! Standby alert !
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb!
Looking forward to summer in Somerset later in the year :)
Well, you wouldn't need to bother if you had on your Spectrum a proper user interface for the WOS archive, with advanced navigation and search facilities, allowing games and utilities to be launched directly, as well as viewing the related screenshots, info and poke files.
A "Quick Reference" box with inks for the "Getting Started Guide" and "Game Browser/Launcher Manual" has been added to the sidebar. It was indeed necessary.
I am also considering adding some porn scenes to the video tutorials, to make them more palatable for the general public
And very good manuals they are, indeed!
However, I'd like to verify if I understand that correctly: the Microdrive functions are also available in 128K Basic mode, right? I have a Spectrum +2 which in my knowledge is compatible with the Sinclair Interface 1, so this is also the case with Interface 1bis?
The Game Browser of course recuires 48K Basic mode and that's perfectly alright, that's common for all such systems. Loading of 128K software is still available.
And (I'm not complaining or anything, but) how much it takes for the product to ship from South Africa to the Northern Europe, and does the SAPO tracking code work after the package has leaved the SA? Of course you cannot give any exact time, but a rough estimate?
I already ordered one from you and I simply can't wait :)
Spectrum +2 which in my knowledge is compatible with the Sinclair Interface 1
But only in 48k / usr0 mode, which is also the case with the 'Interface 1bis'
To my knowledge, there is only one device: the ZXMMC+, with real hardware support for two-ROM machines: +128, +2, yet not for 4-ROM ones: +2A, +3. Unfortunately this feature is unusable, due to operating system limitations.
Deliveries from South Africa, by registered airmail, take about one month. Occasionally parcels arrive within 2 weeks or less, but these are inexplicable and scary exceptions rather than the rule.
The SAPO registration number is a regular UPU ( Universal Postal Union ) tracking number.
Tracking information on your 'Interface 1bis' unit has been available at your national post office website since the day the parcel was despatched. The latest entry is from today.
Spectrum +2 which in my knowledge is compatible with the Sinclair Interface 1
But only in 48k / usr0 mode, which is also the case with the 'Interface 1bis'
To my knowledge, there is only one device: the ZXMMC+, with real hardware support for two-ROM machines: +128, +2, yet not for 4-ROM ones: +2A, +3. Unfortunately this feature is unusable, due to operating system limitations.
Well, the '1bis' is capable of switching between the patched 48K Basic rom and the shadow rom, so why it couldn't map one more (ie patched 128K rom)? Or, is it so that the Microdrive functions themselves are not available from the 128K mode (not implemented)?
I just wonder if this is really a hardware limitation, or lack of hacked 128K mode roms?
That is not so important, of course, but I like to play with the 128K Basic from time to time. I guess it's possible to load in 128K mode as audio. Does the '1bis' play tape files when in 128K mode? Saving is not a problem because you can always use the SPECTRUM command and save from there. The Spectrum +2 doesn't have the "ear" input I know, but I already built that in.
Spectrum +2 which in my knowledge is compatible with the Sinclair Interface 1
But only in 48k / usr0 mode, which is also the case with the 'Interface 1bis'
Hmm, someone should really tell my +2 about that...
Sorry, I was unaware of that that and didn't even bother to check. The truth is that I hardly know anything about the implementation of the 128k BASIC.
So I have to rephrase my reply:
"But unfortunately the 'Interface 1bis' doesn't use hardware traps and doesn't work with the 128k BASIC."
so why it couldn't map one more (ie patched 128K rom)?
Mainly because that would require larger memory and CPLD chips.
Sorry to disappoint you, but the 128k BASIC cannot be used with the 'Interface 1bis'.
No, no, it's ok, I know that's a pretty common limitation on this kind of devices. And I understand it's probably not worth it for designers and manufacturers of these devices, to support the different 128k model variations of ROMs, that most of the users couldn't care less anyway.
But I'm interested how hackable that thing is. I know '1bis' has only 32K of non-volatile SRAM, but how does the 128 KB RAM drive operate, is it possible to map that in the Spectrum address space?
And, I don't really need all the features or perfect Microdrive emulation in 128K Basic mode, just a way to load and save programs and data, with some tape emulation perhaps. I think I can come up with some solution myself.
