Thanks for the response Jim. I'll check this out tonight and email
results tomorrow morning. I don't recall a pattern but will look for
that tonight.
Marty
______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Helios II disk drive - Sol-20
Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet
Date: 3/4/98 2:56 PM
On Wed, 4 Mar 1998, Marty wrote:
> Thanks Sam. The video garbage is all over the screen, even overlaying
> the > prompt (I'll have to fire this up tonight to double-check as I
> haven't had at this machine for a few days). Anyway, if roms go wrong
> is there a source for replacements (wishfull thinking)?
Hmmm... gets me to thinking. Is there any pattern to this "garbage"?
(same characters repeated, etc.) The character display is read directly
out of the 1k of video ram (term used VERY loosely) in the system (static
ram, no refresh issues), and a bad RAM chip or dirty socket can often show
up like this.
This does assume that you are actually getting the SOLOS prompt (">"). If
what you are seeing on the display is a repeating pattern of a graphic and
a 9 (think that is close) which seems to flicker a bit, this would
indicate a problem with the 'Personality Module' or surrounding circuitry.
(ROM bad/missing, module bad/missing, etc...)
Also, is the image otherwise stable? (not rolling and such) If so, then
the bulk of the video sub-system is more or less ok.
-jim
---
jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com
The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
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From: James Willing <jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com>
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers"
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Helios II disk drive - Sol-20
In-Reply-To: <1998Mar04.131410.1767.85773(a)smtp.itgonline.com>
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While my Telebit modem issue was resolved by several nice
classiccomp mail list subscribers, here is the responce I recieved
>from the original manufacturers (actually, the new owners of the
original manufacturers). I have to say, here's how to build brand
loyalty....
--jmg
------- Start of forwarded message -------
Date: Tue, 03 Mar 1998 18:15:23 +0100
From: Christoph Meyer <cerm(a)router.de>
To: maynard(a)jmg.com
Subject: Re: Telebit Zoom FAXModem
Sorry,
we don't support Telebit equipment any longer.
cerm
- --
TLK Kommunikationssysteme GmbH (http://www.router.de)
Christoph Meyer (mailto:cerm@router.de)
Geiststr. 68
48151 Muenster
Germany
Tel: +251/97 256 70
Fax: +251/97 256 79
------- End of forwarded message -------
Damn!
Thanks Sam. The video garbage is all over the screen, even overlaying
the > prompt (I'll have to fire this up tonight to double-check as I
haven't had at this machine for a few days). Anyway, if roms go wrong
is there a source for replacements (wishfull thinking)?
Marty
______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: Re: Helios II disk drive - Sol-20
Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet
Date: 3/4/98 12:39 PM
On Wed, 4 Mar 1998, Marty wrote:
> I've got the Sol-20 up where I can see the monitor prompt '>' but
> there is garbage on the screen which I have yet been able to get rid
> of and attempts to load off a cpm diskette (that came with this
> package) have failed thus far.
This sounds suspiciously similar to what the screen looked like when
Felsenstein & Marsh fired up the Sol-20 prototype at VCF 1.0. Is the
garbage confined to the last two lines of the screen? (I'll have to go
dig up my close-up screen shots photos). If so, this could mean a dead
video ROM.
Sam Alternate e-mail:
dastar(a)siconic.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer,
Jackass
Coming Soon...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0
See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!
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From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)wco.com>
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers"
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Helios II disk drive - Sol-20
In-Reply-To: <1998Mar04.084954.1767.85660(a)smtp.itgonline.com>
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-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)wco.com>
>It seems that a lot of you blokes down under have Sorcerers. Were they
>marketed a lot more "down there" than they were in the US? They are not
>very common over here.
>
>Sam Alternate e-mail:
dastar(a)siconic.com
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
>
The Sorcerer was marketed in Australia by a nationwide group called "Dick
Smith Electronics" which was a pioneer in the home computer market here in
many ways. They also sold a TRS80 Model 1 clone called "Dick Smith System
80", the "Dick Smith VZ300" (and others in its family I think), and the
"Dick Smith Wizard". The latter is a strange machine in which the two
paddles, when placed in their slots in the console, make up the two halves
of a QWERTY membrane keyboard, with games providing slide-on overlays for
the paddles such that the game controls activate the membrane keys
underneath. I am not sure if these (other than the Sorcerer) were just
re-badged models from overseas, or commisioned by "tricky dick" (he
advertised a lot, became very rich, then became a sort of Richard Branson
adventurer and philanthropist, and he is actually now head of our civil
aviation authority, and some now want him as the first President of
Australia if we ever become a republic!)
I have here a data sheet for the Sorcerer from 1979 or 1980 in which the 8K
machine cost $A1295 and the 16K cost $1395. The only extras advertised then
were a cassette recorder for $A35 and the monitor for $A150.
>from Brisbane, Australia
Phil Guerney
Here's a stretch. If anybody has a Helios II disk drive available for
sale or trade I'd be eternally grateful. If Gary has any spare Persci
drives I would be grateful to get one of those also. I have recently
acquired a Sol-20 and have a NorthStar controller with a 5 1/4" floppy
drive (which I haven't got up and running yet).
