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Smokeless Joe

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Everything posted by Smokeless Joe

  1. It turns out the cable is the problem. As per Tim Mann’s excellent FAQ, “Generally, Radio Shack handled drive select by pulling pins in the cable connectors”. This initially included pin 32, “which later was officially defined as side select for two-sided drives.” Sure enough, my cable has pin 32 removed, probably because it came with single sided drives. Trying to use a 720K double sided disk image on such a cable confuses it. Replacing the cable with one that has NO pins removed allows my GoTek to boot from and otherwise fully access 720K disk images. Hooray! Of course, I’ll need to pull some pins or adjust some jumpers to get drive :1 recognized (the GoTek is drive :0), but I’m optimistic.
  2. I'm working on a Model 4P gate array version. I've added a GoTek and can boot LS-DOS 6.2.1 and LDOS 5.3.1 (in Model III mode) from it. I can also create, access, and boot from 360K disk images. My experiments with adding a 3.5" floppy drive show promise; a random 1.44 MB drive seems happy to format and access 720K disks as either 180K or 360K. I can NOT seem to use disks or images at 720K capacity. I can create and use them on an emulator (trs80gp 2.5.2) just fine. On the GoTek, a "FREE" command will show an image has 720K, but it can't take a "DIR" or run anything from it. On the 3.5" floppy, it will act like formatting 720K (double density, two sides, 80 cylinders) is okay, but then chokes when verifying the format. Can a Model 4P really use disks and disk images at 720K, or am I stuck with 360K?
  3. Apparently, the TRS-80 Model 4 was designed to accept a high-resolution add-on, so more hi-res software was designed for the Model 4. The archives that I know about either separate Model 1 and Model 4 software (the *HUMONGOUS* TRS-80 Archives, Planet Emulation) or make a note about which system the software was for (The Big List of TRS-80 Software). My mistake was only looking for Model 1 software. For example, THIS SEARCH shows there are two versions of Star Bird: one for Model 1, one for Model 4. I was using the Model 1 version and wondering why I was only getting lo-res graphics. Once I tried the Model 4 version, I was able to frolic in vast fields of pixels on my Model 1 using a MISE. I'm still interested in what other hi-res games were available for the Model I/III/4 family, but at least I know my MISE is working correctly.
  4. I‘ve had one of Bartlett Labs wonderful MISE devices for over a year, but only recently started playing with it. I love it! There’s an old demo of it on YouTube HERE. At about time 11:05, he shows off the PCG-80 emulation capabilities of the MISE by loading the game Starbird. The only copies of Starbird that I can find use default low resolution. The copy used in the video is named “sbirdHR/cmd”, suggesting there’s a separate HR version somewhere. Does anyone know where to get the PCG-80 version of Starbird, or any other PCG-80 compatible games? Thanks!
  5. Winning bid was $185.50 + $25 shipping from San Antonio, TX. The Buy-It-Now price was something like $225, which I would have paid, except someone already bid on it by the time my saved search notified me. Then I forgot to bid on it. Maybe someday I’ll get a CosmosEX, but not today.
  6. I just got a sweet TRS-80 Model 1, but it has Level I BASIC, so it's not compatible with the MIRE and MISE I already have. What's the recommended way to upgrade the Model 1 from Level I to Level II? Does anyone still sell an upgrade? Thanks!
  7. I see the source of my confusion! When I download everything from your GitHub HERE, and look in the Output folder, the .ZIP file gives a board that only has C1 and is missing C2: But the individual .GBR and .DRL files in the Output folder (NOT in the .ZIP file) give a different board, which includes both C1 and C2: So... which board do you recommend?
  8. The image and BOM on your GitHub page refer to a 10uF radial capacitor (see red arrow on attached image), but the Gerbers and the images of the boards you posted last Saturday don't have it. Is it no longer needed? I'm hoping to make one of these myself (eventually) and just want to make sure I have everything straight. Thanks!
  9. Thanks for all the replies! Not having the keyboard work in games is a downside, but it seems like a useful device otherwise.
  10. Has anyone been able to successfully use a NETUSBee device with a USB keyboard? I’m looking to replace the keyboard on my MSTE with something that can talk to a KVM.
  11. Henry from ReActiveMicro confirmed that the TWGS does not need to be in slot 3. He even offered to make a longer cable for me if/when I order one. So yes, the whole premise for my card-swapping test was faulty. I’m a big monkey.
  12. I figured out the problem. I needed to set slot 6 to “your card” in the control panel. Now it’s booting .dsk files from USB like a champ. It was a dumb setting, but it outsmarted me! Thanks for all the suggestions! I learned a lot.
  13. I was reluctant to check since it doesn’t have much recently activity, but yeah! That’s a great idea! This thread sounded promising, and it led to this other thread. Looks like others have had the same problem, but I’ve found no indication that any of them solved it. Reaching out to ReActiveMicro is a great idea too. On it! I think I just broke it in a very small but significant way. I won’t be switching cards around again. Not for a LONG time anyway. It might be worth it to remove the CFFA and reattach a physical disk drive, to make sure it can boot of ANY floppy, virtual or otherwise, and to see if I broke the IIgs itself. The CFFA is not easy to replace, but it’s easier than getting another IIgs.
