Re: [M100] Screen dim and flickers randomly
I forget the rule of thumb--in order to charge the NiCd, does the backup switch need to be on or off? Or does it not actually matter? Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2015 08:45:36 -0700 From: jho...@pobox.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Screen dim and flickers randomly I agree with Bob. Make sure you let it sit with good batteries and power supple overnight to prime the nicd after all that time in storage. -- John.
Re: [M100] Screen dim and flickers randomly
Ah cool, thanks John. Embarrassingly, I've been doing this wrong. Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2015 08:54:19 -0700 From: jho...@pobox.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Screen dim and flickers randomly The memory power switch should always be on unless you're placing the laptop into storage or you're having trouble cold starting the system. On Friday, March 20, 2015, Joe Grubbs wrote: I forget the rule of thumb--in order to charge the NiCd, does the backup switch need to be on or off? Or does it not actually matter?
Re: [M100] Screen dim and flickers randomly
There is a diode in the schematic that should protect against accidental center-tip-positive mishaps From: rpigfo...@comcast.net To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2015 14:52:31 -0400 Subject: Re: [M100] Screen dim and flickers randomly I’m not sure about any built-in polarity protection. I would assume not. The wallwart needs to be 6vdc output, center negative. For the ModelT I use this one from Tandy: Cat #26-3804, 8W, 6vdc, 400ma.Good luck, Bob From: M100 [mailto:m100-boun...@lists.bitchin100.com] On Behalf Of scoci...@gmail.com Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 11:26 AM To: Model 100 Discussion Subject: Re: [M100] Screen dim and flickers randomly Unfortunately I'd didn't come with the wallwart but im sure I can find one around the home. Have to remember to check center polarity with my multimeter since I've read it doesn't have polarity protection on the DC input. Is this true? Sebastian S. Cocioba CEO & Founder New York Botanics, LLC Plant Biotech R&D From: Bob Pigford Sent: 3/20/2015 9:59 AM To: 'Model 100 Discussion' Subject: Re: [M100] Screen dim and flickers randomlySebastian,Have you tried leaving it plugged into the wall wart (power supply) overnight? Might not help, but easy to try.Bob From: M100 [mailto:m100-boun...@lists.bitchin100.com] On Behalf Of scoci...@gmail.com Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 2:59 AM To: Model 100 Discussion Subject: [M100] Screen dim and flickers randomly Got a second M100 off eBay for a steal. With box, cables, manuals, etc. Its pristine. Turned it on with fresh batteries and screen is fairly dim with knob turned to max contrast and it flickers randomly, especially while typing. Contrast does work but lowest looks as if off and only at max is the screen readable but only at an angle. Any thoughts? Haven't opened it up yet... Thanks! Sebastian S. Cocioba CEO & Founder New York Botanics, LLC Plant Biotech R&D
Re: [M100] Ladroid progress
"Subscribe" :) I'm also curious how this works out. I had to stop work on my own serial/BT internal adapter project because of other things going on, but this may inspire me to pick it up again From: ajroac...@gmail.com Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2015 18:32:56 + To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Ladroid progress This is really exciting news. On Wed, Mar 25, 2015 at 9:50 AM John R. Hogerhuis wrote: Hello Russell -- The cable to the BCR provides power to BlueM. The Bluetooth module which Steve designed is attached to the serial port. Steve designed BlueM so it can also accept power from an unused serial port pin. This requires to open the laptop and solder an internal wire to the serial port that can provide the +5V to power the BlueM. Eventually I will do that so there's no wire going to BCR. I think it could also be connected to a battery. -- John. On Wednesday, March 25, 2015, Russell Flowers wrote: Awesome! In the picture it looks like there is a cable coming from the barcode wand port and going back to the M100... but I don't think there is a port there is there? Did you stick Bluetooth module in the battery compartment? On Wed, Mar 25, 2015 at 3:01 AM, John R. Hogerhuis wrote:= HTERM -> BlueM -> Ladroid on Galaxy Note -> SSH -> Linux server Lots to do to make it user friendly but it's working! -- John.
Re: [M100] VirtualT 1.7 TDock VGA
Awesome, I will have to check this out :). This is related to the actual piece of hardware you proposed, correct? The neo-disk-video-interface? --- Original Message --- From: "Ken Pettit" Sent: April 7, 2015 6:17 PM To: "Model 100 Discussion" Subject: [M100] VirtualT 1.7 TDock VGA Anyone who wants to try out the very extremely Beta TDock VGA emulation in VirtualT 1.7 is welcome, just keep in mind that it is a bit raw. The "external" monitor only works with M100/T102, has menus at the top with no functionality, may crash under certain conditions, etc. WIth that in mind, I have uploaded the TDOCK.CO binary to my Personal Libraries section at Club100 with a README.txt file for use and a couple of tokenized BASIC programs for examples on using color. Ken
Re: [M100] What is your favorite Tandy / Radio Shack computer ?
Given that the CoCo was my first computer and is where I learned to program, it has to be my favorite. --- Original Message --- From: "Duane Calvillo" Sent: April 10, 2015 7:48 PM To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] What is your favorite Tandy / Radio Shack computer ? Does anyone remember the TRS 80 Color computer? Which Tandy / Radio Shack computer is your favorite https://archive.org/details/Tandy_TRS80_Color_Computer_TOSEC_2012_04_23
Re: [M100] What is your favorite Tandy / Radio Shack computer ?
Maybe a dumb question, but was the "Ray" prompt a bug or something Ray did to personalize his ROM? Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2015 10:50:31 -0800 From: mikeepp...@gci.net To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] What is your favorite Tandy / Radio Shack computer ? I learned on a model 1 and then had a coco. I liked the model 1 the most. mike On 4/11/2015 9:38 AM, Ken Pettit wrote: I learned on the Model I, but I think the Model III was my favorite, other than the M100. I never had enough money to purchase a Model III (I was in 8th grade), but luckily Ray, the guy who ran the local Radio Shack let me spend every afternoon sitting in front of their demo Model I / Model III. Interestingly, I recall showing Ray that if you change the Model III from 80 column to 40 column mode, the BASIC "Ready" prompt would turn into "Ray" :) Ken On Sat, Apr 11, 2015 at 9:26 AM, Joe Grubbs wrote: Given that the CoCo was my first computer and is where I learned to program, it has to be my favorite. --- Original Message --- From: "Duane Calvillo" Sent: April 10, 2015 7:48 PM To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] What is your favorite Tandy / Radio Shack computer ? Does anyone remember the TRS 80 Color computer? Which Tandy / Radio Shack computer is your favorite https://archive.org/details/Tandy_TRS80_Color_Computer_TOSEC_2012_04_23
Re: [M100] What is your favorite Tandy / Radio Shack computer ?
The Tandy 2000 was a really powerful machine in its day. Even the graphics were awesome--nearly VGA quality! Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2015 15:59:48 -0500 From: l...@3footed.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] What is your favorite Tandy / Radio Shack computer ? Even though it was on a dead end road and very quirky the Model 2000, a 80186 with 768k of ram, was the one I have the fondest memories of. I learned DOS 2.11 and even windows 1.4 on the Tandy 2K. And I only paid 110.00 for it IIRC at a Tandy tent sale in Fort Worth, back in about 1990. But the Model T class is the best. On Sat, Apr 11, 2015 at 2:25 PM, Ken Pettit wrote: No, just Model III BASIC gave you a Prompt like this: Ready> If you switch to 40 column mode, the software made every other character wider and dropped the other characters. So it would keep the 'R', 'a', and 'y' characters and stop the 'e' and 'd'. Just the way the switch from 80 to 40 col mode worked. It was just random that it spelled "Ray", and that the guy who managed the local Radio Shack was named Ray. :) Ken On Sat, Apr 11, 2015 at 12:23 PM, Joe Grubbs wrote: Maybe a dumb question, but was the "Ray" prompt a bug or something Ray did to personalize his ROM? Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2015 10:50:31 -0800 From: mikeepp...@gci.net To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] What is your favorite Tandy / Radio Shack computer ? I learned on a model 1 and then had a coco. I liked the model 1 the most. mike On 4/11/2015 9:38 AM, Ken Pettit wrote: I learned on the Model I, but I think the Model III was my favorite, other than the M100. I never had enough money to purchase a Model III (I was in 8th grade), but luckily Ray, the guy who ran the local Radio Shack let me spend every afternoon sitting in front of their demo Model I / Model III. Interestingly, I recall showing Ray that if you change the Model III from 80 column to 40 column mode, the BASIC "Ready" prompt would turn into "Ray" :) Ken On Sat, Apr 11, 2015 at 9:26 AM, Joe Grubbs wrote: Given that the CoCo was my first computer and is where I learned to program, it has to be my favorite. --- Original Message --- From: "Duane Calvillo" Sent: April 10, 2015 7:48 PM To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] What is your favorite Tandy / Radio Shack computer ? Does anyone remember the TRS 80 Color computer? Which Tandy / Radio Shack computer is your favorite https://archive.org/details/Tandy_TRS80_Color_Computer_TOSEC_2012_04_23 -- "I will never in my lifetime make a film that cannot be seen by the whole family" Arther P. Jacobs
Re: [M100] Disassembling Model 200
I know this is of no help, but I also couldn't figure it out... So when I
disassembled mine to replace the keyboard, I just delicately separated the
halves of main case and carefully detached the ribbon cable (a fragile FPC at
that!) from the motherboard. Reattaching was a pain, but I was able to get more
length by tilting the screen at a half-open position--gave my fingers more room
to work before joining the two halves of the main case back to together.
