Re: [ql-users] Newbie with some questions...(transfer & scart)
Marcel Kilgus wrote: Alexander Klock wrote: ... - Is there a way to get software from the net onto microdrive cartridges, e.g. with a cable or something? This is a bit of a chicken and egg problem, it is possible using a serial lead, but the QL does not come with terminal software... though a simple basic program without much of a protocol might be sufficient for starters. On the other side you could use a PC with my QPC emulator (http://www.kilgus.net/qpc/), the demo can read files and write to the serial ports just fine. I think the max serial speed with an unmodified QL is however 9600 bps. Unmodified, 9600 is specified as the max speed, but personally, without error correction, and hardware flow control, I wouldn't recommend it. Especially as the serial input buffers can get out of sync with themselves if too much data arrives, with the result that there then appears an 11 character delay - when a character arrives, you get the character that arrived 11 before it, but until a character arrives, you won't get any characters, even though there are 10 awaiting collection; the only cure we found was a reset. But a disc interface really might be a more of a hassle free solution. Disc interface is the easiest, but if you can get a boot strap serial link[1] going you can use a program (eg kermit, if you can get the PC version...got both here...somewhere) to do the later transfers with error correction. (Out of interest, whilst at Uni, a friend wrote a terminal emulator that emulates a VT52[2] and a Tektronic 4010 storage tube.) [1] QPC may help you out here: use it to send a file transfer utility (eg kermit) to the QL; you could then use that with error correction to send others. Your best bet is to transfer QL files zipped to the QL and use a QL unzip utility as it'll include the QDOS header information, in particular, the data space for executables. You may be able to run the file transfer utility in QPC. [2]It actually more emulates the terminal emulator that the MicroLabs of UCLCC wrote and put in the BBC micros that were used as terminals to EUCLID. ... - Is there a kind of SCART-cable available? (The TV output is so terrible...) The TV output never was particularly good, I'd always prefer a monitor. If you want the (relevant) scart pins, they're: 8 -) Function switching 15 - Red[3] 16 -) see below 13 - Red Ground[4] 11 - Green[3] 20 - Video in[5] 9 - Green Ground[4] 7 - Blue[3] 21 - Common Ground 5 - Blue Ground[4] 20 - Sync I'm not sure about function switching: I made no connections and it worked with my monitor, but my info says: Pin: 8 16 Result 0 0 Normal 'off-air' signal[6] 1 0 Composite input x 1 RGB input[7] [3] Impedence 75 ohm, Video Level 0.7V +/-3dB, +ve DC component 0 to +2V [4] The grounds are all connected together on the scart connector of my monitor. [5] Impedence 75 ohm, Video Level 1Vp-p+/-3dB, +ve DC component 0 to +2V [6] I suspect that these are used by TVs to auto select. ie if both pins 8 & 16 are logic 0[8], there is presumed to be no signal on the scart connector. If either (or both) go to logic 1[8], a signal is present on the scart connector and automatically switches input to the source, waking up a TV from standby (in which case, when they both return to logic 0, the TV reverts to standby mode). If you can manually switch the input on the TV, then these pins shouldn't matter. [7] The QL RGB outputs are at TTL levels: +5V. Trying to use RGB direct could damage you QL, your monitor/TV, or both - the signal levels ideally need to be dropped somehow. [8] Pin 8: Logic 0: 0 to +2V, Logic 1: +9.5 to +12V Pin 16: Logic 0: 0 to 0.4V, Logic 1: +1 to +3V RGB gives best output, but using Composite would give better output than TV. Easiest is to get a scart<->Video input/output converter as then all you need do is build a QL Din to phono cable (you'll need to connect pin 2 to gnd, and either pin 1 or 3 to the signal: one is monochrome, the other should be colour - not sure which is which as I've see different specifications with it both ways round). ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Newbie with some questions...
On Tue, 9 Aug 2005 02:54:29 +0200, Alexander Klock <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: - Is there a way to get software from the net onto microdrive cartridges, e.g. with a cable or something? - How much effort is neccessary to connect a cd-rom-drive to the QL? (Because I think it's the easiest way to get new software) I can answer these together. The easier way to get QL software off the Internet and on to a standard QL is floppies. There are a number of floppy controlers for the QL, some with additional memory (like a TrumpCard, GoldCard or SuperGoldCard). Floppy drives themselves are fairly cheap. Some QLer's on the list might have older drives in a case for sale. Then you will need some QL<->MS-DOS transfer software. Mtools is a free program that does all of this, but is a bit complicated. You will also need an archiver software like unzip, or infozip, or LHQ, etc. You then download the compressed software (.zip usually) to your PC, copy it to floppy, walk it to your QL, use mtools to copy it to a QL floppy, then use unzip to extract the files. The software is easy and I'm sure some QL'ers in Germany can give you the executables on floppy to get you started. The hardest part will be getting the hardware for this. Once you have all of this, there is a ton of freely available software to use on the QL. Tim Swenson ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Newbie with some questions...
