TIPI Usage and Support

[RXB]

On 10/5/2023 at 5:34 AM, mizapf said:

As you see, it's somewhere above 12000 bytes where Extended Basic switches to this alternative save format. You may keep the PROGRAM format for another while when you use CALL FILES(1). In that case, the number of simultaneously open files is limited to 1 (instead of the default 3), which frees some more space, but which also means you have to do this CALL FILES each time you try to load the program again.

Hnmm RXB 2023 can save any program as IV254 as long as it would  take up 3 sectors on disk. i.e. SAVE DSK3.TESTFILE,IV254 or OLD DSK3.TESTFILE,IV254

The test for size of file is still done automatically but the IV254 can override the default and should even work on CASSETTE like SAVE CS1,IV254 or OLD CS1,IV254

[+arcadeshopper]

5 hours ago, hloberg said:

what are some of the URI settings you TIPI users have set.

I want to add some to my TIPI and a new section  (someday) of TI99resources for TIPI and related items.

https://myti99.com/

https://ftp.whtech.com/TIPI/

https://ti99.irata.online/

 

[+jedimatt42]

On 11/11/2023 at 10:40 AM, hloberg said:

discovered that alchemy yesterday and used it a lot so far. oddly PILOT still doesn't work but doesn't lock up. instead gives error 'can't find directory' which be easier figure out later then just a lockup.

If you can point me at the PILOT materials (disks and docs) I might be able to fix something, or at least document required configuration. Sounds a bit like PILOT is using sector access which may also be assuming crubase 1100.

[hloberg]

here's what I got. pilot works with classic99, mame & cf7. as I posted recently it mostly works now. haven't tested recent so might work right now?

 

 

Pilot.zip pilot99.pdf

[hloberg]

unclear on this point. tipi just added drives 5-9, I can't seem to get any of my directory programs to see those drives. is there a DSR update (if possible) or am I doing something wrong.

 

[+jedimatt42]

10 hours ago, hloberg said:

unclear on this point. tipi just added drives 5-9, I can't seem to get any of my directory programs to see those drives. is there a DSR update (if possible) or am I doing something wrong.

 

There was a DSR ROM update required to enable them, released on August 4th 2023.

 

If you go into TIPICFG ( CALL TIPI ) it shows the date of the DSR ROM.

[hloberg]

16 hours ago, jedimatt42 said:

There was a DSR ROM update required to enable them, released on August 4th 2023.

 

If you go into TIPICFG ( CALL TIPI ) it shows the date of the DSR ROM.

how do u apply the new DSR? do I need some hardware?

[GDMike]

I believe from the tipi menu and hitting ctrl V or U, I can't remember which...but that updates and installs everything for you to the latest version. (You must have internet connection).

Edited November 16, 2023 by GDMike

[+jedimatt42]

17 hours ago, hloberg said:

how do u apply the new DSR? do I need some hardware?

You need an EPROM eraser and burner. The binary is on my website downloads page. (Same place as the SD card image, just a little further down)

 

arcadeshopper.com has a store item for that. You can look at the history of DSR changes on my downloads page and decide if investing in EPROM equipment is for you. At the time of design a lot of us were using EPROM for multicarts, so eprom seemed like a fine decision. I don't have any future plans for eprom updates. 

[+jedimatt42]

4 minutes ago, GDMike said:

I believe from the tipi menu and hitting ctrl V or U, I can't remember which...but that updates and installs everything for you to the latest version. (You must have internet connection).

Nope. That doesn't update the DSR which lives in an EPROM.

[hloberg]

57 minutes ago, jedimatt42 said:

You need an EPROM eraser and burner. The binary is on my website downloads page. (Same place as the SD card image, just a little further down)

 

arcadeshopper.com has a store item for that. You can look at the history of DSR changes on my downloads page and decide if investing in EPROM equipment is for you. At the time of design a lot of us were using EPROM for multicarts, so eprom seemed like a fine decision. I don't have any future plans for eprom updates. 

