Info-Atari16 Digest Tue, 2 Apr 91 Volume 91 : Issue 184 Today's Topics: Atari SC1224 Color Monitor for sale Changing the drive in an SH204 Expansion cases - Compatibility with hardware? memory upgrade woes on a Mega 1: SOLVED MGR - What is it? Please outline requirements for UUCP transfers to ST Problem using HP II P laserprinter with 1040 ST Rogue Sideline Software ST Log Magazine (2 msgs) sundog Switching A SS drive to DS The cause of the phantom typist Two New Computer Announcements - CeBIT (3 msgs) Wanted Mac ROMs (128K) for GCR Your article(s) (Was: Re: union demo 2) Welcome to the Info-Atari16 Digest. The configuration for the automatic cross-posting to/from Usenet is getting closer, but still getting thrashed out. Please send notifications about broken digests or bogus messages to Info-Atari16-Request@NAUCSE.CSE.NAU.EDU. Please send requests for un/subscription and other administrivia to Info-Atari16-Request, *NOT* Info-Atari16. Requests that go to the list instead of the moderators are likely to be lost or ignored. If you want to unsubscribe, and you're receiving the digest indirectly from someplace (usually a BITNET host) that redistributes it, please contact the redistributor, not us. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 2 Apr 91 01:08:55 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!samsung!rex!ukma!xanth!nut.cs.odu.edu!cwc@ariz ona.edu (Chris Carpinello) Subject: Atari SC1224 Color Monitor for sale To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu I have an Atari SC1224 Color Monitor + monitor master for sale. This is the type of monitor with the dials on the side. $185 takes it -- which includes shipping anywhere in the continental US. (via UPS or USPS -- your choice). Terms of sale: After I receieve your M.O. or check, I send you the monitor. If it doesn't work when you get it, I take it back. If it gets there without any problems it's yours forever. ;-) ============================================================================== Chris Carpinello (cwc@xanth.cs.odu.edu) /// Peace, Love, and NO CENSORSHIP "Of all possible worlds, we only got one, we got to ride on it"__Grateful Dead ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 91 07:20:48 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!aplcen!jhunix!d _alvear@arizona.edu (Dom Alvear) Subject: Changing the drive in an SH204 To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Help! I have an old Atari SH204. I am considering upgrading it. I would like to know what success people have had with changing the drive inside. Also, I can get a 42MB 3.5" HD for know that the SH204 uses an MFM drive. Can I use HDX 3.01 to format the new drive? Anyhow, I hope I can get help. Dom ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 12:08:37 GMT From: mcsun!ukc!strath-cs!expya!exua!exua.exeter.ac.uk@uunet.uu.net (Scott McIntyre) Subject: Expansion cases - Compatibility with hardware? To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu There are a number of companies here in the UK as well as on the continent which offer some sort of a hardware expansion box for the 520 and 1040...basically just a large empty box that you can put your motherboard and most other things inside of...space for several hard drives, floppies, etc.. My question is: With the high number of graphics cards and add on processors available for the Mega, would it be possible to invest in one of these tower cases, then get the add on card and have it work, even though the machine is still a 520 or 1040? Anyone know? Ta, Scott ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 91 07:33:47 GMT From: mcsun!hp4nl!philapd!idcapd!wilko@uunet.uu.net (W.C. Bulte) Subject: memory upgrade woes on a Mega 1: SOLVED To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Mega 1's are available in most of Europe I think, in any case in Germany and Holland. Regarding the memory upgrade: the problem was cured by adding a HEAVY gauge piece of copper wire, connecting the ground of the RAM expansion board and the ST board. How the ground connection could lead to a ST recognizing the expansion as 128Kbyte remains unsolved. Anyway, it works. Related question: how about cooling the power supply? Mega1's don't include a fan, and the case becomes pretty hot. Anybody had a meltdown yet 8-)??? _ __________________________________________________________________________ | / o / / _ Wilko Bulte Domain: wilko@idca.tds.philips.nl |/|/ / / /( (_) uucp : [mcsun,hp4nl]!philapd!wilko * Philips Information Systems Nederland phone: +31 55-432372 fax: +31 55-432103 "Do, or do not. There is no 'try'" Yoda - The Empire Strikes Back ________________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 91 06:23:23 GMT From: munnari.oz.au!brolga!uqcspe!cs.uq.oz.au!warwick@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu (Warwick Allison) Subject: MGR - What is it? To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu I've noticed MGR on atari.archive in the MiNT directory. What is it? Do I need to be running MiNT to use it? What disadvantages are caused by MiNT? (eg. what does/doesn't run?) Warwick. -- _--_|\ warwick@cs.uq.oz.au / * <-- Computer Science Department, \_.