Re: [ql-users] Sinclair Disk Drive?
Alexander, The floppy disk drive looks like it would fit onto the floppy disk expansion port of a Sinclair PC200, which is a totally different machine from the Sinclair QL. The disk unit will only work with the computer in question, stay clear... I have a Sandy Superdisk interface v1.6, with FLP driver, Ramdisk driver built in, you could have for a low cost. It only can access 720Kb (Double Density) floppy disk drives. Derek Alexander Klock wrote: Hi there all around the world, is anyone familiar with this one here? http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ViewItemitem=5234689028rd=1sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AITrd=1 Can anyone tell from the pictures if this is usable with a QL? Thanks Alex ___ 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] A4 or A5
Not all Quanta members have the abilities to download an electronic version of the magazine. What are the arrangement for these people, is the magazine going disk based. Derek gwicks wrote: - Original Message - From: Derek Stewart To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 10:38 PM Subject: Re: [ql-users] A4 or A5 I would like the magazine kept the way it is now. Not sure about downloadable version,. this would mean non-subscribers would have access to the magazine. But I guess this has been thought out. Thought out, but not yet worked out. There are two possibilities. One is bulk emailing and the other is a closed section on the website. However no one on the Quanta Committee has experience of either so we would have to have external expertise. Downloading was thought up some years ago as a way of reducing costs, and if I remember rightly came from members at an AGM. The magazine is Quanta's biggest single expense. However savings would only be in postage and not in printing. Obviously the printer has to make a living and his only savings would be paper and ink costs, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ 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] A4 or A5
I would like the magazine kept the way it is now. Not sure about downloadable version,. this would mean non-subscribers would have access to the magazine. But I guess this has been thought out. Derek Stephen wrote: In summary I can only see advantages in A4 if Quanta is serious about electronic publishing. If it is serious, then there is no choice. We have to go A4. However Quanta must still do its homework. A5 please. Can't really see why something as archaic as paper size affects electronic publishing. Anyway, can't read an electronic version in the loo, well, not easily anyway! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] ST-QL
Sorry only STF, STFM, MegaST... The STE, MegaSTE can not use the emulator boards. If you had a VME bus, then you could use a QVME board. Derek Richard Kilpatrick wrote: On 18 Jul 2005, at 23:05, Derek Stewart wrote: Dilwyn, I have an a Mode 8 installed din a Atari STFM, 2 x Extended 4 boards. I will take a photograph of each of them. I was gong to try and sell them, but I guess they are too slow. Do tell? I have an Atari STE which I use for Mac emulation, the idea of a QL in it too amuses me... Richard ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Digital Precision Software/Undelete
Hi John, Wen I bought a Q40 many years ago, when it first came, I also had problems with DRVLINK losing data on a Q40 style hard disk partition. So I never used it again. I was going to delete it from the support disks with he Q60, but others around me said that this is a supplied program and should be used with care. My personal feeling were it should never be used, as the source is not available. Unless it is in the SMSQ/E source, maybe Wolfgang can correct me here. Derek John Hall wrote: Dilwyn Jones wrote: Tony Tebby did at one stage provide a couple of qxl.win checking and recovery programs written in SBASIC (drvlink and drvcheck or some such names) don't know if those are still supplied and indeed if they work on current systems. DRVLNK (the one that performs various consistency checks) works fine on QXL.WIN files but should NOT be used on Q40/Q60 partitions - in a moment of madness over Xmas I checked my WIN1 and lost the lot! (Of course the _really_ stupid bit was accepting its offer to fix the cluster map...) John ___ 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] Software behaving badly
Hi, Is that for 128Mb USB 2.0 Flash Memory Sticks... Derek Darren Branagh wrote: Well, that's a probable 4 - only 96 to go :-)) Darren. -Original Message- From: John Gilpin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 19 May 2005 17:02 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] Software behaving badly Count me in for a couple and I expect that a couple from the Nemqlug subgroup would also be interested. Regards, John Gilpin (individual) - Original Message - From: Darren Branagh [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 4:34 PM Subject: RE: [ql-users] Software behaving badly -Original Message- From: David Tubbs [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 19 May 2005 16:01 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ql-users] Software behaving badly At 15:40 19/05/2005 +0100, you wrote: We will probably settle on buying the 128Mb sticks - they are now the smallest we do, which only a handful of 64Mb ones remaining. I think a 70-80Mb QXL.WIN file or similar would be enough on these, and this would leave ample room for other storage uses for the owner. To be honest though, the fear I have is how many we'd