I don't see where @arcadeshopper has eprom burner for sale an more. I had an eprom burner and made a few for, something?, a while back till it stopped working (cheap China make). I would like to make a few carts BUT can you use the eprom burner with GROM? I got a few carts in mind I like to create but some have GROM.

alternative, @arcadeshopper what charge for upgrading this on or a swap DSR?

[+arcadeshopper]

https://www.arcadeshopper.com/wp/store/#!/TIPI-DSR-Rom-upgrade-service/p/104220340

 

I don't sell burners but I can upgrade your dsr for you or send you a replacement chip whichever you prefer

[+jedimatt42]

On 11/13/2023 at 7:06 AM, jedimatt42 said:

If you can point me at the PILOT materials (disks and docs) I might be able to fix something, or at least document required configuration. Sounds a bit like PILOT is using sector access which may also be assuming crubase 1100.

 

So, PILOT seems to use DSK.<volume>.<file>:<suffix> syntax for the files.   For TIPI to find your <volume> it must be the name of the directory that you map to one of the drives. 

 

So, I uploaded the PILOT_1N.dsk to tipi via the WEB-UI, it extracted to a directory named 'PILOT'   ... I selected that directory and mapped it to DSK1.  After that using XB, the LOAD program loads up the pilot compiler, and prompts to input files... I created a file on the TIPI named 'GAME:PLT' and it is read by the compiler... 

 

You can also arrow up to the DSK part and change it to DSK1 or other DSK1-4 values. And you can use a single directory name in the path part. TIPI does support directories within mapped floppy devices. 

 

It reads, starts to compile, writes a partial GAME:ASM and does write a GAME:LST file... You have to read the GAME:LST file to see what the actual errors in the compilation are. 

 

As for a functioning programming language, I get the same errors with js99er ( non-tipi emulation mode, just plain old disk images ) - The PILOT compiler doesn't like the syntax of the examples in the PDF. Even the program consisting of 1 line with:   IT:  

 

Does it work any better on a real floppy drive? I don't think the issues have anything to do with TIPI. 

 

[+jedimatt42]

2 hours ago, jedimatt42 said:

 

So, PILOT seems to use DSK.<volume>.<file>:<suffix> syntax for the files.   For TIPI to find your <volume> it must be the name of the directory that you map to one of the drives. 

 

So, I uploaded the PILOT_1N.dsk to tipi via the WEB-UI, it extracted to a directory named 'PILOT'   ... I selected that directory and mapped it to DSK1.  After that using XB, the LOAD program loads up the pilot compiler, and prompts to input files... I created a file on the TIPI named 'GAME:PLT' and it is read by the compiler... 

 

You can also arrow up to the DSK part and change it to DSK1 or other DSK1-4 values. And you can use a single directory name in the path part. TIPI does support directories within mapped floppy devices. 

 

It reads, starts to compile, writes a partial GAME:ASM and does write a GAME:LST file... You have to read the GAME:LST file to see what the actual errors in the compilation are. 

 

As for a functioning programming language, I get the same errors with js99er ( non-tipi emulation mode, just plain old disk images ) - The PILOT compiler doesn't like the syntax of the examples in the PDF. Even the program consisting of 1 line with:   IT:  

 

Does it work any better on a real floppy drive? I don't think the issues have anything to do with TIPI. 

 

 

Ok, it works in js99er... so there must be a TIPI bug... 

[bumbledee]

Hi all, relatively new 99er and brand new TIPI owner here; lurking on these forums has already been hugely helpful in my retrocomputing journey!

 

I just received a TIPI/32k combo board with Raspberry Pi Zero W yesterday, and although the RaspPi seems to be working just fine (I can ssh in, use the TIPI web service, etc), sadly my TI-99/4A won't boot when the TIPI/32k is plugged into the side port.

