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Update SidecarTridge page: Rev 0 in use, Rev 3 details and uninstalled

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retro/atari-mega-st-fleet/index.njk
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<ul>
<li><strong>A second <a href="/retro/gotek/">Gotek floppy emulator</a></strong>, bought alongside the one fitted to the "Low" machine, still unbuilt and ready for another machine or as a spare.</li>
<li><strong>An <a href="/retro/eiffel-pico/">Eiffel Pico USB adapter</a></strong>, bought and configured but not yet installed, so I haven't decided which machine it will go into.</li>
<li><strong>A new <a href="/retro/sidecartridge/">SidecarTridge Multi-device</a> Revision 3</strong>, bought as an upgrade over the Revision 0 in use on the "Low" machine, still uninstalled until I decide where to put it.</li>
</ul>
<p class="note">Fun fact: two of the "problem" machines turned out to have nothing wrong with the boards at all, a badly soldered CPU socket and a leftover blitter patch bridge were the actual culprits. Moral of the story: check your solder joints twice before blaming the silicon.</p>
retro/sidecartridge/index.njk
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<h1>SidecarTridge Multi-device: An Apps Platform in a Cartridge</h1>
<div class="detail-content">
<p>My <a href="/retro/atari-mega-st-fleet/">Mega ST 4 "Low"</a> machine uses a SidecarTridge Multi-device, a small board with a Raspberry Pi Pico W inside that plugs into the cartridge port and turns the Atari into an apps platform. It brings Wi-Fi and a microSD slot to the machine and runs a growing catalog of modular apps, no soldering and no internal mods required.</p>
<p>My <a href="/retro/atari-mega-st-fleet/">Mega ST 4 "Low"</a> machine uses a SidecarTridge Multi-device, a small board with a Raspberry Pi Pico W inside that plugs into the cartridge port and turns the Atari into an apps platform. It brings Wi-Fi and a microSD slot to the machine and runs a growing catalog of modular apps, no soldering and no internal mods required. I bought the original Revision 0 back in late 2023/early 2024, and I've since picked up the new Revision 3 as well.</p>
<h2>What it does</h2>
<p>The SidecarTridge Multi-device works in any Atari ST, STE, Mega, TT or Falcon. A Raspberry Pi Pico W inside brings Wi-Fi and a microSD slot, and the board interacts with the cartridge bus in real time to emulate a range of devices:</p>
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<h2>How it works</h2>
<p>Setup takes about ten minutes. Slide the Multi-device into the cartridge port, power on, and on first boot it exposes its own SIDECART Wi-Fi network. You join it from a phone or laptop, pick your home Wi-Fi, and from then on the device joins your network automatically. Once connected it shows a QR code with its IP, which opens a web UI listing every installed app, and you pick what your ST should become. On the "Low" machine I use it for the ROM and floppy side of things, alongside the <a href="/retro/storm-cloudy/">Cloudy/Storm ST combo</a> and the Gotek for disk-image swapping.</p>
<h2>Revision 0 vs. Revision 3</h2>
<p>My Revision 0 is the very first version sold at the end of 2023/start of 2024, and it's the one in use on the "Low" machine. The new Revision 3 is a complete redesign that addresses feedback from early buyers. Functionally both run the same firmware and do the same things, but the v3 is noticeably improved:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Size and stability</strong>, the Rev 0 was a long, wide 2-layer board that stuck out and could flex if knocked. The v3 is a much more compact 4-layer board that sits more discreetly and doesn't flex.</li>
<li><strong>Signal quality</strong>, the Rev 0 used simple tinned (HASL) contacts, which can oxidise over time on the sensitive Mega ST bus and cause sudden crashes. The v3 uses a high-quality ENIG gold finish plus two inner copper layers for cleaner power, so transfers run flawlessly.</li>
<li><strong>Wi-Fi reception</strong>, on the Rev 0 the antenna sat over normal traces that dampened the radio signal, so the connection could drop if the ST was in a bad spot. The v3 has a copper clearance area under the antenna for a stronger, more stable connection.</li>
<li><strong>Power draw</strong>, the Rev 0 loads the aging 5V rail a bit more. The v3 was optimised to draw noticeably less and run more efficiently.</li>
<li><strong>Layout and Pico W mounting</strong>, on the Rev 0 the buttons and connectors were in the original spots and the Pico W had to be soldered on tall pin headers. The v3 repositions the buttons ergonomically and lets the Pico W be soldered flat, plus adds JST sockets for external buttons without soldering.</li>
</ul>
<h2>My Setup</h2>
<p>The original Revision 0 SidecarTridge is in use on the Mega ST 4 "Low" machine. The new Revision 3 I've bought but not yet installed, so it's still sitting alongside the other uninstalled extensions until I decide where to use it.</p>
<h2>Sources</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sidecartridge.com/products/sidecartridge-multidevice-atari-st/" target="_blank">SidecarTridge Multi-device for Atari ST - official product page</a></li>