Re: Re: [ql-users] The hardware conflict...
I use them for Worldnews - all under XP. We have had a DVB-s satellite cards running for over two years. They also have two HP PVR cards which have been running for a year or so. These all save video 24hrs, and have given no problem. Ben uses a HP Nexus terrestrial satellite card in a Windows media edition PC with no problem. The only issue I had was that the supplied CD were no use. They all needed drivers (and operating software) from their web site. Speak to their UK technical help line. One gets through _always_ to a person who knows the systems. No remote call centre there. Must be a different place to where I went through then! You seem to live on adifferent planet to me lately Tony. Anyway, it's gone now, swapped it for something much more useful (front panel USB sockets and cabling so I no longer have to go round behind ot plug things in )from someone at work Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Questionaire
On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 22:23:47 +, David Tubbs [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 20:24 29/11/2004 +, you wrote: Just a quick question - does ROMDisq work with the 768K Trump Card, as I seem to remember that you cannot use an EPROM at the same time I think you will find that the code for the Trump floppy is mapped in the 16k just above the base 64k, that leaves the rest of the map for ram. I thought it was not to do with the code - more the fact that in order to provde 156K more RAM than the old 512K expansions, they used up the ROM space - certainly I have no EPROMs which will work with the Trump Card. However, the Miracle Hard disk works with it somehow (that has a pass through connector for an EPROM board) - if the ROMDisq uses the same form of addressing, then presumably it may work with the Trump Card Tony - if you're not sure - want to lend me a ROMDisq to try?? Or maybe you could borrow a Trump Card at a show. -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services 26 Oak Road, Shelfield, Walsall, West Midlands WS4 1RQ http://www.rwapservices.co.uk/ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] The hardware
On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 23:48:37 +, Roy wood [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Marcel Kilgus [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes SNIP Heh, nice in theory (except that I've returned the Aurora system to Roy anyway ;-) But does one know when the vertical retrace is happening? If it would help progress in any way I would be happy to return it to you or to send the relevant bits to make a new system. At the moment I have a lot of hardware available. What have you got available Roy - I might be interested. -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services 26 Oak Road, Shelfield, Walsall, West Midlands WS4 1RQ http://www.rwapservices.co.uk/ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Questionaire
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 at 09:04:01, Rich Mellor wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 22:23:47 +, David Tubbs [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 20:24 29/11/2004 +, you wrote: Just a quick question - does ROMDisq work with the 768K Trump Card, as I seem to remember that you cannot use an EPROM at the same time I think you will find that the code for the Trump floppy is mapped in the 16k just above the base 64k, that leaves the rest of the map for ram. I thought it was not to do with the code - more the fact that in order to provde 156K more RAM than the old 512K expansions, they used up the ROM space - certainly I have no EPROMs which will work with the Trump Card. However, the Miracle Hard disk works with it somehow (that has a pass through connector for an EPROM board) - if the ROMDisq uses the same form of addressing, then presumably it may work with the Trump Card Tony - if you're not sure - want to lend me a ROMDisq to try?? Or maybe you could borrow a Trump Card at a show. No need thanks - RomDisq, as I said, works with Trump Card. It has been tested before, but I tried again just now (for the first time for years!). Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] The hardware conflict...
Please do fill in the form. It is now very much not just a Quanta questionnaire. Tony Tony, remember when I mentioned I didn't see a 'thank you' page? Did you actually get a form from me at the time? If not, let me know, I'll fill it in again. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] Proforma Filter
Hmm - just thought - if you allow for C strings, you need to ensure that the character BEFORE the SER or PAR is not another letter, eg we could replace a prompt: Print to (SER), but not You are a loser (both would end with byte 0. And yes, Joachim is correct - you do also need to be able to handle the byte length format. Fairly easy to program - check if the word length6 (?) if not, is the byte length6. OK. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] The hardware conflict...
