1046 lines
39 KiB
Plaintext
1046 lines
39 KiB
Plaintext
ZMAGAZINE
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Issue #119 August 17, 1988
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Copyright (c) 1988 APEInc.
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[Credits and Publishing info at bottom of issue]
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***** TABLE OF CONTENTS *****
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[*] Editors Desk [*] Open Letter To Atari
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[*] ICD Update [*] 8 Bit Sources
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[*] Technical Corner WICO>ST [*] GEnie Ymodem Transferring
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[*] Atari User Group Application [*] ST Report Confidential
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[*] Information Column [*] Survey #2
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DEEGANS DESK
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by John Deegan (Editor)
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All user group officers take notice that you are requested to fill out and
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return a NEW registration form for Atari. We have included it in this
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weeks ZMAG. Fill it out completely and mail it off today!
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SURVEY UPDATE
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As requested in ZMAG115, we have received response and appreciate the
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readers comments. This week I have updated and re-phrased a few of the
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questions and would appreciate your response. Please send them via EMAIL
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or letter carrier to the address at the bottom of the issue.
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I have acted on a few of the requests and will continue as warranted in
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future editions. A few requests commented on the header information at
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the top of each issue. This week I have designed a simple less attractive
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tile page. If you have any comments on this, PLEASE let me know. I have
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put all this information at the bottom of this issue.
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USER GROUP UPDATE
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Still in development is our newest column on User Group Newsletters.
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However, I would like to inform you of one User Group worth your time
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persuing for atleast a newsletter subscription.
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MAGIC in Warren Michigan
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(Michigan Atari General Information Confrence)
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The monthly newsletter, -The Sourcer's Apprentice- contains news, reviews,
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commentary and advertising. Ron Kovacs sent me a few newsletters recently
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received for review.
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If you are a reader of Michigan Atari Magazine and remember the small
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newsletter format they used, you should recognize a similiar format here.
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Norm Browne has collected some interesting material, most of which is
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original. Good technical articles along with helpful programming hints.
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We plan on persuing MAGIC for a user group spotlight in a future edition,
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so we will save a more detailed review at that time.
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If you are interested in receiving the MAGIC newsletter, please write to:
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Michigan Atari General Information Confrence
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28111 Imperial Drive Box M
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Warren, Michigan 48093-4281
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Meetings are first Tuesday of each month and start at 7:30pm. Annual dues
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are just $15.00. If you are interested in membership please fill out the
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following application duplicated from the newsletter.
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M.A.G.I.C Membership Application
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Name:________________________________________
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Address:_____________________________________
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City, State, Zip Code:_______________________
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Phone:_______________ Computer:______________
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Disk Drive:__________ Printer:_______________
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Modem:_______________ Other:_________________
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Primary area of interest:____________________
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Next week a quick look at Miami Valley Atari Compter Enthusiasts.
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FEEDBACK TO ZMAG
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Ron Kovacs has offered voice line feedback for a limited time. The BBS
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line used for the Syndicate BBS will become active 8/15/88 for voice call
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feedback to ZMag and ST-Report. We currently DO NOT have a staff online
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to answer the phone, however, Ron will be there from time to time and will
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answer.
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This line will be active for a short time until the BBS is set-up for 24
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hour operation again. So, for the next few weeks you may take advantage
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and call us with your comments.
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Please note that the calls will not be answered between the hours of 12
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midnight thru 5pm daily. No collect calls will be accepted.
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===] J.D. [===
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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AN OPEN LETTER TO ATARI CORP
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Here's a proposal for Atari. It seems to me (from what I've heard at
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the superworkstation company I'm working for this summer and experienced
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during three years at Stanford University) that there are a few things
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Atari needs to do now to avoid _losing_ market share as well as to gain
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more. This starts out sounding negative, but ends up positive so bear
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with me. Any replies are welcomed.
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Dear Atari:
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1. Even people who _know_ about the Atari ST computers see them as
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stagnant, especially as far as graphics are concerned. Someone
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who works with me (and is very familiar with Macintosh II computers)
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was shocked to hear that we only had 512 colors available. His
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response was -Do you mean at one time?- Then when he heard sixteen
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at one time, his interest ended. It shouldn't be too difficult to
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modify SHIFTER and the MMU to provide, say, 256 colors in low rez,
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and sixteen in medium from a palette of 4096 or more. While you're
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at it, how about making the MMU support 8 or 16 meg? For the graphics,
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all you have to do is read more information at a time. You could
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still support the same monitors. Or how about gray scaling on the
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graphics, even using the same resolutions as the current ST monitors,
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you'd sell twice as many computers and regain the interest of the
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academic world.
