detection, where present.
For AT and later machines, where port 0c0h is not available, the relevant "out" instructions have to be patched, too.

Incidentally, once the games are patched, the TEMU+Covox approach becomes an option on 286, too, provided that the machine is fast enough.

Sadly temu need 386+ thats why i start looking for options, and discover this isa card

ok if only requeriments is patching games fine, what i did not understand well if i need a tsr too that will need 386+

thanks for reply

Reply 138 of 138, by Benedikt

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theelf wrote on 2025-06-09, 11:59:

Sadly temu need 386+ thats why i start looking for options, and discover this isa card

ok if only requeriments is patching games fine, what i did not understand well if i need a tsr too that will need 386+

AFAIK, the 386 is only needed for port access interception.
If that has been taken care of via patching, instead, the only requirement that remains is that the machine must be fast enough to handle the redirection/emulation overhead.