News.
Brought a decommissioned but working inkjet printer from work
Hewlett Packard DeskJet 610c. Both cartridges (color and black)
absolutely empty. I thought I’d buy a cartridge and print it... I was daydreaming
- I went to the nearest computer store and looked at the price but─
I left the second black cartridge without purchasing it. A buck per milliliter
ink is obtained, and the cartridge contains 28 ml of ink. I went to another ma─
gasin, and there’s another $3 more expensive.
While I shoved the printer under the table. We'll think about what to do with it.
-----
19.03 CARO sent a letter that the ZX MULTI CARD I ordered
successfully sent by mail.
01.03 Received a notification about a parcel in my name. I took my passport
went to the post office. I stood in line for 40 minutes and ran home about─
believe the work.
This is where the problems started. In order of appearance:
1. ZXMC cannot be installed in the second slot of the board due to the fact that
put on connectors for connecting a keyboard and mouse rest against
standing in the first SMUC slot.
Now I can easily swap SMUC and ZXMC places, i.e. k. internal─
niya modem sticking out perpendicularly from the SMUC internal modem to me
no longer needed - the ZXMC has an external COM port for connection
external modem. Actually, what I was trying to achieve was to endure my─
dem from the computer so that you can install a “Christmas tree” and stick it in
there are more devices there.
2. ZXMC does not fit into the first slot, because ZXMC slot width is several
wider than the width of the slot on the board.I burn out the left one with a hot knife
side wall of the slot on the board. Now ZXMC is installed, but
with an offset, because the right side wall of the slot on the board is in the way.
I'm performing an operation to melt the right wall, but I'm doing it
not careful - pieces of melted plastic get inside
slots and solder two pins inside their seats.
I take a sharp razor and try to cut off the excess plastic. Via
ten minutes the contacts are freed, but the slot is disfigured by the slot─
mi. Does not affect work.
ZXMC is installed in the first slot, SMUC in the second. Taking my pussy away─
his keyboard, along with the AT-PS/2 adapter and at random (since...
There is no wiring diagram attached to the controller and it is not clear where to go─
I connect the calvka, and where the mouse) I connect it to one of the “callouts”.
I apply power, I notice that there are no messages about SMUC detection,
but for now I’m ignoring this - now the main thing is the work of ZXMC. Keyboard
does not work, and neither Spekovskaya nor pisishnaya. Well that means no
I guessed where to connect the keypad. I turn off the power and reconnect the keyboard─
ku to another connector. Again I supply power and again the keyboard doesn’t work─
No - it reacts to any LOCK presses, but the cursor does not move.
What the?!
No longer turning off the power (what do I have to lose? It’s still not work─
no...) I plug the keyboard into another connector and, lo and behold, it works─
la. Why didn't it work the first time it was turned on?
I turn off the power and turn it on again - the keyboard does not work.Vytaski─
I plug in the keyboard connector and connect it there again - keyboard
works. Okay, we figured it out - some problems with initialization─
her keyboard.
3. Now we need to quickly download something modem-terminal─
Call to check the operation of the COM port. But bad luck - SMUC
the shadow guy doesn't see. I think I just installed it crookedly. Perez─
I turn on the computer and it doesn’t see it. I pull out ZXMC - immediately SMUC
is discovered. Those times - I didn’t expect such a Westerner. Immediately
I inform CARO about the “shortcomings” of the work.
CARO responds quite quickly, quote:
"In this version of working with the keyboard port, simultaneously
You won't be able to work with a regular keyboard or an IBM keyboard.
Moreover, now you won’t even be able to connect a tape recorder to
read, since the recorder's read bit is also disabled.
But I knew about this in advance, so I reserved one entrance
(MEGA comparator input) for input of a reading signal from a tape recorder.
On the daughter board, which I propose to put on the card, bu─
An amplifier for the tape recorder interface is provided. Plus
Another advantage of such a solution is that it can be loaded into the Spectrum TAP and TZX
files directly from the Flash card, which I also suggest placing on
daughter board."
So, it turns out that the purchase of a daughter board, and to it
flash cards are “a plus of such regenius”. It is very doubtful that I
someday I'll want to load TAP and TZX, after so manyyears of work
from HDD :)
A little later, CARO wrote to me about the conflict between ZXMC and SMUC:
"I looked at the file describing the SMUC ports. It’s not surprising that
there is a conflict. To solve the problem, you can use the following technique:
which is used in KAYs. SMUC needs to be given more priority─
better in addressing than ZXMC. That is, the /IORQE signal from SMUC should
block the /IORQ signal for ZXMC. Simple logic circuit -
applied in the KAY scheme".
Some time later I received another letter from CARO, in which
he suggests:
"For normal functioning of SMUC with ZXMC you will have to do
the latter complete decryption of ports. To do this you need to add one
body LA1."
Next comes the diagram, the meaning of which is as follows:
A2*A3*A6*A7
In this case, you need to cut the conductor from the ZX_BUS bus to pin B21
(address A7) to the second terminal of element DD2:1, and insert into the gap
the above diagram.
In the next letter, CARO reproaches itself for saving elements for
decryption is not worth it.
Problems with keyboard recognition when powering on CARO
will solve it programmatically by increasing the timeout when issuing the command
keyboard reset, from 1 second to two.
In addition, CARO sent me the latest version of the program for contact─
rollerball. I poured it into the ZXMC and after applying power to the Shadow Monitor
I was happy to discover that I have SMUC v5.5, although no SMUC is installed─
it was not entered.
