The LZX Cadet series is now archived in its entirety. Please see the README for usage details.
If anyone has ideas for helping maintain this repository or the designs themselves, let me know!
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Cool! Iām looking forward to seeing how the C1 code works (even though it looks to be 100% assembler).
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Thanks a lot for sharing those! Especially the Cadet Sync Gen source code.
I donāt know much about Assembly either, though Iād be keen on checking if it is possible to modify the code to make it work with a 27MHz VCXO, as the 13.5MHz one is hard to come by. The VCXO I use in my sync gen has the same footprint/pinout and is currently available https://www.digikey.fr/en/products/detail/cts-frequency-controls/357LB3I027M0000/568065
This way, the pcb could be used without having to be modified, then I guess the main limitation would be the maximum number of bits available for the counters in the ATmega88, as doubling the VCXO frequency would mean doubling the counts of each counters. Then it would may be just a matter of using a bigger microcontroller with the same footprint/pinout (168p or 328p).
Long live the Cadets!
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I might be wrong, but I think you might have to also overclock the microcontroller to use a 27Mhz crystal. I think those atmegas are only supposed to go up to 16 or 20 MHz depending on the mcu (88/168/328). I know nothing about overclocking them, except I think I saw some random blog post once about someone doing it to generate video, so itās probably possible. Though I wonder if dividing the clock with a fast logic chip before it hits the mcu might also work?
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Ah right, overlooked the maximum clock speed of the atmegas, I need to read more about potential overclocking, but this might be an issue for sure.
Else, I think a flip-flop wired as divide by 2 as you described should work, have to check if it doesnāt disturb the genlock since it would be in the PLL/VCXO/microcontroller feedback loop. Then this would ask to modify the board layout, or maybe it could be on a small daughter board with the atmega that would be plugged in the original atmega socket, if height isnāt an issue. At this point and going for a daughter board like this, it may be worth checking if the micro could be replaced by one that would handle 27MHz.
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What a treat to wake up this on a Monday! This is such an asset for the video synth community. Long live the cadets!
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Thatās right ā we used a 13.5MHz crystal originally because of the 20MHz limit. The right answer is to transition it to use an RTL based sync generator on CPLD or FPGA.
In terms of design maintenance, Cadet 1 is in the greatest need of an overhaul. It would be best replaced by a module that adopted that approach. @syntonie 's new sync gen/encoder would be a much better place to start.
It would be nice to adapt C1, C4, C9 to use an RCA based sync input/separator as well.
I just do not have time to tackle a revision in parallel with the other projects Iām working on right now, so I offer it up in the hopes others can carry it forward!
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thanks for sharing!!!
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Assembly 
Iāve written a handful of programs for the original gameboy in ASM as well as an old sync gen/frame buffer to convert the gameboyās LCD data to composite. This was ages ago though, so I doubt I have the sources.
The Atmega168 @ 16MHz was powerful enough to set up interrupt routines for producing the sync signals, but I was only able to fully load the frame buffer and output part of a frame horizontally before my sync interrupt triggered the next line.
I recall making the decision to port the code to the DSPIC33EV64 for the number of interrupt pins and maximum clock speeds. They were about $12 each at a time I did not have $12 to my nameā¦
Making an RCA-to-14 pin adapter should be pretty straight forward, but so should adapting the C4 and C9 to use the LMH1980.
If anyone has the ability to hand solder SOIC and 0603 parts, I can send you the untested files for an adapter I was experimenting on. It only solves the issue for users who own a C4 or C9. It does not produce the blanking signal. It could possibly help with a few of the expedition [Visionary] modules that have 14-pin sync. I donāt have any to test it on though.
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@creatorlars Thank you so much for making these open-source. Iām sure so many folks, including myself, have learned a ton about the fundamentals of video signal generation from the Cadet schematics themselves over the years. Being able to see the board layouts and firmware for the sync generator is huge.
@Fox You know Iām down to test those out. 
