1159 lines
28 KiB
Plaintext
1159 lines
28 KiB
Plaintext
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|SYNDICATE ZMAGAZINE|
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| Issue #149 |
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| March 21, 1989 |
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|Copyright 1989, SPC|
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|This week in ZMagazine|
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512K 800XL Upgrade
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Dan Schmidt
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Hard-To-Find Support Updated
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Super Archiver
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Paul Gittins
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Crazy-Eights
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Robert Buman
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AtariTech BBS XL Power Supply
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The Traveler
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Z*Net Newswire
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Harold Brewer
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|THE 512K ATARI 800XL/1200XL|
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|by Dan Schmidt|
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CIS: 72347,354 GEnie: D.SCHMIDT4
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Courtesy of CompuServe Atari8
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| An upgrade for the 800XL/1200XL |
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|computers that already have a 256K|
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|RAMBO XL or Claus Buchholz upgrade|
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I've been using a RAMBO 256K XL for the
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last year. It has served me well
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without a hitch.
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Lately, I have been thinking of setting
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up a BBS. Between that and an unused
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set of 8-256K DRAMS, I decided to
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expand to a half meg.
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I proceeded by downloading all the
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information I could find. Needless to
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say, I found nothing that described
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upgrading my trusty XL.
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Finally, I decided to make my own
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upgrade and here is what I came up
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with:
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It uses 1 chip only (not including
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the 8 DRAMS)
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You can have access to the entire
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448K of RAMdisk, even when you are
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in BASIC.
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No switches are needed.
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Diagnostic ROM is available at any
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time, even though this upgrade uses
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this line (PB7) to select the added
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256K of RAM.
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The system remains 100% 130XE
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compatible in CPU mode.
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Finally, I have included a patch file
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for fellow SpartaDOS users, that
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modifies RD.COM version 3.2 to
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support this upgrade.
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Unfortunately, for those without
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SpartaDOS, you are on your own. I'm
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sure that any RAMdisk handler that
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uses a bank select table could be
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modified without too much trouble.
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If you don't have a 256K XL yet, either
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build Claus Buchholz's upgrade or
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buy a RAMBO XL. They are identical.
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For those 576XE users that have made it
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this far, by moving 2 wires in your
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XE and using this patched RD.COM file,
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you can also have all 512K of RAMdisk
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available from BASIC. However, you
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will have to use your little switch to
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select 256K mode before attempting a
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coldstart or your machine will lock up.
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This switch may be then placed back in
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512K mode as soon as the boot load
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starts and left there until diagnostics
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is required (i.e. BASIC's BYE command)
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For more information on RAMdisks and
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their handlers, call the CHAOS BBS at
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517-371-1106
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|Parts List|
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8-256K Dynamic RAMs--150ns
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8-16 pin sockets
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1-74S139--Dual 2 to 4 line
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multiplexer. I have used a 74LS139
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with some success also, but I won't
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recommend it as it is slower, less
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powerful and may cause the system
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to lock-up
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1-33 ohm, 1/4 watt resistor
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Hookup wire
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2pc 1- heat-shrink tubing
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Hot-glue gun
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|Instructions|
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Open up the computer, disconnect the
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keyboard and remove the RF shield. The
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upper metal RF shield will no longer
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fit with the top bank of RAMS in place.
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It must either be cut to fit or
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discarded.
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Carefully remove the 8 old 256K DRAMs
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(U9 - U16) from their sockets.
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Take the 8 new sockets and gently bend
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pin 15 out on each of them.
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Solder a socket to the top of each DRAM
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leaving a small gap for cooling between
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the DRAM and the socket. Solder each
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of the socket's legs to the DRAM below,
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except for pin 15.
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Take the hookup wire and run it from
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pin 15 to pin 15 on all the sockets.
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-Daisy chain- the 8 sockets together
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leaving about 1 1/2- wire between each.
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Replace the DRAMs with the new sockets
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soldered on top of them into their
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sockets on the PC board.
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Take the 74S139 and bend out all the
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pins except for pin 8 and 16. Then
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clip in half all the pins that you have
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bent out.
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Take the hookup wire and connect pins
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2, 13, and 8 together.
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Solder another piece of wire between
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pins 3 and 12.
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Take the 33 ohm resistor and clip it,
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leaving 1/4 inch of lead on either
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end. Bend one end over sharply then
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solder that end to pin 6.
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Put the 74S139 aside for a moment.
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Take the board and locate U23
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(CO14795)--the PIA. If yours is
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socketed, you can pry it up and bend
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out pin 17. If it is soldered in, you
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can either have it unsoldered, or
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simply cut the trace where it leaves
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pin 17.
