FarmerPotato

Those are all good reasons to build this! I bet we could get Doug to patch MG Explorer to use two screens. I looked on page 104 of the V9938 manual, External Synchronization. I don't understand how to build the GenLock. I get that it is a PLL circuit. VDP1 HSYNC is input to the PLL. I don't get where the VDP2 crystal goes (is HSYNC from VDP1 already fXTAL=21.48 MHz? No, it's fXTAL/2.) Is there a suitable PLL IC you can just buy off the shelf? I see TI makes a bunch under $2. The SN74LV4046ANSR is a PLL and VCO . Combined with LT1675 high bandwidth switch, that seems to be a modern solution to external superimpose, for $10 in chips. Internal superimpose seems to be much easier. You need a single clock oscillator, but, according to this thread on msx.org So I imagine the following Superimpose use cases Twin 9958: superimpose VDP2 over VDP1, giving extra scrolling planes and sprites, or titling Video Production: superimpose VDP2 over external RGB for titling (No superimpose) These can combine with mirror and dual mode which are: Mirror Mode: VDP1 and VDP2 have the same graphics. Dual screen: VDP1 and VDP2 showing independent graphics screens. in either case, VDP1 is the console's default VDP.

Executive decision gets made today. I have all the inputs in a spreadsheet. I'm considering the Texas replies and a slim majority favor Aug 10. "Official" Sloth of Approval has been requested from Amanda, Chief Sloth of Operations (originally Chief Sloth of Communications for our Bricklink.com store). Amanda will be doing logistics and really important stuff. She also does surface mount soldering and laser cutting.

In the US, the film adaption aired on PBS as The Adolescence of P-1.

I watched this game a lot as a kid. Mostly because no good at it. There was a cocktail version in the restaurant atop Pyramid Plaza in Lubbock TX. (My mental map had a lot of neurons devoted to where the arcade games were.) Sunware/Exceltec had an office on the ground floor. I like to think they came upstairs to play Omega Race.. but shipped Space Patrol.

Microsurgeon is one of my favorites! Great idea, its due for a remake.

See these techniques: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereoscopy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaglyph_3D

On an 80s workstation, a second display might have been a dedicated frame buffer, especially if the primary display was monochrome (or low color) and the second was 24-bit color. Imagine that the two VDPs start up in mirroring mode - they always show the same thing. Technically, in mirroring mode, VDP 2 would accept the writes to VDP 1 but do nothing on reads. It would always be up to date with the same image as VDP 1. Normal equates - call these VDP 1 VDPRD EQU >8800 ; VDP read data VDPSTA EQU >8802 ; VDP status register VDPWD EQU >8C00 ; VDP write data VDPWA EQU >8C02 ; VDP set read/write address Additional equates - VDP 1 only VDPRD EQU >8810 ; VDP read data VDPSTA EQU >8812 ; VDP status register VDPWD EQU >8C10 ; VDP write data VDPWA EQU >8C12 ; VDP set read/write address Additional equates - VDP 2 only VDPRD EQU >8820 ; VDP 2 read data VDPSTA EQU >8822 ; VDP 2 status register VDPWD EQU >8C20 ; VDP 2 write data VDPWA EQU >8C12 ; VDP 2 set read/write address Once there has been an access to VDP 1 or 2 specifically at one of the new addresses, mirroring mode ends, VDP 2 becomes independent and responds only at its own addresses. VDP 1 responds at both the base address or the new VDP 1 address. Imagine this demo: 1. A utility makes a copy of your favorite EA3 or EA5 program, substituting VDP addresses with VDP2. External references to E/A utilities like VMBW are replaced with VDP2 versions. You open your favorite program loader, load the program. So far VDP2 has been in mirrored mode, so it shows exactly the same thing as VDP 1. But as soon as the program starts, it begins writing to VDP2 so VDP2 enters dual mode. The image on VDP1 shows the program loader screen as if frozen while the program runs on VDP2. You quit the program. The TI title screen appears on VDP1 while the program you quit leaves a frozen screen behind on VDP2. 2. A special EA3 or EA5 program loader has an option to choose which VDP to use. See #1. 3. Screen dump. While VDP 2 retains a mirrored copy of the previous program output, you run a screen dump program that retrieves the image from VDP 2. This would work even if you didn't have a second monitor plugged in. For instance, Super Sketch or TI Artist runs in mirrored mode, then you push a button to freeze VDP 2, quit the program, and run a utility to retrieve the image from VDP 2. 4. A specially written program uses both VDP1 and VDP2 for different purposes. Examples: 4a. help is displayed on one screen. 4b. a picture viewer puts the image on VDP 2. 4c. the FORTH cursor runs on VDP 1 while bitmap graphics go to VDP 2. 5. User switch. After viewing one screen of a program, press a button to freeze that display and switch to the other one. It's the same program, just captured at different moments.

