Re: [M100] VirtualT support for REXCPM hardware

[John R. Hogerhuis]

Good sleuthing.

But isn't that more of a workaround than a fix? Since it reduces the
accuracy of the emulation.

Why does that code cause it to bog down?

-- John.

Re: [M100] VirtualT support for REXCPM hardware

[Tom Wilson]

Okay, the bug was confirmed, and a fix was proposed.

If you know how to edit and compile the source, the bug is in io.c, lines
1267-1274.
These lines need to be removed:

/* Loop through all LCD driver modules */
> for (c = 0; c < 10; c++)
> {
> /* Check if this driver is enabled */
> if (lcdbits & (1 << c))
> if (lcdTime[c]+.14 > hirestimer())
> return (0x80);
> }


What's happening there is Ken was trying to account for the time it takes
to update the LCD data, because he had a program working on the simulator
but failing on a real computer. I just commented the whole block out, like
this:

// /* Loop through all LCD driver modules */

// for (c = 0; c < 10; c++)

// {

// /* Check if this driver is enabled */

// if (lcdbits & (1 << c))

// if (lcdTime[c]+.14 > hirestimer())

//return (0x80);

// }


I have an EXE compiled for Windows 10. I'm not sure if it will work under
Windows 7.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1P8uBYIuU6z9wKY3loSnhAYr2pNtWRcSo



Tom Wilson
wilso...@gmail.com
(619)940-6311
K6ABZ


On Thu, Mar 12, 2020 at 11:15 PM Brian White  wrote:

> I haven't tried any other versions but 1.7, but I did notice that. I tried
> playing with all the emulated cpu clock settings but I just assumed it's
> old free software and isn't perfect. I never tried any older versions to
> notice a regression. I thought it was mostly the widget library mayve being
> too simple and inefficient. But definitely the machine I was running on was
> not the problem in terms of hardware. This was also self compiled with no
> errors or warnings after I cleared up a few things, and it was the latest
> version of (i forget the gui lib name) not the older version explicitly
> mentioned in the docs, so I figured it could be that too.
>
> So with a few different ways that might mean self-inflicted problems I
> didn't complain. But as a data point to your question, yes I find 1.7 to be
> very slow.
>
> I'll have to try 1.6
>
> --
> bkw
>
> On Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 7:46 PM Tom Wilson  wrote:
>
>> Speaking of 1.7... I installed it next to 1.6, and I've noticed that
>> booting and running programs on 1.7 is MUCH slower like the CPU
>> emulation is running at 1MHz or something.
>>
>> Has anyone else seen this, or am I just going crazy?
>>
>>
>> Tom Wilson
>> wilso...@gmail.com
>> (619)940-6311
>> K6ABZ
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 12, 2020 at 4:05 PM Gregory McGill 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> nice!!!
>>>
>>> On Thu, Mar 12, 2020 at 3:03 PM Stephen Adolph 
>>> wrote:
>>>
 Well, it's been a learning journey but I've been able to get VirtualT
 to support and emulate REXCPM hardware!
 I'm happy because it means I understand at least something about C and
 C++ now ;).

 This is a great step forward, as now it will be much easier to port Rex
 Manager over to the new hardware.

 I'll work with Ken to hopefully get this work into the main stream of
 VT.  What I've done is a fork from VT 1.7
 ..Steve

Re: [M100] DVI cable length

[Mike Stein]

- Original Message - 
From: James Zeun 
To: m...@bitchin100.com 
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 7:56 PM
Subject: Re: [M100] DVI cable length


> I'm gutted the DVI writes floppys in a different format to the TPDD. Curse 
> you Tandy!

Just curious; what'd you have in mind?

Re: [M100] DVI cable length

[Doug Jackson]

Sigh...

Sadly it is from.an era long before small system standards.  How cool would
the world be if we could have standardised on a single floppy format.

We couldn't even get RS232 right

On Sat, 14 Mar. 2020, 10:56 am James Zeun,  wrote:

> You know what, it's very tempting as I find soldering very cathartic. But
> the cable is ordered now.
>
> I'm gutted the DVI writes floppys in a different format to the TPDD. Curse
> you Tandy!
>
>
>
> On Fri, 13 Mar 2020, 6:16 pm Brian K. White,  wrote:
>
>> On 3/13/20 5:15 AM, James Zeun wrote:
>> > Well of course I knew I could buy a £4 cable and save myself half an
>> > hour soldering 40 wires, well 80! What do you take me for some sort of
>> > idiot? *Cough* :-P
>> >
>> > There's always someone with a bright idea. Well I'm going to make
>> coffee
>> > and try to not feel too disappointed about all that soldering I'm
>> > missing out on, now I have a 30cm extension cable ordered.
>> >
>> > *Goes off grumbling to himself*
>> >
>> > Thanks Brian! ;-)
>>
>> Someone else said splice you didn't, but in this same conversation, so I
>> just addressed it all in one post.
>>
>> Are you *sure* you don't want to perform 80 solder and heat-shrink
>> splices? It can be very zen. :)
>>
>> --
>> bkw
>>
>> > On Fri, 13 Mar 2020, 5:34 am Brian White, > > > wrote:
>> >
>> > It's easier than that. If you take pretty much any idc connector and
>> > put it back to back or hed yo head with another, the end result is
>> > the "twist" where pin 1 switches places with pin 40, pin 2 switches
>> > places with pin 39, etc.
>> >
>> > What I mean by "any idc" is, for instance, a wire-to-board back to
>> > back with a male pin header. That makes a Model 102 or 200 cable.
>> >
>> >
>> http://tandy.wiki/Disk/Video_Interface:_Cable#Cable_supporting_models_102_and_200_only
>> >
>> > Another form of the same thing is if you put 2 male pin headers back
>> > to back, that makes an adapter that can serve as the the twisty part
>> > on a cable set that works on all 3 models.
>> >
>> > http://tandy.wiki/Disk/Video_Interface:_Cable
>> >
>> > Or head to head: Mike Stein showed me (well everyone) that if you
>> > just take any standard 40 pin cables and butt two female ends face
>> > to face with a "gender changer" pin header, that results in the same
>> > twist.
>> >
>> > That page above has links to buy all the odd parts for the different
>> > ways to do it.
>> >
>> > But for a pcb to do the switcheroo, the pcb is nothing more than 40
>> > straight lines just to make it easier to solder two plugs back to
>> > back. See the "twist adapter" link in that page.
>> >
>> > You don't have to splice anything to make the cable longer. Just buy
>> > or make a bog-standard 40 pin male-female extension cable, and stick
>> > it on the DVI end of the cable. They are readily available pre-made
>> > and cheap these days in the form of "gpio" cables for arduino or
>> > raspberry pi.
>> >
>> > You can search "male female gpio" or similar on ebay or just pick a
>> > length here:
>> >
>> > http://www.cablesonline.com/240pinidedir.html
>> >
>> > --
>> > bkw
>> >
>> > On Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 5:33 PM RETRO Innovations
>> > mailto:go4re...@go4retro.com>> wrote:
>> >
>> > On 3/12/2020 4:17 PM, Mike Stein wrote:
>> >> 
>> >> Hi Jim,
>> >> I wouldn't call it a newbie mistake ;-) Those 'non-standard'
>> >> 40-pin DIP headers have been impossible to find; maybe with
>> >> your resources you can find some somewhere so they can just
>> >> simply be crimped on.
>> >
>> > I'm wondering if the switch could be made at the other end, with
>> > a small PCB and the respective female header attached to it...
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> bkw
>>
>

[M100] Wordstar

[Stephen Adolph]

Under CP/M, file size for wordstar is limited by disk.

For the power writers out there... CP/M for M100 running on REXCPM will
open un new large file potential!

REXCPM comes in 2 flavors.  2MB and 4MB.

Re: [M100] Dockerized TPDD access to storage server

[John R. Hogerhuis]

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 4:59 PM Joshua O'Keefe 
wrote:

> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 4:14 PM Jim Anderson  wrote:
>
>> I'm really unclear on what this gets you vs. just leaving LaddieAlpha
>> running in a screen session or whatnot.
>>
>
> As a pretty old school UNIX guy myself, it took me quite a long while to
> warm up to the benefits of containerization.  In the specific case of
> LaddieAlpha, an apparently closed source (?) binary blob that requires a
> heavy runtime I don't want installed, stuffing the whole thing into a
> container as a sandbox assures me that it is wholly and entirely unable to
> affect anything outside the container and the directory I give it.  I do
> this with nearly all of the user-facing services that run on the household
> server.  A problem with any one service is, through the magic of cgroups,
> unable to affect any of the others, or the host node itself.  You could
> accomplish some of the same benefits with a chroot or something like a BSD
> jail.  Docker's just dead easy to use for the use case.
>

Source is available for LaddieAlpha and HTERM.

http://bitchin100.com/pub-git/

As to "heavy runtime..." shrug.

