Re: [ql-users] Q40/Q60/??? Ultra IO card
Hi, happy birthday to you, Dave! :-) A few answers. Nasta still uses GF for his hardware project, so I use the same abbreviation from now on :-) Main reasons why the Q40/Q60 uses an ISA-style extension bus: 1. No QL specific extension cards available, with use for Q40/Q60. 2. Save hardware work. 3. Save hardware costs. We already have on the Q40/Q60 extension slot: 1. 2xFloppy, 2xIDE, 2xSER, 1xPAR (*always* included with mainboard) 2. 2xFloppy, 4xIDE, 4xSER, 2xPAR (if 2nd IO card is added) 3. Mouse (serial mouse or combo mouse PS2/serial) 4. IrDA connector (on new IO cards supplied by me, no drivers yet) 5. CompactFlash (yet expensive, using up 1xIDE) 6. NE2000 Ethernet (fully working, only Linux drivers yet) We already have on the Q40/Q60 mainboard: 1. PC Keyboard IF (DIN, or PS/2 by passive adaptor) 2. Stereo sound 3. NVRAM 4. Battery backed realtime clock Supply with IO cards is guaranteed by keeping a little stock. Both cards can be sourced new and cheap. Lets keep in mind that a re-implementation of the above mentioned hardware with GF chips brings nothing new to the Q40/Q60 users. Reasons for re-implementing them anyway would be: 1. Write driver software for Nasta's planned GF chips 2. Test the hardware for Nasta, and give him feedback 3. Reduce GF system cost by purchasing components in larger quantities 4. Free Q40/Q60 extension slots without using a slot riser. Most is very interesting for the GF, but will hardly attract Q40/Q60 users. So far I would just call the idea a GF preparation and support project. Likely *new* features for Q40/Q60: 1. Sound improvements 2. MIDI 3. I2C The key questions are: * Will that be enough to justify all the work? * What else would Q40/Q60 users like, and can it be included? I admit that I don't have answers made up. I didn't expect that someone offers to design an extension card of that complexity. (Thanks a lot, Dave!) I have a tendency toward Dave's idea of dropping features that are already implemented on the standard IO card. Except for IDE ports. You can never have enough IDE ports :-) Should we do a survey among Q40/Q60 users to learn more what *they* would like to see on a Ultra IO card ? Peter
[ql-users] Q40/Q60 extension slot
Hi Dave, the pinout of the Q40/Q60 extension slot and the signal polarities are exactly ISA. 8 interrupt lines, see hardware doc PDF. Software-programmable slot RESET, see hardware doc PDF. Unused (or just correctly terminated) are: -5V, DMA signals, REF, CLK, TC, OSC, IOCHK, IORDY, LA20..23, MEMCS16, IOCS16 Pure Q40/Q60 extensions can simply be designed using: MEMW, MEMR, IOW, IOR, SBHE, ALE, RESET, adress/data lines, interrupt lines and supply voltages. No need to deal with PC bus multiplexing related issues or some critical ISA timing definitions. If you use modern chips (CS8900 and probably all the ones used by Nasta) there should be no need to deal with bus timings at all. If you decide to actually do a design, I can provide you with mainboard schematics. For ISA definitions, please use your favorite English PC hardware books ;-) (I only have German ones.) Peter
[ql-users] Compact Flash Adapters.
Hi all, I secured a batch of 50 IDE compact flash adapters for 15.99$ each (+ s/h). (about 17 Eur)These are not hot swapable (the hot swapable ones will go for about double the price) but they can accept huge CF cards and even IBM Microdrives (hehe the Irony of the thing). They work right out of the box with ANY QL with IDE i/f (Qubide/Qubide II, Q40/60) and if I receive enough mail I could order them and pass them at no extra cost to anyone that wants one. I got three myself (well two since one goes for QL development purposes) and they are great and extremely fast. If anyone's interested let me know Phoebus P.S. If we can get 100 people that price will drop to 12$ (About 14 Eur) :-)
Re: [ql-users] Compact Flash Adapters.
Hi Phoebus, I secured a batch of 50 IDE compact flash adapters for 15.99$ each (+ s/h). (about 17 Eur)These are not hot swapable (the hot swapable ones will go for about double the price) but they can accept huge CF cards and even IBM Microdrives (hehe the Irony of the thing). They work right out of the box with ANY QL with IDE i/f (Qubide/Qubide II, Q40/60) and if I receive enough mail I could order them and pass them at no extra cost to anyone that wants one. I got three myself (well two since one goes for QL development purposes) and they are great and extremely fast. Thanks a lot for looking around. But have you actually tested them with Q40/Q60 ??? I tried some (which were about the same price region as yours) and they did *not* work with Q40/Q60, while more expensive ones (had nice LEDs and 3.5 case) worked. Still had no time to figure out, why. Peter
Re: [ql-users] Compact Flash Adapters.
A couple of notes on CF cards too. The CF is becoming the standard on MP3 players, Digital Cameras, PDAs etc. This way we can avoid the troubles of USB on our QLs/Qx0s and directly get files out of our digital cameras, or even (with Qx0 Linux) record and upload MP3s to our MP3 players. Also we could avoid all the trouble with Visor, Palm, HandEra handhelds which increasingly include USB cradles instead of serial ones (which make JH's hotsync software unable to function). That way CF equipped Palmtops can directly exchange data for safe keeping with our QLs (and PCs). Also for QPC users a CF could hold either a QXL.WIN file or been seen as a DOSx_ device, (and you get the added bonus of using it for a PC). I don't know if QPC can directly read Q40/60 or QubIDE formatted media but if it could that means that you could swap data back and forth with your regular QL system. (That's another one for QPC v. 4 Marcel ;-) For small sizes ( 64Mb SMSQ) can read and write directly the cards else we need Dave's Multi DiscOVER (I think it supports FAT16 or 32... but even if it doesn't I know Dave will make it work :-) Phoebus
Re: [ql-users] Compact Flash Adapters.
