Calibus
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Posts posted by Calibus
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OK,
Time for the 64K question - are you going to be selling these?
I'm sure I'm not the only one would be interested in buying a couple of them. (A Z80 and if possible - a 6502 version)
If you don't want to sell them - would you release the gerbers for the boards and firmware for the Teensy so folks like myself could make our own?
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3 hours ago, MicroCoreLabs said:
Thanks! Yes, having break points, register dumps, and single-stepping are easily done. In-fact, thats how I developed this core!
I'd love to see a video of this in action ?
I hope you would make this an optional feature:
QuoteIf we eliminate cycle-accuracy, locate the RAM and ROM into the MCLZ8’s internal RAM and
Since accessing the actual RAM and ROM on the TRS-80s would be a major boon for troubleshooting bad chips.
What sort of interface do you have to the emulator - command line via serial port?
It would also be nice to be able to take a snapshot of the memory (all 64K) and and be able to download it...
Basically - a "Freezer" for the TRS-80
Again - would love a video demonstration ?
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I've been interested in something like your project ever since I ran across this project - sadly too late to take advantage of it:
https://github.com/hoglet67/AtomBusMon/wiki
I personally have no interest in the speedup potential - but I would absolutely love to be able to single step the CPU like they can with the GODIL, set break points etc.
And it if you are able to query ROM locations and be able to read/write to RAM - that would be extremely handy for troubleshooting TRS-80s with video problems.
I, and probably others here would also be interested in your MCL65+ that you mention here: https://microcorelabs.wordpress.com/2022/02/07/mcl86-design-notes-and-challenges/
Since the 6502 is what runs our Atari, Apple and Commodore 8bit machines. -
6 hours ago, Savetz said:
I digitized the OHAUG's library over a period of two months using an Applesauce floppy disk controller. The vast majority of the disks read with no issues and are now available as ATR files. 1,281 ATR files!
Can you describe your archiving setup?
Were you using an Apple II floppy drive?
If so - I thought the Apple II drives were 35 tracks - and Atari drives were 40 - so wouldn't you be possibly missing 5 tracks?
jim
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7 hours ago, bf2k+ said:
Is this wire soldered to pin 16 of the MMU?
I'm guessing you are counting starting from the wrong side of the notch.
The pins are numbered counter clockwise.
If they were numbered clockwise (starting to the right of the notch, instead of the left) then indeed - that would have been pin 16.
Since the pins are numbered counter clockwise, pin 1 is to the left of the notch, so the wire is on pin 5.
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39 minutes ago, DistantStar001 said:
Fixed!!! It was bad solder joints.
Excellent! I'm glad to see you got it fixed - another Model 1 lives to run another day.
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6 hours ago, DistantStar001 said:
OK, so not getting a video signal.
Did you hook it up like this?
http://www.trs-80.com/wordpress/zaps-patches-pokes-tips/zaps-model-i-composite-video-cable/
If so - is the red power LED on the computer turning on?
If the red LED is on - then you have some troubleshooting to do - a multimeter is the minimum equipment you need, and a 'scope makes things easier.
Schematics are a requirement also.
You can find the tech reference manual online - like this
http://cpmarchives.classiccmp.org/trs80/mirrors/pilot.ucdavis.edu/davidk/documentation/26-2103.htm
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9 hours ago, DistantStar001 said:
Thank you!!!
And also...
Sorry about that. I took the picture and forgot to add it!
Also, I do have one question about the video cable. I know that the original monitor powered off the computers port and I'm concerned about shorting the power into the composite. Should I clip that pin to be safe, or am I being overly cautious? I've never had a machine this old, so I really don't want to hurt it.
The small satellite PCB is the official XRX Cassette modification. It was done to help the readability of cassette tapes.
The issue was later fixed in firmware with the newer ROM.
Your computer probably has the older ROM - if should say "MEMORY SIZE?" when powered up - instead of the newer "MEM SIZE?"
