Today I received.....

[IanS]

I don’t know if the BBC Micro has RGB output (easy way) or not (not so easy way).

The easy way would just require a cable and/or small adapter, while the not so easy one some kind of composite to RGB converter, plus the cable.

BBC does have RGB output.
BBC RGB output is TTL ~0-5v
CPC RGB output is not TTL ~0~1v

So you should just be able to add the usual resistors required for a SCART cable.

(I have seen Amstrad Colour monitors plugged straight into a BBC, it does work, it gives a very bright picture, and is not recommended)

The middle pin on the BBC RGB connector is 5v, which is ignored by the CPC colour monitor. Don't try this with an Amstrad green screen, it uses the middle pin for luminance.

[Lardo Boffin]

I have two 6128s (one broken, one working) and while they are "good" in the sense of being well rounded machines, they're also quite slow compared to their contemporaries (quite a few of which I also have). "Slow" in the "subjective user experience" sense of the word.

I only got it yesterday so not fully up to speed with it but Elite is certainly sluggish on it - although there is no line flicker which is a bonus.

[1024MAK]

The Z80 CPU runs at 4MHz (which is a bit faster than a ZX Spectrum), but the amount of screen data that has to be shifted around does take up a fair wack of the CPUs time.

Games written for the CPC are obviously optimised for it. Ported games are often versions ported from the ZX Spectrum, and with some of these, minimal changes were made and screen and sound converter code added. So these can run a bit slow.

Mark

[RobC]

The Z80 CPU runs at 4MHz (which is a bit faster than a ZX Spectrum), but the amount of screen data that has to be shifted around does take up a fair wack of the CPUs time.

And it's more like 3.3MHz once the wait states/cycle rounding is taken into account.

[jonb]

I have two 6128s (one broken, one working) and while they are "good" in the sense of being well rounded machines, they're also quite slow compared to their contemporaries (quite a few of which I also have). "Slow" in the "subjective user experience" sense of the word.

Don't suppose you would fancy a trade for a ton of acorn magazines, cover discs, and anything else I can bundle in?

Hmmm let me think...

Now the broken one, that is a different story. I am pretty sure it is repairable, but I have not got round to it yet. @1024MAK : Hey Mark, maybe I should open another epic repair thread..?

[Edited to add: Attempted repair discussed here back in June 2013: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc ... n-startup/. Can't believe that was 5 1/2 years ago!]

[vanpeebles]

I have two 6128s (one broken, one working) and while they are "good" in the sense of being well rounded machines, they're also quite slow compared to their contemporaries (quite a few of which I also have). "Slow" in the "subjective user experience" sense of the word.

Don't suppose you would fancy a trade for a ton of acorn magazines, cover discs, and anything else I can bundle in?

Hmmm let me think...

Now the broken one, that is a different story. I am pretty sure it is repairable, but I have not got round to it yet. @1024MAK : Hey Mark, maybe I should open another epic repair thread..?

[Edited to add: Attempted repair discussed here back in June 2013: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc ... n-startup/. Can't believe that was 5 1/2 years ago!]

I’ll thrown in a load of old computing books too, one has a PET on the cover A right good box of all kinds, and I’ll pay postage for both sides?

[tricky]

A very neat boo-bip EEPROM and a "purple board" to help me to diagnose all my dodgy beebs

[flaxcottage]

Interesting. What is this 'purple board' then. Pray do tell.

[cmorley]

It's a USB adapter. In conjunction with the little interface board I did (which Richard will post a photo of on... Tuesday... 'nuff said! ) & hoglet's 6502 bus decoder software you can log the execution of a model B to a PC. Look at the instruction trace & diagnose the long beep
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14398&hilit=ftdi

[flaxcottage]

Thanks, Chris.

[LordVaderUK]

A somewhat battered Microvitec CUB monitor... sadly forgot to order a cable so I can’t try it with the Beeb yet, it switches on without going bang and emitting magic smoke though... despite the incredibly poor packaging

And a DataCentre courtesy of Mark from RetroClinic, haven’t had time to fit it yet but I’ve read the rather lovely manual that comes with it!

[Commie_User]

That screen looks ugly. Are you sure you can repair the glass?

[LordVaderUK]

That screen looks ugly. Are you sure you can repair the glass?

Just reflections in the photo - the glass is in undamaged condition, the metal case is a little battered...

[Commie_User]

Are you sure??

...

Oh yeah!

[marcusjambler]

A TMS 320C25 Dev System for a BBC user port...

[VectorEyes]

A TMS 320C25 Dev System for a BBC user port...

s-l1600 (3).jpg

s-l1600 (5).jpg

I saw that on eBay!

What is it? What does it do? Enquiring minds want to know!

