[Atari Wifi Modem]

13 minutes ago, phigan said:

Where's the best (cheapest? ) place to get Nextion displays right now? Ali?

Yep,  Aliexpress is around $32 for a Basic model, I'm using the Discovery and Enhanced models.  The Enhanced one has a RTC...

I bought a Discovery and Enhanced model from Ali, but be warned, they use piggyship and are the worst carrier.  They through the package out of a car window an into the gutter...

Had 2 Enhanced models sent yesterday from Amazon for $48 each...

[Atari Wifi Modem]

35 minutes ago, mytek said:

Nice 👍

 

I'm hoping that multiple access points and passwords can be retained. The lack of this in the standard FujiNet application is kinda annoying. Basically I want it to work like my Android Tablet in this regard, where you can set multiple WiFi credentials and have automatic switching when roaming between them.

After looking at my code, I wasn't either, but will definitely add that.  Thanks, it's a great idea 👍...

[Atari Wifi Modem]

Here is the Next Generation of upgrades for SIO2WiFi, WifiModem and FujiNet

 

This is my next update that will be using the Nextion Displays that will allow you to setup your WiFi Access and configure many settings All though the use of a Touch Screen...

 

You Saw It Here FIRST

 

 

[A collecting addiction issue.....]

5 hours ago, macsonny said:

Oh, don't get me started on that. Three modems so far including an old 300 baud acoustic coupler!!!!!

Oh no! not these too   Lets see, 3 830's 3 835's, 4 1030's 2 SX212's and some MPP/Supra modems too...

[A collecting addiction issue.....]

5 hours ago, macsonny said:

So I remember about 12-18 months ago seeing a few posts about Atari users who have 4,5 or even more floppy drives. At that stage I had 2 x 1050 drives and felt it was more than I'd ever need. I remember thinking "Why would anyone want to collect that many drives?"

 

Well, here I am all those months later with 8 x 5.25" floppy drives. All 100% working and a few with mods such as MegaSpeedy, Happy upgrade, track displays, etc. I just fixed a 1050 drive with a Happy Enhancement today to add to the list.

 

Yes, I'm one of those people now.

 

With 8 drives the question begs to be ask - will I stop collecting.

 

Answer - Hell no. It's just too damn addictive!!!!

 

03FA644E-730C-4AAD-B089-7FDFB2DCD733.heic 2.37 MB · 14 downloads

The reason why I have over 20 drives was due to my cart collecting.  Had to buy whole systems at times just to buy the Rare carts. (320 individual, 615 total)

 

It is an addiction

[What's the latest Atari related thing(s) you've bought on ebay?]

21 minutes ago, macsonny said:

Just bought my 8th floppy drive - a 1050 with a bonus Happy Upgrade installed. Yes, I may have an addiction problem.

 

Only 8? That's just the start   I have over 20 (810's, 1050's, XF551's, Indus GT's, Rana's, Trak's and "the big bulky ones") ...

[What's the latest Atari related thing(s) you've bought on ebay?]

Picked up some chips to restore some 800xl's that I took parts out of to build the 1088XLE and 1088XLD'S...

 

 

[ATR file manager for Windows?]

15 minutes ago, phoney said:

Hi folks. I'm rearranging files on various ATRs for my new system and I vaguely remember seeing a thread where someone was creating a drag and drop file manager for Windows ... ring any bells? I could very well copy the files to a RAMdisk and back in Altirra but I was wondering if there was something more elegant.

ATR Tools?

 

[Has anyone managed to get FNET in Forem XEP working between networked computers.]

In order to get FNET working with FXEP with real HW or Altirra over the internet, you would need to make a TCP Bridge/Gateway/Proxy that understands the FNET protocol...

[DOS XE Technical Details (sector 1, VTOC, etc.)]

