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************ Topic 5 Thu Jun 16, 1994 A.PLATT3 [Chance] (Forwarded) Sub: Fax/Modem for Commodore 64/128 What about sending and receiving faxes on the Commodre 64 and 128? Is it possibile? Will it ever be a reality? 9 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 4, Topic 5 Message 1 Thu Jun 16, 1994 A.PLATT3 [Chance] (Forwarded) I was wondering if sending and receving faxes on the 64 or 128 was possible. Earlier in a discussion I learned that sending and or receiving faxes took a whole bunch of memory. Could faxes be acheived through a REU or a RamLink? I realise buying an RS-232 (SwiftLink sorta thing) send/receive fax/modem will be needed. Any comments?? Platt ------------ Category 4, Topic 5 Message 2 Fri Jun 17, 1994 S.GOLDSMITH2 [Iron.Man] (Forwarded) > I was wondering if sending and receving faxes on the 64 or 128 was >possible. Earlier in a discussion I learned that sending and or receiving >faxes took a whole bunch of memory. Could faxes be acheived through a REU >or a RamLink? > I realise buying an RS-232 (SwiftLink sorta thing) send/receive >fax/modem will be needed. I'm writing a DOS P mode multi session terminal program with Async Professional 2.01 from Turbo Power. Async Pro includes a class I/II/Intel fax library. Even if you could write the comm routines, protocols and graphic <= => text, prtiner drivers, etc. in 65xx Assembler it would take up too much RAM in a stock C64. You would need at least 9600 baud unless you plan to power snooze waiting for the image to xmit. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it would take a lot of time to hack a good/small/fast generic fax library... SG :) ------------ Category 4, Topic 5 Message 3 Wed Jun 29, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] at 00:50 EDT Don't sound so descouraging. You sound as if it isn't even possible. Well, if an MS-DOS computer can do it, a 64 can. It's just a matter of how much of a "power snooze" you're willing to take. Seriously, the problems with fax are mainly that most of the libraries written are for the 80x86 processor or one of the languages which run on that machine. For someone to write FAX software they'll need to write custom 6502 code for the job. Also, the code will have to be written in such a way as to take advantage of the pecularilities (both advantagous and disadvantagous) of the 64/128 machines. All in all, its not a project for the faint hearted. I've heard tell that there are a few bold adventurers who are attempting it, but as yet no dice. Doc. ------------ Category 4, Topic 5 Message 4 Wed Jun 29, 1994 S.GOLDSMITH2 [Iron.Man] at 02:38 EDT >Don't sound so descouraging. You sound as if it isn't even possible. Well, >if an MS-DOS computer can do it, a 64 can. It's just a matter of how much >of a "power snooze" you're willing to take. >Seriously, the problems with fax are mainly that most of the libraries >written are for the 80x86 processor or one of the languages which run on >that machine. For someone to write FAX software they'll need to write >custom 6502 code for the job. Also, the code will have to be written in >such a way as to take advantage of the pecularilities (both advantagous and >disadvantagous) of the 64/128 machines. All in all, its not a project for >the faint hearted. I've heard tell that there are a few bold adventurers >who are attempting it, but as yet no dice. My point was that the 6502 library wouldn't fit in the standard C64's 64K. Once you understand what is involved as far as com driver, protocols (Class I/II/Intel CAS), buffers to handle converting from text <> graphic, etc. you would have to use a REU or slow virtual memory (disk). Also, I don't think there would be much of a market to support such a project or someone like CMD would have done it by now. SG :) ------------ Category 4, Topic 5 Message 5 Wed Jun 29, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] at 23:21 EDT I wasn't aware that their were any 6502 source for FAX. At any rate, I would assume that anyone tackling it would still want to write custom code because of the 64's operating particulars. I would assume that the program to do the job would probably be devided into sections. Each section stored as a seperate program on disk or REU to be loaded up when the terminal made a call. For example, when incoming fax is detected, a modual that is responsible for only receive fax would