iv@trsvax.UUCP (10/04/84)
This item seems to be of general interest, so I thought that I'd post
it. This is a termcap entry for the TRS-80 Model 100. Enjoy.
r1|trs100|TRS-80 Model 100:\
:am:bs:xt:co#40:li#8:al=\EL:dl=\EM:\
:cd=^L:ce=\EK:cl=\EE:cm=\EY%+ %+ :\
:nd=^\:dn=^_:up=\EA:se=\Eq:so=\Ep:\
:kl=^]:kr=^\:ku=^^:kd=^_:
[This information was provided by an individual and is not nor should
be construed as being provided by Radio Shack or Tandy Corporation.
Radio Shack and/or Tandy Corporation have no obligation to support the
information provided. The author will, however, cheerfully accept
mail. This note will self-destruct in 5 seconds. Good luck, Jim.]
IV (aka John Elliott IV)
Tandy Systems Software; Fort Worth, TX
... {convex!ctvax,microsoft}!trsvax!iv
... cu-arpa.trsvax!iv@Cornell.ARPAkward@npqc (12/06/85)
/* Written 9:09 pm Nov 21, 1985 by brl-sem.A!abc in npqc:net.micro.trs- */ /* ---------- "Hard Disks for Tandy 1000" ---------- */ Does anyone know if the T-1000 power supply will support the drive or will we need a separate power supply? /* End of text from npqc:net.micro.trs- */ Yes...the Tandy 1000 power supply will support an internal hard drive keeping in mind: Hard Drive: +12v..........1.8amps max. 1.4amps. typical +5v...........0.8amps max. 0.5amps. typical Controller: +12v..........15.0 ma. max. 10.0 ma. typical +5v...........1.25amp max. 1.0 amp. typical [This information has been supplied by an individual and is not to be confused with information provided by Radio Shack/Tandy Corp...I think] ----- Keith Ward trsvax!techsup!npqc!root Radio Shack National Parts (817) 870-5650
kward@npqc (12/06/85)
/* Written 12:43 pm Nov 28, 1985 by ritcv.UUC!msl5864 in npqc:net.micro.trs- */ /* ---------- "model III upgrade" ---------- */ Does anyone know about any good model III upgrade boards that are very compatible with radio shack's? I am looking for an upgrade to make my machine a model IV, and I am willing to spend about 300 dollars. /* End of text from npqc:net.micro.trs- */ For a little bit more money, Radio Shack has reduced the price on the model III to IV upgrade kits. These kits include the main logic (64K), keyboard, mounting brackets, and version 6 (6.2) trsdos. The new price is $399, available from National Parts, Part Number AX-2601123. Customer orders (817) 870-5600. ----- Keith Ward trsvax!techsup!npqc!root Radio Shack National Parts (817) 870-5650
uhclem@trsvax (01/02/86)
<I have been awake for 9 hours, 23 minutes, 35 seconds. 5 Jobs, 2 Detached.> /* Written 12:31 pm Dec 17, 1985 by rdin.UUCP!perl in trsvax:net.micro.trs- */ >Maybe UNIX has just spoiled me, but I don't see why the designers of >TRSDOS or MS-DOS couldn't have allowed for printer drivers to be part >of the operating system so that no program would have to know how to >use a certain printer. The communication between the programs and the >printer drivers would be via a standard protocol (ala termcap) and all >you would need is one driver for your printer and all programs, however >obtained, would work with it. Not only would this make things easier ... >Am I out of line here or what? Actually, this was attempted and was abandoned. Unlike IBM products, where there are Epson-alikes and one or two other IBM printers, Tandy has put out many, all of which were not only incompatible with their predecessors but with other printers in the same line. I mean, to date there was the: LP I, LP II, LP III, LP IV, LP V, LP VI, LP VIII (I don't remember a LP VII). And there was DMP 100, 110, 120, 200, 400, 500 (in grey and white), and there was CGP-xxx, Quick-"sparky"-Print. Oh, yes, then you get into the DMP 2100, 2100P, 2200 and the LMP-2150, DWP-110, DWP-410, DW-II, etc. Of course, you have to remember that the LP I was so stupid it barely knew what a carriage return was, and the newer printers are so smart they do carriage returns for you even before you knew you wanted one. And this is the crux of the problem: with over 24 printers that you have sold, plus the ones you feel you should support from other manufacturers, what are you to do? Ship a disk with a 15K printer driver that knows everything? (This was unpopular on 48K and 64K systems.) Or perhaps a disk with 20+ drivers, and you let the customer