ac959@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Ed Grey) (06/10/91)
I have a Televideo model TS-1603 that I aquired a few years ago, and
just recently have renewed interest in setting it up. It is a CPM
machine with Two half height floppys, a 14" monitor and I think 128K
ram ( It has been a while; I not possitive about the ram size).
Anyways, Does anyone in netland know of this machine? Will this machine
run some of the earlier DOS software? If not, is there some sort of
conversion program to allow this? Where can I find a mouse and driver
software for this unit. In general, Is this machine worth booting up
and spending some money on. I am trying to expand my computational-
horizons and figure that this machine should be capable of providing
me with some hours of programming enjoyment.
Any information would be useful and greatly appreciated!!
Ken Smith
< kens@net,com>
****************************************
Ken,
I am familiar with (though I've never seen one) the TeleVideo
1603. It is a 16 bit computer, so it would run the CP/M-86
flavor of CP/M (an important distinction when looking for
software). It will also run an early version of IBM PCDOS
(probably 2.0 or some such). It is expandable to 256K RAM.
I hope that this info was of some help. Take care.
###
--
Ed Grey \*\ Sysop of The Grey Matter BBS & RCP/M 213-971-6260
P.O. Box #2186 \*\ Bitnet: ac959%cleveland.freenet.edu@cunyvm
Inglewood, CA 90305 \*\ Internet: ac959@cleveland.freenet.edu
USA \*\ v.: 213-759-7406 \*\ Fido: 1:102/752 \*\ GEnie: E.GREY1OPRCMD@UOFT01.BITNET ("Casimir M. Drahan") (06/20/91)
Recently someone posted a query about the TeleVideo 1603. I emailed
a reply but I'm not sure if he received my message. Just in case I'm
reposting here.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
At last, another TeleVideo 1603 owner to talk to...
I see by your notes in CPM-DIGEST that you have been blessed ( or
cursed :-) ) by coming into possession of a TeleVideo 1603. Soon
you will know the ineffable joy of sitting before your 1603 with
your fingers in your ears while both disk drives are accessing ( a
sound which would send other computer users running for a repairman).
But, I ask you, how can you tell if the disk drives are working,
unless you can *HEAR* them?
Seriously, I've had a TeleVideo 1603 for about five years now.
Except for the inability to run most programs written for the
IBM and clone machines (MS-DOS) it's not a bad computer. And
no one is ever going to mistake it for an IBM.
The TeleVideo 1603 is an 8088 machine running at 5 mz. Basic
memory is 128 k which can be expanded to 256 k with the addition
of a memory board which attaches to the mother board. It runs
both CPM-86 and MS-DOS (2.0) operating systems. There is a
mono graphics board available for the CPM-86 os but not for
MS-DOS. I would assume that with the addition of a driver
this could be used with MS-DOS. The problem is to find an
old version of the Microsoft assembler to write the driver
since, for obvious reasons, none of the current assemblers
will run on the 1603.
As you may have noticed there are three ports in back: a modem
port, a serial printer port, and a mouse port. I have a modem
and serial printer attached to my 1603. I've never seen a mouse
for the 1603. The manual says you can attach one, but I don't
know if one actaually exists. (*)
The disk drives are 96 tpi, 760 k. Much larger than the drives
that came with the original IBM pc. They have been described as
sounding like coffee grinders. But, what the hell, you're never
going to fall asleep while these babies are going. The drives
will read regular double density disks as well. Along that line,
I used 96 tpi Radio Shack disks when I first got my 1603. They
cost more than regular double density disks but since they were
96 tpi, and easier to find than the other brands, I figured I
didn't have much of a choice. Then I ran into some bad disks.
So just for the hell of it I bought some regular double density
Scotch disks. Not only did they format OK they seemed to work
better. That's a subjective judgement, I know, but I haven't
had any problems since I switched.
I have the operating systems disks for both CPM-86 and MS-DOS.
I also have the following:
For MS-DOS - 2.0 os disk, WordStar 3.3, Mite and TeleAsync
communications programs, TurboPascal (2.1, I think),
Datalight-C compiler (this works as long as you don't
use the features that are specific to the IBM pc), dbase 2,
other odds and ends that I have accumulated over the years.
For CPM-86 - 1.0 os disk, ASM86, TeleCalc, TeleAsync, WordStar
3.3, TeleWrite (iffy, I apparently corrupted the com file),
another spreadsheet whose name I can't remember just now,
some other odds and ends.
I got the WordStar, communications programs, dbase, as well as the
memory board, from Inovatek in California. They used to advertise
in Computer Shopper. I'm pretty sure they're still around, though
I haven't done business with them for a couple of years or so.
I also have the MS-DOS, system/CPM-86, and tech manuals, plus
the disk alignment disk.
Well, I'm supposed to be working, so I'd better close. Write back
with any questions you have. I'd like to stay in touch.
Matt
(*) After I wrote this I was informed (by Ed Grey) that a
a mouse for the TeleVideo does indeed exist.
Casimir Matthew Drahan
Computer Services
University of Toledo
Bitnet: oprcmd@uoft01
Internet: oprcmd@uoft01.utoledo.edu