sell. I would need to commit to buying at least 50, but more likely 100, to get decent pricing on the sticks. Typical price when available shouldn't exceed 15 pounds. Will we sell that many? I was wrong then, I thought you were looking to introduce a new line. Well, it's a new idea in QL terms, but USB sticks are about for years. As to Sticks, quantity why ? Primarily to make it worthwhile. Example - I spent MONTHS working on the QL DVD documentary project. Steve Reyal practically devoted his life to it in the same period. We even bought a Mini DV camera - over 600 pounds at the time - with the sole motive being the DVD. Steve (a professional broadcasting editor and DVD author) designed slides shows, sampled music, wrote scripts, and designed the menus for the whole thing. Even blank DVD media was quite expensive at the time. Even doing rostrum camera work of a QL turning for the menu sequences. How many did we sell? Errr.. About 6 of them. Total financial disaster. So, I'm eager to avoid that again. Secondly, if I buy 100, I can get them printed with a logo of our choice, so I could get them with a QUANTA logo on, on maybe Sinclair in the famous block font. Makes the thing a touch more personal I think. Surely the suite would best be moved as a Zipped collection for anyone to unwind into any device they had available, so many have camera mem cards already. No, this defeats the purpose. I can do this after the event for people who want the data, but this idea came about as a way of trying to get at those ex QLers who now have PC's on their desks. Most of these will have forgotten what ZIP is (if they ever knew) and would'nt want the hassle of finding out. If the idea is to work, it should be a matter of plugging in the USB stick, and clicking an icon - and a few seconds later you have a useable QL screen in front on you, with maybe a BOOT running displaying a menu of options, and programs to run. Dead simple. A separate question is if a memory stick is marketable at that price and would it be worthwhile to engage in. This is the big question. Of the people on this list for instance, how many would buy one? Cheers, Darren. ___ 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 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Digital Precision Software
The DP package was not really worth the money... But I bought to support the QL scene. There are much better software around which is free. In fact most of the QL software that I bought is now free, I wonder if I have wasted money. Derek Darren Branagh wrote: This is one of the many things that bugs the hell out of me. I wish there was a statute of limitations or similar on software, whereby after x years the stuff became free. I'm sure freddy would agree to releasing it as freeware, or certainly for a giveaway price. I mean, what real use is a piece of 10 year old QL Software other than retro/curiosity value? You're hardly gonna run the world with it... There is so much good usable software out there and nobody knows its user status - is it freeware, charityware, commercial, or what? And if we had some certainty on a lot of this, a lot of users may be attracted back or stay with the QL to use them, purely as tinkerers. I can pick up a copy of PC World, Computer Shopper, PC Pro or any other PC Magazine and find a pile of software (often once costing hundreds of pounds) stuck to the front cover for the 4.99 cover price, and much of this is less than 2-3 years of age. You usually find v.3 or whatever on the cover disc with an offer to get the new v.4 inside at a reduced cost - yet here we are debating the status of software that hasn't been sold at all, never mind updated, for over a decade. Why are people so reluctant to give this stuff away? There is no money in it anymore. Just ask any trader :-) END RANT/ Darren. -Original Message- From: John Hall [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 17 May 2005 15:26 To: QL Users Subject: Re: RE: [ql-users] Digital Precision Software Dilwyn Jones wrote: Stuart - I could probably get a free WANTED ad into QL Today magazine for you (if publisher Jochen Merz agrees and space permits) to see if anyone wishes to sell their copy of the DP bundle. Let me know if you'd like to try this. Of course, anyone who did sell or otherwise pass on their DP bundle would be breaching the licence conditions but, 10 years on, I doubt if even Freddy V. would be too concerned :-) John ___ 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] Spellcheck....
Nope, sorry, I do not really use the spellchecker... as the MS Word spellchecking is not proper English. Derek Darren Branagh wrote: You've probably added QLers to the spelling database at some point. Darren. -Original Message- From: Derek Stewart [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 04 May 2005 17:16 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] Spellcheck Tried this in Word 2003, seems to be a correct spelling... However, could be offtopic, should all be using QL applications. Derek Darren Branagh wrote: Hi All, This appealed to my funny side. If you type QLers into MS Word or Outlook, and have the spell checker installed, it will automatically underline it in a red wavy line as usual, which indicates a misspelled or unknown word. Right-clicking on it produces a list of possible corrections as usual.. ...But the first word it suggests is Queers - Is Bill Gates trying to tell us something? 8-)# Cheers, Darren. ___ 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 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Spellcheck....