install the ones he likes, and hope they don't have two different printers hooked up at a time. (In non-linkable systems, you had to leave a hole large enough for the biggest driver you might insert.) Now, If someone could take the heat, you could always drop support of all but the most recent printers so that they would not have to cope with the oldies. (This has happened when it comes to MS-DOS systems, since only IBM compatible printers are IBM compatible.) As far as the old Z80 systems, you have to remember that there were Z80/8080 systems all over the map in the late 70's and early 80's. Vendors wrote a program for several different machines and if the OS's were vastly different, they took matters into their own hands and went directly to the hardware, so if the printer you bought is one that package didn't know about, too bad. These same vendors took their 8080 code, and ported it to 8088/MS-DOS, and some of them still go directly to the hardware. Not as many of them left it this way, but there are still some out there. Unix, does not take kindly to going directly to the hardware, since (A) it is not possible and on some systems, and (B) the Unix purists would lynch anyone that gave a thought to bypassing the system. ('B' Usually wins.) As far as the Z80 systems are concerned, LDOS 5/TRSDOS 6/NEWDOS 2 allows filters to be inserted in the printer path to do translations. I use one since my printer is smarter than many programs I use think, so my filter translates dumb-speak into something a bit more efficient. Yes, it was a big mess, but actually I prefer it since there was some creative and innovative printers designed back then. Now, if they don't work exactly like an Epson or ProPrinter, it will never see the light of a store. <The above is the opinion of me and my Golden Retriever, who chews on a good thing when he sees it.> "You just don't understand the physics of the situation." - Dr. Who "Thank you, Uh Clem." Frank Durda IV @ <trsvax!uhclem>
mikey@techsup (01/07/86)
RS even has a service manual for their deluxe joystick!!! Seems they anticipated a lot of busted springs and such from little kids and games. I believe they use 100K pots. Remember that RS uses pots as voltage dividers, not as variable resistors as Big Blue does. All RS joysticks need +5v and are referenced to ground. In any case, they are functionally the same as the Coco joysticks. mikey trsvax!techsup!bbimg!mikey
neese@curly (02/12/86)
I am running a Quantum Q520 in my 2000. Works just fine.
Disclaimer [The opinions expressed here are those of an individual
[and not those of my employer.
Roy Neese
UUCP @ .. {ihnp4!convex!ctvax,microsoft}!trsvax!sysvis!cpe!curly!neese
.. {ihnp4!convex!ctvax,microsoft}!trsvax!doc!cpe!curly!neese
.. {ihnp4!convex!ctvax,microsoft}!trsvax!vaxnix!cpe!curly!neese
.. {ihnp4!convex!ctvax,microsoft}!trsvax!sneaky!cpe!curly!neese
nqcdsf:curly!neeseneese@curly (03/03/86)
> Does anyone know what companies besides R/S makes a hard drive that can be > plugged into the model 16A? I already have a r/s primary 12Meg, so I'm > looking at secondaries. You could use anybody's 5 1/4 secondary drive, but if you want the secondary to auto-power-up with the primary, you'll have to do some modifications on the secondary drive bus. > Also, is there an SCSI converter for it? Tandy sells a SCSI adapter board, for the Tandy 6000. It can be used in the 16A, but you will have to have the CPU and FDC cards, in the 16A modified. You will alos need a special card cage bracket. The RS service centers have the information to do this. In some cases, a new Z80 CPU board set is required. > (Incidently, does anyone know how to get swap off of /dev/hd0? Can you > just change /dev/swap, or do you have to patch the kernel. How about > pipes?) This information pertains to Xenix 1.3.x. It can also be done with Xenix 3.x. In either case, you will need the Software Development Software. I have not messed with moving pipes around, but I have moved the swapper externally. disk 1 console 1 printer 1 ***note that the minor number 0377 causes the kernel to autoconfigure root disk 0377 pipe disk 0377 swap disk 0377 0 8000 * * if you want swap to be external, then make the change as follows: * device start size * swap disk 50 0 32000 * * The device number is the octal representation of the device as listed in * the /dev directory. For example: * 1, 40 Feb 25 16:49 /dev/hd1: decimal 40 = octal 50 * * The starting block is 0 and the size is the number of blocks available. Must * be less than 32766. * After generating the kernel, mv it to /xenix, do a haltsys, and reboot. * Don't forget to do a 'mknod' for the new swap dev in /dev. This makes the * ps listing accurate. * ***tunables buffers 27 procs 60 mounts 8 inodes 100 files 100 clists 40 locks 50
