[Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
http://www.techrepublic.com/photos/sinclair-zx81-teardown/6196127?tag=nl.e101 Cheers, Norman. -- Norman Dunbar Dunbar IT Consultants Ltd Registered address: Thorpe House 61 Richardshaw Lane Pudsey West Yorkshire United Kingdom LS28 7EL Company Number: 05132767 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
I liked the following comment by one observer and couldn't put it better myself Those were great times before the internet and IBM-compatibles distracted us from real computing. One of Dave's survey questions asked about the internet and although it is a useful resource, I have lost many an evening looking at one site which is hardly productive (entertaining maybe). Ignorance is bliss (Matrix, but maybe from somewhere else also), I really do not know many benefits of the QL having full access to the 'web' compared to other more pressing priorities. Lee - Back to the QL- - Original Message - From: Norman Dunbar To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8:10 AM Subject: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81. http://www.techrepublic.com/photos/sinclair-zx81-teardown/6196127?tag=nl.e101 Cheers, Norman. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] R: Dead QL
Davide Santachiara wrote, on 23/Feb/11 06:47 | Feb23: -Messaggio originale- Da: ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] Per conto di Francois Lanciault Inviato: mercoledì 23 febbraio 2011 3.33 A: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Oggetto: [Ql-Users] Dead QL Hi QL gang, I fired up my QL this evening and it would stay on the F1/F2 screen, no matter how hard I press the F1 and F2 keys... My setup is: Aurora board SuperGoldCard QUBIDE Minerva MK1 As I said, it would not boot past the welcome screen. Not even the Minerva timeout to the default F2 works. It would not boot to harddrive, or to floppy. This only thing that produce any change on the screen is the CTR, ALT,SHIFT,TAB combination that makes the screen kind of redraw itself. I suspect that the SGC battery is dead. Does a dead SGC battery makes the system un-bootable ? What else can it be ? Thanks in advance. I doubt a dead SGC battery could be the origin of your problem. Try instead removing the Qubide and see what happens, the further stop to be 100% sure would be also to remove Aurora and reinstalling if needed the missing chips on the QL motherboard to see whether the original QL is OK or not On a QL of a friend of mine with similar setup I had quite a number of similar problems due to Qubide. I do not have much experience with Auroras as they rarely seem to fail. I too don't think the failed battery would stop the QL booting. There is nothing in the SGC startup options that could do that. *All* my SGCs and GCs have dead batteries (8-)# MKII Minerva can stop a system booting (a quick double reset bypasses that) but this is a MKI (no battery). As Davide suggests, try Qubide and SGC in a working standard QL using the backplane. Don't forget to enable the expansion on-board 7805 regulators - so easy to forget. Qubide survives, but you only have seconds before SGC gets fried. One of mine lasted three seconds, but like sticking ones fingers in a live socket, I wouldn't like to try it again (another thread (8-)# ). I forget which QL chips are used in Aurora, but try inserting those from a good QL. It is unlikely to be the 8049. Minerva auto boot would bypass that. The only dodgy 8049 (or replacements) I have seen stop F1/F2. Good luck, Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
Lee Privett wrote, on 23/Feb/11 08:46 | Feb23: I liked the following comment by one observer and couldn't put it better myself Those were great times before the internet and IBM-compatibles distracted us from real computing. One of Dave's survey questions asked about the internet and although it is a useful resource, I have lost many an evening looking at one site which is hardly productive (entertaining maybe). Ignorance is bliss (Matrix, but maybe from somewhere else also), I really do not know many benefits of the QL having full access to the 'web' compared to other more pressing priorities. No 'maybe' about it. My first thought was, of course, Shakespeare, but it is in fact the closing lines by Thomas Gray (16th c) from http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ode_on_a_Distant_Prospect_of_Eton_College where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise. You should have wasted some prime internet time Googling for that (8-)# Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
Maybe I wanted to remain ignorant :-) Lee - Back to the QL- - Original Message - From: Tony Firshman To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 9:20 AM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81. Lee Privett wrote, on 23/Feb/11 08:46 | Feb23: I liked the following comment by one observer and couldn't put it better myself Those were great times before the internet and IBM-compatibles distracted us from real computing. One of Dave's survey questions asked about the internet and although it is a useful resource, I have lost many an evening looking at one site which is hardly productive (entertaining maybe). Ignorance is bliss (Matrix, but maybe from somewhere else also), I really do not know many benefits of the QL having full access to the 'web' compared to other more pressing priorities. No 'maybe' about it. My first thought was, of course, Shakespeare, but it is in fact the closing lines by Thomas Gray (16th c) from http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ode_on_a_Distant_Prospect_of_Eton_College where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise. You should have wasted some prime internet time Googling for that (8-)# Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems
