car@pte.UUCP (Chris Rende) (09/23/88)
At the moment, Radio Shack has low prices on the following old peripherals: 26-3142: Programmable Controller (Plug 'N Power) for the Color Computer 26-3806: Disk/Video interface for the Model's 100/102/200 My problem is that I have neither a CoCo nor a Model 100/102/200. I am interested in the adaptableness of these two items to another computer, say a Model I. The Programmable Controller interfaces to the CoCo via it's builtin cassette port. There is a software cartridge for the CoCo. This means that they probably don't communicate nicely using something like 300 baud ASCII. Also, the manual that comes with the controller does not even begin to document the protocol (which is perfectly understandable). The Disk/Video interface would (might) give my 64x16 Model I 80x25 video! By searching my old Radio Shack catalogs I managed to find a picture of the Disk /Video unit connected to a Model 100 via a ribbon cable. More than likely this is the same type of connection use between the Model I CPU and its Expansion Interface - i.e., a memory mapped bus of sorts. If this is the case then interfacing to this device might not be too bad. I was not able to get a look at the manual for this one to see if the connector pinout spec's are in it. If anyone has any insite that they can give me on either of these devices I'd appreciate it. (What CPU is in a Model 100/102/200?) car. uunet!edsews!rphroy!pte!car -- Christopher A. Rende Multics,DTSS,Shortwave,Scanners,StarTrek uunet!edsews!rphroy!pte!car TRS-80 Model I: Buy Sell Trade Motorola VME 1131 M68020 System V Release 2 v2.2 Precise Technology & Electronics, Inc.
cjl@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (Charles Lord) (09/27/88)
The expansion interface for the Model 100 was a z-80 based single board computer with 780 disk controller and ?6845? (I believe) CRTC. It used a parallel 8-bit bus to communicate with the 80C85 in the M100. If someone got the schematic to the board, figured out the addressing scheme, wrote a new driver, and added a parallel keyboard in place of the M100, it would be a standalone computer. Anyone want to write the CP/M Bios? -- Charles Lord ..!decvax!mcnc!ecsvax!cjl Usenet Cary, NC cjl@ecsvax.uncecs.edu Bitnet #include <std.disclamers> #include <cutsey.quote>
ditto@cbmvax.UUCP (Michael "Ford" Ditto) (09/28/88)
In article <284@pte.UUCP> car@pte.UUCP (Chris Rende) writes: >The Disk/Video interface would (might) give my 64x16 Model I 80x25 video! It could, but it wouldn't be memory mapped like the I/III/4, and I don't think the character set would have the graphics characters (I'm not sure because mine is broken). It would be difficult to make it software- compatible (Basic would mostly work, aside from print@; anything that does direct screen I/O wouldn't work). > More than likely >this is the same type of connection use between the Model I CPU and its >Expansion Interface - i.e., a memory mapped bus of sorts. It is a 40-pin ribbon cable which connects directly to the m100 bus (i.e. it's got address lines, data bus, R/W signals, etc.). It is basically the direct 80C85 (m100's CPU) bus, which differs from the Model I's bus primarily in that it has multiplexed data/address busses. > If this is the case >then interfacing to this device might not be too bad. I was not able to get >a look at the manual for this one to see if the connector pinout spec's are >in it. The manual does have the connector pinout; so does the model 100 Technical Manual. There is also a "block diagram" which shows that the m100 cable connects to the guts of the DVI via an 8255. An 8255 is an Intel interface chip that basically has 24 bits of parallel I/O. There is no description of how this 8255 is used, however; not even whether it is controlled by the m100 bus or the internal Z80 (I would guess the former, since the latter would be real nasty). >If anyone has any insite that they can give me on either of these devices >I'd appreciate it. (What CPU is in a Model 100/102/200?) The 100 has a 80C85 running at 2.5MHz. -- -=] Ford [=- "The number of Unix installations (In Real Life: Mike Ditto) has grown to 10, with more expected." ford@kenobi.cts.com - The Unix Programmer's Manual, ...!sdcsvax!crash!elgar!ford 2nd Edition, June, 1972. ditto@cbmvax.commodore.com
msa@toybox.UUCP (Mark Anacker) (09/28/88)