These two guys at Hauppauge UK have always solved my problems: Ben Grant [EMAIL PROTECTED] Elton Adams [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hmm, you obviously had access to better people than I did then. Their software needs nursing. In particular, it is vital you have a compatible MSIE loaded. The picture viewing is using a modified MS Internet explorer window (at least on the winTV software I was using). What got me was that it worked fine on the same PC with Win98 SE installed. And that has an older IE than WinXP! To recover from a wrong driver installation, there is a complicated, but well documented, backtrack path. You have to run a DOS program to clean the system area and registry. Mine is dvbclear.exe, but there may be others. HCWCLEAR.EXE in my case. Total clear out, that part did work brilliantly! You would certainly have got in deep water using drivers from their supplied CDs. As I said, not one of the four or five systems I installed worked off the CDs. Even the latest drivers from their website failed to get it past the Found New Hardware Wizard stage. By the end I had an extensive collection of drivers from early Win95 days right up to their most recent (in one case unreleased) driver. Drivers also must be installed before putting in the card - for my systems anyway. At least their manuals make this clear. Installing the drivers before card installation didn't lock it up, it was the Found New Hardware Wizard stage each and every time. With the exception of installing the Windows 2000 drivers, it got past the Found new Hardware wizard, but the Win 2000 applications wouldn't run on XP and the XP applications complained about the drivers! I think I must have tried just about every combination of their software and as many versions of the drivers for my PC's hardware. Just about every attempt resulted in having to reinstall WinXP. It's bad enough when drivers don't work, but when they leave a trail of destruction behind them as well. I think I was right to accept there was no way the combination of XP, Win-TV-PCI and my PC was going to work. There comes a point where any more time wasted is just that, time wasted. I had the usual runarounds from their email help facilities with automated replies. Their service was so bad they sent me URLs for drivers updates etc that were incomplete several times me pointing it out. (large section of middle part of the uRLs replaced by characters making it impossible to even guess the address, luckily you can get everything from their main website). One possibility was that my card was an ancient one, going by the serial number. It's entirely possible there may be hardware differences making it incompatible with modern PCs, as I got exactly the same lockups on my son's PC as on mine. Yet it worked on this PC under WIn98SE, which was the only thing that kept me struggling as long as I did. Makes me quite glad to have been a QLer these past 20 years. Trying to sort out problems like that for 20 years would have driven me mad. At least guys like you, Stuart, Rich, Roy and Jochen have been SO helpful in sorting out our problems over the years, I don't see us getting personal service like thatfrom the large companies! Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] Aurora screen resolution
LCD panels have a 'native' resolution where every pixel is physically represented by an element within the panel. Lower resolutions are 'scaled' down either by the graphics drivers or by hardware (panel or graphic driver chip). Lower resolutions will never be as 'clear' and the native. However, for things such as games where objects are moving, this is normally not such an issue. And most operating systems today allow you to scale icons and text so that you can 'enlarge' things on higher resolution screens to help with the vision thing. CRTs are better as they are very scalable up to their max resolution. But I personally will never go back to them as the better panels today are just so awesomely brilliant and sharp (now that you no longer have to allign a moving electron gun, along with scattering/bleeding issues, etc that are inherent to CRTs). Agreed. She was away for a week some time ago and I got to use her PC. I fell in love with that LCD screen, especially when I found how brilliantly clear and sharp it was once I upped it to 1024x768. When she came back, she also noticed how much better it was. As the LCD was there before I started working here, it had obviously been installed like that by the people who installed everything and nobody even noticed or tried to put it right! Even with small text before you strat messing with text and icon sizes it's far clearer and sharper to read than this horrible 15 CRT monstrosity on my desk! LCD prices are starting to fall now, it was rare last year to find a LCD under £200 here, now you can suddenly get 14 LCD screens from about £130 even in high street stores, and 15 inch from about £150 just that I've noticed without really looking recently. Suddenly I know what I want from Santa (he said no to a Q60, but that's life). Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Questionaire
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 at 12:08:46, wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) I thought it was not to do with the code - more the fact that in order to provde 156K more RAM than the old 512K expansions, they used up the ROM space - certainly I have no EPROMs which will work with the Trump Card. However, the Miracle Hard disk works with it somehow (that has a pass through connector for an EPROM board) - if the ROMDisq uses the same form of addressing, then presumably it may work with the Trump Card Tony - if you're not sure - want to lend me a ROMDisq to try?? Or maybe you could borrow a Trump Card at a show. IIRC the romdisq uses a form of addressing similar to the miracle hard disk where data is output on selected bits of the address line during a second address cycle or something. As you have found out, most EPROMs don't work in the 16K slot with Trump Card, hence why Miracle and presumably Tony Tebby had to resort to a fairly roundabout way of writing to the EPROM slot, plus I think that the QL EPROM slot cannot write in the normal way, to write to the EPROM slot you cannot just write data to the 16K slot in the normal way. Exactly. _Any_ writing has to be roundabout. The address is passed out serially (or maybe only bits 8 and above). The data is then put on the databus. ... or something like that. I did not see any documentation. I did not though realise that TC could not read standard roms. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 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] Questionaire