So, in order to allow users to RESPR additional extensions after loading the Ser-USB driver, I changed the mechanism for the way in which it starts its Queue Manager task. It was quite elegant, really: setting a flag bit the first time that Queue Manager services were needed to be picked up later by the scheduler loop task which would start the manager. Under SMSQ? No problem. Sorted. Under QDOS? BLAM **^%%^$£$£ Now I have probably missed some important piece of documentation somewhere that says you're not allowed to do trap 1, mt.cjob in a scheduler loop task under QDOS, but you are allowed to in SMSQ. The QDOS documentation that I have doesn't say that you can't do this - but, fair enough, thinking about it I suppose the call would mess with the job table and might muck things up when a return is made to the scheduler. OK, that's that, it can't be done. I accept it. I'm moving on. But what I would really like is some kind of document that sets out a list of things that fall in the category: This should work under QDOS, it says it should, but it doesn't but we went ahead and fixed it in SMSQ This is not just for me, but for any other poor sod who has to try developing system level code to run under both platforms. This is not the first time that I've encountered things that should work under QDOS but don't, yet they work fine under SMSQ. It's fixed now. The QDOS underclass will have to manually issue a USB_START command after they've loaded any other extensions, while SMSQ users can be confident that the driver will automatically start queue management when needed. Further down my list is to start testing under Minerva. I'm dreading it. :( Adrian ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems
On 23 Feb 2011, at 11:27, Adrian Ives wrote: Now I have probably missed some important piece of documentation somewhere that says you're not allowed to do trap 1, mt.cjob in a scheduler loop task under QDOS, but you are allowed to in SMSQ. The QDOS documentation that I have doesn't say that you can't do this - but, fair enough, thinking about it I suppose the call would mess with the job table and might muck things up when a return is made to the scheduler. OK, that's that, it can't be done. I accept it. I'm moving on. But what I would really like is some kind of document that sets out a list of things that fall in the category: This should work under QDOS, it says it should, but it doesn't … but we went ahead and fixed it in SMSQ I noticed recently that MOD and DIV work under SMSQ/E with larger numbers than integers but do not under QDOS. I have never seen any reference to this difference. This sort of thing could be added to the list of differences. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems
On 23 Feb 2011, at 11:45, Rich Mellor wrote: The difference in MOD and DIV is mentioned in the SBASIC/SuperBASIC Reference Manual (plug) - And where exactly can you get hold of this Manual? (Attempting to unplug to let it flow). It seems a must. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems
On 23/02/2011 11:52, gdgqler wrote: On 23 Feb 2011, at 11:45, Rich Mellor wrote: The difference in MOD and DIV is mentioned in the SBASIC/SuperBASIC Reference Manual (plug) - And where exactly can you get hold of this Manual? (Attempting to unplug to let it flow). It seems a must. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm I had best put the plug in - I am on a water meter! http://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/details/SBASIC%25SuperBASIC_Reference_Manual_for_Sinclair_QL_on_CD-1397 -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk http://www.rwapservices.co.uk -- Try out our new site: http://sellmyretro.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems
Oh dear you fell for Rich's QDOS trap 2, caugt mt.cm job look @ RWap Site loop Lee - Back to the QL- - Original Message - From: gdgqler To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 11:52 AM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems On 23 Feb 2011, at 11:45, Rich Mellor wrote: The difference in MOD and DIV is mentioned in the SBASIC/SuperBASIC Reference Manual (plug) - And where exactly can you get hold of this Manual? (Attempting to unplug to let it flow). It seems a must. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems
On 23/02/2011 11:45, Rich Mellor wrote: On 23/02/2011 11:36, gdgqler wrote: On 23 Feb 2011, at 11:27, Adrian Ives wrote: Now I have probably missed some important piece of documentation somewhere that says you're not allowed to do trap 1, mt.cjob in a scheduler loop task under QDOS, but you are allowed to in SMSQ. The QDOS documentation that I have doesn't say that you can't do this - but, fair enough, thinking about it I suppose the call would mess with the job table and might muck things up when a return is made to the scheduler. OK, that's that, it can't be done. I accept it. I'm moving on. But what I would really like is some kind of document that sets out a list of things that fall in the category: This should work under QDOS, it says it should, but it doesn't … but we went ahead and fixed it in SMSQ I noticed recently that MOD and DIV work under SMSQ/E with larger numbers than integers but do not under QDOS. I have never seen any reference to this difference. This sort of thing could be added to the list of differences. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm The difference in MOD and DIV is mentioned in the SBASIC/SuperBASIC Reference Manual (plug) I've not found that manual anywhere. Malcolm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems
Adrian Ives wrote: But what I would really like is some kind of document that sets out a list of things that fall in the category: This should work under QDOS, it says it should, but it doesn't but we went ahead and fixed it in SMSQ Where does it say it should work under QDOS? I guess this wasn't consciously fixed in SMSQ/E, it's probably more a side effect of the new implementation. And documenting all possible side effects borders on the impossible, unfortunately. This is not just for me, but for any other poor sod who has to try developing system level code to run under both platforms. This is not the first time that I've encountered things that should work under QDOS but don't, yet they work fine under SMSQ. Supporting QDOS is a pain, yes. That's why I usually just don't do it ;-) Further down my list is to start testing under Minerva. I'm dreading it. :( Actually, Minerva was a damn good OS, you'll probably have much less trouble there than with any QDOS version. Seeing that Minerva is free now I cannot think of a single reason why people even with old black boxes still use QDOS (nostalgia excluded). Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems
Hmm, indeed. Malcolm On 23/02/2011 12:12, Lee Privett wrote: Oh dear you fell for Rich's QDOS trap 2, caugt mt.cm job look @ RWap Site loop Lee - Back to the QL- - Original Message - From: gdgqler To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 11:52 AM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems On 23 Feb 2011, at 11:45, Rich Mellor wrote: The difference in MOD and DIV is mentioned in the SBASIC/SuperBASIC Reference Manual (plug) - And where exactly can you get hold of this Manual? (Attempting to unplug to let it flow). It seems a must. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems
Marcel Kilgus wrote, on 23/Feb/11 12:21 | Feb23: Adrian Ives wrote: But what I would really like is some kind of document that sets out a list of things that fall in the category: This should work under QDOS, it says it should, but it doesn't … but we went ahead and fixed it in SMSQ Where does it say it should work under QDOS? I guess this wasn't consciously fixed in SMSQ/E, it's probably more a side effect of the new implementation. And documenting all possible side effects borders on the impossible, unfortunately. This is not just for me, but for any other poor sod who has to try developing system level code to run under both platforms. This is not the first time that I've encountered things that should work under QDOS but don't, yet they work fine under SMSQ. Supporting QDOS is a pain, yes. That's why I usually just don't do it ;-) Further down my list is to start testing under Minerva. I'm dreading it. :( Actually, Minerva was a damn good OS, you'll probably have much less trouble there than with any QDOS version. Seeing that Minerva is free now I cannot think of a single reason why people even with old black boxes still use QDOS (nostalgia excluded). I second that absolutely. I do hope Lau is listening. I saw at first hand how meticulous Lau was in sorting out QDOS bugs. There were many added features as well of course. The one that rescued a vast number of QLs I repaired was his ram check and error display. The ram check is writing rom images into ram, and reading back. He seeded this. Why? Well if a zero is written to a dead ram bit, zero is *always* read back, even if the bit is dead. I have mentioned this before but it is worth repeating. It is a classic example of how bad the QDOS ram check is. Phil Borman released a free Quanta version of QL Terminal. People reported it crashed if a directory modification was tried. It turned out he used a ramdisk and there was a dead bit in ram that was not picked up by QDOS. Minerva picked it up, and identified the failed chip. Incidentally I don't think Lau is getting his emails at l AT bergbland DOT info. This is the one I have and is shown on the web. If anyone is in touch with Lau could they ask him to email me. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Test
This is a test to see if it works. Klaus ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
Tony Firshman wrote, on 23/Feb/11 09:20 | Feb23: Lee Privett wrote, on 23/Feb/11 08:46 | Feb23: I liked the following comment by one observer and couldn't put it better myself Those were great times before the internet and IBM-compatibles distracted us from real computing. One of Dave's survey questions asked about the internet and although it is a useful resource, I have lost many an evening looking at one site which is hardly productive (entertaining maybe). Ignorance is bliss (Matrix, but maybe from somewhere else also), I really do not know many benefits of the QL having full access to the 'web' compared to other more pressing priorities. No 'maybe' about it. My first thought was, of course, Shakespeare, but it is in fact the closing lines by Thomas Gray (16th c) .. and I am clearly in bliss, as it is 18th c (8-)# from http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ode_on_a_Distant_Prospect_of_Eton_College where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise. You should have wasted some prime internet time Googling for that (8-)# Did anyone on the list actually go to Eton then? Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Wow!
Returned home from across the pond earlier this week (a little late due to emergency detour of the plane 1/3 the way across the atlantic to Bermuda due to illness of a person on board) to find over 500 QL-users emails while I was away. Guess this will keep me out of mischief for a while reading them...then on to QL Forum to find what's been going on there! So heartening to see so much activity lately...I'll have to go away more often! :-) Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems
Page 34 of the QL Technical Guide; 6.3.3 Scheduler Loop Tasks states that: Calls from the scheduler loop do not interrupt atomic tasks. This means that operations such as allocating or releasing memory can be performed safely. Now admittedly it doesn't say This means that operations such as allocating or releasing memory AND starting jobs but, conversely, the definitive QDOS reference written by the author of QDOS himself doesn't say anywhere else that you can't. But anyway it's all a word game. We're probably doing things now with the QL platform that were never even imagined back when the machine and its original OS were first produced. In the driver I have decided to implement an OS Capability byte, which has bits set to indicate that the current OS is capable (or not capable) of doing things in a certain way. Bit 0 just got allocated to the function: Can launch tasks from the scheduler loop Maybe I'll be able to set it high for Minerva as well ;) In any event, I'm sure there will be a few more bits allocated before this driver makes it out of beta. I suspect that if I'd taken the path of simply not supporting QDOS (which, believe me, I would have loved to have done) the resulting product would be too restrictive to be useful. Anyway, I have no criticisms of SMSQ and the way it does things, nor of QPC2 - which has enabled me to develop this code so quickly. Adrian -Original Message- From: ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] On Behalf Of Marcel Kilgus Sent: 23 February 2011 12:21 To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems Where does it say it should work under QDOS? I guess this wasn't consciously fixed in SMSQ/E, it's probably more a side effect of the new implementation. And documenting all possible side effects borders on the impossible, unfortunately. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
On 23 Feb 2011, at 13:51, Tony Firshman wrote: where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise. You should have wasted some prime internet time Googling for that (8-)# Did anyone on the list actually go to Eton then? At one of the schools I went to I met another pupil, a violinist, who had nearly gone to Eton instead. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