Does your computer have a long ribbon cable with a small board and 3 large ROM chips attached to it? If so - that's another indicator of the the older ROM.
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1 hour ago, DistantStar001 said:
I just got a TRS-80 Model I, and I wanted to know if there was anything I should be aware of before I power it up?
Make sure you have the power supply plugged into the DIN connector closest to the power button.
All of the DIN connectors are the same - so it is VERY easy to plug the power into the video for example.
I see someone labeled the connectors for you - P(ower) V(ideo) and I assume there is a "C" on the yellow label for Cassette.
1 hour ago, DistantStar001 said:What's the story on the original power supplies? I know that Atari (XL/XE) and Commodore bricks are system killers waiting to happen, but what about the TRS-80?
I'm not aware of any issues with the original power supplies.
1 hour ago, DistantStar001 said:Related to above: Any recommendations for games or software?
Wow - where to begin. "Big 5 Software" was always the benchmark in my eyes for games. There are arcade games, adventure games (Adventure International - Scott Adams, Infocom, Radio Shack titles such as Pyramid 2000, Raka-Tu)
I'd do a google search for Adventure International catalogs and browse through them looking for things that catch your eye.
A 16K cassette system is pretty limited, even some of the cassette only programs can require 32k or 48k.
1 hour ago, DistantStar001 said:Discovered a broken standoff in side, and this modification. Curious if anyone knows what it could be? Also, what's the best way to repair the plastics?
A picture of the modification would help.
I've glued the standoffs back in place using JB Weld.
The Model 1 was (is) a true hardware hackers machine. Lower case mods, Speedup Mods, Internal RAM mods, 3rd party expansion interfaces, 3rd party disk controllers, 3rd party disk drives...
1 hour ago, DistantStar001 said:Also seems to be a reset switch. Is that normal?
Again - maybe a picture is missing. The reset button was considered to be in an inconvenient spot by some people - and hard to press when an expansion interface is connected, so it was common to see a push button wired
in parallel with the reset button. I never did that to any of mine.
The Model 1 was my first computer back in 1981, I wanted an Apple II or an Atari, but they were out of my reach price wise back then.
I recommend the TRS-80 Trash Talk if you are into podcasts.
To get an idea of what sort of hardware hack were being done back in the 80s - do a google search for "The Custom TRS-80 and Other Mysteries" and you should be able to find a pdf version.
I still have my original copy.
Jim
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1 hour ago, Smokeless Joe said:
I just starting getting into the TRS-80 (model I/III/4). I’ve got an emulator up and running, but I’m interested in REAL hardware.
I’m looking at the following: https://portland.craigslist.org/clc/ele/d/lebanon-vintage-radio-shack-tandy-trs/7326846968.html
What does the NO SYS error mean? I’ve tried Googling it and looking at various lists of error messages, but I can’t find that one. Is it really just looking for a system disk? I thought they started with BASIC if there was no disk found.Thanks!
If you have a Model 1/3/4 with a disk drive - by default it will attempt to boot off drive 0.
If you have a data disk in drive 0 - you'll get the NO SYS error message or equivalent. It may vary from data disk to data disk depending on the DOS that was used to create it.
You can boot to BASIC by holding down whatever key in the emulator corresponds to BREAK and then reseting the emulator.
Jim
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7 hours ago, DavidMil said:
Mathy,
When I click on the link you provided, McAfee say that the link has been compromised and someone is monitoring that link.
Then McAfee say it is not safe and won't let me continue to the site. You're not trying to steal all my super high level Atari A8
secrets are you?
David
His site is simply using a self signed cert for HTTPS - I assume that is why McAfee is complaining.
McAfee and my browser can't verify his sites certificate with the usual cert authorities, since none of them signed it - i.e. it's self-signed.
Obviously a self-signed cert wouldn't fly in a banking site, but it's probably harmless on a hobby site.
@Mathy might want to look into seeing if he can get a "Let's Encrypt" SSL Cert installed on his site - that would probably satisfy McAfee and browsers that do cert checking.