At 00:55 11/08/2005 +0200, you wrote: - Is there a kind of SCART-cable available? (The TV output is so terrible...) Tony Firshman can do this for you. I have a QL to SCART cable, and I'm sure Tony knows the wiring - He is on this list - Tony? That would be great. I could try it myself with the schematics from the manual, but I don't know the pins of the SCART-plug... You should get the SCART adaptor with Phono sockets and an In/Out switch. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.5/67 - Release Date: 09/08/2005 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Newbie with some questions...
Alexander Klock wrote: >> You can use the QL as is, but a lot of decent software needs more >> memory or additional files (TK2 or SMSQ/E). > I thought this SMSQ/E is an emulator or am I wrong? No, SMSQ/E is a rewritten successor of the QDOS OS with many enhancements. It runs on actual QL and Atari hardware, only one emulator (mine, QPC) is also using it as its OS. Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Newbie with some questions...
Alexander Klock wrote: >> Even though in those days the German QL scene was really buzzing :-) > Yes, I even knew about it then. But it was quite hard to get in > touch, only via snail-mail, no users close to my location and all the > interesting stuff was too expensive for someone still at school and > without money, you know, I know, I'm actually some years younger than you are ;-) But fortunately there was an active scene here, I remember dragging my dad to many meetings, plus the German club magazine Quasar was a huge well of information. > For the first, yes. Basic is the only thing I know until now, but I'm > eager to learn some assembler later... I started this on a ZX81... > that was a mess, I can tell you... ;-) Started on a ZX81, too. But only got into assembler on the QL, which is BTW one of the best machines to learn/program assembler on, to this day a big part of all software including the OS is pure assembler. > There starts the trouble (again). I only have Macs. And even worse, > I don't have some classic system anymore, and the emulator runs only > with System 9... I can't even install it on my iMac G5 anymore. So > this door is closed until someone ports the emulator to X. I see. Well, I can definitely rule out an OS X port of QPC, it's just too much work, though it runs fine on VirtualPC. Apart from that you could try http://uqlx.dokos-gr.net/indexmac.html >> I think the max serial speed with an unmodified QL is however 9600 >> bps. > That should be sufficient as the files are not that large, aren't they? Files for the original QL tend to be pretty small, yes. When I purchased my first pack of 10 DD discs I thought those would certainly last forever. ;-) Since then I learned the law of data always filling up all available space, no matter how big the space is. >> Personally I consider the stuff abandonware and have not much >> hesitations to giving it away, but I don't really have many games for >> the QL. > I'd be interested to know which games you have and would give away. I guess I can dig through my old stuff once you've set up a way to get it unto your QL. > Well, but take a look from the other side: Don't need to, I perfectly saw your point. Just saying it really IS difficult to start because the vanilla QL does have many limitations. Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Newbie with some questions...