Tried this in Word 2003, seems to be a correct spelling... However, could be offtopic, should all be using QL applications. Derek Darren Branagh wrote: Hi All, This appealed to my funny side. If you type QLers into MS Word or Outlook, and have the spell checker installed, it will automatically underline it in a red wavy line as usual, which indicates a misspelled or unknown word. Right-clicking on it produces a list of possible corrections as usual.. ...But the first word it suggests is Queers - Is Bill Gates trying to tell us something? 8-)# Cheers, Darren. ___ 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] www.kilgus.net updated
Why does not everyone buy the a full copy of QPC2, as it is not that expensive. The all the functionality is there. Especially as the TCP/IP interface has been implemented, new QL based Internet applications could not be developed. I was going use UQLX for this, but QPC2 looks a better way to do this. Derek Roy wood wrote: In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Jeremy Taffel [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes So much for Roy's response to my plea for a better demo. Thanks for the update; now to have a play.. I was just trying to protect Marcel from too many demands on him. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Turbo v4g21
AM roms... they must a morning rom... Derek Tony Firshman wrote: On Mon, 2 May 2005 at 06:10:12, wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) snip I have not tried Turbo on a lower machine than AM Rom plus trump card. You mean AH don't you (8-)# Tony ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Turbo v4g21
Bill, does Joe still have the QL meetings at his Computer Shoppe' Derek Bill Waugh wrote: - Original Message - From: Derek Stewart [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 6:18 PM Subject: Re: [ql-users] Turbo v4g21 Presumable there is no PM rom because THERE JUST IS'NT ALRIGHT All the best - Bill AM roms... they must a morning rom... Derek Tony Firshman wrote: On Mon, 2 May 2005 at 06:10:12, wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) snip I have not tried Turbo on a lower machine than AM Rom plus trump card. You mean AH don't you (8-)# Tony ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.0 - Release Date: 29/04/2005 ___ 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] Turbo v4g21
Hi George, I have downloaded the new Yurbo v4g21, I will try it on all my programs on the Q60, QXl, QPC2, Atari QL, Trump Card QL... I would like you to keep in the backwards compatibility within Turbo, as there are still people using a QL that do not use SMSQ/E and GD2. I think that the backwards compatabilty is important to support these users. What is the minimum specification of QL that is required to use Turbo now. Derek [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 30/04/05 16:37:59 GMT Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: There is one more change that I have made. That is in the choice of stack size. EasyPtr and QPTR extensions need more stack than the 350 bytes default. You Could the problems I mentioned to you in a private mail (lots of inexplicable run-time errors) relate to this issue, do you think? I know, I could just try and figure it out for myself ;) but Im shortly going away for a week, and perhaps others are struggling with the same problem.. The effects of overwriting items in dataspce because the stack is too small are unpredictable. I have usually found that it is particularly hard to debug these programs. It is therefore a good idea to bear in mind that some S*BASIC extensions use much more stack than normal. This is true of QPTR and, I think, EasyPtr as well. Incidentally I think it would a good idea if a register were available showing those extensions which needed a stack size of over, say, 250 bytes. I have also looked at PEEK(!! etc) which allow easy access to system variables and (PEEK(\\ etc) which allow access to S*BASIC areas. PEEK and POKE are dealt internally by Turbo which is much faster than calling the rom versions. It would not be easy to allow for the !! and \\ variations. However, the system variables is found at SYS_VARS so a slightly extended PEEK parameter can replace PEEK(!! . .). Also Turbo TK Code has several BASIC_xxx functions which should cover a lot od the PEEK(\\ ...) ground. Im aware of SYS_VARS and BASIC_xxx, but Turbo is supposed to be a S*Basic compiler, not a language of its own (this is the nature of one of the arguments I had with Freddy, who appeared to be arguing that it was SuperBasic that was incompatible!) I don't think it will ever be the case that Turbo can compile all programs written in S*BASIC. If that did come about I guess that the speed advantage would disappear and that it would be just as fast running the program in S*BASIC. PEEK and POKE are examples of this. Instead of calling the machine code Turbo does it internally. Since only two or three assembler instructions are needed this is much faster. There are three areas where, at the moment, programs written to be compiled by Turbo are restricted. 1. DATA lines must contain just pure numbers or strings. 2. Variable names can't be used in different places with a different number of dimensions. 3. Some integer arithmetic requires careful handling. In some cases Turbo assumes that the result will be an integer where S*BASIC assumes floating point. This shows that Turbo does not aim to compile ALL S*BASIC programs. I understand that this could be a wee bit problematic, as these variants arent SuperBasic. However, Turbo is in a state of flux at the moment it might be an idea to lay a couple of DP issues to rest now. Afterall, much of the duplication in Turbo was to try to overcome some of the limitations in the original QDOS ROMs. Im thinking of things like EXECUTE_x and.. well, I can remember just now (Im in a bit of a hurry). The place to compensate for the differences between SBasic and SuperBasic is in their respective Turbo toolkit extenstions. I would stringly advise against using EXECUTE_x. The reason is that as they stand they make no allowance for parameter strings. EX, EW etc all increase the dataspace to accommodate any parameter string supplied, and the length can be up to 32K. The EXECUTE_x instructions do not make that allowance. It is therefore possible to overwrite the compiled program and probably several neighbouring ones as well by : a$=FILL$( ,32000) EXECUTE_W;a$ So, why not get rid of EXECUTE_xx, BASIC_xx and all that and try to simplify things by reducing the number of different ways of achieving the same thing? Sbasic has some 400+ commands already! and Turbo_tk_code has 111 commands. Many people only use about 2000 words in their daily communications, so this combination might imply that learning Sbasic and Turbo is only about 25% as difficult as learning an entirely new language. Probably not a meaningful comparison, but you catch my drift? I certainly would not want to throw away BASIC_xx becasue they are used in parser_task itself! I am not sure why having several extensions doing the same thing (or nearly the same thing) is to be avoided. In GWASS I have several different names for the same command. For example ENDIF and END_IF are exactly equivalent. There has been much talk of maintaining backward
Re: [ql-users] Just an idea for a new Product.....
