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Category12 Topic2 Message 64 Sat Mar 26, 1994 H.STEVENS5 [HaroldOH] at 10:00 EST I have installed Novaterm 9.4, Word Writer 6 and Handyscan (64) in my RAMLink, along with GEOS/gateWay. I love how I can boot the term program and word processor almost instantly instead of having to wait a minute or two. --Harold ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 65 Sun Mar 27, 1994 R.KING53 [Ron] at 00:23 EST I finally tried the autofile editor to try and make Gateway/GEOS autoboot from my RamLink. I get an "error in line 10" when I try this. Line 10 lists as "Load "GEOS",8,1. My RamLink is device 10. How can I get Geosto autoboot from a partition in it? ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 66 Sun Mar 27, 1994 L.SCHONDER [C128.LOU] at 03:22 EST My list: Geos 128 / gateWay 128 Dialogue 128 The Write Stuff RTC Master Big Blue Reader ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 67 Fri May 06, 1994 B.MASSE at 08:54 EDT I have a question about the Simms In the RamLink... I The Question is ... Will a 4x9 simm work in place of a 4x8... just wondering Bob ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 68 Fri May 06, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 22:46 EDT BM> I have a question about the Simms In the RamLink... I The Question BM> is... Will a 4x9 simm work in place of a 4x8... just wondering Yep, sure will. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 69 Fri May 06, 1994 B.MASSE [BIG BOB] at 23:10 EDT Thanks Doug... AlSO, are the 1x8 or the 4x8 compatible with with any other machines for their RAM... for instance if I was to sell my 1X8 simms would I be able to sell them to any computer user that uses Simms? Or would I only be able to sell them to people who own older machines or Ramlinks? Bob ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 70 Sat May 07, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] at 05:33 EDT I've got 1x8 SIMM's running in my IBM PC. I had to disable parity checking in the bios though to use them. Not recomended for all PC's. Doc. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 71 Sat May 07, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 08:40 EDT 1 x 8 SIMMS are used mostly in Macintosh computers. Newer Macs have moved up to the 72 pin SIMMs, though (Quadra's, Centris', PPC's, and some newer LC/Performa models). They'll work in all the old Macs though, from the old original Mac up through the IIcx. The IIfx may have used something 'proprietary', I don't have the info offhand. As D.TUOMI mentioned, they can also work in many PC's, so long as PARITY is disabled. From my experience, most of the newer 386/486 machines 'don't care' about parity being disabled, but some may. Also, 486 machines must have a certain number of SIMMs added at a time (generally 4). ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 72 Sat May 07, 1994 N.PHI [Toto] at 21:03 EDT A while ago, I posted a message in this area (I think) asking other RAMLink owners what software THEY had succeeded in installing in the RL's. I believe I listed a couple of mmy own successes... but I was looking for more games, being that they are a special case. (We all know SOMETHING about the C= piracy that caused nasty disk protection that caused MORE piracy that caused etc. etc. etc.) I have gotten these original games to work with little or no modification, or perhaps with a little Super Snapshot help -- Black Gold, SSI role- playing games, B.A.T., Duck Tales, Puffy's Saga, Echelon, World Class Leaderboard, Racing Destruction Set... Any other games I should know about? I already have all the 64/128 productivity software I need, and most of that works with RL... ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 73 Sun May 08, 1994 J.SERAFINO at 17:19 EDT There is a company that advertises in computer shopper that will take 4 one meg simms and solder the chips onto a 4 meg board. I personally have not done this yet, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work with RL. The price is reasonable, about $40. I'd like to expand my RL, and this seems like a good alternative to trying to sell the one meg simms I have now. What do you think, Doug... I'll post the company's name and address monday. (I don't have a CS handy.) ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 74 Sun May 08, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 22:12 EDT If they are actually putting that many chips on a single SIMM, then size will become a problem. RL can only handle the common size SIMM, unless you want to run it without the cover on. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 75 Mon May 09, 1994 C128.JBEE at 05:28 EDT Changing the DRAMS on a SIMM sounds kind of mickey mouse to me. If you mean that they are offering a way to expand the memory, I would not bother with it. How do you know that the capacitors and the other board glue are the right ones for the new DRAMS on the SIMM? ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 76 Mon May 09, 1994 J.SERAFINO at 23:54 EDT jbee, apparently they take all the chips OFF of 4 1MB simms and put them on a new board. They are in effect giving you back a 4 Meg simm in exchange for 4 one meg simms and $40. The benefit is, if you have only 4 simm slots in your computer, and you want to increase the memory then you don't have to worry about getting rid of the 1 meg simms. I believe it's still standard size... I'll find out when they FAX me some info tomorrow. