cs63bld@unccvax.uncc.edu (b. daniels) (08/28/90)
I have an advantage-plus scsi adapter with built in clock for my atari 1040st. The hard drive side of it works fine but the clock is a crock! Here is the description of the problem: If there are any desk accessories on the machine, and you warmstart, the system time will lose about 10~20 sec. This happens every time warmstart occurs. Thus the clock is soon terribly wrong. If there are NO desk acc (not even one) the time will be fine. The system time is updated by a program callled ICDTIME.PRG that you are supposed to put in your auto folder. However, if you do not put ICDTIME in your auto folder, but instead wait until the system has booted and run it from the desktop, everything works fine even with desk acc. I was planning on writing my own time update program to get around this, but upon calling ICD about the problem, I was told that they had never heard of this, didn't really believe I was describing it properly, and no, they would not tell me how to access the clock directly. Any help would be greatly appreciated, even if it is only to tell me that you have the same problem but don't know how to fix it...I'd at least know that someone else has to put up with it :-) PS-if you can explain to me how to access the clock directly, that would be great too... As a final note, after the attitude I have had to put up with from ICD tech support, I wouldn't reccommend you buy a hard drive adapter from them. Thanks in advance, BRian (cs63bld@unccvax.uucp)
ekrimen@csuchico.edu (Ed Krimen) (08/28/90)
- PS-if you can explain to me how to access the clock directly, that - would be great too... I think the SCSI ID for the clock is #6, but I don't think that helps you much. There is also a program usually supplied with their software called TIMESET.PRG (or something like that). It gets the tiem and date from the clock when it's run, but then leaves memory. You can't set the time with it. I use it from the AUTO folder instead of ICDTIME. BTW, there's also a nice clock setter for the ICD host called ICDCLOCK. It's written for mono monitors but is readable in color. No, it's not written by ICD Inc. Hope this helps.
eber@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Edward Beranek) (08/28/90)
You are right.The first ICD card did the same thing but had a pot on it that I could adjust to compensate. If you check back with ICD at a later date they will probably have a fix for it posted. I had a problem with their early software park.prg which set the date to 1992 every time it was run and they fixed it after about a month. Their support is OK as far as I've seen. An alternative is to use the other ICDTIME.PRG that disappears after setting the system clock. This means you cannot set the time with the control panel, but do you really need to reset the clock on the ICD card after the time has been loaded into the system? Well you might if the time is off. Mine isn't off that much to get excited about. If you look at the card you received you will see a crystal that is the clocks timing circuit. There will also be a trim capacitor and resistor. If you notice the time is off after a period of time (about a month) you can try changing the battery first, then trimming up these (res. or cap) to change the crystal freq. into the clock chip on the ICD card. Their (ICD's) updates are free if you register on their BBS and their records indicate that you have purchased their hardware. You pay for the call but it's the best software update system I've seen for the ST next to Laser C's from Megamax. You can just download the software that has changed if you want or the entire new archived system. I don't think you get access the first time you call, they need time to verify you with their records (warranty card?). Hope some of this helps you out. Ed eber+@osu.edu
jimmy@unix.cis.pitt.edu (James G Tauberg) (08/29/90)
In article <2641@unccvax.uncc.edu> cs63bld@unccvax.uncc.edu (b. daniels) writes: > >I have an advantage-plus scsi adapter with built in clock for my >atari 1040st. The hard drive side of it works fine but the clock >is a crock! There are problems with the ICD clock when used on older ST's. Something with bus noise problems. ICD has a hardware solution. There is a simple to install daughterboard for the ICD Advantage Plus. Installation is explained by a simple flyer that comes with the fix. What you do is remove a chip from a socket on the ICD board, I believe it is U4, and then you plug this small daughter board into the open chip socket. Simple as that! If you need one of these boards, you can call ICD for one. My clock was screwy as anything until I installed the fix. Now my clock works fine. I set it over TWO (2) months ago, and it is still accurate! I use the ICDTIME.PRG (the one that sets the clock and remains resident) ONLY to SET the clock. I boot it from the desktop if I want to set the time. Then I cold boot to get rid of it. I don't trust it. I use the GETTIME.PRG (or whatever it is called... the 600 or so byte file that just reads the time) from my AUTO folder to set my time at boot up. I own the ICD Advantage Plus as well as 2 of my friends, and all three of our clocks now WORK BEAUTIFULLY! Love that clock! Hope this helps, Jim Tauberg