-- John.

Re: [M100] Dockerized TPDD access to storage server

[Joshua O'Keefe]

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 4:14 PM Jim Anderson  wrote:

> I'm really unclear on what this gets you vs. just leaving LaddieAlpha
> running in a screen session or whatnot.
>

As a pretty old school UNIX guy myself, it took me quite a long while to
warm up to the benefits of containerization.  In the specific case of
LaddieAlpha, an apparently closed source (?) binary blob that requires a
heavy runtime I don't want installed, stuffing the whole thing into a
container as a sandbox assures me that it is wholly and entirely unable to
affect anything outside the container and the directory I give it.  I do
this with nearly all of the user-facing services that run on the household
server.  A problem with any one service is, through the magic of cgroups,
unable to affect any of the others, or the host node itself.  You could
accomplish some of the same benefits with a chroot or something like a BSD
jail.  Docker's just dead easy to use for the use case.

This is getting pretty far off topic, but if you're curious about how this
approach to running services on Linux works for me, feel free to reach out
off-list.  As an opinionated Unix sysadmin of the old school, I'm always
happy to rant about the "right" way to do things.

Re: [M100] DVI cable length

[James Zeun]

You know what, it's very tempting as I find soldering very cathartic. But
the cable is ordered now.

I'm gutted the DVI writes floppys in a different format to the TPDD. Curse
you Tandy!



On Fri, 13 Mar 2020, 6:16 pm Brian K. White,  wrote:

> On 3/13/20 5:15 AM, James Zeun wrote:
> > Well of course I knew I could buy a £4 cable and save myself half an
> > hour soldering 40 wires, well 80! What do you take me for some sort of
> > idiot? *Cough* :-P
> >
> > There's always someone with a bright idea. Well I'm going to make coffee
> > and try to not feel too disappointed about all that soldering I'm
> > missing out on, now I have a 30cm extension cable ordered.
> >
> > *Goes off grumbling to himself*
> >
> > Thanks Brian! ;-)
>
> Someone else said splice you didn't, but in this same conversation, so I
> just addressed it all in one post.
>
> Are you *sure* you don't want to perform 80 solder and heat-shrink
> splices? It can be very zen. :)
>
> --
> bkw
>
> > On Fri, 13 Mar 2020, 5:34 am Brian White,  > > wrote:
> >
> > It's easier than that. If you take pretty much any idc connector and
> > put it back to back or hed yo head with another, the end result is
> > the "twist" where pin 1 switches places with pin 40, pin 2 switches
> > places with pin 39, etc.
> >
> > What I mean by "any idc" is, for instance, a wire-to-board back to
> > back with a male pin header. That makes a Model 102 or 200 cable.
> >
> >
> http://tandy.wiki/Disk/Video_Interface:_Cable#Cable_supporting_models_102_and_200_only
> >
> > Another form of the same thing is if you put 2 male pin headers back
> > to back, that makes an adapter that can serve as the the twisty part
> > on a cable set that works on all 3 models.
> >
> > http://tandy.wiki/Disk/Video_Interface:_Cable
> >
> > Or head to head: Mike Stein showed me (well everyone) that if you
> > just take any standard 40 pin cables and butt two female ends face
> > to face with a "gender changer" pin header, that results in the same
> > twist.
> >
> > That page above has links to buy all the odd parts for the different
> > ways to do it.
> >
> > But for a pcb to do the switcheroo, the pcb is nothing more than 40
> > straight lines just to make it easier to solder two plugs back to
> > back. See the "twist adapter" link in that page.
> >
> > You don't have to splice anything to make the cable longer. Just buy
> > or make a bog-standard 40 pin male-female extension cable, and stick
> > it on the DVI end of the cable. They are readily available pre-made
> > and cheap these days in the form of "gpio" cables for arduino or
> > raspberry pi.
> >
> > You can search "male female gpio" or similar on ebay or just pick a
> > length here:
> >
> > http://www.cablesonline.com/240pinidedir.html
> >
> > --
> > bkw
> >
> > On Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 5:33 PM RETRO Innovations
> > mailto:go4re...@go4retro.com>> wrote:
> >
> > On 3/12/2020 4:17 PM, Mike Stein wrote:
> >> 
> >> Hi Jim,
> >> I wouldn't call it a newbie mistake ;-) Those 'non-standard'
> >> 40-pin DIP headers have been impossible to find; maybe with
> >> your resources you can find some somewhere so they can just
> >> simply be crimped on.
> >
> > I'm wondering if the switch could be made at the other end, with
> > a small PCB and the respective female header attached to it...
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> bkw
>

Re: [M100] NiMH Batteries

[Josh Malone]

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 1:25 PM John R. Hogerhuis  wrote:

>
> In fact the memory backup is a key feature of the machine. I would leave
> it in until you have time to replace it given that it is functioning
> normally and has no leakage or fuzz on it.
>

It is perfectly doable to run these machines without the memory battery. My
primary M100 has no memory battery, but I do have REX, so I just back up to
flash every now and then. My advice would be to snip it while its on your
mind, rather than forget about it for another year and risk leakage.

-Josh (who is paranoid about batteries)

Re: [M100] Dockerized TPDD access to storage server

[Jim Anderson]

> -Original Message-
> 
> $ docker run -d --name "laddiealpha" --device=/dev/ttyUSB0 -
> v"$HOME/model100":/mnt frolvlad/alpine-mono sh -c "cd /mnt/stash && apk
> add setpriv && setpriv --reuid $UID --regid $UID --clear-groups mono
> /mnt/LaddieAlpha.EXE /dev/ttyUSB0 6"
> 
> > 5. Enjoy!
> 
> Hope this is useful for others who use Linux based storage.

Sorry, I guess I'm more of a Linux 'old dog' than I would have liked to 
think... I keep hearing docker mentioned here and there but never with much 
context (so I tune it out)... I'm really unclear on what this gets you vs. just 
leaving LaddieAlpha running in a screen session or whatnot.







jim

[M100] Un enroll

[surferjerr]

How do I in enroll from this forum? Because of "designed obsolescence" I am 
down to using a tablet for email& the amount of emails I receive because of 
this is hard to deal with. Moreover, little that.is discussed has any value 
with y use of my M100. Because of this, I would like to be un-enrolled as soon 
as ?possible. Thank you.

Surfer Jerr

Re: [M100] Un enroll

[Gregory McGill]

http://lists.bitchin100.com/options.cgi/m100-bitchin100.com



On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 3:35 PM  wrote:

> How do I in enroll from this forum? Because of "designed obsolescence" I
> am down to using a tablet for email& the amount of emails I receive because
> of this is hard to deal with. Moreover, little that.is discussed has any
> value with y use of my M100. Because of this, I would like to be
> un-enrolled as soon as ?possible. Thank you.
>
> Surfer Jerr
>

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Joshua O'Keefe]

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 10:07 AM Tom Wilson  wrote:

> file transfer software is at the top of my list. Is TS-DOS the best
> option? Are there any really useful modern custom ROMs that add fixes or
> features, like the Y2K century fix?
>

The REX should apply a Y2K fix, even if you don't do the hardware mod for
ROM replacement.  There are a few other ROMs with application software on
them, most available from the Wiki at
http://bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?title=REX#Option_ROM_Images_for_Download
with
the exception of SARDOS, which Kurt uploaded to the member library at
http://www.club100.org/memfiles/index.php?=0=nom=Kurt%20McCullum

I am using the fixed TS-DOS "4.10" (that works with multiple pages of
files) that was posted to the list recently, loaded from TSLOAD in RAM.
I was previously using TEENY because of the RAM footprint of keeping TS-DOS
(a.k.a. DOS100.CO) available at all times, but when Kurt posted a working
TSLOAD the other day I switched to keeping that installed instead.  I
couldn't find the program anywhere on the Internet, so it was a great
boon!  With TSLOAD, you keep the DOS100.CO on "disk" and just run TSLOAD to
start it off the disk whenever you need the to use the UI.  It's a nice way
to limit the weight of the DOS in memory when you don't have a DOS in ROM.

As a relatively new user, this was kind of an interesting journey to go on,
especially since all the latest and greatest bits aren't really all in one
place, and while there's heaps of documentation out there it's pretty
fragmented and sometimes assumes a bunch of prior approaches that people
aren't using as much.  When my REX shows up, I'll go through it all over
again to learn what ROM I want to use on a primary basis.  My T102 is for
using!

