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Old 2nd May 2020, 2:52 pm   #361
qazxsw123
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

looks like one of the files did not attach, second try
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Old 2nd May 2020, 3:03 pm   #362
john_newcombe
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

Quote:
Originally Posted by qazxsw123 View Post
disk image files for cpm 2.2 bios 3.5 and basic programs
If its OK with you I will stick this up on glasstty.com with the others as it's a QDDS image and I only have bios 1.4 on a DDDS image.
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Old 3rd May 2020, 7:17 pm   #363
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

Just for testing I downloaded it and it works fine under xbeaver with the following configuration

cpuclock
board 0xfe gm813_mmu
board 0xb0 gm832 Gemini_557 green keyboard gemini
board 0xe0 gm849_floppy -geometry 80.2.10.0.512 & ~/beaver/disks/gm557_master.img

binload 0xf000 ~/beaver/rpm-v2p1.rom
byte 0f0a8 21 00 f0 #Patch top of ram for RPM


NB - seems to need a GM849 disk controller.
PS - the command "DIR" with no arguments works fine on the simulator - it lists all files.
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Old 3rd May 2020, 9:22 pm   #364
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnBHanson View Post
Just for testing I downloaded it and it works fine under xbeaver with the following configuration

cpuclock
board 0xfe gm813_mmu
board 0xb0 gm832 Gemini_557 green keyboard gemini
board 0xe0 gm849_floppy -geometry 80.2.10.0.512 & ~/beaver/disks/gm557_master.img

binload 0xf000 ~/beaver/rpm-v2p1.rom
byte 0f0a8 21 00 f0 #Patch top of ram for RPM


NB - seems to need a GM849 disk controller.
PS - the command "DIR" with no arguments works fine on the simulator - it lists all files.
Now that you mention it I vaguely remember reading in one of the 80 Bus News magazines that bios 3.5 needed an 849. I can't remember why though.
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Old 3rd May 2020, 9:57 pm   #365
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

Note to those planning to use the configuration - miss the & out of the board line. When I typed it was displayed as two lines and hence the & at the end of the line which indicates a continuation line was needed. However it is now displayed as one line and so the & is not required.

Sorry autoformat causing confusion.
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Old 4th Jun 2020, 3:52 pm   #366
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

If anyone is interested, I'm currently compiling a "Definitive list" of all the 80-BUS hardware in the Gxxx series on my nascom.info site. It's not that far off complete, but if anyone can help with filling in the gaps it would be nice.
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Old 4th Jun 2020, 5:28 pm   #367
AdrianH
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

Just catching up on this thread. I have a Chinese Eprom programmer that can be borrowed if required a Genius G540 that I ran under XP connects via a USB lead to the PC, I am sure it would do 2716 and 2732 type Eproms and bigger. I will have to check if it will still run under Win10?

Let me know if interested.

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Old 6th Jun 2020, 11:15 am   #368
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

I've just got (but not tested) a couple of AT28C16 EEPROMs. If they work as expected they should make an interesting alternative to 2716 EPROMs as they should be able to be programmed "in situ" by pulling /WR low with a "write protect" switch and repeatedly writing/reading each byte until it reads correctly.
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Old 4th Aug 2020, 10:14 pm   #369
john_newcombe
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

JBH:

Hi John, I have finally got round to trying the last Master disk that was posted on the thread and I started by downloading the latest XBeaver. I am having all sorts of difficulties in compiling this against Arch Linux. I know we created an Arch Makefile but this is now out of date with the source files (window.c for example). I am wondering, therefore, what version of Linux you are using and what window manager. I will then replicate the environment here and hopefully it will just build going forward.
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Old 5th Aug 2020, 12:17 am   #370
JohnBHanson
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

I have renamed textwin.c to textwin_X.c and also created textwin_SDL.c and textwin_SDL2.c to allow builds against X and also SDL and SDL2 if they are installed.

Other details in PM.
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Old 18th Sep 2020, 10:51 pm   #371
john_newcombe
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

I have finally sorted out the compilation issues I had and have now tried the disk image and config files with the latest xbeaver, however, I get the following results repeated over and over. Any thoughts?

