******›  **   THE  BLACKBOX  VERSUS  THE  MIO›  ==============================››   This article originally appeared in›  the  June  1990 issue of PSAN.  PSAN›  (Puget  Sound  Atari  News)  is  the›  official   newsletter   of   several›  participating  non-profit Atari user›  groups.  Approximate  circulation  -›   800.  Please send any inquiries to:›  PSAN, P.O.  Box 110576,  Tacoma,  WA›  98411-0576›  Reprited   by   OL'   HACKERS   with›  THANKS!›              ******›    BlackBox  vs.  MIO by Dan Knauf of›    S*P*A*C*E››       Having had the  opportunity  to›  use  both  the BlackBox from CSS and›  the MIO from ICD, I thought I  would›  share  what  I  have  learned  about›  these  two unique pieces of hardware›  for the 8-bit Atari.  The systems  I›  have  used include:  130XE computers›  (upgraded to 512k), 1-meg MIO,  256k›  MIO,  BlackBox,  Supra  Modem  2400,›  Seikosha  MP-1300AI printer, 2 Happy›  1050 floppy drives, an Adaptec 4000a›  hard  drive  controller,  2  Adaptec›  5500  hard  drive   controllers,   a›  Seagate  ST225  20 meg hard drive, a›  ATASI 3046 40 meg hard drive, and  a›  CMI 5616 13 meg hard drive.››       An explanation of just what the›  MIO and BlackBox are is  in  order. ›  Both  include  a SASI/SCSI hard disk›  interface, a printer port, an  RS232›  port,  and  some  type  of   printer›  buffer.   The  MIO comes with either›  256k or 1 megabyte of dynamic ram on›  board  which  can  be  used  as  any›  combination  of  ramdisk(s)   and/or›  printer spooler.  The BlackBox comes›  either with no user ram  or  64k  of›  static ram which can be used only as›  a printer buffer.  The BlackBox  can›  also use the standard extended banks›  of a 130XE as a 64k printer buffer. ›  The  RS232  and/or printer ports can›  be disabled in both units  to  allow›  an  external device such as an Atari›  850 interface to be used.  Both come›  with  clear manuals printed on 8 1/2›  by   11  inch  unbound  paper.   The›  pinouts for all  ports  are  clearly›  shown  in  the manuals and there are›  examples showing how  to  set  up  a›  hard  disk  system.   The  BB manual›  includes   several  short  assembler›  listings  showing  some  methods  of›  accessing   the   BB   from  machine›  language.››  Appearance:›  ----------››       The MIO comes in  a  nice  gray›  case  with  the  SCSI  connector and›  printer port on one end.  The  other›  end  has  the  RS232  port,   on/off›  switch,  power plug, and two LED's -›   one is a power indicator the  other›  lights  up when the MIO is busy.  My›  1-meg MIO has a second 9 pin plug on›  this  end  for  a  planned 80 column›  adapter which never  happened.   The›  50  conductor  ribbon  cable   which›  plugs  into  the  computer is on one›  side.  The BB comes with  no  case. ›  Cases  are  available  for  it   for›  $39.95  (and they are even black!). ›  On the front edge is  the  connector›  which  plugs  into  the  130XE.  The›  other side has the  SCSI  connector,›  the floppy controller connector (see›  below), and  the  power  plug.   The›  printer  plugs  onto one end and the›  modem on the other.  The BB also has›  two  LED's  which  serve  the   same›  functions as the ones on the MIO.››  Plugging it in:›  --------------››       The  MIO has a 50 pin connector›  which   plugs  in  to  the  parallel›  expansion port on a 600XL or  800XL.›  An  XE adapter must be purchased for›  $16.95 to plug the MIO into a  130XE›  computer.   This  adapter plugs into›  both the ECI port and the  cartridge›  port  on  the  130XE and has sockets›  for   two  cartridges  on  it.   The›  second cartridge plug  is  primarily›  for  the Rtime-8 cartridge from ICD.›  The   BlackBox   is  built  to  plug›  directly into the 130XE.   It  comes›  with  a  short  50  pin  cable   for›  plugging  into  an  XL  machine.  No›  extra adapter is needed.  For my own›  system,  I  use  the XE adapter from›  ICD and plug the 50 pin cable on the›  BB  into it.  (I use the Rtime-8 and›  this   keeps   the  cartridge  stack›  shorter.) The MIO has the expected 9›  pin  and  15  pin  d-connectors  for›  plugging in your printer and modem. ›  The BB comes with 34 pin card  edges›  for  use  with  34  conductor ribbon›  cable.  