klrw111-78

Getting back to troubleshooting my SAMS card. I bought a mini-pro and tested all my chips expect for 3, and all tested OK. When the card is installed and powered on everything seems to be working OK. When I attempt to load something that uses 32k memory, the led on both the memory card and the disk controller light up and system has to be rebooted. I end up with a trashed disk image. Since I discovered I damaged at least 2 traces during my desoldering efforts (didn't socket everything at first), I want to confirm the schematic version to use for additional troubleshooting. Is this the correct one for the current revision (note that the 555 is not shown)?A3-SAMS-P1(R4).pdf

Back in the day, the $50 computer needed a cassette recorder ($40), needed command modules ($30 to $99 each), needed XB ($99), then realized need 32k and PEB ($500+ shipping). Printer ($200). Next needed a second drive -- replace DSSD with 2 half-height DSSD ($99 ea). Next DSDD controller card ($200). Much better now... Which games are you trying to run??

I suggest you take a look at the TI99 FAQ pinned near the top of this forum. In a nutshell, a TI file PROGRAM file can be a BASIC, XBASIC, or an E/A image file. Basic PROGRAM files can be loaded by BASIC or EXTENDED BASIC, but not vice versa. E/A opt 5 PROGRAMS are memory images saved by a utility that can be reloaded with the proper loader program. With a FLASHROM you can run software that has been converted to work like a cartridge rom. XB has GROM which is not emulated with the FLASHROM. The FINALGROM99 emulates both ROM and GROM. I don't have a FINALROM, but I see there is a bin for EAII. It should allow you to load the E/A image files, but anything requiring XB won't work without a XB cartridge of some sort (XB,RXB,XBsuite,etc) or a FINALGROM 99.

Some of the programs that you are attempting to load require the E/A cartridge. Load and run the file "LOAD" on DSK1. It should load the CFMGR program. The is an OBJ file on Vol1 that the "LOAD" program will run assuming you have XB. To move TI software from the PC to the TI can be done with the CFHDXS1 E/A program or using the TiImage tool on the PC along with the CF card mounted on the PC. Do you have the bin below on the SD card of your FlashRom??? CF2K_V2.4.bin CF2K v2.4

The CFMGR and the CFHDXS1 files that I use are Editor/Assembler (EA) option 5 programs that are run with the EA cartridge. Choose "5. Run Program File" from the EA cartridge menu, then enter the disk and filename, ie "DSK1.CFMGR". Another option is just load the DM2K from the FinalGrom99 "TOOLS" menu. I can't recall if there is an XB load file that will load the CFMGR via XB.

Many of the Tandy 1000 machine came with less than 640k ram on the motherboard and lacked a DMA controller which was required for a HD. An add on memory card to reach 640k or a hard drive card made for the 1000 (which had a DNA chip) was required. Another razor-razorblade marketing scheme used by RS.

Thanks guys. I bought one set of SRAMS from Mouser and one from Jameco and get the same result for all four. All 74 logic chips testable with the minpro checked ok. I purchased all the chips except the LS612s from Mouser. The 612s came from Quest Components (not off ebay).

I was testing ICs for use on this card with a MiniPro TL-866. I understand that the Minipro will not test three of the chips used on this card, but it should test the static ram chips. My Minipro begins the process of checking the rams, but ends up giving a USB communications error 32 before finishing. I have tried chips by Hitachi and Alliance and have the same issue with both. I have installed the latest software and drivers. Has anyone else experienced this issue?

Looks great, PM sent!

Sorry--- Just read the full thread and found the answer...

Just got my bare board last week and I ordered my parts for the SAMS based on the list under the board on ArcadeShopper. While assembling the board, I notice that the 74LS04 and the 74LS688 have been replaced by 74LS34 and 74LS683. Can someone explain the difference, please?

My last console purchase on eBay did the same thing. I dissembled the unit and pulled the grom port connector (easiest thing to do) first. The problem was an oiled grom port with the cleaner pad shorting the pins. After removing all the felt from the port and cleaning with alcohol, the console worked came up fine and worked since. Something easy to check as a first step.

I am looking for the SDUMPII for use on real iron. I am using an ImageWriter for a printer and this software supports the Pro-Writer. No luck on finding how the ping firing on this printer works different from an Epson. Thought I could use this tool to get the information. I have found SDUMPII as a .dsk image on WHTECH but can't get it converted to back to real floppy or .hfe . Any thoughts? Thanks

I never do things the easy way.....