By experience of many years heavy drinking, always better to have the breakfast first then the alcohol. Never quite sure if drinking during breakfast is OK, but I always seem better with food in first then drink. That is only in the morning. Derek Dilwyn Jones wrote: Oh yeah...Blame me for your alcoholic ways when you're in Ireland... 8-)# Who else is there to blame ;-) I recall my first encounter with ouzo tooI drank an entire bottle at a greek night in my local pub (don't ask). Took a large fried breakfast the next day to sort me out, and I made friends with a large packet of alka-seltzer too. Darren. Hmmm, fried breakfast after Guinness doesn't work. In fact, your stomach is usually OK after Guinness UNTIL you eat :-( 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] movig sbasic
Hi, The command WMOV is part of Easy Pointer, in the file EASYPTR_CDE Not sure if Easy pointer is PD or still commerical. Derek Michael Grunditz wrote: example 100 OPEN #4,con 110 WINDOW #4, 90,90,50,60 120 PAPER #4,0 130 CLS #4 140 WMOV #4 /example the move-window icon appears and you can drag window #4 across the screen I get unknown procedure for wmov. What I realy want is a sbasic command window that I can move around just like a xterm. /Michael ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.5.7 - Release Date: 01/03/2005 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] SERNET
Hi Roy, All that is required is a standard Null Modem Lead, they work perfectly. Laplink cables do not work as you have stated. In fact all that is required is 5 lines. RX --- TX TX RX CTS--- RTS RTS -- CTS GND - GND I was going to build a little box that could connect up 4 Sernet computers, but never got around to it. Might make and bring it to the next show. Derek Roy wood wrote: In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Tony Firshman [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes On Mon, 7 Feb 2005 at 15:44:49, wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) If even the experts couldn't agree on the wiring of an Aurora port and cable, I see it as a pointless time wasting exercice even trying. They are std PC style ports and if a ribbon cable (10 way DIL IDC one end and 9D IDC plug the other) is plugged onto Aurora the right way round (easy to do wrongly on Qubbesoft boards), then an off the shelf laplink cable can be used. Actually we have been down this road before. Laplink cables do not work. There is one wire wrong - can't recall which one though. Apart from that there are two different cable wirings sold as 'standard' serial connections The laplink cable from CPC failed as did the Lindy Electronics one when we used them at Byfleet two years or so ago remember Tony? You then got a cable from Dilwyn and a couple of plugs from me and made one (which I still have) and that worked first time. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.6 - Release Date: 07/02/2005 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] SERNET
Hi Roy, There is a shop sells Null modems leads that work with Sernet in Derby, cost about £4.00 Derek Roy wood wrote: In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Derek Stewart [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes Hi Roy, All that is required is a standard Null Modem Lead, they work perfectly. Laplink cables do not work as you have stated. In fact all that is required is 5 lines. RX --- TX TX RX CTS--- RTS RTS -- CTS GND - GND I was going to build a little box that could connect up 4 Sernet computers, but never got around to it. Might make and bring it to the next show. This is exactly what we went through at the show. Tony should recall this because he kept saying that laplink cables would work when they did not. I think the serial connection cables from Lindy Electronics were also laplink ones but called something different. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.6 - Release Date: 07/02/2005 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] on a hiding to knoware
Hi Per, Nice web site... Derek P Witte wrote: Since its been so quiet these past few days, perhaps you wont mind me announcing a piffling update to my website Knoware @: http://knoware.mysite.freeserve.com/index.html A.. 2005/02/06 Update a.. Qwirc V0.66 - update and more bug fixes b.. LX2 V0.03 - tiny but important change! See Readme for details. c.. Msprv V0.07 - bug fix and small update 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
RE: [ql-users] SERNET
Hi, I never had any problems with the Auora serial ports, the description of the connections is detailed in the manual clearly. Srnet worked fine with a standard null modem lead available from any good electronic store. So there is no need to build a special sernet cable. I have connected QPC2, QPC1, Q40, Q60, QXL, Atari ST Emulator Extended 4 and Mode 8, QL with SIMSER running, with sernet and a Null modem lead bought from Maplins UK. The reliable network speeds I had were : Q40/60 : 112500 Baud QPC2 : 112500 Baud QXL : 38400 Baud Atari ST Mode 8, Extended Mode 4 Emulator : 19200 Baud QL Trump Card + SIMSER : 9600 Baud The only failure was with the Superhermes SER3, only because the SER3 is incompatiable with SMSQ/E STX/SRX. If the source code to SER3 ws available then I am sure this could be corrected very easily. I have been thinking of dissassembling the SER3 