Micro_Cornucopia_06_Jun82.pdf

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

An EPROM Programmer for the Big Board ..................... 4

. Do

Yourself Character Set .................................. 8

A 5 elf-

Load~ng

ROM ....................................... 10

FORTH Reviews ........................................... 14

Updated Double Density .................................... 19

REGULAR FEATURES

Letters ....................... 2

Designer's Corner ............ 10

FORTHwords ............... 12

Want ads ................... 19

NEW PRICES EFfECTIVE ON THE 1ST DAY OF THE COVER MONTH OF THIS MAGAZINE_

"THE BIG BOARD"

OEM - INDUSTRIAL- BUSINESS - SCIENTIFIC

INGLE BOARD COM'PUTER KIT!

Z-80 CPU!

64K RAM!

::m

!!'

THE BIG BOARD PROJECT: Three years In the works, and maybe too good to be true. A tribute to hard headed,

no compromise, high performance, American engineering! The Big Board gives you all the most needed

computing features on one board at a very reasonable cost. The Big Board was designed from scratch to run the

latest version of CP/M*. Just imagine all the off-the-shelf software that can be run on the Big Board without any

modifications needed! Take a Big Board, add a couple of 8 inch disc drives, power supply, an enclosure, C.R.T.,

and you have a total Business System for about 1/3 the cost you might expect to pay.

(64K KIT

BASIC I/O)

SIZE: 8'12 x 13'" IN.

SAME AS AN 8 IN. DRIVE.

REQUIRES: +5V

3 AMPS

+ - 12V

.5 AM PS.

::m

-t

FULLY SOCKETED!

FEATURES: (Remember, all this on one board!)

64K RAM

80 CHARACTER VIDEO

With a crisp, flicker-free display that looks extremely sharp even on small

monitors. Hardware scroll and full cursor control. Composite video or spill video

and sync. Character set Is supplied on a 2716 style ROM, making customized

fonts easy. Sync pulses can be any desired length or polarity. Video may be

inverted or true. 5 )( 7 Matrix - Upper

Lower Case

::a::

Uses Industry standard 4116 RAM·S. AII64K is available to the user, our VIDEO

and EPROM sections do not make holes In system RAM. Also, very special care

was taken In the RAM array PC layout to eliminate potential noise and glitches.

::m

-t

Z-80 CPU

Running at 2.5 MHZ. Handles all 4116 RAM refresh and supports Mode 2

INTERUPTS. Fully buffered and runs 8080 software.

FLOPPY DISC CONTROLLER

Uses WD1771 controller chip with a TTL Data Separator for enhanced

reliability. IBM 3740 compatible. Supports up to four 8 inch disc drives. Directly

compatible with standard Shugart drives such as the SA800 or SA801. Drives can

be configured for remote AC off-on. Rlins CP/M" 2.2.

SERIAL

1/0

(OPTIONAL)

Full 2 channels using the Z80 SIO and the SMC 8116 Baud Rate Generator. FULL

RS232! For synchronous or asynchronous communication. In synchronous

mode, the clocks can be transmitted or received by a modem. Both channels can

be set up for either data-communication or data-terminals. Supports mode 21nt.

Price for all parts and connectors: $49

TWO PORT PARALLEL

1/0

(OPTIONAL)

Uses Z-80 PIO. Full 16 bits, fully buffered, bi-dlrectional. User selectable hand

shake polarity. Set of all parts and connectors for parallel I/O: $19.95

BASIC

1/0

Consists of a separate parallel port (Z80 PIO) for use with an ASCII encoded

keyboard for Input. Output would be on the 80 x 24 Video Display.

REAL TIME CLOCK (OPTIONAL)

Uses Z-80 CTC. Can be configured as a Counter on Real Time Clock. Set of all

parts: $9.95

BLANK PC BOARD - $149

The blank Big Board PC Board comes complete with full documentation

(including schematics), the character ROM, the PFM 3.3 MONITOR ROM,

and a diskette with the source of our BIOS, BOOT, and PFM 3.3 MONITOR.