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Locate R108, a 33 ohm resistor, one of
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a pair, located immediately below
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the row of DRAMs on the board. Heat up
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the innermost end and gently pry it up
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and out. Straighten the resistor end.
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I am not sure where this resistor is on
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the 1200XLs, but it can be located by
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following the trace leading from pin 15
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on the existing DRAMs back to it's
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origin at the 33 ohm resistor.
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Now take the 74S139 and solder pins 8
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and 16 on the IC to pins 8 and 16 on
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U28, a conveniently located chip.
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Take a wire and solder one end to pin 1
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on the 74S139. Attach the other end
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to the pad where you just removed one
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lead of R108.
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Run a wire between pin 4 and the lifted
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lead of R108, slipping a piece of
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the heat-shrink tubing over the wire
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before soldering it to the resistor.
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Run another wire between the 33 ohm
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resistor soldered to pin 6 and pin 15
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on the newly added row of DRAMs. Use
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the other piece of tubing to insulate
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this resistor also. Slide the tubing
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over the resistors, making sure no wire
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remains exposed and heat gently with a
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lighter.
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Run a wire from pin 11 on the 74S139 to
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the MMU U3 (CO61618), pin 6 (U14 on the
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1200XL).
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Attach another wire between pin 2 of
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the 74S139 and pin 17 that you lifted
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on U23, the 40 pin PIA.
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Now take a look at the 256K circuitry.
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One of the chips is a 74LS153. On the
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RAMBO XLs, they are labeled as IC2.
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Solder a length of hookup wire between
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pin 14 on IC2 and pin 14 on the 74S139.
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Take the new 256K DRAMs and insert them
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into their sockets on top of U9 to U16.
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If you had to remove the PC board from
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the case, replace it now.
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Leave the keyboard detached for the
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present. Instead, connect up the power
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and monitor and see if the computer
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starts up. If it doesn't start up,
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re-check your wiring job. Also make
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sure none of the DRAMs have bent legs
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and that all are inserted properly.
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Tack the wires down neatly with the hot
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glue gun. They can easily be lifted
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later by running a hot soldering gun
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over them for a second.
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Replace the keyboard and the modified
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RF shield. Plug in the SIO line and
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reboot.
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Run the file PATCH_RD.BAS from BASIC.
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Insert a disk containing SpartaDOS's
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RD.COM on it into D1:. This file will
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be modified into a file called
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RDXL.COM. This is the 512K RAM disk
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handler program. Load this program as
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you would RD.COM, to give you 448K of
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globally accessible RAMdisk.
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Unfortunately RDXL.COM does not
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recognize unmodified 128K XEs. Also,
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320K XEs are treated as 192K XLs. This
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RAMdisk handler is primarily for 512K
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systems, fully supporting both the
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512K XL and the 576K XE.
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The rest of this is for XE owners.
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Those with 576K XEs who wish to use
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RDXL.COM and retain their entire 1/2
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Meg RAMdisk even from BASIC, should
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remove U23 (CO14795) and bend out pin
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17. Unsolder the wire attached to pin
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11 and reattach it to pin 17.
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Straighten out pin 11 and replace the
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PIA in it's socket again.
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Then, find U3 (CO61618), the MMU.
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Remove the wire soldered to pin 13 and
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re-attach it to pin 6 on the same chip.
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When you reboot, you will have to
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switch your system to 256K mode
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momentarily as the OS accesses the
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diagnostic ROM during bootup. As soon
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as the drive kicks in, throw the switch
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back again to 512K mode.
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PORT B - Memory control register
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Bit: 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
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D a b E c d B R
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D=0 enables diagnostic ROM and upper
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256K RAM
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B=0 enables BASIC ROM
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R=1 enables OS ROM
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E=0 enables extended RAM
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abcd is the 4-bit extended RAM bank#
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The new RAM is now controlled by
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bit 7, but only when extended RAM
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is enabled. Otherwise it
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controls diagnostic ROM.
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Here are the bank control numbers in hex, as used by RDXL.COM.
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60,64,68,6C
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20,24,28,2C
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40,44,48,4C
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E0,E4,E8,EC
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A0,A4,A8,AC
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C0,C4,C8,CC
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80,84,88,8C
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00,04,08,0C
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(This final set of banks is only used
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by XE systems.)
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SpartaDOS and RAMBO XL are trademarks
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of ICD, Inc., 1220 Rock St., Rockford,
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IL 61101-1437, USA.
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Atari 130XE, 800XL and 1200XL are
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trademarks of Atari Corp.
