Tape loading on XL (or any) systems expanded beyond 256K?

[Gunstar]

The last few weeks I've been unable to get my 1010 to load anything successfully. As many of you know from a 1010 thread I started a couple weeks ago. For weeks I thought the problem was with the 1010 or something to do with my SIO line. I went as far as removing everything from the computer except the 1010, same result. Nothing seemed to work to get tapes to load properly even though I tested and re-tested the 1010 in various ways and everything pointed to the 1010 being perfectly fine. So what the hell, right?

 

So, a day or so ago I was downloading a couple games, one of which turned out to be a tape image. So I try loading it and get the same exact reaction with SIO2PC & Aspqt trying to load tape images as with the 1010. I remove everything but the SIO2PC...same thing. Try different tape images, still the same thing. So, after all this I came to the conclusion that it must be my 1200XL.

 

I finally made the connection that tapes loaded fine up until I upgraded my Atarimax Rambo compatible memory upgrade from 256K to 512K. That's when tapes no longer loaded.

 

So, I'm looking to find out if anyone else has had this problem with their computers (maybe just XL's) that have been upgraded beyond 256K? Has anyone else with expanded memory similiar to mine even bothered to try and load a tape or tape image? I know a lot of people don't even bother with tapes anymore, so could this be problem that I am the first to discover?

 

Just to be clear too, I'm not using the original 1200 OS, I have a 32-n-1 and have tried every OS on there. My 1200 has NO compatiblity issues that they normally have anymore, due to my upgrades. I'm 100% compatible with the 800XL that would have smiliar upgrades (though I've heard of 1200XL timing problems?).

Edited March 13, 2012 by Gunstar

[Marius]

Is there any chance that you due to the fact you use 32in1 Os that you have a switched on basic by accident?

 

Lot of games need a switched off basic. Usually with option pressed while switching on the machine disables basic. Perhaps this behavior is the opposit on your machine and is holding option enabling your basic?

[Bryan]

My first thought was, boy would it take a long time to load 256K from tape.

[Gunstar]

My first thought was, boy would it take a long time to load 256K from tape.

 

LOL! I guess I could have worded the title differently

[Gunstar]

Is there any chance that you due to the fact you use 32in1 Os that you have a switched on basic by accident?

 

Lot of games need a switched off basic. Usually with option pressed while switching on the machine disables basic. Perhaps this behavior is the opposit on your machine and is holding option enabling your basic?

 

Yeah, I think after weeks of testing that's a bit too obvious a possible problem. Of course I have checked into that. It was probably done on my second or third attempt at loading a tape weeks ago. Not to mention the part above where I said I tried ALL OS's available, some with basic automatically off or on, so, yes, I have a grasp on the obvious. Thank you.

Edited March 13, 2012 by Gunstar

[Bryan]

This may be a long shot, but there are SIO timing differences in the OS depending on whether your machine is NTSC/PAL. Is there any chance your computer thinks its got a PAL GTIA? What do you get when you ?PEEK(53268)

 

Other than that... you could swap in a different Pokey and see if it affects it.

[Gunstar]

I'll look into that Bryan. At least your guesses I haven't been tried yet. Thanks.

 

I get a "15" when I do that PEEK command.

[Marius]

A few questions:

 

1) How can you be so sure that your 1010 is perfect? I did not read the other thread, perhaps you explain it there. Did you successfully test it on another atari?

 

2) I'm not so familiar with 1200XL but IIRC the SIO port does lack the +5V right? Can you confirm that your Sio2PC interface is working correct. Anyone: doesn't the sio2pc interface need this +5V which is not available?

 

Did you already try to write a little program yourself in basic and CSAVE it to tape, and then CLOAD it back?

 

And about your 'it is obvious' reply. Well... you'd be surprised if you knew how many times I overlooked an 'obvious' thing in a programming project... that's why I mentioned it.

[Rybags]

1200XL I'm fairly sure does have the +5V, the tape drive in fact uses it. Like all subsequent, there's no +12V though.

RS-232 version of SIO2PC will use it also.

 

A shot in the dark here, maybe there is some funny business going on with the PIA, it's got motor control as well as the PortB lines.

How about just trying a small Basic program. Do 10 or so lines of just REM stuff then try to save and load it back.