I'm definitely curious what kind of software and ROM loadout folks use on a
daily driver basis.

>

Re: [M100] NiMH Batteries

[Tom Wilson]

Thanks, John.

The REX and battery I ordered from Arcadeshopper will be here next week;
I'll take the system back apart and swap the battery then.

I'm still amazed at the thought that this battery has held out for 32
years. Even with the memory power switch off, I'd have expected it to
self-destruct by now. I guess I still have more to learn. =)

In the meantime, I'm trying to understand the option ROM situation a little
more, so I can decide what's useful when the REX gets here. Is there a
listing somewhere of the option ROMs that have been made for this system,
with detailed descriptions?


Tom Wilson
wilso...@gmail.com
(619)940-6311
K6ABZ


On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 10:25 AM John R. Hogerhuis  wrote:

>
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 10:12 AM Tom Wilson  wrote:
>
>> Is there any risk if I just snip a bad pack out entirely? Assuming I
>> don’t care about the memory contents when the machine is not in use...
>>
>>
> At this point it's not even bad. Just old. It should be replaced when you
> have time to do it.
>
> In fact the memory backup is a key feature of the machine. I would leave
> it in until you have time to replace it given that it is functioning
> normally and has no leakage or fuzz on it.
>
> -- John.
>

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Tom Wilson]

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 12:28 PM Mike Stein  wrote:

> Re the main ROM I was wondering whether it's socketed a la M100 or
> soldered like the T102; sounds like it's socketed.
>
> Re the option ROM I was wondering whether the same OUT command as in the
> 100/102 switches it in and out; I should be able to glean that from the
> schematic.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
isn't there a programmer's reference for this kind of stuff? Or am I just
spoiled after having so much info available on the Commodore 64 and 128?

Ah, there's a technical reference, but I have no idea how to assert the Y5
line from code
https://ftp.whtech.com/club100/doc/t200techreference.pdf
Page 2-7

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Mike Stein]

Re the main ROM I was wondering whether it's socketed a la M100 or soldered 
like the T102; sounds like it's socketed.

Re the option ROM I was wondering whether the same OUT command as in the 
100/102 switches it in and out; I should be able to glean that from the 
schematic.

Thanks.

- Original Message - 
From: "Brian K. White" 
To: 
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 2:39 PM
Subject: Re: [M100] T-102 is here!


> 200 option rom is the same socket and same pinout.
> 
> But the main rom isn't just a 27C256. There is a 2nd chip also for 
> something like 40 KB total. But I don't know more than that so maybe the 
> 32KB main rom can still be considered like any other single chip main 
> rom and the extra 8k is fully separate application code (Multiplan), or 
> maybe there is code mixed across both chips.
> 
> That still wouldn't prevent doing a date patch on just one chip if you 
> didn't change anything else, and if both date digits were in the same chip.
> 
> But for instance the REX main rom feature docs show how it's more 
> complicated to disable the main rom and take over it's function, as you 
> have to disable 2 chips and watch 2 /CS lines that used to go to them. 
> This probably explains why 200 ram banks are only 24K max, not 32.
> 
> -- 
> bkw
> 
> 
> On 3/13/20 2:23 PM, Mike Stein wrote:
>> 
>> Yeah, I was just wondering whether it's in a socket and if the option 
>> ROM mechanism is the same; sounds like yes?
>> 
>> - Original Message -
>> *From:* Kurt McCullum 
>> *To:* m100@lists.bitchin100.com 
>> *Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 2:06 PM
>> *Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!
>> 
>> T200 is a standard 27C256 ROM. I did a patch on mine before I sold it.
>> 
>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020, at 10:51 AM, Mike Stein wrote:
>>> 
>>> There's at least one solution for the two versions of the M100
>>> that lets you both add TS-DOS in ROM and also patch the main ROM
>>> with the Y2K and a couple of other fixes.
>>>
>>> Unfortunately in the T102 it requires unsoldering the system ROM,
>>> not something everyone's keen or comfortable doing.
>>>
>>> I've never looked at the T200 to see what It would require.
>>>
>>> m
>>>
>>> - Original Message -
>>> *From:* Tom Wilson 
>>> *To:* m...@bitchin100.com 
>>> *Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 1:07 PM
>>> *Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!
>>>
>>> file transfer software is at the top of my list. Is TS-DOS the
>>> best option? Are there any really useful modern custom ROMs
>>> that add fixes or features, like the Y2K century fix?
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 9:48 AM Mike Stein
>>> mailto:mhs.st...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>> __
>>> Just curious: what option ROMs do you want to use?
>>>
>>> - Original Message -
>>> *From:* Tom Wilson 
>>> *To:* m...@bitchin100.com 
>>> *Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 12:40 PM
>>> *Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!
>>>
>>>
>>> Yes, I’ve got a Rex in order. I also have a Model 200
>>> on the way. So I’m trying to decide whether to get
>>> another Rex. I got a smoking deal on both this
>>> computer and the 200, and the Rex actually costs more
>>> than the computer.
>>>
>>> I’ll probably go ahead and get a second Rex, but i was
>>> hoping for something a little less expensive for a
>>> machine that will likely sit on the shelf and look
>>> pretty 90% if the time.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 8:43 AM Gregory McGill
>>> >> > wrote:
>>>
>>> rex is available at arcadeshopper.com
>>>  for that option rom socket
>>>
>>> Greg
>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
>>>
>>> Tom Wilson
>>> wilso...@gmail.com 
>>> (619)940-6311
>>> K6ABZ
>>>
>>> -- 
>>>
>>> Tom Wilson
>>> wilso...@gmail.com 
>>> (619)940-6311
>>> K6ABZ
>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> bkw

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Brian K. White]

200 option rom is the same socket and same pinout.

But the main rom isn't just a 27C256. There is a 2nd chip also for 
something like 40 KB total. But I don't know more than that so maybe the 
32KB main rom can still be considered like any other single chip main 
rom and the extra 8k is fully separate application code (Multiplan), or 
maybe there is code mixed across both chips.


That still wouldn't prevent doing a date patch on just one chip if you 
didn't change anything else, and if both date digits were in the same chip.


But for instance the REX main rom feature docs show how it's more 
complicated to disable the main rom and take over it's function, as you 
have to disable 2 chips and watch 2 /CS lines that used to go to them. 
This probably explains why 200 ram banks are only 24K max, not 32.


--
bkw


On 3/13/20 2:23 PM, Mike Stein wrote:


Yeah, I was just wondering whether it's in a socket and if the option 
ROM mechanism is the same; sounds like yes?


- Original Message -
*From:* Kurt McCullum 
*To:* m100@lists.bitchin100.com 
*Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 2:06 PM
*Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

T200 is a standard 27C256 ROM. I did a patch on mine before I sold it.

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020, at 10:51 AM, Mike Stein wrote:


There's at least one solution for the two versions of the M100
that lets you both add TS-DOS in ROM and also patch the main ROM
with the Y2K and a couple of other fixes.

Unfortunately in the T102 it requires unsoldering the system ROM,
not something everyone's keen or comfortable doing.

I've never looked at the T200 to see what It would require.

m

- Original Message -
*From:* Tom Wilson 
*To:* m...@bitchin100.com 
*Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 1:07 PM
*Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

file transfer software is at the top of my list. Is TS-DOS the
best option? Are there any really useful modern custom ROMs
that add fixes or features, like the Y2K century fix?


On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 9:48 AM Mike Stein
mailto:mhs.st...@gmail.com>> wrote:

__
Just curious: what option ROMs do you want to use?

- Original Message -
*From:* Tom Wilson 
*To:* m...@bitchin100.com 
*Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 12:40 PM
*Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!


Yes, I’ve got a Rex in order. I also have a Model 200
on the way. So I’m trying to decide whether to get
another Rex. I got a smoking deal on both this
computer and the 200, and the Rex actually costs more
than the computer.

I’ll probably go ahead and get a second Rex, but i was
hoping for something a little less expensive for a
machine that will likely sit on the shelf and look
pretty 90% if the time.


On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 8:43 AM Gregory McGill
mailto:arcadeshop...@gmail.com>> wrote:

rex is available at arcadeshopper.com
 for that option rom socket

Greg


-- 


Tom Wilson
wilso...@gmail.com 
(619)940-6311
K6ABZ

-- 


Tom Wilson
wilso...@gmail.com 
(619)940-6311
K6ABZ





--
bkw

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Kurt McCullum]

It's a standard ROM socket. When I patched mine, I dumped the ROM bytes out the 
serial port, changed the 19 to 20 and then had a new one burned. Popped out the 
old ROM and inserted the new one. It was simple. The HARD part is getting that 
ribbon cable in and out without breaking it.