Tony Non Contributing = Thou Shalt Not Pay. Indiscriminate does not include using apostrophe's ' as quotation marks. John Taylor writing as nobody in particular. On Tuesday, November 30, 2004, at 12:33 PM, Tony Firshman wrote: On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 at 11:23:47, John Taylor wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Tony Did you say that as Tony or T F Services? We need to know. (8-)# It was too early in the morning to know. Maybe it was neither.. John. Writing as: Non Contributing member of Sutton Coldfield Flat Earth Society and Indiscriminate Apostrophe Users Association. .. but you d'd not use one ap'str'phe (8-)# Is that what 'non contributing' means. -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 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
Re: Re: [ql-users] Questionaire
The address is passed out serially (or maybe only bits 8 and above). The data is then put on the databus. ... or something like that. I did not see any documentation. I did not though realise that TC could not read standard roms. Tony I might be wrong there, thinking about it. What I might have been thinking about possibly was that boards like Terry Harman's EPROM expansion boards won't work, because they map into high memory used by Trump Card. Another issue was Qubide, which IIRC can be mapped onto that 16K EPROM slot if no other is available. Some people also put a combined QDOS and TK2 into a 64K eprom, I don't know if those still worked, can't think of any reason why they wouldn't as long as you didn't try to plug in another 16 externally on the eprom slot. Another issue I might have been thinking of was probably Gold Card, where some Eprom slot add-ons like the Lang Digitiser had to be redesigned for slightly different timings. Whatever, I think I was actually wrong in shooting fromt he lip as above. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Questionaire
At 09:04 30/11/2004 +, you wrote: I thought it was not to do with the code - more the fact that in order to provde 156K more RAM than the old 512K expansions, they used up the ROM space - certainly I have no EPROMs which will work with the Trump Card. Scan the code above 48k to find FLP , or SBYTE a chunk and put it in EDITOR ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Aurora screen resolution
On 30/11/04 at 04:02 James Hunkins wrote: LCD panels have a 'native' resolution where every pixel is physically represented by an element within the panel. Lower resolutions are 'scaled' down either by the graphics drivers or by hardware (panel or graphic driver chip). Lower resolutions will never be as 'clear' and the native. With only one exception: when they are exact whole number multiples of the native resolution. This is actually quite difficult to do as there are no lower resolutions used in the PC world that would scale properly into 1024x768 (most common resolution for 14 and 15 LCDs), unless of course you own a QL (512 x 384 - but NOT 512x256, see below). For 17 and 19 LCDs, the most common native resolution is 1280 x 1024. This is actually even worse because it's aspect ratio is 5:4, not the standard 4:3 or wide screen 16:9. On such a screen not a single Aurora resolution will look it's best. CRTs are better as they are very scalable up to their max resolution. But I personally will never go back to them as the better panels today are just so awesomely brilliant and sharp (now that you no longer have to allign a moving electron gun, along with scattering/bleeding issues, etc that are inherent to CRTs). I will do the same just as soon as I can get a 2048 x 1536 LCD for $300 or thereabouts ;-) But that being said I do own a 17 wide screen, 1280x768 LCD ;-) unlike CRTs some (at least some, if not most) LCD panels have a preferred resolution and have difficulty with anything else. This is actually a shamefull show of corner cutting. Because of my job I had to look at the specs for many LCD monitors and bare panels, and EVERY SINGLE ONE uses a scaler chip that can scale any resolution (including ones far odd-er than provided by Aurora!) up to some maximum (usually 1280x1024) to the standard LCD panel resolutions. It's just that manufacturers do not bother with providing the simplest math to program the scaler properly - and I might add, math for which they alrady have all the data about the resolutions, frequencies etc provided by the signal source, and which is far more difficult to measure. Some of the programming I've seen in this area is just horribly incompetent - more proof that PC style programming (memory leak = go buy more RAM and learn to write propper code) is killing the art... N. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] Byfleet Show
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 11:39:27 +, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: (Q-Word) Well, everyone should get a copy ... just for the shear quality of it. Good work by the programming team, and the contributors. -- Malcolm Cadman Is the game itself any good? Or is it just a brilliant showcase of colour and sound? Have a look at the demo - download it from http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk/QWord.html The demo does not have sound at the moment though -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services 26 Oak Road, Shelfield, Walsall, West Midlands WS4 1RQ http://www.rwapservices.co.uk/ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] The hardware conflict...