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2015 13:13:51 -0400
From: bobclar...@gmail.com
To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com
Subject: [M100] Disassembling Model 200
Hey, all. I just got a Model 200, and I need to disassemble it. I have the
service manual, but I can't figure out how to get the LCD cable cover off. I'm
trying to follow the directions ("Apply force to the upper center portion of
the cable cover and remove it by sliding toward you"). For some reason, pushing
in there doesn't have any give, and rather than just prying at the edges and
busting the thing into god knows how many pieces, I figure I'm just not smart
enough. Any suggestions?
Thanks,--Bob
Re: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem
You got a REX? Where did you obtain it? I'd love to get one for my 200. > From: james.z...@gmail.com > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:05:02 +0100 > To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com > Subject: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem > > Hey everyone > > I just got my REX In the post, followed the guide on wiki as the printed > manual seems to be for an earlier module. I have it installed as it shown on > the guide but I'm not seeing anything appearing on my menu. As I understand > it, I should see a new program listed for accessing my REX module. Can anyone > help please, I've been waiting ages for this to arrive, I dont want to think > it's arrived DOA. > > Cheers > James
Re: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem
Well shoot, I feel unloved :( I requested one on Feb 6th. I'll stop hijacking your thread now, sorry. From: james.z...@gmail.com Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:05:25 +0100 To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem Ken at club100 sorted me one out, I'm sure he would be happy to help you Sent from my iPad On 20 Apr 2015, at 12:59 pm, Joe Grubbs wrote: You got a REX? Where did you obtain it? I'd love to get one for my 200. > From: james.z...@gmail.com > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:05:02 +0100 > To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com > Subject: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem > > Hey everyone > > I just got my REX In the post, followed the guide on wiki as the printed > manual seems to be for an earlier module. I have it installed as it shown on > the guide but I'm not seeing anything appearing on my menu. As I understand > it, I should see a new program listed for accessing my REX module. Can anyone > help please, I've been waiting ages for this to arrive, I dont want to think > it's arrived DOA. > > Cheers > James
Re: [M100] kc85 schematic/KC85 Rex compatibility
Same here. We need you Ken! I hope you get out of there as soon as possible. -Joe From: ray...@hotmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 05:13:59 -0700 Subject: Re: [M100] kc85 schematic/KC85 Rex compatibility I'm really sorry to hear you're in the hospital. Know we're all pulling for you.get well soon.ray From: petti...@gmail.com Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2015 22:38:38 -0700 To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] kc85 schematic/KC85 Rex compatibility I'm pretty sure I have a working KC85, but I'm back in the hospital at the moment for more stents tomorrow. Maybe in a week or two I will be recovered enough to try test it. Ken Sent from my iPhone On Apr 19, 2015, at 10:01 PM, ray gordon wrote: This thread is only 5 years old, so I thought I would see if there has beenany update. Has anyone tried a regular M100 rex in the KC85 and see if it worked?I have one in storage and was thinking abvout this, as I'm currently saving up for rexes for some other systems I have.Stephen, do you have a KC85 to test on?Ray😊
Re: [M100] Club100 / REX Orders WAS Received my REX...
Thank you Ken! Just as long as I'm not forgotten :) I was developing a complex Keep us posted! Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 10:34:51 -0700 From: petti...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] Club100 / REX Orders WAS Received my REX... Hey Joe, I keep trying to get the Club100 orders caught up with everything going on, but there never seems to be enough time. I had started my way at the oldest orders and was working my way to the newer ones. I will continue to try to get them filled. Ken On Mon, Apr 20, 2015 at 5:10 AM, Joe Grubbs wrote: Well shoot, I feel unloved :( I requested one on Feb 6th. I'll stop hijacking your thread now, sorry. From: james.z...@gmail.com Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:05:25 +0100 To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem Ken at club100 sorted me one out, I'm sure he would be happy to help you Sent from my iPad On 20 Apr 2015, at 12:59 pm, Joe Grubbs wrote: You got a REX? Where did you obtain it? I'd love to get one for my 200. > From: james.z...@gmail.com > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:05:02 +0100 > To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com > Subject: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem > > Hey everyone > > I just got my REX In the post, followed the guide on wiki as the printed > manual seems to be for an earlier module. I have it installed as it shown on > the guide but I'm not seeing anything appearing on my menu. As I understand > it, I should see a new program listed for accessing my REX module. Can anyone > help please, I've been waiting ages for this to arrive, I dont want to think > it's arrived DOA. > > Cheers > James
Re: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem
Oh wow! You have a Unicorn 100 :) I'm glad it sounds like you have it figured out. Do you plan to keep it or get another 100? Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 20:45:14 +0100 From: james.z...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem Well i think we might have figured out why the REX is not working. I sent a photo of my TRS80 M100 to Stephen and he asked me what the heck I was using. Turns out the guts of my M100 resemble a Kyotronic KC-85 more then they do a Tandy M100. So it's a good bet this is why the REX isn't working. Another indication is the lack of a modem connector on the motherboard. The case has a blanking plate covering where the port should be. Stephen has suggested that someone has swapped the internals in my M100, so it's a KC85 in a Tandy case. However having looked inside this machine, i have to say it looks really clean and tidy. If i didn't know better, i would say it was sold like this originally. But i've not owned my m100 / KC85 for that long, so can't really say. James On 20 April 2015 at 19:47, Frederick Whitaker wrote: When I received my first REX I had to make sure that all the little pins in the socket made contact, I had to do a complete restart, and only then did I get a response from the CALL63012. I know from experience that programs in memory can interfere with the call. Don't assume yet that you have a bad solder connection. Try it again and don't be in a hurry. Fred W. Sent from my iPhone On Apr 20, 2015, at 1:40 PM, James Zeun wrote: Ken It might seem daft but if you have the time, could you walk me through HOW you tested it. I've been working with Stephen on getting this chip to be seen by my computer but had little luck thus far. Cheers James On 20 Apr 2015 6:36 pm, "Ken Pettit" wrote: Hmm, I actually tested the unit prior to shipping it, so I know it worked at one point. When I get home, I'll have to check my stock of REX100 … I think I may be out. Steve, you were going to build up a few more REX100s I think … have you made any progress on that front? Ken On Mon, Apr 20, 2015 at 5:55 AM, Stephen Adolph wrote: Probably defective then. Lately my soldering has been a little less reliable. On Mon, Apr 20, 2015 at 8:53 AM, wrote: Just confirmed I have the chip installed correctly, but the command to active it does not appear to be working and I don't have a spare trs80 hanging around to see if this is a fault with my computer. I've adjusted the pins to make sure the REX is making good contact, but nothing happens. I type in the call 63012 command and the machine just sits there doing nothing, all I can do is reset it. Sent from my iPad On 20 Apr 2015, at 1:10 pm, Joe Grubbs wrote: Well shoot, I feel unloved :( I requested one on Feb 6th. I'll stop hijacking your thread now, sorry. From: james.z...@gmail.com Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:05:25 +0100 To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem Ken at club100 sorted me one out, I'm sure he would be happy to help you Sent from my iPad On 20 Apr 2015, at 12:59 pm, Joe Grubbs wrote: You got a REX? Where did you obtain it? I'd love to get one for my 200. > From: james.z...@gmail.com > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:05:02 +0100 > To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com > Subject: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem > > Hey everyone > > I just got my REX In the post, followed the guide on wiki as the printed > manual seems to be for an earlier module. I have it installed as it shown on > the guide but I'm not seeing anything appearing on my menu. As I understand > it, I should see a new program listed for accessing my REX module. Can anyone > help please, I've been waiting ages for this to arrive, I dont want to think > it's arrived DOA. > > Cheers > James -- My retro tech blog and general ramblings http://bytemyvdu.wordpress.com/
