NEC PC-8001 RS-232 ROM TERM (terminal) demonstration Xiphod 2024-03-25 | "It was a dark and stormy night."Seriously, it was raining and miserable today. So I stayed inside and decided to figuring out how to use that exposed internal 16-pin DIP socket inside the NEC PC-8001 from 1979. I had once given up on this, but then came across some PC-8001 reference information that had been translated into English. Now using just three wires, you can get your NEC PC-8001 system onto the internet!For more info about this, refer to:https://voidstar.blog/nec-pc-8001/forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/nec-pc-8001-trying-to-make-rs-232-cable.1247409
X16Time O-Scope Visualize Audio Demo Xiphod 2024-12-21 | Real X16 and X-Y scopevsX16EMU "Oscilliscope" for WindowsJACK2 v1.9.22
Sportsman World 2024 Holiday Boat Parade Xiphod 2024-12-17 | End of year tradition in north Texas. Peace be with you.
BASLOAD: A unique approach to BASIC exclusive to Commander X16 Xiphod 2024-11-11 | X16EDIT and BASLOAD were both developed exclusively by the same developer: Stefan Jakobsonn. X16EDIT is an outstanding full-featured text editor that runs natively on the 6502-based X16. BASLOAD converts a style of plain-text "QuickBASIC-like" code into native X16 BASIC, in a way that allows the use of long variable names, symbolic labels, and no need for line numbers. These are hand-crafted in assembler and have been prepared as standard software built into the Commander X16 System ROM, so that both features are always available from the CMDR-DOS command line.This video is a "beginner-level" reminder of what BASIC is, followed by an example of how BASLOAD can be used to incorporate and expand upon original BASIC code. Other topics covered include general use of CBM BASIC "screen editor," tokenized BASIC, and the X16 memory map.00:57 Initial BASIC Reference Example01:06 Refresher on Editing CBM BASIC Programs02:37 Refresher about CBM KERNAL Quote Mode04:01 Overview of Tokenizer BASIC11:09 Saving BASIC Programs (extension conventions)14:20 ISO vs PETSCII Character Sets16:38 Converting Tokenized BASIC to Plain-text BASIC17:09 Actual example of BASIC to plain-text conversion18:50 Using X16EDIT to adapt line-number BASIC to BASLOAD21:50 Reviewing result of BASLOAD generated BASIC23:06 Example of BASLOAD Settings (Control Codes, SymFile, AutoNum)24:44 Overview of BASLAOD SYMBOL File25:43 Overview of the Commander X16 Memory Map29:30 Background on PEEK/POKE History32:14 "Ground rules" on CBM/X16 BASIC35:51 The Large Line-Number BASIC to BASLOAD Example36:59 Doing Large-Program Conversion on Commander X1651:36 Epic BASLOAD Promotional Ads!The BASLOAD manual (in PDF format) is available heregithub.com/stefan-b-jakobsson/basload-rom/blob/master/docs/manual.pdfThe X16 list of support BASIC keywords is available here:github.com/X16Community/x16-docs/blob/master/X16%20Reference%20-%2004%20-%20BASIC.mdFor additional questions, come join the Commander X16 forum and/or Discord. commanderx16.comFor the code discussed and original IBM 5100 reference, see the specific discussion here:cx16forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=35092#p35092To learn more about 6502 assembly programming on the X16:youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG2Yfw0DrMyN-YKuP-KWhVxPn1IVEWXfb
A 386, 486 and a Pentium go to a bar together and encounter a Commander X16 (Second Reality) Xiphod 2024-10-27 | In this video, I depict a story of three old 1990s x86-based systems casually relaxing with their typical comfort-apps (like three old gentlemen at a bar). From left to right, these systems are - ("3-8") a 1992 desktop Intel 80386/20MHz with MS-DOS 5.0 (2MB RAM), - ("4-8") a 1994 Toshiba T1960CT laptop with an Intel 80486/50MHz operating WFW3.11/MS-DOS 6.22 (12MB RAM), and - ("5-8") a 1997 IBM ThinkPad 385CD with a base 150MHz Intel Pentium running OS/2 (48MB RAM). - ("X16") Commander X16, 2MB/65C02 from texelec.com (with no OS)Like old people tend to do, the '386 uncontrollably emits an odd noise.A young 8-bit X16 enters the stage immediately playing audio, which the old systems assume is some cocky adolescence about to show off some animated PETSCII. But the '386, being the only system who was actually there when the Second Reality demo was first presented in 1993, recognizes what the X16 is about to play (based on his recollection of the 1997 C64 remix demo). He rally's his pals to fire up the old software, to show this punk X16 how the original demo is supposed to be - but the results end up surprising to everyone!Excellent demoscene software is a sacred art that is about making a system do something no one thought possible, then presenting that in some fantastic way. They represent intense concentration of effort to implement, to a level very few people can achieve since they often rely on undocumented features (or precise timing side effects). Please experience this video using a good set of speakers and a relaxed state of mind. Also be sure to enable CC (caption), the English CC describe a bit of dialog going on between the systems during the show.The first portion of the demo is multiple angles on the same play-thru. During startup of the Second Reality SECOND.EXE software, the '386 is configured with SBPro/Poor during the play-thru. The '486 is configured with NoSound/Poor (since it has no enhanced sound hardware), the Pentium is set to SBPro/High (and using 2NDFIX.EXE). The audio during this portion is provided by the Pentium.The second (dark-mode) portion of the demo is an uninterrupted play-thru. In this run, the '386, '486 and Pentium are all configured as NoSound/Poor. This is because the X16 is providing the audio for this portion. This is why the x86's during this run visually perform much better than the prior one. Surprisingly, each of the '386, '486, and X16 visual is fairly spot on in their timing. The Pentium struggles since OS/2 Presentation Manager and other things are also running.NOTE: The SimCity audio near the start is coming from the Pentium OS/2 version.NOTE: The '386 desktop was equipped with a Diamond Stealth 16-bit ISA w/ 2MB RAM. Unknown why it lost the bear-bounce while on SBPro Poor setting, but in the dark version the bear-balance was present when set to NoSound. The Toshiba and ThinkPad had their stock video card hardware (I don't recall the specific specs). The X16 is using the stock VERA module for video.For info about the '386 build, see here:https://voidstar.blog/setting-up-a-physical-x86-pc-hardware-80386/