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(Editor's note: The program Dan writes
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about (PATCH_RD.BAS) can be found in
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CompuServe's Atari8 files in an ARCed
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file which contains both the BASIC
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program and this doc file.)
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|HARD-TO-FIND SUPPORT UPDATED|
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Courtesy of
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Weatherman's Wisdom--March 1989 Edition
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Editor:Lawrence Estep [71450,1050],
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The Atari Exchange of Louisville, KY,
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and
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CompuServe's Atari8
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These sources of support are arranged
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alphabetically by product:
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Accolade software:
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Accolade
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550 S. Winchester Blvd.
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San Jose,CA 95128
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Activision:
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Activision Entertainment
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P.O.Box 3048
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Menlo Park, CA 94025-3048
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Product Hotline (415) 329-7699
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Product Ordering 1-800-345-2888
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In Canada: (408) 848-4391
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To be included on mailing list,
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write MAIL LIST [ATARI type]
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on lower left corner of envelope
|
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(type=2600 or 8-bit, etc)
|
||
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Advanced Music System II (AMS II):
|
||
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LOTSABYTES
|
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15445 Ventura Blvd.
|
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Suite 10H
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Sherman Oaks, CA 91413
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Atari DOS master disk & docs, etc:
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Atari Customer Relations
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P.O.Box 61657
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Sunnyvale, CA 94088
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attn: DOS 2.5 --OR-- attn: DOS XE
|
||
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|
||
|
(cost is about $10 + $3.50 s/h)
|
||
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|
||
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(408) 745-2367
|
||
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|
||
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AtariWriter (original) printer
|
||
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drivers:
|
||
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|
||
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Gary Furr
|
||
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P.O.Box 1073
|
||
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Mountain View, CA 94042
|
||
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|
||
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ATR-8000 interface:
|
||
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|
||
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SWP, Inc.
|
||
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1000 W. Fuller
|
||
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Fort Worth, TX 76115
|
||
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|
||
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(817) 924-7759
|
||
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|
||
|
AwardWare, PrintPower, etc.:
|
||
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|
||
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High-Tech Expressions
|
||
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584 Broadway
|
||
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Suite 1105
|
||
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New York,NY 10012
|
||
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|
||
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(212) 941-9703
|
||
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|
||
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ChalkBoard PowerPad:
|
||
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|
||
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ChalkTalk
|
||
|
c/o Practical Atlanta, Inc.
|
||
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3025 Manning Dr.
|
||
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Marietta, GA 30062
|
||
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|
||
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Electronic Arts:
|
||
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|
||
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Electronic Arts Warranty Cards
|
||
|
1820 Gateway Drive
|
||
|
San Mateo,CA 94404
|
||
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|
||
|
Electronic Arts Catalog Offer
|
||
|
P.O. Box 7578
|
||
|
San Mateo,CA 94403-7578
|
||
|
|
||
|
Send a SASE & $.65 for P&H
|
||
|
|
||
|
(415) 572-2787
|
||
|
|
||
|
Epyx, Inc. programs:
|
||
|
|
||
|
Epyx, Inc.
|
||
|
600 Galveston Dr.
|
||
|
Redwood City, CA 94063
|
||
|
|
||
|
(415) 366-0606
|
||
|
|
||
|
Indus GT disk drives:
|
||
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|
||
|
Future Systems, Inc.
|
||
|
9811 Owensmouth, Suite 9
|
||
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Chatsworth, CA 91311
|
||
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|
||
|
(818) 407-1647
|
||
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|
||
|
Lightspeed C Compiler:
|
||
|
|
||
|
Clearstar Softechnologies
|
||
|
Omega Soft
|
||
|
P.O.Box 140
|
||
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Rt. 2, Box 135-D
|
||
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Harrells, NC 28444
|
||
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|
||
|
(919) 532-2359
|
||
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|
||
|
PERCOM disk drives:
|
||
|
|
||
|
Computer Service Land, Inc.
|
||
|
14506-B Lee Road
|
||
|
Chantilly, VA 22021
|
||
|
|
||
|
(703) 631-4949
|
||
|
|
||
|
Various replacement parts:
|
||
|
|
||
|
B&C Computervisions
|
||
|
3283 Kifer Road
|
||
|
Santa Clara, CA 95051
|
||
|
|
||
|
(408) 749-1003
|
||
|
|
||
|
Best Electronics
|
||
|
2021 The Alameda
|
||
|
Suite 290
|
||
|
San Jose, CA 95126
|
||
|
|
||
|
(408) 243-6950
|
||
|
|
||
|
American Techna-Vision
|
||
|
15338 Inverness St.
|
||
|
San Leandro, CA 94579
|
||
|
|
||
|
WEFAX chip (XR2211):
|
||
|
|
||
|
JDR Microdevices
|
||
|
110 Knowles Dr.
|
||
|
Los Gatos, CA 95030
|
||
|
|
||
|
1-800-538-5000
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|SUPER ARCHIVER|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|by Paul Gittins, PAC|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Courtesy of CompuServe Atari8
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
When I got my new 1050 disk drive,I
|
||
|
knew that I would be wanting to modify
|
||
|
it for high speed and perhaps improve
|
||
|
its copying capabilities.