code to see if STX/SRX can be implemented, as I think Superhemes Sernet would connect at 57600 Baud very easily. Al that is to be done is to make SER3 SMSQ/E compliant. Derek -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Phoebus Dokos Sent: 04 February 2005 01:09 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] SERNET Thu, 3 Feb 2005 23:40:52 +,() Roy wood [EMAIL PROTECTED] /wrote: In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Phoebus Dokos [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes Thu, 3 Feb 2005 20:20:32 +,() Roy wood [EMAIL PROTECTED] /wrote: In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Dilwyn Jones [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes SNIP Without opening up the MinisQL, I can't remember if the IDC headers on the Aurora board are one way, or if the cable can be placed on the wrong way round, so screwing up the wiring. Yes they can and often are. Not necessarily. Depends on the version of the Aurora that you have. All proper Auroras have directional IDC headers, however most Qubbesoft ones as documented by Nasta many times were without the IDC jacket ergo the positioning problems Almost all the Auroras out there were made by Qubbesoft. I have a few here made by Nasta that have the correct IDC sockets but all the others did not have this. A lot of people got this wrong. Just to add to the problems they are not the usual, straight through, wiring so you cannot use one of the cables from a PC. What do you mean. There's nothing easier than making a serial port for the Aurora. It uses the standard PC wiring. See also the Aurora manual. -- 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 Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
RE: [ql-users] SERNET
Hi, I did not mean the cables from the Aurora to the IDC connector, wrongly I assumed that this is wired up correctly. Was there much of a difference in the way the Aurora serial port connectors were wired up on the board. Derek -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Phoebus Dokos Sent: 04 February 2005 14:41 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] SERNET Fri, 4 Feb 2005 09:32:40 +,() Tony Firshman [EMAIL PROTECTED] /wrote: On Fri, 4 Feb 2005 at 08:44:08, Derek Stewart wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Hi, I never had any problems with the Auora serial ports, the description of the connections is detailed in the manual clearly. Srnet worked fine with a standard null modem lead available from any good electronic store. So there is no need to build a special sernet cable. Of course a standard cable will not work without the adapter to 9D. This is where I think Nasta said he got it wrong and one cannot use ribbon with std IDC connectors each end. One has to solder to a 9D socket. Of course in doing this, it would be -easy- to wire ser1 as a crossover (like the QL) The way the Aurora's serial ports are (at least mine) you need a std 10 pin IDC connector at the one end and a standard DB-9 male press-down connector (for example the one that you use for Ser 4 on the sH) on the other end. It works like a charm :-) Maybe they were more than one versions of Aurora? Ffibys ___ 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] Level 2 Drivers and BBS
I think it was a development of the Miracle hard disk. Derek - Original Message - From: Jeremy Taffel [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 9:59 PM Subject: Re: [ql-users] Level 2 Drivers and BBS Derek Stewart wrote: Hi, The MAKE_DIR command first appeared for the Miracle Hard drive, whic was the fisrt stable hard drive system for the QL, as I ran a BBS on a 40Mb Miracle Hard Drive for a long time. Maybe the command to make hard directories was incorporated in the Trump card Toolkit 2 rom, but it did notreally work on floppy drives... well the one I had. It was not till the Gold Card appeared, that I had a hard directory system on floppy disks. My trump card user manual which came with my gold card (see previous posting) gives a TKII update record up to V 2.13. It also has a disk (firmware) update record which goes to V1.21 (included RAM disk v1.03 AT v1.17). The manual cover the use of RAM disks and in the keyword list it includes DUP DDOWN, but not MK_DIR, so it seems fairly conclusive to me that the version of the Trump Card covered did not include either the keyword, or the level 2 drivers. I agree that both were available on the GC though. Jeremy -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.7.4 - Release Date: 25/1/05 ___ 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] Level 2 Drivers and BBS
