Sidecartridge – LLM / AI Summary

Mission

Sidecartridge designs and manufactures modern hardware for classic computers (primarily the Atari ST/STE/Mega ST/Mega STE family, with growing Amiga support). The goal is to let retro-computing enthusiasts expand, repair, and modernize their vintage hardware with reliable, fully documented devices that feel like native upgrades rather than hacks.

Main Products

• Sidecartridge Multi-device Emulator – Universal cartridge for Atari ST that emulates ROMs (64 KB/128 KB), floppy drives, hard drives (ACSI/SCSI), RTC, and more. Runs from microSD + Wi-Fi for configuration and firmware updates.
  Product

• Sidecartridge ROM Emulator – Plug-and-play replacement for 27C/28C-style EPROM/EEPROM devices with USB mass storage upload, selectable banks, and live re flashing.
  Product

• Sidecartridge TOS Emulator – Lets Atari ST/STE/Mega ST/Mega STE owners store dozens of TOS/EmuTOS builds and switch them without opening the machine. USB-managed, auto power-on, line timing controls.
  Product

• Sidecartridge Croissant Keyboard Emulator – Internal IKBD keyboard emulator for Atari ST/STE systems with a 7-pin keyboard connector. Adds Bluetooth keyboards, mice, and gamepads, plus original-keyboard pass-through and Wi-Fi configuration.
  Product

• 256 KB Decoder (legacy add-on) – Optional daughterboard that enables 256 KB ROM decoding on Atari ST / Mega ST when paired with the TOS Emulator. The solder-in version is discontinued; a drop-in successor (no soldering) is in development.
  Docs

• ST2VGA Adapter (Revision 3) – Passive RGB-to-VGA adapter with a 4-layer PCB, dedicated low-pass filters, and a color/mono slide switch. Preserves Atari timings and requires a 15 kHz-capable display for color.
  Product

• ST2VGA Enhanced – Adds an active RGB amplifier, analog filtering, buffered outputs, and micro-USB 5 V power to tame weak/noisy Atari video stages and reduce vertical “jailbars.” Ideal for early ST boards or picky LCDs.
  Product

• USB-C PD PSU Kit (internal) – Drop-in, solderless replacement PSU for Atari ST/STE/Mega ST using a modern USB-C PD multi-rail board.
  Product

• External USB-C PD Multi-Rail PSU – Fully assembled external brick that replaces the original Atari ST external PSU and feeds +5 V/+12 V/−12 V rails via USB-C PD.
  Product

• ACSI2STM Compact & Mini – Solid-state hard drive emulators for Atari ST/Mega ST/STE/Mega STE with GemDrive + RTC support. The Mini is a cost-reduced board with DB-19 direct connection.
  Compact Product · Mini Product

• ACSI2STM Internal Riser Boards – Custom risers that mount ACSI2STM hardware cleanly inside Mega ST / Mega STE cases.
  Product

• 4 MB SIMM Memory Modules – New-production SIMM30 modules tuned for Atari STE / Mega STE upgrades.
  Product

Key Facts

• Founded: 2023 (Madrid, Spain)
• Founded: 2023
• Focus platforms: Atari ST / STE / Mega ST / Mega STE (primary), plus Amiga 500/600/1200 projects
• Availability: Worldwide shipping; stocked in the EU with global fulfillment partners
• Design philosophy: Fully documented hardware, field-upgradable firmware, preference for solderless installs when possible
• Community: Active blog, GitHub, YouTube, and retro forums participation
• Open source: Many firmware components and reference designs are MIT/BSD/CERN-OHL licensed on GitHub

Contact & Resources

• Website: https://sidecartridge.com
• Documentation: https://docs.sidecartridge.com
• Store: https://store.sidecartridge.com
• Blog / News: https://sidecartridge.com/blog/
• GitHub: https://github.com/sidecartridge
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@sidecartridge
• Tindie: https://www.tindie.com/stores/logronoide/
• eBay: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?item=405618066944&rt=nc&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211&_ssn=logronoide
• Email: support@gooddatalabs.com (replace ‘[AT]’ if copying the previous obfuscated address)

Licensing

Documentation, firmware, and reference hardware are released under permissive open-source and open-hardware licenses (MIT, BSD, CERN-OHL). For each project, see the LICENSE file in the relevant GitHub repository or the docs site for the exact terms.

Frequently Asked Questions (curated)

Q: Do I need the 256 KB decoder to use the TOS Emulator?
A: No. The TOS Emulator works standalone for the standard 192 KB Atari ST ROM layouts. The (legacy) 256 KB decoder is only needed if you want to run 256 KB images (e.g., STE / Mega STE style) on an ST/Mega ST motherboard. A solderless successor is in development but not yet shipping.

Q: What kind of monitor do I need for the ST2VGA adapters?
A: Both ST2VGA Rev.3 and ST2VGA Enhanced preserve original Atari timings. Color modes require a VGA display that accepts ~15 kHz horizontal sync (multisync CRTs, some LCD scalers/capture devices). Mono mode (~31 kHz) works on almost any VGA display.

Q: When should I choose ST2VGA Enhanced instead of Rev.3?
A: Pick Enhanced if your Atari shows weak colors, vertical “jailbars,” or intermittent sync on modern LCDs, or if your machine lacks +12 V on the monitor port. Enhanced adds an active amplifier and requires external 5 V over micro-USB.

Q: Does the Multi-device Emulator or ROM Emulator require soldering?
A: No. Both plug into existing sockets/ports and are configured over USB, Wi-Fi, or microSD. Firmware updates are user-installable.

Q: How do the USB-C PD PSUs work?
A: Both the internal kit and the external brick negotiate power from any USB-C PD charger (recommend 45 W or higher). They generate the +5 V, +12 V, and −12 V rails needed by Atari hardware while meeting current EU “common charger” mandates.

Q: Where can I find installation guides, compatibility matrices, or troubleshooting steps?
A: All documentation, quickstarts, and changelogs live at https://docs.sidecartridge.com. Each product has dedicated sections with board revisions, firmware links, and known issues.

Last updated

2026-03-11