I've got the Sol-20 up where I can see the monitor prompt '>' but
there is garbage on the screen which I have yet been able to get rid
of and attempts to load off a cpm diskette (that came with this
package) have failed thus far.
Thanks for any help or hints-
Marty Mintzell
email: marty(a)itgonline.com
<
< I've got the Sol-20 up where I can see the monitor prompt '>' but
< there is garbage on the screen which I have yet been able to get rid
< of and attempts to load off a cpm diskette (that came with this
< package) have failed thus far.
Before you mess with CPM and disks get the SOL running! The screen of
garbage is either a broken VDM-1 (video card) or the CPU is out to lunch
do to a memory problem or other system fault.
Pull the disk controller out and get to the minimum system and trouble
shoot from there.
Also the Native os for the northstar controller is NS*dos not cp/m it
is possible that the version of cpm can be configured for the NS*
controller but not the terminal IO used in the SOL so it would boot
and do nothing.
FYI: the most commonly replaced part is the CPU as it's is always
socketed. The least often failed part is the CPU!
If I were nearby I'd offer to help.
Allison
>80", the "Dick Smith VZ300" (and others in its family I think), and the
>"Dick Smith Wizard". The latter is a strange machine in which the two
>paddles, when placed in their slots in the console, make up the two halves
>of a QWERTY membrane keyboard, with games providing slide-on overlays for
>the paddles such that the game controls activate the membrane keys
>underneath
I have a page up for the Dick Smith Wizzard. It is, in fact, a
Creativision - and can be seen at the following URL...
http://www.comcen.com.au/~adavie/weird/creativision.html
My machine has the optional keyboard (improves the feel from dreadful to
absolutely dreadful but in 3d instead of 2d), and the docked casette module.
Cheers
A
PS: Is it just me, or are others getting mail failure notifications when
sending to the list?
Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net> wrote:
> However they are compatable at the DOS level.
Be careful how you use those words. I'd say that about the HP 110 and
150. A program written using MS-DOS services only (vs. direct
hardware access or BIOS services) stands a good chance of running
across both, as well as the IBM PC.
-Frank McConnell
Great information, thanks Scott, and thanks as well to Allison. I'll
check the archives for the keyboard mail.
Marty Mintzell
______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: Re: Helios II disk drive - Sol-20
Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet
Date: 3/4/98 11:19 AM
On Wed, 4 Mar 1998, Marty wrote:
> I've got the Sol-20 up where I can see the monitor prompt '>' but
> there is garbage on the screen which I have yet been able to get rid
> of and attempts to load off a cpm diskette (that came with this
> package) have failed thus far.
Is the keyboard working properly? The Sol-20 keyboard is a capacitive
unit in which pressing a key pushes the insulated side of a piece of
one-size metallized Mylar film against plates on the printed circuit
board, changing the capacitance. These pieces of film are attached to the
key mechanism with foam. Over the course of time, this foam
disintegrates, the metal backing mysteriously disappears from the film,
and pieces become detached from the keys and rattle around inside the
keyboard wreaking havoc.
If you are having problems with the keyboard (or the garbage on your
screen looks like it could be the result of stuck keys), you may want to
check for this problem. The PC board is held to the keyboard assembly
with screws and is easily removed. After removing the keyboard assembly,
you can test the machine by using parts salvaged from another capacitive
keyboard (or even a piece of foil held behind thin plastic) to complete
the "key capacitors". There are instructions somewhere on the classiccmp
archive for rebuilding a Sol-20 keyboard using a PC-clone (Keytronics?)
capacitive keyboard as a donor. It's on my relatively long list of things
to do.
--
Scott Ware ware(a)xtal.pharm.nwu.edu
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From: Scott Ware <ware(a)xtal.pharm.nwu.edu>
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers"
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Helios II disk drive - Sol-20
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Thanks Allison. As the VDM-1 is built-in I obviously can't pull it but
will check for a bad trace etc.
Marty
______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: Re: Helios II disk drive - Sol-20
Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet
Date: 3/4/98 9:53 AM
<
< I've got the Sol-20 up where I can see the monitor prompt '>' but
< there is garbage on the screen which I have yet been able to get rid
< of and attempts to load off a cpm diskette (that came with this
< package) have failed thus far.
Before you mess with CPM and disks get the SOL running! The screen of
garbage is either a broken VDM-1 (video card) or the CPU is out to lunch
do to a memory problem or other system fault.
Pull the disk controller out and get to the minimum system and trouble
shoot from there.
Also the Native os for the northstar controller is NS*dos not cp/m it
is possible that the version of cpm can be configured for the NS*
controller but not the terminal IO used in the SOL so it would boot
and do nothing.
FYI: the most commonly replaced part is the CPU as it's is always
socketed. The least often failed part is the CPU!
If I were nearby I'd offer to help.
Allison
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From: allisonp(a)world.std.com (Allison J Parent)
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers"
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Subject: Re: Helios II disk drive - Sol-20
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