Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!gatech!rutgers!sri-spam!ames!sdcsvax!ucbvax!WALKER-EMH.ARPA!InfoMail-Mailer From: InfoMail-Mailer@WALKER-EMH.ARPA Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit Subject: Undeliverable Mail Message-ID: <8708241438.AA25773@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> Date: Mon, 24-Aug-87 10:29:00 EDT Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8708241438.AA25773 Posted: Mon Aug 24 10:29:00 1987 Date-Received: Tue, 25-Aug-87 02:52:40 EDT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 449 Mail was not delivered to the following users because there were bad address(es) in TO and/or CC field(s): info-atari UNDELIVERED-MESSAGE: ---------------------------------------------------------------- Received: from BBN.COM by WALKER-EMH.ARPA ; 24 Aug 87 14:22:49 GMT Received-2: from score.stanford.edu by BBN.COM id aa17519; 24 Aug 87 5:38 EDT Date: Fri 21 Aug 87 22:44:07 PDT Subject: Info-Atari8 Digest V87 #73 From: Info-Atari8 @ SCORE.STANFORD.EDU Errors-to: Info-Atari8-request@Score.Stanford.EDU Maint-Path: Info-Atari8-request@Score.Stanford.EDU To: Info-Atari8 Distribution List: Reply-to: Info-Atari8@SCORE.STANFORD.EDU Text: Info-Atari8 Digest Friday, August 21, 1987 Volume 87 : Issue 73 This weeks Editor: Bill Westfield Today's Topics: Keyboard Buffer for Kermit 65 Re: More than 16K on a 600XL? More wierd questions... Re: Keyboard Buffer for Kermit 65 Re: More wierd questions... Re: Atari 2600 specs/instruction set/programming Re: (none) Re: (none) Re: More than 16K on a 600XL? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 19 Aug 87 19:07:09 GMT From: austin!hpai@cs.utah.edu (HP AI User) Subject: Keyboard Buffer for Kermit 65 To: info-atari8@score.stanford.edu I have been told by John Dunning that his Kermit 65 uses page 6 of memory as a buffer and it so happens that the keyboard buffer also resides in page 6. Why it still works remains a mystery. In any case, I caution using the keyboard buffer in Kermit 65 until John has installed it in a safe location in his new version of Kermit 65. You may still of course use the keyboard buffer for other programs that don't use page 6. Jason Leigh u-jleigh@ug.utah.edu ------------------ Disclaimer: What I gotta say, ain't go nuttin' ta do with the University of Utah. ------------------------------ Date: 19 Aug 87 23:47:13 GMT From: hans@umd5.umd.edu (Hans Breitenlohner) Subject: Re: More than 16K on a 600XL? To: info-atari8@score.stanford.edu In article <1830@bcsaic.UUCP> ray@bcsaic.UUCP (Ray Allis) writes: >What is the most reasonable way to increase my 600XL's memory >to a size useable with Atariwriter or other word processors? > >-- >CSNET: ray@boeing.com >UUCP: uw-june!bcsaic!ray Following are instructions for upgrading a 600XL to 64k. I promised to write this up and post it some time ago. Thanks for giving me another incentive, and apologies to all who have waited for this. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Upgrading an ATARI 600 XL to 64k memory Hans Breitenlohner Computer Science Center University of Maryland It is fairly simple to upgrade a 600XL computer to 64k memory. Parts required are two 64k by 4 RAM chips (TMS 4464 or equivalent), a 14 pin dip header (optional) and three pieces of hookup wire. Tools required are screwdrivers, pliers, soldering iron, etc. No special tools of any kind are required. Having said this much, I feel that I should include the following DISCLAIMER: This project requires that you open your computer, and solder and maybe cut traces on the circuit board. If the thought of this makes you uncomfortable, if you have no experience with this kind of work, or don't have access to suitable soldering equipment, then this job is NOT for you! You will definitely void your warranty, and if your computer does not work you will be on your own. You may have problems getting it fixed if the need should arise in the future. (Of course, if you are willing to pay someone 50-60 dollars to fix a 600XL, talk to me, and I would love to help you out!) No warranty, expressed or implied, including but not limited to ....... If you try this, however, and have problems, send me mail and I will try to help, within the constraints of available resources. Commercial alternatives: American TV advertises a 64k expansion for the 600XL. I do not know if it is similar to this, or if it is the plug in unit which Atari advertised at one time. Closer to home (for me, anyway) Computer Service Land (14506-B Lee Road, Chantilly, Va., 22021, 703-631-4949) offers an upgrade kit for around 30-40 dollars. I have not seen it, but have been told that it is very similar to what I have. The extra money may buy you better documentation or after-the-fact support. A. A brief description of the 600XL The 600XL is a stripped down version of the 800XL. With a few exceptions the circuitry is the same as in the 800XL. The case and circuit board are smaller, as a result