|
||
|
|
||
|
It doesn't take long to learn that
|
||
|
working with a backup copy is just good
|
||
|
sense. The only thing I really had to
|
||
|
decide on was just what kind of upgrade
|
||
|
I wanted to use. After careful thought
|
||
|
and comparison, I decided to give the
|
||
|
Super Archiver a try.
|
||
|
|
||
|
I called the number given for Computer
|
||
|
Software Services and talked with Ron.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Just making the order was a special
|
||
|
experience because Ron was so good to
|
||
|
talk with. He wasn't just interested
|
||
|
in taking my order and getting me off
|
||
|
the phone. We talked for a few minutes
|
||
|
about the Super Archiver and what it
|
||
|
would do. His information was very
|
||
|
helpful and convinced me to give it a
|
||
|
try.
|
||
|
I placed the order and asked him to
|
||
|
ship UPS Blue. There is a $3.00 charge
|
||
|
from UPS for this service, but it is
|
||
|
worth it. I placed my order on Tuesday
|
||
|
and it arrived Friday of that same
|
||
|
week. Not bad considering it was sent
|
||
|
from Rochester, New York to Portland,
|
||
|
Oregon.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The installation involved removing one
|
||
|
IC and plugging the Super Archiver
|
||
|
module in its place. There were also a
|
||
|
couple of pins which had to be lifted
|
||
|
and wires soldered to them. The whole
|
||
|
process required 6 solder connections
|
||
|
and took me about an hour. I could
|
||
|
have done it faster, but took my time
|
||
|
and was careful.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The modification worked as soon as I
|
||
|
tried it. The first step was to test
|
||
|
the drive with the cover off. The
|
||
|
installation includes a speed control
|
||
|
pot which slows the drive down for some
|
||
|
operations. This needed to be adjusted
|
||
|
for the correct speed. All I had to do
|
||
|
was watch the screen and turn the
|
||
|
little control screw. The software
|
||
|
with the package includes all the drive
|
||
|
diagnostics to allow you to do this
|
||
|
easily.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The Super Archiver comes with two
|
||
|
copies of the software disk. There is
|
||
|
no way it can be copied, so the two
|
||
|
copies allow you to use one and save
|
||
|
one for emergency use. Ron told me
|
||
|
this was done in case one failed. You
|
||
|
would have one to use while you
|
||
|
notified CSS and they sent you another
|
||
|
copy. Naturally, I asked why I
|
||
|
couldn't copy the disk and was told
|
||
|
that the disk had been physically
|
||
|
modified by laser. It was explained
|
||
|
that the Super Archiver software
|
||
|
was compatible with the original
|
||
|
Archiver. (Note--the original Archiver
|
||
|
was not produced by CSS.) At any rate,
|
||
|
they didn't want to encourage piracy of
|
||
|
their product.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Yes, you can purchase the Super
|
||
|
Archiver software only, for $29.95.
|
||
|
The software by itself will
|
||
|
dramatically enhance your old Archiver
|
||
|
and will also work with the Happy
|
||
|
Archiver Emulator. Not only does it
|
||
|
work with the Happy, but fixes all the
|
||
|
bugs.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The software's features include double
|
||
|
density, ultra-speed read/write,
|
||
|
automatic copying, extra memory
|
||
|
support, and too many more to mention.
|
||
|
One of the things I enjoyed most about
|
||
|
using this product was the ease of
|
||
|
copying most programs. After booting
|
||
|
the program, the first command is
|
||
|
simply -C- (for copy). The prompt
|
||
|
-insert source disk- (press start) is
|
||
|
followed by a neat display as the
|
||
|
entire disk is being read. You can see
|
||
|
the sector map of each track as it is
|
||
|
read and watch the copy protection
|
||
|
techniques as well. It is important to
|
||
|
note that that copies are not -broken-
|
||
|
but are in fact duplicates of the
|
||
|
original disk. Since the program
|
||
|
supports memory upgrades, it is
|
||
|
possible to make most disks in one
|
||
|
pass. I use a 320K 130XE or a 256K
|
||
|
800XL and have had only a couple of
|
||
|
disks require more that one pass.