Re: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem
Oh I was just using a figure of speech. Anything that's rare or one-of-a-kind is a "unicorn". :P Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 20:54:18 +0100 From: james.z...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem here is link to the picture i sent Stephen https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw_gYOWg5M0dU0lpX004Zm1nNWs/view?usp=sharing Unicorn 100?? Someone will have to explain as i'm still new to all of this :-) On 20 April 2015 at 20:51, Stephen Adolph wrote: The thing that needs clarification here 1) for EU models of M100 - what motherboard was standard? 2) the motherboard code is PLX120BH1X - is that the same is KC-85? 3) for that motherboard code, it clearly uses the MOLEX connector but what is the pinout? One would assume the same as any other M100. On Mon, Apr 20, 2015 at 3:47 PM, Joe Grubbs wrote: Oh wow! You have a Unicorn 100 :) I'm glad it sounds like you have it figured out. Do you plan to keep it or get another 100? Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 20:45:14 +0100 From: james.z...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem Well i think we might have figured out why the REX is not working. I sent a photo of my TRS80 M100 to Stephen and he asked me what the heck I was using. Turns out the guts of my M100 resemble a Kyotronic KC-85 more then they do a Tandy M100. So it's a good bet this is why the REX isn't working. Another indication is the lack of a modem connector on the motherboard. The case has a blanking plate covering where the port should be. Stephen has suggested that someone has swapped the internals in my M100, so it's a KC85 in a Tandy case. However having looked inside this machine, i have to say it looks really clean and tidy. If i didn't know better, i would say it was sold like this originally. But i've not owned my m100 / KC85 for that long, so can't really say. James On 20 April 2015 at 19:47, Frederick Whitaker wrote: When I received my first REX I had to make sure that all the little pins in the socket made contact, I had to do a complete restart, and only then did I get a response from the CALL63012. I know from experience that programs in memory can interfere with the call. Don't assume yet that you have a bad solder connection. Try it again and don't be in a hurry. Fred W. Sent from my iPhone On Apr 20, 2015, at 1:40 PM, James Zeun wrote: Ken It might seem daft but if you have the time, could you walk me through HOW you tested it. I've been working with Stephen on getting this chip to be seen by my computer but had little luck thus far. Cheers James On 20 Apr 2015 6:36 pm, "Ken Pettit" wrote: Hmm, I actually tested the unit prior to shipping it, so I know it worked at one point. When I get home, I'll have to check my stock of REX100 … I think I may be out. Steve, you were going to build up a few more REX100s I think … have you made any progress on that front? Ken On Mon, Apr 20, 2015 at 5:55 AM, Stephen Adolph wrote: Probably defective then. Lately my soldering has been a little less reliable. On Mon, Apr 20, 2015 at 8:53 AM, wrote: Just confirmed I have the chip installed correctly, but the command to active it does not appear to be working and I don't have a spare trs80 hanging around to see if this is a fault with my computer. I've adjusted the pins to make sure the REX is making good contact, but nothing happens. I type in the call 63012 command and the machine just sits there doing nothing, all I can do is reset it. Sent from my iPad On 20 Apr 2015, at 1:10 pm, Joe Grubbs wrote: Well shoot, I feel unloved :( I requested one on Feb 6th. I'll stop hijacking your thread now, sorry. From: james.z...@gmail.com Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:05:25 +0100 To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem Ken at club100 sorted me one out, I'm sure he would be happy to help you Sent from my iPad On 20 Apr 2015, at 12:59 pm, Joe Grubbs wrote: You got a REX? Where did you obtain it? I'd love to get one for my 200. > From: james.z...@gmail.com > Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:05:02 +0100 > To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com > Subject: [M100] Received my REX but there's a problem > > Hey everyone > > I just got my REX In the post, followed the guide on wiki as the printed > manual seems to be for an earlier module. I have it installed as it shown on > the guide but I'm not seeing anything appearing on my menu. As I understand > it, I should see a new program listed for accessing my REX module. Can anyone > help please, I've been waiting ages for this to arrive, I dont want to think > it's arrived DOA. > > Cheers > James
Re: [M100] Back home from the hospital
So glad to hear it! Heal up soon. You're an extremely valuable member of this community, and a nice guy to boot :P I hear that Model 100 tinkering is a great way to spend recovery time. Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2015 07:33:33 -0700 From: petti...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] Back home from the hospital Hey Everyone, Just wanted to drop a quick note that I was released from the hospital last night and I'm back home again. A week or so of recovery at my incision and I should be back up to speed. No new stents needed .. the Cardiologist just need to re-open one of the previously installed stents. Apparently one of them had grown too much scar tissue to cover the metal stent and the scar tissue was encroaching on the area where the blood needed to flow. Luckily it was pretty far down at the bottom of my heart and not affecting much of the heart tissue. Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know I was okay.Ken
Re: [M100] Model 100/102 vs Alphasmart
I think it would be awesome if you use the Model 100 for your journal! There's something about that back-to-basics simple design that adds to the experience. Plus, no esoteric or expensive batteries, instant-on, no security updates, etc. I've been toying with the idea for a motorcycle trip across country, and I think I'd bring either my 100 or 200 with me to blog about it. I've been playing with more modern connectivity methods (inspired by Stephen's work with BT), so I would be able to publish my text through my phone... hopefully. Your message has just inspired me more :) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2015 08:10:52 -0700 From: mechanicalgen...@cox.net To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] Model 100/102 vs Alphasmart Howdy folks My name is Robert and this is my first post. I am going to be taking a trip this summer, aboard a 50ft sailboat, from Hawaii to Long Beach. I did this run couple years years ago. Best month of my life. During that journey, I shared my journal daily. We used a ham radio based email system called Sailmail to connect with the world. I would write on my tablet everyday and upload once a day. Everyone loved reading about the journey. I want to share it again. Last time, I ran into a couple issues with my Samsung tablet. Battery life wasn't that great, and daylight viewability was awful. If I wanted to write during the day I had to go below deck to do it. This time I want to be able to write anywhere and everywhere. I have a Model 100, and it seems like it could be quite nice for this trip, other than transferring files to the laptop we will be using for Sailmail. I won't likely have access to the laptop before the trip for testing. I don't have a NADSbox. Another option I ran across is an Alphasmart Neo. Not quite as cool, but rugged, USB built in, and I think it is backlit. I think it may have a limitation on the number of files it can store, and I will be creating at least one new file per day. So I come to you, oh knowledgeable ones of the Model T world. What wisdom can you share with this lowly sailor?
Re: [M100] REX release 4.9 update on it's way
I second that. This ended up being a blessing in disguise :) Date: Sat, 2 May 2015 09:52:43 -0700 From: jho...@pobox.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] REX release 4.9 update on it's way Thanks Steve and Fred! Nice when a bug fix helps everyone. -- John.