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 77 Tue May 10, 1994 C128.JBEE at 01:35 EDT Okay, now I understand, that makes a bit more sense :) ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 78 Tue May 10, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] at 03:41 EDT Thev've advertisded in some Macintosh magazines small devices that were meant to "double" the memory capacity of smaller Macintoshes. It does this by something using a SIMM expansion board that has more than one plug. The advertisement says that you can add more than 8mb to your MAC SE. The question I have, is using this type of device, can you go beyond 16mb on the RAMLink? Doc. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 79 Tue May 10, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 19:58 EDT Nope. You can already plug in more than 16 MB in a RAMLink (i.e., four 4 MB SIMMs and a 1 MB REU), but all you get is 16 MB. The RAMLink hardware and DOS were not designed to address any more than that. Bear in mind that when we designed this device, 4 MB SIMMs were going for $600.00 each. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 80 Tue May 10, 1994 L.SCHONDER [C128.LOU] at 21:08 EDT I'm interested in this "SIMMulation" of a 4 meg SIMM! Hope it fits the RamLink! ;) ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 81 Thu May 12, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] at 01:23 EDT Any plans on upgrading the DOS to address more memory? Doc. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 82 Thu May 12, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 01:40 EDT No. It isn't the DOS alone. This would require an entirely re-designed RAMLink. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 83 Tue May 24, 1994 J.HUFTALEN [dmax] at 20:24 EDT I believe at one time someone made a cable that would allow one to use Ramlink at a remote position next to the computer. Does anyone know if this is still available and who would have it? Thanks..John :] ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 84 Tue May 24, 1994 THE.OUTLAW at 22:15 EDT Dmax try, Ken Crosby.. Cartsoft Services 5067 Chingford Rd. Coloumbus, Ohio 43232 (614) 863-1375 I believe the item you want is a black box with the switches attached to a ribbon cable. Aprox 2' long and the cost is/was about $34.95 ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 85 Fri May 27, 1994 N.PHI [Toto] at 02:25 EDT Outlaw, have YOU tried contacting Cartsoft at that address or number lately? Don't put out advice you're not sure about! (hint) ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 86 Fri May 27, 1994 THE.OUTLAW at 07:32 EDT Sorry about that Toto, a freind of mine had just bought that extension back in November. I had assumed the number and address were still good. :> ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 87 Mon May 30, 1994 L.SCHONDER [C128.LOU] at 00:24 EDT Yeah, Toto. Ken Crosby (Cartsoft) must have just moved! I just called recently myself with no problem. Keep in mind that he doesn't have an answering machine! ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 88 Fri Jun 10, 1994 T.LOEPP at 02:00 EDT Hi I have a RLink with 3 1/2 megs, I'm using a midi interface (pasport). everything seems to work just great except when I autoload my menu, it often comes up garbled, but after a few trys it comes up fine and then its works great from then on. can anyone tell me why it doesnt boot properly the first time everytime? Also the leds in the swap buttons dont light up but the swap works just like it should. I'm not trying to complain, I think CMD and RLink are fantastic. TIM ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 89 Sat Jun 11, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 06:06 EDT I'd check the seating of the RAMCard inside the RAMLink, as well as look to see if the connector to the LED board is in completely. If those things check out, you should check the connection to the jumper clip. If you're using a 128 and don't have the jumper clip hooked up, you should probably try hooking it up to see if that corrects the problems. The other thing to look into is the connection between the computer and RAMLink itself. Make sure these contacts are clean and visually inspect the cartrige port connector to make sure that the contacts aren't bent away from the center of the connector. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 90 Mon Jul 04, 1994 J.SERAFINO at 16:27 EDT Doug... I plugged my swiftlink into my RAMLink's RAM port by mistake, and it still worked... So I plugged MY MIDI cartridge into the pass thru port. I now can switch between the two using the Normal-Direct switch. This is much more desirable than constantly plugging and unplugging to swap between the two cartridges. I have used it this way for about 3 days now. My question is: Will it harm the RAMLink? Have you heard of anyone else doing this? Are my cartridges safe? Thanks, JohnS ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 91 Mon Jul 04, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 19:50 EDT It shouldn't harm anything, no, but there are two things to bear in mind: 1) The RAM port is powered directly by RAMLink; you shouldn't install or remove cartridges from this port while RAMLink is powered by its power supply or battery. 