PFM 3.3

2K SYSTEM MONITOR

CP/M· 2.2 FOR BIG BOARD

The popular CP/M" D.O.S. to run on Big Board Is

available for $159.00.

PRICE CUT!

The real power of the Big Board lies In Its PFM 3.3 on board monitor. PFM commands Include: Dump Memory, Boot CP/M", Copy, Examine, Fill Memory, Test Memory, Go To,

Read and Write I/O Ports, Disc Read (Drive, Track. Sector). and Search. PFM occupies one of the four 2718 EPROM locations provided.

Z-BO Is a Trademark of Zilog.

Digital

R~s~!~~~

Computers

P.O. BOX 401565. GARLAND, TEXAS 75040 • (214) 271-3538

*TRADEMARK OF DIGITAL RESEARCH.

TERMS: Shipments will be made approximately 3 to 6 weeks after we

receive your order. ViSA, MC, cash accepted. We will accept CQD's (for the

Big Board only) with a $75deposit. BalanceUPS COD. Add$4.00shipping.

USA AND CANAOA ONLY

------

NOT ASSOCIATED WITH DIGITAL RESEARCH OF CALIFORNIA, THE ORIGINATORS OF CPM SOFTWARE

**1 TO 4 PIECE DOMESTIC USA PRICE.

MICRO CORNUCOPIA

11740

N.W. West Road

Portland, Oregon

97229

503-645-3253

II~aD ~Da.U~D'11

June 1982

The Journal of the Big Board Users

No.6

Editor & Publisher

David J. Thompson

Technical Editor

Ruth Fredine-Burt

Graphic Design

Sandra Thompson

Typography

Patti Morris

Martin White

Irish Setter

Cover Illustration

Gerald Torrey

Spare

a Dime?

New Job

With the economy hanging on by

its fingernails (and slipping), and

water walkers treading the unem-

ployment lines, it might seem crazy

for anyone to quit a good-paying

engineering job in order to spend

full time editing and publishing a

small user group journal.

It is crazy, but the hours I was put-

ting in trying to do both the job and

Micro C were even crazier. So,

forced to choose between the secu-

rity and the dream, I chose the

dream.

A Little History. On April

8 1981,

we distributed

1800

flyers announc-

ing Micro Cornucopia (the one most

of you received with your boards) at

the Computer Faire in San Francis-

co. Thirty days later we had received

a total of three subscriptions.

At this year's Computer Faire

(March

19, 1982)

we had a meeting of

Micro C subscribers and we had over

folks (our meeting followed the

Northstar user group and we out-

numbered them at least two-to-

one). Quite a difference.

So now I'm on my own, free of the

job with .its biweekly check, free in-

surance, cheap parts, retirement

benefits, and immediate access to

some really fine fellow engineers.

It's awfully hard to go out on your

own when you realize all the cords

you are cutting. (And I'm sure that

Tektronix and other large companies

know that.)

Sandy and I (plus Jennifer and

Erin) figured we'd be living on a bare

minimum for a while, so we had a

dentalling and doctoring spree just

before the health insurance turned

into a pumpkin.

Of course, Sandy has been work-

ing full time on Micro C for over a

year so this hasn't been a big change

for her, but it's certainly a big (and

good) change for me.

Stick around, we've got great

things coming up. And, please feel

free to tell others about us.

Get together

Announcing the first annual, semi

official, international, Micro C get

together. It will be held here at the

house, Saturday, July

24.

You are all

welcome to come and spend the day

(from

a.m. to midnight) helping

us celebrate the first anniversary of

Micro C. Bring yourselves, families

(including children), friends, and

grubbies, for a day of fun and games

and eating and relaxing and compu-

tering and talking and FORTH and

so forth.

We hope to have one of the new

systems running by then along with,

of course, my two Big Boards and

. the ROM burner.

Feel free to bring your specialty for

the potluck lunch (if it's convenient)

or some other healthful munchies.

Of course, please let us know if

you're planning to come and how

many you'll be bringing so we won't

be totally unprepared.

you're go-

ing to need lodging we may be able

to suggest some places, or if you

need a ride from the airport, just

give u.s some warning.

folks want to hang around Sun-

day we might all go down to the

beach and build sand computers

(without floppy drives).