Re: [M100] 8300 hardware debug / REX8201
*Ri* That 1nf really softens it. Not too soft of an edge? --- Original Message --- From: "Stephen Adolph" Sent: May 2, 2015 4:49 PM To: "Model 100 Discussion" Subject: Re: [M100] 8300 hardware debug / REX8201 In 8300, you can see the noise on the trace.. that's not good on a timing signal used to trigger flip flops! [image: Inline image 1]
Re: [M100] My TRS-80 M100 and going to the park
Hahaha that's great! Coincidentally, my sister sent me this video this morning, it's along the same lines as the story you just shared. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF7EpEnglgk It is amazing how the skills that are just intrinsic to us are completely foreign to most of today's kids. Date: Fri, 8 May 2015 16:19:59 +0100 From: james.z...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] My TRS-80 M100 and going to the park I don't post on here very often, two posts in one day is something of a record for me. I don't really know how to program, save for a little bit of Python on my Raspberry PI. So as an M100 user, I guess I'm what you could class as an enthusiastic/user. I use my M100 for writing articles for my vintage tech blog, the battery life just makes it a great machine to use. The screen is far superior to the Amstrad NC100 I was using previously, which was more of a word processor then a real computer like the TRS. Anyways, I thought I would share with you an experience I had with my M100 last week, while we had a spell of sunshine. I know it's not exactly dissecting a system rom or anything ambitious as getting an M100 online over wifi. But I thought I would share it, as it's was a fun moment using a 30yr old computer for what it was meant for. Last week the sun blessed us with an appearance, so a group of us 'nerds' decided to venture out in to the sunshine to soak up some Vitamin D! I packed a rucksack and threw my M100 inside, thinking I could finish off a blog post. Sitting on the picnic blanket with a flask of tea, I kept having people come up to me, inquiring about the Tandy. I genuinely didn't think anyone would raise an eye brow, aside from take pity on the sad nerd who couldnt afford a Macbook Air. To my surprise people wanted to know about the little machine, which I was more then happy to tell them about. Even if it did mean I didn't get any work done! Some of them sort of knew what it was, while others were completely baffled. One guy even asked if I hooked it up to the PC using USB. When I explained to him that I used a serial cable, there was a lost expression his face. Clearly not a lover of old RS-232! The oddest part of the outing was having my friends seven year old son approach me, looking genuinely confused. "What is that?" "It's a computer" I replied "No, it doesn't have a lid" Argued the child "That's a laptop, this is a portable computer. See this label on the front, it says 'Portable Computer', it can work out maths problems and I can write on it just like a regular computer" "It's not a computer, it doesn't have a screen! how do you close the lid?" "It doesn't need a lid and the screen is there see!" So if you want to confuse a small child, wave an old computer at them and watch their brain explode lol. Having grown up in the 80's, it's really difficult to get my head around the fact there is a generation now, that see's touchscreens as common place. I really wonder what they would make of sitting in front of a C64 and typing out a program listing from a book, like I did when I was 7-8 years old. Thats what I think of when someone says the word computer. Anyways, that was a random adventure with my M100, still a useful work horse. Hope nobody objected to me sharing :-) James
Re: [M100] $9 Computer
I've been keeping up with the Kickstarter for this and even threw some money at it :) I can think of a few ways I might use something like this. Over in the Color Computer world, I've written a virtual cassette drive (I call it the Virtual-CCR). Using a special cable that routes the Audio Out through the Remote relay, the software uses the device events that are surfaced by the OS (Linux in this case) to detect when the Color Computer's Remote relay closes. Then based on the presence/absence of a signal from the Audio In, it determines whether you've issued a CSAVE or CLOAD in BASIC. The virtual "cassettes" are just WAV files. Not quite ready for prime-time, but I hope to refine it and make it perfect soon. Anyway, this runs on a regular computer, but it would be so cool to instead use something like this tiny $9 contraption. Throw a short cable and 5 pin DIN connector on it and voila! > Date: Tue, 12 May 2015 11:29:28 -0500 > From: hira...@hotmail.com > To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com > Subject: [M100] $9 Computer > > ZDnet had this article on this tiny successor (cousin?) to the Raspberry PI. > I couldn't help but wonder how it could be interfaced to the M100 to > enhance the M100s capabilities. Even if the M10x/200 ended up only being > a terminal into the device. I picture a small (3d printed?) plastic box > the width of the M10x either along the back side of the bottom, or just > along the back side, plugged into the M10x's ports, (especially if along > the back side), and possibly with a slide-out/flip-up (or > slide-out-then-flip-up?) 4.5" screen. > > Control would still be through the M10x, but you'd have access to the > capabilities of the little computer. > > (this does make me once again wish I could find a source for a modern > screen with dimensions close to the M10x's. ) >
[M100] Model 200 battery cover
Hi all, Despite my best efforts to be gentle, my battery cover has finally broken. Does anyone out there in Model T land have a non-broken 200 battery cover that they're itching to sell?
Re: [M100] Model 200 battery cover
Ugh. I'm like pedantic about this sort of stuff :P I put a piece of tape on it for the time being, but it drives me nuts. Haha, hopefully someone has one. Date: Sun, 17 May 2015 17:16:28 -0400 From: djj...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Model 200 battery cover Mine has broken twice. Rick Hanson was nice enough to send me one after the first one broke, but that one broke too. I used tape to make mine hold. It's not pretty, but it works. On Sun, May 17, 2015 at 5:07 PM, Joe Grubbs wrote: Hi all, Despite my best efforts to be gentle, my battery cover has finally broken. Does anyone out there in Model T land have a non-broken 200 battery cover that they're itching to sell?
Re: [M100] Model 200 battery cover
Wow that's pretty cool. I wish someone would do that with a 200 cover (one that is in tact, unlike mine) :) > Date: Mon, 18 May 2015 13:15:41 -0700 > From: jho...@pobox.com > To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com > Subject: Re: [M100] Model 200 battery cover > > Someone already designed a cover for T102 > > http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:29533 > > > -- John.
[M100] Tandy 200 repair
A little background on why/how my battery cover broke: My 200 stopped working altogether, so I decided to open it up and see if anything had gone awry. I of course wanted to remove the batteries, and in doing so (gently, as usual), the door broke. More importantly though, I found what I think was the culprit. When I acquired my 200, the batteries that were in it had long since gone "bad", and corrosion had taken over. It destroyed traces on the keyboard and ruined the wires that connected the battery bank to the mobo. I replaced the keyboard, the wires, and did a general tidy-up inside. Boom, worked like a champ! However when I opened it this time I found that thermistor TH3 had literally come apart; The lead on one side had separated from the body of the thermistor. According to the parts list, it is a 10KOhm thermistor, but it doesn't state whether it's NTC or PTC, nor does it give the B constant. Without that information, I took a gamble and soldered in a 10KOhm resistor just to see if that would do the trick. Low and behold it works! The manual says the thermistor is for stabilizing the reset circuit. How critical is it that I use a thermistor instead of just keeping my fixed resistor in there? Anyone know for certain and/or have experience with this? -Joe
Re: [M100] Any printers that I can use with my TRS 80 Model 100?
Any printer with a parallel (centronics) interface should suffice. Forget getting anything new. Date: Tue, 19 May 2015 10:31:53 -0600 From: johnjessemar...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] Any printers that I can use with my TRS 80 Model 100? I have a TRS 80 Model 100. I would like to use a printer with it. Does anyone know what kind of printer I can use. Or id there is any compatible printer for the TRS 80 Model 100? I am nor sure if there are printers that will work with the M100 anymore. Any suggestions? I am looking for a CHEAP printer not over $50. Maybe pay more if I have too. John Martin
Re: [M100] TDock
Hey Ken, I'm so glad you posted this because I've been wondering how the project is going. Personally I'd like to see a modern video interface. Maybe not the old VGA standard specifically, but something fresh like HDMI that would work with a myriad of high res TVs and monitors nowadays. WiFi and RJ-45 network interfaces, as well as SD storage are also high on my list. Additional sound hardware would be nice but it's not a priority to me. Just my $0.02 :) Date: Tue, 19 May 2015 10:50:34 -0700 From: petti...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] TDock Hey gang, Bob asked about the status of TDock the other day and it made me think about it with the very ew background cycles of spare though time that I have. But it made me wonder, what should be the focus of such a device? Long battery life with WiFi and SD card access capability (along with VGA)? An added HDMI output and USB Host port with shorter battery life? Added support for generic digital and /or analog I/O (DACs, ADCs, etc.)? Ken
Re: [M100] What printer can I use with my TRS 80 Model 100?