[marcusjambler]

What is it? What does it do? Enquiring minds want to know!

This enquiring mind also wants to know
No software or documentation as of yet...

[johnkenyon]

What is it? What does it do? Enquiring minds want to know!

This enquiring mind also wants to know
No software or documentation as of yet...

The TMS320 is a series of digital signal processors. (aka DSP)

You've probably bought yourself a programmable audio filter. You'll have fun getting that working with no docs...

[marcusjambler]

You've probably bought yourself a programmable audio filter.

Thats what I was guessing.... I've found some docs and a paper written by an under grad in the late 80s that includes example code for the BBC and IBM PC...
So long as no ROM is required I should be able to run the code and give it a go with one of my vocal mics, ZOOM16 DAW and reaper/cubase....

Assuming its actually working....

I'll probably start with a sig gen and scope....

Marcus

[flaxcottage]

Thermal printer rolls

A clutch of thermal paper printer rolls for my Texas PC100C printer cradle. The printer works with my TI-58 and TI-59 calculators. This printer uses paper 63mm wide, which is now obsolete. New old stock paper does appear from time to time but is horrendously expensive.

These are 60mm wide. Still obsolete but still available. Not only that but the paper is much more sensitive and has 'black ink' rather than the 'blue ink' of the originals. The output is superb.

I might even type in the TI-59 Star Trek game from the August 1979 edition of Computing Today.

[daveejhitchins]

Received yesterday:

I'm preparing a very special Electron for John.

I wonder if I'll have any luck asking my ex partner, Dave Prosser, if he has the FPGA script . . . .

Dave H

[myelin]

Received yesterday:
IMG_3163-2.jpgIMG_3163.jpgIMG_3164.jpg


I'm preparing a very special Electron for John.

I wonder if I'll have any luck asking my ex partner, Dave Prosser, if he has the FPGA script . . . .

Dave H

Ooh... if you do manage to get it, I’d be Interested to help with the PCB design for a recreation project!

[mr-macrisc]

Received yesterday:
IMG_3163-2.jpgIMG_3163.jpgIMG_3164.jpg


I'm preparing a very special Electron for John.

I wonder if I'll have any luck asking my ex partner, Dave Prosser, if he has the FPGA script . . . .

Dave H

Glad it arrived safe and sound and hopefully it proves to be useful

John

[iamaran]

An ICL issue 3 Beeb, from a generous Freegler, serial number 003353. It has a Torch Computers DFS .9H (1983) which I've not heard of before.
No idea whether it works as it has the Astec AA11660 PSU and I don't know whether such a clumsy person as me should attempt the cap replacement!

[Pernod]

It has a Torch Computers DFS .9H (1983) which I've not heard of before.

I'm intrigued, photos and ROM dump please

[iamaran]

It has a Torch Computers DFS .9H (1983) which I've not heard of before.

I'm intrigued, photos and ROM dump please

Quick snap of the DFS and the other 4 ROMs. Will dump if needed when/if I get it up and running.
It amuses me that the only beeb I now own is older than the one I had in the 1980s!

[daveejhitchins]

Received yesterday:
IMG_3163-2.jpgIMG_3163.jpgIMG_3164.jpg


I'm preparing a very special Electron for John.

I wonder if I'll have any luck asking my ex partner, Dave Prosser, if he has the FPGA script . . . .

Dave H

Ooh... if you do manage to get it, I’d be Interested to help with the PCB design for a recreation project!

Noted . . . I know the answer - but just to check: Can FPGAs be "locked" ?

Dave H

[cmorley]

Noted . . . I know the answer - but just to check: Can FPGAs be "locked" ?

Depends on the part... it's a read the datasheet(s) job for each one.

[1024MAK]

Noted . . . I know the answer - but just to check: Can FPGAs be "locked" ?

Depends on the part... it's a read the datasheet(s) job for each one.

Is it a type with internal configuration Flash/EEPROM or a type that reads it’s configuration from an external Flash/EEPROM chip?

Mark

[daveejhitchins]

It's this one: XC95144XL

That has this in the data sheet (Darn . . . ):

Design Security: XC9500XL devices incorporate advanced data security features which fully protect the programming data against unauthorized reading or inadvertent device erasure/reprogramming. Table 3 shows the four different security settings available. The read security bits can be set by the user to prevent the internal programming pattern from being read or copied. When set, they also inhibit further program operations but allow device erase. Erasing the entire device is the only way to reset the read security bit. The write security bits provide added protection against accidental device erasure or reprogramming when the JTAG pins are subject to noise, such as during system power-up. Once set, the write-protection may be deactivated when the device needs to be reprogrammed with a valid pattern with a specific sequence of JTAG instructions.

I'll contact Dave Prosser today and see what he says.

Dave H