Do You Need to Renew?

Check the subscription form sta-

pled in the center of the magazine.

it's on colored stock and has RENEW

emblazoned across the top then you

definitely need to renew.

you

aren't expiring now but want to

know when you are going to expire,

check your address label.

MICRO CORNUCOPIA is pub-

lished six times a year by Micro Cor-

nucopia of Oregon, 11740 N.W.

West Road, Portland, Oregon

97229.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES:

1 yr.(6 issues)

1 yr. (Canada

Mexico)

1 yr.(other foreign)

$16.00

$20.00

$26.00

All subscription orders payable in

United States funds only, please.

ADVERTISING RATES: Available

on request.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS:Please

send old label and new address.

SOFnWARE, HARDWARE, AND

BOOK VENDORS: Micro Cornu-

copia is establishing a group of re-

viewers. We would very much like

to review your Big Board compatible

products for Micro

Please send

material to Review Editor, Micro

Cornucopia.

WRITER'S GUIDELINES: All

items should be typed, double-

spaced on white paper or better yet,

on disk. (Your disk will be returned

promptly.) Payment is in contribu-

tor's copies.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Please

sound off.

CP/M is a trademark of Digital Research, Inc.

Micro Cornucopia.

(continued on page 21)

Letters

Dear Editor,

Finding an 8116 baud rate genera-

tor can be a real problem so it might

pay to mention that this chip is func-

tionally the same as the far more

common COM 5016. The only differ-

ence is that pin 9 on the COM 5016

must be tied to plus 12V. This pin is

not connected on the 8116.

The COM 5016 is available from

Advanced Computer Products for

$15.95.

Gary Kaufman

206 South 13th St. Apt 810

Philadelphia, P A 19107

Editor's note:

Western Digital is also making pin-

for-pin equivalents of both the

8116

and

the COM 5016. The

WD 1943

matches

the

8116

and the

WD 1941

matches the

5016. I understand that the

WD 1941

lists for about $9.95.

Dear Editor,

I might be interested in setting up

a modem based bulletin board for

Big Board users in this area for

software exchange. I have an auto-

answer modem by US Robotics

hooked up to automatically turn the

system on and off with the carrier

detect. This way the system can be

run remotely.

My Big Board comes up clean with

the disk doors closed, so I can leave

it set up and run it from the office by

modem. I also have a separate

phone line which I use for the mo-

demonly.

W.N. Reese

2202 Campbell Rd

Houston TX 77080

Dear Editor,

I finally got my board running

(hours of tracing to find one un-

soldered pin) and now am strug-

gling with software.

My distribution disk contains a

bios that I can't assemble and I have

been trying to add the printer driver

from Issue #2 but it is also Z80 code.

The FORMAT.COM program re-

turns 'DISK ERROR' without even

looking at drive B. I have tried to re-

locate my BIOS to E800 to be com-

patible with other users with abso-

lutely no success. The article in Issue

2 is not detailed enough.

just says

'Now reassemble the mess ... ' How

about a step-by-step set of instruc-

tions on how to change the BIOS to

E800? In all the CP/M stuff I have

purchased I have yet to find this

kind of information. Might be a good

article for us novices. Would also ap-

preciate a parallel printer driver in

8080 code from anyone who has

done it.

Do you plan any more regional

user group meetings in Portland? I

would like to attend to share infor-

mation with other users.

Dave Knight

PO Box 334

Chehalis, W A 98532

try town and about 2/3 of the way

from Sydney to Brisbane.

I am retired on a small cattle farm

(100 head). I spent 30 years working

in Sydney as an industrial, electrical,

and electronic technician. My inter-

ests are still electronics and amateur

radio. I would like to contact a U.S.

Big Board user with similar interests.

Some computer parts are difficult

to obtain here because they are too

small to be worth ordering from a

commercial U.S. supplier. I would

like to contact someone who could

occasionally purchase electronic

parts for me. I would arrange to send

a cash advance to cover the cost of

the parts.