In article <284@pte.UUCP>, car@pte.UUCP (Chris Rende) writes: > At the moment, Radio Shack has low prices on the following old peripherals: > > 26-3142: Programmable Controller (Plug 'N Power) for the Color Computer > 26-3806: Disk/Video interface for the Model's 100/102/200 [activating flame thrower...] DON'T COUNT ON GETTING ONE! The so-called "Sale" appears to be a way to get people into the stores. I tried 14 Radio Shack stores in this area, both on the phone and in person. Most of them just stared blankly when I asked about the DVI. Once they got the idea that I wanted a Model 100 disk drive, they were more than happy to show me the $250+ model. NOT ONE OF THESE STORES HAD CARRIED THE DVI IN TWO YEARS!!! Finally, I got a manager at a RS Computer Center to admit that the only qualification for including an item in the flyer was that 100 units had to show in the inventory SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD. They don't have to be available for sale anywhere, or even at all! But he was sure doing a great job moving the portable disk drives. Personally, I consider this a form of bait-and-switch. I don't mind having to look around for an item, but I think if it is nationally advertised, then it should be reasonably available. The DVI is not. [flame off] > The Disk/Video interface would (might) give my 64x16 Model I 80x25 video! By > searching my old Radio Shack catalogs I managed to find a picture of the Disk > /Video unit connected to a Model 100 via a ribbon cable. More than likely > this is the same type of connection use between the Model I CPU and its > Expansion Interface - i.e., a memory mapped bus of sorts. If this is the case > then interfacing to this device might not be too bad. I was not able to get > a look at the manual for this one to see if the connector pinout spec's are > in it. I'd be very much surprised if they are the same. If you'd like, I can e-mail the Model 100/102 pinouts. > If anyone has any insite that they can give me on either of these devices > I'd appreciate it. (What CPU is in a Model 100/102/200?) The Model 100 and 102 use an Intel 80C85. This is almost identical to the 8080, with a few (2, actually) additional instructions and CMOS. > -- > Christopher A. Rende Multics,DTSS,Shortwave,Scanners,StarTrek > uunet!edsews!rphroy!pte!car TRS-80 Model I: Buy Sell Trade > Motorola VME 1131 M68020 -- Mark Anacker, US West Network Systems Inc., Bellevue, WA {...uw-beaver!tikal,...!thebes}!toybox!msa -or- msa@toybox "Their mission read, To Boldly Go, But how ill-bred, To phrase it so." - Phil Garland
reyn@trsvax.UUCP (09/28/88)
The Model 100 had the good old Intel 8085, and I'm fairly sure that the 102 and 200 followed suite. John Reynolds Software Type Person Tandy R&D
tedk@ihuxv.ATT.COM (Kekatos) (09/29/88)
In article <177@toybox.UUCP> msa@toybox.UUCP (Mark Anacker) writes: >In article <284@pte.UUCP>, car@pte.UUCP (Chris Rende) writes: >> At the moment, Radio Shack has low prices on the following old peripherals: >> >> 26-3142: Programmable Controller (Plug 'N Power) for the Color Computer >> 26-3806: Disk/Video interface for the Model's 100/102/200 > >DON'T COUNT ON GETTING ONE! The so-called "Sale" appears to be a way to >get people into the stores. I tried 14 Radio Shack stores in this area, >both on the phone and in person. Most of them just stared blankly when >I asked about the DVI. Once they got the idea that I wanted a Model I telephoned three Radio Shack Stores and two Tandy Computer Centers in the chicagoland western suburbs. My results: 1) The people at the store don't know what the Disk/Video Interface is. 2) I had to explain what it is and tell them the Radio Shack flyer page number and Catalog number. 3) They dont have any and dont expect to have any. I don't really want one that badly. I suppose I could have asked to have one "ordered", but I believe that they require that you pay up-front. Ted G. Kekatos UUCP: ..!att!ihuxv!tedk (312) 979-0804 AT&T Bell Laboratories, Indian Hill South, IX-1F-460 Naperville & Wheaton Roads - Naperville, Illinois. 60566 USA
leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson) (09/29/88)
In article <284@pte.UUCP> car@pte.UUCP (Chris Rende) writes:
<At the moment, Radio Shack has low prices on the following old peripherals:
<
<26-3142: Programmable Controller (Plug 'N Power) for the Color Computer
<26-3806: Disk/Video interface for the Model's 100/102/200
<
<My problem is that I have neither a CoCo nor a Model 100/102/200. I am
<interested in the adaptableness of these two items to another computer, say
<a Model I.
