SidecarTridge Multi-device for developers

The Multi-device, ready for development

This edition of the SidecarTridge Multi-device is built for people who write their own apps and microfirmwares. It is the same cartridge-port apps platform for the Atari ST, STE, Mega, TT and Falcon, paired with a Raspberry Pi Pico WH. The Pico WH has a 3-pin JST connector on its Serial Wire Debug (SWD) port, so you can connect a Raspberry Pi Debug Probe to flash and debug your code on real hardware and read the UART traces while it runs.

The developer documentation explains how to set up the toolchain, the debugger and the build scripts.

Not just an emulator. An apps platform.

Powered by Firmware V2, the Multi-device runs a catalog of modular apps that you can switch in seconds, with no reflashing and no extra hardware. Highlights:

• Drives Emulator: floppy and hard-disk emulation from a microSD card. Boot any image and swap disks on the fly, no mechanical drive required.
• ROM Emulator: swap cartridge ROMs over Wi-Fi. Browse the online catalog from the ST itself and load 64K or 128K images on the spot.
• Browser: search for floppy images directly from your ST. Type a title, press Enter and watch it boot over Wi-Fi.
• MIDI-to-IP: bridge your ST's MIDI port to the Internet and play MIDI Maze against players in other cities.
• RTC and many more. Browse the full catalog in the Multi-device app store.

All the apps are open source. Browse the code on GitHub, use it as a starting point for your own apps, and contribute back.

What it does

The Multi-device builds on the RP2040 microcontroller of the Raspberry Pi Pico to:

• Emulate 64 KB and 128 KB cartridge ROMs by loading the binary files from a microSD card or over Wi-Fi.
• Read and write the cartridge bus in real time, so it can emulate floppy disks, hard disks, real-time clocks, keyboards, mice and more.
• Keep growing. Thanks to its open architecture and open-source code, the device keeps gaining new capabilities.

What you get

• SidecarTridge Multi-device board, revision 3.x.
• Raspberry Pi Pico WH with Firmware V2 pre-installed. Its SWD port has a 3-pin JST connector, ready for the Raspberry Pi Debug Probe.
• Female headers for the Pico WH and the UART connection, supplied unsoldered. You solder them to the board yourself.

Good to know

• Soldering is required: the female headers must be soldered to the board before you can mount the Pico WH.
• The Raspberry Pi Debug Probe is not included.
• The USB-A to micro-USB data cable is not included. You can find one in our store.
• You will need a microSDHC, microSDXC or microSDUC card formatted as exFAT. Plain microSD (SDSC) cards are not supported.
• Atari TT and Falcon support requires Firmware V2. Not every app runs on the TT and Falcon yet, so check per-machine availability in the app catalog.
• Just want to use the apps? The standard Multi-device is the right choice for you.
• Prefer to solder your own Pico W? See the Multi-device KIT.

New to the device? Follow the quickstart guide.