Hi, The MAKE_DIR command first appeared for the Miracle Hard drive, whic was the fisrt stable hard drive system for the QL, as I ran a BBS on a 40Mb Miracle Hard Drive for a long time. Maybe the command to make hard directories was incorporated in the Trump card Toolkit 2 rom, but it did notreally work on floppy drives... well the one I had. It was not till the Gold Card appeared, that I had a hard directory system on floppy disks. This seems a long time ago, running a BBS on on 768K Trump card with 40Mb hard drive, Qconnect, Amstrad SM2400 modem and Qbox BBS software. Apart from the over run problems in the Qconnect, it all seemd to work... then Pbox, Qubide, Hermes and USR Courier modem made the system so much faster. I still ike the idea of a BBS system, but I think maybe an Internet BBS would be a good idea. Do you think it would be worth the effort translating the BBS system to an Internet web site. Derek - Original Message - From: Phoebus Dokos [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 12:59 AM Subject: Re: [ql-users] Level 2 Drivers ??? Thu, 27 Jan 2005 00:00:36 +,?(?) David Tubbs [EMAIL PROTECTED] ??/wrote: At 16:48 26/01/2005 +, you wrote: MAKE_DIR was introduced not in a Toolkit 2 version (IIRC), but first appeared in the plug in replacement chip for the Trump Card. I therefore doubt that there is a Toolkit 2 image anywhere which contains the right code. I do have a copy of v2.12 ROM file which can be used with emulators, but again this cannot understand level 2 directories -- Rich Mellor It occurs to me you are looking for oranges in a bag of apples. DUP +DDOWN (TKII) were for navigating mdv's, I imagine MAK_DIR is needed for HDD's, certainly as a parallel to the DOS command. DUP and DDOWN is to navigate directories not MDVs ie if the MDV device has subdirectories it can navigate them as well. Actually your statement doesn't even make sense (as it would if you were to change drives via DUP/DDOWN ie you are on MDV1 and DUP will take you to MDV2 (which is not what happens anyway). MAKE_DIR applies to whichever device has Level 2 drivers. Floppies do for example and the RomDISQ does as TT's RAM disk... (so it is not only HDDs as you wrongly assume) BTW after a small illness I am back (and back from Greece as well) :-P Ffibys ___ 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] Problems with SMSQ/e
Hi Rich, I have 2 Q60s that will start up with SMSQ/E configured for 1024x512 mode. Derek On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 21:44:18 - Rich Mellor [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have now spoken with two people who say that they have configured SMSQ/e for the Q40/Q60 to start in 1024x512 resolution with high colour drivers, but it does not start up in that mode. They have to issue a DISP_COLOUR 3,1024,512 to do this after starting up. Seems as though this is broken. Also (I have not checked this myself) but someone with SMSQ/e v3.03 for the Gold Card (high colour version) has said that their boot program which just has LRESPR win1_smsq_gold now cycles - in the past it would not try to re-load smsq/e on top of itself. Something else to look at -- 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 Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[ql-users] QDT Demo
I received the QL Today demo of QDT, which I have installed on my Q60. The QDT install program worked great first time, merging all my boot file together with QDT boot file. No problems there at all. QDT looks really slick and I have been running it constantly since it was installed, as I do not switch off the Q60. QDT on my Q60 has only 18 days to run, then I do not know what will happen, I can not seem to buy a full copy. A really nice piece of software. Derek ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Problems with SMSQ/e
I have been looking at putting SMSQ/E in rom. Up to v2.98p the code is romable, but after that I can get the rommed version of SMSQ/E 3.07 to load. The rom initialisation code looks OK, but maybe something else is affecting the rom loading routine. The major changes after 2.98p were removal of MOVEP commands and slave blocks. Which I think look correct as well. It is a puzzle, which I have spent many nights programming eproms and trying to get SMSQ/E 3.07 to boot without success. Derek On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 10:33:15 - Rich Mellor [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 08:31:49 +0100, Jérôme Grimbert [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Rich Mellor wrote: I have now spoken with two people who say that they have configured SMSQ/e for the Q40/Q60 to start in 1024x512 resolution with high colour drivers, but it does not start up in that mode. They have to issue a I'm using a Q40, previously with 3.01, now with 3.07 (no intermediate version), homebuilt (using Qmac). (Rom still in 2.98) I have no trouble starting in 1024x512, once the file has been configurated with menuconfig. well that's one out of 3 I guess - presume you also get the high colour mode (DISP_TYPE=33). Nevertheless, I did tried to put the 3.01 on Eprom, but they never boot the Q40. So, there is probably an issue and something broken somewhere. (And yes, I know how to program correctly the eprom, I had no trouble getting, modifiying and updating the 2.98 image... ) I have not yet tested 3.07 on eprom, but given that patch trace, I have barely any hope. Yes, this is something else that apparently needs to be fixed. Any volunteers ?? Also (I have not checked this myself) but someone with SMSQ/e v3.03 for the Gold Card (high colour version) has said that their boot program which just has LRESPR win1_smsq_gold now cycles - in the past it would not try to re-load smsq/e on top of itself. Well, my Q40 boot file starts with something along 100 IF VER$(1)==2.98 THEN LRESPR ... So at the second boot, there is no lrespr to do. I know that work around, but it should not ne necessary Certainly standard Gold Card smsq/e just ignores the LRESPR and goes to the next line - but the high colour v3.03 doesn't. -- 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 Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] BBS'
