Grappler Minus: The Perfect Pairing with SPIISD V2
Take your Apple II experience to the next level by combining the Grappler Minus card with the SPIISD V2!
What's new in V2
- The logic ICs are now one programmable logic chip (GAL20V8B). Fewer parts to solder.
- ACT LED. The logic chip drives an activity LED that only lights up when SmartPort is in use. While SmartPort is running, it blinks along with drive and card access. If you boot the drive as a plain Disk II with PR#6, it stays off. Handy when something isn't working and you want to know which mode you're actually in.
- Smaller board. We kept it as small as we could, but gave it the old Apple "shell" (trapezoid) shape so you can tell the front from the back at a glance. Purple PCB only for now.
- ROM: the old version took a 2732 or 27(C)64. V2 also takes a 28C64, which is much easier to find.
Note: only the main photo shows V2. The rest are the old version, and we'll replace them soon.
Kit (all parts, programmed ROM and logic chip included): $20 USD
Assembled card: $25 USD
Assembly guide here
What's in the kit
R1: 1K resistor
D1: 3mm blue LED
C1, C2: 100nF capacitors
U1: programmed logic chip (GAL20V8B) + socket
U2: programmed ROM (28C64) + socket
What is the Grappler Minus?
It's a card made to run the SoftSP DIY ROM. SoftSP DIY originally used an Orange Micro Grappler Plus printer card with a new ROM to make a Disk II controller card talk SmartPort. The Grappler Minus keeps only the logic that job needs and drops everything else. We built it so SPIISD V2 owners could use SmartPort on their Apple II.
How to use it
1. Put the Grappler Minus in slot 5. Other slots work too, just not slot 6.
2. Your Disk II controller card (or 5.25" drive card) goes in slot 6.
3. Power on and press Control-Reset.
4. Type PR#5 and press Return. If the card is in a different slot, use that number instead (PR#4, PR#7 and so on).
The drive on the Disk II card (SPIISD V2, for example) now runs as a SmartPort device.
Works with
Apple IIe, IIe Platinum, IIe Euro Platinum
Apple II Plus, II Europlus, II J-plus
Requires a Disk II controller card or 5.25" drive card.
About SoftSP DIY
The Grappler Minus runs the SoftSP DIY ROM by Wing Yeung (MFA2 WorkShop, aka KbooHK), used with his permission. See the MFA2 WorkShop website for details.
SoftSP DIY is not the same as the SoftSP card, also designed by Wing Yeung and sold through Chris Torrence's CT6502 Store.
Open source
The design files for the older Grappler Minus v1.4 are free for personal use. If you have the tools and know-how, you can build one yourself. Commercial sales are not allowed.