Aquarius+ (Plus) Modern-Make Retro System capability demonstration (Z80 CPU with cassette support) Xiphod 2024-10-07 | This is a tribute to Sean Harringon's excellent work on developing the Aquarius+ into an enjoyable product. The AQ+ has a nice case package, a lot of SD software content, and great online support. The system also includes IN/OUT audio jacks on the side to support a cassette deck, and a built in "WiModem" type WiFi capability that helps get this system onto the modern internet. On top of that, this system has a wild multi-voice audio capability and sprite support.My only nits are:- The word "Aquarius+" confuses search engines, since there is a medical device of the same name- Compatible joystick/gamepads are so far a little hard to findBut there is still active firmware update support. This is very much a fun product with several developer options, and a lot familiarity due to being Z80 based.For info about the system, start with the following:github.com/fvdhoef/aquarius-plus00:39 PART 0 - Initial content overview01:30 autoexec.example01:36 PART 1 - CP/M Demo03:43 PART 2 - Cassette Save/Load Demo05:50 PART 3 - BASIC Examples (Character Set, Mouse/Timer)07:30 PART 4 - ESP32 WiFi Usage Examples09:46 PART 5 - Master System (Modern-Make Software)14:26 PART 6 - PT3 Audio DemoThe doll in the thumbnail is the Aquarius barbie from Mattel (the company that makes various lines of toys, and also released the original Aquarius system in the early 1980s). The original barbies were tagged as being suitable for ages 3 and up.
Tandy Model 100 w/ Disk/Video Interface (working operation demo) Xiphod 2024-10-01 | Features the Tandy Model 100 connected to the Tandy Video/Disk Interface.The Model 100 and 102 remain nice portable systems. The disk drive interface makes use of the standard 5.25" disks. Essentially any Composite monitor can be used.
decided to check the mail today (a tribute to 1978 All Creatures Great and Small) Xiphod 2024-09-30 | Highlights of my adventure on checking the mail.My parents watched All Creatures Great and Small in the 1980's. Years later, I've come to appreciate how relaxing and splendid that series was. Cheers to simpler times. This is dedicated to them and to all who need something peaceful to remember.My young memories of the show are mainly the intro theme, played to the sequence of a car roaming through the countryside. The homage here is following a golf cart likewise in a countryside, on a nice weather day where I set out to check the mail that is at the end of a five mile drive.The song is located here:archive.org/download/tvtunes_1538orarchive.org/download/tvtunes_13600
Example of RS-232 Serial Keyboard (Tandy Model 102 as Terminal to Commander X16) Xiphod 2024-09-22 | This is an example of writing some code to use an RS-232 interface as a substitute for the system keyboard. In this case, a Tandy Model 102 is used as the keyboard, tethered via an RS-232 null-modem cable over to the serial card interface of a Commander X16.The code is written using BASLOAD, a native utility on the X16 that takes plain-text BASIC that does not require line numbers, and adapts it over to regular CBM BASIC. But most of the principles in the code are easily adapted into other languages.The 6502 online virtual assembler is located here:https://www.masswerk.at/6502/assembler.htmlThe software works using an ISR (interrupt service routine) that is ran inline with the main system kernel. SEMIBIGFONT is used to spruce up the program a little bit. Originally I was going to have the received ASCII get streamed out in this larger font, but then I realized it would be more fun to pipe it straight to the kernel and actually use the system remotely -- but this only works as long as whatever you are invoking doesn't also make heavy use of the Golden RAM region - though there are ways to work around that, such as: the ISR could go into banked memory instead, or a more appropriate way is to adjust BASIC's MEMTOP and place the handler above there.The X16 system used is my custom made "Carbon Fiber" Developer Edition PR900, that can run for 10+ hours on battery (including with the 12" VGA LCD), built in speakers, 4-port SNES connections, IEC emulated disk drive, and a convenient USB charger port. Next to this on the left is the humble X16 #PR16, just taking it easy running Tony's excellent SLIDESHOW. Its blue case is from bitbybitsynths.com and is described here:https://voidstar.blog/commander-x16-assembling-the-x16-dev-edition-laser-cut-case/The code presented here is available in the Commander X16 forum:cx16forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7953SEMIBIGFONT is described here:cx16forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7910BASTERM is described here:cx16forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=34336(NOTE: ROMTERM is better and can handle higher speeds, BASTERM is mostly intended just for initial exploration into how interacting with the serial card works - and is generally limited to 2400 baud)Original VIA/ISR handling on X16 is described here: (be aware you must add "-via2" to the command line of the emulator to activate the VIA#2 component, but the emulator itself does not include a model of the serial port expansion card-- but the VIA/ISR example below is independent of the serial card)cx16forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=30095The Tandy Model 100 and 102 systems were sold in the mid-1980s. Millions were sold and they still remain very versatile and enjoyable systems.