  14. Yes, I don’t have much on there, maybe six .DSK images, but none of them work. They all work when loaded in the AppleWin emulator (from the same USB stick), so it seems unlikely that there’s a problem with the files or the USB stick. Still, I’ll download some new images and get another USB drive and see what happens. What really puzzles me is how the CFFA sees all the files on USB. I can assign them wherever I like, but it just refuses to boot from any of them. I tried the CFFA menu option to reset to factory settings (a few times), but the .DSK images are still assigned. That doesn’t seem like a very thorough reset to me. Is there a way to completely reset the CFFA? I’m still not convinced I reflashed the firmware. Seems more like I made the firmware available, but since it was the same version, it left everything the same.
  15. Correct, disk II is assigned to slot 6, and that’s where I have my .dsk file assigned. I have a boot.po assigned to the SmartPort, but I get the same error booting from slot 6 if there is nothing assigned to the SmartPort, or even if I remove the CF card entirely.
  16. Reflashing didn’t work. Maybe my method was wrong? Here’s what I did, trying to follow the steps in the manual (page 69): 1. Downloaded CFFA3000_CFv1.5.zip from here 2. Copied both files from Firmware > V3.1.1 (CFFA.bin and CFFA.xsv) to my CF card 3. Inserted the CF card into the CFFA 4. Set DIP switch 8 to ON (the only other switch ON is 7) 5. Powered on the IIgs 6. Waited for the LED to flash 3,7 7. Powered off the IIgs 8. Set DIP switch 8 to OFF 9. Powered on the IIgs 10. Tried to load a .dsk file from the USB stick Same error: Not a startup disk! I’m a little concerned about step 6, above. The manual says “Watch the blinking LED on the CFFA 3000. After a minute or two it will settle down.” It was much less than a minute before the LED settled down. Just to check, I tried using the very same .dsk file from the USB stick in AppleWin1.29.16.0 and it loaded right up, so the file itself isn’t corrupt. Am I reflashing the firmware correctly? Any other ideas?
  17. Oo, that’s why I post here; there’s always someone who thinks of something I haven’t. Thanks! I can’t seem to find the firmware at ReActiveMicro.com. They have a Downloads page, and Apple II Items > Hardware > CFFA looks promising, but no firmware. R&D Automation (the creator of the CFFA) have firmware here, but it looks like it was last updated in 2014. Have there been any more recent updates? I’ll give the 2014 firmware a try, once I find where I hid my CF card reader…
  18. Apple IIgs ROM 01 with CFFA 3000 v1.0 Rev C and GGLABS RAMGS/4. I was screwing around with putting different cards in different slots, and I probably broke something. But maybe someone here can tell me how to fix it. Yesterday, I installed a VidHD in slot 3 and it worked great. CFFA 3000 is in slot 7. Disk II slot is assigned to 6. USB stick in CFFA has a bunch of .DSK files on it. MECCVol6.dsk has the original version of Oregon Trail. I assign MECCVOL6.dsk to Disk II S6, D1. Boot from slot 6. Hooray, I’m playing “Oregon” like I was back in 1982. Last night, I’m reading up on ReactiveMicro’s TransWarp GS, and it needs to be installed in Slot 3. This morning, I move the VidHD to slot 5. Now the System 6.0.1 I have installed on the CF card won’t boot. I move the VidHD back to slot 3. System 6.0.1 boots fine. I try to boot from slot 6, and I get: “Not a startup disk!” No matter which .DSK file I choose I get the same “Not a startup disk!” I tried downloading a new disk from Asimov, same error. Tried a different USB stick, same error. Removed the VidHD card, same error. The CFFA sees all the .DSK file in the USB stick, but it won’t boot any of them. Any ideas?
  19. I did get one and I love it! Full disclosure, I have nothing to compare it to. But as a novice ST user, the provided instructions were great, it does everything I want, and it’s a huge improvement over what I had, which was nothing. Masteries is in Spain (I think) and I’m in los Estados Unidos, so it took a little while for the package to arrive. Worth it! I messaged masteries directly from here: https://atariage.com/forums/profile/73871-masteries/
  20. I'm trying to roll my own Eiffel interface for a Mega STE, mostly for the keyboard and mouse part. Also, I can't find anyone who's selling it. The schematic below is from the bottom of THIS page, but I color-coded it (apologies to the color-blind). BLACK: I think I understand these parts. RED: I think I can omit these parts becasue I only want the keyboard/mouse interface. VIOLET: Parts I don't understand. My Questions: 1. Am I correct that I can omit the RED parts if I'm only doing the keyboard/mouse interface? 2. What is the loop with the 4 MHz crystal and 15 pF capacitors doing? Do I need that for the keyboard/mouse interface? 3. What are those symbols to the left of the SWITCH label (below the yellow and green LEDs)? Can I omit them? I'm not a schematics expert, so those don't look like any switches I know. 4. What is the CAN option? Can I omit those parts? Many thanks! -Joe
  21. Also, what software did you use to program your PIC16F876? I just got a PICKIT 3 but it didn’t some with any instructions.
  22. I am very interested to hear how your PCB works. Best of luck! I’m hoping to test my understanding of the schematic by breadboarding the thing.
  23. Oo! Which files did you use to order the PCB? I downloaded eiffelpcb.zip that eeun posted above, but OSH Park didn’t seem to recognize them.
  24. Over 14 years after this thread was started, I’m also giving up on finding someone to sell me this adapter, and have started gathering parts to make one myself. I don’t know much about microcontrollers, although I have successfully flashed a PIC16F1847 for the wonderful TransKey-II. Any recommendations for a PIC16F876? What are equivalent chips? Thanks! -Joe
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