Another thought on the terminal, while I'm thinking about it. First, the PIC isn't the only game in town. You can actually buy a fully built ESP32 terminal on Amazon. It just needs a level converter and a DB25 to hook up to the Tandy.
The reason I mention that is that, being an ESP32, it also has WiFi support, so someone could use it not only as a display terminal, but also a wireless interface for other purposes... Tom Wilson [email protected] (619)940-6311 K6ABZ On Tue, Apr 14, 2020 at 2:42 PM B4 Me100 <[email protected]> wrote: > Speaking of video adapters has anyone used the ‘newish' Arduino MKR Vidor > 4000, it comes with an FPGA and ARM processor. From the YT videos it looks > like it can be configured to drive HDMI and leave quite a few pins free for > serial ports and digital IO. It also comes with a built in WiFi. The > processor is programmed via the Arduino IDE so is quite accessible. A bit > pricey currently but interesting device. > > From: M100 <[email protected]> on behalf of Stephen > Adolph <[email protected]> > Reply-To: <[email protected]> > Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 2:18 PM > To: <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [M100] Video adapter. > > I have a few bugs to sort out. > DVI works in an interesting way. > MENU is always on the LCD. > So, one goes into BASIC, issues SCREEN 1 command to use DVI. > Then, as I understand it, to get to TEXT you would first go to MENU (on > LCD), select TEXT and automatically be back to DVI again. > I have a bug to sort out for returning to MENU. > > BTW, VT100 is 80x24. DVI was 80x25. So, I think that is another minor > difference.. only 24 lines supported. Potentially we could go 80x36 > though... apparently this is possible with VT100. > > Steve > > On Tue, Apr 14, 2020 at 4:54 PM Philip Avery <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Good going, Steve. This will be so cool in native M100 mode, we've been >> waiting decades for a low cost & low footprint solution to give us 80x24. >> Have you got TEXT working yet? >> >> Philip >> >> On 15/04/2020 2:44 am, Stephen Adolph wrote: >> >> update: >> Towards the goal of a next-generation video solution for M100, I have >> some progress to share. >> Recall this thread where I suggest that the "Geoff VT100 adapter" as the >> hardware to focus on. >> >> First, I have a "beta" VT100 driver solution, which is closely based on >> Microsoft Disk-Basic (minus the disk stuff). >> While still buggy, I can now drive the VT100 board, and attached VGA >> monitor from BASIC. >> >> Secondly, in order to really support M100, the software component in the >> VT100 emulator board needs to be extended. I'm working on that. This does >> imply that the "Geoff VT100" board, as it was originally designed, won't >> work perfectly for M100. But, I'll post the updated software image so >> anyone with this board already can update their board. >> >> I'll keep posting updates as this progresses. >> >> Steve >> >> >> On Sun, Apr 5, 2020 at 8:41 AM Stephen Adolph <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> As some of you may recall, it is fairly straightforward to access an >>> 80x24 screen in CP/M through the use of the M100 serial port, and an >>> external VT100 emulator. >>> >>> This device: >>> http://geoffg.net/terminal.html >>> <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgeoffg.net%2Fterminal.html&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cc7b0eab61f1a4914209d08d7e0b970af%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637224959371264768&sdata=gHDOlErk5PzQik%2B%2FFgytxFkP0u24n8hmOb3%2FUfG5O10%3D&reserved=0> >>> >>> is a great example of how to connect a modern VGA flat screen display to >>> the M100. However, this exact design isn't really convenient, as the >>> serial data has to be connected with a custom cable. (see the little white >>> 4 pin header). >>> >>> I've decided to make a variant of this design that has a DB-9 connector >>> on it, for serial data, so that it can be easily connected to the M100. >>> >>> I'll be making kits available for this design, and the price will be 30$ >>> US. Hopefully by making this affordable and easier to connect, this can >>> become the defacto solution to 80x24 display! >>> >>> This solution will work with CP/M right away, but the next task will be >>> - how to use this solution with Model T natively. This will take some >>> software work. A port of the "DVI software" to leverage serial >>> communication to the VT100 adapter is one way to do this. >>> >>> This solution is also compatible with the "BCR serial port" modification >>> which allows for serial data transmission at up to 120kbits/sec. A nice >>> solution to exernal video that frees up the real RS-232 port of the laptop >>> for comms. >>> >>> I'll be updating the REX wiki with some information on this. Kits >>> aren't ready just yet. I'm waiting for my boards to arrive. >>> >>> cheers >>> Steve >>> >>> >>> >>