At 08:36 30/11/2004 +, you wrote: Anyway, it's gone now, swapped it for something much more useful (front panel USB sockets and cabling so I no longer have to go round behind ot plug things in )from someone at work Dilwyn Jones For that very reason I have knocked up a couple of boxes in the past to have the back at the front. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] Byfleet Show
Dilwyn Jones writes: (Q-Word) Is the game itself any good? Or is it just a brilliant showcase of colour and sound? Theres a free trial version for PCs, at least. Ive tried it and find it an enjoyable game! I say this as someone who otherwise only plays the odd computer card game. I'll buy it when it becomes available! Per ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] Aurora screen resolution
Dilwyn Jones writes: LCD prices are starting to fall now, it was rare last year to find a LCD under £200 here, now you can suddenly get 14 LCD screens from about £130 even in high street stores, and 15 inch from about £150 just that I've noticed without really looking recently. Suddenly I know what I want from Santa (he said no to a Q60, but that's life). But the quality varies considerably. Make quite sure you get a good one! What value do you put on your eyes? Per ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[ql-users] Sandy SuperQBoard
Can someone please remind me what the Sandy SuperQBoard provided - was it just disk drive interface and 512K memory?? -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services 26 Oak Road, Shelfield, Walsall, West Midlands WS4 1RQ http://www.rwapservices.co.uk/ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[ql-users] Jungle Eddi
Does anyone remember this little game?? I think it was sold by Talent and I can therefore re-release it. Unfortunately, it will not work under the Pointer Environment, but does work ok under both Q-Emulator and a standard QL - possibly other emulators (anyone willing to try?) I do however need a manual for the game if I am to re-release it.. Does anyone have one as I am not sure what the point is!! -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services 26 Oak Road, Shelfield, Walsall, West Midlands WS4 1RQ http://www.rwapservices.co.uk/ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Sandy SuperQBoard
Tue, 30 Nov 2004 14:14:00 -,() Rich Mellor [EMAIL PROTECTED] /wrote: Can someone please remind me what the Sandy SuperQBoard provided - was it just disk drive interface and 512K memory?? Mouse for sure and MAYBE parallel... Dave would know as he used to work for them Phoebus P.S. Stuff is on the way (I woke up just now after Monday morning :-) -- Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[ql-users] QWord
- Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 11:39 AM Subject: Re: Re: [ql-users] Byfleet Show (Q-Word) Is the game itself any good? Or is it just a brilliant showcase of colour and sound? Dilwyn Jones If the Demo version is anything to go by,(without the high colours and sound) it's very addictive. Be prepared to spend a few hours. John Gilpin. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] Aurora screen resolution
Good point, though the few I've used have all been better than my CRT monitors, which annoy me by being fuzzy for several minutes until they warm up (the ones at home and here are the same, probably normal for CRTs). My wife's laptop has a brilliant display, so nice on the eyes. Dilwyn From: P Witte [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2004/11/30 Tue PM 02:04:43 GMT To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Re: [ql-users] Aurora screen resolution Dilwyn Jones writes: LCD prices are starting to fall now, it was rare last year to find a LCD under £200 here, now you can suddenly get 14 LCD screens from about £130 even in high street stores, and 15 inch from about £150 just that I've noticed without really looking recently. Suddenly I know what I want from Santa (he said no to a Q60, but that's life). But the quality varies considerably. Make quite sure you get a good one! What value do you put on your eyes? Per ___ 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] QPC2 v3.23
This message should go direct to Marcel Kilgus, but I'm not sure if I have the right email address for him here at work from memory, so I'll place the mssage here to make sure he gets it. Regarding previous message re. ALT s being pre-defined in QPC2 v3.23, just noticed it's because ALT space (stuffer buffer retrieval) and ALT s are swapped by default. HOT_LIST shows ALT s as predefined to just KEY on entry to QPC2 v3.23, probably to ' ' so it pretends to be ALT space. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] Sandy SuperQBoard
One of them had a mouse interface (QIMI compatible IIRC) as well - I seem to remember it used a Atari Mouse. I might have an old manual for it somewhere, will try to have a look tonight (memory ain't what it used to be...) Dilwyn Jones From: Dave P [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2004/11/30 Tue PM 03:01:22 GMT To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] Sandy SuperQBoard On Tue, 30 Nov 2004, Rich Mellor wrote: Can someone please remind me what the Sandy SuperQBoard provided - was it just disk drive interface and 512K memory?? There were two SQBs. As I recall... One offered floppy (1770), parallel, and tk2. One offered floppy (1773), parallel, and tk2. Both had a header and could take a 512K expansion piggybacked. This was the most common configuration. Hope this helps... 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] The hardware conflict...
- Aucun (Nobody?) - wrote: Tony Tebby though designed RomDisq from day one for any size possibly. He once told me that the driver would work up to 64MB. But was he right? Tony ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] The hardware conflict...