I know '1bis' has only 32K of non-volatile SRAM, but how does the 128 KB RAM drive operate, is it possible to map that in the Spectrum address space?
Guess not, I peeked the IF1bis shadow rom source, and it seems it's accessing the ram disk like any disk image, it is thru the microcontroller.
But, when I look the 128rom0 disassembly, the rom bank switching routine (rst 28h) is hookable. So, the next question is, is it possible to enable and disable the 'IF1bis' VRAM mapping from a Spectrum software (by OUTing or something)?
If not, it's not a showstopper yet. In the "Getting started" guide, about the ‘ON’ state: "In this state the interface does respond to I/O request, but its RAM is not paged in. The ZX Spectrum is running the ‘48k BASIC’, from its internal ROM while the joystick and mouse ports are operational." Does this mean that the file operations also would work from (machine code) using port access?
I know '1bis' has only 32K of non-volatile SRAM, but how does the 128 KB RAM drive operate, is it possible to map that in the Spectrum address space?
Guess not, I peeked the IF1bis shadow rom source, and it seems it's accessing the ram disk like any disk image, it is thru the microcontroller.
The optional RAM drive is not memory-mapped. Physically, it is implemented in a non-volatile serial SRAM chip, that can be added on the bottom side of the board, and is accessed by the microcontroller through the SPI port, very much like the SD card is.
But, when I look the 128rom0 disassembly, the rom bank switching routine (rst 28h) is hookable. So, the next question is, is it possible to enable and disable the 'IF1bis' VRAM mapping from a Spectrum software (by OUTing or something)?
Yes, that would be ports 0x7f and 0xff. Check out the 'Hardware Reference' for details
Does this mean that the file operations also would work from (machine code) using port access?
Yes, the microcontroller acts as a universal I/O device, communicating with the Spectrum's CPU over port 0x9f. The communication protocol and command set are documented in the 'Operating System Reference'.
It is of course imaginable to integrate the 'Interface 1bis' functionality into the Spectrum's on-board ROMs, something in the way of the +3e. It would be even much easier because a lot more functions could be offloaded to the microcontroller, but this goes beyond the scope of my project. Nevertheless, the 'Interface 1bis' can be a wonderful playground for hackers, especially because it is fully documented.
Well, I've got the device but it does not work. Dan, you probably test these things so it's unlikely broken, but it doesn't indicate any lifesigns on the USB. I currently don't have a working PC, only Macs, but I do have Windows under Fusion. Most USB-devices also work under that, but even if don't, they should appear in Mac's System information. The IF1bis just doesn't.
At first, I had a damn stupid Chinese power-only USB-cable, but I changed that to a working one and still no show. The roms were present, but have been erased when I thought I had to do the LD5-thing.
Could this be an SD-card compatibility issue? If the microcontroller tries the card first, and doesn't init the USB bus if it can't access the card? It came to my mind to try with another card, but right now I don't know where my other micro-SD-cards are.
And, how do I prepare the SD-card on my Mac (Windows) without using the USB, so I found out if the IF1bis reads it or not?
The quickest way to fix problems is over Skype, if you don't mind. You can call me at your convenience: dan.antohi
Thanks, Dan. I guess the microcontroller firmware could stuck in the SD-card accessing routine, if it fails for some reason. Right now I'm not home, but if I remember correctly, the 'IF1bis' doesn't stuck when I try to load the LD5 and there is no card. It detects it isn't there and just returns.
So I'll try to find another SD and if that doesn't help, I'll contact you via Skype.
I'll report back here in case this could be helpful or interesting to someone considering these devices...
The quickest way to fix problems is over Skype, if you don't mind. You can call me at your convenience: dan.antohi
Thanks, Dan. I guess the microcontroller firmware could stuck in the SD-card accessing routine, if it fails for some reason. Right now I'm not home, but if I remember correctly, the 'IF1bis' doesn't stuck when I try to load the LD5 and there is no card. It detects it isn't there and just returns.
So I'll try to find another SD and if that doesn't help, I'll contact you via Skype.
I'll report back here in case this could be helpful or interesting to someone considering these devices...
The 'LD5' operating system loader COPIES the operating system to the interface's on-board SRAM from the server machine, via the USB port, or, if the server is not connected, from the last 64 sectors of logical drive 1 of the SD card, after which it switches the interface to 'Active' mode. So it is not the case of a 'bad' SD card, nor does the microcontroller get 'stuck', but rather the Spectrum is 'hanging', which shouldn't come as a surprise after overwriting the interface's operating system with some random data.