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOS XE
  maximum file extent of 1500 clusters, or 375000 bytes (366.2 KB).
  Max # of Files Per Disk: 65535
  Max # of Files Per Directory: 1250
  Max # of Clusters: 65535
  Max # of Chars in a Pathname: 80 "D1>PROGRAMS>BASIC>PROGRAM1.BAS"
 

 

>>Boot Sector:
  Byte:     Desc:
  $00     - "X"  Representing DOS XE
  $09     - number of files possible to open at a time. Default 3, max. 7.
  $0A     - a bitmap of active drives: bits 76543210 correspond to drives 12345678.
            A bit set to 1 means that the corresponding drive is active.
  $0B     - $00
  $0C-$0D - Buffer Base Address.
  $0E-$0F - Date Code when DOS Was Written.
  $10-$15 - an ASCII string, up to 6 characters, padded with zeros,
            if shorter, symbolizing the density (or disk type):
          - AT810  - single density
          - AT1050 - medium density
          - SSDD   - single sided double density (180k)
          - XF551  - double sided double density (360k)
          - 130RAM - 130XE ramdisk
  $16     - 0x01   NOT Number of VTOC Clusters on Disk.
  $17     - 0x01   ???.
  $18-$19 - total number of clusters on the disk, (Plus 1).
  $1A-$1B - initial number of free clusters on the disk
  $1C     - First Byte of VTOC.
  $1D     - number of the first cluster of the main directory
  $1E-$1F - SIO Routine Address.
  $22     - SIO command "Read sector",
            "R" for standard,
            "R"+$80 for XF551 fast mode.
  $23     - SIO command "Write sector", "W" for standard etc.
  $24     - Pokey's AUDF3/4 value to generate the command baud rate,
            $00 for standard, $28 for XF551 fast mode.
  $25     - Pokey's AUDF3/4 value to generate the data baud rate,
            $00 for standard,
            $10 for XF551 fast mode.
  $26     - SIO command "Format disk" for this disk type, "!" for standard
            interleave, "!"+$80 for turbo interleave. If the disk does not need
            formatting (ramdisks etc.), $00.
  $28-$2f - first 8 bytes of the PERCOM block defining the disk parameters
            (number of tracks, sectors per track, sector size etc.)

 

 

>>VTOC:
  ----
  The VTOC is held in the cluster 4 (sector 4 in DD, sectors 8-9 in SD and ED).
  In the first 10 bytes there is disk information as follows:
      $00-$01 - value $0101, format magic/version number?
      $02-$03 - total number of clusters on disk, (Plus 1).
      $04-$05 - number of currently free clusters
      $06-$07 - number of files and directories on the disk
                  (= volume sequrntial number), intially $0000
      $08-$09 - volume random number

  The further part of the VTOC, from byte $0a onwards, is occupied by the bitmap.
  If a bit is set to 1, it means that the corresponding cluster is free, or it is
    in use otherwise.
  Bit 7 of each byte is assigned to a cluster of a lower number, and the
    subsequent bits of the byte correspond to subsequent clusters.
  The cluster 0 has no corresponding bit in the bitmap, bit 7 of the first
    byte in the bitmap (byte $0a of VTOC) corresponds to cluster 1,
    bit 6 - to cluster 2, bit 5 - to cluster 3 etc.

  Initially the first free cluster of the disk is cluster 6, and the first byte
    of the bitmap has a value of %00000111 (clusters 1-5 in use, 6-8 free).

 

 

>>Directories:
  -----------
  The main directory begins right after the VTOC, and initially occupies
    only one cluster.
  Its number is indicated by the byte $1d of the bootsector.
  A single direcotry entry consists of 49 bytes:

  $00 - status byte:
      - bit 7 = 1, file deleted
      - bit 6 = 1, file in use. In closed files bit 7 and 6 always have opposite values.
      - bit 5 - unused
      - bit 4 - unused
      - bit 3 - unused
      - bit 2 = 1, the file is open for write. Bits 7 and 6 are simultaneously set to 1.
      - bit 1 = 1, file protected
      - bit 0 = 1, subdirectory

