David_P

My understanding is that one is needed per computer, with each having a distinct address set by the switches inside the interface. From the remainder of the text on the page, plus the "trip report" at the bottom, it sounds like there must be a loop between the computers, using the two ports on top. Once I have a bit more time I'm going to disassemble the ROMs and figure out how it works. From the trip report it sounds like there were very few people in Atari who knew how they were supposed to work, making it a challenge to set up.

Bumping a necro-thread here, but I've always found networking fascinating. I've doe a bit of assessment of the ALAN-K (Atari Local Area Network model K) information Curt has up on his site (http://www.atarimuseum.com/otherprojects/corpresearch/alan.html), trying to figure it out, and possibly build my own compatible devices. (1) The CPU is a 6502. Therefore, the 2K RAM (a 2016) will map to $0000-$07FF, to provide page 0 and the stack (page 1). The 6502 requires valid addresses at $FFFA for the NMI, $FFFC for powerup, and $FFFE for IRQ service, so the 4K ROM (a 2732 EPROM) will map to $F000-$FFFF. (2) There are two 6850 serial controllers, one is for the SIO line and the other for the network. Datasheet is available at http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/4161/MOTOROLA/MC6850.html, and the ICs are available at http://futurlec.com/IC6800Series.shtml (3) There's a 6532 RIOT. I am not certain what it is used for in the design. For me, the next step is to disassemble one of the ROMs to figure out the memory map, and then understand how the device works.

I must admit - when I read "AR" my first thought was "The monitor has a special setting for Alternate Reality?"

If you can get the side label from an XE lightgun it looks pretty snazzy. Down in my basement is my "Atari XE Game System" green composite monitor - once the repairs are done and my Ataris are set up again I'll put up a picture.

You might also try contacting Best Electronics or MyAtari - they both seem to have lots and lots of stuff not listed on their websites - who knows, you may get lucky.

You are my new hero. From now on, whenever my wife looks at my collection, I'll just pull up that photo and say "I've still got a ways to go yet, dear..."

How about 256k for SDX, 128K for some graphical OS (anyone working on one?) and 64K for a built-in high quality word processor? Plus four OSes. Plus 1Mb RAM. Heh heh heh...

And when will it get into wider production? ANd about how much? Since I will have to order 2 or 3...

I *think* this may be an in-stock DigiKey part that fits the bill: http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=5530841-2-ND I don't have the detailed specs for the cart port on hand, so verify first, but at $2.58/each (that's the $CAD price, USD is probably less) it looks like a good risk.

They're a standard format edge connector, but they're not in widespread use anymore. I picked up a few about a year or so ago from an electronics surplus outfit; if you're having no joy tracking some down PM me and I'll see how many I've still got kicking around.

98.2% in Canada. The computer will be on 'til about 2100Z, then intermittently over the weekend.

5 weeks 4 days is the forecast here in Canada... 2.5kb/s down... I'll let you know in June how they look.

Would it not be easier just to have a socket for the Olimex board? Makes the cart interface much easier, vice trying to rebuild a CS8900 complete on a cart.

I'll see if I can find my manual for the Graphix-AT and scan it in.

Pixels Past used to make boards sold through the AtariAge store that would take a single 27128 to make 16K ROMs; the boards fit nicely i nthe LEFT CART brown shells. Don't know where t ofind them now, though. There are EPROM boards for 2x2764 available from MyAtari on EBay, for example: eBay Auction -- Item Number: 140393407084

Should we be translating and compiling multiple copies? That's a real headache to maintain. Would it not be better to rebuild it so it uses a language resource file - so, for example, it would load "LANGUAGE.SYS", which would contain all the text info for the selectd langauge - to change languages, just replace the LANGUAGE.SYS with ENGLISH.RDS, DEUTCH.RDS, POLSKI.RDS, FRANCAIS.RDS or whatever language resource file you want. That would require some sort of master format / master program to compile the langauge files, and some checking to ensure the maximum RAM footprint isn't exceeded.

There is a cheap serial to etheret device, configurable via serial commands, that might be a relatively easy way to connect an Atari. There's an onbaord CPU, support for multiple connections... built around the same chip as the Sinclair interface (above). Out of stock at Sparkfun right now, but it may be a relatively inexpensive ($30 USD) and easy way to convert from RJ45 to SIO. http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9476

One simple stereo, please.

Probably saw the "GX" in the name, and made assumptions...

I've still got my copy from years ago, but for those still looking for it there's what appears to be a complete MULE (disk, folder, instructions) on eBay. Right now, the top bid is $10.50 MULE Auction on eBay: eBay Auction -- Item Number: 220571936719

Bank switches don't cost a lot of time, but need to be optimized; where possible, related routines should be in the same bank. If a routine knows its friends are in the same bank it can use normal means to go there, otherwise, it needs a formal calling mechanism. A small memory resident routine could be used for banking, so code can be bank agnostic. Macro GOSUB could be defined to access routines: GOSUB #Routine_ID would be expanded to: LDX #Routine_ID ; which routine are we executing? JSR Bank_Select_Routine; Installed somewhere in low memory or, alternatively, copied in each bank to free up RAM at the cost of space in each bank Bank_Select_Routine LDA Current_Bank; Where are we? So we can get back here! PHA ... ; from the Routine_ID, get the bank number (one byte) and address in that bank to jump to. Store the bank number in the Cart bank select register, JSR to the address (self modifying code, perhaps) ... PLA ; get back the bank we were in before we left STA Bank_Select_Register ; reset the cart RTS ; and right back where we started This is limited to 256 possible routines, and requires 3 bytes per routine for the vectors. It also does not define any means of parameter passing between routines. Sorry if this is a bit unclear; I'm doing it off the top of my head.

The AtariMax 1Mb (128K) should be able to do what you ask - it's 16 8K banks. Though, with a bit of forethought, it should be possible to have all the executable within the 8K cart space, flipping to the needed banks as required - though perhaps some elements of the display driver would have to be in RAM. That way, the program occupies only 8K at a time, plus, perhaps, some low RAM - thus freeing up more base RAM for features or documents.

See also: http://www.atariarchives.org/cfn/05/10/0041.php http://retrobits.net/atari/writers.shtml http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue65/review_writers_tool.php for more info and reviews; there may be things there that can help.

How about a joystick dongle? Plug in as required; software all on the 6502 - and no need to crack open the case and break out the soldering iron - a selling point for those of us who are less than able in that department. There's even a cheap mini-board available that only needs a DS-9 connector (and some I2C bit-banging on the PIA) http://futurlec.com/Mini_DS1307.shtml - only $7.90 (plus shipping). (See also http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/135092-i2c-interfacing-with-8-bits/page__p__1705730__hl__I2C__fromsearch__1#entry1705730 for an ealier thread - unfortunately, I've never gotten to the Z: driver... little house issues have intervened, like a cracking and sinking foundation)

From a quick bit of Googling, it appears that there's an 8k ROM (probably can be deselected to permit the user to use that 8k of space for storage) plus a boot file that needs to be loaded to run the program. Check out Retrobits and old Analog/Antic/Computemags for details.