gdgqler wrote, on 23/Feb/11 15:20 | Feb23: On 23 Feb 2011, at 13:51, Tony Firshman wrote: where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise. You should have wasted some prime internet time Googling for that (8-)# Did anyone on the list actually go to Eton then? At one of the schools I went to I met another pupil, a violinist, who had nearly gone to Eton instead. Where was that - Harrow (8-)# Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
On 23 Feb 2011, at 16:14, Tony Firshman wrote: Where was that - Harrow (8-)# Sedbergh, actually. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Trump Card fault
I have a Trump card with a note to say that it progressively lost memory. I haven't done anything with it because I replaced it with a SGC. (all this some years ago). Is this a simple fault? Any suggestions what might be wrong, and advice to perhaps correct, please. Bryan ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Qemulator download
Tony Firshman wrote, on 13/Feb/11 14:24 | Feb13: I see Qemulator has moved form geocities. What link should I use for it? Found it on Dilwyn's site (ironically hosted by *my* server). http://terdina.net/ql/q-emulator.html Thanks Dilwyn. Did you realise your brother has now beaten you in the Google rankings, or maybe you are an electrician in Ascot during the week. Nice van (8-)# http://www.dilwynjones.com/ Tony Eeek!!! Explains that email I got over Christmas which I thought was spam :-( There's also a village called Dilwyn in Herefordshire...www.dilwyn.com :-) There's also a namesake of mine writing books about Egyptian archaeology :-| try http://www.allbookstores.co.uk/book/0292740395 for a book about Egyptian boats I think...should have tried that,I might have earned a bit more money! 192.com know of 177 people with my name in the UK (even a few outside Wales!) Time to change my name to something rarer like Tony Firshman I think ;-) Dilwyn Jones (the one in Bethesda) ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
At 16:16 23/02/2011 +, you wrote: Where was that - Harrow (8-)# Sedbergh, actually. My brother-in-law went there, a rugged institution I believe. Sarten. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
At 17:57 23/02/2011 +, you wrote: My brother-in-law went there, a rugged institution I believe. Sarten. Sparten, sorry ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ranting: A Story of two Operating Systems
On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 6:33 AM, Tony Firshman t...@firshman.co.uk wrote: The one that rescued a vast number of QLs I repaired was his ram check and error display. The ram check is writing rom images into ram, and reading back. He seeded this. Why? Well if a zero is written to a dead ram bit, zero is *always* read back, even if the bit is dead. The correct, proper and full way to check dynamic RAM, learned from my mainframe-supporting days, is this: Write % to each location and read back. Write % to each location and read back. Write % to each location and read back. Write %10101010 to each location and read back. Write %01010101 to each location and read back. Write % to each location and read back. Write % to each location and read back. Write % to each location and read back. That's the quick way. The long form is also to write: %11011011 %10110110 %01101101 (ie: 11011011 rotated left each position) Then repeat rotating to the right each position, while writing complimentary and opposing data in adjacent bytes, noting that adjacent means physically adjacent, so you need to know something of the organization of the memory in the core/die. Shortcuts: % = 0 %01010101 = 85 %10101010 = 170 % = 255 Fun times! Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
On 23 Feb 2011, at 17:57, David Tubbs wrote: Where was that - Harrow (8-)# Sedbergh, actually. My brother-in-law went there, a rugged institution I believe. Sarten. A cold breezy place. We used to have to run up a hill called Winder when the weather was too bad for ruggered games. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Qemulator download
On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 11:33 AM, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk wrote: Dilwyn Jones (the one in Bethesda) Bethesda, Maryland? Have you been defense contracting again?!?! Bad boy! If my name was Dilwyn, I'd visit foreign countries and pretend to be mute. I'd simply pass a calling card with Dilwyn printed on it, then watch them slaughter my name. I haven't decided if that would be masochism or sadism... Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
Pressing priorities like getting my current real QL(s) up to a standard that substantially exceeded my 84/85 version (which was a handmade internally expanded to 640K machine and that was it) so that I can get the remainder of the microdrive data off the microdrives on to floppies, use the QL as a reasonable test bed for software written using emulation. Anything off the web I need then I use a trouble free (ha-ha) Mac/PC/IPhone/iPad/Linux system and transfer it to emulation or to the QL. Getting it on to the QL is still the hardest for me, Floppy is my immediate project, following that the SD interface currently discussed here is one of the next, along with the Minerva upgrade (maybe at the end of March Tony/Rich?), I am tempted by the Gold Card possibility but would prefer SGC if there was one or anything NEW or even a replacement SGC in that area, mainly for graphic improvement to the QL (and speed) above the basic 4/8 colour mode. this is all so that I can get back to pro gramming stuff like you are doing Dave but not for the original QL. So anything hardware related to the QL is of interest except for access to the internet, I like having the QL back in my possession, it acts as a constant and partial inspiration for me, but not to collect dust like it is for some others, a definitely not as a commodity to appreciate in value, that is my viewpoint. Lee - Back to the QL- - Original Message - From: Dave Park To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 6:23 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81. On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 2:46 AM, Lee Privett lee.priv...@gmail.com wrote: I really do not know many benefits of the QL having full access to the 'web' compared to other more pressing priorities. Pressing priorities like what? :) I'm asking because I want to include as many relevant questions as possible in the next survey. Who is the current Quanta magazine (acting) Editor? Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