Kurt

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020, at 11:23 AM, Mike Stein wrote:
> 
> Yeah, I was just wondering whether it's in a socket and if the option ROM 
> mechanism is the same; sounds like yes?
> 
>> - Original Message -
>> *From:* Kurt McCullum 
>> *To:* m100@lists.bitchin100.com
>> *Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 2:06 PM
>> *Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!
>> 
>> T200 is a standard 27C256 ROM. I did a patch on mine before I sold it.
>> 
>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020, at 10:51 AM, Mike Stein wrote:
>>> 
>>> There's at least one solution for the two versions of the M100 that lets 
>>> you both add TS-DOS in ROM and also patch the main ROM with the Y2K and a 
>>> couple of other fixes.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Unfortunately in the T102 it requires unsoldering the system ROM, not 
>>> something everyone's keen or comfortable doing.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I've never looked at the T200 to see what It would require.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> m
 - Original Message -
 *From:* Tom Wilson 
 *To:* m...@bitchin100.com
 *Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 1:07 PM
 *Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!
 
 file transfer software is at the top of my list. Is TS-DOS the best 
 option? Are there any really useful modern custom ROMs that add fixes or 
 features, like the Y2K century fix?
 
 
 On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 9:48 AM Mike Stein  wrote:
> __
> Just curious: what option ROMs do you want to use?
> 
> 
>> - Original Message -
>> *From:* Tom Wilson 
>> *To:* m...@bitchin100.com
>> *Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 12:40 PM
>> *Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!
>> 
>> 
>> Yes, I’ve got a Rex in order. I also have a Model 200 on the way. So I’m 
>> trying to decide whether to get another Rex. I got a smoking deal on 
>> both this computer and the 200, and the Rex actually costs more than the 
>> computer. 
>> 
>> I’ll probably go ahead and get a second Rex, but i was hoping for 
>> something a little less expensive for a machine that will likely sit on 
>> the shelf and look pretty 90% if the time. 
>> 
>> 
>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 8:43 AM Gregory McGill  
>> wrote:
>>> rex is available at arcadeshopper.com for that option rom socket 
>>> 
>>> Greg
> 
>> -- 
>> 
>> Tom Wilson
>> wilso...@gmail.com
>> (619)940-6311 
>> K6ABZ
 -- 
 
 Tom Wilson
 wilso...@gmail.com
 (619)940-6311 
 K6ABZ

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Mike Stein]

Yeah, I was just wondering whether it's in a socket and if the option ROM 
mechanism is the same; sounds like yes?

  - Original Message - 
  From: Kurt McCullum 
  To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com 
  Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 2:06 PM
  Subject: Re: [M100] T-102 is here!


  T200 is a standard 27C256 ROM. I did a patch on mine before I sold it.


  On Fri, Mar 13, 2020, at 10:51 AM, Mike Stein wrote:

 

There's at least one solution for the two versions of the M100 that lets 
you both add TS-DOS in ROM and also patch the main ROM with the Y2K and a 
couple of other fixes.



Unfortunately in the T102 it requires unsoldering the system ROM, not 
something everyone's keen or comfortable doing.



I've never looked at the T200 to see what It would require.



m

  - Original Message -

  From: Tom Wilson

  To: m...@bitchin100.com

  Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 1:07 PM

  Subject: Re: [M100] T-102 is here!



  file transfer software is at the top of my list. Is TS-DOS the best 
option? Are there any really useful modern custom ROMs that add fixes or 
features, like the Y2K century fix?





  On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 9:48 AM Mike Stein  wrote:



Just curious: what option ROMs do you want to use?



  - Original Message -

  From: Tom Wilson

  To: m...@bitchin100.com

  Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 12:40 PM

  Subject: Re: [M100] T-102 is here!





  Yes, I’ve got a Rex in order. I also have a Model 200 on the way. So 
I’m trying to decide whether to get another Rex. I got a smoking deal on both 
this computer and the 200, and the Rex actually costs more than the computer. 



  I’ll probably go ahead and get a second Rex, but i was hoping for 
something a little less expensive for a machine that will likely sit on the 
shelf and look pretty 90% if the time. 





  On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 8:43 AM Gregory McGill 
 wrote:

rex is available at arcadeshopper.com for that option rom socket  



Greg



  -- 



  Tom Wilson

  wilso...@gmail.com

  (619)940-6311 

  K6ABZ

  -- 



  Tom Wilson

  wilso...@gmail.com

  (619)940-6311 

  K6ABZ

Re: [M100] DVI cable length

[Brian K. White]

On 3/13/20 5:15 AM, James Zeun wrote:
Well of course I knew I could buy a £4 cable and save myself half an 
hour soldering 40 wires, well 80! What do you take me for some sort of 
idiot? *Cough* :-P


There's always someone with a bright idea. Well I'm going to make coffee 
and try to not feel too disappointed about all that soldering I'm 
missing out on, now I have a 30cm extension cable ordered.


*Goes off grumbling to himself*

Thanks Brian! ;-)


Someone else said splice you didn't, but in this same conversation, so I 
just addressed it all in one post.


Are you *sure* you don't want to perform 80 solder and heat-shrink 
splices? It can be very zen. :)


--
bkw

On Fri, 13 Mar 2020, 5:34 am Brian White, > wrote:


It's easier than that. If you take pretty much any idc connector and
put it back to back or hed yo head with another, the end result is
the "twist" where pin 1 switches places with pin 40, pin 2 switches
places with pin 39, etc.

What I mean by "any idc" is, for instance, a wire-to-board back to
back with a male pin header. That makes a Model 102 or 200 cable.


http://tandy.wiki/Disk/Video_Interface:_Cable#Cable_supporting_models_102_and_200_only

Another form of the same thing is if you put 2 male pin headers back
to back, that makes an adapter that can serve as the the twisty part
on a cable set that works on all 3 models.

http://tandy.wiki/Disk/Video_Interface:_Cable

Or head to head: Mike Stein showed me (well everyone) that if you
just take any standard 40 pin cables and butt two female ends face
to face with a "gender changer" pin header, that results in the same
twist.

That page above has links to buy all the odd parts for the different
ways to do it.

But for a pcb to do the switcheroo, the pcb is nothing more than 40
straight lines just to make it easier to solder two plugs back to
back. See the "twist adapter" link in that page.

You don't have to splice anything to make the cable longer. Just buy
or make a bog-standard 40 pin male-female extension cable, and stick
it on the DVI end of the cable. They are readily available pre-made
and cheap these days in the form of "gpio" cables for arduino or
raspberry pi.

You can search "male female gpio" or similar on ebay or just pick a
length here:

http://www.cablesonline.com/240pinidedir.html

-- 
bkw


On Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 5:33 PM RETRO Innovations
mailto:go4re...@go4retro.com>> wrote:

On 3/12/2020 4:17 PM, Mike Stein wrote:


Hi Jim,
I wouldn't call it a newbie mistake ;-) Those 'non-standard'
40-pin DIP headers have been impossible to find; maybe with
your resources you can find some somewhere so they can just
simply be crimped on.


I'm wondering if the switch could be made at the other end, with
a small PCB and the respective female header attached to it...





--
bkw

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Kurt McCullum]

T200 is a standard 27C256 ROM. I did a patch on mine before I sold it.

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020, at 10:51 AM, Mike Stein wrote:
> 
> There's at least one solution for the two versions of the M100 that lets you 
> both add TS-DOS in ROM and also patch the main ROM with the Y2K and a couple 
> of other fixes.
> 
> Unfortunately in the T102 it requires unsoldering the system ROM, not 
> something everyone's keen or comfortable doing.
> 
> I've never looked at the T200 to see what It would require.
> 
> m
>> - Original Message -
>> *From:* Tom Wilson 
>> *To:* m...@bitchin100.com
>> *Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 1:07 PM
>> *Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!
>> 
>> file transfer software is at the top of my list. Is TS-DOS the best option? 
>> Are there any really useful modern custom ROMs that add fixes or features, 
>> like the Y2K century fix?
>> 
>> 
>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 9:48 AM Mike Stein  wrote:
>>> __
>>> Just curious: what option ROMs do you want to use?
>>> 
 - Original Message -
 *From:* Tom Wilson 
 *To:* m...@bitchin100.com
 *Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 12:40 PM
 *Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!
 
 
 Yes, I’ve got a Rex in order. I also have a Model 200 on the way. So I’m 
 trying to decide whether to get another Rex. I got a smoking deal on both 
 this computer and the 200, and the Rex actually costs more than the 
 computer. 
 