I do have a cable, but I'm not interested in selling it. Date: Tue, 19 May 2015 17:19:07 -0600 From: johnjessemar...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] What printer can I use with my TRS 80 Model 100? Joe, I have no printer cable cord for the TRS 80 Model 100 what so ever. Do you have the printer cable to go with the computer?On Tue, May 19, 2015 at 11:35 AM, Joe Grubbs wrote:Any printer with a parallel (centronics) interface should suffice. Forget getting anything new.
Re: [M100] TDock
I'd also like to add that your original idea of making this interface with the parallel port is a definite must. For one thing, it eliminates the need for multiple iterations of TDock--one size fits all. Also, to accommodate the <5 people that still use a printer and would even buy a TDock in the first place, there should be the parallel port pass-thru option, thus making everyone happy :) This would keep the system bus free for some memory upgrades or something, as originally suggested by Stephen Adolph. From: jsgru...@hotmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Date: Tue, 19 May 2015 14:45:00 -0400 Subject: Re: [M100] TDock Hey Ken, I'm so glad you posted this because I've been wondering how the project is going. Personally I'd like to see a modern video interface. Maybe not the old VGA standard specifically, but something fresh like HDMI that would work with a myriad of high res TVs and monitors nowadays. WiFi and RJ-45 network interfaces, as well as SD storage are also high on my list. Additional sound hardware would be nice but it's not a priority to me. Just my $0.02 :) Date: Tue, 19 May 2015 10:50:34 -0700 From: petti...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] TDock Hey gang, Bob asked about the status of TDock the other day and it made me think about it with the very ew background cycles of spare though time that I have. But it made me wonder, what should be the focus of such a device? Long battery life with WiFi and SD card access capability (along with VGA)? An added HDMI output and USB Host port with shorter battery life? Added support for generic digital and /or analog I/O (DACs, ADCs, etc.)? Ken
Re: [M100] What printer can I use with my TRS 80 Model 100?
For what it's worth, I think the TRS-80 Model 2/12/16 used the same or similar 34 pin header connector for the parallel port. So it might be possible to use a cable for one of those machine on the Tandy 100/200 family. I cite this because I believe those cables are perhaps more readily available on eBay or craigslist. Good luck with your search. From: jsgru...@hotmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Date: Tue, 19 May 2015 19:27:53 -0400 Subject: Re: [M100] What printer can I use with my TRS 80 Model 100? I do have a cable, but I'm not interested in selling it. Date: Tue, 19 May 2015 17:19:07 -0600 From: johnjessemar...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] What printer can I use with my TRS 80 Model 100? Joe, I have no printer cable cord for the TRS 80 Model 100 what so ever. Do you have the printer cable to go with the computer?On Tue, May 19, 2015 at 11:35 AM, Joe Grubbs wrote:Any printer with a parallel (centronics) interface should suffice. Forget getting anything new.
Re: [M100] TDock
I have a couple Bluetooth transceiver boards similar in size to the 8266 which will [very soon] find their way into my 100 and 200 in place of the Modem circuitry. :) Will just need to patch ROM so the hardware switchover between the Model and RS-232 port knows what to do and what speed to set the UART, etc. > Date: Wed, 20 May 2015 14:05:53 -0400 > From: yor...@gmail.com > To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com > Subject: Re: [M100] TDock > > I believe that's the kind of interface that the little ESP8266 wifi > modules use. If not, you don't even need a Pi to handle it, just a > simple micro like an arduino/atmega would be sufficient... heck, you > could even run it on the micro in the ESP8266 module itself. > > -s >
Re: [M100] TDock
Cool Mike! > From: dm...@torfree.net > To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com > Date: Wed, 20 May 2015 14:35:09 -0400 > Subject: Re: [M100] TDock > > I played with that a while back, mainly to talk to > an internal RS-232 SD card module (as well as the > BT module); been meaning to get back to it > soonish. > > The hardware and software are pretty well in > place, although ISTR that a signal or two had to > be inverted; I'll see if I can find any notes. > >
Re: [M100] Can you Raspi with a bluetooth module board on a M100
I tend to agree... While I have nothing but respect for any enthusiast pursuing a new project involving these machines, I'd rather see my M100 or 200 being what it was meant to be: a computer. Connecting it to what is essentially a modern and powerful computer seems like cheating in a way :) Date: Fri, 22 May 2015 07:28:32 -0400 From: twospru...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Can you Raspi with a bluetooth module board on a M100 There are lots of ways to connect an M100 to a linux device as a dumb terminal. None of them are particularly interesting to me. I like the native environment of the M100; I rarely enjoy using linux. I like BASIC programming too. I can appreciate other approaches though; lots of challenges to solve. The other thing that I find interesting is that there are so few solutions to a complete computer that can operate on 50 mA. M100 is one of them. Raspi is not. Palm Pilot was another. My 2 cents anyhow.
Re: [M100] Portable 100 searchable database?
The CGP-115 printer throws off enough RF to shutdown an airport, so I like to hold florescent tubes close to mine for lighting... :P > Date: Sun, 24 May 2015 16:20:52 -0700 > From: gof...@gmail.com > To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com > Subject: Re: [M100] Portable 100 searchable database? > > ...I use a carbide-fired miners lamp... > > A Real Programmer would capture the lamp's waste heat to > > produce the steam that runs his dynamo... > >:)
Re: [M100] CPM?
If it doesn't, we need a clever developer who is very intimate with the Model 100/200 architecture and the 8085 to port it :) Someone in the Color Computer community ported CP/M to run under OS-9 on the 6809. If that can be done, it seems that getting it to run on an 8085 would be plausible. Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2015 00:44:09 -0300 From: louis.l...@gmail.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] CPM? A friend found an image of what is supposed to be CPM for the trs100. Does anyone know if this actually exists?
Re: [M100] CPM?
He's basically built an emulator/VM that runs in OS-9. There was a lengthy discussion about the finer details on the CoCo list, but here is one of his videos demonstrating it running WordStar (wow flashback!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysn7Na60ZGA Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2015 08:50:14 -0700 From: jho...@pobox.com To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] CPM? On Monday, June 1, 2015, Joe Grubbs wrote: If it doesn't, we need a clever developer who is very intimate with the Model 100/200 architecture and the 8085 to port it :) Someone in the Color Computer community ported CP/M to run under OS-9 on the 6809. If that can be done, it seems that getting it to run on an 8085 would be plausible. How can that be? I think typical CP/M programs require an 8080 compatible CPU. The 6809 is not. -- John.
Re: [M100] CPM?
Wow, wiki page last updated 2010, so this project has been around a while? Never knew it existed, thanks for sharing! My *80 assembly skills are pretty novice (I've been spoiled by the 6809), but I'm studying OS design and this might make a fun project to dabble with. > > Anyway, for those interested there is a project to port CP/M to the > Model 100 w/ 64K all-RAM hardware. MTCPM. I host a mailing list, > subversion server for it. Steve Adolph created the necessary hardware. > Ken and I created external disk service software. Phil Avery has done > most of the actual CP/M porting work so far. > > http://bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?title=MTCPM > > More devs with time to work on the project are always welcome. > > -- John.
Re: [M100] Mouse with Model T
I don't think the RN-42 has HID connectivity, but I could be mistaken. > Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2015 11:02:46 -0500 > From: hira...@hotmail.com > To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com > Subject: [M100] Mouse with Model T > > February issue of Portable 100 has an article (page 8) on using a serial > mouse with your M10x/200. > It requires a special cable to draw power from the barcode port (part of > me would love to rewire the barcode port to the modem to make a 2nd > serial port)... > > But, it occurred to me... could a BlueM connect to a bluetooth mouse? > Most bluetooth mice, being intended to be used with Android and other > portable devices, are smaller than regular mice. Not sure how much use a > mouse would be... but there you go.