see there is another thing, if only I had JS ROMs :( Lee - Back to the QL- - Original Message - From: Dave Park To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 6:57 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81. On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 12:52 PM, Lee Privett lee.priv...@gmail.com wrote: Pressing priorities like getting my current real QL(s) up to a standard that substantially exceeded my 84/85 version (which was a handmade internally expanded to 640K machine and that was it) so that I can get the remainder of the microdrive data off the microdrives on to floppies, use the QL as a reasonable test bed for software written using emulation. Anything off the web I need then I use a trouble free (ha-ha) Mac/PC/IPhone/iPad/Linux system and transfer it to emulation or to the QL. Getting it on to the QL is still the hardest for me, Floppy is my immediate project, following that the SD interface currently discussed here is one of the next, along with the Minerva upgrade (maybe at the end of March Tony/Rich?), I am tempted by the Gold Card possibility but would prefer SGC if there was one or anything NEW or even a replacement SGC in that area, mainly for graphic improvement to the QL (and speed) above the basic 4/8 colour mode. this is all so that I can get back to pro gramming stuff like you are doing Dave but not for the original QL. So anything hardware related to the QL is of interest except for access to the internet, I like having the QL back in my possession, it acts as a constant and partial inspiration for me, but not to collect dust like it is for some others, a definitely not as a commodity to appreciate in value, that is my viewpoint. Good, detailed answer :) I have been talking to Tony (Lau is AWOL) about Minerva 2. I would really like to do a Minerva ROM board that allows you to choose to boot either Minerva 1.98 or JS ROMs, since it's always handy to have both. If I can get permission and licenses, I'll be doing that. If SMSQ/E fit in 64KBytes I'd be talking to Jochen too, but it doesn't... Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Qemulator download
Dilwyn Jones (the one in Bethesda) Bethesda, Maryland? Have you been defense contracting again?!?! Bad boy! If my name was Dilwyn, I'd visit foreign countries and pretend to be mute. I'd simply pass a calling card with Dilwyn printed on it, then watch them slaughter my name. I haven't decided if that would be masochism or sadism... Dave Actually, neither's original, or one from the other AFAIK. It was Hebrew originally. The US one might be named after the Welsh one if it was a British immigrant who founded it, though I doubt it. In Wales, Bethesda is a common name for a Christian chapel. It derives from the Bible and means House Of Mercy. Not that you'll ever get any here, after the great Penrhyn quarry strikes of the early 1900s there are still families here who don't speak because of that sorry period. Even to this day, because of the A5 road passing through Bethesda on the historic dividing line of the Penrhyn estate, to this day pubs only exist on one side of the road! Now that's progress... According to John Jones in his book Welsh Place Names, 1996, the original place name of this village was Cilfoden. Its present name derives from the Congregational chapel built there in 1819. As for the US version, according to Wikipedia: It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House (1820, rebuilt 1849), which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda. Just blame it all on religion! Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QL2K
While ploughing through the 500-odd emails from this list today, I noticed one by Jimmy Montesinos about QL2K. I can't find the original email now, so I'll start a new thread. If Jimmy is listening, please can I have (1) floppy disk FLP driver access and 2) QXL.WIN access (that should keep him busy for a while!) Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
I have been talking to Tony (Lau is AWOL) about Minerva 2. I would really like to do a Minerva ROM board that allows you to choose to boot either Minerva 1.98 or JS ROMs, since it's always handy to have both. If I can get permission and licenses, I'll be doing that. If SMSQ/E fit in 64KBytes I'd be talking to Jochen too, but it doesn't... Dave Strangely enough there was a board able to do just this job. It was designed and built by members of the old QL East Anglia (QLEA) group, the only two names I can remember were former Quanta Chairman Syd Humphreys (?) and Geraint Jones. I used to have one of these in a QL which has since gone to that great Sinclair graveyard in the sky. It was a small board with sockets for a Minerva and JS ROM (and probably a couple of other components, I don't really remember). A small toggle switch and two colour LED on the back of the case selected which ROM to use. Its name was the QLEA ROM Switcher, if anyone remembers any more about it - might be on Rich's QL Wiki in the Hardware section. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 1:11 PM, Lee Privett lee.priv...@gmail.com wrote: see there is another thing, if only I had JS ROMs :( The card I'm proposing could hold a 128KByte or 256KByte PROM. By manually switching one (128K) or two (256K) Address lines, I can manipulate any 64K block of the PROM to appear at $. Thus, it would be perfectly possible to have a JM+TK2, JS+TK2, Minerva+TK2 image, and a spare 64K area. I could go further and allow people to submit a preference for order, toolkit, etc. If they supplied the image (which implies they owned it) I could build the image and burn the PROM to suit. I keep saying PROM because I have a box of 1000 256KByte PLCC PROMS in the workshop, so they're essentially free... I just need to check out the chip select lines on the two ROM sockets to see how they operate - someone has said that in the $8000 socket, CS asserts for the entire 32K block, but to me that suggests a conflict with the ROM port. I'll want to check it out, unless someone can definitively explain the address decoding logic from $ to $C000... Tony? Back on topic, I was amused by how in describing the ICs of the ZX81, the poster included the date and location codes... EG: P8233 indicates the IC was made in the Philippines in week 33 of 1982. You just need to look up each manufacturer to find out what the country/factory codes are. And the big metal thing? It's a heatsink. Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL2K