 I’ll probably go ahead and get a second Rex, but i was hoping for 
 something a little less expensive for a machine that will likely sit on 
 the shelf and look pretty 90% if the time. 
 
 
 On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 8:43 AM Gregory McGill  
 wrote:
> rex is available at arcadeshopper.com for that option rom socket 
> 
> Greg
>>> 
 -- 
 
 Tom Wilson
 wilso...@gmail.com
 (619)940-6311 
 K6ABZ
>> -- 
>> 
>> Tom Wilson
>> wilso...@gmail.com
>> (619)940-6311 
>> K6ABZ

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Mike Stein]

There's at least one solution for the two versions of the M100 that lets you 
both add TS-DOS in ROM and also patch the main ROM with the Y2K and a couple of 
other fixes. 

Unfortunately in the T102 it requires unsoldering the system ROM, not something 
everyone's keen or comfortable doing.

I've never looked at the T200 to see what It would require.

m
  - Original Message - 
  From: Tom Wilson 
  To: m...@bitchin100.com 
  Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 1:07 PM
  Subject: Re: [M100] T-102 is here!


  file transfer software is at the top of my list. Is TS-DOS the best option? 
Are there any really useful modern custom ROMs that add fixes or features, like 
the Y2K century fix?




  On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 9:48 AM Mike Stein  wrote:
Just curious: what option ROMs do you want to use?

  - Original Message - 
  From: Tom Wilson 
  To: m...@bitchin100.com 
  Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 12:40 PM
  Subject: Re: [M100] T-102 is here!




  Yes, I’ve got a Rex in order. I also have a Model 200 on the way. So I’m 
trying to decide whether to get another Rex. I got a smoking deal on both this 
computer and the 200, and the Rex actually costs more than the computer. 


  I’ll probably go ahead and get a second Rex, but i was hoping for 
something a little less expensive for a machine that will likely sit on the 
shelf and look pretty 90% if the time. 




  On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 8:43 AM Gregory McGill  
wrote:

rex is available at arcadeshopper.com for that option rom socket  


Greg
  -- 

  Tom Wilson
  wilso...@gmail.com
  (619)940-6311 
  K6ABZ
  -- 

  Tom Wilson
  wilso...@gmail.com
  (619)940-6311 
  K6ABZ

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Kurt McCullum]

Y2K fixes are done at the main ROM level. But the REXmanager has a way of 
fixing that as well.

The only modern ROM that I am aware of is SARDOS. I wouldn't consider it 'new' 
since all it is is a combination of the SARDINE and TS-DOS ROMs into one. Gives 
you word processing and file transfers in one ROM.

Kurt

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020, at 10:07 AM, Tom Wilson wrote:
> file transfer software is at the top of my list. Is TS-DOS the best option? 
> Are there any really useful modern custom ROMs that add fixes or features, 
> like the Y2K century fix?
> 
> 
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 9:48 AM Mike Stein  wrote:
>> __
>> Just curious: what option ROMs do you want to use?
>> 
>>> - Original Message -
>>> *From:* Tom Wilson 
>>> *To:* m...@bitchin100.com
>>> *Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 12:40 PM
>>> *Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Yes, I’ve got a Rex in order. I also have a Model 200 on the way. So I’m 
>>> trying to decide whether to get another Rex. I got a smoking deal on both 
>>> this computer and the 200, and the Rex actually costs more than the 
>>> computer. 
>>> 
>>> I’ll probably go ahead and get a second Rex, but i was hoping for something 
>>> a little less expensive for a machine that will likely sit on the shelf and 
>>> look pretty 90% if the time. 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 8:43 AM Gregory McGill  
>>> wrote:
 rex is available at arcadeshopper.com for that option rom socket 
 
 Greg
>> 
>>> -- 
>>> 
>>> Tom Wilson
>>> wilso...@gmail.com
>>> (619)940-6311 
>>> K6ABZ
> -- 
> Tom Wilson
> wilso...@gmail.com
> (619)940-6311 
> K6ABZ

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[John R. Hogerhuis]

" Okay. Then this battery is working... which means it almost certainly is
a replacement, since I can’t imagine a 32 year old NiCd holding a charge. "

Probably it spent most of its life in storage with the memory power switch
off. It looks fine, it's working fine, it's just old.

It's not a replacement. That's the original battery.

-- John.

Re: [M100] NiMH Batteries

[John R. Hogerhuis]

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 10:12 AM Tom Wilson  wrote:

> Is there any risk if I just snip a bad pack out entirely? Assuming I don’t
> care about the memory contents when the machine is not in use...
>
>
At this point it's not even bad. Just old. It should be replaced when you
have time to do it.

In fact the memory backup is a key feature of the machine. I would leave it
in until you have time to replace it given that it is functioning normally
and has no leakage or fuzz on it.

-- John.

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Kevin Becker]

Teeny is what I used instead of TS-DOS before I got a REX. Very minimalist but 
also takes little RAM. 

> On Mar 13, 2020, at 1:07 PM, Tom Wilson  wrote:
> 
> 
> file transfer software is at the top of my list. Is TS-DOS the best option? 
> Are there any really useful modern custom ROMs that add fixes or features, 
> like the Y2K century fix?
> 
> 
>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 9:48 AM Mike Stein  wrote:
> 
>> Just curious: what option ROMs do you want to use?
>>  
>> - Original Message -
>> From: Tom Wilson
>> To: m...@bitchin100.com
>> Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 12:40 PM
>> Subject: Re: [M100] T-102 is here!
>> 
>> 
>> Yes, I’ve got a Rex in order. I also have a Model 200 on the way. So I’m 
>> trying to decide whether to get another Rex. I got a smoking deal on both 
>> this computer and the 200, and the Rex actually costs more than the 
>> computer. 
>> 
>> I’ll probably go ahead and get a second Rex, but i was hoping for something 
>> a little less expensive for a machine that will likely sit on the shelf and 
>> look pretty 90% if the time. 
>> 
>> 
>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 8:43 AM Gregory McGill  
>> wrote:
>>> rex is available at arcadeshopper.com for that option rom socket  
>>> 
>>> Greg
>> -- 
>> Tom Wilson
>> wilso...@gmail.com
>> (619)940-6311 
>> K6ABZ
> -- 
> Tom Wilson
> wilso...@gmail.com
> (619)940-6311 
> K6ABZ

Re: [M100] NiMH Batteries

[Tom Wilson]

Is there any risk if I just snip a bad pack out entirely? Assuming I don’t
care about the memory contents when the machine is not in use...

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 10:07 AM Mike Stein  wrote:

> ... especially if you insert a couple of pins to match the battery
> connectors instead of soldering it in...
>
> Never tried to see how long they hold memory; quite a while I imagine,
> with 300-600 mAh instead of 60 or so... ;-)
>
>
> - Original Message -
> *From:* Kevin Becker 
> *To:* m100@lists.bitchin100.com
> *Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 12:52 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [M100] NiMH Batteries
>
> I didn't realize there was that much spare space. I might give that a go,
> easier for the next person to replace someday in the future.
>
> On Fri, 2020-03-13 at 12:45 -0400, Mike Stein wrote:
>
> 
> I replace mine with cordless phone batteries from the local Dollar Store:
>
>
> - Original Message -
> *From:* Kevin Becker 
> *To:* m...@bitchin100.com
> *Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 12:31 PM
> *Subject:* [M100] NiMH Batteries
>
> Any suggestions for a retail store that might sell the 3.6V memory
> battery? With no Radio Shacks around I can't come up with much. Maybe a
> hobby shop? I have all the caps to refurb my m100 but my battery hasn't
> arrived (or even shipped) and I was hoping to do it all at once this
> weekend. I'll probably end up just doing the caps and removing the old
> battery for now but it'd be nice to get it all done at once.
>
> --
Tom Wilson
wilso...@gmail.com
(619)940-6311
K6ABZ

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Tom Wilson]

Okay. Then this battery is working... which means it almost certainly is a
replacement, since I can’t imagine a 32 year old NiCd holding a charge.