Re: [M100] Model T Twitter Client
Using the Twitter API and some simple HTTP requests, you can do just about anything. On a similar note, I wrote a widget under NitrOS9 for my Color Computer that posts Facebook status updates via their Graph API :) > Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2015 12:12:07 -0500 > From: hira...@hotmail.com > To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com > Subject: [M100] Model T Twitter Client > > Okay, here's the 3rd (4th?) project I want to work on for my M100; > sadly, I don't know squat about twitter... yet. > > But, with my M100, BlueM and the GetBlue software, hypothetically I > could access twitter with my M100. > > I mean, in 2009, they had a twitter client for the C64! > And I've seen twitter access scripts for emacs, and vim, and a perl TTY > twitter client (hypothetically, I could set this one up on my PC, shell > in to my PC from my M100, then access twitter that way... but I'd like > to be able to carry my M100 into a McDonald's or Dunkin Donuts and chat > on twitter with it, just to be cool and make people stare :D >
Re: [M100] Rex upgrade
I would love to bestow my 200 with REX. Hint hint nudge nudge Ken ;) --- Original Message --- From: "Bob Pigford" Sent: June 14, 2015 12:43 PM To: "'Model 100 Discussion'" Subject: Re: [M100] Rex upgrade Well, the longer you wait, the longer you miss out on a terrific ModelT upgrade. I think it is quite stable as it is now (REX 4.9, ver 162). But YMMV. From: M100 [mailto:m100-boun...@lists.bitchin100.com] On Behalf Of mechanicalgenius Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2015 12:36 PM To: Model 100 Discussion Subject: Re: [M100] Rex upgrade I would wait even longer for ReXP. It will be the most stable update, and everyone will miss it when it's gone. Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone Original message From: Lee Kelley Date: 06/14/2015 7:45 AM (GMT-07:00) To: Model 100 Discussion Subject: Re: [M100] Rex upgrade I think I'm going to wait for Rex 95 On Sun, Jun 14, 2015 at 8:38 AM, Stephen Adolph wrote: Great! Glad to hear it!! On Sunday, June 14, 2015, gotoole wrote: > > > Thanks Steve I have now upgraded to 4.9 and all is working fine. > > > > Regards > > > > Gordon O’Toole > > > > From: M100 [mailto:m100-boun...@lists.bitchin100.com] On Behalf Of Stephen > Adolph > Sent: Sunday, 14 June 2015 12:12 AM > To: Model 100 Discussion > Subject: Re: [M100] Rex upgrade > > > > Run the program REXU. > Looks like you are doing the 4.7 upgrade. > I recommend going straight to 4.9. > 4.9 is a full wipe and rebuild. > Steve > -=]\-[‘ > > > > ‘[-=-> wrote: >> Hi All >> >> >> >> Trying to upgrade my Rex using the below procedure >> >> >> >> I am up to step 4 and when I do this just tells me Ok and that is it. >> >> >> >> What am I doing wrong ? >> >> >> >> Regards >> >> [p]\ >> >> Gordon O’Toole >> >> >> >> Steps to a happy upgrade >> >> 1. Start the upgrade from a cold booted laptop. While not necessary, it >> ensures the laptop is working nominally with no lurking problems. If you >> have important data please save your current RAM image to REX, and then to >> TPDD if needed. >> >> 2. Regarding your saved RAM images with important data saved within - please >> back those up to an external TPDD device using the SAVE function. In case >> there is a problem, you will be glad you did - it will ensure your data is >> safe should the REX directory get garbled. This takes only a few minutes. >> >> 3. Download the upgrade package, and place the 2 files in your favorite TPDD >> device or emulator so they are accessible to the LAPTOP. >> >> DELETE ANY PREVIOUS COPIES OF –[]\\’ > and REX147.BR >> >> 4. Upload the program REXU1.CO to the laptop. Issue the command CLEAR0,59960 >> in BASIC so that REXU1.CO can run. >> >> 5. At the prompt, press Y to save your current SYSTEM to TPDD. It is >> recommended that you save your existing image just to be safe. Keeping the >> system image allows you to revert to that if something unforseen happens >> during the upgrade. Provide a unique filename (something like REXBAK to >> safely identify the system image backup. >> >> 6. At the prompt, proceed to upgrade the software image by pressing Y, or >> quit the application using N, Q or ESC. (N, Q and ESC are equivalent). >> Confirm your intention to upgrade the system by confirming with Y at the >> next prompt, or abandon using N. If you confirm the upgrade, the upgrade >> process will proceed by erasing the first 16k of the system image, >> containing the system software, and replacing it with the binary image >> REX147.BR stored on TPDD. >> >> Be careful to keep the laptop powered up during the flash process! >> >> REXU will load the new software into block 0, and copy the software to block >> 1, then it will restart REXMGR to complete the installation. >> >> >> >> DONE! >> >> > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > ./ > Version: 2015.0.5961 / Virus Database: 4360/10006 - Release Date: 06/13/15 -- "I will never in my lifetime make a film that cannot be seen by the whole family" Arther P. Jacobs
Re: [M100] Purchase a REX module?
I too sent a request back in February. Ken told me a while back that he addresses the requests in order when he can. Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2015 07:34:31 -0700 From: mechanicalgen...@cox.net To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Purchase a REX module? I tried contacting Club100 a couple months ago to get a nadsbox, and have not heard anything yet. I used the form and sent a direct email. Robert Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone Original message From: Ray Lopez Date: 07/13/2015 5:42 AM (GMT-07:00) To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Purchase a REX module? Hi Steve, yes I did. I used the order form on the Club 100 site a couple of days before I posted my original message here, and tried again last night and have not heard anything back. RL
[M100] Serial to VGA module
Hello All, I saw this posted on a Facebook group and it got me thinking. I wonder if this could be repurposed (with some ancillary hardware and ROM tweaks) to give the Model 100/200/102 an external VGA display for very little money: http://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/serial-vga It accepts serial data and drives a text based VGA display at 800x600 resolution. Additionally, it understands escape sequences to manage simple text windows, etc. It's pretty cool, and it got my wheels turning.
Re: [M100] TDock one step closer
Awesome news Ken. I can't wait to hear more! On Sat, Dec 5, 2015 at 2:04 PM -0800, "Ken Pettit" mailto:petti...@gmail.com>> wrote: Hey Gang, No real schedule for when this will be complete, but I now have an assembled TDock PCB! And I am able to connect with and program the CPLD. It still remains to be tested, but getting the PCB is a big step. Photo here: http://www.kenpettit.com/images/TDock.JPG (the USB connector is for power only). Ken
Re: [M100] New to list
Hi Mike, I recognize you [😊] There are a number of neat mods/addons for these machines. Stephen can chime in as he's been doing a lot of work on both the REX ROM upgrade as well as the QUAD memory upgrade. From: M100 on behalf of Michael Brant Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2015 7:31 AM To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] New to list I am new to the list. I recently aquired my first 100. I am looking for any mods or addons that might be available. Anyone on here make any?
Re: [M100] Are REX's available?
Well when they become available (for both the 100 and 200), I still want them. Been waiting since last April ;) But no rush, as most of my Model T projects have taken a back burner. -Joe From: M100 on behalf of Stephen Adolph Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 8:56 AM To: Model 100 Discussion Subject: Re: [M100] Are REX's available? hi all, I'm really swamped these days and have not had the time to build any more. As soon as I get a window of time that I can prioritize this, I will. ..Steve On Tue, Apr 19, 2016 at 12:15 AM, Gary Weber wrote: > The catalog on club100.org seems to imply that fulfillment still happens on > all kinds of items. Is obtaining the M100 and T200 flavors of REX just as > simple as placing an order via the website? Given the recent thread about > the NADSbox's being done with production, and yet they do still appear on the > catalog, I guess I wasn't sure about the status of the catalog at this point. > Ken, can you chime in? > > Thanks, > Gary
Re: [M100] List of wanna haves
Some time ago Ken (? I think) did some preliminary work on a modern-day DVI and it all sounded really promising, but I'm not sure where it landed. I don't recall the exact details, so I apologize... I've had a few head injuries since then. From: M100 on behalf of Josh Malone Sent: Wednesday, February 7, 2018 11:32 AM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] List of wanna haves Yeah - a replica DVI would be an awesome bit of modern kit for the M100/102. Even if it didn't have the disk part, the video part would rule!
Re: [M100] Model T’s 9 pin port
I think it can only act as an input, no output capability From: M100 on behalf of Darryl Pruett Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2018 9:24 AM To: m100@lists.bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] Model T’s 9 pin port Could the bar code reader pin port be use for other I/O applications?