You can use standard  crimp-›  on  connectors  for both cables (use›  25 conductor ribbon  cable  for  the›  modem  cable)  or  you  can  buy the›  cables you need from CSS.  There  is›  also  an  unused  34 connection card›  edge on the BB.   This  is  for  the›  floppy  controller   that   CSS   is›  planning  to  release.   This floppy›  controller will allow  the  user  to›  attach industry standard disk drives›  - up to 80 track 720k - to the  BB. ›  The  MIO  comes with a heavy duty 9v›  power supply.   The  BlackBox  comes›  with  a power supply which has +12v,›  -12v  and  +5v  output.   All  three›  voltages are used by the BB.››  Menus:›  -----››       Both the MIO and  the  BlackBox›  have  menus.   Here  is  a  list  of›  options available from the main menu›  of both:››        1)  Assign  drives  as  floppy›  disks, or  hard  drive  partitions. ›  When  assigning  floppy  drives, you›  can assign any physical floppy drive›  respond  as  any  drive from D1:  to›  D8:  (and D9:   on  the  BlackBox). ›  Note:   On the MIO ramdisks can also›  be defined.  These ramdisks refer to›  MIO  memory  only   -   not   memory›  available  inside the computer.  Use›  a   DOS   ramdisk  handler  for  the›  extended memory in the computer.››       2) Swap Drives -  shows  up  as›  'Exchange  Drives'  on  the BlackBox›  and allows you  to  swap  the  drive›  assignments  of  two  drives.    For›  example, you could swap drives 1 and›  4.  The drive assigned to D4:  would›  then become logical drive #1 and you›  could boot from it while  the  drive›  that  was  drive  1  would  then  be›  addressable  as  D4:.   I am writing›  this using PaperClip which I  booted›  from  my  hard  drive   using   this›  method.››       3)  Lock  Drive - Write locks a›  drive   if   it   is  a  hard  drive›  partition or a ramdisk.››       4) Save Congfiguration  -  this›  writes  the current configuration to›  the first sector of device 0, 0 (the›  first  Hard  drive on your system). ›  If no hard  drive  is  present  this›  option  does  nothing.   The   other›  options  available  from these menus›  are   different   enough   to   need›  separate descriptions.›››  The MIO Menu:›  ------------››       The  MIO  menu  is  entered  by›  holding  down  the SELECT button and›  pressing RESET.  This loads the menu›  into  the  computers   program   ram›  starting  at  address  $3000.   This›  destroys  whatever  was there, so it›  is best to  re-  boot  the  computer›  after  accessing the menu.  The main›  menu   is  the  drive  configuration›  menu.  This is where you set up your›  hard drive partitions, partition the›  MIO ram into  ramdisks,  and  assign›  floppy drives. The printer and RS232›  menus are also accessed from  here. ›  Available from the printer menu:››       1 - Pause/Resume Printing.›       2 - Clear Spooler.›       3 - Print Repeat Copies.›       4 - Set Port Type.›       5 - Set Spooler Size.›       6 - Set Port Number.››       The  'Repeat   Copies'   option›  allows  you  to  print copies of any›  text  currently  in  the  MIO  print›  spooler.    Setting  the  port  type›  allows printing to  either  parallel›  and  serial printers.  This function›  is also  used  to  turn  line  feeds›  on/off.   Spooler size is adjustable›  in 32k byte increments from 0  (OFF)›  up  to  the maximum ram available on›  the   MIO.   Maximum  available  ram›  includes all  ram  on  the  MIO  not›  already  assigned  to ramdisks.  The›  port number can be set to P1:,  P2:,›  or  OFF.   Available  from the RS232›  menu:››       1 - Set Baud Rate.›       2 - Set Stop Bits.›       3 - Set Parity.›       4 - Assign Port Number.››       Baud rate can be set  from  110›  to  19,  200 baud.  Stop bits can be›  set to either 1 or 2.  Parity can be›  set  to  none, odd, even, or space. ›  Since most terminal software handles›  these  items, I am not sure why they›  are on the menu.   Maybe  it  looked›  empty without some extra options...  ›  R1:, R2:, or NONE are the  allowable›  port assignments.››  The BlackBox Menu:›  -----------------››       The BlackBox menu is entered by›  pressing a button on the  BlackBox. ›  This   menu   does   not   use   any›  programming  ram  and  is  therefore›  non-destructive.  