|
||
|
These were very full disks!
|
||
|
|
||
|
So far, I have been able to copy
|
||
|
everything I tried except some
|
||
|
Electronic Arts disks with a large
|
||
|
number of short sectors per track. The
|
||
|
ad for the Super Archiver clearly
|
||
|
states this. In addition, I have
|
||
|
learned more about disks and tracks and
|
||
|
sectors and such than I would have
|
||
|
guessed.
|
||
|
|
||
|
The neat thing is that there is a lot
|
||
|
of untapped potential in this product
|
||
|
for me. Not only do you have a very
|
||
|
good copying device here, but a very
|
||
|
useful disk analysis tool. Did I
|
||
|
forget to mention the built-in
|
||
|
disassembler? Like I said, there is a
|
||
|
lot more to this than meets the eye.
|
||
|
While it is easy to use for the person
|
||
|
with limited knowledge, there is plenty
|
||
|
here for the most advanced users as
|
||
|
well.
|
||
|
|
||
|
I now own three modified 1050 drives
|
||
|
and the Super Archiver has become my
|
||
|
favorite. I have really enjoyed using
|
||
|
the product and am constantly learning
|
||
|
more about it. If there is anything I
|
||
|
could fault, it is the documentation.
|
||
|
It is not the fancy glossy stuff you
|
||
|
get with some things and can be hard to
|
||
|
understand at times. If you look, it
|
||
|
is all there, but you may have to read
|
||
|
a bit. I talked with Ron about this
|
||
|
and he explained that they spent most
|
||
|
of the effort on the product and its
|
||
|
quality. If you consider the price at
|
||
|
$69.95 and all the features, it is well
|
||
|
worth it. As the old saying goes:
|
||
|
-A bargain at twice the price-.
|
||
|
|
||
|
If you have a 1050 drive, I strongly
|
||
|
suggest giving this product serious
|
||
|
consideration.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|CRAZY-EIGHTS|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|by Robert Buman|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Courtesy of:
|
||
|
Spectrum Atari Group of Erie
|
||
|
and
|
||
|
GEnie's Atari 8-bit SIG
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Welcome to the new, LUXERIOUS office of
|
||
|
the SAGE library.
|
||
|
|
||
|
We mentioned last month how the
|
||
|
building we previously occupied was
|
||
|
suddenly demolished when a massive
|
||
|
wrecking-ball happened to drop in. I
|
||
|
didn't invite it. I moved out soon
|
||
|
after; too much noise.
|
||
|
|
||
|
A benevolent millionaire, who also
|
||
|
happens to be an 8-bit Atari fanatic,
|
||
|
read of my situation on a local BBS and
|
||
|
has given me free use of his fabulous
|
||
|
yacht during the winter months. The
|
||
|
S.S. Polywog has been converted into
|
||
|
the S.S. Crazy Eights.
|
||
|
|
||
|
I've set up house in the lower-level.
|
||
|
It's a good place: as long as I stay
|
||
|
down there I can imagine I am floating
|
||
|
out on Misery Bay rather than hanging
|
||
|
in this storage facility. My pals on
|
||
|
the SAGE board of directors are
|
||
|
especially happy, knowing that I can
|
||
|
get into very little trouble in a boat
|
||
|
that is nowhere near water.
|
||
|
|
||
|
We have another of our many reasons why
|
||
|
the '8-bits' are better than the
|
||
|
'16-bits' for you in this issue, so
|
||
|
hang in there.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|GENIE'S TOP 100 FILES LIST|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Let's talk about some of the more
|
||
|
popular 8-bit public domain software
|
||
|
out there. GENIE (General Electric
|
||
|
Network for Information Exchange)
|
||
|
provides a large collection of Atari
|
||
|
P.D. software to its subscribers, which
|
||
|
contains some of the best stuff going
|
||
|
around.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Not long ago, while purusing my
|
||
|
printout of their 8-bit P.D. library a
|
||
|
file called TOP100.TXT caught my
|
||
|
attention. It seems that the crew of
|
||
|
the Atari Round Table came up with this
|
||
|
great idea to post a list of the 100
|
||
|
most downloaded files! I found it
|
||
|
interesting and, as club librarian,
|
||
|
quite useful. You might too.