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2. The same people see the ST as a dead end. It's not even possible to
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upgrade the memory without soldering or buying -special trick-
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boards which plug into all sorts of different sockets. How about
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using SIMM's like everyone else, Atari? You could make ST's easy to
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expand (what a concept!). I find it hard to believe that even your
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-high end- Mega computers can't be expanded. (And many others too.)
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3. Three cheers for the GDOS installation program! That's the right way
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to go. For one thing, GDOS is a very advanced system as graphics go.
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biggest problem has been that people can't figure out how to use it.
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Your installation program makes that easy! I couldn't believe what a
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simple matter it was to change from high resoultion to medium
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resoultion fonts on my boot disk. One thing I really think you do
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need is outline fonts, though. People familiar with Macintosh expect
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to have a good number of fonts available. This is easy when your
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printer fonts are the same as your screen fonts, (as in the Macintosh
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computer), but to be device independent has its price in memory. If
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you can implement scalable outline fonts _in_ _addition_ _to_ raster
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fonts (like current GDOS fonts), people with little memory will be
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able to use a variety of fonts, and those with more memory will still
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be able to enjoy the speed of raster fonts. All this without
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rewriting anything but the device drivers and GDOS!
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4. Few people know that Atari makes computers, and many of those who
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do don't think very much of them. I suggest that you make up a large
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number of bumper or window stickers that have a brightly colored
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Fugi on them with the words -Atari Personal Computers- or something to
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that effect. You might want a picture of an ST and a MEGA. I see
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people all over with Apple stickers on their cars, and I think that
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if you distributed these, free of charge, to user groups and people
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who wrote requesting them (even on GEnie) you would get widespread,
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-advertising without the price.- Be sure to put the word computer
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on them!
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5. Finally, a good educational discount is essential! When students
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get a computer, that's often what their parents end up with, and
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that's the computer they'll lean towards when _they_ are making the
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purchasing decisions for their company when they graduate. To get
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this going, you will need to compete with Apple. Atari will probably
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need to donate a few computers and a laser printer or at least offer
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them a deal they can't refuse. Stanford students buy Macintoshes
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not only because they can find them (at a very good price) at the
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Stanford bookstore, but also because they can go to the library and
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print their papers on an Imagewriter there (or, for a price, on an
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Apple LaserWriter).
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Please keep in mind that these opinions have been formulated over my
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very nearly three years as an ST owner. I believe in my computer's
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potential, and in that of Atari, but other people still need convincing.
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Don't rest on your laurels, Atari! The Amiga already has more flexible
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graphics, and the 2000 model's memory, CPU, and graphics are upgradeable!
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Steve Whitney
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S.WHITNEY
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Editor Note: We felt this letter made some very strong and valid points
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for the Atari Genius Designers to ponder..thanks Steve, maybe ..just maybe
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they may listen or perhaps a third party developer will release an
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expansion cabinet that will allow us to use expansion cards etc...
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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ICD UPDATE
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NOTICE to all 8-bit Atari Users:
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This is a report of the progress of the much anticipated SpartaDOS X.
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===================================
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As of 8/11/88 SpartaDOS X (SDX) is 99% completed. Over the next few days
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we will be finishing the new MENU and tying up a few loose ends. We still
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have much work to complete on the manual but we expect to be shipping in
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September. Outside beta testers have been working with SDX for almost 1
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month and it has been thoroughly tested in house much longer than that.
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SDX includes 64K of the tightest machine code ever written. This is all
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in our special X cartridge which allows you to plug a language cartridge
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into the top. SDX has complete control over this cartridge allowing it
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to turn it on and off as desired.
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SDX offers the most free memory of any available DOS! Presently MEMLO
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can be as low as $0E22 with no handlers installed in an extended memory
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machine like the 130XE. 64K machines have MEMLO at $12D1. Of course
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handlers push MEMLO up but MEMLO should still be lower than SpartaDOS 2.3!
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High Speed data transfer is standard on stock Indus GT drives, Atari XF551
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drives, US Doubler enhanced 1050 drives, and Happy 1050 drives. All
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densities are supported (single, dual, and double) single and double sided
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drives are supported from 40 to 80 tracks, 3 1/2, 5 1/4, and 8-.
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Hard drives on our Multi I/O are handled with ease! The files per
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directory limit has been increased to 1424 files! Support has been added
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for hidden files along with an archive bit for backup.
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SpartaDOS X now also supports the old 800 computer! An Axlon compatible
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RAM upgrade is required for it to be useful but it will actually work in
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a 48K machine with BASIC and other relocatable languages. With an AXLON
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type RAM board, MEMLO is below $1000! A 48K stock machine will have a
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MEMLO just above $3000.
