guus.assmann

Hello, This behaviour would happen if the track zero sensor is not working. It can be checked quite easy. One side is an infra-red Led. Just see if there's a voltage drop across it, or accross the resistor that feeds it. And the foto transistor on the other side can be checked as well. Just measure the voltage across it. This should be low when the led is active and shining on the transistor. The voltage should change if you put a piece of paper in the gap. You can also check the voltage on the input of the PIA that processes the signal of the Zero-sensor. Just check the schematic diagrams for this part. BR/ Guus Assmann

A 1,44mb drive in a 1050 is next to impossible. The 1050 has a stepper motor that's driven by it's firmware and also the signals from the heads are processed on the 1050 PCB. In a 3 1/4 floppy unit, these functions are performed by the drive unit. It is possible to put this 1,44mb unit in a XF-drive. Modified firmware is available as well. And you can buy a PCB to (re)build this drive. BR/ Guus

Hello tjlazer, With only 1 Eprom, you have 8 bits data. And the computer needs 16 bits at the same time. Maybe, with some complicated electronics it's possible to multiplex the data.......... ?? This is a bit like buying a Rolls Royce to cross the street and go to work as a toilet cleaner..... :-) BR/ Guus

Doing this work in pure assembler is not crazy, but may be time consuming. If done properly, the resulting code is generally faster than if a "high level language" is used. Having the source in C-code must be a lot of help, provided that some comment is there or the code is not difficult to understand. I wish I had some more knowledge on the 68000 programming, but I don't. My capabilities are more on the hardware side. Replacing SMD, even a 144 pin chip is not a problem for me. Or a PCB design including prototyping. However, this experience is no use for writing software. Coöperation on such a software project would be very helpfull. But it's hard to find others, willing to commit to this. Also, not everyone has the time or the drive to take on such a task. BR/ Guus Assmann

Hello, Maybe it's possible to compromise? Most high level programming languages have the possibility to include code segments in Assembler. (or from other languages) So you might leave the major part as is and only remove the parts that you want to improve. That way, you could leave all library and other things as they are. No need to adapt the source code (and other supporting files) for the other "C-dialect" Maybe this also makes documenting the changes / work easier. BR/ Guus Assmann

Ok,I think I understand Stackframe now. (I only have some 8 bit programming experience) And I'm sorry for not being accurate. You're right about Newdesk.inf. What I did, was take a Mega ST board with 4MB-ram and Tos 2.06 and Blitter enabled. (No extra software loaded, just "plain vanilla Tos 2.06" ) The CPU is in a socket, so I can swap it easy. Test program is Gembench 28, V607 build 28. (Only very limited test, I know) With 68000, 115% Display, 99% CPU and 107% average. With 68010, 117% Display, 103% CPU and 109% average. Biggest difference: 68000 gives 99% for integer devision and 68010 is 112%. All other tests between 1 and 2% faster for 68010. My conclusion is that mainly some math (and maybe some other instructions) are faster in the 68010. But not a big difference. For the 68020 I cannot do the same. This is a card that fits in the 68000 socket. But the card has FPU and I'm not 100% sure the clock speed is the same. A good size cache will have much more speed improvement. (Depending on the programm of course)

Sorry if this is getting a bit of topic, it's about different processors and OS usage. Correct me if I'm wrong, but stackframe size is about the amount of words that the CPU "stores" when a subroutine is called. In that case, software that's made according to the "rulebooks" should work just fine. Unfortunately, when the "neodesktop.inf" is used, a 68010 or 68020 system will crash. Also, I just tested a Mega ST with a 68010 and a CF-card. (PP interface + flash-tos and driver) It works just fine, until the question is displayed to swap drives. Then it get's into a loop. (Blinking the drive active LED at about 0,5 Hz) Placing a 68000 in the same system solves this problem. What I'm trying to do is find a good compromise between speed and compatability. Not by definition for games, but for more serious applications. Different TOS versions and posibillities to switch between those cannot be avoided. Switching between processors is not so simple. I would like a CPLD-based processor that can switch between 68000, 68010 and 68020.