|
||
|
|
||
|
On the surface, the text file is
|
||
|
nothing more than library file
|
||
|
descriptions listed in order of most
|
||
|
accesses. In fact the format is
|
||
|
exactly the same as is used for library
|
||
|
directories. Looking a little closer
|
||
|
reveals some less obvious facts. If
|
||
|
you have already downloaded the file,
|
||
|
make a printout of it and follow along
|
||
|
with me as I point out some interesting
|
||
|
statistics.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|EAGER TO ARC|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
The top-five files on the list are all
|
||
|
archiving programs. This is
|
||
|
understandable since many files found
|
||
|
on GENIE (and other similar services)
|
||
|
need to be unARCed before they can be
|
||
|
used. The number one most downloaded
|
||
|
program is ARCX12.COM with a whopping
|
||
|
2422 downloads to its credit. Thats
|
||
|
over twice the number of the number two
|
||
|
file, ARC12.ARC with a mere 1130
|
||
|
downloads!
|
||
|
|
||
|
>From number six and on, most of the
|
||
|
categories are represented with only a
|
||
|
couple not included. So what library
|
||
|
do you think was MOST represented?
|
||
|
Take a wild guess...if you said -Games-
|
||
|
you are absolutely right! I actually
|
||
|
went through the list and counted
|
||
|
libraries. Library number 10, Atari
|
||
|
Amusements, had 19 out of 100 files.
|
||
|
Second was library number 16, Disk
|
||
|
Tools, with 18 files.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Oh, and let's not forget picture files!
|
||
|
There were a number of them on the
|
||
|
list, Koala format and ASCII format and
|
||
|
Print Shop format. But what KIND of
|
||
|
picture files, you ask? Well, I can
|
||
|
answer you by telling you what library
|
||
|
came in third place. It was library
|
||
|
19, ADULT Graphics with 15 files!
|
||
|
Pretty good artwork I have to admit.
|
||
|
In fact, now that I think about it I've
|
||
|
downloaded most of those picture files!
|
||
|
|
||
|
Some people who upload files are
|
||
|
frequent uploaders. Which uploader has
|
||
|
the best track record for uploading
|
||
|
-winners-? The name that popped up
|
||
|
most often was MARTY.A with 10 of the
|
||
|
most popular library files.
|
||
|
Congratulations, Marty! By the way,
|
||
|
can I swap disks with you??? There
|
||
|
were 14 people (if my finger math
|
||
|
serves me right) who had multiple
|
||
|
uploads in the top 100.
|
||
|
|
||
|
One file on the list made me laugh.
|
||
|
That file? Why, -TOP100.TXT-, of
|
||
|
course! Now how did that get on it's
|
||
|
OWN LIST? Hmmmmmm. Ok, I think I
|
||
|
know: this list must be an ongoing
|
||
|
project and I only recently stumbled in
|
||
|
on it.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Here's a short sampling of files found
|
||
|
on the list, and a brief CRAZY-EIGHTS
|
||
|
summary of why it's popular:
|
||
|
|
||
|
ALFCRUNCH12.ARC: how can you resist a
|
||
|
file that sounds like a candy-bar?
|
||
|
Besides the description says -must get
|
||
|
this-.
|
||
|
|
||
|
WARGAMES86.BAS: Everybody wants to be
|
||
|
Matthew Broderick!
|
||
|
|
||
|
SEVEN NUDES.ARC
|
||
|
HOTGIRL.PIC
|
||
|
RATEDXXX.PSF: They sort-of speak for
|
||
|
themselves!
|
||
|
|
||
|
WHEELOF.ARC: Will Vanna turn the
|
||
|
letters? Besides, the description says
|
||
|
-THE BEST-.
|
||
|
|
||
|
FINAL THOUGHTS: A tip-of-the-hat goes
|
||
|
out to the hard-working gang of
|
||
|
co-sysops who makes the Atari 8-bit
|
||
|
roundtable a fun place to hang out and
|
||
|
browse: DARLAH, MARTY.A and
|
||
|
CRAIG.S.THOM.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Watch for future updates to TOP100, if
|
||
|
they choose to continue it. It could
|
||
|
be interesting to see what recent
|
||
|
arrivals make the list. Last month I
|
||
|
said I wanted to make CRAZY EIGHTS your
|
||
|
favorite newsletter column. I also
|
||
|
would like to make it GENIE's most
|
||
|
POPULAR DOWNLOAD FILE EVER!!
|
||
|
(HINT-HINT). Oh well, I can dream,
|
||
|
can't I?