pauls@bbimg (04/16/86)
Sounds like the modem isn't "in tune" with the Xenix system. Xenix makes extensive use of DTR and CD signals to handle a modem. If the modem is ignoring these signals, well, that could be your problem. You didn't say whether you have a Hayes 1200 or 2400, but in either case, try entering the following commands into your Hayes (ie. using cu): AT&F <CR> (<CR>=return; loads factory settings) AT&C1&D1 <CR> (sets force CD/CTS and force DTR off) AT&W (saves the new parameters) These are Smartmodem 2400 commands; the 1200 may have dip switched to accomplish the same things.
mikey@bbimg (04/17/86)
The MS-DOS on the Tandy T2K will only support up to about 33 MEG hard drives. The problem is MS-DOS. If you try to fully format a 35 meg unit, it can logically 'wrap around' and overwrite itself. Just take 65536/(#heads)/17 to get the maximum number of cylinders you can safely use. (round DOWN!!) Mike Yetsko trsvax!techsup!bbimg!mikey
emjej@uokvax.UUCP (05/11/86)
/* Written 3:08 pm Apr 28, 1986 by eem@jc3b21.UUCP in net.micro.trs-80 */ If you have a Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer (CoCo), I'd like to hear from you.... Please reply via mail or call my BBS system, The Compunet, at (813) 321-0397, 24 hours a day, at 300 or 1200 baud. I'll be glad to have a talk with you. /* End of text from net.micro.trs-80 */ I'd have sent mail, but "uupath jc3b21" doesn't give me any info... Oh, yes; lots of us out here have CoCos; "net.micro.trs-80" tends to be the hangout for people who have nth-generation 4004-based Tandy computers. If you can, check out "net.micro.6809" some time! Wondering whether OS-9/68000 for the ST series will *FINALLY* make Tandy get off its posterior and come out with CoCo III, James Jones ...!ihnp4!okstate!uokvax!emjej
mikey@bbimg (05/12/86)
There are screen print drivers on the 2000 DOS disk from Tandy. For example, to dump to a color CGP-200 inkjet printer, just install the driver DUMPCGP.SYS for the printer in the config.sys. Then hit a <CTRL><1> and it should dump. The regular printer driver is called DUMPBW.SYS. I'm not sure, but I thought they included them on the 1000 disk as well. Mike Yetsko trsvax!techsup!bbimg!mikey
uhclem@trsvax (05/21/86)
<This line is invincible!> Regarding: >It [diskutil] does >not ask the precomp time for the drive, nor the cylinder at which >precomp is changed. This means that most any drive can be formatted >but that some drives may have problems that accumulate over time >as the mismatch between the Tandy precomp and the precomp the drive >requires begins to cause read/write errors. This has not been a If you are worried about precomp mismatches, simply modify the PVH which diskutil writes to the beginning of each hard disk after you have formatted the disk. The first block on /dev/hdbtx will be the PVH. You can use the patch utility to change the precomp value to whatever your particular drive requires. XENIX picks up this value each time the drive is opened and uses it for that drive. The offset for PRECOMP is 0x0e == PVprecomp This word value is stored in non-word-swapped order. Also keep in mind that the WD controller takes that value, multiplies it by 4 and that will be the starting cylinder for precomp, so you only have a +/-4 cylinder resolution on the starting point. WD told me in the past to turn on precomp earlier than needed, or to leave precomp on All the time as their data sep. can cope with that. Diskutil programs one-half the drive cylinder count (divided by 4), which is correct or very close to all the drives that RS sells which care about the programmed value. (Certain models ignore the precomp value and use their head positioning register to determine when precomp is on. A lot of the servo models are like this, so you might check with the drive maker of yours.) By the way, it really isn't a SCSI bus.... The Bernoulli box uses that and the hardware and software schemes are totally different. <This information is provided by an individual and is not nor should be construed as being provided by Radio Shack or Tandy Corp. Radio Shack/Tandy Corp has no obligation to support the information provided in any way. Besides, the market for those 8meg Shugarts may return!> "Thank you, Uh Clem." Frank Durda IV @ <trsvax!uhclem>
