blakespot

I've read through this thread and it's great seeing how this has evolved over the last few months. I'm another Tipi newbie, having just installed my TipiPEB in my F18A-equipped '99 and I'm loving it so far! But I have a few questions that I don't see directly answered in the wiki or other docs I've looked at, so I thought I'd air them here. For a while now I've been using the FlashROM99 cart to load things into my TI. I've grabbed both cartridge files as well as TIFiles off of TI-99/4A Game Shelf and I _believe_ that I've gotten most of the latter (and all? of the former) I've tried to work, which makes me wonder if cartridge files and TIFiles formats are overlapping or the same, perhaps one having > 32K size potential. I'm not clear on this. I know that the Tipi wants TIFiles format images and presumably can't take cartridge format files. Format aside, I'm also not clear on how to load these images. I know that I can issue CALL TIPI("TIPI.NET.TELNET") to load the telnet client, and I assume the dot notation is speaking of directory structure. I have several dirs sitting beside the NET/ dir on the system: MAIN and DSKS. (I saw the lengthy video where Wagner walks through his setup - helpful, and I followed his dir lead.) If I go through the web-based admin upload process (as I know it converts T9V9 files if needed) and move a TIFiles image called CAVE into MAIN, do I execute it using CALL TIPI("TIPI.MAIN.CAVE")? I've done this very thing (I removed .bin from the CAVE.bin filename) and when I do that, I just get back to the startup TI screen (as if I reset). So that's not working. There may be another process, then, it seems. And, for disk images -- I import disk images to my DSKS dir thru the web admin on Tipi and I understood that MYIMAGE.dsk would turn into a directory called MYIMAGE in the DSKS dir, but it doesn't. Is this not the process? I understand some disk images are ARChived and those won't work in that state. But, once I one way or another end up with DSKS/MYIMAGE/ containing the contents of MYIMAGE.dks, would that be mapped in the CALL TIPI config screen to, say, DSK2 (I have a physical DSK1) by entering the value DSKS.MYIMAGE as the mapping string? (I am aware there is a handy mapper written in BASIC a few months ago that makes this easier, and will get there after I get it working the "hard way".) Also is it possible to run large items like the Don't Mess With Texas demo, simply by mapping to a dir containing it? I assume so as this is effectively a HD system, volume and loose-file based. So, I've gotten things running and done some online gaming and BBSing with the bundled things, but I've yet to install something in the form of a TIFiles program or disk image and have it successfully load. Hopefully a few pointers here will get me pointed in the right direction. Many thanks! bp -- ByteCellar :: http://bytecellar.com

Do you imagine that outputting to the printer was writing to that address space and that data was the datastream for the printer? Or do you think somehow reading a certain section of data was what caused the data stream -- where a read access is handled as a signal to output data. Doesn't looks complex enough for me. I guess I'm just coming from the notion that you can't write to the cartridge port. But then, I guess there's MiniMemory, though, right? bp

This thing is pretty interesting. http://www.hexbus.com/TI-99_4A_Home_Computer_Page/Cartridge_Pictures.html#16 Does anyone have a photo of this cracked open? Id love to see how its pit together. Can the TI write (output) to the cart port? Hmmm....trying to recall if MiniMemory is a command module or a side attach cart. Maybe the whole bus is exposed on that cart connector. Im intrigued.

I belonged to P.A.C.E., the Peninsula Atari Computer Enthusiasts covering the Virginia peninsula (south east Virginia) in 1986-88 or so. One of the places we would meet at night was this Lutheran school in Hampton, VA. I just got in contact with someone there who was able to provide me with photos of the Atari 8-bit lab we would do our meetings in from that period. I am going to write it up on my blog, soon. I talk a little about that group and others in my blog post from a few years ago. http://www.bytecellar.com/2014/02/11/computer-users-groups-of-my-past/ bp

What's the best place on the web to get a feel for some of the more recent Atari 8-bit homebrew games that have been developed? bp

( Did not mean to affront you, Doctor, if that the interpretation... )

_The Doctor_ Umm, I am new to the A8 scene and as such hadnt seen years of posts about clipping the caps. Seeemd the machine had a serious issue with the SIO2SD and I decided to take Lotharek as an authority. I tried several max speed settings with no luck. Are you suggesting clipping the caps was a bad move somehow? Not sure where youre coming from. ?

I clipped out the two caps -- works perfectly now. Lotharek knows his stuff! bp

Ok. I see C77 and C78 on the image I just googled. Just remove -- don't bridge directly, right(!)? Thanks. bp

I emailed Lotharek to day asking about this, sending the video and description and he said the solution is simple: "remove old capacitors from READ/WRITE SIO lines." He said remove and not replace. Lost in translation? I assume I need to replace them. Anyone have a good source for new caps? Thanks. He also sent this: (attached) bp

Here is a video of the issue -- for whatever reason it's not actually launching the disk now, but you can hear the as-if-stuck-key ping.