--._/ University of Queensland, v AUSTRALIA. ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 91 03:16:44 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!lavaca.uh.edu!me nudo.uh.edu!rcte2p@arizona.edu (Paul Stephen Sears) Subject: Please outline requirements for UUCP transfers to ST To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Can someone provide a clear outline of what exactly is required to establish UUCP transfers of mail and news from a site to my ST at home? Please provide locations of software also if possible. Can this be done using only PD software? How do you register your address? With whom do you register???? Thanks! Paul -- Paul Sears The Univ. of Houston |"The greater an individual's power Student of the College of Technology | over others, the greater the evil that RCTE2P@Jetson.uh.edu *** | might possibly originate with him." RCTE2P@menudo.uh.edu * * * | - PROPAGANDA, from A Secret Wish (CD) ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 91 04:51:30 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia .edu!src.honeywell.com!msi.umn.edu!cs.umn.edu!uc!noc.MR.NET!ns!ns!logajan@arizo na.edu (John Logajan) Subject: Problem using HP II P laserprinter with 1040 ST To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <16830011@col.hp.com> davea@col.hp.com (David E Allen) writes: >> 6.) Install a PNP transistor in the STROBE line. >> -----> Ground >> ! >> / C >> B !/ >> from Atari STROBE >----! >> !\ >> \ E >> ! >> ----------> to Printer STROBE > >Would just a diode work - connected in the STROBE line with cathode towards >the Atari? There is no amplification in a diode, and it has a forward voltage drop anywhere from .3 to .8 volts. This added to the low current drive capability of the Atari strobe line puts the "0" voltage up into the 1.0 - 1.5 volt range. I'm not sure if the HP requires TTL levels or CMOS levels, but the minimum low of TTL is usually spec'd at 0.8 volts. You could try it though. If you drop bytes or your print routine hangs often you'll have a good guess why. :-) Besides, how hard it it to solder three wires instead of two (33% harder :-) -- - John Logajan @ Network Systems; 7600 Boone Ave; Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 - logajan@ns.network.com, 612-424-4888, Fax 612-424-2853 ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 91 07:11:00 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.w isc.edu!aplcen!jhunix!d_alvear@arizona.edu (Dom Alvear) Subject: Rogue To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <46296@ut-emx.uucp> sean@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Sean Sterling Foiles) writes: >I've updated to Tos 1.4 and the game Rogue no longer works. I bought ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [stuff deleted...] > > Sean Sterling Foiles / Univ. Texas Comp Sci Grad / sean@happy.cc.utexas.edu Since we all know that some things blow up with TOS 1.4, how does one make an OS switcher? I've heard of people doing such things, and I still remember the days of my old 800XL with Newell Industries 2 ROM set for complete compatability... Dom ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 91 03:27:12 GMT From: noao!ncar!unmvax!nmt.edu!jcksnsr@arizona.edu (Admiral JC) Subject: Sideline Software To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Hey, quickie question... has anyone out there had any dealings with Sideline Software in Florida... I ran across their add in the Mar. Current Notes and really liked the prices. Really liked their prices, really, really low... perhaps $20 below nearest competitors on some stuff. Maybe too low. Does this company actually exist and do they actually sell what they advetise at what they advertise (14.95 for a game that everyone else has for about $32.95 or more). Just wondering before I give'em my visa carsd no... _ /\/\/\/\> ... Slither... ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 91 04:30:18 GMT From: noao!asuvax!ncar!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!chaph.usc.edu!aludra.usc.edu!jju ng@arizona.edu (Robert Jung) Subject: ST Log Magazine To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <1991Apr1.184236.20054@lsuc.on.ca> jimomura@lsuc.on.ca (Jim Omura) writes: > A while back someone posted a list of videogame magazines in one >of the newsgroups (either 'rec.games.video' or this one -- I can't >remember which). In it they mentioned "Video Games & Computer Entertainment" >and "Computer Gaming World," ... >I was wondering if anybody knew which of the gaming magazines was >the one that was put out by the "ST Log" publisher. The publishers of the now-dead ST-LOG, LFP, are also publishing VIDEO GAMES & COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT. Lots of nice work for old ST-LOG writers such as Clayton Walnum and Maurice Molyneaux. --R.J. B-) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ # ## # Send replies to jjung@nunki.usc.edu # ## # ## ## ## I wrote this. If you've got a comment, give #### ## #### it to me and let's cut out the middleman. ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 91 06:51:49 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-sta te.edu!linac!att!cbfsb!cbnewsc!kimes@arizona.edu (Kit Kimes) Subject: ST Log Magazine To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu From article <1991Apr1.184236.20054@lsuc.on.ca>, by (Jim Omura): > A while back someone posted a list of videogame magazines in one > of the newsgroups (either 'rec.games.video' or this one -- I can't > remember which). In it they mentioned "Video Games & Computer Entertainment" > and "Computer Gaming World," and the message noted that one of these > magazines was apparently published by the people who put out "ST Log." > I was wondering if anybody knew which of the gaming magazines was > the one that was put out by the "ST Log" publisher. Does anybody know > for sure? Yes, Video Games & Computer Entertainment is published by LFP. That's Larry Flint Publishing. I haven't picked up an issue for a while, but at first running down the names of the people involved with the magazine was like reading the same list in an old ANALOG magazine. Many were associated with Atari computer magazines for years. Kit Kimes AT&T Bell Labs Naperville, IL !att!iwtsa!kimes ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 91 01:16:17 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hpcvca.cv.hp.com!hpcvca!jg@arizo na.edu (Joe Gilray) Subject: sundog To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu What are the system requirements for Sundog? RAM? color? Etc. Thanks -Joe Gilray ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 91 12:04:04 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!know!pluto.hemel.bull.co.uk!keithb@ariz ona.edu (Keith Bedford) Subject: Switching A SS drive to DS To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu stevendd@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Doug Stevens) writes: >I finally desided to upgrade my single sided drive, I just got the new drive >today. I thought all I had to was swap drives. The plug from the small board >in the drive case isn't the same as the one one the drive. The connector on the >board is for 14 pins, the drive connector is 34 pins. I rember reading some of >the early single sided drives used an old kind of connector (guess what kind I >got). If you know how to convert the plugs I would be very appreciative. I recently upgraded a 520 STFM to a D/S drive. The 14-pin connector comes off a small (aprox 3" by 3") pcb that is no longer required - unscrew the pcb and you should find a 34-pin connector going into it. Disconnect the small pcb and the free cable SHOULD now connect straight to your new drive. I had to twist the cable through 90 degrees to get the right polarity, if you get it wrong the drive light will stay on permanently but do no damage. The pcb is no longer required and can be stored/junked with the SS drive. This worked for me, I can't guarantee it will work for you. If your ST goes into orbit when you switch on I'm real sorry but it's not my fault. ============================================================================== Keith Bedford keith.bedford@hemel.bull.co.uk Bull HN Information Systems Ltd Maxted Road - UK03-HM14 Hemel Hempstead Herts HP2 7DZ England +44-442-232222 ext 4520 ============================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 23:50:20 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!bloo m-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!mcsun!unido!mcshh!janhh!jan@arizona.edu (Jan Willamowius) Subject: The cause of the phantom typist To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Hi! Since this subject keeps comming up since quite some time, here is an article describing the cause of the phantom typist (including a "source listing" of the buggy part of GEM). We sent this to Atari quite some time ago but never got an answer. The author of this article is a friend of mine who is not reachable via email, Wolfram Roisch. If there is a need I will forward mail to him. Happy trails, Jan --- THE SYMPTOM in article <881030205326.543196]PCO-MULTICS.HBI.HONEYWELL.COM>, Friesen@PCO-MULTICS.HBI.HONEYWELL.COM says: > I get the wierdest errors... [...] > strange things started happening. As I typed > in 'ing ' at the end of a word, the computer