Re: [M100] 4 REXes available
Thank you for doing this Josh... I wasn't able to jump on one of these this time, but a REX has been on my wish list for a looong time. I'll likely want one for my 100 and 200 next go-round. I know this batch were pre-programmed for the 100 (and 102), but I assume it's easy enough to make it 200 compatible? From: M100 on behalf of Josh Malone Sent: Friday, February 23, 2018 10:15 AM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] 4 REXes available All REXes have been claimed. Thanks so much to everyone. On Feb 20, 2018 6:09 PM, "Josh Malone" mailto:josh.mal...@gmail.com>> wrote: Hello all, Well, I was hoping to have more stock before I sent this, but circumstances will prevent me from building more for a while and I need to pay the the Digikey bill :) I have 4 REX units available for sale. Programmed for Tandy 100/102. Price is $65 plus $7 priority shipping. Please mail me off-list to inquire. Payment via PayPal only for now. U.S. shipping only, again, for now. I *will* be building more, but it will be a few weeks or more. :( Thanks for everyone's support. I appreciate it! -Josh
Re: [M100] 4 REXes available
Thanks Jim, this is very helpful From: M100 on behalf of Jim Anderson Sent: Friday, February 23, 2018 2:38 PM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] 4 REXes available > -Original Message- > > I know this batch were pre-programmed for the 100 (and 102), but I > assume it's easy enough to make it 200 compatible? It's pretty straightforward in that it doesn't require any specialized chip-programming hardware. As long as you have a TPDD or TPDD emulator already working with your machine, it's just a matter of putting a couple of files in the TPDD (or emulator) and running a few commands on the T200. http://bitchin100.com/wiki/index.php?title=REX_Release_4.9 After putting the REX in your T200 ROM socket, scroll down to the section 'Rebuilding REX' and follow steps 2, 4, and 5 (steps 1 and 3 are only needed if you already had the REX working in your machine, although obviously the part of step 1 about backing up your RAM files is important, since in step 5 you'll be doing a cold restart). Use the files for release 162, though, not 236. They're linked a little bit further down the page. This is a good process to be familiar with anyways, as this is essentially how you'd go about upgrading your REX to a future software release. jim
Re: [M100] REXCPM / REX# / MVT100
Woohoo! I'm going to love that VT100 adapter From: M100 on behalf of Stephen Adolph Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 12:33 PM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] REXCPM / REX# / MVT100 Folks, thanks for the patience. Summer is over! Just a quick note to say that I have everything built and am assembling packages for the mail. In this tranch of hardware I have 4MB REXCPM, 2MB REXCPM, REX# for various models, plus both kits and assembled MVT100 video adapters. cheers, Steve
Re: [M100] Model 100 converted to NSC800 (aka Z80) part 2
Steve, this is utterly fascinating, thank you for sharing this and your progress. I look forward to your updates From: M100 on behalf of Stephen Adolph Sent: Sunday, October 4, 2020 2:24 PM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] Model 100 converted to NSC800 (aka Z80) part 2 The processor adapter board is low profile, having pins short enough to allow the PCB itself to rest on the socket, on the main board. Then there is enough room for the CPU socket for the NSC800. The main rom, being closer to the front, has less room. In that case, no socket for the option rom. The 27C256 is soldered to the pcb, with the pcb flush mounted to the main rom socket. A Z80 isn't a good natural fit as the M100 is designed around the multiplexed address/data bus with the ALE signal to latch. That's why the NSC800 exists; it was National Semiconductor taking advantage of Z80 improvements, while leveraging the chip sets for the 8085. I haven't posted the design info yet. The PCB and schematic, in the end, are very simple. I'll start documenting it at the wiki. Now, I am trying to think of a quick way to compile TS-DOS from Ken's disassembly, for CP/M. Not sure I want to re-write it in Turbo Pascal or C. Steve On Sun, Oct 4, 2020 at 12:48 PM RETRO Innovations mailto:go4re...@go4retro.com>> wrote: How is the fit, with the socket and adapter? Is there room? Has anyone tried to support a Z80 in the same way? Are your design plans available anywhere? JIm
Re: [M100] having fun with MVT100
Awesome Jim! I can't wait until mine gets here From: M100 on behalf of Jim Anderson Sent: Friday, October 16, 2020 12:00 PM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] having fun with MVT100 On a more uplifting note, I received my MVT100 in the mail last week and I've been having a blast with it! I thought I'd share a few things which others might find helpful: I added the jumper for the BCR TTL serial hack to the machine I've been using for my REXCPM (the old SOD hack, because I'm unlikely to go the Z80 route and didn't want to be bothered patching things). While I was in there I also ran a jumper to supply VDD (which I picked off from a nearby via which supplies pin 9 in the BCR port) to pin 22 on the RS-232 port - this is the Ring Indicate signal from a modem and isn't connected to anything in the M100, but more importantly, it maps to pin 9 when you use a DE-9 adapter. I was inspired by Stephen's post about adding a jumper to the MVT100 to power it off pin 9 (which I have also done) and which reminded me that my old Bluetooth serial adapter also is capable of drawing power from pin 9. This way, I can run the MVT100 off either the BCR or the RS-232 port and it'll receive power. If there's a future need to revise the MVT100 board design, it might be useful to add a trace and a jumper to allow the user to easily enable/disable power draw from pin 9 - the way it is now, I'm not sure whether Bad Things would happen if I tried using the board as a USB serial adapter while it was connected to my M100, since that would common the M100's VDD with the USB power supplied by the PC... A note on screen resolutions: I had not even thought about this until I got it and started playing around with it, but the text font the MVT100 uses can look absolutely hideous when it's being scaled poorly by an LCD monitor. This isn't specifically an MVT100 issue - LCD monitors often wreak havoc on text when they are scaling from a non-native resolution, and it's something I'd just forgotten about because it's been so long since I had to drive an LCD at its non-native resolution. My original plan for my MVT100 was to use it with an older NEC 15" LCD I had which is native 1024x768 - too low to be useful for a PC, but I thought the compact size and 4:3 aspect ratio would make it a perfect terminal display. Alas, it's actually almost the worst thing to use, because the MVT100 output is 640x480 and that means there aren't enough pixels to do an acceptable job of scaling, giving characters that alternate from skinny to fat as you read down a line of text... I also tried with a 1280x1024 LCD on the theory that I might be able to tweak the pixel clock settings in the monitor and get it to map at least the horizontal pixels 2:1 but this monitor doesn't let you tweak very much (it mostly relies on the auto-adjust routine). I got it looking better than the small LCD but I still wasn't very happy with it (and it still didn't look as good as sending it into a bit 1920x1080 LCD). Of course, it looks the best by a long shot when you send it into a good old VGA CRT, which arguably is the most retro-looking solution of all, and lucky for me I never did throw away that little paper-white monochrome VGA monitor I got back in the 90s (yes, I said monochrome VGA!). It's kind of perfect for this - it doesn't even pretend to represent all colours, it only uses the green signal (which is all the MVT100 is jumpered to output as I received it) so it all works out almost as if it was meant to! One other thing: I don't know what is limiting the display output speed, but when I started using the BCR at 57600bps I was expecting the display to update faster and it seems like it actually is the exact same speed as it was on the serial port at 19200bps. From past experience using dumb terminals I had been feeling like even the 19200 output was displaying a bit slower than it could (it felt like 9600) and I'm wondering if this is just a result of the processor having to take turns between executing program instructions and bit-banging each output byte. Please don't take this as a complaint about it being slow - the speed is fully in keeping with my expectations for the platform, and it's lightning-fast compared with the internal LCD :) I just wonder what is limiting it because I know the M100 is capable of faster data transfer... (speaking of which, I'm still dying to have access to the high-speed large-packet data transfer capability for backing up and restoring REXCPM) Anyway, it all works great and I couldn't be happier with this solution! Many thanks to Stephen for sharing your genius ideas with us! jim
Re: [M100] evolution of Z80 in M100