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SpartaDOS X batch files now support parameter passing. 16 I/O channels
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are now included! 9 drive support allows D9: as a RAMDISK. Up to 1 MEG
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Ramdisks are supported aslong as they conform to 'standard' banking
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methods.
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ICD has developed ARC as part of SpartaDOS X! This is very close to the
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IBM version 5.22 of ARC by SEA. Many of the X cart routines are used for
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exceptional speed. SDX ARC is the fastest and most efficient file
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compactor available on an 8-bit computer. As a bonus, our ARC will De-ALF
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your ALFed files!
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ARC Usage:
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ARC cmd[opt] arcfn [flist]
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Where -cmd- is one of:
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a : add file(s) to archive
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m : move file(s) to archive
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u : update file(s) in archive
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f : freshen file(s) in archive
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d : delete file(s) from archive
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x,e : extract file(s) from archive
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p : copy file(s) to screen
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l : list file(s) in archive
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v : show storage method of file(s)
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Valid -opt- options are:
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b : retain backup copy of archive
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s : suppress compression (store only)
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w : suppress warning messages
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n : suppress notes and comments
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h : higher speed (screen off)
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g : encrypt/decrypt archive entry (followed by password - must be last
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option)
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-arcfn- is archive filename (drive, path, and ext are optional)
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-flist- is the list of files to extract, add, list, etc. in the archive.
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Wildcards are allowed in each filename. -*.*- is assumed if no filename
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is given.
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Future options for SpartaDOS X are:
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a Developers Tool Kit, Database program, and XEP80 handler if there is
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enough demand for it.
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For ordering information call or write:
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ICD, Inc.
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1220 Rock Street
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Rockford, IL 61101
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Attn: SDX
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815-968-2228
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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8 BIT SOURCES
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Ctsy CompuServe
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These sources of support are arranged alphabetically by product:
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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 2.5 master disk & docs:
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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
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AtariWriter (original) printer drivers:
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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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ATR-8000 interface:
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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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(817)924-7759
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Indus GT disk drives:
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Future Systems, Inc.
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9811 Owensmouth, Suite 9
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Chatsworth, CA 91311
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Lightspeed C Compiler:
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Clearstar Softechnologies
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Omega Soft
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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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MYDOS operating system:
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Charles W. Marslett
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WORDMARK Systems
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2705 Pinewood Dr.
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Garland, TX 75042
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PERCOM disk drives:
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Computer Service Land, Inc.
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14506-B Lee Road
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Chantilly, VA 22021
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(703) 631-4949
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TRAK disk drives:
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Electronic Connexion
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101 East Alex Bell Rd, Ste 126
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Centerville, OH 45459
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Various replacement parts:
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B&C Computervisions
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3283 Kifer Road
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Santa Clara, CA 95051
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(408) 749-1003
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Best Electronics
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2021 The Alameda
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Suite 290
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San Jose, CA 95126
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(408) 243-6950
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American Techna-Vision
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15338 Inverness St.
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San Leandro, CA 94579
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WEFAX chip (XR2211):
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JDR Microdevices
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110 Knowles Dr.
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Los Gatos, CA 95030
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1-800-538-5000
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ZMAGAZINE Back Issues:
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Syndicate Publishing Corp.
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Post Office Box 74
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Middlesex, New Jersey 08846-0074
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Attn: Archives
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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TECHNICAL CORNER (Wico Trackball & Atari ST)
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by George Robbins
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Per request, I am reposting the original article on converting WICO and
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perhaps Atari 2600 trackballs to mouse-compatible devices. While I have
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not tried the conversion, what the original author describes seems to be
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quite reasonable.
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One other approach that might be easier would be to obtain a spare mouse,
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extract the little logic board and attach it to the various LEDs, photo-
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sensors and switches...
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The original article in comp.sys.amiga describes how to convert WICO and
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Atari 2600 track balls to work with the Amiga. Converting for the Atari
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ST is essentially the same, except for some disagreement between Atari and
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CBM on which quadrature signals go to which -joystick- lines.
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Pin Amiga Atari
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=== ===== =====
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1 Vertical X-B
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2 Horizontal X-A
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3 Vertical-Quatrature Y-A
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4 Horizontal-Quadrature Y-B
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5 Pot X N.C.
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6 Left Button Left Button
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7 +5V +5V
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8 Ground Ground
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9 Pot Y-Right Button Right Button
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As you can see, the pin-outs are compatible enough that no harm will result
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if the two are interchanged, however since the quadrature outputs don't
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match up you will get pointless twitching instead of useful motion. Simply
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switch the wires going to pins 1 thru 4 until you get it right.
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A minor problem is that the WICO trackballs are discontinued, so unless you
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already know where to find one, you may have problems.