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 10:06 AM B4 Me100  wrote:

> If I recall that is reasonable charge level, but with only  ~200-400uA
> drain it could stay there for quite a while.The standby current is
> ~50uA @ 3.0V or  ~100uA @ 5.5V for the 8Kx8 SRAMs.
>
> From: M100  on behalf of Tom Wilson <
> wilso...@gmail.com>
> Reply-To: 
> Date: Friday, March 13, 2020 at 9:50 AM
> To: 
> Subject: Re: [M100] T-102 is here!
>
>
> Yes, 4.3v sounds right for the charge voltage of a 3 cellNiCd pack.
>
> So now I’m confused by why or how that circuit is holding 4.2-4.3v with no
> AAs in the holder. Are there a lot of caps in that circuit?
>
> I have a hard time believing that a 1987 era battery is holding a charge,
> but I hat the AAs out for a while with the memory switch on, and the
> voltage in that circuit never dropped.
>
> Should I put a small load on that circuit, maybe an LED with a 200 ohm
> resistor?
>
> --
Tom Wilson
wilso...@gmail.com
(619)940-6311
K6ABZ

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Tom Wilson]

file transfer software is at the top of my list. Is TS-DOS the best option?
Are there any really useful modern custom ROMs that add fixes or features,
like the Y2K century fix?


On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 9:48 AM Mike Stein  wrote:

> Just curious: what option ROMs do you want to use?
>
>
> - Original Message -
> *From:* Tom Wilson 
> *To:* m...@bitchin100.com
> *Sent:* Friday, March 13, 2020 12:40 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [M100] T-102 is here!
>
>
> Yes, I’ve got a Rex in order. I also have a Model 200 on the way. So I’m
> trying to decide whether to get another Rex. I got a smoking deal on both
> this computer and the 200, and the Rex actually costs more than the
> computer.
>
> I’ll probably go ahead and get a second Rex, but i was hoping for
> something a little less expensive for a machine that will likely sit on the
> shelf and look pretty 90% if the time.
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 8:43 AM Gregory McGill 
> wrote:
>
>> rex is available at arcadeshopper.com for that option rom socket
>>
>> Greg
>>
>>> --
> Tom Wilson
> wilso...@gmail.com
> (619)940-6311
> K6ABZ
>
> --
Tom Wilson
wilso...@gmail.com
(619)940-6311
K6ABZ

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[B4 Me100]

If I recall that is reasonable charge level, but with only  ~200-400uA drain
it could stay there for quite a while.The standby current is ~50uA @
3.0V or  ~100uA @ 5.5V for the 8Kx8 SRAMs.

From:  M100  on behalf of Tom Wilson

Reply-To:  
Date:  Friday, March 13, 2020 at 9:50 AM
To:  
Subject:  Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

> 
> Yes, 4.3v sounds right for the charge voltage of a 3 cellNiCd pack.
> 
> So now I¹m confused by why or how that circuit is holding 4.2-4.3v with no AAs
> in the holder. Are there a lot of caps in that circuit?
> 
> I have a hard time believing that a 1987 era battery is holding a charge, but
> I hat the AAs out for a while with the memory switch on, and the voltage in
> that circuit never dropped.
> 
> Should I put a small load on that circuit, maybe an LED with a 200 ohm
> resistor?
> 

Re: [M100] NiMH Batteries

[B4 Me100]

That is a neat/cheap solution I shall have to try that next time.

From:  M100  on behalf of Mike Stein

Reply-To:  
Date:  Friday, March 13, 2020 at 9:45 AM
To:  
Subject:  Re: [M100] NiMH Batteries

> I replace mine with cordless phone batteries from the local Dollar Store:
> 

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Stephen Adolph]

Nominal voltage for a single cell can be up to 1.5 V for a nicad.  1.45 is
reasonable for full charge.

[image: image.png]

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 12:51 PM Tom Wilson  wrote:

>
> Yes, 4.3v sounds right for the charge voltage of a 3 cellNiCd pack.
>
> So now I’m confused by why or how that circuit is holding 4.2-4.3v with no
> AAs in the holder. Are there a lot of caps in that circuit?
>
> I have a hard time believing that a 1987 era battery is holding a charge,
> but I hat the AAs out for a while with the memory switch on, and the
> voltage in that circuit never dropped.
>
> Should I put a small load on that circuit, maybe an LED with a 200 ohm
> resistor?
>
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 7:53 AM Stephen Adolph 
> wrote:
>
>> my 2 cents, I think that 4.3V is common on the 3 cell NiCd when it is
>> being charged by the system.  After unplugging it, it will likely drop to
>> 3.7 to 3.6 and hold well.
>> If it is bad, it won't hold 3.6V.
>>
>> never bad to replace though.
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 10:50 AM B4 Me100  wrote:
>>
>>> Congratulations!  Welcome to the Model T102 owners club :)
>>>
>>> From the motherboard pic the battery looks like an original Yusa I doubt
>>> it has been replaced. At 4.3V it is bad it should be around 3.7V when off
>>> to allow the SRAM to drop into their lowest standby current.  As Josh would
>>> say it should be replaced immediately.  I would also carefully check all
>>> the electrolytic caps for signs of leakage or out gassing.  Probably
>>> replace those too while the lid is off the box they are at end of life and
>>> could give trouble down the line.
>>>
>>> Does the battery box have signs of a battery leak?  Might want to check
>>> around the box to make sure it has not leaked onto the PCB sometimes they
>>> have and can destroy the PCB under the battery carrier leading to RS232
>>> failure – at least on a T102 I have.
>>>
>>> On the ROM you might want to look at building your own. The ROM images
>>> are available and with the range of available PCBs at OSH park they are
>>> quite easy to build.  An original ROM is quite rare and a little fragile
>>> depending on how they were constructed – there seems to have been quite a
>>> selection of methods used to fill that OPT ROM socket in the past :)
>>>
>>> From: M100  on behalf of Tom Wilson <
>>> wilso...@gmail.com>
>>> Reply-To: 
>>> Date: Friday, March 13, 2020 at 1:46 AM
>>> To: M100 Mailing List 
>>> Subject: [M100] T-102 is here!
>>>
>>> My 102 has arrived, and she's in good shape!
>>>
>>> This is serial 807001339, manufactured in 1988.7 (I assume that's July),
>>> and it appears that the RAM chips are all soldered in: It has 32K of RAM
>>> and no empty sockets (just the empty option ROM socket.)
>>>
>>> Surprisingly, the backup battery appears to be brand new! I've had the
>>> machine open for about half an hour now, and the battery still reads 4.3v,
>>> with no AAs inserted. The soldering job on the battery is impeccable.
>>>
>>> On a side note... does anyone have a TS-DOS ROM? Or something that
>>> includes DOS, like the Ultimate ROM?
>>>
>>>  Picture time!!
>>>
>>>
>>> 
>>>
>> --
> Tom Wilson
> wilso...@gmail.com
> (619)940-6311
> K6ABZ
>

Re: [M100] NiMH Batteries

[Kevin Becker]

Thanks!  I wasn't trying to complain, just trying to find out what my
options were.  

On Fri, 2020-03-13 at 09:49 -0700, Gregory McGill wrote:
> shipped today btw..
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 9:31 AM Kevin Becker 
> wrote:
> > Any suggestions for a retail store that might sell the 3.6V memory
> > battery?  With no Radio Shacks around I can't come up with
> > much.  Maybe a hobby shop?  I have all the caps to refurb my m100
> > but my battery hasn't arrived (or even shipped) and I was hoping to
> > do it all at once this weekend.  I'll probably end up just doing
> > the caps and removing the old battery for now but it'd be nice to
> > get it all done at once.

Re: [M100] NiMH Batteries

[Kevin Becker]

I didn't realize there was that much spare space.  I might give that a
go, easier for the next person to replace someday in the future.
On Fri, 2020-03-13 at 12:45 -0400, Mike Stein wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I replace mine with cordless phone batteries 
> from the local Dollar Store:
>  
> 
> >   - Original Message - 
> > 
> >   From: 
> >   Kevin 
> >   Becker 
> > 
> >   To: m...@bitchin100.com 
> > 
> >   Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 12:31 
> >   PM
> > 
> >   Subject: [M100] NiMH Batteries
> > 
> >   
> > 
> >   Any suggestions for a retail store that might sell the 3.6V
> > memory 
> >   battery? With no Radio Shacks around I can't come up with much.
> > Maybe a hobby 
> >   shop? I have all the caps to refurb my m100 but my battery hasn't
> > arrived (or 
> >   even shipped) and I was hoping to do it all at once this weekend.
> > I'll 
> >   probably end up just doing the caps and removing the old battery
> > for now but 
> >   it'd be nice to get it all done at once.

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Tom Wilson]

Yes, 4.3v sounds right for the charge voltage of a 3 cellNiCd pack.

So now I’m confused by why or how that circuit is holding 4.2-4.3v with no
AAs in the holder. Are there a lot of caps in that circuit?

I have a hard time believing that a 1987 era battery is holding a charge,
but I hat the AAs out for a while with the memory switch on, and the
voltage in that circuit never dropped.