You can enter  the›  menu and usually exit with no effect›  on the  program  you  are  running. ›  Available  from  the  BlackBox  menu›  are:››       1 - Drive Configuration Menu.›       2 - Port Status Menu.›       3 - 6502 Monitor.››       From  the  Drive  configuration›  menu  you  can  partition  your hard›  drive,  assign  floppies,  add  hard›  drive partitions  to  the  partition›  list  (explained  below),  enter the›  controller   menu,   or   enter  the›  partition list menu.  The controller›  menu  allows  you  to  add  up  to 8›  different   hard   drives   to  your›  system.  The BlackBox allows you  to›  have up to 96 hard drive partitions. ›  The information on these  partitions›  (size,  start sector, controller and›  drive number, etc) is  kept  in  the›  partition  list.  You are allowed to›  name each partition with any name of›  up to 11 characters 10 of which show›  up   in   the   menu.    The    main›  configuration  table of the BlackBox›  has room  for  nine  drives  (and/or›  partitions).   You  can   load   any›  partition  from  the  partition list›  into the main configuration table by›  going  to the partition list, moving›  the cursor to the partition you want›  and  pressing RETURN.  You will then›  be     returned    to    the    main›  configuration table and  asked  what›  drive  you want the partition loaded›  as.  Options on the port status menu›  are:››       1 - I/O Sound On/Off.›       2 - RS232 Port On/Off.›       3 - Printer Port Number.›       4 - Printer Line Feeds On/Off.›       5 - Spooler Status.›       6 - HD Partition List Start›           Sector.›       7 - Save Configuration.››       Yes,  I/O  sound  with  a  hard›  drive, heh.  The RS232 port can only›  be turned on/off with no  option  to›  be  assigned  as anything other than›  R1:.    The   printer  port  can  be›  assigned as any one of P1:   through›  P8:,  ALL,  or NONE.  Spooler status›  cycles   between  off,  XE  extended›  banks, and BlackBox ram (if the  ram›  is  available  on  the BB).  This is›  also where you tell the BB where  to›  look  for  the  partition list which›  takes up to 14 sectors  and  can  be›  located  anywhere  on the first hard›  disk on the system.   You  can  save›  the  configuration  here  as well as›  from the drive configuration  menu. ›  The  6502 monitor is the best I have›  seen   for   the  8-bit  Atari.   It›  doesn't have  as  many  features  as›  others  but it is transparent to the›  system and does a MUCH better job of›  interupting  a  program  than either›  DDT or Omnimon.  I have  retired  my›  Omnimon  and  never  used  DDT  much›  anyway.  With the BB monitor you can›  interupt a  program,  examine/change›  memory,  and  usually  resume  right›  where  you  left  off.   Ever  had a›  lockup you couldn't get  out  of  by›  pressing RESET?  With the BB monitor›  you can change the  program  counter›  to  point  to  E477  (the cold start›  vector) and when you exit the BB the›  computer  will  cold start.  This is›  nice for saving the  files  in  your›  ramdisks.   Note:  While snooping in›  the BB ROM I discovered that holding›  the  HELP  key  and  pressing  RESET›  causes a cold start.  Holding SHIFT-›  HELP does not cause the cold start. ›  This  feature  was  not mentioned in›  the documentation.››  Software:›  --------››       Other than programs  to  format›  hard  drives, the only software I am›  aware of for these devices  requires›  SpartaDOS.  There are programs to:››       1) swap drive assigns.›       2) Lock/Unlock drives/›          partitions.›       3) Load/Save configuration›          tables from/to disk files.›       4) Load/Save BB partition›          lists from/to disk files.›       5) Print info contained in›          config files and partition›          list files.›       6) Load a partition from the›          partition list into the›          configuration table of the›          BB.››       There  are  also some.CMD files›  used by BBS Express Pro!  sysops  to›  work  with the MIO.  I am sure there›  is software available that  I  don't›  know  about  or  forgot  to  mention›  here.››  Miscellaneous:›  -------------››       There  are  two  buttons,   two›  switches,  and  a  bank of eight dip›  switches on the  BlackBox.   