the layout had to be changed, and things are squeezed together more tightly. Memory consists of two 16k by 4 chips, and there is an extra IC in the memory logic (more on that later). There is no video out. However, all the traces for it seem to be on the circuit board, and if you remove the channel 2/3 switch, put in a 5-pin DIN socket, and plug in all the resistors, caps, and transistors, it should be possible to get the video output just as in the 800XL. Along with the layout, the numbering of the ICs was changed, and different sections of multi-section ICs may be used than in the 800XL. B. Schematics I used the Sams Computerfacts for the 800XL when I worked this out. They are not inspired (especially in their use of logic symbols for some of the standard 74LS circuits) but do appear to be complete and correct. I am not aware of any specific 600XL schematics. I will explain this project so that you do not need schematics to complete it. C. The Upgrade Take apart your computer and remove the shielding from the circuit board. If you need step by step instructions on which screws to loosen, and when, read the second paragraph of this again, now, before it is too late. Two small warnings, though: You can't fold the top of the case to one side without disconnecting the keyboard cable, as you can on an 800XL. Pull the small circuit board out of the socket on the main board. I do not think the cable is meant to be removed from its socket. Secondly, there is one screw holding the circuit board to the case inside the shield (near the modulator). It is fairly easy to remove, but requires lots of care when reassembling. I have done this project once, and the circuit board had the following identification (on the bottom): ATARI INC. MADE IN HONG KONG CO61677 7/1983 REV. X9A If yours is significantly different, your mileage on this project may vary! The ANTIC chip (u9) should be a CO21697, and not a CO12296. I think all 600XLs have the correct one. Replace the two memory chips (u11, u12) with TMS4464 or equivalent. I ordered mine from Microprocessors Unlimited. I paid less than $12.50 then (about a year and a half ago), and received them within 2-3 days of ordering. The address multiplexers, u5 and u6 (74LS158) are not connected to the address bits A14 and A15. u6 pin 10 and u5-3 are grounded. They need to be connected to the two address signals. It does not matter which pin is connected to which of the signals. This may be done by cutting the traces on the bottom of the board feeding those two pins, or by removing the pins from the sockets (assuming the board is socketed, mine is). There are four feed-through holes on the board about halfway between u9-21 and u14-1. The rightmost two are connected to A14 and A15, and I ran wires from there to the two legs of U5 and U6 which I pulled out of their sockets. If you decide to cut traces and do the wiring on the bottom of the board, there may be better ways. A14 is available at the CPU u10-24, the ANTIC chip u9-19, at the second feed through from the right, and at u15-9. A15 is available at u10-25, u9-20, rightmost feed through, and u15-15. After either of the previous steps you may want to run memory tests. To do this you need to plug in the keyboard and power supply, being careful not to short anything, etc. In either case you should see 16k of good RAM. There is circuitry in the 600XL to prevent references to RAM above 16k. Half of the 74LS375 (unused in the 800XL) is used to latch A14 and A15. The extra circuit, a 74S32 at u18, combines these (latched A14 at pin 5, latched A15 at pin 4, OR of the two at pin 6), and ORs the original CAS signal (pin 10) with the result (pin 9) to produce the actual CAS signal to the memories. To complete the upgrade, remove the 74S32 from location u18, and either insert a DIP header with a jumper from pin 8 to pin 10, or solder a jumper to the board between the two pins. If you perform this step before the previous two, you will not be able to run memory tests, or use it in any other way. Reassemble the computer. If you run memory tests now, you should see 40 or 48k of good RAM, depending on whether Basic is enabled. The computer should act exactly like an 800XL in all respects. P.S.: I have noticed that the picture quality from my 600XL is somewhat worse than from 800XLs. In particular there are six or seven vertical bars near the left edge of the screen, probably related to memory refresh signals. I do not know if that is a problem with 600XLs in general, perhaps caused by the different layout, or if the problem is unique to my system. I also do not recall if the problem was there before I did this upgrade. If anybody does this and can answer either of these questions, please let me know. P.P.S.: Now that 256k by 4 memories are available at somewhat reasonable prices, the way is open to take one of the 256k upgrades for the 800XL and adapt it to the 600XL. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Aug 87 14:57 EDT From: John R. Dunning Subject: More wierd questions... To: Info-Atari8@SCORE.STANFORD.EDU I've been looking at the little typeahead frob posted by u-jleigh recently. It WON'T work as is with Kermit-65, as was previously alleged, but it can easily be hacked to make it work. However, there are two ways to go here: either load it external to kermit, as the posted version requires, or build it into kermit, and have kermit turn it on at init time, and off at exit time (or maybe make it switchable or something). However, since it hacks on interrupt vectors, it'd be nice if the embedded version could detect the presence of the separately loaded version, and not preempt it. So, the questions before the house are: 1) Would the listening audience like to see this feature added to kermit, and 2) is there any good place in OS ram for storing facts like "The typeahead handler is already in place, dummy!"? ------------------------------ Date: 20 Aug 87 22:24:16 GMT From: muscat!striepe@decwrl.dec.com (Harald Striepe) Subject: Re: Keyboard Buffer for Kermit 65 To: info-atari8@score.stanford.edu In article <4842@utah-cs.UUCP> hpai%austin.UUCP@utah-cs.UUCP (HP AI User) writes: > > I have been told by John Dunning that his Kermit 65 uses page 6 >of memory as a buffer and it so happens that the keyboard buffer also >resides in page 6. Why it still works remains a mystery. What serial driver are you using? John relocates the RS-232 buffer into page 6 via XIO call, not all drivers support that (they just ignore it). >In any case, I caution using the keyboard buffer in Kermit 65 until John >has installed it in a safe location in his new version of Kermit 65. >You may still of course use the keyboard buffer for other programs that >don't use page 6. I use it with the SpartaDOS buffer without problems. However, the posted version has a bug in the download protocol in binary mode. John is working on a new version. SpartaDOS does not support EOF LOOKAHEAD error 3, uploads will result in a null byte appended. He will fix that also. This is the best VT100 emulator yet (even if I would like to see some of the keypad emulation key choices changed - users are never happy :-) ). Thanks, John! -- Harald Striepe Digital Equipment Corp., SPG Mktg, Sunnyvale, CA decwrl!muscat!striepe, decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-canvas!striepe, CANVAS::STRIEPE ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Aug 87 03:59:05 CDT To: From: "Gene Merritt" Does anyone know the easiest way to contact Keith Ledbetter? He is the author of my favorite term prog, Express! 1030/xm301. I do not have a CompuSpend account or a GEnie or even delphi accnt. I would like to find out if he uses Bitnet or one of the other major (free) networks. My main reason is this: I would like to see Exp! converted to 80 col. Has anyone done this? I have Omniview...should I just get a copy of Omnicom? Has anyone used Omnicom? Will it support a Hayes compat 1200 baud modem? Does it do up/downloading? What is the general reaction to this piece of software? It is of good quality or is it "just what is available?" F1.GDM @ ISUMVS.bitnet "It was the kind of crowd that would make the Fool Killer lower his club, shake his head and walk away, frustrated at the sheer magnitude of the opportunity." ------------------------------ Date: 21 Aug 87 07:39:41 GMT From: super.upenn.edu!eecae!nancy!msudoc!conklin@RUTGERS.EDU (Terry Conklin) Subject: Re: More wierd questions... To: info-atari8@score.stanford.edu I for one would not like to see Kermit-65 do any type ahead buffering. I'm using it exclusively. (Hey, just for the record, this is a GREAT program!!! Where can I tell FTD to send the wreath of achievement? Or do you have a local party store that takes Visa & delivers.) SpartaDOS already does wonderful type-ahead buffering. More importantly, the Atari OS is a great piece of work. Device Independence is an important feature that puts it with today's efforts. In the nature of this work, it is better to make an external load-once type ahead program that works with everything than to lock you into using this Kermit to achieve it. Given a good general purpose modified K:, you could offer typeahead to everything, all the time. It's this kind of technojunk that keeps my 8bit a competetive tool with the IBM PC I hang on my wall. Terry Conklin ...ihnp4!msudoc!conklin conklin@cps.msu.edu (ARPA) (517) 372-3131 3/12/24 (Club Lansing) (313) 334-8877 3/12 (Club II. Has all known extended memory software (256K XL) online. Please help keep it that way.) ------------------------------ Date: 20 Aug 87 00:44:45 GMT From: ihnp4!alberta!sask!long@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Warren Long) Subject: Re: Atari 2600 specs/instruction set/programming To: info-atari8@score.stanford.edu Once upon a time, about 1 yr. ago, someone posted a whole pile of information about the 2600. I believe it contained virtually everything you could want