be loaded (perhaps even as far as a seperate modual for the different classes). Once done then the program would be handed off elsewhere for storage. Also the send would then be its own modual. As to OCR capabilities. I would think that it would be necessary to first have the ability to send and receive the images before worrying about OCR. I think there have been scanner programs for Datel's handyscan that would do OCR. I might be wrong, however, but if I'm correct then perhaps these programs which already possibly exist could be put to this use rather than attempting to write a new program all by yourself. Doc. ------------ Category 4, Topic 5 Message 6 Wed Jun 29, 1994 C128.JBEE at 23:55 EDT There were OCR programs for the Handyscanner but they did such a poor job and took so long it was not worth usig them or selling them. ------------ Category 4, Topic 5 Message 7 Thu Jun 30, 1994 S.GOLDSMITH2 [Iron.Man] at 05:33 EDT >As to OCR capabilities. I would think that it would be necessary to first >have the ability to send and receive the images before worrying about OCR. >I think there have been scanner programs for Datel's handyscan that would >do OCR. I might be wrong, however, but if I'm correct then perhaps these >programs which already possibly exist could be put to this use rather than >attempting to write a new program all by yourself. I wasn't talking about OCR. Fax data is graphic in nature. When you receive a FAX it is in a graphic format. If you want to send a text file you must first convert it into bit mapped graphics. As I said before, I don't think there would be much of a market for C= fax in any event. SG :) ------------ Category 4, Topic 5 Message 8 Thu Jun 30, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] at 23:15 EDT I would think as muh a market for the Commodore as any other machine. Converting text to bitmap isn't difficult. There are already utilities and programs which do this for lower resolution screens the Commodore can display. The same principal applies. As to display, you would use a program like MACView, which allows you to view MacPaint files on the Commodore. The file is pretty high resolution, but it's only monochrome. You just use cursor keys to scan around the entire image. These programs and ideas I mentioned are all software already written. The trick of the matter is converting all these ideas into a working and intigrated piece of software which would support a fax modem. Doc. ------------ Category 4, Topic 5 Message 9 Sat Oct 22, 1994 S.LOGSDON4 at 11:36 EDT Whelp, I am one of the "brave adventurers" mentioned above... I'm thinking of undergoing the task on a 128d.. Does anyone have any dox as to the format of geoPaint,.gif and fax images? Shawn ------------ 4 | ************ Topic 8 Mon May 23, 1994 I.COBB1 (Forwarded) Sub: Dead 128 keyboard Computer doesn't read keyboard... 9 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 4, Topic 8 Message 1 Mon May 23, 1994 I.COBB1 (Forwarded) I am trying to repair a 128 which seems to have a dead keyboard. The keyboard itself works OK when attached to a different 128, and the computer responds as expected when powered up with the C= or STOP keys depressed. A new CIA chip had no effect. Any ideas as to what the problem might be? ------------ Category 4, Topic 8 Message 2 Mon May 23, 1994 B.MASSE [BIG BOB] (Forwarded) Category 4, Topic 47 >I am trying to repair a 128 which seems to have a dead keyboard. The keyboard >itself works OK when attached to a different 128, and the computer responds as >expected when powered up with the C= or STOP keys depressed. A new CIA chip >had no effect. Any ideas as to what the problem might be? JUST A REMINDER.... make sure when you plug in the new CIA chip that you have it in the RIGHT direction... zapppp... .......when in doubt, mumble. Bob ------------ Category 4, Topic 8 Message 3 Mon May 23, 1994 C128.JBEE (Forwarded) Try swapping these chips from the good 128 with the bad 128 in this order 1) VIC 2) SID 3)8502. Make sure both fuses are good in the power supply. ------------ Category 4, Topic 8 Message 4 Sun Jul 31, 1994 B.BEDFORD [BROM] at 20:58 EDT I have lost my 128 to my four yaer old daughter. She gave it a terrible static shock. Now the following keys don't work. Inst/del, Restore??, Return, both cursor keys under the return key, & all function keys. My 10 key keypad works. I can boot in both 40 & 80 column mode & 128 & 64 mode boots ok also. Just can't do much without those keys on the right side of the board. Is the a program and/or book to help me diagnose the chips affected? Where can I get parts these days? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Brian ------------ Category 4, Topic 8 Message 5 Mon Aug 01, 1994 C128.JBEE at 18:46 EDT You can try swapping your 6526 chips. Though that will mean you will lose use of at least your modem. If the shock came through the joystick port I would be almost 100% sure it was a 6526 that bite the dust. The 6526 is about $10. ------------ Category 4, Topic 8 Message 6 Mon Aug 01, 1994 C128.JBEE at 18:49 EDT Afterthought: If you are not good at soldering, make sure your 6526 chips are socketed before ordering any chips, especially if you have a C-128D. Otherwise you might want to send it to someone to fix. I use E.HARVEY for most of my repairs. ------------ Category 4, Topic 8 Message 7 Mon Aug 01, 1994 R.DAY at 19:27 EDT You CIA chip must be bad. It has 8 pins that do input output to the keyboard. It would be the CIA next to were the plug, plugs in to the keyboard. You can test this out by unpluging your other CIA chip over by were your modem plugs in. Swop them and if you keyboard works the CIA is what is wrong. But now your drives will not work with a bad CIA in the other sockit. You can get a CIA 6526 or 6526A, A is for 2MHz but they both cost the same and all I/O on the 128 is at 1MHz. They both cost the same so get the 6526A. At Jameco it cost $14.95 Mybe $20 by the time you do S/H. Erol Harvey my have one too. I don't know how to speel his name so mybe some one else can tell you that and I think he on on GEnie any way I don't know his name here on GEnie. I hope this info helps you. ------------ Category 4, Topic 8 Message 8 Mon Aug 01, 1994 R.DAY at 19:28 EDT O yet one more thing. Jameco's # is 1-800-831-4242. ------------ Category 4, Topic 8 Message 9 Wed Aug 03, 1994 B.BEDFORD [BROM] at 01:33 EDT Thanks to C128.JBEE & R.DAY for your advice. I'll give it a try. It would sure be nice if I can get off that easy. Then again, that's one of the nice things about the C128. It is a relatively simple machine compared to others that are out there these days. 128D? I don't think mine is a "D". I got it back in 1985. Except for some cold solder joints in the monitor from time to time it has been trouble free till now. Four year olds are hard on everything they touch, n'est pas? :) ------------ 4 | ************ Topic 10 Wed Nov 30, 1994 B.MASSE [BIG BOB] (Forwarded) Sub: 128 flat character color problem What is wrong when a 128 flat starts displaying wierd colors on the characters in the 40 col 64 mode??? 4 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 4, Topic 10 Message 1 Wed Nov 30, 1994 B.MASSE [BIG BOB] (Forwarded) I have a 128 flat that has a problem on the 64 side of it. The problem is this... Wierd colors in the characters on the screen. The Characters are where they are supposed to be, but, the colors are all screwed up. (kind of flashing a little and sparkely...) Thanks for the help Big Bob ------------ Category 4, Topic 10 Message 2 Fri Dec 02, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] (Forwarded) I once had this problem with a 64. Unfortunately, that was in 1984, and as I was not particularly technical at the time I returned the machine to CBM with $64 for a repair. Longest wait I ever had! But, thinking back I would suppose something has gone wrong with either the color memory or the VIC chip. How does your 40 column screen look on the 128? Doc. ------------ Category 4, Topic 10 Message 3 Sat Feb 04, 1995 B.MASSE [BIG BOB] (Forwarded) Thanks Doctor for your reply (about a month ago). You were right about the vic chip in the computer. Replaced the color ram first, no difference, then swapped out the vic chip and it works great now. Bob :) ------------ Category 4, Topic 10 Message 4 Sun Feb 05, 1995 D.TUOMI [Doctor] (Forwarded) Glad I could be of service. ;) Doc. ------------ ************ Topic 11 Wed Jan 25, 1995 A.PLATT3 [Chance] (Forwarded) Sub: Monitors for use with Interlaced grafx Discussion on different types, models, and companies of monitors that perform well under interlaced graphics, as well as 40 column usage. 