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|FAN MAIL/HATE MAIL|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
This month we received E-mail on the
|
||
|
SAGE BBS from fellow SAGE member Earl
|
||
|
Hill. Earl wants to add to our
|
||
|
ever-growing list of reasons why our
|
||
|
8-bit computers are better than the
|
||
|
16-bitters:
|
||
|
|
||
|
REASON #9: ST computers only have three
|
||
|
graphics modes. The 8-bit computers
|
||
|
have over a dozen!
|
||
|
|
||
|
You know, Earl, you're right--The 8-bit
|
||
|
machines have SO MANY graphics modes I
|
||
|
keep losing my place when I'm counting
|
||
|
them! Earl is a long time 8-bitter who
|
||
|
has crossed the border into ST country.
|
||
|
Never forget your roots, Earl. Earl
|
||
|
will be receiving a dozen labels each
|
||
|
with a COLORFUL SAGE LOGO lovingly
|
||
|
printed there-upon. They look much
|
||
|
better on 5 1/4- disks, Earl.
|
||
|
|
||
|
You can receive these COLORFUL
|
||
|
COMplimentary COMmemorative COMputer
|
||
|
labels too! Send us your COMments or
|
||
|
add your ideas to our -8-bits are
|
||
|
better- list. If we quote from your
|
||
|
mail, a dozen complimentary labels will
|
||
|
be sent to you, provided you give us
|
||
|
your address. Now here's ours:
|
||
|
|
||
|
CRAZY EIGHTS
|
||
|
C/O SAGE
|
||
|
PO BOX 10562
|
||
|
ERIE PA 16514
|
||
|
|
||
|
On GENIE you can direct comments to
|
||
|
-LAKE31-
|
||
|
|
||
|
Thanks for reading.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|ATARITECH BBS XL POWER SUPPLY|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|by The Traveler|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Courtesy of CompuServe Atari8
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
The power supply for the Atari XL/XE
|
||
|
computer is notorious for its ability
|
||
|
to -fry- itself at the time that it is
|
||
|
SURE to cause the most aggrevation.
|
||
|
Not to mention the aggrevation when you
|
||
|
open the power supply with the
|
||
|
intention of repairing it. The
|
||
|
transformer is -potted---a thick, waxy
|
||
|
material is poured into the power
|
||
|
supply, making it impossible to repair.
|
||
|
|
||
|
An inexpensive alternative power supply
|
||
|
is easy to make.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|What You Need|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Soldering Iron and Solder
|
||
|
Wire Cutters and Stripper
|
||
|
Heat Shrink Tubing
|
||
|
DC Supply--Radio Shack # 277-1022
|
||
|
5-Pin DIN Plug--Shack # 274-003
|
||
|
|
||
|
Instead of the 5-pin plug, you can
|
||
|
substitute the power supply cable with
|
||
|
the 7-pin power plug from the bad power
|
||
|
supply--this is preferred.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|How to Build It|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Cut off the plug of the power supply.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Remove approximately 3/4 of an inch of
|
||
|
the outer insulation of the wires. You
|
||
|
should see four colored wires inside
|
||
|
the supply. Remove approximately 3/4
|
||
|
of an inch of the outer insulation of
|
||
|
the wires. You should see four colored
|
||
|
wires inside the cable.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Cover the yellow and white wires each
|
||
|
with a short piece of shrink tubing and
|
||
|
shrink them over the ends of the wire.
|
||
|
These are the -5 Volt and +12 Volt
|
||
|
wires--you will not need either of
|
||
|
these.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Next, strip about 1/8 inch of
|
||
|
insulation from the red and blue wires
|
||
|
These will be soldered to the plug. Be
|
||
|
sure to slip the outside cover of the
|
||
|
plug over the wire BEFORE soldering,
|
||
|
and short pieces of shrink tubing over
|
||
|
the blue and red wires (but don't
|
||
|
shrink it yet!). Also a larger piece
|
||
|
over all four wires would be
|
||
|
recommended.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Solder the blue wire to pin 3 on the
|
||
|
plug. Solder the red wire to pin 1 on
|
||
|
the plug. Be sure that you look
|
||
|
carefully at the plug--the pins are NOT
|
||
|
numbered consecutively!
|
||
|
|
||
|
Pinout (Solder Side):
|
||
|
|
||
|
2
|
||
|
4 5
|
||
|
|
||
|
1 3
|
||
|
|
||
|
After soldering the wires in place,
|
||
|
slip the shrink tubing down over the
|
||
|
wires. Put the metal shield over the
|
||
|
plug and crimp it to the wire.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Finally, slip the outer cover into
|
||
|
place. That's it!
|
||
|
|
||
|
Instead of the 5-pin plug, you may wish
|
||
|
to use the cable from the old power
|
||
|
supply with the 7-pin plug on the end.
|
||
|
This is the best way, for this reason:
|
||
|
Atari purposely put a 7-pin plug on the
|
||
|
power supply so that it could NOT be
|
||
|
plugged into the 5-pin video jack,
|
||
|
which would very likely damage the
|
||
|
computer. The 5-pin plug will fit into
|
||
|
the 7-pin jack, but you loose the
|
||
|
fail-safe feature built in.