I can't of a way that two VDPs would help you run two programs, except for TI BASIC which might be flippable between two programs (however PAD contains some important info.) Also I foresee that two VDPs would need to coordinate (for instance only one can return data to the CPU at a time). I think two identical VDPs on one board would be simpler to build.

So Stuart sent me a 9958 with the challenge to re-create a plug in video board upgrade. I built a 9938+9995 standalone wirewrap 30 years ago, so this is just fun, but it has been done before (OPA SoB, Dijit.) I got to thinking, what about a DUAL 9958? The VDP RAM ports could be switched to mirrored, or just one screen getting focus, or operated independently as two ports. That's seriously weird. What would anyone do with it? Support for a second graphics screen would be easy to add in environments like FORTH. Imagine instead of split-screen bitmap mode, you had one screen for text and coding and another for graphics. Or two TI BASIC programs operating out of separate VDP RAM, switchable with a button. Or the ultimate, a Munch-Man with a super wide screen.

I am going with PLCCs, not SOIC. I got a lifetime supply of PLCC20 and PLCC28 sockets. There was a TL866II bundle for $84 with 15 adaptors, including PLCC20 to 44. When it arrives I'll determine what the SOP adaptors really are. 3.3V PLD in PLCC28 ATF22LV10C-10JU-ND $1.47 DigiKey 5V PLD in PDIP and PLCC28 ATF22V10C-15PU-ND $1.66 ATF22V10C-15JU-ND $1.66 5V PLD in PDIP and PLCC20 ATF16V8B-15PU-ND $0.89 ATF16V8B-15JU-ND $0.89 "J" is PLCC (J lead) 1.27mm (0.05") and "P" is PDIP 2.54mm (0.1").

That's 6 to 5pm Central, but we have the classroom all night, so you wouldn't be left out. I think I will set up Zoom for videoconferencing.

This is a new poll with just 3 potential dates to vote on. Please vote "This is my first choice" on just one of the dates. Original thread here: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/291044-poll-proposed-fest-99-atx-austin-tx/

I'm one of those who ordered extra copies at the end, and I'm happy to report that we often had 2 players at once at Midwest Gaming Classic (this is a really high foot traffic event.) We still have people excited to see the Pitfall cartridge. Philip was gracious enough to allocate two of them for our show, out of the original sales run.

OK, the poll is up!

Wondering if anyone got an adaptor with their programmer that fits SOIC20. I'm looking for a SOIC20-DIP20 adaptor for the XGecu TL866II but none of the XGecu bundles on eBay seem to include bigger than SOIC16. Also annoying is how many bundles lack PLCC20. This is an authorized XGecu seller, their store has bundles of TL866II plus adaptor assortments: https://www.ebay.com/sch/sunwenjun/m.html?item=323789402558&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562 I want to gear up to program PAL replacements, so I'm focusing on the ATF16V8B $0.89 chip (Digikey) which comes in DIP20, PLCC20, SOIC20 (forget TSSOP because 0.65 mm pin spacing.) SOIC 1.27mm is not the same thing as SOP 0.65mm but some Amazon listings of adaptors confuse them together. Datasheet shows the 4 packages with measurements: http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/Atmel-0364-PLD-ATF16V8B-8BQ-8BQL-Datasheet.pdf I like SOIC everything for my work though PLCC20 socketed is probably smarter. Maybe I should forget about programming the SOIC20 package and just use PLCC20?

Well, I have got my TIPI up and running, but no way to create a login. Using the latest version of Stuart's web browser, this is what "create account" shows: www.myti99.com/account.pl?a=li Hi.