PS: I am really looking forward to ZN's post explaining unsuitability issues with coldfire processors. (hah, on topic!) It would be easy if I could post attachments - Micro APL provide a cross compiler (68k to ColdFire) and emulation pack for CF V3 and 4 free of charge, it's worth getting if nothing else only for the documentation which gives lots of insight into this problem. Since I don't have that option i am going to quote relevant parts of the documentation, so WARNING: THIS IS ONE LONG MAIL!!! I should also mention that it's not worth expending money om naking a QL compatible using anthing but the most capable V4e ColdFire as the chip prices are nearly the same and the performance vastly improved in the last version, not to mention all the extra stuff you get on the chip itself. Incidentally, this means that there is an emulation capability provided, that can be used to emulate most (but not all!) instructions that are implemented in the 68k and not in the CF series CPUs. At QL2004 I only briefly spoke with a few people about this, proposing that most of the instruction set add-ons introduced by 68020, 30, 40 and 60 CPUs not be used as it greatly complicates proper emulation. Fortunately, in the greatest proportion of all software, the CPU is treated as a very slighty expanded and fast bog standard 68k. One job that needs to be done is to carefully and pragmatically decide which if any extensions should be added. Good candidates would be 32-bit multiplication and division, and possibly floating point instructions (note: V4e ColdFires have a FPU, but it is simpler than the original full and extended IEEE implementation in the 68881 and 882 FPUs). Also, it should be decided which instructiuons are not to be used at all (good candidate would be MOVEP), and which should be deprecated and recomended for avoidance, for efficiency reasons. Sadly, this goes against some brilliant work done by other folks, most notably George Gwilt - but at this point, if there is a way forward for a hardware platform (*) it is doubtfull that there is any other choice. (*) I still strongly advocate the existance of a hardware platform. One could consider me biased, surely - but also consider this: SMSQ/E is a GREAT asset in a world of embedded programming, in which developement systems are notoriously composed of vapourware. Mostly the hardware is there, but the software mostly flat out doesn't work or is completely unhelpful - the developers are left to their own devices to make things work as intended. The QL community is dwindling, and with it another great asset: knowledge of efficient embedded programming. In a world where a control program for a LCD monitor uses up 50k of code, programmers that know you can fit entire OSs and more into the same space are VERY hard to find, and also very sought after - it has now come to a point where the existance of such programming is nearly considered a myth. Selling one embedded QL technology based product is likely to be equivalent to the total sales of a major product in the QL market - the frst, given proper attention, can occur several times every year, with gathering mnomentum, the second once every several years. Money earned is not by far the most important result of this: the addition of crytical mass of developers that have a clear way to benefit from their work IS - it all filters back into the QL community. IMHO, this is the way for the QL to survive, and even possibly, thrive in a quiet, but important sort of way, doing what it is best at: reliably solving unique problems. Anyway, back to the ColdFire dilemma: Here is an excerpt from MicroAPL's PortASM user's manual: :quote: Although the ColdFire architecture is closely related to the 680x0, there are many simplifications to the instruction set which mean that 680x0 assembler code may require substantial modifications... Nearly all of the differences are omissions from the 680x0 instruction set and addressing modes. This means that (with a few important exceptions detailed later), a 680x0 instruction which is implemented in ColdFire behaves in exactly the same way under the two architectures. In fact, almost all user-level (and much supervisor-level) ColdFire code can be run unchanged on a 68020 or later 680x0 processor. THE CONVERSE, HOWEVER, IS NOT THE CASE. In outline, the main omissions fall into five categories: Missing addressing modes Missing instructions Non-availability of word- and byte-forms of nearly all arithmetic and logical instructions Many instructions act only on registers, not on memory Restrictions on available addressing modes for particular instructions Simplification of the supervisor-level programming model In addition to these omissions, the ColdFire version 4 core includes some new instructions which PortAsm can optionally make use of - in particular MVS (movewith-sign-extend) and MVZ (move-with-zero-extend). ...Standard RISC processors such as the PowerPC achieve high
Re: [ql-users] Questionaire
Tony Tebby wrote: If you understand the above (perfectly correct) description, congratulations. Stuart had that rare skill amongst hardware designers of knowing exactly the limits of what might be possible in software. Stems from the Sinclair principle - do not do anything in hardware that you can do in software. Ah, that partly explains the QXL design. I'm thinking about reciting your protocol manual to a bunch of programmers on a dark Halloween night. That should scare the living excrements out of them. On a side note, I just came back from my operating systems exam. After they heard what I did they didn't even bother asking many questions ;-) It was quite refreshing. Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] Aurora screen resolution
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004, Phoebus Dokos wrote: BTW: Q60 and Q40 will not work on an LCD unless its a very expensive one (like say the IBM 21 UXGA of cost at about 2500 USD -or- if you are lucky a cheap one that supports the extra modes- However Qx0s CAN be modified by DD to work correctly with LCDs :-) Why won't they? What is the nature of the modification? Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] The hardware conflict...