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Just out of curiosity - why would you choose and SDrive-Max over a FujiNet? As far as I know, the latter can do everything the former can (and more!), is cheaper, and has an ever-expanding feature set thanks to a certain rabid coder. (Looking at you Thom
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If you want DYI with an arduino - then I suggest this:
https://atari8bit.net/tutorials/de-re-sdrive-max/
However - I would recommend going this direction:
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I foolishly bought a Zhongdi ZD-985 a couple years ago, and while it can do the job, it clogs super easy right by the vacuum chamber.
My workflow currently is: Desolder a pin. Shove the cleaner (ram-rod) through the nozzle to ensure it hasn't clogged. Move onto the next pin and repeat.
How is the FR-301 as far as clogging is concerned?
The ZD-985 is an absolute pain to unclog when it clogs - since the clog happens beyond the heating element where the pipe is cooler.
I've resorted to hand twisting a small drill bit into the pipe to unclog it.
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2 hours ago, Keatah said:
I first saw a PET at Olson Electronics in the Mid-West area. Right when the machines came out, with the punk-ass calculator keyboard.
Here in North East Ohio we used to have Olson Electronics till the late 80s - I used to LOVE those stores!
They used to sell random boxes of junk, er, parts, in various sizes. The one I used to frequent also sold PET Computers - that was the only time I ever saw one.
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The TRS-80 Model 1 was my first encounter with Microcomputer back in 1980.
Our local library had one in their typing room - and you could sign up to use either devices (Model 1 or the Typewriter) for an hour at a time.
A friend and I would sign up to use the Model 1 for two consecutive hours on Saturday afternoons, and usually no one else signed up after us, so we'd continue to use it for hours until the library closed.
I was also friends with the manager of a local Radio Shack - he'd allow me to sit in front of the Model 3 display model and use it as long as I liked.
He had a couple bootleg games which I copied right on the Model 3 - and I also would pop the cassette versions of the games on the rack into the Model 3 and copy them too when he was in the back room
watching his soap operas.
I really wanted to buy a Model 3 for myself, but couldn't afford it. In 1981, I was a junior and our high school got 3 Model 3s - one of them was connected to a printer.
Students would do their programs on one of the two w/out the printer, and then CSAVE it to their cassette and carry it to the printer equipped machine for creating a hardcopy for turning in.
About this time, I managed to find a used Model 1 4K Level 1 machine - and I had it upgraded at Radio Shack to 16K Level 2.
I was then able to do my class assignments at home - and basically read programming books in class. I just had to reset the printer equipped Model 3 when it was my turn to print,
since it was always defaulting to 1500 baud instead of my Model 1's 500.
I was aware of the Atari 800 and I really wanted one, along with the Apple II - but they, along with the Model 3, were out of my reach budget wise.
I continued to upgrade my Model 1 to a disk system - since I had already invested money into it already.
In 1984, I retired the Model 1 and bought a CoCo II - since it could use my Model 1 floppy drive and cassette recorder - something the C64 couldn't - so even though they were similarly priced,
I was already locked into the TRS architecture by my previous purchases.
In 1987, I moved on and assembled a PC XT clone and thus my original TRS-80 Adventures came to an end...
Until in 1993(earlier?) when I found a copy of Volcano Hunter running in a Model 3 emulator someone had created. It was an all in one package - just an EXE which contained the game and the emulator.
That's when I discovered the joy of emulation and started corresponding with Jeff Vavasour - yep - I knew him before he made it big ?
I registered his Model 1 emulator, and send him ROM dumps from my CoCo 2 when he was working on creating that emulator.
I also started corresponding with David Kiel about that time - and he was working on a CoCo emulator also - on par with his Model 1/3 emulators - in that they would use his disk format.
I sent him my CoCo service manual to help him out - and when he was done, he sent it back.
Finally in 1995, a co-worker brought a Model 3 to work - and asked if anyone wanted it - I jumped at the chance, and finally after about 15 years of wanting one, I had one!