|
||
|
|
||
|
To use the old cable, strip back about
|
||
|
1/4 inch of insulation from each of the
|
||
|
wires of the old power supply cable.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Use a multitester to check continuity
|
||
|
in the wires--the wire with the white
|
||
|
stripe should be connected to pins
|
||
|
1, 4, and 6 of the old power plug and
|
||
|
the other wire to pins 2, 3, 5, and 7.
|
||
|
|
||
|
7-pin Pinout (pin side):
|
||
|
|
||
|
2
|
||
|
5 4
|
||
|
|
||
|
3 1
|
||
|
|
||
|
7 6
|
||
|
|
||
|
Solder the red wire to the wire with
|
||
|
the stripe (pins 1, 4, and 6) and the
|
||
|
blue wire to the other wire (pins
|
||
|
2, 3, 5, and 7). Be sure to cover the
|
||
|
wires with shrink tubing.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|Additional Notes|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
You may have noticed that this power
|
||
|
supply (for the Coleco Adam!) is rated
|
||
|
at 0.9 Amps, while the Atari power
|
||
|
supply is rated at 1.5 Amps!
|
||
|
|
||
|
The power supply works on my 800 XL
|
||
|
with my 576K mod, and runs a P:R: to
|
||
|
boot! The reason is that the +5 volt
|
||
|
line is the only one used--the +12 volt
|
||
|
and -5 volt lines are not used. This
|
||
|
allows more power to go to the +5 volt
|
||
|
line. Also, the 800XL only draws about
|
||
|
1 Amp, including the RAM upgrade and
|
||
|
the P:R: I have connected to the
|
||
|
system.
|
||
|
|
||
|
While I would not specifically
|
||
|
recommend using this power supply on a
|
||
|
BBS, I have used it on my 800XL and
|
||
|
P:R: running continuously for several
|
||
|
weeks with no problems! It is more
|
||
|
than adequate for normal use, and for
|
||
|
around $7.00 for the parts--compared
|
||
|
to about $20 for a new Atari power
|
||
|
supply--you can't beat the price!
|
||
|
|
||
|
If you have any questions about this or
|
||
|
any technical questions about Atari
|
||
|
8-bit computers, you can call the
|
||
|
AtariTech BBS at (813) 539-8141
|
||
|
or write to:
|
||
|
AtariTech BBS
|
||
|
P.O. Box 7974
|
||
|
Clearwater, Florida 34618.
|
||
|
|
||
|
We have many files on easy-to-build
|
||
|
hardware projects, memory upgrades,
|
||
|
fixes and mods.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|Z*NET NEWSWIRE 8-BIT VERSION|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|by Harold Brewer|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
-Atari is still manufacturing the
|
||
|
850 Interface Module, and it is
|
||
|
available through dealers or through
|
||
|
Atari Customer Relations at:
|
||
|
(408) 745-2367.-
|
||
|
|
||
|
-A lot of people think that it is
|
||
|
discontinued since the 850 was very
|
||
|
difficult to get for a few years, but
|
||
|
there are plenty now!-
|
||
|
|
||
|
This was found on GEnie written by
|
||
|
Dan McNamee--Atari Technical Support
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Lee Jones of Gromor-Systems is
|
||
|
interested in starting an Atari
|
||
|
gardeners' user group. Possible areas
|
||
|
of endeavor could include
|
||
|
production/accumulation/use of software
|
||
|
for gardeners/farmers, a group BBS, and
|
||
|
a periodically released group diskette.
|
||
|
|
||
|
For more information, please write to:
|
||
|
|
||
|
Lee Jones
|
||
|
c/o Gromor-Systems
|
||
|
Route 1, Box 76-B
|
||
|
Pleasantville, TN, USA
|
||
|
37147-9801
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
| Syndicate Publishing Company |
|
||
|
| P.O. Box 74, Middlesex, NJ 08846 |
|
||
|
| (201) 968-8148 |
|
||
|
|Copyright 1989 All Rights Reserved|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
CompuServe: 71777,2140
|
||
|
GEnie: ZMAGAZINE
|
||
|
Source: BDG793
|
||
|
|
||
|
ZMagazine Headquarters BBSes:
|
||
|
Centurian BBS--(314)621-5046
|
||
|
(618)451-0165
|
||
|
Chaos BBS--(517)371-1106
|
||
|
Shadow Haven--(916)962-2566
|
||
|
Stairway to Heaven--(216)784-0574
|
||
|
The Pub--(716)826-5733
|