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Original (corrected) article from blgardne@esunix.UUCP (Blaine Gardner):
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Title: Wico trackball mouse VERSION 2.0 (BUG FIX & ATARI NOTE)
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Ok, here it is, sorry I took so long to post it. I have tried to make this
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understandable, if you don't know what an LM 339 or a DB9 is, maybe you
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shouldn't try this.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Wico track ball modification.
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Converting the Wico track ball into an Amiga mouse compatible track ball
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is a fairly simple procedure. But if you are uncomfortable with a soldering
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iron, get some competent help.
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You could damage your Amiga if you make a mistake when
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assembling this project! You could also void your Amiga
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warranty! You will definitly void your trackball warranty!
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YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
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Ok, now that that's out of the way here are the gory details. The stock
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trackball contains a small pc board, this will be removed and replaced
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with one containing an LM 339 quad comparator.
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The comparator simply converts the output of the opto-coupler to a TTL
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level pulse. Both the X and Y axis use two emitter-detector pairs. The
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output of each of these detectors is fed through one of the comparators.
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The output of the comparator is then fed to the Amiga's mouse port. Since
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the output of the trackball will be identical to the mouse's output, the
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modified trackball will work with ALL software that uses the mouse.
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Here we go!
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Remove the 6 (six) screws from the bottom of the trackball case and open
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it (right-side-up please). In the lower-right corner there is a small pc
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board with two connectors. Remove the board & connectors. You can toss the
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board, and the cable that has the joystick connector. (The cable only has
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7 wires and we need 8. You can scrounge the 11 pin male header off of the
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board.)
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Cut a piece of perf board the same size as the original board. Just make
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sure it fits in the same place as the original. The plastic grooves will
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hold it perfectly.
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Two cautions here: make sure the top can be screwed down without hanging
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up on the new board, and make sure all your components will clear the
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standoff near the board!
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Using the (crude) schematics below, wire up the circuit. You will need to
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drill a hole in the case to mount a second switch (for the right button).
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Make sure the second switch will clear all existing hardware! Wire the
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second switch between ground and pin 9 on the DB 9 connector.
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It is a good idea to place a medium sized capacitor (10-20 uf) across +5
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and ground where power enters the perf board.
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Parts List:
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Wico Trackball #72-4545
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Wico Corporation
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Consumer Division
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6400 W. Gross Point Road
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Niles, Illinois 60648
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800-323-4014
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Joystick Extension Cord Radio Shack #276-1978
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LM 339 Quad Comparator Radio Shack #276-1712
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14 pin DIP Socket Radio Shack #276-1999
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Soft-Touch Switch Radio Shack #275-1566
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Perf Board
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11 pin Male Header (can be removed from Wico)
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10 - 20 microfarad capacitor (12V or higher)
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Resistors (1/4 or 1/8 Watt, 5% tolerance)
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280 Ohm (4 each)
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3.3K Ohm (4 each)