On 23/02/2011 19:49, Dilwyn Jones wrote: While ploughing through the 500-odd emails from this list today, I noticed one by Jimmy Montesinos about QL2K. I can't find the original email now, so I'll start a new thread. If Jimmy is listening, please can I have (1) floppy disk FLP driver access and 2) QXL.WIN access (that should keep him busy for a while!) Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm It would also be nice if QL2K could handle microdrive images, floppy disk images, and (woe betide) be able to access the same PC directories and files system as used in q-emulator, so that we can move one more step to having a single file format for distributing files for emulators! -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk http://www.rwapservices.co.uk -- Try out our new site: http://sellmyretro.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Qemulator download
Bethesda, Maryland? Have you been defense contracting again?!?! Bad boy! If my name was Dilwyn, I'd visit foreign countries and pretend to be mute. I'd simply pass a calling card with Dilwyn printed on it, then watch them slaughter my name. I haven't decided if that would be masochism or sadism... Dave He he...good idea! Having just returned from the Caribbean islands and found one of my taxi drivers in St Vincent was called Llywelyn...(yes, though black himself, he explained his grandad was a white Welsh mariner who married a local woman and settled there). I was a bit concerned that the locals might not understand my Welsh accent. In practice, it was the scousers and geordies who needed the interpreter. Guess who usually had to interpret for some of the locals trying to communicate with some from England ;-) Actually, mispronunciations of my name are rare. Mis-spellings (usually in QL Today) are more common... Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
That sounds great Dave, so what help do you need from me (that I can do)? Lee - Back to the QL- - Original Message - From: Dave Park To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8:07 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81. On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 1:11 PM, Lee Privett lee.priv...@gmail.com wrote: see there is another thing, if only I had JS ROMs :( The card I'm proposing could hold a 128KByte or 256KByte PROM. By manually switching one (128K) or two (256K) Address lines, I can manipulate any 64K block of the PROM to appear at $. Thus, it would be perfectly possible to have a JM+TK2, JS+TK2, Minerva+TK2 image, and a spare 64K area. I could go further and allow people to submit a preference for order, toolkit, etc. If they supplied the image (which implies they owned it) I could build the image and burn the PROM to suit. I keep saying PROM because I have a box of 1000 256KByte PLCC PROMS in the workshop, so they're essentially free... I just need to check out the chip select lines on the two ROM sockets to see how they operate - someone has said that in the $8000 socket, CS asserts for the entire 32K block, but to me that suggests a conflict with the ROM port. I'll want to check it out, unless someone can definitively explain the address decoding logic from $ to $C000... Tony? Back on topic, I was amused by how in describing the ICs of the ZX81, the poster included the date and location codes... EG: P8233 indicates the IC was made in the Philippines in week 33 of 1982. You just need to look up each manufacturer to find out what the country/factory codes are. And the big metal thing? It's a heatsink. Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Qemulator download
It also had me going for a while looking at the ICE MICE screens seeing 'by D Jones' only to find later the name of the author was David in the documentation anyway. Lee - Back to the QL- - Original Message - From: Dilwyn Jones To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 7:59 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Qemulator download Bethesda, Maryland? Have you been defense contracting again?!?! Bad boy! If my name was Dilwyn, I'd visit foreign countries and pretend to be mute. I'd simply pass a calling card with Dilwyn printed on it, then watch them slaughter my name. I haven't decided if that would be masochism or sadism... Dave He he...good idea! Having just returned from the Caribbean islands and found one of my taxi drivers in St Vincent was called Llywelyn...(yes, though black himself, he explained his grandad was a white Welsh mariner who married a local woman and settled there). I was a bit concerned that the locals might not understand my Welsh accent. In practice, it was the scousers and geordies who needed the interpreter. Guess who usually had to interpret for some of the locals trying to communicate with some from England ;-) Actually, mispronunciations of my name are rare. Mis-spellings (usually in QL Today) are more common... Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL2K
On 23/02/2011 19:49, Dilwyn Jones wrote: While ploughing through the 500-odd emails from this list today, I noticed one by Jimmy Montesinos about QL2K. I can't find the original email now, so I'll start a new thread. If Jimmy is listening, please can I have (1) floppy disk FLP driver access and 2) QXL.WIN access The next release of MESS should have Trump Card emulation built in, and maybe also Sandy SuperDisk if I can work out how it addresses the 1770 Feel free to ask if you want details of the remapping gymnastics that the TC performs so that the ram test detects all the ram, and the rom test detects the TC rom ! Cheers. Phill. -- Phill Harvey-Smith, Programmer, Hardware hacker, and general eccentric ! You can twist perceptions, but reality won't budge -- Rush. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The Spring 2011 QL Survery