One  of›  the  buttons  is  used to access the›  menu.  The other dumps the screen to›  the  printer.   This  can be done at›  any   time.   One  of  the  switches›  allows you to select either text  or›  graphics  mode for the screen dump. ›  In graphics mode all Atari  graphics›  characters appear on paper just like›  they do on your screen.  In graphics›  mode,  screen  dumps  take  the full›  width of 8 1/2 by  11  inch  paper. ›  This  makes a graphics 0 screen look›  like graphics 2 on  the  print-out. ›  The  other   toggle   switch   write›  protects  ALL  hard drives.  This is›  handy when you want to try out a new›  program  and  don't  want it to mess›  with   the  hard  drives.   The  dip›  switches are used as follows:››       1) Force printer fault line  to›  NO FAULT.  This causes the BB to not›  send any data to the  printer.   You›  could have another printer interface›  (and   printer)   attached  to  your›  computer and control  which  printer›  prints with this switch.››       2)  Enable  hard disk port/high›  speed floppy SIO.  This  allows  you›  to  disable  access  to  your   hard›  drives  and  disable  the  BB's high›  speed SIO code for floppy disks.››       *3)   Enable  parallel  printer›  port.››      *4) Enable RS232 port.››      *5) Enable printer line feeds.››       6)  Printer  is  a  Prowriter. ›  (Used by graphics dump routine.)››       7) MIO compatibility mode where›  hard drives  are  concerned.     The›  MIO inverts all data as it writes to›  the hard drive.  In normal mode, the›  BlackBox  doesn't to this.  Flipping›  this switch to the MIO mode allows a›  hard  drive to be used by either the›  MIO or the  BlackBox.   Note:   this›  affects  ALL  hard  drives  that are›  online.››       8) unused.››       * Switches 3-5 are  mainly  for›  systems  with no hard drives online.›  If a hard drive is present this info›  is  contained  on  the configuration›  sector.  The BB gives  more  storage›  capacity  on  hard  drives than does›  the MIO.  It is  able  to  format  a›  drive using 512 byte sectors.  These›  are accessed  as  256  byte  sectors›  after  formatting.   (Each  512 byte›  physical  sector  contains  two  256›  byte logical sectors).   CSS  claims›  that  using  512  byte sector format›  can add up to  20%  to  the  storage›  available on a hard drive.  I gained›  a little over 10% formatting  my  40›  meg hard drive in this mode.  I have›  a 40 meg drive that formats  out  as›  follows:››    Format  type       sectors›     MIO- 256 byte sectors 146685.›     BB - 256 byte sectors 148994.›     BB - 512 byte sectors *162530.››       * This is the number of logical›  (256 byte) sectors.  The only way  I›  have  found  to  empty  the  printer›  buffer  on  the BlackBox is to enter›  the port status menu and  cycle  the›  buffer off/on.  Printing through the›  Printer   buffer   with  either  the›  BlackBox or the MIO slows down  both›  the   printing   process   and   the›  computer (especially when  accessing›  other devices like disk drives).››  Reliability:›  -----------››       The  MIO  has  been  plagued by›  problems   and  rumors  of  problems›  since it was released.  I personally›  know  of  at least 11 MIO's that had›  to be sent in  for  repairs  at  one›  time or another.  (And I only know 8›  people who own MIO's.) I  bought  my›  MIO's  second hand and both had been›  sent back by the original owners  to›  be  fixed.  Here are some problems I›  have   experienced  when  using  the›  MIO:››       1) Wierd things  have  happened›  when  I  used  the  printer buffer. ›  Everything from wierd flickering and›  characters  showing up on the screen›  to   garabage   being  sent  to  the›  printer.››       2) I could not  use  my  Mac/65›  cartridge  and the ram in the MIO at›  the same time.  When  I  tried,  the›  ramdisk(s)    formatted   themselves›  whenever they felt like it and I had›  to  use  a  sector editor to recover›  anything important.  To my knowledge›  no  one else has had this particular›  problem.››       3) When using terminal programs›  the  MIO  frequently locked up on me›  while I was online.  I suspect  that›  this  is  a  problem when the MIO is›  the originator of a call  because  I›  know  of  many  BBS's  using the MIO›  that have been  online  for  a  long›  time  with  no such problem.  