I have a second 1/2 brick and tested it with the 800XL -- same issue. Can someone tell me what the default value for the SIO2SD's Sio high speed setting is? Thanks. bp

I don't have PAL machines lying about. I just ordered this PAL 800XL board from Germany and it took a month to get here. bp

Ok this is happening: The file tree from the eBay bundle on the SD card is: /atari/ SIO2SD.CFG Sio2SD.xex going in further: /atari/__Anim /atari/__DEMO /atari/__GAMES /atari/__Tools /atari/__Vbxe /atari/__Ziny Sio2SD_CFG_PJ.SET and looking at the __GAMES dir: /atari/__GAMES/__Executables /atari/__GAMES/__Floppy images /atari/__GAMES/__Trained and looking at __Trained dir: /atari/__GAMES/__Trained/AllCat.xex /atari/__GAMES/__Trained/Arkanoid.xex /atari/__GAMES/__Trained/Artefakt.xex ... What is happening is that the first (alphabetically) file in __Trained is loading after the SIO2SD loader menu loads. I looked at SIO2SD.CFG and AllCat.xex is mentioned in there. So, I deleted SIO2SD.CFG and deleted (moved off SD) AllCat.xex. What happens then is that the same thing happens but with Arkanoid.xex now, and looking at the re-created .CFG file, Arkanoid.xex is named within. Why in the world is this happening? And more importantly, how can I stop it? Thanks. UPDATE: I see that as the file list first appears each dir is quickly selected one after the other drilling down until the .xex is encountered then the system reboots -- very fast. Just as if a key is stuck -- but it's not; I go into BASIC and no repeat key is happening. If I interfere with the situation by wildly keying arrow keys, I am able to get into a situation where no file is selected but there is a repeat pinging sound as if a key is stuck. Again, in BASIC I can type fine. ANOTHER UPDATE: This only happens on my PAL 800XL, not on my 130XE. So it's specific to one of my machines. How could the system appear ok in BASIC but not under the menu? YET ANOTHER UPDATE: peek(53279) returns 7 (no function keys being pressed). bp

PAL 800XL, just a regular joystick - I will try unplugging. No stuck keys. bp

I just got Lotharek's SIO2SD device and did so thru eBay so got the lower price bundle loaded with his SD card full of games and demos. Sadly, in this setup, the menu program starts to load --- I see the folders listing, and then it boots into the first (alphabetical) item in first folder on SD card -- mid listing. It used to list more of the menu before this happened, now I just see three folders and boom. I am hoding OPTION and SHIFT on the SIO2SD to get menu. Anyone have any help? Thanks. Using with a 800XL PAL. bp

LittleMan, I am not using a floppy drive - you guessed wrong. HxC2001. And I contacted the author of SLIDE.PRG it only supports .SPU files, not the compressed .SPC files. Youre wrong again, it seems. Does any one else have any ideas re: NTSC Rainbow TOS 4MB 520ST showing garbled Spectrum 512 images? Thanks. bp

This < 2K SLIDE.PRG does view a .SPC image successfully. I put it on a floppy full of .SPC images and it loads and reloads just one image over and over and quits with any keypress. I wish it acted more as I might expect it to. :-/

It seems capable of much, but I don't see it being capable of loading Spectrum 512 images and displaying them. At least according to the filetypes that it indicate it loads on the file prompt. What am I missing? I want to look at Spectrum 512 images, not convert Targa, RAW, GIF, or IFF files to Spectrum, etc. It prompts with those options -- does not offer the loading of .SPC images that I can see. If it does support this functionality -- can you point out how to access it? Thanks. bp

I never got this working. I have 3 Spectrum 512 slideshow disks and all show garbled images on my 4MB expanded 520ST (no CPU accelerator or anything wonky like that). I tried Photochrome app, but it seems just to convert TGA, IFF, etc. into Spectrum vs viewing Spectrum images. Does anyone have a viewer that can render S512 images on this ST? Thanks. bp

I've spent too much time solder repairing in the past few months (dead iMac screen -- damned SMT microscopic pads, TI-99/4A keyboard cable disintegration, etc.) so I went and eBay'd a decent looking 130XE with "the box" PSU ( top right ) along with a second (separate auction) "the box" PSU for the incoming 800XL PAL that's on order. I've got my 15yo SIO2PC cable going on an old P3 with APE and an SIO2SD arriving any day. So I want to keep rolling while I have some time off (laid off 3 months ago, but new job starting in a week or two). I will work at fixing the dead 130XE at some point soon and decide where to go from there. Thanks folks. (And if anyone has heard to the contrary, that "the box" is also a death brick, please do whisper it in my ear.) bp

Perhaps I will replace the RAM in the 130XE after sourcing another PSU. I was going to remove he 800XL NTSC and replace it with the 800XL PAL I have incoming (but was going to sell the NTSC board to someone). Should prob socket the chips at the same time. Wonder if any I have lying around on old video cards would work... bp

Does BEST make a modern safe replacement unit? Guy on YT hacked a USB RPi PSU to work with the A8. Is it safe to grab a non-Ingot, 30 year old PSU and plug that in? Ugh. bp

Apparently I have the "dreaded" "Ingot" PSU. And yes, it seems it killed both units in 30 mins. I'd been using it daily for 2 weeks, building up a system, ordering parts, etc. This is painful. Might put the Atari 8-bit adventure to rest, here. If I do go back it, can someone point me to a PSU to use that is safe? Thanks. Ugh.

OH no. I just plugged the 130XE back into its old composite cable on the other CRT here and there is no solid video signal anymore -- I see the TV's blue screen (shown when no solid signal) and it's jittering about. I plugged the 800XL in also and it's the same. What has happened here? Something has killed both of my Atari 8-bits I've been using all week. Was it the PSU? It's not oddly warm. Or was it something about the s-video cable?? This is tragic. Not sure what to do next. I should check voltage out of the PSU to see if it's above 5. It had been working for nearly 2 weeks fine, and here the 800XL died after 30 mins attached to the PVM via the new cable and the 130XE when attached was immediately in the same state it would seem -- instantly killed? I have a 800XL PAL board incoming next week. Obviously won't touch this PSU or that cable to it until I get this sorted. Not a happy Christmas present. Ugh. bp