Am 10.08.2005 um 11:39 schrieb Marcel Kilgus: Alexander Klock wrote: When I bought it in 1989, I was fascinated by this machine, but in this pre-internet-time I was not able to make some contacts to get some news or software. Even though in those days the German QL scene was really buzzing :-) Yes, I even knew about it then. But it was quite hard to get in touch, only via snail-mail, no users close to my location and all the interesting stuff was too expensive for someone still at school and without money, you know, so I decided to give it up. From this point of view, it was easier to find someone with an Amiga or a C64. So now, I fell somehow "retro" and want to make a new start. I already looked through the net and found a lot of unsorted infos, most of it too complicated for me to understand. I'm not interested in excessive hardware expansion. I just want to learn to code this machine, because I think there's a lot of things possible with the standard capabilities... What language? SuperBasic? For the first, yes. Basic is the only thing I know until now, but I'm eager to learn some assembler later... I started this on a ZX81... that was a mess, I can tell you... ;-) - Is there a way to get software from the net onto microdrive cartridges, e.g. with a cable or something? This is a bit of a chicken and egg problem, it is possible using a serial lead, but the QL does not come with terminal software... though a simple basic program without much of a protocol might be sufficient for starters. On the other side you could use a PC with my QPC emulator (http://www.kilgus.net/qpc/), the demo can read files and write to the serial ports just fine. There starts the trouble (again). I only have Macs. And even worse, I don't have some classic system anymore, and the emulator runs only with System 9... I can't even install it on my iMac G5 anymore. So this door is closed until someone ports the emulator to X. I think the max serial speed with an unmodified QL is however 9600 bps. That should be sufficient as the files are not that large, aren't they? But a disc interface really might be a more of a hassle free solution. Yes, I think so. - I found some QL-World Scans with some game reviews in it. I'm interested in collecting games for the (standard) QL, as most of them don't seem to be just conversions from other systems but QL-specific developments. Is there some source on the net for this or do I have to buy them all, the real old stuff too? Personally I consider the stuff abandonware and have not much hesitations to giving it away, but I don't really have many games for the QL. I'd be interested to know which games you have and would give away. - Is anyone out there who would transfer software onto my own microdrive cartridges, if I sent them to him? I could, I guess. If the drives in the basement QL are still working ;-) Fine. I'll get back to you :-) - Does a normal atari-compatible joystick work with the QL? Yes, German QLs had the right connector and it was "plug and play". ;-) I just found out myself, just tested it with one of the sticks of my C64 collection... - Is there a kind of SCART-cable available? (The TV output is so terrible...) The TV output never was particularly good, I'd always prefer a monitor. Yes, I would, too. But I don't have the room for another one... so for the time being, I'll take the TV... I'd be glad if someone could help me for a good start... I'm curious and want to spend some fun time with this machine - don't want to spend much money on hardware and stuff. Understandable. But nowadays it really gets difficult to bootstrap somebody with a vanilla QL because both the hardware and software has moved on quite much. Well, but take a look from the other side: I think I'll get curious about the new stuff on my own, when I try to push the frontiers ahead. One step after another. I don't think it makes much sense to get all this (cool, I'm sure) stuff and then not knowing what to do with it. Alex ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Newbie with some questions...
Am 09.08.2005 um 11:32 schrieb Darren Branagh: I'd be glad if someone could help me for a good start... I'm curious and want to spend some fun time with this machine - don't want to spend much money on hardware and stuff. Hopefully you would have to - is there some generous sort out there with a disk interface and the like they'd want to give to a good home?? Whoops... I meant NOT have to. :-)) Understood it anyway :-) You can use the QL as is, but a lot of decent software needs more memory or additional files (TK2 or SMSQ/E). I thought this SMSQ/E is an emulator or am I wrong? ...They again, you can have a lot of fun with some microdrive stuff on an original unexpanded QL too. A good Idea is if anyone has any microrive software they no longer want, to send it on maybe...?? I'd really appreciate this... and I don't need productivity applications like text processing, calculations etc... but I'm curious in some retro-style games, graphics and sound programs... and the extra-ordinary stuff, whatever :-) Alex ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Newbie with some questions...
Am 09.08.2005 um 11:18 schrieb Darren Branagh: Hi and good morning everybody, my name is Alex, coming from Germany and just found my old QL in the cellar... after blowing the dust off the keys I recognized it again. How cool it looks... still one of the most beautiful devices I've even seen. Hi Alex - and Welcome to the QL mailing list. Agreed. I remember seeing one for the first time circa 1986, and recall thinking it looking like it fell off the back of a low flying millennium falcon :-) Coming from a humble ZX Spectrum, it was a different world. It was only when I got a PC several years later I realised how bad that keyboard was... :-)) Yeah... I came from the C64, and we all remember this one... huge and blocky. The QL was somewhat elegant compared to this... and it still is. Jochen Merz of JMS Software is in Germany - see his website on : http://smsq.j-m-s.com/main.htm Yes, that was one of the first sites I found. I'm just a bit confused about the fact that all the stuff on the net for the QL today is commercial... I thought there should be a lot of abandonware after all these years? When I bought it in 1989, I was fascinated by this machine, but in this pre-internet-time