Should I put a small load on that circuit, maybe an LED with a 200 ohm
resistor?



On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 7:53 AM Stephen Adolph  wrote:

> my 2 cents, I think that 4.3V is common on the 3 cell NiCd when it is
> being charged by the system.  After unplugging it, it will likely drop to
> 3.7 to 3.6 and hold well.
> If it is bad, it won't hold 3.6V.
>
> never bad to replace though.
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 10:50 AM B4 Me100  wrote:
>
>> Congratulations!  Welcome to the Model T102 owners club :)
>>
>> From the motherboard pic the battery looks like an original Yusa I doubt
>> it has been replaced. At 4.3V it is bad it should be around 3.7V when off
>> to allow the SRAM to drop into their lowest standby current.  As Josh would
>> say it should be replaced immediately.  I would also carefully check all
>> the electrolytic caps for signs of leakage or out gassing.  Probably
>> replace those too while the lid is off the box they are at end of life and
>> could give trouble down the line.
>>
>> Does the battery box have signs of a battery leak?  Might want to check
>> around the box to make sure it has not leaked onto the PCB sometimes they
>> have and can destroy the PCB under the battery carrier leading to RS232
>> failure – at least on a T102 I have.
>>
>> On the ROM you might want to look at building your own. The ROM images
>> are available and with the range of available PCBs at OSH park they are
>> quite easy to build.  An original ROM is quite rare and a little fragile
>> depending on how they were constructed – there seems to have been quite a
>> selection of methods used to fill that OPT ROM socket in the past :)
>>
>> From: M100  on behalf of Tom Wilson <
>> wilso...@gmail.com>
>> Reply-To: 
>> Date: Friday, March 13, 2020 at 1:46 AM
>> To: M100 Mailing List 
>> Subject: [M100] T-102 is here!
>>
>> My 102 has arrived, and she's in good shape!
>>
>> This is serial 807001339, manufactured in 1988.7 (I assume that's July),
>> and it appears that the RAM chips are all soldered in: It has 32K of RAM
>> and no empty sockets (just the empty option ROM socket.)
>>
>> Surprisingly, the backup battery appears to be brand new! I've had the
>> machine open for about half an hour now, and the battery still reads 4.3v,
>> with no AAs inserted. The soldering job on the battery is impeccable.
>>
>> On a side note... does anyone have a TS-DOS ROM? Or something that
>> includes DOS, like the Ultimate ROM?
>>
>>  Picture time!!
>>
>>
>> 
>>
> --
Tom Wilson
wilso...@gmail.com
(619)940-6311
K6ABZ

Re: [M100] NiMH Batteries

[Gregory McGill]

shipped today btw..

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 9:31 AM Kevin Becker  wrote:

> Any suggestions for a retail store that might sell the 3.6V memory
> battery? With no Radio Shacks around I can't come up with much. Maybe a
> hobby shop? I have all the caps to refurb my m100 but my battery hasn't
> arrived (or even shipped) and I was hoping to do it all at once this
> weekend. I'll probably end up just doing the caps and removing the old
> battery for now but it'd be nice to get it all done at once.
>

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Mike Stein]

Just curious: what option ROMs do you want to use?

  - Original Message - 
  From: Tom Wilson 
  To: m...@bitchin100.com 
  Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 12:40 PM
  Subject: Re: [M100] T-102 is here!




  Yes, I’ve got a Rex in order. I also have a Model 200 on the way. So I’m 
trying to decide whether to get another Rex. I got a smoking deal on both this 
computer and the 200, and the Rex actually costs more than the computer. 


  I’ll probably go ahead and get a second Rex, but i was hoping for something a 
little less expensive for a machine that will likely sit on the shelf and look 
pretty 90% if the time. 




  On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 8:43 AM Gregory McGill  
wrote:

rex is available at arcadeshopper.com for that option rom socket  


Greg
  -- 

  Tom Wilson
  wilso...@gmail.com
  (619)940-6311 
  K6ABZ

Re: [M100] NiMH Batteries

[Mike Stein]

I replace mine with cordless phone batteries from the local Dollar Store:


  - Original Message - 
  From: Kevin Becker 
  To: m...@bitchin100.com 
  Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 12:31 PM
  Subject: [M100] NiMH Batteries


  Any suggestions for a retail store that might sell the 3.6V memory battery? 
With no Radio Shacks around I can't come up with much. Maybe a hobby shop? I 
have all the caps to refurb my m100 but my battery hasn't arrived (or even 
shipped) and I was hoping to do it all at once this weekend. I'll probably end 
up just doing the caps and removing the old battery for now but it'd be nice to 
get it all done at once.

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Tom Wilson]

Yes, I’ve got a Rex in order. I also have a Model 200 on the way. So I’m
trying to decide whether to get another Rex. I got a smoking deal on both
this computer and the 200, and the Rex actually costs more than the
computer.

I’ll probably go ahead and get a second Rex, but i was hoping for something
a little less expensive for a machine that will likely sit on the shelf and
look pretty 90% if the time.


On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 8:43 AM Gregory McGill 
wrote:

> rex is available at arcadeshopper.com for that option rom socket
>
> Greg
>
>> --
Tom Wilson
wilso...@gmail.com
(619)940-6311
K6ABZ

Re: [M100] DVI cable length

[Jim Anderson]

> -Original Message-
> 
> I'm displaying the DVI through RF or UHF if you prefer and the picture
> while a little fuzzy is perfectly acceptable given the age. I've not
> actually look in to the DVI's other video output option, which I think
> was intended for Tandy branded monitors. 

The video monitor output produces an NTSC compatible composite video signal, so 
it could be fed into any TV which accepts NTSC composite (usually a yellow RCA 
jack).  The RF output is just taking the monitor output signal and modulating 
it to the broadcast TV frequency for US channel 3 or 4 (based on the setting of 
the switch).

> Random question does the DVI save data to floppy disk in the same format
> as the TPDD?

Sorry, it does not.  (Even if you installed a 3.5" disk drive in the DVI.)







jim

[M100] NiMH Batteries

[Kevin Becker]

Any suggestions for a retail store that might sell the 3.6V memory
battery?  With no Radio Shacks around I can't come up with much.  Maybe
a hobby shop?  I have all the caps to refurb my m100 but my battery
hasn't arrived (or even shipped) and I was hoping to do it all at once
this weekend.  I'll probably end up just doing the caps and removing
the old battery for now but it'd be nice to get it all done at once.

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Gregory McGill]

rex is available at arcadeshopper.com for that option rom socket

Greg

>

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[Stephen Adolph]

my 2 cents, I think that 4.3V is common on the 3 cell NiCd when it is being
charged by the system.  After unplugging it, it will likely drop to 3.7 to
3.6 and hold well.
If it is bad, it won't hold 3.6V.

never bad to replace though.


On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 10:50 AM B4 Me100  wrote:

> Congratulations!  Welcome to the Model T102 owners club :)
>
> From the motherboard pic the battery looks like an original Yusa I doubt
> it has been replaced. At 4.3V it is bad it should be around 3.7V when off
> to allow the SRAM to drop into their lowest standby current.  As Josh would
> say it should be replaced immediately.  I would also carefully check all
> the electrolytic caps for signs of leakage or out gassing.  Probably
> replace those too while the lid is off the box they are at end of life and
> could give trouble down the line.
>
> Does the battery box have signs of a battery leak?  Might want to check
> around the box to make sure it has not leaked onto the PCB sometimes they
> have and can destroy the PCB under the battery carrier leading to RS232
> failure – at least on a T102 I have.
>
> On the ROM you might want to look at building your own. The ROM images are
> available and with the range of available PCBs at OSH park they are quite
> easy to build.  An original ROM is quite rare and a little fragile
> depending on how they were constructed – there seems to have been quite a
> selection of methods used to fill that OPT ROM socket in the past :)
>
> From: M100  on behalf of Tom Wilson <
> wilso...@gmail.com>
> Reply-To: 
> Date: Friday, March 13, 2020 at 1:46 AM
> To: M100 Mailing List 
> Subject: [M100] T-102 is here!
>
> My 102 has arrived, and she's in good shape!
>
> This is serial 807001339, manufactured in 1988.7 (I assume that's July),
> and it appears that the RAM chips are all soldered in: It has 32K of RAM
> and no empty sockets (just the empty option ROM socket.)
>
> Surprisingly, the backup battery appears to be brand new! I've had the
> machine open for about half an hour now, and the battery still reads 4.3v,
> with no AAs inserted. The soldering job on the battery is impeccable.
>
> On a side note... does anyone have a TS-DOS ROM? Or something that
> includes DOS, like the Ultimate ROM?
>
>  Picture time!!
>
>
> 
>

Re: [M100] T-102 is here!