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6.8K Ohm (4 each)
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100K Ohm (4 each)
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Wico TrackBall Internal Connector
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(Color code assumes Wico is consistent in their wiring.)
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1 Pushbutton White
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2 +5 (Y-axis) Red
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|
3 +5 (X-axis) Red
|
|
4 Ground (Pushbutton) White
|
|
5 Ground (X-axis) Black
|
|
6 Ground (Y-axis) Black
|
|
7 N/C ---
|
|
8 Y-axis output Violet
|
|
9 Y-axis output Blue
|
|
10 X-axis output Green
|
|
11 X-axis output Yellow
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pinouts for LM 339
|
|
|
|
------------------------
|
|
| 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 |
|
|
) |
|
|
|. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
|
|
------------------------
|
|
|
|
1 Output 2
|
|
2 Output 1
|
|
3 +5 Volts
|
|
4 Input 1-
|
|
5 Input 1+
|
|
6 Input 2-
|
|
7 Input 2+
|
|
8 Input 3-
|
|
9 Input 3+
|
|
10 Input 4-
|
|
11 Input 4+
|
|
12 Ground
|
|
13 Output 4
|
|
14 Output 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amiga Mouse Connector (DB 9 Female)
|
|
-------------
|
|
\ 5 4 3 2 1 /
|
|
\ 9 8 7 6 /
|
|
---------
|
|
|
|
1 V pulse
|
|
2 H pulse
|
|
3 VQ pulse
|
|
4 HQ pulse
|
|
5 N/C
|
|
6 Button 1 (Left)
|
|
7 + 5 Volts
|
|
8 Ground
|
|
9 Button 2 (Right)
|
|
|
|
Connections from Wico | Connections from LM 339
|
|
11 pin socket to LM 339 | to DB9 (Mouse port connector)
|
|
|
|
|
Wico -> LM 339 | LM 339 --> DB9
|
|
---- ------ | ------ ---
|
|
1 (to pin 6 on DB9) | 2 1
|
|
2 3 \__+5 Volts | 13 2
|
|
3 3 / | 1 3
|
|
4 12 \ | 14 4
|
|
5 12 >--Ground | N/C 5
|
|
6 12 / | (pin 1 on Wico) 6
|
|
7 N/C | +5 Volts 7
|
|
8 4 | Ground 8
|
|
9 6 | 9
|
|
10 10 |
|
|
11 8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
---------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
O +5 Volts O +5 Volts
|
|
| |
|
|
\ \
|
|
3.3K Ohm / / 6.8 K Ohm
|
|
\ 100K Ohm \
|
|
| |
|
|
+-----/\/\/\/-------+ |
|
|
| /| | |
|
|
| / +|---+------+ (Pins 5,7,9,11)
|
|
| /1/4 | |
|
|
Output to /__|________/ LM | |
|
|
Amiga \ \ 339 | \
|
|
(Pins 1,2,13,14) \ | / 280 Ohm
|
|
\ -|--+ \
|
|
\| | |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Input from ball >-------+ -----
|
|
(Pins 4,6,8,10) | ---
|
|
| -
|
|
\
|
|
3.3K Ohm /
|
|
\
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-----
|
|
---
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
There it is! The above information was obtained from the Amiga Hardware
|
|
Reference Manual, and from tearing apart my mouse & trackball and trace-
|
|
ing out the schematics myself. (Mostly from tearing my hardware apart!)
|
|
|
|
Any errors in the above information are mine (but for a few hours work
|
|
they can be yours too! |^) ), not Evans & Sutherland's. They are kind
|
|
enough to pay me to play with their computers, they have no control over
|
|
my ramblings here on usenet.
|
|
|
|
The above infomation is the correct version. In my first posting + 5 volts
|
|
and button 2 were switched on the DB9 pinouts.
|
|
|
|
There have been a lot of inquiries about doing the same modification on
|
|
the Atari 2600 trackball. I hadn't seen the Atari untill two days ago, but
|
|
I can now tell you that the same procedure will work for it. In fact it is
|
|
a little easier on the Atari trackball because the LM339 is already present.
|
|
|
|
Just remove all the components from the board except the 339, the supply
|
|
voltage filter (inductor + electrolytic cap near the 6 pin header), and
|
|
resistors R9 - R18. Actually you'll have to remove those too because they
|
|
are the wrong values, and the 339 socket blocks several traces that need
|
|
to be cut. (As I remember 430K and 10K should be swapped for 100K and 3.3K
|
|
respectively.)
|
|
|
|
The biggest problem is that Atari wired the 339 as a non-inverting
|
|
comparator, and Amiga uses an inverting comparator. So you'll have to CUT
|
|
AND JUMPER (those that flinched may leave the room) to get the inverted
|
|
configuration (see above data for the correct circuit).
|
|
|
|
I don't plan to do a detailed plan for the Atari trackball, if the above
|
|
information doesn't mean much, don't try it yourself.
|
|
|
|
This general plan should work for all trackballs that use a pair of opto-
|
|
couplers on each axis. The old TG trackball for the Apple II (and probably
|
|
other computers) will NOT work since it uses a pair of pots.
|
|
|
|
I hope this helps all you hardware hackers that can't live without a real
|
|
trackball. Have fun, and don't blow up your Amiga!
|
|
--
|
|
George Robbins - now working for, uucp: ihnp4|seismo|rutgers!cbmvax!grr
|
|
but no way officially representing arpa: cbmvax!<a href="mailto:grr@seismo.css.GOV?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2017-Aug-88%20#119">grr@seismo.css.GOV</a>
|
|
Commodore, Engineering Department fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
YMODEM DOWNLOADING ON GENIE
|
|
Ctsy GEnie Services
|
|
|
|
by Marty Albert (GEnie SysOp)
|
|
|
|
(C) 1988 by Atari Corporation, GEnie, and the Atari Roundtables. May be
|
|
reprinted only with this notice intact. The Atari Roundtables on GEnie
|
|
are *official* information services of Atari Corporation. To sign up for
|
|
GEnie service, call (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH
|
|
(RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt. Type XJM11877,GEnie and hit
|
|
RETURN. The system will prompt you for your information.
|
|
|
|
FILE NAMES
|
|
|
|
Due to the recent implimentation of Ymodem downloads on GEnie, we must
|
|
place a few rules in effect for the names of files uploaded to and posted
|
|
in the Atari 8-bit RoundTable Libraries.
|
|
|
|
These rules are so designed to allow the Ymodem terminal programs to
|
|
correctly open and save the downloaded file.