Dilwyn, this is quite funny, its like we are having a final summary of the last two weeks Lee - Back to the QL- - Original Message - From: Dilwyn Jones To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8:16 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] The Spring 2011 QL Survery I will close the survey on February 28th and release the full results on March 1st. I'll be sharing preliminary results with a few people before then, as the trends are fairly well defined at this point, so we can put some interesting commentary and interpretations in before that time. I don't want to pour cold water on what was a commendable initiative, but just a word of caution. Most respondents, perhaps all, are subscribers to this list. We are not typical of the QL Community. This has been Quanta's big mistake. Everyone, committee and members, assumed Quanta was the definitive voice of the UK QL community. Quanta's surveys were (I think) developed by John Southern, husband of Quanta secretary Alison Southern. It might be very interesting indeed to see how results compare and a comparison of the results might help shape future surveys. I tend to agree with Geoff about respondents from this list not being typical of the QL community as a whole - something to think about when designing future surveys. If Dave can keep his survey deadline going, I'd be happy to write something for the next Quanta mag (too late for this one) to invite members who ain't on this list to complete the survey. I did complete the survey myself, I was the one who said he used Launchpad every day! We now know that there are twice as many non-Quanta UK QL-ers than there are Quanta UK QL-ers. Interesting fact, this, and one to be borne in mind when shaping future policies and surveys. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
Thanks for the offer to help with rewriting the constitution - we have the beginnings of a potential constitution redrafting team, Best wishes, Geoff For members, there will be an open forum to discuss the Quanta constitution on the sunday morning of the Workshop/AGM in April (16th/17th) in Manchester. Members who can't attend are welcome to send thoughts to Sarah (chairman) or Alison (secretary) to include in the discussion. Hopefully, by discussing it then it will allow plenty of time to plan and reshape the constitution by the 2012 AGM. And if anyone would like a slot to do a talk or presentation at this event, please do get in touch with me so that we can plan some talks/demos on the Saturday. One or two have already indicated a willingness to do a session if they can attend, but the more the merrier! And there'll be a Quanta dinner to attend and talk about all things QL on Saturday evening too - contact Likewise, if anyone from abroad would like us to help find a place to stay for the weekend, please do get in touch. Manchester airport is not too far away, for example. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
Dave Park wrote: I just need to check out the chip select lines on the two ROM sockets to see how they operate - someone has said that in the $8000 socket, CS asserts for the entire 32K block, but to me that suggests a conflict with the ROM port. I'll want to check it out, unless someone can definitively explain the address decoding logic from $ to $C000... Tony? My proper schematics copy is at my parents and all online versions are appallingly bad scans... but so far it looks like A14 is routed to a second CE on the 23128 (CE2, active high, acting as A14 for the chip here) and A15 is connected to -CE (Pin 20, active low!) on the 23256 and CE (Pin 20, active high!) on the 23128. ROMOEH is connected to -OE for both chips, so it seems to decode the whole lower 64k. The ROM port will have to do its own decoding it seems. All this trickery finally explains to me why my innocent try to just put a 27256 and a 27128 as replacement in 10 years ago were bound to fail... Cheers, Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL2K
Phill Harvey-Smith wrote: The next release of MESS should have Trump Card emulation built in, and maybe also Sandy SuperDisk if I can work out how it addresses the 1770 Feel free to ask if you want details of the remapping gymnastics that the TC performs so that the ram test detects all the ram, and the rom test detects the TC rom ! Cheers. Phill. Good news. I looked at the MESS emulator in Quanta a few years ago - Vol 25 ssue 3 June/July 2008 page 42. The name stands for Multiple Emulator Super System For those who aren't aware of it, it's a multiple emulator system which you can use to emulate your favourite arcade game machine or retro computer - about 250 computer systems when I last looked. The QL emulation always made it hard to save/load so adding floppy disk access or microdrive images would mean one more usable QL emulation! Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The Spring 2011 QL Survery
- Original Message - From: Lee Privett lee.priv...@gmail.com To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8:34 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] The Spring 2011 QL Survery Dilwyn, this is quite funny, its like we are having a final summary of the last two weeks Lee Oops, sorry, just catching up. I'll go away and lurk now... Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
At 21:47 23/02/2011 +0100, you wrote: All this trickery finally explains to me why my innocent try to just put a 27256 and a 27128 as replacement in 10 years ago were bound to fail... Marcel, Pity I cant show my implemtation, two 27512's with a buffer chip to invert the enables. Switchable between Minerva and MG, both with TKll ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The Spring 2011 QL Survery
Don't lurk, its been quite entertaining, more please :) Lee - Back to the QL- - Original Oops, sorry, just catching up. I'll go away and lurk now... Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Trump Card fault
On 23/02/2011 17:16, Bryan Horstmann wrote: I have a Trump card with a note to say that it progressively lost memory. I haven't done anything with it because I replaced it with a SGC. (all this some years ago). Is this a simple fault? Any suggestions what might be wrong, and advice to perhaps correct, please. Bryan ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Hi Bryan, It may just be the crystal has become damaged and needs replacing, or possibly just one bad memory chip. I should have some replacement crystals tomorrow if you want one to try on your board (soldering iron needed) or send it to me to have a look at. -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk http://www.rwapservices.co.uk -- Try out our new site: http://sellmyretro.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] [ql-users] Backplanes...