started hiccupping. I > still got the "key-click" sound, but it wouldn't disply what I typed, > instead it kept duplicating the 'ing ' of the last word I typed. After > it did this about 15 times, the system froze with 2 bombs, and I had to > reset. When it duplicated the 'ing ', it did it at the same speed that > I had originally typed it in, and as it reached the end of the line, > Flash still triggered its wrap-around. > > If anyone could figure this out, they sure deserve a pat on the back! > > Aric Friesen in message <27334@cup.portal.com> Bob Retelle@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU found: > I would be typing in new text at the bottom of the text buffer.. > A series of quick backspaces would trigger the "phantom typist", resulting > in the last 10 or so characters being repeated over and over, until the > system crashed... THE CURE in article imagen!atari!danscott]ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Dan Scott) knew: > Do you have a joystick or other similar device plugged into your ST? It > is a known fact that Proline Joysticks (The ones that work on the 7800 > game system) will cause the ST to act in the manner in which you described. > >Dan Scott > Happy Halloween! (The Joystick Fire is hard-wired to the right mouse button. If you have a joystick attached to your ST, make shure the Auto Fire switch is turned off when booting or running GEM programs..) in article portal!atari!kbad@apple.com (Ken Badertscher) knew: > Now why doesn't that surprise me? Not to bash GST, but I have found > that a lot of problems similar to this are a result of bad programming > practices. Not intentional, but just because the developer wasn't > aware of some restriction or another. It's all too easy to blame TOS. [..] > I strongly suspect that the problem is caused by mixing input modes > between AES/VDI/GEMDOS/BIOS. That has been known to produce results like > this. If it is _not_ that, then there is a good chance that it _is_ a bug > in TOS, and I want to fix it!!! > quoting grahamt@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Graham Thomas): >| People can go for months without it striking, and then have it >| happen twice in a day. (Sunspots??? :-) ) > > Yep, sounds a lot like the ol' cosmic rays. It is really unfortunate that > this particular bug is not easily reproducible. Of course, if it were, > it would probably have been fixed long ago... :-/ > [..] > While you're at it, don't forget to sprinkle the chicken's blood on the > keyboard and dance about, chanting at the monitor. > >Ken Badertscher (ames!atari!kbad) > Atari R&D System Software Engine > #include THE MEDICINE in <27180@cup.portal.com> Bob Retelle remarked: [..] > possibly I didn't sprinkle enough dried chicken blood around my ST, as > I've had the "Phantom Typist" hit me while using FLASH as a text editor... > > Seems odd that someone who's been so involved with the ST has never heard > of this "feature" that's existed as long as the ST has been available... >BobR and in <27334@cup.portal.com>: > It didn't happen often, but when it did, it was terribly annoying... > I wonder if Ken knows where I can buy a new supply of dried chicken blood..? >BobR in article att!oucsace!bwhite@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Bill White): > After days and days of using FW+ in an attempt to get the > Phantom to appear, I finally did it. Unfortunately, I didn't have my > logic probe with me right there, [..] > Anyone out there have a logic analyzer they'd be willing to send > me for further testing??? >| Bill White Internet: bwhite@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu | THE SURGERY The Ghostwriter disease is caused by a "coincidus interruptus" (as we voodoo doctors say). Input buffers overflow when interrupts of different priorities collide in interrupt coding like this: struct .. struct tRec /* application recording as described in Appl_tRecord() */ long t_how; /* arguments */ .. > void /* enqueue input for forker */ > forkq( void(* who)(), long how) > > extern fpcnt, fpt; /* fork-pipe-tail index */ > if( fpcnt < 32) > > if( fpt == 32) fpt= 0; > rec->t_who= who; > rec->t_how= how; > fpcnt++; > (copyright by Digital Research Inc, 1985, April 15 (!)) This routine is used to queue inputs for later use at dispatch time. It is called in interrupts from the VDI input vectors (timvec, butvec and motvec) as well as non-interrupt from a keyboard check, application replay (appl_tplay) or mouse change to cancel a double-click. Tick-tick-tick-CRASH! - Revenge of the Ghostwriter.. What happens if forkq() is called non-interrupt, the fpt index is at 31 and the code gets reentered (interrupted) between fpt++ and if( fpt == 32) ..? To exorcise one may 1) Replace expressions like ++i; if(i == ANYPOWEROFTWO) i= 0; by ++i &= (ANYPOWEROFTWO - 1) 2) make sure the interrupts