mikey@bbimg (05/23/86)
Also, when using the Q2080 drive, remember that is it '7' heads, not 8, and that the head register on the older 8 meg controllers is only 10 bits. This means that you tell diskutil that the Q2080 has 1024 cylinders. You'll end up with about 63 meg of storage. Kludge on the write protect? If anytime someone adds a wire is a kludge, then I guess so. The Q2080 drive has a staking pin you can use with a pushon for the write protect function if you want. I haven't bothered to get the 'active' light working on my Q2080 with my old 16. (I got 1 Q2080 installed with the old 8 meg just sitting here that I may eventually get around to hooking up as a secondary. I'm also running 1 meg of RAM with ECC on the older (second pass) 68000 upgraded to run sys 3.) Mike Yetsko trsvax!techsup!bbimg!mikey
johnm@techsup (05/29/86)
there shouldn't be any problem with a secondary on the 3000 there is a jumper...depending on the drive you've got. look on the drive ( the one you're using for the secondary ) there should be a jumper,possibly labeled 1..n,set this to position (2) also be sure you run the "setup" program to configure the system. this may all seem trivial but it should be all that's required. good luck........
emjej@uokvax.UUCP (06/03/86)
/* Written 6:02 pm May 6, 1986 by rb@ccird1.UUCP in net.micro.trs-80 */ >Appearantly, there are some Tandy people reading this net >over here, but missing some of the glorious fumes in net.micro.6809! >Since about 85% of the traffic over there concerns hopes, speculation, >and ideas for current and future Tandy products, it would be nice >to get some information directly from the source. Agreed. IBM computers are garbage, no matter whose label is on them, and if Tandy keeps dragging its feet it will find the CoCo users abandoning them for an ST or Amiga with OS-9. (On the other hand, maybe Tandy doesn't care.) I wonder whether anybody at Tandy knows enough computer history to realize that once IBM has everybody imitating it and thus siphons off most of the software talent from developing applications for anything reasonable, IBM puts the screws to the clone-makers by introducing incom- patibilities. >On the down side, Tandy seems bent on sticking with the MS-DOS >standards, with little attempt to improve the compatibility >situation. This wouldn't be so bad if MS-DOS were really a >standard, complete with all the bells and whistles, but only >the text portion is truly standard. True, but people salivate whenever they hear the phrase "IBM-compatible." (A friend of mine and I once considered taking out a *Computer Shopper* ad for printer paper, advertising it as "IBM-compatible paper.") James Jones /* End of text from net.micro.trs-80 */
dwhitney@uok.UUCP (06/12/86)
>...I wonder when the last time John Roach walked into (a computer >center) and posed as a customer?... You might have meant that in jest; however, just such an event has apparently taken place at many RSCC locations recently. According to a report I received (second hand, I might add), Roach randomly walked into several computer centers across the nation, and, according to the report, was absolutely infuriated to see "horn rims, pimple-faces, and tennis shoes" (quote paraphrased, again, second-hand). As a result of this little gem, Roach has apparently issued an ultimatum that, as of now, *all* employees of Tandy Computer Centers are to wear business suits, white shirts, etc. The preliminary fallout of this is the resignation of several employees at various locations. Ironically enough, a salesman who had most recently been quite helpful in a few areas with my Tandy 1000 resigned as little as a week ago. I can't say there is a connection, but....it certainly makes one wonder. The closing commentary by the radio personnel made the off-handed observation that the one thing this exec forgot was the name on the store..