You need to copy first the operating system to the SD card. For this purpose install the LDC 'Logical Disk Copier' on the server machine, as shown in the 'Getting Started' video clip, run ZXS_Setup again, just for safety, and then 'send' the c:\tmp folder to logical drive 1 of the SD card.
So it is not the case of a 'bad' SD card, nor does the microcontroller get 'stuck', but rather the Spectrum is 'hanging', which shouldn't come as a surprise after overwriting the interface's operating system with some random data.
Yeah, I looked the LD5 assy source and figured out that part myself, before you wrote that :) IF1bis didn't get stuck, it was the Spectrum that was hanging, when the 'roms' were garbage. That LD5 source is most interesting, like most of your IF1bis work. Very clever programming!
Thanks for that info about preparing the SD card with LDC, that's what I wanted right when the USB connection failed. So, I've got the 'roms' back and the Game browser running! There are some issues tho, probably because I cannot use that LDC right, yet.
Quite interestingly, I'm able to get a 128k mode snapshot (or tape, can't tell yet) to run in 128k BASIC mode, after loading it from the Game browser! This probably isn't very stable situation, but interesting.
The USB is still a mystery. What on Earth protocol you're using, when it does not show up in a Mac? When I'll have more time, I'll try to revive my BootCamp Windows partition, the Mac should be 100% WinPC-compatible when booting in that.
Thanks for the support, and most of all the sources and the open design! Most hacking-frendly indeed!
What on Earth protocol you're using, when it does not show up in a Mac?
The microcontroller firmware implements the 'Abstract Control Model' subclass to the letter of the 'USB Communication Class Specification' version 1.2, from the 9-th of February 2007(source code also available). Your problem may be again of a more trivial nature. Have you checked continuity from R21 and R22 to the Type A end of the cable?. If there is none, you can use a needle to remove eventual solder shavings from the inner bottom of the Type B micro receptacle, which obstruct a full mating.
I cannot say how glad I am to have finally met someone knowledgeable enough to be interested in the inner workings of the 'Interface 1bis'.
Have you checked continuity from R21 and R22 to the Type A end of the cable?. If there is none, you can use a needle to remove eventual solder shavings from the inner bottom of the Type B micro receptacle, which obstruct a full mating.
There seem to be some continuity problem, so I cleaned that and checked some again. And again, and still nothing. Finally I remembered that the USB host process in Mac is a bit sensitive, and doesn't like to be messed with. When I rebooted the Mac, the Interface 1bis come visible, and I could route it to the Windows and I got the server working!
So, now I can 100% recommend this product!
There are some things I'd like to get improvement, but nothing too bad and maybe we should continue somewhere else about that...
I cannot say how glad I am to have finally met someone knowledgeable enough to be interested in the inner workings of the 'Interface 1bis'.
Thanks! Yes, I'm a bit technical guy :)
BTW: if I load a 128k snapshot made in an emulator, and in 128K BASIC mode, after it loads in from IF1bis, my Spectrum gets in 128K BASIC mode! And because IF1bis goes 'inactive' after loading a snapshot, the 128K BASIC mode fully works. But, I have to go to SPECTRUM mode before accessing the interface again. This is at least a starting point when I'll want to develop some '128k mode' solution. But another story, no more details on this thread...
Ah, one more detail: the '128k modes' are not compatible! Snapshots made in this mode, must be loaded in a same model Spectrum. That is, +2 snapshot won't work on model 128 and so on.
OK, then back to the original question of the thread: Recommend-me-do - memory card devices.
I would highly recommend the IF1bis. I found the functionality exceptional: the micro SD memory card, keyboard interface, mouse interface, USB interface to a PC, connecting to the WOS games archive though the PC interface, the printer interface and other functions. I must also admit that I got excelled after sales service from Dan with any queries and new requested functions. It is well worth a try and I personally have not experienced any issued with the hardware.
OK, then back to the original question of the thread: Recommend-me-do - memory card devices.