In message 4d643c95.2040...@firshman.co.uk, Tony Firshman t...@firshman.co.uk writes Malcolm Cadman wrote, on 21/Feb/11 21:34 | Feb21: Hi Dave, Is it an Mplane that was used in the AT cased version of a QL? Any backplane is possible. At the London QL Group we are repairing an AT QL system for a QL User. The back plane seems to allow connections to work themselves loose, over time, or with any sudden movements. If you can add it a simple locking system for cards to the plane, then that would be a useful enhancement. That won't be Mplane. Mplane is a wide thin card, and both the large items (motherboard and expansion card) are screw fixed. Only an item like qubide will sit unfixed by default, but it is possible also to fix that with suitable posts. I think you probably have a Qplane, with all the extensions vertically from the motherboard. Have a look at: http://tfs.firshman.co.uk/ql/mplane.htm Tony Hi Tony, Yes, definitely not an Mplane, having looked at the photo on your web site ...so most likely a Qplane. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL2K
If it helps any, the 1770 controller can be replaced with a 1772... Dave On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 2:22 PM, Phill Harvey-Smith a...@aurigae.demon.co.uk wrote: On 23/02/2011 19:49, Dilwyn Jones wrote: While ploughing through the 500-odd emails from this list today, I noticed one by Jimmy Montesinos about QL2K. I can't find the original email now, so I'll start a new thread. If Jimmy is listening, please can I have (1) floppy disk FLP driver access and 2) QXL.WIN access The next release of MESS should have Trump Card emulation built in, and maybe also Sandy SuperDisk if I can work out how it addresses the 1770 Feel free to ask if you want details of the remapping gymnastics that the TC performs so that the ram test detects all the ram, and the rom test detects the TC rom ! Cheers. Phill. -- Phill Harvey-Smith, Programmer, Hardware hacker, and general eccentric ! You can twist perceptions, but reality won't budge -- Rush. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 57 images of dismantling a Sinclair ZX-81.
On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 1:04 PM, Marcel Kilgus ql-us...@mail.kilgus.netwrote: Dave Park wrote: I have been talking to Tony (Lau is AWOL) about Minerva 2. I would really like to do a Minerva ROM board that allows you to choose to boot either Minerva 1.98 or JS ROMs, since it's always handy to have both. If I can get permission and licenses, I'll be doing that. Minerva is under the GPL. QDOS is free to use everywhere except North America, but permission can apparently be sought (see http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/qlrom/index.html ). It's not just about explicit legal permission. Having the nod from Tony (who did the original boards) and Lau, and Paul Holmgren, is important to me. I am trying to focus my limited resources on the needed items. Until such time as I win the lottery, getting good advice from them, and others like Marcel and Rich Mellor and Daniele is just... Smart. Right now I'd say I am a little naive and have missed out on a big chunk of QL history. Just being thorough and doing due diligence... Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Ser-USB Testing Screenshots
Here are some screenshots, taken off the image of an LCD monitor connected to an Aurora/SGC/superHermes QL: http://img202.imageshack.us/g/serusbtesting012.jpg/ There will be more pictures of the Ser-USB prototype in the forthcoming QL Today article. If the screen layout is not the familiar, homely red, white and black that you're used to seeing, it's because the windows have been redefined to fit in the monitor's displayable area. Here's the floppy disk boot program (ipcextuk_bin is the driver for superHermes external keyboard): 100 a=RESPR(6000) 110 LBYTES 'flp1_ipcextuk_bin',a 120 CALL a 130 REMark --- 140 REMark Set Windows for Aurora 150 REMark --- 160 WINDOW #0,512,256,0,0 : CLS #0 170 WINDOW #1,490,206,18,12 180 WINDOW #2,490,206,18,12 190 WINDOW #0,490,32,18,218 200 PAPER #1,0 : INK #1,7 : BORDER #1,1,7 210 PAPER #2,0 : INK #2,7 : BORDER #2,1,7 220 BORDER #0,1,7 230 CLS #0 : CLS 240 PRINT Load Ser-USB Driver? 250 a$= INKEY$(-1) 260 IF a$ INSTR yY THEN 270 a= RESPR(2) 280 LBYTES 'flp1_ser_usb_bin',a 290 CALL a 300 END IF Adrian ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