I was not able to make some contacts to get some news or software. Indeed - one good thing about this list is it has helped a lot of people blow the dust off their QL. Well, I hope there is much traffic here, because I'm also interested in reading from others... that's an interesting way to learn. - Is there a way to get software from the net onto microdrive cartridges, e.g. with a cable or something? Probably, but in this day and age though the way to go is to pick up a cheap disk interface for a few euro - a trump card would be ideal and are often given away free at shows on even on this list from time to time... This allows up to 4 disk drives to be attached, but only supports DD disks. It also gives you an extra 768K of memory. A gold card, the next step up, gives you HD floppy support, a 68000 processor giving a huge speed increase, and 2Mb of additional RAM. Both also come with toolkit 2 (a piece of software giving you very useful additional commands) These are available for peanuts nowadays, and almost an essential purchase. All you do then is download the file to disk, use QLtools or get SMSQ/E to read PC disks on the QL, unzip on the QL, and away you go. Well, and here it starts again ;-) I don't even have a disk drive. We Mac-users don't even remember how these devices looked, you know... ;-) And to buy a disk drive with usb-port just for this single purpose? Hmm... that's why I asked how to connect a CD-ROM. I'm interested in this "Aurora" thing... is this a good solution? I'd love to see the old QL case equipped with more power sooner or later. - Where can I find good FTP Servers with QL Software? (Most links that I found seem dead) Dilwyn Jones website is the best source of sortware I find. A huge collection of QL software, and he also has a links page to all the other major sites of QL interest with more software, and its written in Dilwyn's easy to understand way of doing things, so a beginner can easily get the info he needs. The URL is : http://www.dilwyn.uk6.net/index.html Noted. Thanks. :-) - I found some QL-World Scans with some game reviews in it. I'm interested in collecting games for the (standard) QL, as most of them don't seem to be just conversions from other systems but QL-specific developments. Is there some source on the net for this or do I have to buy them all, the real old stuff too? Well, this is an issue that comes up time and time again. The status of most games is unknown (ie. Is it freeware, still commercial, charityware or whatever) as most authors have slipped into the unknown and cant be traced. Most of these games are now 2 decades old, and would yield the authors little are no financial gain now, but yet as the status is in the dark the legal implications (and good manners) prevent us from releasing them. Many can be picked up on the original microdrives cheaply, and some have been updated and are sold again (RWAP software do a range of games) while a lot are available free to download on the Dilwyn Jones' site I mentioned above. Well, I would treat it this way: if there is no source on the net to find to buy this very old stuff legally, I think there is no problem downloading it, as far as the moral aspect is concerned. That's the way they deal it in the C64 scene, for example. And there is some unspoken agreement not to crack or spread new commercial software. - Is there a kind of SCART-cable available? (The TV output is so terrible...) Tony Firshman can do this for you. I have a QL to SCART cable, and I'm sure Tony knows the wiring - He is on this list - Tony? That would be great. I could try it myself with the schematics from the manual, but I don
Re: [ql-users] Newbie with some questions...
Alexander Klock wrote: > When I bought it in 1989, I was fascinated by this machine, but in > this pre-internet-time I was not able to make some contacts to get > some news or software. Even though in those days the German QL scene was really buzzing :-) > So now, I fell somehow "retro" and want to make a new start. I > already looked through the net and found a lot of unsorted infos, > most of it too complicated for me to understand. I'm not interested > in excessive hardware expansion. I just want to learn to code this > machine, because I think there's a lot of things possible with the > standard capabilities... What language? SuperBasic? > - Is there a way to get software from the net onto microdrive > cartridges, e.g. with a cable or something? This is a bit of a chicken and egg problem, it is possible using a serial lead, but the QL does not come with terminal software... though a simple basic program without much of a protocol might be sufficient for starters. On the other side you could use a PC with my QPC emulator (http://www.kilgus.net/qpc/), the demo can read files and write to the serial ports just fine. I think the max serial speed with an unmodified QL is however 9600 bps. But a disc interface really might be a more of a hassle free solution. > - I found some QL-World Scans with some game reviews in it. I'm > interested in collecting games for the (standard) QL, as most of them > don't seem to be just conversions from other systems but QL-specific > developments. Is there some source on the net for this or do I have > to buy them all, the real old stuff too? Personally I consider the stuff abandonware and have not much hesitations to giving it away, but I don't really have many games for the QL. > - Is anyone out there who would transfer software onto my own > microdrive cartridges, if I sent them to him? I could, I guess. If the drives in the basement QL are still working ;-) > - Does a normal atari-compatible joystick work with the QL? Yes, German QLs had the right connector and it was "plug and play". ;-) > - Is there a kind of SCART-cable available? (The TV output is so > terrible...) The TV output never was particularly good, I'd always prefer a monitor. > I'd be glad if someone could help me for a good start... > I'm curious and want to spend some fun time with this machine - don't > want to spend much money on hardware and stuff. Understandable. But nowadays it really gets difficult to bootstrap somebody with a vanilla QL because both the hardware and software has moved on quite much. All the best, Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
RE: [ql-users] Newbie with some questions...