|
|
|
|
When you do a Ymodem download, GEnie sends the file name exactly as it
|
|
appears in the directory of files. If the terminal program receives a file
|
|
name that is not a -legal- Atari file name, one of two things will happen:
|
|
|
|
1> The file will not be saved at all and the transfer may abort.
|
|
2> The file will be saved with a -bad- name and you will not be able
|
|
to access and use the file.
|
|
|
|
In either case, the file would be worthless and you would have just wasted
|
|
your time and money doing a download. This is far from what you had in
|
|
mind when you decided to download the file!
|
|
|
|
NOTICE
|
|
|
|
ALL FILES UPLOADED TO THE ATARI 8-BIT ROUNDTABLE LIBRARIES MUST FOLLOW
|
|
THESE RULES! ANY FILES THAT HAVE ILLEGAL NAMES WILL BE RENAMED BY THE
|
|
SYSOPS TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES AS STATED BELOW!
|
|
|
|
The rules are simple and, we hope, not too restrictive. Please make sure
|
|
that your uploaded files meet the requirements when you upload them.
|
|
|
|
RULES
|
|
|
|
#1. File names may not contain any spaces.
|
|
|
|
#2. File names may not contain any punctuation marks other than a single
|
|
period <.> to seperate the file name and extender ala Atari DOS <ie;
|
|
filename.ext>. EXCEPTION -- Files that state clearly that they are
|
|
for use with SpartaDOS *only* may have the underline character < _ >
|
|
in them.
|
|
|
|
#3. File names must start with a letter as the first character.
|
|
|
|
#4. File names may be any length up to the maximum that GEnie supports.
|
|
(Your DOS will drop anything more than eight characters before the
|
|
period)
|
|
|
|
#5. The extender should be as per the help file FILETYPE.HLP and should
|
|
be descriptive of the type of file that you are uploading.
|
|
|
|
#6. If you are uploading several related files, be sure that the names
|
|
you select will each be different when only the first eight
|
|
characters and the extension are considered. (ie; FILETEST1.TXT
|
|
and FILETEST2.TXT would end up having the same file name
|
|
<FILETEST.TXT> but FILE1TEST.TXT and FILE2TEST.TXT would be
|
|
different) If this is the case, please consider using AlfCrunch or
|
|
ARC to group the files into one larger file.
|
|
|
|
DISCLAIMER
|
|
|
|
The SysOps have made every effort to ensure that the file names now in use
|
|
in the Atari 8-Bit RoundTable Library are fully compatable with the Ymodem
|
|
download protocol. Each and every file has been examined and modified as
|
|
needed to conform to the above rules.
|
|
|
|
GEnie, the SysOps, and Atari Corp. assume no responsiblity for the failure
|
|
of a file to download with Ymodem other than to rename the file as needed
|
|
upon notice from a user that the file has failed to download.
|
|
|
|
CONCLUSION
|
|
|
|
If you find a file that for any reason will not download using Ymodem,
|
|
please drop a note to MARTY.A or CRAIG.S.THOM as soon as possible! We will
|
|
fix the file name and get back to you.
|
|
|
|
If you have a question about how to download with Ymodem, please see the
|
|
file called YMODEM.HLP. After reading this file, if you still have
|
|
unanswered questions, please send GE-Mail to MARTY.A or CRAIG.S.THOM and
|
|
we'll be happy to help you get started.
|
|
|
|
|
|
**************************************
|
|
* NEW ATARI UG REGISTRATION *
|
|
**************************************
|
|
|
|
Below, you will find the new -official- Registration Form Atari is
|
|
requesting all Usergroups to complete and send in. Do this folks, show
|
|
Atari just how many of us there are. It sure is nice to see Atari on the
|
|
positive side of things again, the Usergroup News Letter is alive and
|
|
well. YOU MUST COMPLETE THIS FORM TO RECEIVE THE NEWSLETTER.
|
|
|
|
ATARI U.S.1988
|
|
* USER GROUP APPLICATION *
|
|
----------------------
|
|
|
|
USER GROUP NAME (IN FULL):
|
|
|
|
ABBREVIATION OR ACRONYM:
|
|
|
|
WHEN WAS THE GROUP FOUNDED (DATE):
|
|
|
|
MAILING ADDRESS:
|
|
|
|
NAME:
|
|
|
|
ADDRESS:
|
|
|
|
CITY/STATE/ZIP:
|
|
|
|
PHONE NUMBER FOR GENERAL PUBLIC:
|
|
|
|
NUMBER OF REGISTERED MEMBERS:
|
|
|
|
WHAT ARE YOUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES?: $__________
|
|
|
|
NUMBER OF MEETINGS PER YEAR:
|
|
|
|
ARE THEY REGULARLY SCHEDULED?: YES / NO
|
|
|
|
IF YES, WHEN:
|
|
|
|
WHERE:
|
|
|
|
DO YOU HAVE A BBS: YES / NO
|
|
|
|
IF YES, WHAT IS THE NUMBER:
|
|
|
|
HOURS OF OPERATION:
|
|
|
|
DO YOU PUBLISH A NEWSLETTER? YES / NO
|
|
|
|
IF YES, WHAT IS THE FREQUENCY OF PUBLICATION:
|
|
|
|
NAME OF THE PUBLICATION:
|
|
|
|
HOW MANY ISSUES HAVE YOU PUBLISHED IN THE LAST YEAR:
|
|
|
|
WHAT IS YOUR AVERAGE PRINT RUN?