My Pi3 won't power up. Grrr

Bump

Fest 99/4ATX will be Friday-Sunday Aug 9-11, 2019 in Austin, TX. UPDATE: please use this Google Form to register yourself. We need to know how many folks want food! All are welcome. The main activity will be sharing what we know about the TI-99/4A computer, demonstrating projects and new products, and so on. Fixing broken 4As, soldering kits, and programming are all likely to happen. It really depends on what you want to do! The venue will be an air-conditioned classroom, with tables, whiteboard, and two large screens, at ATX Hackerspace on 9700 Dessau Rd. There is a lounge/kitchen/eating area. (There will be guided tours of members-only areas like electronics lab, laser cutter and 3D printing.) If anyone wants to do a presentation/stream, you would write that on the Google sheets schedule. Outside of the agenda, we will share about things TI, much like Chi-Friday. Set up your gear, gather in small groups, share, learn, fix things. The only charge will be $10 for official registration, which includes a raffle ticket, badge, snacks and drinks. Otherwise it is open for casual observers (I would expect others from the hackerspace and the local C-64 group.) For Saturday food, we are putting together a group order for Cheko's breakfast tacos (a few dollars) and County Line BBQ ($15 each person). Details: Venue: ATX Hackerspace on 9700 Dessau Rd. Has air conditioned classroom, a lounge/kitchen, and wi-fi. Guided tours of electronics/laser/shop/3D printing. Format: BarCamp style. Attendees can announce a presentation in the classroom, otherwise free form. Security: we can put gear in a locked room overnight. The building is keyed entry. The classroom has doors but does not lock. Hardware: I can provide stock P-Boxes, 4A consoles, monitors so you can travel lighter. Electronics lab available. Lodging: Super 8 near ATXHS is as low as $58. Marriot $118. There are a lot of options. Food: Saturday: Breakfast Tacos. Lunch: barbecue delivery. Dinner: trip to Chuy's (Tex-Mex.) Live Streaming: Use Zoom to join for video/audio chat. https://zoom.us/j/7707370625 See and Edit the Agenda so far here: Agenda in Google Docs Zoom Channel for the event (install Zoom on your phone or computer) https://zoom.us/j/7707370625

"TI licensed the design to AMI and SMC to increase its availability as well released a 4MHz capable part to help relieve the speed bottleneck" May's email from Unicorn Electronics (Aliquippa, PA, not the other one) lists the AMI S9900-40P for $35. Is this the 4 MHz part? They have had the AMI S9900-40P before for $20. http://unicornelectronics.com/monthly.html Stock # Package Pins Description SALE!! TMS9900 DIP 64 AMI S9900-40P Processor 34.88 TMS9901 DIP 40 Programmable System Interface 27.97 TMS1100NLP DIP 28 Microcontroller 17.47 SO16 DIP 16 16 Pin L.P. IC Socket 0.07 PAL14L4NC DIP 20 16 Input AND/OR Invert Gate Array 0.99 TIM9904NL DIP 20 Peripheral Interface 22.47

I too can report that the Super Sketch is very popular. At MGC we had adults and kids trying it out. Several drew the whole bird picture. One kid did several of the practice sheets. I have only my own memories from 1984-5. I knew some folks that purchased it at Unisource Electronics (Lubbock TX computer store with a catalog operation). I first played with it at a community craft/computer fair where they had the C-64 version. The one in use at MGC came from a nice TI collection in Wisconsin that I bought in 2010; the owner had a lot of Tenex catalogs. Chris Bobbitt reviewed Super Sketch in Micropendium, Jan 1985. http://ftp.whtech.com/magazines/micropendium/mp8501.pdf The review shows a price of $59.95 and adddress Personal Peripherals, 1505 S Green St, Longview TX 75602. There is a Unisource ad on page 20 selling it for $44.95. The review is all As, acknowledging Super Sketch shortcomings, while not calling it a dead end because it can't write to disk, or print. (Who solved printing, by the way?)

Is it CONTROL CHARACTER REMOVED? I have seen this somewhere, maybe a messed up file. This error might be returned by EDIT1 (the editor) or possible ASSM1 (assembler), but the LOADER does not use it. I think it refers to the last line of the file, which has the editor's tab settings, being an unexpected format. These are some of the E/A error numbers. 0-7 I/O ERROR 8 MEMORY FULL 9 CONTROL CHARACTER REMOVED not used by loader. A ILLEGAL TAG (one of D,E,G,H) B CHECKSUM ERROR C DUPLICATE DEFINITION D UNRESOLVED REFERENCE E PROGRAM NOT FOUND not used by loader