<
<The Disk/Video interface would (might) give my 64x16 Model I 80x25 video! By
<searching my old Radio Shack catalogs I managed to find a picture of the Disk
</Video unit connected to a Model 100 via a ribbon cable. More than likely
<this is the same type of connection use between the Model I CPU and its
<Expansion Interface - i.e., a memory mapped bus of sorts. If this is the case
<then interfacing to this device might not be too bad. I was not able to get
<a look at the manual for this one to see if the connector pinout spec's are
<in it.
The 100/102/200 use an 80C85. The DVI uses a Z80! The cable is rather is *not*
a real system bus. The communication between the 100 and DVI is thru a PIA
chip in each machiine. Youd need to come up wiith a driver for the Model I
to talk to the DVI, and then you'd have the problem that the character sets
are different!
--
Leonard Erickson ...!tektronix!reed!percival!bucket!leonard
CIS: [70465,203]
"I used to be a hacker. Now I'm a 'microcomputer specialist'.
You know... I'd rather be a hacker."ditto@cbmvax.UUCP (Michael "Ford" Ditto) (09/29/88)
In article <177@toybox.UUCP> msa@toybox.UUCP (Mark Anacker) writes: >DON'T COUNT ON GETTING ONE! The so-called "Sale" appears to be a way to >get people into the stores. I tried 14 Radio Shack stores in this area, >both on the phone and in person. [ ... ] >Personally, I consider this a form of bait-and-switch. In "large, friendly, letters" above the discontinued items section in the flyer is printed "Where-is-as-is Sale", with several sentences (in admittedly small type) explaining what that means, and why the items in that section are being practically given away. This is something Radio Shack does quite often, and I love it. Other companies just sell discontinued stuff to surplus stores which mark it back up to almost full price. The DVI lists for $500, R/S is willing to give them away for $99 so that they won't have to keep paying people to count them in each month's inventory, or worry about rounding them all up to sell as surplus. When something like the DVI goes in the Where-is-as-is section, you can bet they won't be around long. Disclaimer: I used to work for Radio Shack. Side note: On most discontinued items, R/S gives a bonus ("spiff") to the salesperson (not the store or the manager) for each one sold. If you have a friend who works there, you can ask him to check the "spiff list" and maybe find some recently discontinued stuff that hasn't been in the flyers yet, buy it for almost nothing and get your friend a bonus as well. I just mention this to show that R/S really DOES want to sell that stuff; I don't think it's bait-and-switch. I'd make a random guess that the spiff on the DVI is $5 or $10, so any salesman should rather sell you the $99 DVI than the $250 portable disk drive. The manager might also prefer it that way since discontinued items count as a loss on the inventory. -- -=] Ford [=- "The number of Unix installations (In Real Life: Mike Ditto) has grown to 10, with more expected." ford@kenobi.cts.com - The Unix Programmer's Manual, ...!sdcsvax!crash!elgar!ford 2nd Edition, June, 1972. ditto@cbmvax.commodore.com
car@pte.UUCP (Chris Rende) (09/30/88)
In article <177@toybox.UUCP>, msa@toybox.UUCP (Mark Anacker) writes: > In article <284@pte.UUCP>, car@pte.UUCP (Chris Rende) writes: > > At the moment, Radio Shack has low prices on the following old peripherals: > > 26-3806: Disk/Video interface for the Model's 100/102/200 > > [activating flame thrower...] > DON'T COUNT ON GETTING ONE! > [flame off] I know a store that had a DVI a week or so ago. They might still have it. They told me that they found it WAY in the back, burried under all kinds of other stuff. It is brand_new and complete with original box. > I'd be very much surprised if they are the same. If you'd like, I can > e-mail the Model 100/102 pinouts. Yes, please e-mail the pinouts to me. car. -- Christopher A. Rende Multics,DTSS,Shortwave,Scanners,StarTrek uunet!edsews!rphroy!pte!car TRS-80 Model I: Buy Sell Trade Motorola VME 1131 M68020 System V Release 2 v2.2 Precise Technology & Electronics, Inc.