 

Here's as many potentially relevant details as I can think of regarding my setup:

• Raspberry Pi is externally powered via micro USB and is fully booted by the time I try to power on the TI-99/4A
• the combo board itself is powered directly from the console, the red LED comes on to confirm this, no speech synthesizer in the equation right now
• CRUBASE jumper is left in the configuration it had when I received it, which I think should be >1100
• I've tried booting both with and without my FinalGROM99 inserted

And here's as many possibly (?) relevant observations I've made about the problem:

• The usual triple tone plays on power up, then immediately cuts to a blank white unresponsive screen
• If the FinalGROM99 is inserted, I can actually press FCN+= to cause the screen color to change to cyan. Even though the screen is still blank, I seem to be able to navigate using my memory of the image list on my FG99 to at least start up some programs from cart (e.g. extended basic), although sadly I can navigate to either EasyBug or plain TI BASIC this way
• On the RaspPi side, I don't see any obvious issues, but for what it's worth, it never seems to create a tipi.log file when starting up the tipi service

In any case, I'm guessing this isn't particularly useful information to go on, but does anyone have any clues for where I might even begin trying to start identifying the problem here? I've messaged the eBay seller who actually assembled the board to see if they have any thoughts, but in the meantime, any sanity checks I could try out would be a godsend ❤️

[Duewester]

Greetings @bumbledee.

Let me see if I understand this.

You have the TiPi/32k combo board. Not the Tipi and a separate 32K board.

On MY TiPi/32k combo board, the Pi is powered via the board from the Ti. No EXTERNAL power supply.

I turn on my Ti and give my TiPi/32k a few minutes to boot. With or without FG99.

I then press the "any" key. from there I select basic and type Call Tipi.

 

My Ti with a TiPi and separate 32K board does indeed use an external Power Supply.

 

Both of them use a Pi 02 w

 

When I boot my Ti's I get a single tone so I'm a little confused by the "triple tone"

[+Vorticon]

Did you try cleaning your side port connector? Also with the PI/32K combo you have (I have the same), you need to support the board from underneath unless you have a case for it, otherwise you get glitching. Does the console boot up OK if you just plug in the carrier board without the RPi? Finally try a different CRU base just for kicks. I obviously assume that your console powers up fine without anything connected to the side port.

[mrvan]

My TIPI's Linux distribution has lots of software updates available. Probably none of them affect the TIPI operation (making it better) but there's always the security ones I like to address. Has anyone updated their TIPI with Linux software updates successfully? I certainly don't want to do this and break it with it working :-).

[+dhe]

FWIW - TIPI was never designed to be a general service that ran under "linux" - it's a dedicated piece of hardware.  So life will be easier if you think of it as an embedded controller.  If you want to make sure it's secure, I would start with firewall-ing things down, to just the systems you want to talk with TIPI and having good passwords.

 

You can go down the road of running other things on the TIPI - a web server for example and doing updates, and installing additional software etc, but if you do something that breaks the TIPI side of things, I wouldn't expect a lot of help over re-install from the original distribution.

 

 

[CLBrown]

On 11/16/2023 at 12:47 PM, arcadeshopper said:

https://www.arcadeshopper.com/wp/store/#!/TIPI-DSR-Rom-upgrade-service/p/104220340

 

I don't sell burners but I can upgrade your dsr for you or send you a replacement chip whichever you prefer. 

A very basic question...  on a Tipi32K, is this the chip on the rear topside (under the Pi)?  Or the one on the underside of the PCBA?

 

And, more complexly... what's in the EPROM versus what's in the stuff we can update via the JTAG header? 

 

I had previously (mis)understood that everything was upgradeable via that header... 

[CLBrown]

19 hours ago, mrvan said:

My TIPI's Linux distribution has lots of software updates available. Probably none of them affect the TIPI operation (making it better) but there's always the security ones I like to address. Has anyone updated their TIPI with Linux software updates successfully? I certainly don't want to do this and break it with it working :-).