Note: ›  BobTerm 1.20 claims  to  solve  this›  lockup problem by supplying it's own›  handler   for  the  MIO  which  also›  allows it  to  transfer  at  a  true›  19200  baud  rate.   I  have  had no›  problems with  the  BlackBox  except›  when  I  wired  it  into my 230 watt›  power supply.  I reversed  the  +12v›  and -12v lines and fried a couple of›  chips.  A normal  person  would  not›  have done this.››  Product Support:›  ---------------››        ICD    has   apparently   lost›  interest   in   the   Atari    8-bit›  machines.   At  this time they offer›  little  support  for  the  MIO.   If›  anything goes wrong,  they  are  not›  likely to offer any help to the user›  at   all   beyond  fixing  them  for›  $40.00+parts+shipping.     My    own›  experience with ICD has left  a  lot›  to  be  desired.   I have been using›  ICD products since  about  1984.   I›  use  the  SpartaDOS  X-cartridge and›  when I first got my MIO, I  couldn't›  exit  the  menu without the computer›  doing   a   cold-start.     Thinking›  something  was wrong with the MIO, I›  called ICD for help.   My  call  was›  forwarded    to   to   a   technical›  assistance person.  I  explained  my›  system and the problem to him and he›  told me that the MIO was faulty  and›  to  send  it  in  for  repairs.   He›  informed  me  that the repairs would›  cost  $40.00+parts+shipping.   Well,›  it turns out that  exiting  the  MIO›  menu  with  a  cartridge  plugged in›  causes a cold-start with all  MIO's.›  So  much  for getting good help from›  ICD for their 8-bit  products.   (In›  fairness to ICD, I hear that they do›  a better  job  supporting  their  ST›  product  line.)  CSS,  on  the other›  hand has proved to be  a  gold  mine›  for Atari 8-bitters.  As I mentioned›  above, I fried a couple of chips  on›  my BlackBox.  I called CSS and (with›  some embarassment) told Ron  exactly›  what I did.  Instead of saying 'Send›  it in with your  wallet,  checkbook,›  and credit cards' he told me exactly›  what chips I had probably fried.   I›  found  the chips at Radio Shack (for›  about $2.00) and fixed my  BlackBox.›  These  folks  really  do  care!  The›  people at  CSS  have  answered  some›  pretty dumb questions for me (one or›  two  intelligent  ones  too).   They›  have even helped people  with  their›  ICD  products.  They have also given›  me   any   technical  information  I›  needed - or thought I  needed  -  to›  write programs for the BlackBox.››  Trivia:›  ------››       BB  really  stands for BobBox. ›  (For creator Bob Puff.)››  Conclusion:›  ----------››       The MIO has been  plagued  with›  reliability  problems.   The   RS232›  handler  has  been  known  to  cause›  lockups  when  online  and drops the›  carrier (hangs up  the  modem)  when›  RESET is pressed.  The print spooler›  sometimes does wierd things  and  is›  only  semi-reliable.   I  have  been›  told  that  the  spooler   sometimes›  writes to hard drives instead of the›  printer.  I kept the spooler  turned›  off when my hard drive was attached. ›  I just didn't want  to  verify  this›  the hard way.  The MIO is also known›  to have (electronic) noise problems,›  especially  when used with 130XE's. ›  The   result   is  loss  of  ramdisk›  configuration  and/or  contents.   I›  have only  heard  a  few  complaints›  about the hard disk interface on the›  MIO.  I have experienced no problems›  with the hd interface.  Pretty is as›  pretty does.  I have found the BB to›  be a far more reliable tool than the›  MIO.  It is more  flexible  in  most›  areas,  offers  more  options,   and›  product support is just great! (Ed.-›  ICD has decided to leave the  8  BIT›  field)››            === END ===›  Editors note: Beauty is in the  eyes›  of the beholder. I (ALEX), purchased›  my  one  Meg  MIO  board  about 3 or›  4 years ago from  a club  member who›  went to the ST (for no good reason),›  and I have been using it  with my 20›  Meg Hard  Drive  on a daily basis as›  the OL' HACKERS President,  and I am›  happy  to say I have  loved each and›  every trouble free  minute.  I guess›  it is all a matter of luck.››            == REAl END ==