I enclose cash payment for the

user disk because cash is easier to

obtain than a bank draft. The nearest

bank is 28 miles away and the slight

risk of losing $20 is better than trav-

elling 56 miles.

Ray Evans

PO Box 36 Iluka

NSW 2460 Australia

Dear Editor,

I'm making a 5 1/4" (single den-

sity) Big Board floppy interface

package available for $40. The price

includes the modified PFM and

BIOS routines, copying CP/M and

all utilities to mini-disk, plus docu-

mentation on connecting the mini to

the Big Board. Anyone interested

must send an original CP/M disk

plus PFM ROM or Big board serial

number. The format is 18 sectors/

track and 35 or 40 tracks/drive.

A note on your review on text edi-

tors. I've been using Compuview's

VEDIT for about a year.

is one of

the best text editors I know of. Lately

I've been evaluating word process-

ors, both for internal use and for sale

with systems.

you like I can fur-

nish you with my findings when I'm

done.

I've also just received a copy of

TURBODOS and will be evaluating

it for use on the BB.

is a CP/M re-

placement that promises a 25-35%

Editor's note:

Those of you interested in getting to-

gether by computer should drop Mr

Reese a note and see if you can set some-

thing up.

Any of you wanting to establish a bul-

letin board for folks in your area should

let me know and maybe we can coordi-

nate things from here. And we can cer-

tainly let people know what you are do-

ing.

Editor's note:

Excellent idea for an article, Dave. If

more people knew how to get in and muck

around in the BIOS then there would be

more custom BIOS's. You ordered user

disk

#1 so

you now have the Crowe Z80

assembler. (If you are going to learn to

write assembly code you may as well use

the easiest mnemonics.)

See the editorial for the announcement

of the first annual, international, Micro

get together here in Portland.

should be great fun.

Dear Editor,

I write from Iluka as one of your

satisfied subscribers. To date I have

only been able to contact two Aus-

tralian Big Board users (two pro-

spective new subscribers).

Iluka is a small, mainly fishing vil-

lage 50

mile~

from the nearest coun-

(continued on page 7)

Micro Cornucopia, Number 6, June 1982

ANNOUNCING

THE BIG BOARD ADD--ON

••••

FEATURES

••••

Program

2108, 2116, 2732,

and

2164

type EPROHS. With four programming

sockets you can program lots of memory at once. Programs EPROMS sequentially

or in parallel for small production runs.

Second bank (64K) of memory will allow fast screen swaps, larger EPROM

program storage, etc. Memory is fully-static 6116 CMOS type RAMS which will

allow RAMIEPROM intermixing. Battery back-up for CMOS RAM.

More goodies.

Sixteen channels of both 8-bi t

AID

and

A conversion.

Connect any of the FCC approved modems by NOVATION directly into the board.

Plus, there's an S-100 connector which will allow you to connect an S-100

card directly or interface with an S-100 motherboard.

And speaking of

features, voice output with the on-board VOTRAX phoneme generator chip.

All this plus: four serial channels, four parallel ports, everything

socketed, and it runs at 4 MHz. (In fact, with all this, you may just forget

about the Big Board altogether!)

This is the board you

the serious builder and

board, full kit, partial

same dimensions as the

Available

3/20/82.

have been waiting

Cor.

This board is intended for

the novice alike.

It will be available in bare

kits, and assembled and tested. The board has the

BIG BOARD so it piggy-backs into the same space.

Bare board ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• $ 99.00

Complete package

CALL

.................................. ........ .

All Prices Plus Postage

••••

OTHER BIG BOARD ACCESSORIES

••••

Big Board power supply kit (BB

DRIVES

+ ) ••••••••••••••

$ 85.00

Big Board power supply A&T ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 135.00

C.ITOH 8510 9xN matrix, graphics, 5 char sets printer (ser.) 645.00

C.ITOH 8510 same as above but par. interface •••••••••••••••• 595.00

4Mhz mod that WORKS •••• $1.50

BIG BOARD PARTS.............

CALL

E.C.R.L.,INC.

P.O. BOX 387

CANBY, OREGON 97013-0387

503-266-4982 ·24 HRS·

503-656-3382

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