Optron #07 13 февраля 1998

ZX Клоны     Железо

About Miko Best - On the species of the Spectrum - MikoBest.

             About Miko-Best



(C) Walker / IF


  Hello, dear users of our beloved SPECCY. In this article
I, Walker, will tell you about another kind of Spectrum - MIKO 
BEST. 

  The computer that you may have guessed, is produced by MIKO, 
home office is located in Ternopil, while

We in Lviv a branch of
the spread of computers from this company.

  Complex in all respects good, but
several nuances. First, none of the
utilities not define the presence of 256 kilobytes
memory, and secondly, because the port
to switch from 128 to 256 memory, some prog, including 
RAMDOCTOR v2.1 Tyatina Sergei refuse to work.


  Therefore, in order to clarify the issue of
correct switching memory pages I
describe how to correctly do this:

  Switching memory developers MIKOBEST'a "hung" on port 220 (# 
DC). 

  Swap memory pages from 128 to
256'yu can be as follows:


  LD BC, # XXDC; INSTEAD XX can be any

               , Including, for example, # 01DC

  LD A, # 72

  OUT (C), A


  The reverse switch can perform
as follows:


  LD BC, # 01DC

  LD A, # 62

  OUT (C), A


  From this it follows that in the memory banks
meets the 4 th bit.

  Well, these two fragments, I hope there are no problems, just 
want to mention tricky one - port # DC conflicts with

Port # FD, so if you, say,
ottrassirovali any of these fragments to test their efficiency 
in STS'e you can not switch the memory banks. Expect it in 
their designs. But if anything else is unclear, please call me:

(0322) 64-57-58.

  I also want to mention one particular
MIKO-BEST'a. The computer chip is present, such as the ULA, 
which forms signal INT, from which at the present time

depends on the speed of some programs, mostly demos. And 
MIKO-BEST'e to Unfortunately, INT is not BEST (its frequency

less firm, not to mention the Pentagon). Frankly, I was trying 
to change it in three ways, but none

No results were found, the computer simply does not
runs. Maybe someone like
experiments yielded results and computer
works fine though, would be with the company
INT'om contact me, I will be grateful for any information.

  It is worth noting that the ULA is not proprietary, and
Patriotic, Made in Ivano-Frankivsk. Wherefore, and INT is not 
firm, and even Pentagon, and "your" with all consequences.


  In addition, in a computer chip VV55 there that will not work 
with external devices, and manages memory (?!!).


  Complement the overall picture printer interface, made to AY 
and unreadable concept.


  I also want to mention one good point
in the development BEST'a - is small size
computer.

  And finally I want to tell you about
yet another "hidden" test. He is rather
remarkable and very useful, unless of course
you know how to use them. Well, enjoy it very simple: You press 
the button "RESET", holding down the "R" (probably means the 
Ram test) and after the computer will test the RAM (you will 
need to wait five minutes or ten), the screen will be issued 
this picture: 


■ Processor ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■


              D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6



  In fact, you will only see a conditional
mark circuits (D0-D7), and the processor
I painted in order to make it easier
explain the essence.

  If you take the motherboard of a computer so that
processor was in the lower left corner and
the key is as shown in the figure, and chip KR565RU7D (may be
others only need RU7) are "keys" up, numbering ICs
RAM will be left to right, ie in the left
lower right corner will be D0, and in the lower right
D7.

  If the test was normal and damaged mikruh you do not, then 
the screen is all black and white and everything is simple and 
clear: you can celebrate such a joyous occasion good glass of 
vodka ... juice, but if all are still there are damaged, they 
will be highlighted in red and will flash.

Correctly to figure the right chip, you
using a soldering iron, chisel, hammer and
a mother (just kidding, usually used
only a soldering iron) mikruhu change and have a back to one 
hundred works complex, and mind you do not have to pay 10-15 
(!) hryvnia for this job.


  If you do not understand something, feel free to
call, than I can help.

  By the way, for the lucky owners MIKO-BEST'a Buhay Ivan 
altered such system programs as: NEXT COPY, LUXECOPY, PERFECT 
COMMANDER v1.5. All they now working with 256 memory BEST'a, for

he thanks a lot.

  And finally I want to appeal to developers MIKO-BEST'a: do 
not be make the computer not for some his own, and

on our own, domestic, standards. Make the switch memory banks 
through the ports of the Scorpion, say, or the Pentagon. This 
it-would be much easier and the programs do not have to redo! 
In addition, I would like to know, really because ULA'shki

not in any way to change the frequency
signal INT?

  Well, perhaps, yet-that's all. If
anyone have any more information
by MIKO-BEST'u, please call, I will be very
grateful, within reasonable limits. ;)


                              Sincerely,

                                   WALKER,

                            Mikhail Kazakov



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