I made the foolish mistake of then deciding to get rid of my Model 1 and Coco 2 - and since I didn't know about eBay - into the bin they went. Yes, I tossed them in the garbage. A sin I shall carry to my grave.
In 2000, I discovered the joy of eBay and bought a Model 4, and a Model 4P.
The Model 3 was now being supplanted by the 4s - so I gave it away. Yes, honestly, I learned my lesson of binning working TRS-80s.
In 2007, on a lark I bought an Atari 800XL and an Apple IIgs on eBay dirt cheap - and they sat in storage for 10 years until I dragged them out in 2017 and started experimenting with them.
Those were the days before retrocomputing was the rage it is currently. I bought the Apple IIgs with 5.25" drive, 3.5" drive, monitor, keyboard, base unit, mouse all for the winning bid of:
$36. It cost me $47 in shipping and I still have the email notification from ebay when I won ?
I have since started investing in Atari computers - since I had always wanted one as a teenager - and now I have multiple 800XLs, the 800 I always wanted, a 600XL, a 1200XL and just for fun, a 400 - with an upgraded keyboard.
After reading about "The C64" - as soon as it was available on the US Amazon website for ordering earlier this year, I ordered it - instead of paying a scalper for an EU model.
I received it a couple weeks ago - but haven't plugged it in yet - but I will.
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I am interested in one.
Thanks.
Jim
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7 minutes ago, tsom said:
I was able to test the latest firmware, and while, if a host was not found ("ERROR MOUNTING HOST SLOT"), the whole system does not reset, the FujiNet still resets (Shows the "connected to network xxx" screen) and the Host entry that was attempted is removed. I think removing the entry is a bit drastic, as was pointed out, the server may just not be up or responding at that time - deleting the entry is like a "tough cookies" response.
This can be tested by putting in a bad server address and trying to connect.
When I first saw this issue last week and was bugging Thom about it (turns out I was running an older version of TNFS which wasn't compatible) I noticed that while the host entries disappeared - if I power cycled the Atari - the entries would come back.
Jim
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On 10/14/2020 at 12:09 PM, tschak909 said:
Hi there!
You should download the flasher utility from: https://fujinet.online/download/ and let it download and flash your unit over USB (be sure to connect it to your PC)
You can go to the web admin (http://fujinet/ by default) to see the current version, I need to put this into config (or did I? I can't remember, look in [C]onfiguration)
To get back out of the directory browser, press ESC.
There are lots of bugs, don't feel shy in mentioning them, if they're duplicates, we'll mention so, and up the priority on them.
-Thom
OK - I recently needed to hook up the Fujinet flasher utility to resolve a TNFS server issue - and I figured since I had the notebook alongside my Atari, I may as well upgrade it to the latest version.
Now - according to this page: https://fujinet.online/download/
This is the latest version:
Latest Firmware Version Info:
FujiNet Version: 0.5.32f7ef07
Build Time: Wed Oct 14 00:49:19 UTC 2020So - I downloaded all of the components listed there from here: https://fujinet.online/firmware-dl/ in the event I'd need them to update my firmware piecemeal...
Turns out - the firmware flasher said it was upgrading my FujiNet with the latest directly from the website - no need to download the individual files after all. Nice!
Now - when it was all done updating - I assumed my FujiNet would be running the version listed above...
However - the config screen suggests that I am running a build from August 25
And the FujiNet built in webserver suggests I am running a version from October 7th:
This can be a mite confusing ?
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4 hours ago, tschak909 said:
Because MULTIPLE people have asked, including @bhall408 and @Bill Lange:
#Atari8bit #FujiNet since an Atari 850 compatible Wi-Fi modem is provided, you can play existing MODEM games over the network, such as Commbat from Adventure International.
This is one of my all time favorite games of the 8 bit era, I've only ever played it on my TRS-80s and I was very happy when I heard there was an Atari version.