[Marius]

It is odd... some sources claim that there is no 12V some other sources claim there is no 5V.

 

Anyway: my sio2IDE and my Sio2USB (ABBUC RAF VERSION!) do not work on my stock 1200XL. It's the only 1200XL I have so I can not test any further. I believe Sio2IDE and Sio2USB (Abbuc) both work with 5V. So I'm wondering: do sio2pc interfaces need this 5V also? If yes: then Gunstar testing tape with sio2PC interface is not a good test.

[candle]

stock 1200xl has current limited 5V supply on SIO connector and no 12V line at all

connecting a tape recorder there, and expecting it to power off the bus is not very wise

but 1010 has its own power supply

[kurtm]

It is odd... some sources claim that there is no 12V some other sources claim there is no 5V.

 

Anyway: my sio2IDE and my Sio2USB (ABBUC RAF VERSION!) do not work on my stock 1200XL. It's the only 1200XL I have so I can not test any further. I believe Sio2IDE and Sio2USB (Abbuc) both work with 5V. So I'm wondering: do sio2pc interfaces need this 5V also? If yes: then Gunstar testing tape with sio2PC interface is not a good test.

 

Like candle mentions, the 5V is current limited on the 1200xl for some unknown reason. You just replace the resistor with a wire and you are all set. A google search turned up this thread:

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/104518-1200xl-sio-port-mod/

 

It's R63 according to that thread. I remember my Rambo XL instructions telling you to do that modification while doing the memory upgrade. (I didn't have a 1200xl at the time). Lots of references to it in various product manuals of the time. Like the P:R: Connection, which took its power from the SIO bus.

[Gunstar]

 

 

1) How can you be so sure that your 1010 is perfect? I did not read the other thread, perhaps you explain it there. Did you successfully test it on another atari?

 

Please take my word for it. I'm moving beyond all that.

 

 

 

2) I'm not so familiar with 1200XL but IIRC the SIO port does lack the +5V right? Can you confirm that your Sio2PC interface is working correct. Anyone: doesn't the sio2pc interface need this +5V which is not available?

 

 

Please re-read the last paragraph in my first post.

[Gunstar]

It is odd... some sources claim that there is no 12V some other sources claim there is no 5V.

 

Anyway: my sio2IDE and my Sio2USB (ABBUC RAF VERSION!) do not work on my stock 1200XL. It's the only 1200XL I have so I can not test any further. I believe Sio2IDE and Sio2USB (Abbuc) both work with 5V. So I'm wondering: do sio2pc interfaces need this 5V also? If yes: then Gunstar testing tape with sio2PC interface is not a good test.

 

Not that this matters, because I have 5V, but just becuase your SIO2PC uses the 5V line doesn't mean mine has too.

[Gunstar]

Let me restate the point of this thread more simply and clearly: I'm looking for anyone who has an XL machine with a 512K upgrade that has problems loading tapes and tape images, or conversly, anyone as mentioned who can verify that they do not have problems loading tapes or tape images. The closer the XL system is to mine in respective upgrades the better; please see signature for details.

Edited March 15, 2012 by Gunstar

[Marius]

And how went your CSAVE and CLOAD test?

[Rybags]

Maybe try the Csave/Cload test in conjunction with a switched extram bank with the screen.

Generate a dozen lines of Basic, just REMs will be fine.

 

Then POKE 106,128 : POKE 54017,205 : GR. 0

LIST the program once or twice so there's some stuff onscreen.

 

Then try the CSave / Cload again. If any funny business is going on with memory banking, you should get glitches on the screen.

[Gunstar]

Maybe try the Csave/Cload test in conjunction with a switched extram bank with the screen.

Generate a dozen lines of Basic, just REMs will be fine.

 

Then POKE 106,128 : POKE 54017,205 : GR. 0

LIST the program once or twice so there's some stuff onscreen.

 

Then try the CSave / Cload again. If any funny business is going on with memory banking, you should get glitches on the screen.

 

I'll check this out tonight.

[a8isa1]

Since you asked about any machines upgraded above 256K, I put my 800XL with Hias' SRAM Extension in 512K mode (that's 512K extended + 64K base) and successfully loaded a .CAS image (stranded.cas) via SIO2PC using Atariserver/AtariSIO.

 

-Steve Sheppard