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 at 15:54:43, Tony Tebby wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) - Aucun (Nobody?) - wrote: Tony Tebby though designed RomDisq from day one for any size possibly. He once told me that the driver would work up to 64MB. But was he right? Tony (8-)# I would love to put you to the test, but it seems unlikely we will even get to 16 mb (8-(# BTW please email me your UK Midland bank details. There have really been very few sales since the last time, but there is a little commission due. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 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] Questionaire
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 at 16:08:24, Tony Tebby wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) ZN wrote: IIRC the romdisq uses a form of addressing similar to the miracle hard disk where data is output on selected bits of the address line during a second address cycle or something. Exactly. _Any_ writing has to be roundabout. The address is passed out serially (or maybe only bits 8 and above). The data is then put on the databus. ... or something like that. I did not see any documentation. The ROM slot does not have a signal that would tell the hardware it is supposed to write something, only read. To circumvent this, dummy reads are performed into a part of the 16k ROM slot address space, and part of the address (low 8 bits) is used as data. The actual address where the data is written is selected by storing the state of the address lines using yet another dummy read from a different part of the 16k ROM space. SH talked with me about this at a meeting a long time ago, IIRC with RomDisq these areas for dummy reads (and real reads when you actually want to read the contents of the Flash) are 4k in size. If you understand the above (perfectly correct) description, congratulations. Stuart had that rare skill amongst hardware designers of knowing exactly the limits of what might be possible in software. Stems from the Sinclair principle - do not do anything in hardware that you can do in software. Yes - he was a very good lateral thinker. How does one get high addresses? The romslot only has up to A13, and I guess not all of these are ever used to derive an address. I assume there is a two pass address 'read'. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 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] The hardware conflict...
I know a bit about the romdisq and it sounds like an interesting piece of hardware. How does the romdisq compare to a cut-down qubide with space for one or many CF cards? Not that there's much to 'cut down' on the already very sparse qubide! Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] The hardware
ZN wrote: The SGC can actually access the Aurora ROM chip proper... what is unclear is if it can also generate write cycles on the bus for those addresses. Can't one see that in the chip code Keith has recovered? YES! So didn't you get them? I had a brief look at them ages ago and had the understanding that they're on their way to you. 1) CPU a) 68k (semi)compatible or an alternative - the latter requiring a complete re-write of nearly everything or at least a very capable emulator. I don't see much use in an alternative CPU. In that case better get a cheap PC and get some emulator whose name just slipped my mind. b) 68060 or Coldfire - 68060 being the obvious compatible choice (and besides, it's already been done so certainly possible), but suffers from obsolescence, even though it is still obtainable on second-hand markets for reasonable prices. Coldfire has the semicompatibility problem. You probably just have to wait another few months and they'll get completely compatible again ;-) 2) Format a) PC influenced or industial - in other words, uATX (flexATX or ITX) or Euro/halfVME. The first is the logical choice for the standard user, but cumbersome for embedded systems, the latter exactly it's oposite. Just my feeling, but I'd opt for small and something like a Euro card. The ATX/BAT market is already served by the Qx0. I'm not your potential customer though and as thus don't count. b) Fully integrated or expandable, contingent on the choice made in 2a above - for uATX/flexATX/ITX fully integrated with minimal expansion (say one slot of some kind) is the most logical, but also fairly costly solution (you have to buy things you may not necessairly need as they are already integrated on the board), Does it make that much difference price wise? It is equally possible and even simpler to put all the required circuits onto a flexATX size board (flexATX is that part of a regulap PC ATX motherboard that has the serial, parallel, USB, keyboard, mouse and sound connectors), Roughly 23 x 19cm, I gather. Given that resources are limited, should the 'small steps' approach be used with the time between steps (developement time for parts of the total system) reduced, or should one 'Quantum Leap' be attempted with the associated long wait for everything to gel together includinmg all the required resources? Hm, beats me. Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Sandy SuperQBoard
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 at 09:45:28, Phoebus Dokos wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Ôçí Tue, 30 Nov 2004 14:14:00 -,ï(ç) Rich Mellor [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ýãñáøå/wrote: Can someone please remind me what the Sandy SuperQBoard provided - was it just disk drive interface and 512K memory?? Mouse for sure No, I think, at least not on the ones I have seen. There was the capability though, and Keith Mitchell back-engineered a mouse. and MAYBE parallel Yes I think. I will look up the circuit diagram. ... Dave would know as he used to work for them Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 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] Sandy SuperQBoard
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 at 15:08:44, wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) One of them had a mouse interface (QIMI compatible IIRC) as well - I seem to remember it used a Atari Mouse. I might have an old manual for it somewhere, will try to have a look tonight (memory ain't what it used to be...) I have Keith Mitchell's circuit diagram. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 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] The hardware conflict...
