* Generic USB host with direct control of USB endpoints, for connecting other kinds of USB devices.
* High-speed (1.5 Mbaud) serial link with built-in USB interface for linking with other computers for fast data exchange. Includes flow control, 16 byte FIFO on CPC side, and 512 byte FIFO on remote side, allowing fast buffered and interrupt-driven operation.
* Software configurable interrupt routing to either [[NMI ]] or INT, or interrupt masking. Multiplexing of several interrupt sources: USB host controller, UART, remotely triggered, and CRTC CURSOR signal interrupts are gathered and easily accessible from a single interrupt status register.
=== Board revisions ===
You can identify your board from the info it sends on the USB device port, or by checking the serial chip (square chip on the back of the board).
Version 1.0 uses a TI TL16C550D chip. Version 1.1 uses a NXP SC16C650B chip.
==== Version 2.0 ====
Like the previous version, it provides one USB host port and one µSD slot with built-in support for mass storage and FAT filesystem. However, please note '''serial port has been removed'''. It is fully compatible (same port address). Of course, nothing is mapped on serial port addresses.
[[File:Albireo 2.0 top.jpg]]
[[File:Albireo 2.0 bottom.jpg]]
=== How does it work? ===
=== What is it useful for? ===
Not much currently because there is no software yet, but * Use both USB mass storage devices and/or USB mice in [[SymbOS]] with one or two Albireos, which can be connected at the same time* Access mass storage devices with [[UniDOS]]; use the USB key or SD card directly from BASIC and well-behaving apps (which support extra disk ROMs and a C drive); load games and tools from the future:mass storage media
* Use the USB key or SD card directly from BASIC and well-behaving apps (which support extra disk ROMs and a C drive). Load games and tools from the mass storage mediaPlanned:
* Connect to another computer like the CPC Booster, load snapshot, DSK or other files from it and write them to floppies or the mass storage media. A snapshot of 128K could be loaded in 0.86 seconds, a snapshot of 64K in less than 0.43 seconds.
* Use SLIP (serial line IP) and a properly setup gateway (Linux machine or similar) to connect the CPC to the Internet.
There are a drivers in FutureOS and SymbOS to use Albireo with an USB mouse.
== Hardware ==
* When this switch is ON, the DTR signal from the remote side of the serial link is plugged to the DSR line of the UART controller. It then generates an interrupt which the CPC can process.
[http://pulkomandy.github.io/shinra.github.io/albireo.html Albireo interface homepage]
== Software ==
=== Software supporting the Albireo ===
* [[UniDOS]] ([[AMSDOS]] compatible and modular DOS; see [https://unidos.cpcscene.net UniDOS official website])
* [[SymbOS]] (both USB mass storage devices and USB mouse; supports two Albireos connected at the same time)
* [[Arkos_Tracker]] 2 (use the CPC AY chip through the USB serial port)
* [[FutureOS]] (USB mouse support)
* [[SymbOS]] (USB mouse support)
* [[HDCPM]] (Support booting and running CP/M Plus from SD card)
* [[AlbiDOS]] **'''deprecated''', replaced by [[UniDOS]]** ([[AMSDOS]] compatible DOS driver; see [https://framagit.org/shinra/albireo/albireodos/-/wikis/home AlbiDOS documentation])
* Serial communication to communicate with a PC
== List of compatible mouses ==
=== Whitelist ===
The following USB mice work seamlessly with the Albireo in [[SymbOS]].
* Genius DX-150X (GM-150028)
* Logitech M100 (still available; 03/2025)
* Logitech M105
* Microsoft 3902C693
=== Blacklist ===
This list contains mice that only have a maximum of three buttons and a scroll wheel, but still don't work with the standard Albireo drivers. More complex gaming mice, etc., are not listed, as they would require a more complex driver anyway.
* Hewlett Packard HP 100
== Links ==
*[https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/albireo-usbsdserial-interface-for-cpc/ Albireo] [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/albireo-usbsd-interface-for-cpc-new-version-without-serial/ Albireo 2.0] Topics on CPCWiki forum
*[https://pulkomandy.github.io/shinra.github.io/albireo.html Albireo - Programmer's manual]
*[[Media:Ch376ds1.pdf|CH376 datasheet]] USB flash drive or SD card controller
*[https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/data-sheet/SC16C650B.pdf SC16C650B datasheet] UART
[[Category:DATA Storage]]
[[Category:Peripherals]]
[[Category:FutureOS]]