Code:
    WHAT?
    *8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
    888888888
    WHAT?
    *8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
    888888888
    WHAT?
    *8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
    888888888
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Old 18th Sep 2020, 11:08 pm   #372
JohnBHanson
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

What config file are you running?

Also if you are running rpm has the serial port been configured and
if you are using a physical port does the xbeaver program have access to it.

make sure line in config starting
board 0xb8 serial_8250 ....

make sure you have a floppy controller specified
board 0xe0 gm829_floppy ....

Looks like rpm is trying to read from a non-existant serial port

Last edited by JohnBHanson; 18th Sep 2020 at 11:17 pm.
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Old 19th Sep 2020, 9:51 am   #373
john_newcombe
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

I was just using the config from your post 363, although I have selected RP/M 2.3 rather than 2.1. I will investigate further, thanks for your help.
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Old 19th Sep 2020, 10:00 am   #374
john_newcombe
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

Quote:
Originally Posted by john_newcombe View Post
I was just using the config from your post 363, although I have selected RP/M 2.3 rather than 2.1. I will investigate further, thanks for your help.
Serial port now added and I get to the RP/M monitor, however, RP/M reports the disk posted in post 361 as Bad Disk. Perhaps I have misunderstood what it was that you got working with xbeaver in post 363.
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Old 19th Sep 2020, 10:59 am   #375
JohnBHanson
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

Remember using -v one or more times on the command line gives more tracing (Including disk I/O).

This maybe helpful
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Old 19th Sep 2020, 12:51 pm   #376
JohnBHanson
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

I have downloaded the img file and checked with mine and they compare.

Using the following gem557.cfg


cpuclock 4
board 0xfe gm813_mmu
board 0xb0 gm832 Gemini_557 green keyboard gemini
board 0xe0 gm849_floppy -geometry 80.2.10.0.512 ~/beaver/disks/gm557_master.img
binload 0xf000 ~/beaver/rpm-v2p3.rom
byte 0f0a8 21 00 f0 #Patch top of ram for RPM

xbeaver gem557.cfg

boots ok
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Old 19th Sep 2020, 9:59 pm   #377
JohnBHanson
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

Shortly after reset RPM tries to boot the floppy. If this fails it issues
its prompt and then looks for input. This check for input includes
the serial port.

If the boot suceeds cpm performs the io which does not include checking the
serial port for input.

As to the BAD DISK the clue is in the FAIIL - looks like xbeaver cannot read the
floppy image file.

I hope that helps.
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Old 19th Sep 2020, 10:04 pm   #378
john_newcombe
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

I have it, I the file had the extension in lower case and the config did not the -vv option pointed me in the right direction. Many thanks, really appreciated.

What I am hoping is that this image can be used in the Gotek with the MFB hardware to boot the machine (not with MFB bios obviously). Once I have it booting I can start investigating the other issues, e.g. testing the Xebec calls and creating real boot disks.
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Old 19th Sep 2020, 10:45 pm   #379
JohnBHanson
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

I enclose the winchester formatter - which maybe helpful.

Note that the GM849 electronically inverts the data before presenting it to
the zebec controller. This is compensated for by the gemini bios also inverting
the data leaving data on the correct sense on the hard disk.

The xbeaver bios does not invert the data but uses the repeat io instructions
of the z80 to send the data quickly. This leads to much quicker io but the
data stored on the hard disks is inverted with respect to a gemini system.


Also there is a sector size jumper on the zebec controller and this needs to
be set correctly.

Note files are in gemzap format. (xbeaver Needs gemini keyboard option to run - this
can be changed dynamically by pressing and holding the left control key and then press and release the right control key and finally release the left control key. (wordstar keyboard selected by swapping left/right in the above procedure).
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Old 20th Sep 2020, 10:24 am   #380
john_newcombe
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Default Re: Gemini 80-Bus System

Thanks, John. I will take a look.

A quick update re Gotek....

I have now booted my rack system (G11, IVC and 829) using the image on a Gotek. I can issue DIR and receive the correct results. When I try and launch MBASIC I get a Drive Not Ready error. If I retry (or abort and re-issue the MBASIC command) it works and MBASIC works as expected. I will retry with the MFB 849 board in the same rack.
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