2) The RAM port isn't a full cartridge port; some of the control signals which normally attach to the cartridge port are not routed to the RAM port - some devices will not work in this port for that reason. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 92 Thu Jul 21, 1994 B.ENNIS1 [Torby] at 08:51 EDT How do you connect a jumper cable to a ramlink? Where do you put it inside the computer? I have a 128D. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 93 Thu Jul 21, 1994 B.MASSE [BIG BOB] at 21:18 EDT Installation location of Ramlink Timing clip on the 128 flat or "D". Notch--> :---, ,---: : - : 1-: :-48 : : 2-: :-47 : : 3-: U11 :-46 : : 4-: :-45 : : 5-: :-44 : : 6-: PLA :-43 : : 7-: :-42 : : 8-: :-41 <------ : : attach to 9-: :-40 this pin. : : 10-: :-39 : : 11-: :-38 : : 12-: :-37 : : 13-: :-36 : : 14-: :-35 : : 15-: :-34 : U11 : 16-: :-33 : : 17-: :-32 : : 18-: :-31 : PLA : 19-: :-30 : : 20-: :-29 : : 21-: :-28 : : 22-: :-27 : : 23-: :-26 : : 24-: :-25 : : :---------: Personally, I have never had to use a the jumper wire on my 128's. but I guess sometimes they are needed. Bob The above diagram is the chip you will need to attach the the wire to inside the 128d case. The method to attach to the chip is with a little micro-test clip available from Radio-shack. The U11 designation is the location on the board where the chip is and not the name of the chip. When you install the micro test clip to the leg of the chip above make sure that the metal connector does not touch any adjoining legs. ZAPPP! Solder a piece of wire to that micro clip (before you install it) and then install a little connector that will attach to one of the little terminals that are sticking up on the right side of the male cartridge thingee... (take the ramlink and look into the square hole that is plugged into the expansion port and you will see to bare solid wires sticking out on the right side of the unit.) You can connect your wire to either one of these. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 94 Thu Jul 21, 1994 MRABOY at 23:05 EDT I don't use the clip either! ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 95 Thu Jul 21, 1994 B.ENNIS1 [Torby] at 23:31 EDT Thank you. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 96 Thu Jul 21, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] at 23:43 EDT It was my impression that the RAMLink might work irratically if the cable was not installed. Is it needed? Doc. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 97 Fri Jul 22, 1994 MRABOY at 20:44 EDT It doesn't seem to be needed with the 128d, but it can't hurt to use it. I just didn't bother. It always seems to get in the way when you are taken the ramlink in and out. *s ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 98 Sat Jul 23, 1994 GEOS-TIM at 00:34 EDT I have a RamDrive that I use but don'T use a jumper. The problem I encounter is usually when I use GEOS. About every few weeks I get a corruption problem, but I have been able to live with it for the things i do with the 64. MY Ramlink, on the other hand, has 9 megs of program on it and it is on my 128. I have the jumper on just incase. 9 megs as opposed to 2 megs to reconfigure is too much. :) -Tim ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 99 Sat Jul 23, 1994 C128.JBEE at 00:43 EDT I have been told by various people that by getting a heavier power supply for RamLink it cured their corrupt problems with RamLinks that had had 5-16 MBs. Someone told me that SL SIMMs (whatever that means) can also cause trouble and slow down the RamLink. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 100 Sat Jul 23, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 01:00 EDT Some 128's will need the jumper, but most don't. Each system times out slightly different, and some computers produce 'glitches' in the signals that RAMLink uses to determine hardware configurations, which can cause problems that lead to data corruption or incorrect configurations to be assumed. The power supply provided with RAMLink is adeqate for the maximum load that one can expect on a 'maxed-out' RAMLink, provided it is actually putting out its rated current. It's entirely likely that a weak supply can get through from time to time, though this shouldn't happen very often at all. It's relatively easy to check to see if the supply is doing its job if you have a multimeter, by measuring for 5 VDC across the +5 and ground on one of the chips or ports. If the supply isn't putting out enough current, it will cause the voltage to drop. All of the components inside RAMLink should continue to work right down to 4.5 volts, so the voltage would have to drop to around that level or lower for there to be a problem with power. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 101 Sat Jul 23, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] at 04:40 EDT I'm running a BBS. Should I or shouldn't I use the jumper clip? The 128 seems to work without it. I have 5mb on board. In an unrelated question, if I put a 1750 in the RAM socket will it still work even though I've mixed 1mb and 4mb SIMMS? Doc. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 102 Sat Jul 23, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 19:11 EDT If your 128 seems to work fine without it, then chances are you don't need it. If you have problems with breaking out to the monitor, or data corruption, then hooking it up is one of the first things you should try. REU's are handled independantly of SIMMs by RAMLink; mixing SIMMs won't effect how RAMLink deals with RAM Port RAM at all. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 103 Sat Jul 30, 1994 L.SCHONDER [C128.LOU] at 17:05 EDT RAMLINK!!! RAMLINK!!! I packed my Commodore system on June 16th to move to our new home. My battery-backed 4Meg RAMLink was carried as if it were the Ark of the Convenant to it's new home. There it sat until today (July 30th), patiently waiting. I :::FINALLY::: set up my REAL computer today, and plugged in the RAMLink. Was I nervous? Did I think that it wouldn't work? Was I dumb enough to forget to write down my serial number to obtain access to the CMD files on GEnie? Yes, to all of the above!!! BUT..... IT WORKED!!!! The RAMLink retained EVERYTHING. Am I happy? YES!!! Will I ever see that elusive serial number? Wait 'n' see. :) ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 104 Mon Aug 01, 1994 H.HERMAN1 at 03:20 EDT Lou, WOW!! 45 days! This must be a record. I love your description as to how gingerly you transported your RAMLink to its new home. That is EXACTLY how I handle mine, on those few ocassions it gets temporarily detached from its base computer. Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 105 Wed Aug 10, 1994 H.HERMAN1 at 07:51 EDT Doug, Suppose that partition 31 is the first. It is a FOREIGN one. It is being used by GEOS and gateWay. Now suppose that while under (non-geos) program control, a program tries to open a channel and write to partition 31. Could this do anything bad to the RAMLink partition and formatting info? Thanks! Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 106 Thu Aug 11, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 23:29 EDT Foreign partitions don't accept DOS commands. Foreign partitions also shouldn't be selected as a default, or purposely moved to for that matter. There isn't much chance of a program inadvertantly writing to one, though. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 107 Thu Aug 18, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] at 19:22 EDT I am kind of bummed.... it seems my battery is not doing the charging again. I had to disconnect the power for like 15 minutes earlier today and lost everything... nothing that wasn't backed up, and I don't have much in it, but experience like this will keep me from ever putting much in it. I lost it last week because of a momentary loss of power due to a storm. Anyone have any suggestions to help me avoid this? ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 108 Thu Aug 18, 1994 B.MASSE [BIG BOB] at 22:11 EDT ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 >I am kind of bummed.... it seems my battery is not doing the charging >again. I had to disconnect the power for like 15 minutes earlier today >and lost everything... nothing that wasn't backed up, and I don't have Hey Ed, I used to have that problem with my Ramlink, found that the connections from the Battery to the Ramlink had a bad solder joint. Wasn't getting a clean connection. Cleaned it up and haven't had a ZAP in over 3 or 4 months. But the good side of the experience of loosing massive amounts of data is that one gets into the habit of making DAILY exports of data onto other media. A good habit to have. I make 3 backups of some stuff just for security. One real aggravating problem I have with my Ramlink is the main power wire that goes into the unit has a problem. If it is wiggled it will short the system and every thing gets ZAPPED. Another note, I read in a few posts of yours that you dislike GEOS... Try it on your Ramlink. It speeds it up real good. Bob ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 109 Thu Aug 18, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] at 23:24 EDT Bob: BM> connections from the Battery to the Ramlink had a bad solder BM> joint. Wasn't getting a clean connection. Cleaned it up Where is it soldered between the RL and the battery? Mine plugs into the RamLink and connects with spade connectors to the battery. I wish I had some way of knowing that the thing was charging or not before this stuff happens. BM> good side of the experience of loosing massive amounts of data BM> is that one gets into the habit of making DAILY exports of BM> data onto other media I'm not so positive as you... I fail to find anything good about this. I can't really stop what I'm doing and back everything up every day, nor just the stuff that is not copied anywhere else, and I have very little memory in there... I pity anyone with this problem who has 4, 8, etc. megs. I do make backups, of course, but I also do not use the RamLink for anything in progress... i.e. source code currently being worked on. I use it for programs I load and run every day, like RTCMaster or Magic 128. Of course, I probably wouldn't keep critical files in something RAM based under any circumstance. Wonder if there is a way to bring the connections outside of the RL... perhaps through the case somehow, onto a barrier strip or something that could be used to make solid connections. If I were sure it would work, I'd seriously consider doing that. BM> you dislike GEOS... Try it on your Ramlink. It speeds it up BM> real good I'm positive you are right about that, but I don't like the GUI interfaces anywaya.... and I'm sure the RamLink makes a dramatic difference in it. I just prefer doing things through the keyboard, and I also don't like the way GEOS requires its own format of everything. :) I am quite sure tho, that the RamLink is the absolute must-have, or one of them, for GEOS users. Except for this thing with the battery, I believe it is more reliable than my 1581's. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 110 Fri Aug 19, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 00:38 EDT Ed, what kind of voltage do you see at the battery terminals when everything is powered? ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 111 Fri Aug 19, 1994 B.MASSE [BIG BOB] at 10:12 EDT ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 EGB >Where is it soldered between the RL and the battery? Mine plugs into Ed, I guess if you can't find solder joints on the Ramlink end of the battery, then maybe your set up is different then mine. You can check the wire with an Ohm meter to see if you have a broken wire inside the inulation. EGB > I had some way of knowing that the thing was charging or not before this EGB > stuff happens. I agree! BM> good side of the experience of loosing massive amounts of data BM> is that one gets into the habit of making DAILY exports of BM> data onto other media EGB> I'm not so positive as you... I fail to find anything good about this. EGB> I can't really stop what I'm doing and back everything up every day, nor Yes you can. You just don't wanna! :) BM> you dislike GEOS... Try it on your Ramlink. It speeds it up BM> real good EGB > I'm positive you are right about that, but I don't like the GUI interfaces Yes, I agree. GeoShell By Maurice Randall really cleans up that problem. Makes Geos a cleaner and faster system. Back to the battery.... Ed, one thing you might consider about that battery is how old it is. They don't last forever, and maybe it is time to replace it. Also, I heard somewhere (could be wrong here though) that if your power goes out and computer is on at the time, It will drain the Ramlink battery within minutes.... Maybe Doug could help out on that one. Bob ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 112 Fri Aug 19, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] at 13:32 EDT Doug: DC> voltage do you see at the battery terminals when everything is DC> powered Now, I am going to qualify this answer by saying I'm not a multitester expert... I usually use it mainly for continuity checking... That said, with my tester set for 5 on DCV section of the dial, it reads all the way over on the right side of the dial... If I understand it all right, that seems to say there is enough voltage at the battery. BM> if you can't find solder joints on the Ramlink end of the BM> battery No, it just plugs into the RL. BM> Yes you can. You just don't wanna! That is true to a point... it would be less and less true the more I had available in the unit... if I were to spend enough time to do that every day, I'd be losing lots of time programming/testing. That is why I say I can't. BM> consider about that battery is how old it is. They don't BM> last forever I don't know what is considered old, but I don't really think the battery could be considered that old. It is only a year or so old I believe. BM> if your power goes out and computer is on at the time, It BM> will drain the Ramlink battery within minutes I thought that was only if the power went out and the RamLink power cord was disconnected at the time. Even if that accounted for one instance, it could not account for the other, when the power to the house was lost for a few minutes. This is actually not a major problem for me because I never trust anything critical in anything like an REU or RamLink. I am just to afraid of losing stuff. As a matter of fact, I do back up most of my work-in- progress every day or two. I don't mind restoring stuff either. I have to do that on my 1581s often... what I don't like is having to go in and recreate all the partitions. I could leave everything as a native mode partition, but my Magic program doesn't support that format. And before anyone says it, I don't plan anytime soon on doing that. CMD already offers a program that does that and I have a bunch of reasons I don't want to... the foremost of which is that I can't do it to support every possible situation. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 113 Fri Aug 19, 1994 H.HERMAN1 at 19:54 EDT Ed, I have one of the earlier RAMLinks, where the wire from the battery terminates with a plug. The RL socket (into which this plug gets plugged) is a "stem", and then there is a "flat spring metal piece" that contacts the outside ground, and securely holds the plug in its socket. This flat metal piece can lose its springiness, resulting in a loose fitting plug. The solution: bend that metal piece so that there will again be a secure springy fit. I had this prob a long time ago. With 12 Megs, I do not want crashes, and haven't had one now, in years. Since your battery appears to be fully charged, it is my quess that, while your RL was depending on the battery, the plug was jiggling within its socket, for maybe a moment or two, and just long enough for ram to get erased. As for reliability, I feel pretty confident, and will allow unbacked data to remain in RL for days at a time. All of RL is backed onto disks. Then periodically I run a self-running Basic program that copies all the data