Deluxe Color Computer

[JamesD]

http://latenightcoco.blogspot.com/2015/05/under-cover.html

[JamesD]

Programming info from that blog thread...


AY sound chip:

SoundAdr set $FF38
SWrtData set SoundAdr
SRdData set SoundAdr+1
SWrtReg set SoundAdr+1

6551 serial port:

CPUType set Color
COCOType set Original
ClocType set 0
PwrLnFrq set Hz60 Set frequency for U.S.
DPort set $FF40
ifeq COCOType-Delux
ACIAType set ACIA6551
A.T2 set $FF3C 6551 Acia Internal
A.T3 set $FF68 6551 AciaPak
else
A.T2 set $FF68 6551 ACIA external
endc

Dragon 64/Tano Dragon Serial Port:

CPUType set Dragon
ClocType set 0
PwrLnFrq set Hz50 Set for appropriate Line Frequency
ACIAType set ACIA6551
DPort set $FF40
A.T2 set $FF04 6551 ACIA

Too bad the serial port wasn't at the same address as the Dragon. But then the machine was never released so I guess it doesn't matter.

Edited May 23, 2015 by JamesD

[random_rodder]

It's going to be interesting to see where Boisy takes this.

[JamesD]

The AY sound chip and 6551 just appear to be memory mapped so it's something any CoCo could do with an expansion card.
The ROM isn't there and the RAM drive was probably the most interesting upgrade software wise.
Other rumors about the Deluxe CoCo include a different palette, and/or an 80 column
The OS-9 disks don't seem to mention a Deluxe CoCo 80 column mode.
It does say this:

9. The Deluxe Version also has had its standard screen color changed to Blue. Both Versions have had their cursor color changed to Blue. The Deluxe Version will have the Green screen when in the process of booting. The screen changes to Blue when the Term device is initialized.

and this:

 

3. The addition of the Blue Alpha screen has allowed the doubling of the number of character sets available in graphics mode. The Color are unchanged for the low order of the numbers. If one of the original colors is selected, the screen is shifted into Green Phase mode and the original colors are displayed. By using a color number in the range (16..31) a new set of colors is available. Colors in the (16..31) range are display with the screen in Blue Phase mode. The mode is automatically shifted to Blue Phase when returning to the alpha screen.

And it has this code that appears to set the screen to blue.

* Set to BLUE phase
SetBlue ldb V.FF30,U Get Current Phase
 orb #$08 Set Bit 3
SetPhase stb V.FF30,U Set new phase
 endc

and this:

 ifeq COCOType-Delux
 ldb V.YVAL,U Get color code
 bitb #%00010000 Test Phase bit
 bne SetBlue Blue phase
* Set to GREEN phase
 ldb V.FF30,U Get Current Phase
 andb #$F7 Clear Bit 3
 bra SetPhase
* Set to BLUE phase
SetBlue ldb V.FF30,U Get Current Phase
 orb #$08 Set Bit 3
SetPhase stb V.FF30,U Set new phase
 endc

It does mention lowercase support and support for the extended keyboard.

Edited May 27, 2015 by JamesD

[JamesD]

 

When either version is in true lower case mode (Type byte = 1), the addition of true tildie(~) and underscore(_) characters are enabled. The SS.Cursr Getstat call is also automatically adjusted for the character set in use. There are two known caveats with the true lower case mode. The Reverse quote ($60) character is mapped to the standard quote on the screen. When using the SS.Cursr Getstat, the value returned will be $27 rather than $60. The second caveat occurs when a character $7F is sent to CCIO. The $7F character will be display as an underscore character on the screen and the SS.Cursr Getstat will return the value $5F for that character. NOTE: in future releases the $7F character may be used to generate the Left-arrow character. Both of the caveats occur when in True lower case mode only.

[JamesD]

For those that don't know what that code means, instead of a green screen, it appears the Deluxe CoCo could display characters on a Blue screen.
I don't know if it was a feature of that 6847 or external circuitry.
If it was the 6847, they might have dumped an existing mode.

[JamesD]

For those that don't know what that code means, instead of a green screen, it appears the Deluxe CoCo could display characters on a Blue screen.

I don't know if it was a feature of that 6847 or external circuitry.

If it was the 6847, they might have dumped an existing mode.

The color change was supposedly accomplished by changing the phase of the signal.