>I'd be glad if someone could help me for a good start... >I'm curious and want to spend some fun time with this machine - don't >want to spend much money on hardware and stuff. >>Hopefully you would have to - is there some generous sort out there with a >>disk interface and the like they'd want to give to a good home?? Whoops... I meant NOT have to. :-)) You can use the QL as is, but a lot of decent software needs more memory or additional files (TK2 or SMSQ/E). ...They again, you can have a lot of fun with some microdrive stuff on an original unexpanded QL too. A good Idea is if anyone has any microrive software they no longer want, to send it on maybe...?? Darren. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
RE: [ql-users] Newbie with some questions...
>Hi and good morning everybody, >my name is Alex, coming from Germany and just found my old QL in the >cellar... after blowing the dust off the keys I recognized it again. >How cool it looks... still one of the most beautiful devices I've >even seen. Hi Alex - and Welcome to the QL mailing list. Agreed. I remember seeing one for the first time circa 1986, and recall thinking it looking like it fell off the back of a low flying millennium falcon :-) Coming from a humble ZX Spectrum, it was a different world. It was only when I got a PC several years later I realised how bad that keyboard was... :-)) Jochen Merz of JMS Software is in Germany - see his website on : http://smsq.j-m-s.com/main.htm >When I bought it in 1989, I was fascinated by this machine, but in >this pre-internet-time I was not able to make some contacts to get >some news or software. Indeed - one good thing about this list is it has helped a lot of people blow the dust off their QL. >So now, I fell somehow "retro" and want to make a new start. I >already looked through the net and found a lot of unsorted infos, >most of it too complicated for me to understand. I'm not interested >in excessive hardware expansion. I just want to learn to code this >machine, because I think there's a lot of things possible with the >standard capabilities... >And of course, I want the feeling. So here come my questions: >- Is there a way to get software from the net onto microdrive >cartridges, e.g. with a cable or something? Probably, but in this day and age though the way to go is to pick up a cheap disk interface for a few euro - a trump card would be ideal and are often given away free at shows on even on this list from time to time... This allows up to 4 disk drives to be attached, but only supports DD disks. It also gives you an extra 768K of memory. A gold card, the next step up, gives you HD floppy support, a 68000 processor giving a huge speed increase, and 2Mb of additional RAM. Both also come with toolkit 2 (a piece of software giving you very useful additional commands) These are available for peanuts nowadays, and almost an essential purchase. All you do then is download the file to disk, use QLtools or get SMSQ/E to read PC disks on the QL, unzip on the QL, and away you go. - Where can I find good FTP Servers with QL Software? (Most links that I found seem dead) Dilwyn Jones website is the best source of sortware I find. A huge collection of QL software, and he also has a links page to all the other major sites of QL interest with more software, and its written in Dilwyn's easy to understand way of doing things, so a beginner can easily get the info he needs. The URL is : http://www.dilwyn.uk6.net/index.html - I found some QL-World Scans with some game reviews in it. I'm interested in collecting games for the (standard) QL, as most of them don't seem to be just conversions from other systems but QL-specific developments. Is there some source on the net for this or do I have to buy them all, the real old stuff too? Well, this is an issue that comes up time and time again. The status of most games is unknown (ie. Is it freeware, still commercial, charityware or whatever) as most authors have slipped into the unknown and cant be traced. Most of these games are now 2 decades old, and would yield the authors little are no financial gain now, but yet as the status is in the dark the legal implications (and good manners) prevent us from releasing them. Many can be picked up on the original microdrives cheaply, and some have been updated and are sold again (RWAP software do a range of games) while a lot are available free to download on the Dilwyn Jones' site I mentioned above. - Is anyone out there who would transfer software onto my own microdrive cartridges, if I sent them to him? I personally don't use a "real" QL anymore, so don't have access to microdrives. I as many people nowadays, use an emulator called QPC2 and use a PC instead. So, now I have some hardware questions: >- Does a normal atari-compatible joystick work with the QL? Yes, but you need to change the 9-pin D connector to the phone-plug style of the QL's Control ports if you have a UK QL. I cant recall, but didn't the german QL come with 9-pin D style connectors? A wiring diagram is available from Dilwyns website, and you can also get pre-wired adaptors to do the job for you if you have UK QL - I have one somewhere if you would like it? >- Is there a kind of SCART-cable available? (The TV output is so >terrible...) Tony Firshman can do this for you. I have a QL to SCART cable, and I'm sure Tony knows the wiring - He is on this list - Tony? >- How much effort is neccessary to connect a cd-rom-drive to the QL? >(Because I think it's the easiest way to get new software) You'll need a disk drive interface like I mentioned above, probably a Gold card or Super Gold Card for extra RAM at least. An ATAPI CD-ROM drive can be