4 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 4, Topic 11 Message 1 Wed Jan 25, 1995 A.PLATT3 [Chance] (Forwarded) I made a mistake awhile ago. I purchased a monitor that does poorly under the "influence" of interlaced graphcs. Which monitors do "yall" think would be the best? I've heard a variety of names, but for as experience with different monitors I have had none. The few monitors' names I have heard: 1902, 1902a, 2002, 1804, and wht else? Which in your opinion give the best picture, using prgs like IPaint? Thanks! -- Chance ------------ Category 4, Topic 11 Message 2 Thu Jan 26, 1995 D.TUOMI [Doctor] (Forwarded) A monitor with slow persistance phosphers would work best with the Interlace mode. The only one that I know of that Commodore ever made was there White Page monochrome monitor. They made it for desktop publishing with the Amiga (forgot the designation), but supposedly it also worked w with the 64/128. Unfortunately its only a monochrome monitor. Doc. ------------ Category 4, Topic 11 Message 3 Wed Feb 15, 1995 C128.JBEE (Forwarded) For a Commodore monitor I think the 1080 Amiga monitor was the best ever produced under the Commodore label. I would look for a new or used RGBI monitor meant to be used on a PC at 15.75 Mhz, which is the same as the C-128. I have not had the time to check this out but the NEC 2a multi-scan monitors look like they might work on the C-128! I still have to check it out and will report if I have any success. ------------ Category 4, Topic 11 Message 4 Fri Feb 24, 1995 A.PLATT3 [Chance] (Forwarded) [AWelp, JBEE, I've tried it and it works! The best Interlaced graphics I found were on the IBM monitor. Bad thing was, I didn't pick it up while I was there. But ya, the monitor gave an Inte [C [C [Crlaced picture that looked like it wouldn't hurt your eyes, and it actually gave the impression of 640 * 400, not two 640 * 200 screens. -- Chance ------------ ************ Topic 12 Sat Mar 26, 1994 R.DAY (Forwarded) Sub: swiftlink with IBM mouse Well IBM mouses plug in to the RS232 port of them so why can't you porgram a input driver to use a Swiftlink RS-232 Serial Cartridge with a IBM type mouse? Could it be done? 18 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 1 Sat Mar 26, 1994 C128.JBEE (Forwarded) That is possible, the data transfer between a mouse and the PC serial bus is actually quite slow compared with regular RS232 communications. ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 2 Sat Mar 26, 1994 CMD-DOUG (Forwarded) It is indeed quite possible, and was even considered as a possible product extension by us at CMD. However, there are some definate problems - mainly software compatibility, and also there are programs which can use a mouse but would also want to use SwiftLink for modem hookup (example: Dialogue 128). ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 3 Sat Mar 26, 1994 R.DAY (Forwarded) I think I could make one if I could find the info on how to do it. I looked in the IBM files here but it don't look like any tell how to program a IBM mouse. Well with my swiftlink and Data pump I can have 2 RS-232's at the same time. I could even hook up a nother data pump. I'm going to ask my bother if he can get some info on how to program a IBM mouse. He is into programing on IBM's. I did plug in a IBM mouse and a term at 600 baud seems like the data came the best but junk in a term. With CMD's mouse comming out don't look like any one will need this any way. It's nice how the IBM mouse will plug right in to a swiftlink! ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 4 Sun Mar 27, 1994 S.GOLDSMITH2 [Iron.Man] (Forwarded) R.DAY, The Microsoft serial mouse is accessed via a mouse driver on the PC. Usually a TSR loaded at boot up which hooks interrupt 33h. As for low level interfacing you set the DTR to which the mouse replies with a M on the data line. The comm prarms are 1200, 7N1 if I remember right. 7 bits are available to describe movement along X,Y. Each mouse message will consist of 3 bytes: Button status, and relative X,Y movement since last xmit. Movements are measured in 'mickeys' which are either 1/200 or 1/400. As you can see it quite a bit of programming just to interface a serial mouse to the C= not to mention writing your own RS-232 driver. SG :) ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 5 Sun Mar 27, 1994 L.SCHONDER [C128.LOU] (Forwarded) Why tie up a wonderous swiftLink with an IBM mouse? Seems silly to me. Sounds like using a Porsche to deliver papers. ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 6 Sun Mar 27, 1994 R.DAY (Forwarded) People can't find any 1351 mouses. So if a Porsche was the only car to deliver papers, That's why. ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 7 Sun Mar 27, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] (Forwarded) Actually, Lou, you would not necessarily have to tie up a SwiftLink because the cartridges can be addressed at one of 3 locations. The point is that more than 1 SwiftLink can be used in the 128. :) So you would have to tie up a SwiftLink, but you could still use one for RS232 as well. ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 8 Sun Mar 27, 1994 L.SCHONDER [C128.LOU] (Forwarded) What about the CMD mice, they're nice! ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 9 Sun Mar 27, 1994 CMD-DOUG (Forwarded) The 3-byte standard described by Steve Goldsmith is the Microsoft standard. There is also a five-byte standard, available now on most high-res 3-button mice (I believe this standard came from Mouse Systems). Both use a baud rate of 1200 baud, btw. Tying up a Swiftlink AND having to patch every mouse driven program didn't make a lot of sense to us, which is why we decided to go ahead with making a 1351 compatible mouse. But hackers will hack, and for those who wish to, it can be done (actually HAS been done to a certain extent with a standalone driver here at CMD). ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 10 Wed Mar 30, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] (Forwarded) Why don't you release that little driver so the hackers can hack. It shouldn't be of too much competition to CMD, since the only thing that would ever truely be compatible would be a Commodore style mouse. Another port you guys are over- looking is the user port. The built in user port can handle 1200 bps. If one could program a Commodore to use both the built in user port and the Swiftlink at the same time, then the mouse could be in the slow old user port, and your modem in the new fast Swiftlink. Doc. ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 11 Sat Apr 02, 1994 CMD-DOUG (Forwarded) Our test program is just exactly that - all it does is display the 3 or 5 values to the screen which the mouse outputs. It in itself is only in a hack form from what I recall of it, nothing I'd want to put somewhere for general public consumption. The user port would still require an RS-232 interface, as PC mice derive their operating current from one of the 'normally unused' handshake lines, and most of the ones we tested wouldn't operate at 5 volt levels. Software compatibility is still the most major issue anyway. I may have Mark do an article on it in Commodore World at some point, though, since some of the info might prove interesting to hackers. ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 12 Sat Apr 02, 1994S.GOLDSMITH2 [Iron.Man] (Forwarded) Doug, I C= World going to have some good hack 'em articles? I'm going to let my dieHard subscription dieFast because of the lame content. SG :) ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 13 Sat Apr 02, 1994 CMD-DOUG (Forwarded) Hacking articles won't be a main fare, but there will be some from time to time. Overall, though, CW will offer more to the non-beginner while also maintaining columns and features aimed directly at the beginner. ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 14 Tue Apr 05, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] (Forwarded) As far as dieHard is concerned, I'm pleased with any support within the Commodore community. And dieHard serves a need. With RUN and the printed version of Gazette gone, many beginners have no place to turn. I feel that this magazine does well at serving that function. I also rather like the Archaic Computer column where they review old software. It's a rather novel approach. Overall, I think the content of the magazine is acceptable. It's not Transactor, but it is something to read about my favorite computer which comes out regularly. Doc. ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 15 Wed Apr 06, 1994 R.KING53 [Ron] (Forwarded) I guess one of the things I like about dieHard is their way of ending the articles with the "READY." prompt! ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 16 Sun Jun 26, 1994 A.PLATT3 (Forwarded) Well, again about those IBM mouses :) Couldn't it be possible to connect it through the Joystick port? I mean, the poor port can operate as fast as you want it to! The only thing, you would have to have some kind of RS-232 adapter with a plug-in or batteries to supply over 5 volts. Any thoughts? ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 17 Sun Jun 26, 1994 CMD-DOUG (Forwarded) I already put my comments in topic 20. ------------ Category 4, Topic 12 Message 18 Thu Aug 25, 1994 A.PLATT3 [Arthur] (Forwarded) For me, the IBM mouse hooked up to the SwiftLink wuld be all that I need for GEOS. GEOS is all that I use a mouse for, hence not making a prob. here for compatibility. Tho I don(t have any experience at all with I/O thu the SwiftLink, I still think that using an IBM mouse, SL, and a GEOS IBM mouse driver would work wonderfully. Art (Yes, if somehow someone devised a IBM mouse driver I would probably get it: tho I dn't have GeoAssembler, and I don't have any kowledge about how the internal works for the GEOS. :( ) ------------ 4 | ************ Topic 15 Sat Jul 23, 1994 J.ROBBINS16 [JBUS] (Forwarded) Sub: 128D internal 1571 disconnect? Does anyone know a reliable way to disconnect the internal 1571 disk drive from the 128D? 16 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 1 Sat Jul 23, 1994 J.ROBBINS16 [JBUS] (Forwarded) Hi, (this is out of frustration) I'm really getting tired of all the screw-ups from the internal 1571 drive in my 128D. Does anybody know a reliable way to disconnect it from the computer so an external drive can be used instead? I'm not interested in fixing it again. Just want to get rid of it and just use the computer with external drives. ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 2 Sun Jul 24, 1994 M.MINNIG (Forwarded) To disable the internal 1571 in your 128D, interrupt the ATN line that goes to the drive circuitry. Here's how: Find U113 Cut pin 1 at the point where it enters the board(use exacto knife). With the ATN line out of the serial loop(switch open),the device is effectively off the bus and won't be recognized. Michael ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 3 Sun Jul 24, 1994 J.ROBBINS16 [JBUS] (Forwarded) Thanks! ;] Maybe this is gonna be a good month afterall! I had schm. for the flat but not the 128d. ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 4 Sun Jul 24, 1994 J.ROBBINS16 [JBUS] (Forwarded) Thanks again Mike. Tried it and it works fine. ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 5 Sat Aug 06, 1994 J.ROBBINS16 [JBUS] (Forwarded) Found another little trick for those who don't want to get rid of the internal 1571 drive... pins 15 & 16 on U106 act just like the switches on the rear of an external 1571 drive to change the device number. Ex... both pins disconnected will make the internal 1571 device #11 ..The chip is a 40 pin, 6522A.. ...Got this info. from Ian, and it works a.o.k. ... ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 6 Sat Aug 06, 1994 CMD-DOUG (Forwarded) It's generally not good to 'float' chip inputs. They should generally be pulled high or low through a resistor if they aren't going to be driven by an other signal. 'Floating' signals can sometimes cause unpredictable logic conditions, and in some cases can even cause premature failure of an integrated circuit. ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 7 Tue Aug 09, 1994 R.DAY (Forwarded) By 'float' I guess Doug means chip pins conected to nothing. You do need a reistor to put the pin hight, +5 volts. Or low, a ground. You need a resistor so you can use only 2 wires to a switch. To make it hi put a resistor to a +5 volts and to the chip pin. To make it low, put a wire to ground on the pin were the resistor goes. You need the resistor so you will not grond out the 5 volts. A 10k OHM, Radio Shack #271-1335 is a good resistor to use for this. ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 8 Wed Aug 10, 1994 J.ROBBINS16 [JBUS] (Forwarded) Thanks guys, think I'll give John Ian a buzz bout' that. ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 9 Thu Aug 11, 1994 J.ROBBINS16 [JBUS] (Forwarded) Hi again, You guys got my curiosity up so I dug into this with more details. and found out some interesting things... Both the 6522 & 6526 have internal pull-up resistors, 10k ohms nominal, connected Including pins 15 & 16 for the device numbers, so no external resistors are required. Just ground a pin for low and leave it open for high. Adding a couple of switches instead of just pulling up pins is still a better indea if you intend to change device numbers often, but if you don't, leaving the pin open is o.k.. It doesn't require an external resistor. ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 10 Thu Aug 11, 1994 CMD-DOUG (Forwarded) As long as you want the signal high, in this case, yes, it's okay. But other chips, general gates and such, may not have them, depending on the type of logic family. But for pulling a signal down on a chip like this, you should still use a resistor; you want a low logic condition, but by connecting it directly to ground you cause it draw excessive current. This can actually effect other signals on the chip. Anything in the range of 1K will at least help limit the current. A 1K value would set up a 10:1 voltage divider in conjunction with the internal 10K pull-up, giving you .5 volt condition on that line... plenty low for a solid low condition. ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 11 Fri Aug 12, 1994 J.ROBBINS16 [JBUS] (Forwarded) Sounds like a good precaution for safe' sake. ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 12 Sun Nov 27, 1994 S.EYRSE [steve] at 01:24 EST For some reason all of a sudden when I boot the 128D the internal 1571 goes into a "HEAD KNOCKING" mode. This will happen when I don't have a disk in. It won't "reset" back to a correct mode. I have needed to Open the case push the head back to the end of the guide then it works OK. But if I forget to have a disk in it goes out of whack. Any Ideas?? Also has anyone found the trace or plug to "take it off the buss" This would be the same as unpluging a stand alone drive. It would seem you should be able to switch out the internal drive and get rid of it when you want. Steve: ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 13 Sun Nov 27, 1994 M.RANDALL2 [Maurice] at 17:20 EST Steve, in reference to disabling the internal drive of the 128D: The same thinking as to disabling the drive would also apply to any drive that would connect to a 64 or 128. You must disconnect the serial bus ATN line to the drive. Since the 1571's electronics are an integral part of the 128D's motherboard, it is a little more difficult to do with this drive. With any plug in drive, you can just cut the ATN line as it enters the serial port. On the 128D, the 1571 picks up the ATN line at pin #1 of U113. Chip U113 is located under the drive mechanism. It is a 14 pin chip that is about 4 inches from the front and 2 inches from the right of the case. Pin #1 would be the right front pin pointing towards the right front corner. This pin needs to be cut. If you do this, the drive will never respond to the computer. You could very carefully snip the pin, leaving enough length to solder a wire to it. And after soldering a second wire to the spot on the board where it was cut, you could join the two wires together at a toggle switch. Then you could enable or disable the drive whenever you wish. You could also remove the whole motherboard and find the trace leading to this pin and either cut the trace or cut it and run two wires, accomplishing the same thing. For those that would like to change the device number of the drive, find chip #U106. It is about 3 inches to the left of U113. Two of the pins on this chip control the device number. These two pins lead up to two traces on the board that can be cut, or cut with wires soldered to them and then brought out to a couple of toggle switches or to a rotary switch to select the device number. The traces can be found just to the left of this chip about a half inch from the rear, going towards the front of the machine. Hope some of this info helps you Steve, as well as anybody else that might be interested. - Maurice Randall ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 14 Mon Nov 28, 1994 F.OGLE [Color BBS] at 20:11 EST That's some really helpful information to have, Maurice :) ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 15 Sun Dec 04, 1994 S.EYRSE [steve] at 01:37 EST Thank you Maurice..I'll try a switch so I can put it back if I need Now if we could just get a debugger to work in 80 clm. like link and assembl..life would be fine.. Steve ;) ------------ Category 4, Topic 15 Message 16 Tue Dec 20, 1994 C128.JBEE at 06:54 EST Besides something being wrong with your computer/drive that forces it to bang the head until it gets stuck, if you have a drive protector you can insert that to push the disk head back into position. ------------ ************