4. Finally got around to checking the COM port by rewritingnecessary software
(Melon v1. 90i) from HDD to floppy disk. When I pulled out SMUC and installed
ZXMC tried to run Melon from drive B: I got nothing
it worked - the computer persistently accessed drive A:. Pulled out
ZXMC from the slot, checked that without it access to the drives
are going well. Unsubscribed to the author. No comments on
I didn't receive any information about this...
5. Rewrote Melon onto a 3.5" floppy disk for drive A: and launched
program. Some debris crawled onto the screen. The terminal wrote that
CD (Carrier Detected), and I haven’t even connected the modem to
COM port! When I tried to press anything, Melon went blank─
sideways into itself, and at the same time ZXMC also froze - it stopped responding─
pressed all sorts of xxxLOCKs and didn’t even respond to the button
RESET (Print Screen). Turning off the power helped.
Connected the ZX and the PC via a nullmodem cable, launched it on both
ends of terminal programs. The situation has not improved - as before─
there is garbage on the screen, and after a few keystrokes, now
already on the PC terminal, the controller hangs again. At the same time,
what the terminal receives is not ZX does not correspond to what is “pressed─
elk" in the terminal at the PC.
CARO has unsubscribed. He assured me that the CD signal is artificial you─
given by the controller, otherwise when the modem is connected Melon will not
works!
I wonder how the terminal will then know that the modem has installed
connection if not controlledCONNECT message? Suks ka─
someone.
I lost all desire to improve anything :(((
With the last letter, CARO advises to “damage” the Scorpion board, from─
connecting line A7 from the connectors, and instead of A7 insert a modification with
microcircuit. At the same time, everything that I connect stops working─
goes to the slot. So I need to make an expander and cut
him.
An expander costs another 250 rubles for a breadboard plus connectors
plus buffer chips. Three days of work...
As a result, I came to the conclusion that ZXMC, like TSFM, is not for me─
Nya. I hope I sell it.
----
Returning to what was printed.
Recently I wrote that I had problems with periodic
HDD disappearing from Tenevik, while it always operates without problems─
was determined by the test when resetting, and then at any time it could “stop─
exist" or "appear" during work. So, I will encounter it again─
I was worried when I was struggling with connecting ZXMC. I'm pretty tired of this
and I decided to figure out what was going on?
I rang both slots on the board for breaks during operation
I shook the SMUC a little in the slot - nothing helped. I already have a train
changed it before. I pulled out SMUC, pulled out everything I pulled out of it─
tried (RTC DALLAS, interrupt controller, modem) - did not help.
Subjected SMUC to inspection under a microscope (2x magnifying glass). Finally I discover─
lived, what could be the reason for such disgrace - a crib for
square Altera had a crack andone or two crib contacts
and the Alters could well move away from each other. Pulled out Alterka,
I bent the leads a little so that they stuck out more towards the side─
contacts of the crib, between the crib and the adjacent microcircuit there is a
forged a piece of plastic so that it would prop up the broken wall.
He stuck Altera in place. He turned on the power and crawled like a shadow around
HDD partitions. Everything worked like an iron (not electric).
It seems that I have found the source of my troubles.
I don’t remember if I pulled my alter out of the crib before? Why should I
this? However, it is unlikely to crack on its own. Apparently you are still─
threw...
----
The other day I brought a pack (53 pieces) of floppy disks from my home enterprise.
3, 5". It turns out that after assembling the devices there are a lot of floppy disks left
included with the boards (all sorts of drivers, documentation) and
They (floppy disks) are simply thrown into the trash. And then I turned up
at the moment when the floppy disks have accumulated and you still don’t have time to take them out─
whether. I saved the company from unnecessary “garbage”. New floppy disks─
cues.
I formatted the part on Spec and found that I had the drive
It's buggy - two times out of three calls it gives reading errors. Changed
on the other and was faced with the fact that the drive was “in weight” ra─
works fine, but after installation in the computer case it refuses
work. I moved the train and it helped a little. Became partially chi─
thief. I replaced the cable with another one, but how difficult it is to connect it to
disk drive!!! Whichthe fool came up with the idea that to connect the dis─
For a 3.5" driver, you have to turn the cable connector 180 degrees─
owls? Because of this, the cable gets all twisted and the contact weakens─
et. After tinkering with the drive for about thirty minutes, I just took it and
I turned the drive upside down. Well, even if it’s not beautiful, well
Even if it’s unusual and it’s not possible to fasten it with screws, it worked right away.
----
I’m slowly downloading branded updates from TZXVAULT.RETROGAMES.COM─
times Spectrum cassettes. The Internet is quite cheap - 96 rubles per
96 hours on weekends.
----
In my apartment, on the ceiling in a large room, appeared
rusty stains. The roof is leaking. They called a roofer, he...
stomped on the roof, shook his head and said that the covering was blown─
moose with bumps. For now I was just throwing snow off the roof above the room.
The other day some guys ran a cable from our roof to
the roof of a neighboring house. Something will happen. Maybe another cable
television? There are already two of them in the house opposite.
A few days later, an announcement appeared at the entrance that in
Our house will have high-speed Internet access. I
I went to the company’s website and looked at what and for what. From such prices I
I dropped my jaw to the floor: connection is 1800 rubles, and the monthly fee is
that one is simply fantastic - 3000 rubles for 2.9 GB of traffic, plus
1.03 rubles per megabyte over prepaid. What nonsense...
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