random_rodder

CoCo SDC should be considered the most compatible solution since it will load software DriveWire cannot. Some software did not use standard DSKCON routines and talked to the hardware directly. CoCoSDC is a hardware floppy emulator and does not have the incompatibility issue that DriveWire has in this regard.

Awesome!!! Thank you!

Would you mind posting some close up pics of that Burke & Burke? I need a couple of good images of one to add to my web page listing of the CoCo Accessories. You can see it here. Right now, I just have an ad from the Rainbow.

Sigh... I feel nostalgic. And old. More old than nostalgic. Seems like yesterday...

Yes. I bought several off of eBay last year to fix my 800XL keyboard problem.

I used that hot air method once removing a 6809 from a CoCo 3 board. It might work better on a lower pin count chip, but, on that CoCo 3 board, I warped the phenolic. The board still works to this day, but, it scared me sufficiently that I've been using a solder sucker ever since. And with safer results.

Maybe. The PSU can output 5vdc until it's connected to a load. If the output is weak, the 800xl might drag it down to nothing. I'm not as familiar with Atari's as I am TRS-80's, so YMMV with that comment. Get a copy of Sam's Computerfacts for the 800xl. There will be several useful diagrams depicting test points and the expected voltages at those points (as well as waveforms at various TP's if you have a oscilloscope). In conjunction with testing Vcc at various chips, that will tell you if power is being routed as expected.

For what it's worth, the PSU for my 800XL died a year ago. I've been using a lab power supply set at 5.25v to power it. When I get some time to search, I'll be looking for a small PC/AT power supply for it. I don't like wall warts...

Back when I was a kid, most of my friends had an Atari 400 or 800, one had a Colecovision with ADAM, and one kid I didn't particularly like had an Apple ][. When I finally talked my parents into a home computer, that's what we started looking at. However, several of my older cousins had TRS-80 Color Computers, and one had a TI-99. Since nobody else in the family had an 800, I wound up with a 64k CoCo system (Okidata 82a printer, cassette and floppy disk) for my 12th or 13th birthday. It was a great little system that started me on my career path I'm in today. Since then. I've been basically a Tandy guy as far as retro stuff goes. This week, though, the inner child in me came out, and I finally picked up 'the one that got away'. The unit works fine so far, except I have to track down a SIO cable for the floppy drive, and of course, some disks. I'm pretty much Atari illiterate, so, I have some reading to do, but man, could Atari build a nice looking, sturdy machine. The date code says 412 - Am I interpreting it right saying it was built in the 41st week of 1982? I don't have a BASIC cartridge for it, only Pac-Man, so I can't really do much testing. Is it safe to say since it' was built towards the end of the run that it has the GTIA? I know there's a POKE that'll help identify that, but, no BASIC. The 1050 drive looks to be in great shape, and I'm looking into possible upgrades for it. Have a lot to learn about these drives still. Also looking into a SIO2PC adapter of some sort. I use DriveWire or a CoCo-SDC for my color computer stuff all the time - much more convenient than having tons of floppies laying around. Thanks for any input/advice! Brian

Ok, dumb question time - you did connect the transformer wires back to the switch and the fuse wires as well, right? (3rd picture) Do you own a multi-meter? If so you can test the power connector where it plugs into the floppy. Black is ground, red should be 5vdc and yellow should be 12vdc (IIRC). When plugged in and you turn the power switch on, you should hear the floppy head seek momentarily, would almost feel/sound like a short vibration. It should to do this regardless of whether the drive is connected to the CoCo or not. The floppy drive might be bad, or the power supply. Without using a multi-meter to check the voltages, it's impossible to say.

This one was weird... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Radio-Shack-Tandy-TRS-80-128K-Color-Computer-3-26-3334-CoCo-/281754377589?nma=true&si=%252F7SBLaeg8rpBmFY2jxUJ%252FdidTFg%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 Just listed today I think...

You know, if I were a betting man, I'd take a guess as to who this might be. Back in December I sold off some of my collection to cover some legal expenses, and someone told me to tell him what I wanted for a few items I didn't really want to sell. So I gave him some outlandish prices, and he paid it! I'll probably never get these items again, but, I just couldn't pass up the cash at the time.

John Kowalski, aka Sock Master has updated his excellent CoCo 3 Donkey Kong game!!! Still fits on one disk, requires 512k and has four new levels!!! Video here:

Boisy said C9 is selling them for $299 due to the eBay prices. Stupidly high in either case, IMHO... I only paid $75 for my first CoCo 3 in '89...

I created that manual for Darren - if there's anything that you have questions on or areas that need clarification, please let me know. It's purpose was to help make life easier for SDC buyers. Several people are considering a menu driven system, as the typing of the commands can get tedious. There are MANY reasons the CoCo scene is looked at differently... one of which is we seem to eat our own. There's constant fighting, especially when someone discusses a new product they are considering, it's almost like a feeding frenzy. I didn't know that - that's pretty damn cool...

Every time I hear a comment like this, it really confuses me, as there's been a manual for the CoCoSDC almost since it was released. It can be downloaded here. Guess it's one of the MANY reasons the CoCo Community seems to be the red-headed stepchild of the 8-bit retro scene - effective communication really does suck.

Sad part is I had to sell both of those CoCo's back in December. I've got another TDP-100 on the way, should be here Friday. It sucks, thought, as the one I sold had orginal box, manuals and all sales documentation with it...

Sexier versions of a CoCo 1.

Virtua Racing was very good on the 32x also.

And he's been working on Phoenix for so damn long, I'm beginning to think it's vaporware...

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

I would agree with Bill, that the artifact mode doesn't really count for a true 256 color mode. But yes, the mode was known, as this Rainbow article from August 1992 discusses.

I'm going to try to work out the schematic based on logic diagram. Might take a bit....

Thanks for the confirmation, guys. Appreciate it! Chips are ordered and should be here early next week. Will be good to learn a few new things. I have to say, the RF shielding in that 800XL beats anything I've ever seen compared to the Tandy's I've worked on...

Nevermind... The field manual refers to the C4051B - the 800 already has the C4051BE on board, and I didn't check before asking the question. Guess that's my stupid move for the week...