No one ever used my BBS to the full extent Derek On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 15:07:32 -0500 Phoebus Dokos [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Works TF Service Pbox +44 (0)1442-828255 QBOX (JMS) Pbox +49 (0) 203-502014 Failed so far QBOX (USA) +1 810 254 9878 = number not recogised, BTW I can ring the USA for 3p a minute anytime and Holland 2p minute. Closed down for a while. QLCF +33 (0) 498-430320= engaged first time, did not answer 2nd time Holbern View = gone -- Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] browsers
Hi, I used to live in Newcastle, UK, do you think that it is available in Geordie... Derek On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 18:24:36 +0200 Wolfgang Uhlig [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: And of course Wolfgang forgot the most important thing about Opera It is available in Welsh I didn't forget it, I didn't know :) This is indeed one of the most important things about Opera, I admit, I only know one thing to be more important, that is, Opera is also available in Plattdeutsch which is a dialect spoken only in North Germany, where I am from ;) Wolfgang ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Menu_rext
As Jochen says MENU_REXT is not free, but is supplied with QD and other programs. MENU_REXT is supplied on the Q60 Software Package, which royalties are paid for the software inclusion. The Q60 and Q40 support disks never had MENU_REXT supplied for that reason. Why not do like I did and buy MENU_REXT out right and then get all the documentation to support all the great features of MENU_REXT. Read past issues of QL Today for documentation on SERNET and how to set up the network... is it worth another article I wonder or is the subject all articled out. Derek On Mon, 02 Aug 2004 12:58:04 +0200 SMSQ - Jochen Merz [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Tarquin Mills wrote: Marcel Kilgus wrote: Michael Berger wrote: Completely agree. Having the configuration information within the executable file itself is a messy and error prone thing. Why's that? What's error prone about this? And once you're used to this, it's actually a piece of cake. Level 2 is especially nice because it can update new versions of an application to the old configuration. Very convenient. Anyway, sorry for the dumb question, but isn't both Menu_rext and MenuConfig provided on the QPC disc? I might be wrong, I don't put the disc contents together and haven't seen an original disc in ages, but I thought this was the case. Menu_rext is not on the Q60 support discs for the same reasons, so I need a copy to. Has there ever been a version of Sernet for non QL computers and is there enough documentation in the public domain for anybody to write one? Well, Menu_rext is not freeware, to start with. Everybody is welcome to bundle it with his product for a small royalty fee. This is how it was in the past, and this will even apply to brandnew products like QDT. Nobody has approached me to have it bundled on the Q40/Q60 support disks, so it is no surprise it is not on there... but everybody is welcome to ask! And yes, it was not originally on the QPC disk as QPC did not have Level 2 right from the start, if I remember correctly. And when it had been implemented by Marcel, I simply forgot to add it. Mind you, all of the QPC customers seem to have other products containing menu, as there was not a single complaint over the years. I remember very well that at this time, QPC1 was also on the disk and it was completely full - we had to remove stuff. Probably about time to deliver QPC2 on CD... Jochen ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL Network link QL -- PC possible?
Michael, The SERNET job invoked by the SERNET keywor is the Sernet file server. Which ideally should be only issued on one machine, but you can have more than more server, but the Sernet system could get confused. The problem maybe the cable, as the SERNET files I sent you all work on my systems. Email the details of your cable to me and I will try and sort out the problem. Derek On Mon, 2 Aug 2004 20:40:33 +0200 Michael Berger [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: - Original Message - From: Derek Stewart [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 7:06 PM Subject: Re: [ql-users] QL Network link QL -- PC possible? On QPC2 using SER2 10 BAUD 2,9600 20 LRESPR SERNET_SER2_REXT 30 SNET 1 40 SERNET : REMark Sernet file server On QL using SER2 10 LRESPR SIMSER_REXT 20 BAUD 9600 30 LRESPR SERNET_SER2_REXT 40 SNET 2 MB: from that listings I pick one thing up: the SERNET job (file server) must be only invoked on exactly one of both machines, is that right? When I follow these instructions and afterwards use the JOBS command I see on the QL only the sernet slave process and on the QPC both the sernet slave process and a process named SERNET V2.22 Still did not get the whole thing up and running, wonder if my cable is ok. and the SERNET process shows a priority of s126 - guess if it is suspended, something is going wrong? Cheers, Michael Now do DIR S1_WIN1_ which give to a directory listing of QPC2 WIN1. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL Network link QL -- PC possible?