Tue, 30 Nov 2004 11:25:17 -0600 (CST),() Dave P [EMAIL PROTECTED] /wrote: I know a bit about the romdisq and it sounds like an interesting piece of hardware. How does the romdisq compare to a cut-down qubide with space for one or many CF cards? Not that there's much to 'cut down' on the already very sparse qubide! Dave The QubIDE CF is a mite slower than RomDisq when reading, however the CF is quite faster when writing. The main advantage of the RomDisq is its insane reliability... it has been known to survive even when plugged the wrong way around (courtesy of a misdirected Aurora Rom adaptor) and it's a tiny piece of hardware whereas the qubide is a lot bigger... doesn't work with everything (well that's only partly true because the Romdisq needs ram expansion :-) and its software is rather unreliable... on the other hand it provides capacities up to 2 Gb on CF cards and even more with Microdrives :-) (The IBM kind of course) ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Sandy SuperQBoard
Tony Firshman wrote: Mouse for sure No, I think, at least not on the ones I have seen. I never had an original one, but I did have a self-made version that had floppy, parallel and mouse. Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] Aurora screen resolution
Tue, 30 Nov 2004 10:57:52 -0600 (CST),() Dave P [EMAIL PROTECTED] /wrote: On Tue, 30 Nov 2004, Phoebus Dokos wrote: BTW: Q60 and Q40 will not work on an LCD unless its a very expensive one (like say the IBM 21 UXGA of cost at about 2500 USD -or- if you are lucky a cheap one that supports the extra modes- However Qx0s CAN be modified by DD to work correctly with LCDs :-) Why won't they? What is the nature of the modification? They DO work but not *REALLY* work... the problem being 1) the timings and 2) the aspect ratio. Most LCDs cannot cope with the weird size and as a result the displayed characters are terrible... I have found several LCDs that can fix that, most of which were Widescreen and had TV tuners inside :-) The modification in reality adds black space so it will bring the display to a 4:3 aspect ration which is then correctly displayable on all LCD monitors ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] The hardware conflict...
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 at 11:25:17, Dave P wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) I know a bit about the romdisq and it sounds like an interesting piece of hardware. How does the romdisq compare to a cut-down qubide with space for one or many CF cards? Not that there's much to 'cut down' on the already very sparse qubide! The RomDisq is a QL boot device. I use it at shows with borrowed QLs. It is also _very_ fast reading. I forget the figures, but it beat qubide. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 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] The hardware conflict...
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004, Tony Firshman wrote: The RomDisq is a QL boot device. I use it at shows with borrowed QLs. It is also _very_ fast reading. I forget the figures, but it beat qubide. When reading, it's accessed just like a ROM, with extended addressing, right? One of the things that I love about older computers, especially anything Sinclair-related, was the stunning hardware hackery to get things to work, and the amazing use of code to render short-comings no-longer-short! It also shows the importance of an expansion system. Any future QL-hardware will need an expansion system. This raises the question of what interesting things people have done with their Qx0 ISA slots. Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Byfleet Show
In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes (Q-Word) Well, everyone should get a copy ... just for the shear quality of it. Good work by the programming team, and the contributors. -- Malcolm Cadman Is the game itself any good? Or is it just a brilliant showcase of colour and sound? Dunno ... I guess it depends how much you like word games :-) Although, I guess you will be one of the first to get hooked :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Byfleet Show
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 19:06:42 +, Malcolm Cadman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Rich Mellor [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 11:39:27 +, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: (Q-Word) Well, everyone should get a copy ... just for the shear quality of it. Good work by the programming team, and the contributors. -- Malcolm Cadman Is the game itself any good? Or is it just a brilliant showcase of colour and sound? Have a look at the demo - download it from http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk/QWord.html The demo does not have sound at the moment though How large is the download of the demo ... if the program is 12Mb ( not 12K :-) ) ? Only 1.28Mb zipped :-) The program is not quite 12MB you'll be glad to know - but needs that much memory at least !! -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services 26 Oak Road, Shelfield, Walsall, West Midlands WS4 1RQ http://www.rwapservices.co.uk/ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] The hardware conflict...
