Swim

I have a 4a system with vga out that I use for going on the web and letter writing, it really helps my poor eyesight.

Impressive.

Yes, that works very well. Now all we need is someone who can write the code. Lucky for us IDE users, the CF doesn't get trashed when the DSR gets trashed. At least that has never been the case for me.

Okay, I'm having a bad day. I replied to this already today but it seems to have gotten lost and never showed up. I'll try again. One open/closed jumper that would be nice, Ksarul, would be for the bq4852 and bq4842 clock solutions. The signal at pin#21 of the bq4852 and pin#19 of the bq4842 are the signal to start the clock/battery of those chips. For safety sake, everyone has been breaking those pins off the chip after initial startup. If a jumper could open that line we wouldn't have to ruin the chips by breaking off the pin.

I would hate to see the IDE clock function go away. It is the most accurate of all the clock solutions we have for the 4a. The date/time stamp of directories is often useful when searching for files that you may have not seen in a decade. If we have to reduce complexity, lets go with the RTC65271. Maybe we had better check availability first before we commit to a solution?

No worries, see this; http://nouspikel.group.shef.ac.uk/ti99/ide2.htm#Clock%20logic

Sheesh, this is the fifth time trying to reply with pics. Here's a solution that may satisfy your requirement. This RTC65271 clock solution uses two replaceable coin batteries but no on board RAM.

Her's a solution that may satisfy your requirement. This RTC65271 clock solution uses two replaceable coin batteries but no on board RAM.

There is an option for replacement batteries. I'll try to respond with that tomorrow.

I was going to respond concerning the clock chips with on board RAM but I realized I can't remember the numbers and the signals we don't use for them. I'll have to respond tomorrow after I have a chance to eyeball everything again. It would be convenient if we could have a +5 and ground point so we could power CF card adapters. Nothing fancy, just two through holes we could solder a wire in and have a floppy connector on the other end of the wires to plug into the CF adapter.

Funny this thread pops up, just got done with doing the Forth revision. Now I can do some other useful things with the few unpopulated boards I have like updating Fred's programs among other things.

Didn't know this thread for things F18A got started. Then again I haven't been here in a while.

I'm looking forward to the dual RS232 version of the S&T software that will allow for telnet and dialup operation. One reason I keep the Hidden Reef as dialup is that I never know when someone from Australia, the UK or some other country will log into the Hidden Reef via some BBS number list they run across in some old TI publication. It's not often that it happens but when it does it's a source of great enjoyment for that new user. As we TI/Geneve wing nuts keep moving forward we need to be careful about burning 300 baud bridges behind us. LOL

I'm in for six boards, 1 bare board and 5 board kits.

True, I suggest the ground buss that surrounds the card should be at least twice as wide as the trace circuitry. Maybe it already is? I bring it up because this was a mistake made on the WHT SCSI controller boards.

Perish the thought. My mini tower hasn't been opened since the cat pushed it off the desk and broke the video connector on the Geneve before the cable pulled out. IDE LOAD/SYS is a nice excuse for a run of IDE controller cards.

Hidden Reef SYSOP for sure but I seriously doubt being a master of hardware. LOL

I guess a +5 pad with a through hole gauged for wire size would serve just fine and would be cheaper than adding a fancy connector. The original card was a thing of beauty but I can barely see those SMT bypass capacitors anymore no less solder them. BTW, if it wouldn't raise the price very much I would recommend heavier gauge on the traces and wider ground buss. If you ever had to do much repair on the original you would know that it's easy for those new to soldering to overheat the traces and lift them off the smt board. Do you know if the memory/clock chip choices will remain the same? My preference is the BQ4852YMC-85 or the RTC6527.

Thank goodness for a through hole design. What other changes have been made to the this version? Will I still have to solder wires/connector for 5 volts to power my CF adapter?