zhahai@milo.UUCP (12/17/83)
Has anyone out there used the "Big Blue" Z-80 card from QuCeS (or QCS or
Quality Computer Services)?
There seem to be several Z-80 boards for using cp/m-80 (tm DRI) software on
the IBM PC and clones. This includes the DS-1 (and DS-2) from BYAD, the
Baby Blue (from ???), the Big Blue from QCS and something from LNW. I am
interested in the Big Blue because it seems to have a good price (seen in
mail order for less than $450), and several additional features:
- Z-80B CPU (presumably running at 4.7 MHZ?)
- 64K ram (dual ported to Z-80 and 8088?)
- serial port, parellel port, battery backed-up clock/calendar
- "hard disk interface"
- software to run CP/M programs under MSDOS
- utilities to access various 5" CP/M disk formats via PC drives
I called QuCeS in New Jersey (201-548-2135 or 800-631-5944) and was told that:
- the serial, parellel, and clock are accessible from either cpu
- the ports are addressed as "alternate ones" (COM2 and LPT2?)
- the Z-80 runs concurrently with the 8088
- the processors can interrupt each other
- the hard disk interface is only for their own disks and is proprietary (not
SASI/SCSI?)
This sounds good, but was largely given as "yes" answers to my questions,
leading me to doubt the technical level of the answers. Thus I appeal to the
net for experiences with this product (or other Z-80 boards). I would like
to use it to run existing CP/M software, as a serial/parellel interface board
for the PC, and perhaps as an I/O coprocessor. Specific questions are:
- How does the 64 KB onboard fit into PC's bus (address, etc.)?
- How does the 8088 access the ports and clock (COM2 compatable, etc.)?
- How does the Z-80 access the ports and clock (I/O addresses)?
- How does the Z-80 start up? PROM?
- Can the processors interrupt each other and how?
- Is the hard disk interface actually SASI, or can it at least be used as
a parellel port if one doesn't get their disks? (I doubt there would
be room onboard for a disk controller, just a Host Adaptor).
- What can the supplied software do/not do?
- How well does it work? Other impressions, kudos, warnings?
I will be calling them again to try to get a more technical person. I will
summarize any information I get to the net if there is interest. Reply via
mail or to the newsgroup if appropriate.
Zhahai Stewart
--
{ decvax!ucbvax}
{harpo!seismo!hao} !nbires!zhahai
{ allegra}