rzh@FREEDOM.LLNL.GOV (Roger H. Hanscom (415) 423-0441) (02/03/89)
Does anybody out there have any experience with Z-80
co-processors of the type that plug into the PC buss??
I know that there are (were?) several on the market,
and I remember seeing a review comparing some of them.
As I remember the review found quite a disparity
between them with respect to ease-of-use/quality, so
I imagine it would be a good idea to check on this.
I got a catalog in the mail last night from Central
Computer Products. The co-processor that they carry
is "UniDOS". It runs a Z-80 at 8 MHz. How do these
things communicate with DOS over the buss? What is
the software like? How does one run CP/M on the Z80,
or is that done?? In other words, how does CP/M on
the co-processor access the PC hardware (disks)??
The UniDOS device is on a half-card, and costs $175.
Please don't suggest things like Z80MU or the V20 in
8080 emulation mode. I like Z80MU, however it is
**VERY** slow. I don't really like the 8080 restriction
of the V20 ... I run a **LOT** of Z80 code.
Roger rzh%freedom.llnl.gov@lll-lcc.llnl.govrusty@cadnetix.COM (Rusty) (02/07/89)
In article <8902021749.AA09055@freedom.llnl.gov> rzh@FREEDOM.LLNL.GOV (Roger H. Hanscom (415) 423-0441) writes: > >Does anybody out there have any experience with Z-80 >co-processors of the type that plug into the PC buss?? ... >I got a catalog in the mail last night from Central >Computer Products. The co-processor that they carry >is "UniDOS". It runs a Z-80 at 8 MHz. How do these >things communicate with DOS over the buss? What is >the software like? How does one run CP/M on the Z80, >or is that done?? In other words, how does CP/M on >the co-processor access the PC hardware (disks)?? >The UniDOS device is on a half-card, and costs $175. > I have just such a co-processor board (the Baby Blue(tm?)), and it works by placing the 64k of z80 memory somewhere in the memory space of the PC (you get to select where using dip switches). CP/M programs have an MS/DOS header added which will find where the BB memory is and copy the Z80 code (along with the BIOS/BDOS routines, more about them later) up to the BB memory, and then releases the hold on the Z80 using an I/O port on the PC (also selectable, I think). When the CP/M program wants to do I/O or whatever, the BIOS/BDOS emulation routines set up info in a buffer (I think) and either set a flag or use an I/O port to notify the PC that help is needed, at which point the PC does what is needed and then lets the Z80 run again. On the Baby Blue, you prepare a CP/M program by adding the loader to the .COM, and then you just run the program as though it were a standard MS/DOS program. Be sure that the UniDOS board will actually run on your PC when the PC runs at the speed you wish it to. My Baby Blue board is for sale because it would not run fast enough to keep up with my AT. (8MHz BUS Think about it... a Z80B is a 6MHz part. Anybody with a PC or XT want to buy a good Baby Blue board?) (And I personally think $175 is too much. I only want $70 for mine!) Hope this helped. Anybody else have contrary info to mine? Anybody have any idea how to get my Baby Blue board to work on my AT????? ----- Rusty Carruth UUCP:{uunet,boulder}!cadnetix!rusty DOMAIN: rusty@cadnetix.com Cadnetix Corp. (303) 444-8075x681 \ 5775 Flatiron Pkwy. \ Boulder, Co 80301 Radio: N7IKQ 'home': P.O.B. 461 \ Lafayette, CO 80026
SAGE@LL.ARPA (02/09/89)
Local addressee: SAGE Message-ID: <SAGE.03958687@LL.ARPA> As I mentioned in a previous posting, I have the UniDos card, which I obtained directly from MicroSolutions, the manufacturer. It runs CP/M COM files WITHOUT the need for any header (and it detects them automatically). I have no speed problem on my 16 MHz Compaq 386 machine. It sounds as though its technology is more advanced than that of the Blue Lightning.
bkbarret@sactoh0.UUCP (Brent K. Barrett) (02/09/89)
In article <6531@cadnetix.COM>, rusty@cadnetix.COM (Rusty) writes: > In article <8902021749.AA09055@freedom.llnl.gov> rzh@FREEDOM.LLNL.GOV (Roger H. Hanscom (415) 423-0441) writes: > > > >I got a catalog in the mail last night from Central > >Computer Products. The co-processor that they carry > >is "UniDOS". It runs a Z-80 at 8 MHz. How do these > >things communicate with DOS over the buss? What is > >the software like? How does one run CP/M on the Z80, > >or is that done?? In other words, how does CP/M on > >the co-processor access the PC hardware (disks)?? > >The UniDOS device is on a half-card, and costs $175. > > > I have just such a co-processor board (the Baby Blue(tm?)), and [ZAP!]> > On the Baby Blue, you prepare a CP/M program by adding the loader > to the .COM, and then you just run the program as though it were a > standard MS/DOS program. > Be sure that the UniDOS board will actually run on your PC when the > PC runs at the speed you wish it to. My Baby Blue board is for sale > because it would not run fast enough to keep up with my AT. (8MHz BUS > Think about it... a Z80B is a 6MHz part. Anybody with a PC or XT want > to buy a good Baby Blue board?) > > (And I personally think $175 is too much. I only want $70 for mine!) > Hope this helped. Anybody else have contrary info to mine? Sure do, Rusty. I happen to own one of the above mentioned boards. It's from MicroSolutions, BTW, and "UniDOS" is the name of the software that comes with the board. That answers one of your questions right there: UniDOS loads as a TSR and when you type an executable name at the prompt, it will "help" DOS by looking for a *.CPM file if all else fails. If found, the CP/M program is loaded in the 64k that is on-board the coprocessor card (no memory sharing with this board), and executed with the Z80/UniDOS combo in control. I operate my machine at 8 MHz as well, and I have no problems with this board. Note that even though it claims to do 8 MHz, it comes out to about 5 or 6 MHz in the long run. I highly recommend it, since it comes complete with a current legal copy of MiscroSolutions most famous product: Uniform-PC, which allows you to read/write/initialize CP/M format disks in your IBM drive. BTW, Rusty, leave me some E-mail, I'm having problems getting back to you on that KQ4 problem. -- "Somebody help me! I'm trapped in this computer!" Brent Barrett ..pacbell!sactoh0!bkbarret GEMAIL: B.K.BARRETT