Holy smokes, that's great progress! From: M100 on behalf of Stephen Adolph Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 4:40 PM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] evolution of Z80 in M100 A while back I wrote a bit about an NSC800 Adapter, which can be used to exchange the venerable 80C85 for the lesser known but Z80 compatible NSC800. My first adapter has been running smoothly for a while, at the same 2.5 MHz. I'm about to ship out a new version which does something new. It ups the clock speed for the NSC800 processor to 4MHz. That is the fastest speed grade device that was produced for the NSC800. So, that should support a significantly faster LCD operation, and generally faster computing. Not that it is critical for enjoyment of CP/M or anything, but it does put the M100 in the class of a pretty fast CP/M machine. It will operate in BASIC mode in M100 too ;) And I have Teeny running for NSC800, too... When I have it working I will follow up. Steve
Re: [M100] M100 overclock
Aww yeah! I'm liking where this is going. Will the sluggish original ROM handle 8Mhz+? From: M100 on behalf of Stephen Adolph Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2020 5:23 PM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] M100 overclock I've had a bit of spare time to fiddle. I now have 6 MHz running nicely (actually 6.2MHz). Screen issue resolved (was a different problem). Also serial port is working. TSDOS at 6MHz is.. fast! I won't go into the details yet, as I have poked around a bit here and a bit there. When I'll do a good summary once I have it well understood. Some comments though. The original main rom and typical M100 RAMs are pretty slow. Hard to go fast with 200nsec or 250 nsec ram/rom. Addressing the slow parts seems to be working well. * faster main rom is pretty easy. Just get a fast Eprom, like a TEEPROM etc. * faster RAM == REXCPM (plugs in, no problem) Next hurdle is 8MHz (actually 8.23MHz). (my clock circuit gives me divide ratios of 49.454MHz) /6 = 8.23, /8 = 6.17, /10 = 4.94 etc) Steve
Re: [M100] triple screens
Whoa now this is really cool! I wonder if this would work in CP/M From: M100 on behalf of Stephen Adolph Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 2:38 PM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] triple screens Making good progress on integrating the VT100 driver into REX. A lot trickier than I expected! Anyhow an interesting side effect - Model 100/Tandy 102 can actually drive the LCD and 2 external screens at the same time. Within a basic program it is possible to switch within a program using SCREEN 0 (or 1 or 2). 0 = LCD 1 = RS232 2 = BCRhack(TTL serial) So, I have this little demo running where I have text scrolling on all 3 screens. ..Steve
Re: [M100] dual CPU project
Not sure how I missed this original post last year, but wow I'm impressed. Please keep at it and keep us updated. This sounds like a very cool venture From: M100 on behalf of Stephen Adolph Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2020 3:55 PM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] dual CPU project No, it is a plug in board but it plugs into the CPU socket (ahwhich does not exist!) On my bench system I did the work to take out the CPU and added a socket. Then I plug an expansion card into it. Good idea though about the system bus, I'll have to think about that. I'm almost done a full patch to the M100 Main ROM which makes it 8080/Z80 compatible. In this case I should be able to switch to running Z80 in M100 mode too! Steve On Sat, May 30, 2020 at 2:57 PM Ken Pettit mailto:petti...@gmail.com>> wrote: Hey Steve, Oh great! One more emulation I need to add to VirtualT! ;) Nice work! How do you wire it it? System bus? Ken On 5/30/20 5:04 AM, Stephen Adolph wrote: ...and I just now this second got the NSC800 to run in the M100 successfully. It is driving the LCD at the moment. I think the interrupts are different, and more work to do, but it is officially alive. yay! On Sat, May 30, 2020 at 6:32 AM William stewart mailto:wstewart2...@yahoo.com>> wrote: Stephen, Are you suggesting a swap of the 8085? Sent from my iPhone On May 29, 2020, at 7:46 AM, Stephen Adolph mailto:twospru...@gmail.com>> wrote: Reviving this thread. Now that we have a solid CP/M application written in 8080, there should be a way to boot into CP/M using the NSC800. I dropped this project some time back but it is time to revive it, as a processor swap would be a cleaner way to expanding the CP/M application universe for the M100. On Thu, Jul 11, 2019 at 10:30 AM Stephen Adolph mailto:twospru...@gmail.com>> wrote: Motivated by 2 things 1) discovery of the NSC800 Z80 processor that is 80C85 like 2) continuing to work in the direcition of CP/M 3) and recalling that there are 5MHz 80C85 parts out there.. I started to work on a dual CPU card for M100 that enables a couple of things; - standard 2.5MHz 80C85 operation (default) - switchable clock for 80C85, supporting 5MHz - switchable CPU enabling NSC800 at 2.5 MHz. Board is done and heading to the fab. VHDL is mostly done. I don't expect this board will be wildly popular but maybe it has some interest Double speed M100 seems interesting on it's own, let alone being able to support Z80 CP/M applications. Any interest? I have purchased material to make 5 of these. A few more comments. - to install this board you need to remove the 80C85. that's some effort to do - to run at 5MHz you need to upgrade the 81C55 to a 5MHz version. That's also some effort. - NSC800 runs about 5$ on ebay. - fast 80C85 can be had for under 5$. - fast 81C55 can be had for under 5$. - to run at 5MHz you might also find you need a faster main ROM, and faster RAM. TBD on that; will advise after I do some testing.
Re: [M100] dual CPU project
Sounds great Steve, keep us updated on this. You may have mentioned this before, but do the two processors share the bus simultaneously, or is only one or the other (like a Commodore 128)? From: M100 on behalf of Stephen Adolph Sent: Friday, June 5, 2020 10:44 AM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: Re: [M100] dual CPU project Hello all, Interesting update. So, I've been working on getting NSC800 AKA Z80 processor to work in the M100 such that it can be used in CP/M as an alternative processor. Great news is that I now have a solution for actually running the M100 using the NSC800! Not that it really matters; there are no Z80 applications for M100, and the Z80 can't run 8085. But, what this means is that having a Z80 processor for CP/M in M100 is very close to reality. And it is kinda neat to see the good old M100 interface work using a Z80 ;) Learned a lot along the way for how to modify 8085 code to run on NSC800. Also the subtle difference in how NSC800 deals with the Timer driven interrupt TP. More to come, Steve On Fri, May 29, 2020 at 7:46 AM Stephen Adolph mailto:twospru...@gmail.com>> wrote: Reviving this thread. Now that we have a solid CP/M application written in 8080, there should be a way to boot into CP/M using the NSC800. I dropped this project some time back but it is time to revive it, as a processor swap would be a cleaner way to expanding the CP/M application universe for the M100. On Thu, Jul 11, 2019 at 10:30 AM Stephen Adolph mailto:twospru...@gmail.com>> wrote: Motivated by 2 things 1) discovery of the NSC800 Z80 processor that is 80C85 like 2) continuing to work in the direcition of CP/M 3) and recalling that there are 5MHz 80C85 parts out there.. I started to work on a dual CPU card for M100 that enables a couple of things; - standard 2.5MHz 80C85 operation (default) - switchable clock for 80C85, supporting 5MHz - switchable CPU enabling NSC800 at 2.5 MHz. Board is done and heading to the fab. VHDL is mostly done. I don't expect this board will be wildly popular but maybe it has some interest Double speed M100 seems interesting on it's own, let alone being able to support Z80 CP/M applications. Any interest? I have purchased material to make 5 of these. A few more comments. - to install this board you need to remove the 80C85. that's some effort to do - to run at 5MHz you need to upgrade the 81C55 to a 5MHz version. That's also some effort. - NSC800 runs about 5$ on ebay. - fast 80C85 can be had for under 5$. - fast 81C55 can be had for under 5$. - to run at 5MHz you might also find you need a faster main ROM, and faster RAM. TBD on that; will advise after I do some testing.
Re: [M100] dual CPU project
Running Turbo Pascal is reason enough for me! Fond memories for me on Computer Science classes
Re: [M100] Update on REXCPM
Thank you for all the great work on this. I can't wait until mine arrives! From: M100 on behalf of Stephen Adolph Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2020 5:07 PM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] Update on REXCPM Quick update. All of the first build were shipped out. The next build starts this week, so more should be pending shortly. Cheers Steve
Re: [M100] MVT100 update
Cool thanks! I look forward to this From: M100 on behalf of Stephen Adolph Sent: Friday, July 17, 2020 6:27:33 PM To: m...@bitchin100.com Subject: [M100] MVT100 update Hey all, Just a quick note to say I have some progress to report on the MVT100 video adapter. Boards are back finally and they look to be fine. I have some work to do to sort out how to program the PIC correctly. Once that is done I will be able to send out the kits to those who let me know they were interested in such. I'll post some pics of the finished product + additional info at the wiki. cheers Steve