Hallo, Improved TOS 1.04 looks interesting. Once I have some more time, I'll have a better look at it. However I do have a question already: Have you condsidered relocating the OS so it will work on the same addresses as TOS2.06? As I see it, this would have at least 2 advantages: 1) More space for extra goodies ! 2) Can be used in Flash Tos without need for extra logic. Maybe there's more positive things, but then I'd have to speculate and that's not such good idea. One more question: On your site, you mention 68010. Did you test the OS with this processor? I've not yet tested if it's really worth replacing the 68000. (Speed increase?) And some incompattible things even with TOS2.06 are not so good maybe. Just curiuos for your view on this topic. Anyway, thanks for the efford and information. Another thought just crossed my mind. You've made many adaptions to games, drivers and this TOS adaption. And hopefully they are documented. One inevitable thing is that we all have a limited time on earth. What will happen to all the knowledge once you're time is up? I know, not a very merry thought, but still one to ponder uppon. BR/ Guus Assmann P.S. Don't be mistaken, I wish you a very long and healthy time among us and hope to learn a lot from you. :-)

Pin 8 is GND and pin 16 is VCC. This is only power and no signal at all. So many other chips can be used to get power from. On a 14 pin TTL, pin 7 will be GND and pin 14 is VCC. (+5V) BR/ Guus

Yes, you can use any larger Eprom or flash-rom, just not all of it's memory capacity at the same time. And you need 16 bits. With older devices it will be at least 2 devices at the same time. So just put some (high address line pins) to constant levels, mayby with a switch. Then you can have different programs, selectable with that switch. To put it in a very simple analogy, it's like a book. You can only see one page at a time. (If you don't take the book apart :-) )

Hello, Does anyone have some code for a terminal program in GFA-Basic? I want to use all serial ports of a TT to communicate with solar inverters. For this, I do have the protocol for the inverters. But no clue as to how to use the serial ports. BR/ Guus

Hello foft, I would like to get one board as well. BR/ Guus

Hallo, For a program I want to write, I'm looking for source code in GFA-Basic. It needs to display the data from the serial port in a window. Would be great if the serial ports from the TT are supported. Is there any such data available? Some pointers would be helpfull. Thanks, Guus Assmann

Hello, Just print A, B, C and D on a transparent sheet. Then glue A to B and C to D. Toner sides should touch. A and B are mirror image, as are C and D. If glued together and well alligned, they form a mask for the Photo-PCB. The E sheet is the component layout, as seen from the top. A/B are the traces on top of the PCB and C/D are the bottom ones. The SMD-Ram chip is mounted below the Eprom socket. It needs a little bending for the pins to fit. I'm not sure if I have any PCB's left to take a picture of, I'll have a look. To the best of my knowledge, there's no source code listed anywhere. BR/ Guus

Hello, Now I've tried again. BR/ Guus HAPPY1.zip

Hello, Please find attached data. This is one Happy clone that works fine. And the Eprom data is for both Happy and Original mode, switched with msb-address line. It has been build several times. I don't have Gerber files. Making the PCB is not very difficult. The way I do it, is print the PDF's on transparent film, glue the sheets for the sides on top of eachother and then glue a piece of PCB-material in between top and bottom. This makes an envelope so a Photo-sensive PCB can be exposed one side at a time. BR/ Guus

Hallo ALSP, Are there still devices available? I'd like a kit. (Only the processor mounted and programmed) About the case, maybe it's possible to have the logo and other text "cut out" of the surface? Of course it shouldn't be cut really, just not printed. I know, kind of late. But I've not noticed this thread before. :-( BR/ Guus

Hello, As far as I know, it's just a cartridge, like any other ordinary one. So the circuit is identical to that of a game cartridge. BR/ Guus

Hello, Looks ok, there's room for 2. If you go to Ebay and seach for SD extention, you will find a connector, cable and a micro-SD slot. That way, you can place the card anywhere. (Cable is quite long) BR/ Guus

Hello Level42, Please have a look over here: http://www.horus.com/~hias/atari/#freezer It's the place of the software designer..... BR/ Guus

Hello Sven, My attitude in life is that anyone can ask any question. (As long as I can choose if I answer and there's mutual respect.) If I can help out in any way, I will try to do so. That's one of the positive things of a forum like this one. BR/ Guus

Hello Sven, As you must be aware, XL and XE have different expansion connections. So you need more than one board type. Also, there quite a number of inteseted people. Hopefully you get the SMD parts mounted, they are a challenge. BR/ Guus

Hello Sven, As it so happens, I was the PCB designer of the 2006 design and contributed to the expansion of functions to the original Freezer. Also, I assembled and tested the majority of PCB's. If you want to only make one PCB, you have to "disappoint" 2 groups. The old 400/800 (As we did in the past) and either the XL or XE. We wanted to have both XL and XE versions, so the first design was XL and XE. And considered the 400/800 users a too small group and the design would offer too many challenges. The 2011 model was only one freezer, with an adapter design. (Not made by me) 2 different approaches to the same goal. So I wish you success in your decission, with one advice: Find out what group you want to service and why. BR/ Guus

Hello, You don't need to design the PCB's The complete design files should be available. Ask Hias. BR/ Guus

Hello Jac! You know where to ask and how to discuss this in a good way. BR/ Guus