At 03:47 ìì 12/1/2002 -0500, you wrote: Also for Malcolm (and Dave...), I tried my CF adapter with my A7000 and it works like a dream :-)... Another extra ;-) Booted RISC OS 3.x like a charm and then copied my entire hard drive to a (on loan 1 Gb Microdrive)... then started the machine w/o the HDD... No problems :-) Actually since my A7000 has a 850 Meg (yuck.,... small ! :-) older IDE HD the CF felt a little faster than the hdd Phoebus
[ql-users] CF Adapters Pictures
Hi all, I put two pictures on my page for anyone interested to see how the CF/Microdrive adapter looks like Visit http://www.redoak.net/QL/proforma.html to see it Phoebus
[ql-users] 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
rant The Second Law of Thermodynamics In any closed system, there will be a tendency towards increasing entropy. Only in an open system, with energy being input, can there be an intrease in order. I'm now going to tell you what to do to save the QL scene. I'm not going to tell you how to do it, though I certainly have some ideas. The QL is withering. Those few who are left do not have the resources, or the inclination, to invest energy in it. I can think of maybe ten people who are actively giving energy to the QL scene. Not for profit. Not for personal gain. Because they love it. Tony. Nasta. Peter. Thierry. Others whodeserve to have their name here, but who I haven't talked with much yet. We all have our own ideas about how to move things forward, and that's great, but it's all small things. These small things are big things to their creators and the people who want the feature, but they're small things in the grand scheme of things. The energy that has to be invested to accomplish even a modest task is astronomical. The gratitude generally lacking. (Have I told you how grateful I am to you all for your work over the last 18 years?) Things have to change. Information has to be shared. It has to get EASIER to develop for the QL. Information is hard to come by? Too hard! Those ten people I mentioned earlier have many of the answers, and the knowledge was hard won. It takes a lot of effort and energy. This list is the best exchange of information I have seen. /rant Sorry, just feeling a bit frustrated. Dave
Re: [ql-users] Compact Flash Adapters.
Theoretically with CF I/O cards we could potentially upgrade the ql with ANY kind of device there are: Ethernet (wired and wireless) cards Modems, USB SCSI and a lot... lot more... So here we are :-) Secure future Phoebus
[ql-users] Request for contributions...
I'm building a web-based resource for developers. It will have various sections like QDOS, SMSQ/E, hardware, drivers, and so on. The idea will be to collect together as much information as possible, with permission, and publish it at the site. If anyone has anything to contribute, please can you email me privately. If you have information, but I would need permission from the owner/copyright holder, can you please outline what information you have, and who I would contact regarding publishing it on a web site. I hope to have the site ready for public use by February 1. If you'd like to contribute anything, or look it over and make suggestions, please contact me and I'll email you the URL. I don't want it made widely available yet because the site is in its infancy, and needs a lot of work. Thank you in advance for any help anyone can offer. I hope this site will be useful. I hope it will grow into something good :o) Dave (my shift key sometimes doesn't work...)
Re: [ql-users] Compact Flash Adapters.
At 09:32 ìì 12/1/2002 -0500, you wrote: On 1/12/02 at 8:54 PM Phoebus R. Dokos wrote: Theoretically with CF I/O cards we could potentially upgrade the ql with ANY kind of device there are: Ethernet (wired and wireless) cards Modems, USB SCSI and a lot... lot more... So here we are :-) Secure future Phoebus Well, I am sorry to burst your bubble. The CF adapter is exploiting a feature of memory CF to act _exactly_ like an IDE drive. The 'other' CF cards use the PCMCIA emulation. That, actually may not be too difficult to design, either, but not trivial. Yes I know... but that's what I meant anyway... I am very excited (since I will be receiving a new QubIDE soon ;-) HINT and a QL (HINT) ) ... but what I meant in essence and according to what you told me a while ago, the PCMCIA type port could be very easy to recreate... BTW: I did find an adapter that still connects on the IDE port and is a 100% PCMCIA Type I/II and CF compatible but needs drivers :-) (Too expensive though) Nasta
Re: [ql-users] CF adapters AND Media
On Sun, 13 Jan 2002, Phoebus R. Dokos wrote: For anybody interested I will be able to get 32MB CF media for rock bottom prices... these are 26x CF cards (The fastest on the market currently). I don't know about volume discounts yet but I will let you know as soon as I know. If you can cut down the variables that would be good. :o) What sizes, and ball park figure, how much are they likely to cost? Where would they be shipped from? That way we can go to the ups/fedex web site and have a good idea of shipping costs before ordering. Also, there are numerous reports of CF cards being corrupted and/or destroyed by shipping in USPS mail, because of the new policy to fire high energy electron beams at all suspicious email. Thanks for saving everyone some money! Dave (When will you be getting those discount $100 bills in again? They were a bargain at $55 ;)
Re: [ql-users] Q40/Q60/??? Ultra IO card
On 11 Jan 2002, at 1:28, Dexter wrote: Does anyone think it might be appropriate to have a separate list for ql-developers to separate the traffic from ql-users, or are you happy for these kind of posts filling your list? :o) oh no, just keep it here - it certainly is appreciated! Wolfgang - www.wlenerz.com