Manual can be found here: https://archive.org/details/Commbat_1981_Adventure_International/mode/2up
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4 hours ago, mikesk8 said:
Thank you. I have contacted the first ones, but unfortunately they do not offer Atari 800 ones
The only covers I have seen (and been searching) are in USA and Mexico; I would prefer to avoid paying so much for postage + delivery times.
Who sells them in the USA and Mexico? I'm in the US and I'd be interested in one.
Jim
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1 hour ago, Max_Chatsworth said:
Do you remember your first useful program ....something of substance/note beyond:
10 PRINT "HELLO Max Chatsworth"
20 GOTO 10
What was your first computer you used...and what year/how old were you? What languages and gear?My first useful program was written for my TRS-80 Model 1 in BASIC back in 1981. I was 17 at the time.
My friends and I were into wargaming at the time, and our "Goto Game" was "Star Fleet Battles".
The game was fun - but a turn could take HOURS - since there was so much bookkeeping performed.
The biggest time sink for our gaming group was damage allocation. If a ships shields were knocked down during an attack - you used two 6 sided dies to roll damage on a complex chart.
If you rolled a 7 (for example) , you would find the row for 7 in the chart, and read the damage type from the first column for that row.
If your ship no longer had any of those, then you'd move to the next column for 7 and take that kind of damage.
It was very common to have have 50, 60 or more hits that needed resolved before game play could continue.
One person would roll the dice, another would look it up on the damage allocation chart, and the person whose ship was being attacked would dutifully record it.
For the rest of the group - watching and listening was about as much fun as watching paint dry, and it took almost as long.
My program reduced the number of people involved to just 2, the person recording the damage on his ship - and the person hitting ENTER for the next damage roll.
It made it quicker - but seeing that my model 1 wasn't very portable - it was impractical for every day use.
1 hour ago, Max_Chatsworth said:Are you still a programmer today? If so what kind of work are you doing?
Yes.
I write programs in Python (mainly) to test new firmware builds for wireless networking products that the company I work for develops.
Just like back in 1981, I'm still automating repetitive tasks using computers.
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9 hours ago, Opry99er said:
Couldn't figure out why it was rejecting "READ FREQ
FRE() is a reserved function name in Model 100 BASIC.
Z = FRE(0)
Returns the amount of memory available (free) for numeric memory in bytes
Z = FRE(' ')
Returns the amount of string space available (free) memory in bytes
(From page 14 of this document: http://www.classiccmp.org/cini/pdf/Tandy/Model 100 Quick Reference.pdf )
As a rule with these old dialects of BASIC - you can't create a variable that includes a reserved word.
You can use var names longer than 2 chars, but generally, only the first 2 chars were significant.
Thus
10 ABCXYZ = 99
20 PRINT ABLLLL
RUN
99
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I re-installed the Incognito in my 800 motherboard - and it WORKS!
i think I might have had a bent pin on the small cable that fits in the socket where the 7442 is removed from.
And yes - I had the orientation correct before - but I might have had one of those very delicate pins bent under - so it looked like it was in the socket, but it wasn't.
I powered it up - and it dumped me into Sparta DOS - so it looks like it's alive!
thanks for everyones suggestions and especially thanks to FJC for his above and beyond support via PMs
Jim
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The only covers I have seen (and been searching) are in USA and Mexico; I would prefer to avoid paying so much for postage + delivery times.
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MCLZ8 - Zilog Z80 Emulator in TRS-80 Model III
in Tandy Computers
Posted
I took a look at the your github projects - and got all excited when I saw:
https://github.com/MicroCoreLabs/Projects/tree/master/MCL68
But instead of the 6809 version I was hoping for - it was a 68000
If you come up with a 6809 version - you'll have most of the bases covered as far as Radio Shack / Tandy 8bit users are concerned.
I'm betting the CoCo guys would love a version for the Coco 1,2,3
That would be perfect!
Well - then you should setup a donation page.
In anticipation of your opening this project to the general public - I had already ordered a couple Teensy 4.1's before the rest of the world finds out about the project and buys 'em up ?