|
|
|
|
DO YOU ACCEPT ADVERTISING? YES / NO
|
|
|
|
IF YES, WHAT IS THE COST PER PAGE:
|
|
|
|
NAME OF CONTACT PERSON FOR PUBLICATION:
|
|
|
|
ADDRESS:
|
|
|
|
CITY/STATE/ZIP:
|
|
|
|
PHONE(S):
|
|
|
|
WHO SHOULD POTENTIAL MEMBERS CONTACT FOR MEMBERSHIP:
|
|
|
|
NAME:
|
|
|
|
ADDRESS:
|
|
|
|
CITY\STATE\ZIP:
|
|
|
|
PHONE(S):
|
|
|
|
DO YOU OFFER HELP OR SUPPORT FOR NEW USERS? YES / NO
|
|
|
|
DO YOU HAVE A NEW USERS SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP? YES / NO
|
|
|
|
DO YOU SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING ATARI SYSTEMS?
|
|
|
|
GAME SYSTEMS: YES / NO 8-BITS: YES / NO
|
|
|
|
ST: YES / NO MEGA: YES / NO
|
|
|
|
PC: YES / NO OTHER:
|
|
|
|
DO YOU HAVE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS OF EACH SYSTEM? YES / NO
|
|
|
|
DO YOU HAVE SPECIAL MEETINGS FOR USERS OF EACH SYSTEM? YES / NO
|
|
|
|
PLEASE LIST LOCAL SHOWS, AND APPROXIMATE DATES, IN WHICH YOUR GROUP
|
|
ANTICIPATES PARTICIPATION:
|
|
(I.E. LIBRARY, SHOPPING MALL, SCHOOL, OR LOCAL COMMUNITY COMPUTER SHOW):
|
|
|
|
NAME _________________________ LOCATION
|
|
|
|
DATE APPROXIMATE (EST) ATTENDANCE _______
|
|
|
|
NAME _________________________ LOCATION
|
|
|
|
DATE APPROXIMATE ATTENDANCE
|
|
|
|
THERE SHOULD BE ONE, AND ONLY ONE, ATARI CONTACT/USER GROUP SPOKESPERSON
|
|
REPRESENTING YOUR GROUP; THE NAME OF THE EXECUTIVE CONTACT IS (FOR ATARI
|
|
USE ONLY):
|
|
|
|
NAME:
|
|
|
|
GROUP TITLE:
|
|
|
|
ADDRESS:
|
|
|
|
CITY/STATE/ZIP:
|
|
|
|
PHONE(S):
|
|
|
|
NAME OF ATARI RETAILER WHO WILL SPONSOR OR OFFER AFFILIATION:
|
|
|
|
RETAIL STORE NAME:
|
|
|
|
CONTACT:
|
|
|
|
THIS APPLICATION COMPLETED BY:
|
|
|
|
NAME:
|
|
|
|
SIGNATURE:
|
|
|
|
DATE:
|
|
|
|
|
|
PLEASE NOTE: FOR OFFICIAL ATARI USER GROUP AUTHORIZATION, THIS
|
|
APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETED IN FULL. PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP MUST
|
|
ACCOMPANY APPLICATION. (PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP CAN BE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
|
|
|
|
MEMBERSHIP NAMES AND ADDRESS, A GROUP MEETING PHOTO, OR ANY OTHER ITEM
|
|
THAT WILL PROVE THAT YOUR MEMBERSHIP EXCEEDS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT.)
|
|
|
|
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN TO:
|
|
|
|
USER GROUP COORDINATOR
|
|
ATARI CORPORATION
|
|
1196 BORREGAS AVE
|
|
SUNNYVALE CA 94086
|
|
|
|
|
|
ST REPORT CONFIDENTIAL #47
|
|
==========================
|
|
|
|
New York City The ST game system persists and does, for all intents and
|
|
------------- purposes, exist. Seems this firm was given the inside
|
|
track to being the first one to be able to sell the -new-
|
|
game system
|
|
|
|
Sunnyvale The portable ST is a full scale reality, seems it's even
|
|
--------- nicer than the one displayed at Hanover.