>Radio Shack<, which has yet to connotate favorably with many potential computer purchasers. As I said, this information is second hand; I did not hear the report myself, so if I am in error please correct me. Nonetheless, it would seem that, if true, there are many within RS who are quite serious about maintaining an image of professionalism. David Whitney University of Oklahoma Engineering Computer Network uok!dwhitney
pauls@bbimg.UUCP (07/05/86)
/* Written 12:58 pm Jun 26, 1986 by ozdaltx.UUCP!root in bbimg:net.micro.trs- */ > When I wondered out loud if John Roach had ever posed as a regular > customer in one of the RSCC stores, I was really refering to the level > of (in)competence so often demostrated by the sales people, AND > managers as well. True, you can take any clown off of the street, put > him in a Brook's Bros. suit and he is going to impress someone! - - - > until he opens his mouth! Don't get me wrong, there ARE a FEW good > people in the organization. Usually considered "mavericks" or > "mis-fits". > > Again, we are back to the typical corporate mentality. In that the > head honcho has all the good intentions of providing great products, > fantasic service, etc., etc., etc. (The road to HELL is paved with > good intentions - Anon.). But then the bureaucratic politics come into > play. So many of the 'underlings' are to busy empire building and > nest-feathering, that the directives are enforced only on the surface. > > A prime example was when the Tandy ATSO (Area Training and Support > Group) was started.... As I was being interviewed by the group > supervisor and his boss, I kept thinking, "Oh boy, They're finially > getting it together....". (I was a store CSR - Customer Service Rep. > at the time). To relay my experience, I was a former RSCC manager when the ATSO's were started up. The new RM in my area called me at home on a Sunday saying I came highly recommended for my manager abilities, and also my Xenix prowess. Spoke to me for 2 hours (long distance) about the virtues of heading up an ATSO office. He closed with "Well, what do you think?". I replyed, "Sounds good,how much is the pay?". When he told me ($25000, no bonus) I laughed (literlly) in his face (mouth- piece?!). I said you can't buy me for that amount, thanks anyway. Oh well, you (Tandy, in this case) get what you pay for -). (Any you wonderwhy they have the "quality" of people that they do). Paul Sutcliffe, Jr. ...!techsup!bbimg!devon!paul
ma168x@sdcc3.UUCP (07/13/86)
> To relay my experience, I was a former RSCC manager when the ATSO's > were started up. The new RM in my area called me at home on a Sunday > saying I came highly recommended for my manager abilities, and also > my Xenix prowess. Spoke to me for 2 hours (long distance) about > the virtues of heading up an ATSO office. He closed with "Well, what > do you think?". I replyed, "Sounds good,how much is the pay?". When > he told me ($25000, no bonus) I laughed (literlly) in his face (mouth- > piece?!). I said you can't buy me for that amount, thanks anyway. > Oh well, you (Tandy, in this case) get what you pay for -). > (Any you wonderwhy they have the "quality" of people that they do). I remember seeing flames in this group about the cost of RS equipment -- and suggesting we buy mail order (what about service there???)! I don't know a whole lot about business -- but I think that someone must pay for service. If an outlet provides an informed staff, repair service, technical information, etc. and then customers make their purchases by mail order, I expect it won't be in a position to provide the service for very long. In our area, an old established hardware store was driven out of business by a Handyman chain. You used to be able to take a plumbing problem to someone who knew his merchandise and some- thing about plumbing. Now it's "if we have it, it's in the plumbing department" (assuming you can even find a clerk to ask). It's no secret why this happened -- not enough people were willing to bear the extra cost!