files (the ones which change, and get created) to two 1581's. The data seems to just about fit into the 1.6 Megs. The Basic program relies on JiffyDos for this, and is usualy the last thing I run at nite. Howie ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 114 Fri Aug 19, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 22:49 EDT Ed, use the next higher range to measure the voltage. When you use the voltage function on a multimeter, you'll generally see a number on the end of the scales that correspond to the range settings. In other words, you should see a 5 on the end of one of the scales, so when you use the 5 volt setting you can figure out what the divisions in between are. It looks like you're getting ample voltage to the battery judging from what you saw (pegged the needle on the 5v range), but best to get the actual value to be sure. It should fall somewhere between 6 and 7.5 volts, depending somewhat on which version RAMLink it is. I believe yours was a version 1, but I don't recall for certain. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 115 Sat Aug 20, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] at 11:21 EDT I have a question about how the RamLink handles partition/subdirectory specifications. I have been over the RL manual, and as far as I can tell, there is no way to send partition commands through the command channel (as in the 1581) except for within native mode partitions. Is this correct. I see all of the examples of including the path commands within file names, but nothing through the command channel. I am reasonably sure I'm wrong about this, but I'm having problems doing it from within an ML program and want to make sure it is me and not something impossible to do. I *am* able to send the 'cp1' etc. command through the command channel to change partition. I seem to be having trouble sending a command like: /0:partition name to go to a partition *before* doing whatever it is I want to do in that partition. My command routine is simply: connect-command-channel send-null-terminated-string send-<cr>-at-end check-error-channel for: $02 - partition selected $3e - file not found (partition already selected) I do clear the channel after sending the <cr>.. just forgot to note that above. Am I doing something wrong, reading something wrong, or is this just not possible over the command channel with the RamLinK? Thanks! O, and Doug... my multitester, when set to the 25 as you suggested, reads 6 volts, which seems to be what it should be reading if I understand things correctly. And Howie, I suspect perhaps it may be that tensioning device you mentioned.. next time I lose everything, I'll go in and try to adjust it for more tension. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 116 Sat Aug 20, 1994 CMD-DOUG at 14:01 EDT Ed, sounds like the charging circuit is working then, so that leaves either the battery itself, or the circuit that determines when power has gone down and performs the switch to battery power. If you get in a situation where you have the RAMLink backed up and have time to test, you can check to see if the battery is supplying reasonable voltage to RAMLink under power outage conditions by measuring the voltage of the battery with power removed from the computer and RAMLink. If you do such a test, and the battery power stays above 4.5 volts, but you still lose the contents of RAMLink, then the backup switching circuit is probably at fault. Verify for me if you can that what you are trying to send to the command channel is the 1581 'sub'partition selection command... Am I understanding you correctly on that one? Assuming it is, then I think what you're running into is a sort of quirk about that command... I recall running into it myself, but I do know that I got it to work. I'll have to check my code, but I think what it took was to leave out the '0' in the '/0:partname' command... IOW, it became instead '/:partname'. Again, I'll have to double-check that, but first I have to remember just what program I used it in... probably FIND, I think. ------------ Category 12, Topic 2 Message 117 Sat Aug 20, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] at 23:22 EDT Doug: I'll put yor suggestion by the RL and the next time I lose thins, I'll make the check. Hopefully I'll never need it again. As for the '/' thing, I think I have things solved, tho I'm not sure how or why. I took a different approach in a couple areas. One thing I did was check for device number (partition) and if <> 0, I send the cp## command over the command channel BEFORE sending any path commands. Then the same for path commands. This was primarily a concession to the 1581, not the RL. I think I've figured out most of the problems I was having otherswise... a combination of different ways of doing things, my own stupidity, etc. One thing I don't like is that I can't read from and write to different partitions on the same disk in a 1581. I asked you about this before, and you said RL can handle this, but since the 1581 can't, I have to code for the 1581. :::: sigh :::: BTW, yes, you had me correctly on sending a 1581 'sub'partition command (i.e. /0:partname) over the command channel. I have to wait now to see if what I'm doing now works consistently. It *may* have been something I was doing wrong... I'll test for a few days to see if I can make it happen again, or not. I'll let you know. ------------