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004, gwicks wrote: Don't forget there are some organisations that forbid committee members from expressing personal opinions in public. Quanta is fortunately not one of them, as you have well seen from my ouput over the last month, but I think it has the right to expect committee members to make it clear when they are writing individually. Organizations cannot _formally_ do this. If you are posting from your own email address, it is your opinion. If the email address is provided by Quanta, they have every right to limit your responses. Personal addresses, they have no right to do so. What happens is that informal pressure is applied, or the rule is a request that is unlawfully worded as an order. Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Byfleet Show
Tue, 30 Nov 2004 20:35:52 -,() Rich Mellor [EMAIL PROTECTED] /wrote: On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 19:06:42 +, Malcolm Cadman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Rich Mellor [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 11:39:27 +, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: (Q-Word) Well, everyone should get a copy ... just for the shear quality of it. Good work by the programming team, and the contributors. -- Malcolm Cadman Is the game itself any good? Or is it just a brilliant showcase of colour and sound? Have a look at the demo - download it from http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk/QWord.html The demo does not have sound at the moment though How large is the download of the demo ... if the program is 12Mb ( not 12K :-) ) ? Only 1.28Mb zipped :-) The program is not quite 12MB you'll be glad to know - but needs that much memory at least !! It's about 4 Megs on QPC/QXL, 5.5 on Q40 (Larger graphics) and about 2.5 on Aurora/SGC Phoebus -- Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] The hardware conflict...
Tue, 30 Nov 2004 20:20:05 +,() Tony Firshman [EMAIL PROTECTED] /wrote: snip It also shows the importance of an expansion system. Any future QL-hardware will need an expansion system. This raises the question of what interesting things people have done with their Qx0 ISA slots. Someone at the Byfleet show asked for an ISA to USB converter (8-)# There is actually one (British made too) In fact the more likely approach would be to use a pcmicia card with a pcmcia USB card. There's also an ISA to PCMCIA :-) ... now who was it who was going to write the drivers (8-)# Tony (Tebby) :-) ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Sandy SuperQBoard
Rich Mellor wrote: Can someone please remind me what the Sandy SuperQBoard provided - was it just disk drive interface and 512K memory?? Mine has two connectors: one floppy drive and the other a parallel printer port I seem to recall (although I don't think I ever used the latter). It has tk2 onboard but definitely no mouse connector. -- Regards, Stephen ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Sandy SuperQBoard
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004, Stephen wrote: Mine has two connectors: one floppy drive and the other a parallel printer port I seem to recall (although I don't think I ever used the latter). It has tk2 onboard but definitely no mouse connector. SQB v2 did have pads for logic and a connector for a QIMI mouse, but this was only included by request, and very few SQBs have this option fitted. The socket came out at the back - I spent many hours machining the top ABS covers to remove that slot. I remember quite clearly now. Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] The hardware
In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Rich Mellor [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes What have you got available Roy - I might be interested. I will email you. I wouldn't mind selling some of it. -- Roy Wood Q Branch. 20 Locks Hill, Portslade, Sussex.BN41 2LB Tel: +44 (0) 1273 386030fax: +44 (0) 1273 430501 web : www.qbranch.demon.co.uk ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Sandy SuperQBoard
Tue, 30 Nov 2004 16:54:40 -0600 (CST),() Dave P [EMAIL PROTECTED] /wrote: On Tue, 30 Nov 2004, Stephen wrote: Mine has two connectors: one floppy drive and the other a parallel printer port I seem to recall (although I don't think I ever used the latter). It has tk2 onboard but definitely no mouse connector. SQB v2 did have pads for logic and a connector for a QIMI mouse, but this was only included by request, and very few SQBs have this option fitted. The socket came out at the back - I spent many hours machining the top ABS covers to remove that slot. I remember quite clearly now. Dave The one I sold you did have a mouse port though didn't it? Phoebus ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Sandy SuperQBoard
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004, Phoebus Dokos wrote: The one I sold you did have a mouse port though didn't it? I don't know. All the QL hardware is in storage because I couldn't get a working system out of it. I'm going to get that box out of storage soon so I can mail those items to you. In an ideal world, I would have a Q60 or be building the next-gen QL, but funds and time (and a lack of Nasta's sparkling precision) defeat me. Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
