Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cbmvax!daveh From: daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Subject: Re: A3000 problem(s) Message-ID: <22217@cbmvax.commodore.com> Date: 6 Jun 91 20:19:05 GMT References: Reply-To: daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie) Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA Lines: 52 In article droman@amiglynx.UUCP (Dan Roman) writes: >Anyway, I also had another problem. My Panasonic 1124 printer does not work >with the 3000. It works with a 386 clone and my 1000, I have another printer >that works with the 3000 and everything else, even use the same cable but the >3000 and the 1124 don't get along. I eventually traced it to the fact that >the 3000 requires 20mA on the SEL line and the 1124 can only deliver 5mA. I don't know much about how they configure the print lines in software, but I know the 8520 ports just fine. As an output, the 8520s can sink 20mA (at least on the "B" ports, though SEL is actually an "A" port bit). If your printer is driving an 8520 input, like SEL, it only needs about 1.5mA to get PSEL low, near as I can figure. Since there's a 3.3K pullup on PSEL, it goes high if your printer doesn't do anything. If your printer can really sink 5mA on that line, and it's not going low at the A3000, I suggest your cable is loosing too much between the printer and the A3000, assuming PSEL really is the problem. >I've gotten around it by forcing SEL high all the time using the +5 from the >3000. That's capable of outputting 20mA. As I mentioned above, SEL on the A3000 is high if you do nothing; you configure that port line as an input, connect nothing to it, it goes high. >I love this machine but did I get a lemon? Now the DCTV folks are telling me >to measure my +5 and +12 volts on the RGB connector. Good thing I have an >ammeter. Hopefully you have a voltmeter too :-). It's possible that your protected power going out got zapped when the DCTV was installed. Hope you didn't plug it in with the power on. I don't know anything at all about DCTV, but if you measure voltage out the video port of the A3000, that can't be it. In any case, DCTV probably shouldn't be drawing power from the A3000 itself, there are only a few hundred milliamps available at ports. If they're pulling current beyond the specs, they could very well expect to work on some machines and fail on others. Like I said, I don't know DCTV at all. In general, lots of developers tend to igore the power specs unless they get into trouble themselves. Unfortunate, since the user is the loser, it has happened more than once. >Suppose I put in a tape drive or extra floppy or bigger hard disk. Would my >warranty be voided? I don't know the warrenty, but I certainly don't think so. C= does sell the A3000 as an expandable machine, and they do sell floppy add-in kits. I know they void your A500's warrenty if you open it, but that's to be expected, as it's not internally expandable. -- Dave Haynie Commodore-Amiga (Amiga 3000) "The Crew That Never Rests" {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!daveh PLINK: hazy BIX: hazy "This is my mistake. Let me make it good." -R.E.M.