pixelpedant

Just curious how much folks here with a FinalGROM use original era cartridges, these days. Do you sometimes use old carts "just because"? Do you keep carts fully supported by FinalGROM in/around your computing area, even if they're not strictly needed? How much have flashcarts (and for that matter, combo carts like the XB 2.7 Suite) meant that original era carts simply get permanently put aside or kept in storage? Basically, is that old copy of Parsec still to be found, somewhere around your TI-99?

I present to you, this image of a guy I met at the local library, sitting at a table by the window coding on his TRS-80, which he had brought from home:

Autocorrect is a hell of a drug?

I guess there's some inevitable trickiness in the question (in particular, "5. I use my TI 'this much' per week on average."), given I've been spending an egregious amount of time on TI-99 projects lately, but almost none of that is done using my TI-99 itself (i.e., coding on real iron) outside brief tests, and is rather done in development of my own support applications/scripts (for modern PC), and in use of the community's collection of TI development support applications (for modern PC). The irony is, I feel like the more I'm working on TI development, the less I'm using my TI! Since if I were just playing games, I'd always be doing that on real iron. But for development, I just can't give up Notepad++/Magellan/GIMP/etc., and more than half of the code associated with my current RS-232 automation project is Python support scripts rather than the XB which talks to them. So my answer is, now that I'm completely obsessed with my TI-99, I barely use it!

Classic99 - Debugging and development; Indispensable TI Image Tool - I've had more luck with it than with TI99Dir, where reading and writing NanoPEB CFs are concerned. Notepad++ - I mean, it's not like it even does all that fantastic job. But it does a pretty good one, and I use it all the time. REGEX Find/Replace and custom syntax highlighting and what have you are really handy, when editing XB (in tandem with Classic99's support for simple pasting).

Now that this is bumped back to the top: my top wishlist item right now? A low profile dedicated RS232 sidecar usable in combination with JediMatt's 32K sidecar (and consequently, TIPI), featuring full legacy compatibility. Until such a thing exists, I think NanoPEB will always be my default expansion preference, as I use RS232 all the time. So I'm hoping that comes along one day.

Ooh, indeed, I'd love to see this manual as well. First of all, because I love manual art in general. But more principally, because the mail order Databiotics Midnight Mason (so spelt on my 1987 cart) was one of my childhood favourites, and I practically never hear it mentioned. Got it via mail order as mentioned, along with QMAZE, Black Hole and Barrage (all from Databiotics), at the time. All of course with the trash quality Databiotics physical production values.

In the spirit of the (itself rather useless) Navarone Cartridge Expander - has anyone ever created a sidecar switch or switching solution, for selecting alternate and mutually exclusive sidecar configurations (or at any rate, ones which it wouldn't normally make sense to combine)? Let's say, in a present day context, a NanoPEB vs a PEB, or a TIPI vs a NanoPEB? Just curious. The physical layout of such a solution would be slightly tricky, but not unworkable for smaller and contemporary devices like a NanoPEB or 32K+TIPI. And I suppose you could just do it with cables (like the PEB itself).

Or for "most unnecessary" anyway I mean, everything is actually doing something I deem useful. But it reflects on the fact that I'm at least as much a legacy a/v signal processing nerd as I am a TI-99 nerd, and whenever I realise there's a way I could be meddling with a/v signal processing in a way I'm not already meddling with it, I have to. What I'd *really* like most at this point particularly from a TI-99/4A point of view is a RS-232 matrix switching solution, which is, ideally, itself controlled via an RS-232 command set. As this would allow me to control all devices and routing from the TI-99/4A itself. It wouldn't be any more practical than my current custom-made GUI-based RS-232 command control interface solution, which looks like this, in its minimised state, as a macro selection interface (where "macro" signifies a selection of commands built via its full interface, sent to different devices which are all relevant to a given use case): It would be a lot less practical to go the RS232 switch route, honestly. But anything I can do with the TI-99/4A, I'd like to. And that would make that possible. i.e., to make an interface for building macros, controlling equipment and executing assembled macros in Extended Basic. I suppose I could also create the matrix itself in software, using a cheap USB 8 or 16 port serial hub (currently, I'm using a switched USB hub with individual PL2303 adapters). But it'd be less fun than using dedicated equipment. The WTI RSM-16 looks like it might be a cool solution, as far as RS232 matrices go: Though I think I'd prefer a model using RJ45, for cable space economy reasons. Could just use dongles.