  $01-$08 - file name padded with spaces, if necessary
  $09-$0b - file name extension padded with spaces
  $0c-$0d - number of data clusters occupied by the file. $0000 for a dir.
  $0e     - number of data bytes in the last cluster of the file. $00 for a dir.
  $0f-$10 - global file number (volume sequential number at the time when the file
            or dir was created, plus 1).
  $11-$12 - volume random number (same as in VTOC)
  $13-$14 - dir: number of the first cluster of the directory data
           file: number of the first cluster of the file map
  $15-$2a - dir: 22 zeros
           file: 11 numbers of subsequent cluster of the file map ($0000 - unassigned)
  $2b-$2c - file creation date:
          - bits 0-4 day of month
          - bits 5-8 month ($01 = January etc.)
          - bits 9-15 year-1900
  $2d-$2e - file modification date (same format as above)
  $2f-$30 - unknown bytes (always zeroed)

  Every newly created file gets status $c4. After the file is closed,
  bits 7 and 2 of this value are zeroed.

 

 

  Directory data clusters
  -----------------------
  Each cluster of the directory always contains a integer number of
    directory entries, maximum 5.
  If the directory has more entries, the 6th entry is stored to a next
    cluster of the directory etc.

  Bytes:
  $f5-$f7 - unused and the last 8 bytes ($f8-$ff) contain information
                about the directory:
  $f8-$f9 - number of the next cluster of the directory ($0000 - last one)
  $fa-$fb - global file number ($0000 - main directory)
  $fc-$fd - volume random number (same as in VTOC)
  $fe     - directory chain cluster number (starting from $00)
  $ff     - cluster type ($ff = directory)

 

 

  Files:
  -----
  The file map
  The file map consists of clusters indicated by the bytes $13-$2a of the
            directory entry. The first 250 bytes of the map's cluster contain up
            to 125 numbers of data clusters allocated for the file.
            The last six bytes contains additional information:
  $fa-$fb - global file number
  $fc-$fd - volume random number (same as in VTOC)
  $fe     - map's cluster number in the current file (starting from $00)
  $ff     - cluster type ($80 - file map)

  The directory entry provides 24 bytes for the list of the map clusters.
  Because the cluster number is 16-bit, the file map may extend to max.12 clusters.
  12 clusters * 125 data entries * 250 bytes (see below) results in the
  maximum file extent of 1500 clusters, or 375000 bytes (366.2 KB).
  If there isn't any other method of linking longer files,
  this is the ultimate file length limit in this file system.

 

 

  Data clusters
  Each data cluster contains up to 250 bytes of data.
  The last six bytes contain additional information:
  $fa-$fb - global file number
  $fc-$fd - volume random number (same as in VTOC)
  $fe-$ff - the number of the data cluster in the current file
            (starting from $0000)
  The maximum "number of data cluster" is 32767.
  The higher byte is always a positive value and thus forms the cluster type mark
  (<= $7f = data cluster).

     Sector Label
  Byte    Description
   1-2     File ID Number
   3-4     Volume Number
   5-6     If Byte #6=255($FF), it is a Directory Sector and Byte #5
              is a Sequence Number* within the Directory.
           If Byte #6 is between 128($80) and 254($FE) then Byte #5
              is the Sequence Number* of a File Map Sector.
           If Byte #6 is 127($7F) or less, Bytes #5 and #6 form a
              Standard 6502 WORD-Sized Sequence Number*.

        *  The Sequence Number indicates the Relative Position of
              that Sector within it's Series (That is, 3rd Directory,
              Sector, 2nd File Map Sector, 75th Data Sector and So On.).

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Has anyone managed to get FNET in Forem XEP working between networked computers.]

Why would you use Telnet ?  Better choice is to use RAW TCP...

[What's the latest Atari related thing(s) you've bought on ebay?]

My PCBWay orders arrived

 

I had 5 of the VBXE 800 Carrier Boards Assembled so I'll have three to sell if someone else is thinking of adding VBXE to their 800.

 

 

Also had some SIO2Wifi boards made, have a new HW addition to add to these

 

[Atari 800 VBXE installation]

@candle @flashjazzcat  PCBWay is now asking for clarification of the two electrolytic caps and the oscillator's orientation on these.

 

 

 

Could you shed some light on this?