I would highly recommend the IF1bis. I found the functionality exceptional: the micro SD memory card, keyboard interface, mouse interface, USB interface to a PC, connecting to the WOS games archive though the PC interface, the printer interface and other functions. I must also admit that I got excelled after sales service from Dan with any queries and new requested functions. It is well worth a try and I personally have not experienced any issued with the hardware.
Pierre
Oh really? I thought it could have done with a manual.
Comments
(And if that sort of thing is frowned upon, send me a private message)
8-}
Mark
Repair Guides. Spanish Hardware site.
WoS - can't download? Info here...
former Meulie Spectrum Archive but no longer available :-(
Spectranet: the TNFS directory thread
! Standby alert !
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb!
Looking forward to summer in Somerset later in the year :)
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/archive.html
not informative writings and not glad to see at all :(
greets,
Gorski
Well, you wouldn't need to bother if you had on your Spectrum a proper user interface for the WOS archive, with advanced navigation and search facilities, allowing games and utilities to be launched directly, as well as viewing the related screenshots, info and poke files.
However, I'd like to verify if I understand that correctly: the Microdrive functions are also available in 128K Basic mode, right? I have a Spectrum +2 which in my knowledge is compatible with the Sinclair Interface 1, so this is also the case with Interface 1bis?
The Game Browser of course recuires 48K Basic mode and that's perfectly alright, that's common for all such systems. Loading of 128K software is still available.
And (I'm not complaining or anything, but) how much it takes for the product to ship from South Africa to the Northern Europe, and does the SAPO tracking code work after the package has leaved the SA? Of course you cannot give any exact time, but a rough estimate?
I already ordered one from you and I simply can't wait :)
But only in 48k / usr0 mode, which is also the case with the 'Interface 1bis'
To my knowledge, there is only one device: the ZXMMC+, with real hardware support for two-ROM machines: +128, +2, yet not for 4-ROM ones: +2A, +3. Unfortunately this feature is unusable, due to operating system limitations.
Deliveries from South Africa, by registered airmail, take about one month. Occasionally parcels arrive within 2 weeks or less, but these are inexplicable and scary exceptions rather than the rule.
The SAPO registration number is a regular UPU ( Universal Postal Union ) tracking number.
Tracking information on your 'Interface 1bis' unit has been available at your national post office website since the day the parcel was despatched. The latest entry is from today.
Hmm, someone should really tell my +2 about that...
B
zx-diagnostics - Fixing ZX Spectrums in the 21st Century (wiki)
Sinclair FAQ Wiki
I just wonder if this is really a hardware limitation, or lack of hacked 128K mode roms?
That is not so important, of course, but I like to play with the 128K Basic from time to time. I guess it's possible to load in 128K mode as audio. Does the '1bis' play tape files when in 128K mode? Saving is not a problem because you can always use the SPECTRUM command and save from there. The Spectrum +2 doesn't have the "ear" input I know, but I already built that in.
Ah, I didn't know. Well, I see that the parcel has already arrived to my country! So, it shouldn't take long now.
Sorry to disappoint you, but the 128k BASIC cannot be used with the 'Interface 1bis'.
But I'm interested how hackable that thing is. I know '1bis' has only 32K of non-volatile SRAM, but how does the 128 KB RAM drive operate, is it possible to map that in the Spectrum address space?
And, I don't really need all the features or perfect Microdrive emulation in 128K Basic mode, just a way to load and save programs and data, with some tape emulation perhaps. I think I can come up with some solution myself.
But, when I look the 128rom0 disassembly, the rom bank switching routine (rst 28h) is hookable. So, the next question is, is it possible to enable and disable the 'IF1bis' VRAM mapping from a Spectrum software (by OUTing or something)?
If not, it's not a showstopper yet. In the "Getting started" guide, about the ‘ON’ state: "In this state the interface does respond to I/O request, but its RAM is not paged in. The ZX Spectrum is running the ‘48k BASIC’, from its internal ROM while the joystick and mouse ports are operational." Does this mean that the file operations also would work from (machine code) using port access?
The optional RAM drive is not memory-mapped. Physically, it is implemented in a non-volatile serial SRAM chip, that can be added on the bottom side of the board, and is accessed by the microcontroller through the SPI port, very much like the SD card is.
Yes, that would be ports 0x7f and 0xff. Check out the 'Hardware Reference' for details
Yes, the microcontroller acts as a universal I/O device, communicating with the Spectrum's CPU over port 0x9f. The communication protocol and command set are documented in the 'Operating System Reference'.