Sam Moore Jr was a big influence on me as a kid. I received a few of his music "videos" through friends. They were generally excellent in quality, so I loaded them many times. All of the pop songs were new to me as a kid, so I credit Sam Moore Jr with "educating" me in these pop standards, such as Time in a Bottle, Killing Me Softly, You're So Vain, Yesterday, plus a few classical works like Moonlight Sonata and the jazzy 5th of Beethoven and Bumble Boogie. The graphics were always fun. Here are listings of what's available in the Tigercub collections of Sam Moore Jr: Sam Moore Jr disks http://ftp.whtech.com/emulators/pc99/tigercub/ 600, 601, 602, 603 in PC99 format (use ti99dir to extract files or convert to V9T9 dsk) 600 : 343 used 17 free 90 KB 1S/1D 40T 9 S/T ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMAZEFILE 11 INT/VAR 80 2454 B 122 recs AMAZEGRACE 10 PROGRAM 2254 B BERCEUSE/X 35 PROGRAM 8655 B BUGLEBOOGX 31 PROGRAM 7557 B BUMBLBOOGB 45 PROGRAM 11116 B DOGBOOGIEX 38 PROGRAM 9340 B FORESTROSX 31 PROGRAM 7653 B LOAD 7 PROGRAM 1410 B MAINSCRX 17 PROGRAM 3925 B ODEPUPPYX 34 PROGRAM 8326 B VARTHEMEX 30 PROGRAM 7181 B VENUSRHAPX 26 PROGRAM 6297 B WESTBOOGX 26 PROGRAM 6257 B MOORE#2 : 345 used 15 free 90 KB 1S/1D 40T 9 S/T ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5THBEETHVX 47 PROGRAM 11574 B ALBUMLEAFX 46 PROGRAM 11444 B IN/MILL/X 38 PROGRAM 9371 B JUSTWAY/X 38 PROGRAM 9390 B KILMESOFTX 28 PROGRAM 6819 B LIGHTFILE 10 INT/VAR 80 2244 B 121 recs LIGHTLIFX2 16 PROGRAM 3802 B LOAD 7 PROGRAM 1334 B OP/23/X 30 PROGRAM 7307 B TIME-DATA 12 INT/VAR 80 2620 B 134 recs TIME/BOTX2 28 PROGRAM 6720 B YESTERDAYX 43 PROGRAM 10607 B MOORE#3 : 350 used 10 free 90 KB 1S/1D 40T 9 S/T ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOOGOOGIEX 34 PROGRAM 8204 B GUITAR/X 20 PROGRAM 4773 B LOAD 7 PROGRAM 1345 B MOONLSON/X 49 INT/VAR 254 12090 B 48 recs MORNING/X 40 PROGRAM 9850 B NOCTURNE 41 PROGRAM 10218 B OZMEDLEY 42 PROGRAM 10384 B RONDO 41 PROGRAM 10068 B SEABOTTOM 23 PROGRAM 5400 B SENORITA 24 PROGRAM 5804 B VENBOAT/X 27 PROGRAM 6454 B MOORE#4 : 339 used 21 free 90 KB 1S/1D 40T 9 S/T ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- BIGCATBOOG 19 PROGRAM 4457 B CSONATA 43 PROGRAM 10668 B GRAYMOUSE 18 PROGRAM 4116 B KANGAROO 16 PROGRAM 3793 B LOAD 7 PROGRAM 1502 B MAPLELEAF 44 PROGRAM 10962 B MASH4077 40 PROGRAM 9934 B SILENCIA 14 PROGRAM 3240 B SNOWSCENE 11 PROGRAM 2393 B SPLENDORED 38 PROGRAM 9405 B SUNDAYDRIV 18 PROGRAM 4286 B WITCHDANCE 42 PROGRAM 10331 B WITHLOVE 27 PROGRAM 6495 B

I spent many after school days and summers working on programs out of the two David H. Ahl books of Creative Computing. I remember adapting the red book's Seabattle to 28 columns with graphic characters (I especially liked the sea monster.) It's like TI Trek but with a submarine, torpedoes, island base, and sea monsters. (Apt, because the Enterprise is basically a submarine in space.) ("The real name of this program is, "Underwater Pie Lob") From the first book my favorite was Hammurabi (I never had the TI version from Oldier but Goodies I), a strange lifelong affinity that 30 years later led me to the basement of the Oriental Institute of Chicago. From the third book of much bigger programs, I adapted Dukedom to look nice in Extended Basic. I purchased the eBooks of Ahl when he had an official website, and the BekerBot folio of robot illustrations from the books. I have converted some BekerBots into vector artwork and made one very large gold foil covered version. Love those BekerBots. http://www.bekerbots.com/botbooks.htm

I would like to learn how to do this, and write the necessary code in FORTH. The origin of FORTH was in controlling telescopes, a tradition which has all but vanished. A while ago I did a search for available FORTH libraries for celestial calculations.