are disabled whenever forkq() is called (from chkkbd(), mchange() and ap_tplay()) 3) recompile, assemble and link the system. Any questions? Wolfram Roisch, Hamburg, Germany -- Jan Willamowius E-Mail: jan@janhh.hanse.de Nienredder 6 2000 Hamburg 54 "A-Ram-A-Lam-A-Ding-Dong" (The Edsels) ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 19:03:19 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!apple!fernwood!portal!atari!trh@arizona.edu (T R Hall) Subject: Two New Computer Announcements - CeBIT To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu hyc@hanauma.jpl.nasa.gov (Howard Chu) writes: >.... Um, if *all* the address lines are >present, does this mean the CPU is now allowed to address its full 16MB >address space? Or does the GLUE still bus-error on writes outside the 4MB >limit? > -- Howard Chu @ Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA Actually, the way the Glue chip "Bus Errors" is that it has a (minimal) timer that watches /AS. If /AS is longer than 1uS (1000nS) than it generates a /BERR. So, the CPU CAN address the full 16MB space; the circuitry in the GLUE was to make sure there is a BERR in any un-occupied space. Your circuitry can generate a DTACK to any space (that the glue doesn't respond to), and if it keeps /AS under 1uS, then everything is fine. [I probably shouldn't say this part, but what the heck...] For those who really want to kludge, you could even respond to accesses that are in spaces the Glue decodes, but doesn't respond to, such as WRITES to ROM spaces. Of course, you can't READ what you wrote (because of ROM responses to read), but the writing part of the kludge would work. TRH ------------------------------ Date: 31 Mar 91 09:54:14 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!wuarchive!waikato.ac.nz!comp.vuw.ac.nz!actrix! Alex.Valdez@arizona.edu Subject: Two New Computer Announcements - CeBIT To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In article <2885@atari.UUCP> trh@atari.UUCP (T R Hall) writes: > As far as data transfer, both the Notebook and Pad versions of the > machines will include file-transfer software in the ROMS, transfering > over parallel-ports to other ST's, and serial ports to non-ATARI > machines (hopefuly with an existing protocol, so Atari won't have to > write [shudder!!] MS-DOS software). I thought the ST's parallel port is output only. Surely one would transfer data from the notebook/pad into a regular ST as well. Just my NZ$0.02 ( -- Alex Valdez ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 12:44:26 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!sun ic!isgate!krafla!adamd@arizona.edu (Adam David) Subject: Two New Computer Announcements - CeBIT To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In <2885@atari.UUCP> trh@atari.UUCP (T R Hall) writes: > The graphics shifter/video drive circuitry uses almost as much > power as the rest of the system put together. What about an external video shifter option, included in the monitor interface? Roll on the age of the pocket workstation. From Atari, maybe? -Adam David- ------------------------------ Date: 2 Apr 91 00:32:07 GMT From: daffy!cat24.cs.wisc.edu!carter@rsch.wisc.edu (Gregory Carter) Subject: Wanted Mac ROMs (128K) for GCR To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu Good luck finding Mac ROMS. I think the prices on GCR's are going to go DOWN very soon in the near future...so even though I have ROMS, I am going to wait till summetime sometime to pick one up, probably at half the price as dealers try to find buyers for the things. Apple has pulled a boner on everyone with those ROMS. Nasty. --Gregory ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 91 14:00:33 GMT From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!sun ic!isgate!krafla!adamd@arizona.edu (Adam David) Subject: Your article(s) (Was: Re: union demo 2) To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu In <1991Mar28.214245.3088@santra.uucp> s37837k@saha.hut.fi (Jari Lehto) writes: [about chuckie's style] >BUT: Would you kindly learn to write your messages in a non-machine way, >they are not so very easy to read in their present format. >Or, are you using something that disables -key and does not allow >more than one space at a time? >I don't know really whether you are looking for version 2.i or 2... >You want a copy of it.i... What is that? >What exactly means that something is nice.but? >What the hell is sound.wow!!!if? Sound file that follows .iff pictures? > No hard feelings... > Jartsu Aw, c'mon! This place would be a lot less colourful without his original style. Maybe someone ought to put together a macro package for those who find him difficult to understand. Has no-one heard about freedom of expression? -Adam David- ------------------------------ End of Info-Atari16 Digest ******************************