SidecarTridge – LLM / AI Summary

This page is a machine-readable overview of SidecarTridge for LLMs and AI agents. A plain-text mirror lives at https://sidecartridge.com/llm.txt. For authoritative, always-current details always defer to the documentation site and the individual product pages linked below.

Mission

SidecarTridge designs and manufactures modern hardware for classic computers, primarily the Atari ST/STE/Mega ST/Mega STE family, with Amiga 500/2000 support through the Kickstart Multi ROM. 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. Installs are solderless whenever the design allows it.

Main Products

Listed in the same order as the store’s Products menu.

• SidecarTridge Multi-device – Cartridge-port apps platform for the Atari ST, STE, Mega, TT, and Falcon. A Raspberry Pi Pico W (RP2040) adds Wi-Fi and a microSD slot and runs a growing catalog of modular apps: ROM emulation (64 KB/128 KB), floppy-disk and hard-disk emulation, real-time clock, and more, all managed over Wi-Fi or microSD. No soldering, no internal mods.Product

• SidecarTridge TOS Emulator – Stores dozens of TOS and EmuTOS builds and switches between them without opening the machine. USB-managed, auto power-on, adjustable bus timing. For Atari ST/STE/Mega ST/Mega STE.Product

• SidecarTridge 256KB Decoder + TOS Emulator Combo – Solderless combo that lets an Atari Mega ST transparently boot both 192 KB and 256 KB TOS images (including STe and Mega STe builds) without touching the original ROM sockets and without soldering on the 68000. The decoder seats in the MEGABUS connector and links to the TOS Emulator carrier (rev4+) through a 6-pin flat cable. This shipping solderless combo replaces the earlier solder-in decoder.Product

• SidecarTridge Kickstart Multi ROM – Programmable replacement for the Kickstart chip on a Commodore Amiga 500 or 2000. Holds dozens of Kickstart images in onboard flash and boots the selected one (Kickstart 1.2/1.3/2.04/3.1, DiagROM, EmuTOS) through the SWITCHER tool. New images are uploaded over USB, so no chip swaps and the original ROM stays safe on the shelf.Product

• SidecarTridge Croissant Keyboard Emulator – Internal IKBD keyboard emulator for Atari ST/STE machines with the 7-pin internal keyboard connector. Adds Bluetooth keyboards, mice, and gamepads, keeps original-keyboard pass-through, and is configured over Wi-Fi.Product

• SidecarTridge Soufflè Keyboard Emulator – External IKBD keyboard emulator for Atari Mega ST/Mega STE. Plugs into the external keyboard port via a 1 m coiled RJ11 6P4C cable in place of the original keyboard. A built-in USB hub brings modern keyboards, mice, and gamepads, while two native DB9 outputs keep original Atari mouse and joysticks working. Configured over Wi-Fi.Product

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

• ACSI2STM Compact & Mini – Solid-state hard-disk emulators for Atari ST/Mega ST/STE/Mega STE with GemDrive and RTC support. The Mini is a tiny 65 x 35 mm board with a direct DB-19 connector, sold standalone or with an optional 3D-printed enclosure. (Derivative of the open-source ACSI2STM project.)Compact · Mini

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

• SidecarTridge Mean Well PSU Kit – Solderless replacement PSU for Atari ST/STE/Mega ST built around the industrial Mean Well RPD-60A open-frame supply, a custom riser PCB, harnesses, and mounting hardware. No soldering and no chassis modifications; the machine ends up in stock configuration.Product

• Internal USB-C PD PSU Kit – 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 PSU for Atari 520ST (short) – Fully assembled external brick that replaces the original Atari 520ST short power brick (motherboards C070115 / C070243) and feeds the +5 V / +12 V / −12 V rails via USB-C PD.Product

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

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

Key Facts

• Founded: 2023 (Madrid, Spain)
• Company: GOODDATA LABS SL
• Focus platforms: Atari ST / STE / Mega ST / Mega STE (primary); the Multi-device also fits the TT and Falcon cartridge port; Amiga 500/2000 via the Kickstart Multi ROM
• Availability: Worldwide shipping from EU stock
• Design philosophy: Fully documented hardware, field-upgradable firmware, preference for solderless installs
• Community: Blog, GitHub, YouTube, and retro forums
• 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/
• Support email: support@gooddatalabs.com

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 256KB Decoder to use the TOS Emulator?A: No. The TOS Emulator works standalone for the standard 192 KB Atari ST ROM layout. The 256KB Decoder is only needed on an Atari Mega ST when you want to boot 256 KB images (STe / Mega STe builds). It now ships as a solderless 256KB Decoder + TOS Emulator combo that seats in the MEGABUS connector, with no soldering on the 68000.

Q: What is the difference between the Croissant and Soufflè keyboard emulators?A: Both are IKBD keyboard emulators, but for different machines. Croissant is internal, for regular Atari ST/STE machines with the 7-pin internal keyboard connector. Soufflè is external, for Mega ST/Mega STE machines whose keyboard is a separate unit; it plugs into the external keyboard port through a coiled RJ11 6P4C cable. Neither supports the Atari Falcon, which uses a different keyboard architecture.

Q: What kind of monitor do I need for the ST2VGA adapters?A: Both the ST2VGA and ST2VGA Enhanced adapters 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 the ST2VGA Enhanced adapter instead of the passive ST2VGA?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 needs external 5 V over micro-USB.

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

Q: What is the difference between the three PSU products?A: The Mean Well PSU Kit is an internal replacement built around the industrial Mean Well RPD-60A supply. The Internal USB-C PD PSU Kit is an internal board powered from a USB-C PD charger. The External USB-C PD PSU is a fully assembled external brick that replaces the original Atari 520ST short power brick. All three deliver the +5 V, +12 V, and −12 V rails Atari hardware needs.

Q: Does SidecarTridge support the Amiga?A: Yes, through the Kickstart Multi ROM for the Amiga 500 and 2000. It replaces the Kickstart chip with a programmable board that stores multiple Kickstart images and switches between them without swapping chips.

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

2026-07-05