[B4 Me100]

Congratulations!  Welcome to the Model T102 owners club :)

>From the motherboard pic the battery looks like an original Yusa I doubt it
has been replaced. At 4.3V it is bad it should be around 3.7V when off to
allow the SRAM to drop into their lowest standby current.  As Josh would say
it should be replaced immediately.  I would also carefully check all the
electrolytic caps for signs of leakage or out gassing.  Probably replace
those too while the lid is off the box they are at end of life and could
give trouble down the line.

Does the battery box have signs of a battery leak?  Might want to check
around the box to make sure it has not leaked onto the PCB sometimes they
have and can destroy the PCB under the battery carrier leading to RS232
failure ­ at least on a T102 I have.

On the ROM you might want to look at building your own. The ROM images are
available and with the range of available PCBs at OSH park they are quite
easy to build.  An original ROM is quite rare and a little fragile depending
on how they were constructed ­ there seems to have been quite a selection of
methods used to fill that OPT ROM socket in the past :)

From:  M100  on behalf of Tom Wilson

Reply-To:  
Date:  Friday, March 13, 2020 at 1:46 AM
To:  M100 Mailing List 
Subject:  [M100] T-102 is here!

> My 102 has arrived, and she's in good shape!
> 
> This is serial 807001339, manufactured in 1988.7 (I assume that's July), and
> it appears that the RAM chips are all soldered in: It has 32K of RAM and no
> empty sockets (just the empty option ROM socket.)
> 
> Surprisingly, the backup battery appears to be brand new! I've had the machine
> open for about half an hour now, and the battery still reads 4.3v, with no AAs
> inserted. The soldering job on the battery is impeccable.
> 
> On a side note... does anyone have a TS-DOS ROM? Or something that includes
> DOS, like the Ultimate ROM?
> 
>  Picture time!!

Re: [M100] REX3?

[Tom Dison]

Those floppies drives are rare!

On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 00:25 Tim Russell  wrote:

> I still have one, and a PX-4 as well.  Both can also use a battery-powered
> serial-connected 3.5 floppy drive, which I also happily still have.
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 11, 2020, 13:51 Tom Wilson  wrote:
>
>> Also, if you're looking for an 8-bit CP/M laptop, the Epson PX-8 is
>> exactly that. It runs CP/M from ROM and uses a RAM disk for storage.
>> (Strangely, it uses a cassette for mass storage.)
>>
> --
Faith without Works is Dead...

Re: [M100] DVI cable length

[James Zeun]

Well of course I knew I could buy a £4 cable and save myself half an hour
soldering 40 wires, well 80! What do you take me for some sort of idiot?
*Cough* :-P

There's always someone with a bright idea. Well I'm going to make coffee
and try to not feel too disappointed about all that soldering I'm missing
out on, now I have a 30cm extension cable ordered.

*Goes off grumbling to himself*

Thanks Brian! ;-)






On Fri, 13 Mar 2020, 5:34 am Brian White,  wrote:

> It's easier than that. If you take pretty much any idc connector and put
> it back to back or hed yo head with another, the end result is the "twist"
> where pin 1 switches places with pin 40, pin 2 switches places with pin 39,
> etc.
>
> What I mean by "any idc" is, for instance, a wire-to-board back to back
> with a male pin header. That makes a Model 102 or 200 cable.
>
>
> http://tandy.wiki/Disk/Video_Interface:_Cable#Cable_supporting_models_102_and_200_only
>
> Another form of the same thing is if you put 2 male pin headers back to
> back, that makes an adapter that can serve as the the twisty part on a
> cable set that works on all 3 models.
>
> http://tandy.wiki/Disk/Video_Interface:_Cable
>
> Or head to head: Mike Stein showed me (well everyone) that if you just
> take any standard 40 pin cables and butt two female ends face to face with
> a "gender changer" pin header, that results in the same twist.
>
> That page above has links to buy all the odd parts for the different ways
> to do it.
>
> But for a pcb to do the switcheroo, the pcb is nothing more than 40
> straight lines just to make it easier to solder two plugs back to back. See
> the "twist adapter" link in that page.
>
> You don't have to splice anything to make the cable longer. Just buy or
> make a bog-standard 40 pin male-female extension cable, and stick it on the
> DVI end of the cable. They are readily available pre-made and cheap these
> days in the form of "gpio" cables for arduino or raspberry pi.
>
> You can search "male female gpio" or similar on ebay or just pick a length
> here:
>
> http://www.cablesonline.com/240pinidedir.html
>
> --
> bkw
>
> On Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 5:33 PM RETRO Innovations 
> wrote:
>
>> On 3/12/2020 4:17 PM, Mike Stein wrote:
>>
>> 
>> Hi Jim,
>>
>> I wouldn't call it a newbie mistake ;-) Those 'non-standard' 40-pin DIP
>> headers have been impossible to find; maybe with your resources you can
>> find some somewhere so they can just simply be crimped on.
>>
>>
>> I'm wondering if the switch could be made at the other end, with a small
>> PCB and the respective female header attached to it...
>>
>>

Re: [M100] REXCPM and TPDD

[Tom Wilson]

On Thu, Mar 12, 2020 at 10:59 PM Brian White  wrote:

> I'm working on, if not officially maintaining, both a version of dlplus
> and sd2tpdd (arduino). But I say, if we're only warrying about the
> emulators, then like John says why even bother with tpdd at all? Might as
> well use whatever is most native to cp/m already.
>
> If you want to transfer files between cp/m and maybe the same m100 booted
> back  to the normal rom, or another m100, I say just write a normal tpdd
> client or server for cp/m, with the normal tpdd client limitations
> regardless of client os, just like tpddtool.py (client) or laddie (server)
> etc which run on all the current os's, but stick to 6.2 files (except
> dlplus and laddie in wp-2 mode).
>
> I have to think about it some more to figure out if I think it's a good
> idea to use a modified tpdd protocol or stick to real tpdd specs, or stick
> to something totally different just for rexcpm, or port something else that
> does the same job like drivewire from the coco, etc. But I don't see a
> major technical problem making either dlplus or sd2tpdd support longer
> names. I don't know if it's the best idea, but I don't think there's a
> technical problem doing it.
>
> --
>
>>
>>
I like this idea. We've been talking over on another list about  creating a
PC file server to exchange data with a CP/M computer, and this would be a
huge win.

If someone wants to tackle this for RexCPM, I'd love to port it to the
Altair 8800

Also, IMO, the closer it stays to the official PDD spec, the better, since
I'd love to be able to just hook an Altair up to Laddie and transfer some
files. Since there is apparently already 8.3 support in Laddie, I don't
think we need any protocol changes. The only thing I think I'd add is
client side code - specifically, bulk transfers of more than one file at a
time.

Re: [M100] VirtualT support for REXCPM hardware

[Brian White]

I haven't tried any other versions but 1.7, but I did notice that. I tried
playing with all the emulated cpu clock settings but I just assumed it's
old free software and isn't perfect. I never tried any older versions to
notice a regression. I thought it was mostly the widget library mayve being
too simple and inefficient. But definitely the machine I was running on was
not the problem in terms of hardware. This was also self compiled with no
errors or warnings after I cleared up a few things, and it was the latest
version of (i forget the gui lib name) not the older version explicitly
mentioned in the docs, so I figured it could be that too.

So with a few different ways that might mean self-inflicted problems I
didn't complain. But as a data point to your question, yes I find 1.7 to be
very slow.

I'll have to try 1.6

-- 
bkw

On Thu, Mar 12, 2020, 7:46 PM Tom Wilson  wrote:

> Speaking of 1.7... I installed it next to 1.6, and I've noticed that
> booting and running programs on 1.7 is MUCH slower like the CPU
> emulation is running at 1MHz or something.
>
> Has anyone else seen this, or am I just going crazy?
>
>
> Tom Wilson
> wilso...@gmail.com
> (619)940-6311
> K6ABZ
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 12, 2020 at 4:05 PM Gregory McGill 
> wrote:
>
>> nice!!!
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 12, 2020 at 3:03 PM Stephen Adolph 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Well, it's been a learning journey but I've been able to get VirtualT to
>>> support and emulate REXCPM hardware!
>>> I'm happy because it means I understand at least something about C and
>>> C++ now ;).
>>>
>>> This is a great step forward, as now it will be much easier to port Rex
>>> Manager over to the new hardware.
>>>
>>> I'll work with Ken to hopefully get this work into the main stream of
>>> VT.  What I've done is a fork from VT 1.7
>>> ..Steve
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>