I've run the Raspberry Pi updates, and had added software, with no issues.  I can't see any issues with this unless you upgrade the version of Pi OS, or potentially upgrading Python to a new major build version.

 

On the other hand, the Pi has limited resources...  moreso for the little Pi Zeros... and adding too many other running tasks will certainly slow the Tipi stuff waaaay down.  The Pi Zero 2 W can just barely handle a web browser on a typical modern content heavy page, after all. 

 

The Tipi software, with a GUI added, works marvelously on the 2W, though.  I use that all the time.  And I update regularly. 

 

So, in my opinion, updates are fine, but upgrades aren't. And trying to do other things with the Pi apart from using it for Tipi is likely not a good idea. 

 

(FYI, updates are typically minor fixes to existing software...  upgrades are major changes, often with architectural changes which can potentially mess things up.)

[+mizapf]

Is there a howto about installing TIPI support on a recent Linux release?

[+arcadeshopper]

5 hours ago, CLBrown said:

A very basic question...  on a Tipi32K, is this the chip on the rear topside (under the Pi)?  Or the one on the underside of the PCBA?

 

And, more complexly... what's in the EPROM versus what's in the stuff we can update via the JTAG header? 

 

I had previously (mis)understood that everything was upgradeable via that header... 

The chip in the top socket is the DSR eProm

 

Depending on where you got it, it's usually labeled with the version number if you bought it from the guy on eBay that's currently selling them, those are unlabeled eeproms and can be reprogrammed with a modern burner.

 

Greg

 

 

[CLBrown]

8 hours ago, arcadeshopper said:

The chip in the top socket is the DSR eProm

 

Depending on where you got it, it's usually labeled with the version number if you bought it from the guy on eBay that's currently selling them, those are unlabeled eeproms and can be reprogrammed with a modern burner.

 

Greg

 

 

I have two Tipi devices... a Tipi32K and a TipiPEB...  and I bought both of them from you.   So, most likely there's a version number on it on both, huh?

 

I just was sorta-kinda-hoping I wouldnt' have to take my Tipi32K apart again.  The first Pi Zero I had in there got fried somehow during the first time I tore the whole thing down... no idea how, but it won't boot, under any circumstances (including with other SD cards).   Must've been a static thing during handling, despite my ground strap.  It happens.

 

But given the "bonus feature" being talked about here, I suspect that it needs a new EPROM chip.  The Tipi32K shipped from you on 9/19/2022, well before the date of the revised eprom mentioned above.

 

On the other hand, my TipiPEB was purchased very recently...   you shipped it to me on 11/20/2023.  So, there's a pretty decent chance it has the latest eprom in it already, I'm guessing.

 

And I assume... hopefully correctly... that it's the same eprom in both cases, right?

Edited December 19, 2023 by CLBrown

[+arcadeshopper]

16 hours ago, CLBrown said:

I have two Tipi devices... a Tipi32K and a TipiPEB...  and I bought both of them from you.   So, most likely there's a version number on it on both, huh?

 

I just was sorta-kinda-hoping I wouldnt' have to take my Tipi32K apart again.  The first Pi Zero I had in there got fried somehow during the first time I tore the whole thing down... no idea how, but it won't boot, under any circumstances (including with other SD cards).   Must've been a static thing during handling, despite my ground strap.  It happens.

 

But given the "bonus feature" being talked about here, I suspect that it needs a new EPROM chip.  The Tipi32K shipped from you on 9/19/2022, well before the date of the revised eprom mentioned above.

 

On the other hand, my TipiPEB was purchased very recently...   you shipped it to me on 11/20/2023.  So, there's a pretty decent chance it has the latest eprom in it already, I'm guessing.

 

And I assume... hopefully correctly... that it's the same eprom in both cases, right?

100% chance its the updated on the new card as i always ship with latest i can send you a new chip or if you have an eprom eraser and burner you can erase the one in your old sidecar and reprogram it

new chips are in the store for purchase or trade in old chip