Dilwyn, If only 2 machines or nodes are on the Sernet, then a standard null modem leas will do. Try Maplins or any electronics store or I can supply them. With more than 2 nodes on the serial network, then a special cable or arrangement must be made. As you have suggested, the Sernet is a circular networking system. So that Inputs are connected to Outputs. The actual cable is a little cumbersome, so I thought of making a little hub box for 4 nodes with all the interconnections made. All that is required is straight serial port cables from the network node. I will make a prototype SerHub box it would make the serial networking a lot more easiler than it is now. I am using Sernet v2.22, I am sure there are later versions, but this is version that I have had reliable results on all QL machines. Only failure is Superhermes, which due to the way the SER3 port is coded can not have split speeds under the way SMSQ/E requires Sernet to work. If the SER3 source code were avavilable, I am sure that this problem could be solved. Derek On Fri, 30 Jul 2004 19:53:03 +0100 Dilwyn Jones [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I made a cable and connect up QPC2, Q60, QXL, QL, Atari ST QL All worked very well, except the serial network speed is limited to the slowest machine, in the the above chage the QL. I expected that. Which version of Sernet did you use to get the 'circular' system working. That's one reason why I never spent much time on it, not being sure if I had a workable version or not. I got a good transfer speed between my old PC and my wife's laptop, both of which had fast serial ports. I was going to make a little Sernet hub box, but never got around to it, maybe when I have a spare moment, I could do this. That sounds like a good idea actually. Then all you need is simple cabling to the individual computers and the box takes care of looping the handshaking round presumably. If you ever get time, I think a short article in Quanta or Toady to explain the wiring might be handy, for posterity! -- Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL Network link QL -- PC possible?
Hi Dilwyn, I made a cable and connect up QPC2, Q60, QXL, QL, Atari ST QL All worked very well, except the serial network speed is limited to the slowest machine, in the the above chage the QL. But QPC2 to Q60 Sernets very easily at 115600 baud giving 11.56K transfer. The only failure I had was on Superhermes, but that is down to the ser3 port not having a Sernet compatible serial device driver. But I think it could be rewritten. I was going to make a little Sernet hub box, but never got around to it, maybe when I have a spare moment, I could do this. Derek On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 22:44:51 +0100 Dilwyn Jones [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Darren Branagh wrote: There is the QXL - a hardware QL emulator - Which has QL network ports on the back. I often used mine between my QXL/PC and black box QL, mind you that was before QPC and SERNET :-)) Yes, and IIRC it depended on the QXL's speed, if a faster processor was fitted it upset the network timing, a bit like running TK2 ROM image network from fats RAM systems! The Aurora card has a QL network socket too. It comes in handy networking my MinisQL to my backup QL when that gets used occasionally. Michael Berger wrote: does any of the existing QL emulators support a QL network link between PC and QL? - I do not mean by Serial port (as I know QPC2 can do this) but by the QL network connection - probably to a pair of data/ground pins on the PC's parallel port? Marcel Kilgus wrote: No, I was experimenting with this 10 years ago, but IIRC the timing was much too critical. And using SERNET you can have all features of the QL net with the serial port, too (except probably connecting multiple machines, I'm not sure about this point). Sernet can connect several serial ports, but special cabling is needed to form a circular handshaking loop, I never really got that to work (not that I spent much time on it!). Bernd Reinhardt told me that not all versions of Sernet supported the multiple computer approach, advising me to contact him direct if I needed a version that supported that facility at the time, I don't know if it's since been put into all versions. It would be nice to get a three station sernet working, to network my Minis-QL, PC and my wife's laptop together. A little bit of spare time to source some plugs and cables and I might try it sometime.Anyone already tried it? -- Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QXL 2 question
I think you will find that the QXL requires all the sockets to be filled. The chips are arranged in 2 banks. Derek - Original Message - From: Phoebus R. Dokos ( . ) [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2004 2:34 PM Subject: [ql-users] QXL 2 question Hi all, does anyone remember which chips on the QXL2 you can remove to reduce from 8 Megs to 4 Megs? Am I wrong to remember that you remove every other chip starting with the second one from the back of the board? Phoebus ___ QL-Users Mailing List --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.667 / Virus Database: 429 - Release Date: 28/04/2004 ___ QL-Users Mailing List