The display setup as a whole is fairly complex, in that customarily, the signal is matrix switched through two Extron RGB matrix switches (an MVX88 and MVX44), and the analogue signal processor path during use of the TI-99/4A consists of distribution to an Extron VSC-500 for downscaling and positional adjustments, then transmission to an Extron RGB 203Rxi for postprocessing, then transmission to an Extron RGB 120 for signal level adjustments, before display on a (1987) Panasonic BT-M1310-Y rackmounted studio monitor. But that's just the analogue end of things, and doesn't consider digital transcoding, processing and capture. Since all my digital signals are matrix switched as well (via a Binary B-100 8x8 HDMI matrix switch), and so the TI-99's signal can also be routed to any digital display (there are five in permanent use) or digital signal processing device. Display configuration changes are macroed via an RS232-based control application of my own creation (since essentially all Extron devices and professional matrix switches support RS232-based control). So the setup as a whole looks like this in terms of a/v signal routing: The desk setup where the TI-99 is located looks like this and is on a 16u rack, but most devices are on an adjacent 42u rack: I do, as well, have a solution for mounting a digital monitor in lieu of my PVM screen and in its place but very rarely use this for TI-99. Really, that's just a solution for when I want sharp VGA graphics and want them in that specific location rather than on any adjacent monitor. And the signal can as I say just as easily be routed to the adjacent displays:

A FinalGROM (flash cart) would definitely be the next thing. Original era first party TI-99/4A carts are really not the bulk of the TI-99/4A experience, at this point in history. So much of the very best of development for the system is found in all that came afterward and elsewhere. And to that extent, a flashcart that gives you access to almost all of that is key.

Aside from the conventional 3D printed plastics, something I use a fair bit in similar applications is PCL. Especially good for repairing damaged legacy plastics, I find (since it can be molded in to the crack or chip or absent section while soft). But also useful in producing mounts, guides, supports, etc., for the same reason. Namely, that it can be formed to suit the space and shape and object in situ.

This supply, the Mean Well P25A13A-R1B, has seen some interest and use. Note that it directly outputs 5V/12V/-5V DC so this is a replacement for both the internal power supply (which outputs these) and the external transformer (which outputs 16V/8V/5V for regulation down to the aforementioned values). Switching, socket installation, and a power LED if desired, would be left as an exercise to the user.

I've got five original era Genesis controller models myself (two Hori, three Sega) and the only one which works for me with the Wico adapter is a three button Sega pad from which I've simply removed the mux and wired the contacts directly as desired (which I originally did for the sake of controller-modding my Game Gear, but it does the job here too). Of course, all of these work correctly with my 2600, since that provides 5V on pin 7. And a Master System pad also works correctly without modification (since there's no mux there). But it seems unsurprising that the two Hori controllers (Hori Fighting Stick Multi, Hori Mega Commander) and two Sega pads (Sega MK-1653, Sega MK-1470) do not function, without 5V provided to Select.

I guess on the flipside (of cost and complexity), I feel like the best possible solution for cheap mass distribution of a two button joystick option would be a very simple, external 5V powered (micro-USB probably) Genesis controller adapter, with with the 5V doing nothing but keeping Select high. Absolutely no signal processing or dealing with the mux required, since Up, Down, Left, Right, B and C are all exposed on unique pins with Select High. And Genesis controllers are abundant these days, in both cheap as dirt knockoff and high quality reproduction forms. Only gets you two buttons. But I figure it’s pretty good, for a solution which involves nothing but some traces/wires connecting two DB9 ports and a 5V source. I’m biased though. Genesis controllers are my preference, and I use a modified Genesis controller for my own TI-99 gaming.

Well the TI-99 joystick port (and the software which supports it) inherently supports 10 discrete inputs by design (eight directional, two fire buttons). They're just normally wired to two separate controllers. The hacks mentioned here are exploiting this fact to put more of those inputs on one controller, rather than evenly splitting them between two. To this extent, there's also nothing stopping anyone from using Joystick 2 (in the absence of any hacks) for additional inputs in a single player game. It would just be less convenient. Especially given that almost nobody uses the original painsticks, so a lot of people will tend to use only one joystick, as it is. Though I dare say most people here have more than one Atari compatible joystick kicking around, and a two input Atari joystick adapter.