|
|
|
|
Denver A number of dealers have unified and are preparing a formal
|
|
------ request to be sent to Atari asking for more sales oriented
|
|
professional area representatives.
|
|
|
|
Albany IBM has now gone after the midi market with a vengeance,
|
|
------ with a keyboard that has both the video and audio
|
|
controllers built in and full audio spectrum available
|
|
with full video potential also available.
|
|
|
|
Sunnyvale Transputer system is a fact but not for the USA for many
|
|
--------- months to come.. watch for it in Europe (UK) first.
|
|
|
|
==========================================================================
|
|
Information Column
|
|
|
|
|
|
Syndicate ZMagazine is published weekly by American Publishing Enterprises
|
|
Inc. Opinions presented in this magazine are those of the original author
|
|
and does not reflect the opinions of ZMagazine, APEInc or the editor.
|
|
|
|
Oposing points of view are welcome and encouraged. You may send any reply
|
|
to the following address:
|
|
|
|
American Publishing Enterprises, Inc.
|
|
Post Office Box 74
|
|
Middlesex, New Jersey 08846-0074
|
|
Attn: Issue #119
|
|
|
|
Syndicate ZMagazine Issue #119 is Copyright (c)1988 APEInc. All Rights
|
|
Reserved. Reprint permission granted as long as Syndicate ZMag and the
|
|
author are credited at the top of the article. Restrictive reprints are
|
|
noted in any article.
|
|
|
|
PUBLISHER: Ron Kovacs
|
|
MANAGING EDITOR: R.F. Mariano
|
|
ZMAG EDITOR: John Deegan
|
|
ASSISTANT: Lisa Kovacs
|
|
|
|
The following bulletin board systems are registered headquarter systems
|
|
for distribution of ZMagazine.
|
|
|
|
ZMAG NORTH (Launch Pad BBS)
|
|
(201) 343-1426
|
|
|
|
ZMAG MIDWEST (Stairway To Heaven)
|
|
(216) 784-0574
|
|
|
|
ZMAG SOUTH (Bounty Atari)
|
|
(904) 786-4176
|
|
|
|
ZMAG WEST (Shadow Haven)
|
|
(916) 962-2566
|
|
|
|
The Online Services have dedicated areas for distribution of ZMagazine.
|
|
|
|
COMPUSERVE
|
|
Go Atari8 - LIB 11
|
|
|
|
GEnie
|
|
Atari8 - Library 13
|
|
|
|
DELPHI
|
|
Group Atari - Database - News and Reviews
|
|
|
|
THE SOURCE
|
|
Coming Soon!
|
|
|
|
|
|
========================================================================
|
|
|
|
SURVEY UPDATE #2 August 17, 1988
|
|
|
|
Please send to the address below or leave email on the online services or
|
|
any of the Headquarters systems.
|
|
|
|
1. How do you honestly feel about your 8 bit computer?
|
|
|
|
2. Do you feel that your 8 bit computer has a future?
|
|
|
|
3. Do you think the software publishers will ever produce any software
|
|
for the Atari 8 bit worth buying?
|
|
|
|
4. If you call the online services, How do you presently feel about the
|
|
serices provided, software availability, user base, and general rating you
|
|
would give the services, on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being excellant.
|
|
|
|
5. BBS System, Online Service you capture, download, read ZMagazine on.
|
|
|
|
6. Do you upload ZMagazine issues to another BBS system after you
|
|
receive it?
|
|
|
|
7. Please select the possible choices for future release of Zmagazine,
|
|
should it become available. Hard Copy (Magazine Format), Hard Copy
|
|
(Newspaper Format), Disk Release, Single issue release or other prefrence.
|
|
|
|
8. Please list any changes you would like to see in ZMagazine.
|
|
|
|
9. How long have you been reading ZMagazine. Or first issue which
|
|
captured your attention.
|
|
|
|
10. Please supply your age, sex, and city/state.
|
|
|
|
11. What is your general opinion of the magazines presently offered to
|
|
the average 8 bit user. Antic, Analog, Compute, other...
|
|
|
|
12. Do you read the other magazines offered. ST-Report, Amy Report?
|
|
|
|
13. How long have you owned you Atari 8 bit computer?
|
|
|
|
14. Do you own other computers?
|
|
|
|
15. Please list any additional comments about ZMagazine.
|
|
|
|
Send to:
|
|
|
|
Syndicate ZMagazine
|
|
Post Office Box 74
|
|
Middlesex, New Jersey 08846-0074
|
|
Attn: Survey #2
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
ZMagazine Issue #119 AUGUST 17, 1988 (c)1988 APEInc, SPC
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|