to know about the machine (Ops, wiring, and hints). I had it saved for about 8 months, (for interests' sake) but then decided that realistically, I was never going to look at it again, so I deleted the file. However, I know it existed once, and therefore, someone must have a copy, even if only the guy who posted it!! Warren -- =-=-=-=-=-Warren Long at University of Saskatchewan, Canada-=-=-=-=- Home: 78 Carleton Dr.,Saskatoon, Sasakatchewan, S7H 3N6 Phone: (306)-955-1237 =-=-=-=-=-U-Email: ...!ihnp4!alberta!sask!long -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ------------------------------ Date: 21 Aug 87 13:38:07 GMT From: topaz.rutgers.edu!appelbau@RUTGERS.EDU (Marc L. Appelbaum) Subject: Re: (none) To: info-atari8@score.stanford.edu In article <8708210900.AA29270@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> F1.GDM@ISUMVS.BITNET ("Gene Merritt") writes: > Does anyone know the easiest way to contact Keith Ledbetter? > He is the author of my favorite term prog, Express! 1030/xm301. I do not have > a CompuSpend account or a GEnie or even delphi accnt. I would like to find > out if he uses Bitnet or one of the other major (free) networks. > My main reason is this: I would like to see Exp!converted to 80 col. > Has anyone done this? Keith is working for ICD Inc, as a programmer, you can write to him in care of ICD or try calling the ICD BBS (I don't have their address or number with me now.) As far as I know the only networks Keith has access to is Compuserve and GEnie. I wonder if the new program SX Express!, which Keith is writing for the new SX212 modem supports 80 columns? Any comments Neil??? -- -Marc L. Appelbaum Arpa:appelbau@topaz.rutgers.edu Uucp:{ames, cbosgd, harvard, moss, seismo}!rutgers!topaz.rutgers.edu!appelbau Bitnet:appelbaum@zodiac.bitnet GEnie:M.APPELBAUM MOM's BBS:(201)-938-6906 ------------------------------ Date: 21 Aug 87 14:24:47 GMT From: decvax!sunybcs!bingvaxu!marge.math.binghamton.edu!sullivan@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (fred sullivan) Subject: Re: (none) To: info-atari8@score.stanford.edu In article <8708210900.AA29270@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> F1.GDM@ISUMVS.BITNET ("Gene Merritt") writes: >I have Omniview...should I just get a copy of Omnicom? Has anyone used Omnicom? >Will it support a Hayes compat 1200 baud modem? Does it do up/downloading? >What is the general reaction to this piece of software? It is of good quality or >is it "just what is available?" I have omnicom for the 800, and I have heard of newer versions with more features. At any rate: 1. My copy has no explicit support for "Hayes" compatable modems. (If you want to know why Hayes is in quotes, read the fine print on the outside of a Hayes box. On the other hand, I can type atds pretty quickly. 2. It does kermit file transfers. 3. It is ok, but would be improved if: all ascii characters were correct (curly braces and such are displayed as the corresponding atascii graphics character), if the screen didn't permanently change colors when you do file transfers, and if you didn't have to refer to the 850 manual for special numbers when setting it to 2400 baud. I'll give it a better than "just what's available" but not really a polished product rating. Incidentally, until recently I used it extensively as a terminal, and it worked fine with vi and Gnu emacs (although I did have to put in a termcap with delays on reverse scroll to use it with emacs at 2400 baud). Fred Sullivan Department of Mathematical Sciences State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton, New York 13903 Email: sullivan@marge.math.binghamton.edu ------------------------------ Date: 21 Aug 87 19:16:37 GMT From: hans@umd5.umd.edu (Hans Breitenlohner) Subject: Re: More than 16K on a 600XL? To: info-atari8@score.stanford.edu Here are two brief followups to my recent posting: 1. Feel free to pass the article to any bulletin board, network, newsletter, etc. 2. If you install any 600XL upgrade which uses 64k by 4 RAMs, you should be aware that these are 256k RAM technology. 256k RAMs are much more for- giving about refresh than 64k RAMs. While this is generally a good thing, it causes problems with the way the XL distinguishes between cold start and warm start. Especially when the machine is cold, you may have to power it down for 10-15 seconds to convince it to do a cold start. There was a posting of a ROM patch to force cold starts from the keyboard, and I have developed something similar (better, of course, IMHO :-). Let me know if you want either. For more info, I can be reached in the following ways: UUCP !umd5!hans ARPA hans@umd2.umd.edu (preferred) or hans@umd5.umd.edu Bitnet hans@umd2 AT&T-net 301-454-2946 usnail-net Computer Science Center, Univ. of Maryland, College Park, Md, 20742 ------------------------------ End of Info-Atari8 Digest ************************** ------- -------------------END OF UNDELIVERED MESSAGE-------------------