I just recently setup my Gotek. A straight ribbon cable connected to the internal male connector on the TI Disk Controller to the Gotek makes it DSK2. I had to make the "TI-twist" to get it to work as DSK1. I didn't see where I could change jumpers to do it. Did the serial bridge install the HXC firmware loader on the Gotek ? It took two tries for me to get it loaded. It should show hXc on the 7-seg LEDs on power up with no jump drive installed. The config file must be the first file copied to the usb stick after it is formatted. Initially I grabbed a 1440 sector HFE file from WHTECH instead of the 720 sector (180k) needed for my DSSD for my TI controller. Don't know if any of the above may help, but this was my learning experience.

On more than one occasion, I had to reformat my CF card (fat32) and then format for the TI with TIDir. I could see the volumes on my card just like you, but could not access them with the TI. I found that I can better manage the CF card leaving it in the nanoPEB. When I use it with the PC, it eventually gets hosed and I have to reformat(fat32) and start over. I use a combination of TIDir and CFHXS1 to transfer form PC to TI. It does require transferring files rather than the whole dsk image to the CF7 and EA. I have attached a CF7 volume with CATALOG and TOD files that you were attempting to access. VOL001CF7.dsk

If you want to use your MAC instead of a PC, I've found that a combination of the TIImage Tool and the command line xvm99CF7 volume manager found here http://endlos99.github.io/xdt99 work well together. If you don't mind using Terminal and cmd line for getting catalogs of the disk images of the CF and the CF dmg that you will need to create on your MAC hd to use the Image tool.. The Image tool can be used to copy and paste from a TI .dsk to a CF7 volume. You can do the same with the xvm99 and xdm99 cmdline, but it's all cmdline (no visual). If you have a PC with a serial port or USB to serial adaptor you can use the CFHdxS1 that is shipped on the CF card with your nanopeb. Using this tool you can work with the 3 mounted volumes at a time on the nanopeb CF (DSK1,DSK2,DSK3). When the 3 volumes are full, you will need to drop back to TI Basic to mount additional volumes (CALL MOUNT).

I was a member of C.H.U.G. - Chattanooga TI99/4A User Group back in the day.

The attached file is the captured output from a TI BASIC LIST "RS232.BA=....." of the catalog program to TIPrint. Extra characters and control codes. I ran the TI Diagnostics program and got extra random characters at the beginning of every line. After sending to Jaime, he was able to duplicate the problem and responded with the following: It happens to me too. Evidently the Basic Interpreter is trying to write a DV80 type record. The first character of a DV80 is the length of the string. Unfortunately, the RS232 DSR doesn't handle DV80 records like it's suppose to. Thus, the junk 1st character on each list. BTW- I looked at the code closer. It's not DV80 that would cause the problem, but IV80. I don't know why TI did it this way, cause it makes no sense. Works fine after the fix. captured output.pdf

Thanks Fred! I've been using the revised version of CF2K and it works great. The problem involved the actual use of the serial port with a printer or terminal software. The CFHDXS1 software also worked fine for file transfers, but TIPrint did not.

The fix required a change to the DSR. I had to return the card to him for repair.

Jaime has fixed the issue with my nanopeb. No more extra characters when printing through the serial port. He said there was a issue with the DSR.

The nanopeb V1 that I purchased back in December is one that does not have the "SIO" reference.

I've tried lower baud rates down to 300 baud and still get the same result with the nano v1. TIHdx works fine with no errors, but using TI Basic with a LIST "RS232.BA=xxxx.DA=8.PA=N" or DA=7.PA=E where xxxx is 300-9600 may list one or several lines OK, but in less than a screen will start acting up. I've sent Jaime a note and he is looking into the problem. Kerry

I've been using the nano for a couple of months and the disk and memory functionality has been great. I was having some issues using TIprint and thought it was an issue with my old PC. I purchased an Apple Imagewriter ii off eBay to see if a real printer still had the issue (it does). When I am sending output to the printer, there are what appear to be random characters being printed at the beginning of the line. It's really not a big issue until a control character shows up randomly. I know the com parameters are set correctly between the port and the device. Any other nano peb users having this issue.