The only LZX production modules that take 14 pin sync are in the Visionary series. Everything in the Expedition series that requires sync uses RCA except for two early revisions of Prismatic Ray that use H/V power bus sync.
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IIRC, the Blanking signal is only required by the Color Video Encoder and possibly the Triple Video Interface modules, as it relates to Visionary series.
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I thought so. Can you also verify that no module uses the āBurstgateā pin?
Thatās used for the DC restoration trigger, so it may also be used in the Triple Video Interface.
The Visionary Logic modules with internal clocks (like Video Divisions) used a VCXO and CPLD based PLL to regenerate clock from the incoming HSYNC pulse.
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Regarding the ādo not sellā restriction, would it make sense to allow for selling PCBS/panels at cost to other enthusiasts? Iām asking, because the fabrication houses Iāve used in the past (allpcb et. al.) all have a 5 board minimum per run. I certainly donāt need 5 PCB/panel sets of each module, and it would be a shame for all those extra boards to go into a landfill, rather than the hands of another builder.
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Community organized / nonprofit distro / group buys is fine. Inheriting from the designs to make your own product to sell is fine. The line is crossed whenever thereās an online storefront thatās listed the unmodified boards for sale under the LZX brand name.
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Letās not have a Mutable Instruments fiasco on our hands. The way so many folks misinterpreted Ćmilieās intentions was very disheartening.
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The intention, to be explicit, is that this is not a ādownload and sell itā off the shelf product design. Itās an archive of a discontinued product line, including some modules with issues that would need to be solved before re-entering production. Itās archived specifically for existing Cadet DIYers who want to continue building their systems, and other module makers to use for personal projects, design jump-off points, and for preserving the historical state of the project.
For example ā if Foxing Hour or another module maker wanted to put their name on the PCB/panel art, and sell their own renditions of any of these ā circuit changed/enhanced or not ā No problem. Partaking in our shared legacy and committing to maintaining your own variant of it ā thatās awesome.
If a community organizer posted a group buy thread here and served as a one time distributor for a batch of PCBs, and made sure they were compensated for their own labor in making that available and doing the kitting/shipments ā No problem.
If someone with an online shop or Etsy store purchased a run of the existing PCB/Frontpanel Gerbers and posts them for sale as āLZX Cadet PCBsā on their website ā That would be crossing a line, and weād ask to have the products removed from the store.
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I suppose one gray area I did not cover is, what if you want to buy the PCBs yourself, build them all up, then sell the finished modules? Does this fall under DIY, or is it now retail manufacturing? I think it depends on the venue context ā if youāre selling in a forum post, itās DIY ā if you have a reverb/etsy/ebay and a brand name, itās retail manufacturing.
If it is retail manufacturing, Iād prefer that a variant was designed under a different brand name, so that the builder has taken ownership of that particular variant ā they are now responsible for building it properly, understanding how it works, and providing customer support to their customers.
But if youāre selling a few extra builds from your DIY journey or selling off a system you built when you donāt need it anymore, thatās just part of the hobby and not a business, IMO.
Let me know if Iām being obtuse. You are all incredibly respectful of anything Iāve asked for with any of this. More than anything I just want it to feel like the Cadet project is now ācommunity owned.ā
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Iāve think everything youāve written in this thread is extremely reasonable & clearly comes after giving the topic a lot of thought & from an important position regarding the creation of the Cadet series. Your latest message clarifies even more & if we, the users here, are being respectful, itās definitely in part due to your own respectful manner of communication @creatorlars. Itās also been great to see your active participation in recent weeks & months. 2020 & 2021 were tough years for many of us, thereās been a lot of learning that hopefully wonāt be forgotten any time soon.
I, for one, will be really happy to see if or when some people can take the Cadet series in more advanced or interesting directions.
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Thanks @creatorlars for clarifying! It seems like weāre on the same page here, and it basically boils down to using common sense. Looking forward to giving these a try, the Look Mum No Computer vid on the Cadet series makes it look like a lot of fun.
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