More dreaming big, this time on the graphical front: An F18A which supports switchable 240p/480i/480p RGBS and RGBHV output modes as well as S-Video, for the complete CRT support feature set. For those of us still subject to the notion that displays that don't have the phrase "electron gun" in their description must just inherently be less cool than anything that does have the phrase "electron gun" in its description.

And I feel like even just distributing a blank card makes plenty of sense, given keyboard building is a pretty popular, well-supplied, and well-documented hobby these days. I suppose that given ideally you'd have keycaps with all relevant TI functions on them (e.g.., a -/ key rather than a \| key, an alpha lock key, the correct symbols on the lower faces of the caps) rather than just semi-analogous IBM 101 keys, it would make sense to see if custom keycaps can be sourced, though. And if it gets to the point where you're sourcing the caps and printing the board, you're close to a complete kit anyways. In any case, I'd buy anything from a blank card to a complete kit in a second. Though it'd be nice if the card came with a connector. It seems like there are on demand custom keycap printing services out there which would work for the individual installer, if accurate keys were desired. WASD Keyboards (art, text) and Max Keyboards (art), for example. One way to economise on custom keys might be to just buy standard black cherry mx keycaps for the great majority of keys whose labels are identical to those on an IBM 101 keyboard, and only do custom keys for the exceptions, and any keys for which non-standard dimensions (e.g., a "skinny" shift or ctrl key) are required. And I suppose given that the symbols on the lower faces aren't actually actively touched during keyboard use, it'd be easy enough to replace those with self-printed white-on-black plastic labels, and not have them look half bad or interfere with the keyboard feel.

One for me would be a replacement keyboard built as a drop-in replacement for the original. Possibly even just affixed on top of the black plastic housing (with the old board removed), in order to provide a little extra key real estate (vis-a-vis the existing cutout), for the sake of minor design improvements. But otherwise, a replacement board of identical design using modern mechanisms. Or hell, buckling spring mechanisms, just because I'm picky that way, and everyone else should have to live with my preferences. After all, we're dreaming big, right?

Thanks for the side-by-side comparison! Couldn't do one myself, as I don't have a TI-99 with the original label, and was just working with web images.

I was feeling whimsical today, and I got a little crafty. It doesn't quite pass for the real thing, but for now, I think I'll stick with with this addition to my TI-99 anyways. Might use the label template elsewhere subsequently, in even more whimsical style (I mean, my cell phone does use Solid State Software, right? Everyone should know that, right?) Poked around a bit to find the right font, and Aban Bold was the closest I could find to the label in question, though I did tweak it a bit. Would be interested to know if anyone has looked in to this before, and knows either the font or another close match for the font. Or if one has been created by the community. The kerning on the text appears really tight. Imitating original images, this is what I came up with: Based of course on, e.g.,

1) You can play most games, especially original era licensed games, without the 32K expansion. But especially for homebrew titles, it's a very common requirement. It's an original era upgrade that can be had cheaply and conveniently in a simple plugin format, so while it's not essential I feel like it's hard to justify not having it. Particularly widespread since both of the predominant means of peripheral expansion emulation (TIPI and NanoPEB) inherently include it. So you probably end up with it, one way or another. 2) The joysticks (painsticks) are terrible. Even fresh out of the box. Get (or make) an Atari joystick adapter, and you have much more attractive options. For further details, see the intro/FAQ thread.

For me, the F18 MK2 doesn't hold much appeal, since almost all my signal routing and processing, as well as my primary monitor, are all analogue. So I'm riding my MK1 till the cows come home. But I do have a lot of interest in power system upgrades, to be sure. With as ludicrously complicated a system setup as I have, elegant, space-economic power distribution solutions are something I value a lot. So the fact that, as it stands, my TI-99, as it always has, still uses a massive, awkward OEM transformer, connected via a proprietary connector, kind of grates on me. So replacing the PSU, and furnishing it with something better (like the Mean Well unit) along the way, sound great.

So for example, here's a copy of Classic99 running in the background, with a borderless mirror of the section of the window excluding the menu in front (Classic99 is the active window, but the OnTopReplica is always-on-top): And here's an image of my monitor with an OnTopReplica of the screen image expanded to fill the entire monitor:

One solution to this for those who want it might be OnTopReplica. Basically, it's a utility which creates a borderless, resizable window representing either all or a desired portion of an existing window. The resulting borderless mirror window can also be maximised (which seems to be the desire here). Extremely useful little tool, I find.