craig@trsvax.UUCP (10/01/88)
->/*Written 2:45 am Sep 29, 1988 by cbmvax.UUCP!ditto in trsvax:comp.sys.tandy*/ ->In article <177@toybox.UUCP> msa@toybox.UUCP (Mark Anacker) writes: ->>DON'T COUNT ON GETTING ONE! The so-called "Sale" appears to be a way to ->>get people into the stores. I tried 14 Radio Shack stores in this area, ->>both on the phone and in person. -> [ ... ] ->>Personally, I consider this a form of bait-and-switch. -> ->In "large, friendly, letters" above the discontinued items section in ->the flyer is printed "Where-is-as-is Sale", with several sentences (in I'm sorry that some of you have had problems finding the discontinued Mod 100 DVI's. I haven't seen this sales brochure, but it sounds pretty reasonable to me. I would expect that a "Where-is-as-is Sale" would mean that the items in question are in short supply, and that certainly is the case here. I checked into this and found that not only are the DVI's discontinued, but the warehouses are already out of stock. In the past, I've been able to find hard to find items by asking a Radio Shack store manager to see if he could find one for me. They have always been helpful. Usually they contact their district manager and he checks the store inventories in his district for the item. Unfortunately, I don't know if they still do this. It's been a few years... But, on the bright side, I found eleven Disk Video Interfaces in a Computer Center here in Fort Worth. The salesman I spoke with said they would be more than happy to ship them to customers. I don't know what shipping will cost you. But, if you want one, you better hurry. Their telephone number is (817) 335-7198. Address: 230 One Tandy Center, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. Let me know how it went. If you don't care where you are | Craig Fleece then you aren't lost. | craig@trsvax | killer!ninja!sys1!trsvax!craig <This information is provided by an individual and is not nor should be construed as being provided by my employer. No one has an obligation to support the information provided in any way. >
car@pte.UUCP (Chris Rende) (10/03/88)
My local RS still has a DVI. I'm debating about buying the thing, ordering the service manual, and trying to make it work with my Model I. However, cash is kinda' tight for me right now... I might not be able to afford keeping it. If the DVI turns out not to work for me or if I can't afford to keep it, I'd like to know if there would be a market for it. I don't plan to subject it to any "internal mod's" so it would be kept in mint condition. If anyone would be interested in buying the DVI from me in the event that I can't afford to keep it, or can't interface it to a Model I, please send me email at uunet!edsews!rphroy!pte!car. If I knew of people who would buy the DVI, I'd feel more at ease about making the purchase. (It's an AS-IS item from RS, no money back). Cost would be RS's sale price: $99.95, MI 4% sales tax, shipping, and cost of service manual. car. -- Christopher A. Rende Multics,DTSS,Shortwave,Scanners,StarTrek uunet!edsews!rphroy!pte!car TRS-80 Model I: Buy Sell Trade Motorola VME 1131 M68020 System V Release 2 v2.2 Precise Technology & Electronics, Inc.
tif@cpe.UUCP (10/13/88)
Written 12:48 pm Oct 10, 1988 by cbnews.UUCP!mdk in cpe:comp.sys.tandy >In article <193300077@trsvax> craig@trsvax.UUCP writes: >>The salesman I spoke with said they would >>be more than happy to ship them to customers. I don't know what shipping >>will cost you. >It shouldn't cost anything for Mark to get it shipped to him. All Tandy >stores pay a monthly fee for UPS service, no matter how much they ship per >month. This fee goes into a central pool and pays for the shipping for ALL >the Tandy stores in the United States. So the store shouldn't charge a >shipping fee. Hmmm, I can't come up with a counter argument but that argument isn't valid. It is "right" for them to recoup that "monthly fee" from the customers that use the service even if the charge is not directly related to the cost. Just because I pay a fixed cost for a service doesn't mean it's "wrong" to pass the cost on to my customers that make use of the service. In fact, I am sure that any company doing this sort of "sub-service" is not only recouping their cost but making a profit from it. How about ... CBS wanting ~$3 to ship you a $.01 compact disc? P.S. Do the stores really do that? I am obviously an uninformed source and I'd disclaim further but the above was pure opinion. Paul Chamberlain Computer Product Engineering, Tandy Corp. {convex,killer}!ninja!cpe!tif