It is of course imaginable to integrate the 'Interface 1bis' functionality into the Spectrum's on-board ROMs, something in the way of the +3e. It would be even much easier because a lot more functions could be offloaded to the microcontroller, but this goes beyond the scope of my project. Nevertheless, the 'Interface 1bis' can be a wonderful playground for hackers, especially because it is fully documented.
At first, I had a damn stupid Chinese power-only USB-cable, but I changed that to a working one and still no show. The roms were present, but have been erased when I thought I had to do the LD5-thing.
Could this be an SD-card compatibility issue? If the microcontroller tries the card first, and doesn't init the USB bus if it can't access the card? It came to my mind to try with another card, but right now I don't know where my other micro-SD-cards are.
And, how do I prepare the SD-card on my Mac (Windows) without using the USB, so I found out if the IF1bis reads it or not?
So I'll try to find another SD and if that doesn't help, I'll contact you via Skype.
I'll report back here in case this could be helpful or interesting to someone considering these devices...
The 'LD5' operating system loader COPIES the operating system to the interface's on-board SRAM from the server machine, via the USB port, or, if the server is not connected, from the last 64 sectors of logical drive 1 of the SD card, after which it switches the interface to 'Active' mode. So it is not the case of a 'bad' SD card, nor does the microcontroller get 'stuck', but rather the Spectrum is 'hanging', which shouldn't come as a surprise after overwriting the interface's operating system with some random data.
You need to copy first the operating system to the SD card. For this purpose install the LDC 'Logical Disk Copier' on the server machine, as shown in the 'Getting Started' video clip, run ZXS_Setup again, just for safety, and then 'send' the c:\tmp folder to logical drive 1 of the SD card.
Thanks for that info about preparing the SD card with LDC, that's what I wanted right when the USB connection failed. So, I've got the 'roms' back and the Game browser running! There are some issues tho, probably because I cannot use that LDC right, yet.
Quite interestingly, I'm able to get a 128k mode snapshot (or tape, can't tell yet) to run in 128k BASIC mode, after loading it from the Game browser! This probably isn't very stable situation, but interesting.
The USB is still a mystery. What on Earth protocol you're using, when it does not show up in a Mac? When I'll have more time, I'll try to revive my BootCamp Windows partition, the Mac should be 100% WinPC-compatible when booting in that.
Thanks for the support, and most of all the sources and the open design! Most hacking-frendly indeed!
The microcontroller firmware implements the 'Abstract Control Model' subclass to the letter of the 'USB Communication Class Specification' version 1.2, from the 9-th of February 2007(source code also available). Your problem may be again of a more trivial nature. Have you checked continuity from R21 and R22 to the Type A end of the cable?. If there is none, you can use a needle to remove eventual solder shavings from the inner bottom of the Type B micro receptacle, which obstruct a full mating.
I cannot say how glad I am to have finally met someone knowledgeable enough to be interested in the inner workings of the 'Interface 1bis'.
So, now I can 100% recommend this product!
There are some things I'd like to get improvement, but nothing too bad and maybe we should continue somewhere else about that...
Thanks! Yes, I'm a bit technical guy :)
BTW: if I load a 128k snapshot made in an emulator, and in 128K BASIC mode, after it loads in from IF1bis, my Spectrum gets in 128K BASIC mode! And because IF1bis goes 'inactive' after loading a snapshot, the 128K BASIC mode fully works. But, I have to go to SPECTRUM mode before accessing the interface again. This is at least a starting point when I'll want to develop some '128k mode' solution. But another story, no more details on this thread...
Ah, one more detail: the '128k modes' are not compatible! Snapshots made in this mode, must be loaded in a same model Spectrum. That is, +2 snapshot won't work on model 128 and so on.
I would highly recommend the IF1bis. I found the functionality exceptional: the micro SD memory card, keyboard interface, mouse interface, USB interface to a PC, connecting to the WOS games archive though the PC interface, the printer interface and other functions. I must also admit that I got excelled after sales service from Dan with any queries and new requested functions. It is well worth a try and I personally have not experienced any issued with the hardware.
Pierre
Oh really? I thought it could have done with a manual.
.... What? :)