Thanks,

Jay

 

[Fujinet needs repair]

21 hours ago, Jfcatari said:

Reminder, I have been building Dev-Kit based Fujinet's to support the Atari community:

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134544017868

Which program are you using to update the firmware?

Okay, I see... The fujinet official flasher... Nevermind :)

[Atari 800 VBXE installation]

6 hours ago, candle said:

here you are

 

Pick Place for vbxe_slot3_carrier-b.txt 3.81 kB · 10 downloads

Thank you

 

[Atari 800 VBXE installation]

@candle and @flashjazzcat

I'm having PCBway build a couple of the VBXE 800 Carrier Boards and assembled and they are asking about a pic-n-place file. Do you know if it's included in the VbxeSlot3Carrier-cam.zip file? or if it exists?

 

Thanks,

Jay

[Atari 800 VBXE installation]

Does anyone have 1 or 2 of these and built/tested and ready to sell???  I was going to order the pc'b, but noticed it has smd's. And when I went to checkout the comments on shippers basically say must are unreliable or some other reason not to use...

 

[The Atari interview discussion thread]

6 hours ago, _The Doctor__ said:

Provided we don't do the usual and bid against each other instead of bidding it to the sky, I won't bid.

Yep, SchoolGirl*** and Atari8bitcarts willl probably toss in their $500+ bid in the last 20 seconds...

[Getting a SpartaDos X 4.49 cartridge.]

8 minutes ago, bf2k+ said:

Interesting... I guess I would need some type of adapter to plug this chip into my Willem.  It only has a single DIP socket.

Mine had 2 PLCC sockets right on the PCB.

[1088XLD - Custom A8 Computer in 1050 Drive Case]

23 minutes ago, LarryL said:

ok, will have a cleaning session over the weekend…

 

the Antics I have are either C014887-01 or -03

no -37 available

didn’t know that they will cause problems…

 

re jumpers: besides „No VBXE“ I had of course the NTSC/PAL jumper in the PAL position and the „MIDI En“ jumper in place, because I have both Level 1 and 2 boards equipped

 

Okay, so probably PAL.  The one I'm referring to are NTSC, so yours may be ok then...

[Getting a SpartaDos X 4.49 cartridge.]

3 minutes ago, Dropcheck said:

The SST-39SF040 I think came in the limited run Super SpartaDOS X complete pcb and cartridge case with the reset button.  Is that the one you have?

They're also used in the U1MB's and Incognito. @bf2k+  My old Willem read/write these perfectly

[1088XLD - Custom A8 Computer in 1050 Drive Case]

9 minutes ago, _The Doctor__ said:

-01 's are still useful, with a little extra work or a machine that's happy with them.

Yep, the 800xl I took it out of worked great, but not in the 1088xld and if used in conjunction with a Sophia 2 all you get is a screen full of garbage. Sophia 2's love the -37 version of Antic...

[1088XLD - Custom A8 Computer in 1050 Drive Case]

5 minutes ago, LarryL said:

I compared every component value and orientation, checked and (partly) resoldered all joints.

I checked continuity of (I think) each and every connection, including checking for shorts

 

 

 Cheers

Michael

Check for hairline shorts between IC Pins or other parts that mount close to the really small Vias. 

 

Clean the Bottom side thoroughly... I first scrub the flux off with 99% Alcohol (with a toothbrush) then repeat using Windex (Glass Cleaner) and finally clean using hand soap and hot water.  The end result is a very clean PCB.

 

Now use a Bright Light and Magnifying Glass and check for shorts again...

 

What is the FULL part number of your Antic Chip,  if it ends with "-01" then toss it and replace with a "-37" version...

 

Besides the "No VBXE" Jumper, what other Jumpers do you have in place?

[My Software Library: A Preservation Effort]

1 hour ago, DjayBee said:

The ZIP archive is broken.

Tests ok with WinZip...

[repAInt, iconic images recreated by AI]

13 hours ago, Beeblebrox said:

Dithered version just finished :

 

 

 

Looks like the dithering gave her a fat lower lip...