ESP Test Program (using Zener Cards across serial cable connection) Xiphod 2024-08-30 | This is an example of using BASLOAD on the Commander X16 to render sprites that depict the 1930s Zener cards (as depicted in 1984 Ghostbusters). This is an authentic approach to performing the ESP and remote viewing test that these cards were intended for.An admin is given a visual image of the selected card, to then try to mentally convey to the client. But mainly, this is a demonstration of across-serial communication using BASIC and the X16 system. Also, the loud fan noise is from the HP Protocol Analyzer in the center (not required, but using it to just monitor the token data exchange between the admin and client software).The ZENER.PRG program is available in the X16 community forum software Download section.
HP 4951C Protocol Analyzer and HP18179A Serial RS232 Usage Demonstration with Commander X16 ROMTERM Xiphod 2024-08-24 | The HP Protocol Analyzer was available in the mid-1980s to monitor various protocols across DB25 cables. Multiple "interface adapters" were available that clipped to the front of this portable machine. A fold out keyboard was integrated to adjust settings (and act as a proxy "simulated" terminal if needed). A software disk is not required to make use of the system, as it has useful software built into its ROM. The disk drive is used for other features, such as logging data traffic (earlier models used a tape drive).In the modern day, we analyze protocols typically using Wireshark. But specialized devices like this were used in the past to help troubleshoot problems "in the field" (or also for reverse engineering other systems that lacked documentation).One feature not demonstrated here is the "HEX" mode by pressing F1, where data can be shown in the raw hex values rather than interpreted ASCII values. As can be seen, this system uses a custom font to depict both TX and RX sides of the signals.04:23 In this section of the video I wanted to emphasize the difference in the amount of CTS/RTS signals between 19200 and 300 Bps (where obviously at higher speed you have more need for flow control, which are extra signals that decrease the efficiency). At 300 Bps, CRT terminals became faster than line printers. At 2400 Bps, systems became faster than most touch typists (and in keyboard-to-keyboard interaction, you don't gain anything going much over 2400 Bps). But for file transfer and "pure data exchange" then 9600 Bps and higher starts to be a game changer. This vintage of HP Protocol Analyzer can only support up to 19200 Bps.This demo happens to use two Commander X16 65C02-based systems with matching TexElec network/serial cards. But the HP Protocol Analyzer can work with any standard RS232C equipment, which have been commonly available since the mid-1960's.
PK Possum Kingdom Lake Sportsman World 2024 Hells Gate 4th of July Fireworks Xiphod 2024-07-08 | Rain to the south, strong winds 15 minutes before show time, things were looking iffy. All was quiet right before the show, stereos turned down, everyone holding their breath waiting for the go-no-go call. And when the time came: the show went on and it was as magnificent as always! Cheers to all the boats dressed in their finest lights. Kudos to the fireworks crew and to all the volunteers and safety crew for keeping the tradition going! And sincere thanks to all the service men and women, may we all remember the necessary sacrifices during our Independence Day.
Fixing the BEEP out of the NEC PC-8001 Mk II (plus Mario Special demo) Xiphod 2024-06-10 | Old PC's had no volume control! The family was getting fed up with the constant volume BEEP BEEP noise. On the one hand you want to keep a system in "original operating condition" but on the other hand, some prudent Quality of Life improvements can be appreciated.Here is an overview of one approach to a quick-fix to decreasing the volume of an old PC.
Computer History Poster from Europe (sneak peak) Xiphod 2024-06-01 | What started has a humble computer history poster in 1997 has evolved into "Das Poster der digitalen Evolution" Find out more about at VCF SW 2024.
X16 Synth (preview demo, multi-voice coming!) Xiphod 2024-06-01 | It's not epic (YET!), but this is done in about an hour using BASLOAD on the X16. Will add in multi-channel support and grow some more features.
IBM 5110 Keyboard Stream Input and Spacewar Demonstration Xiphod 2024-05-30 | Remember, in space there is no sound!This is a two player game, each player has limited energy and 3 types of weapons. There is also a teleport feature. Beware of your own bombs!The code is about 1200 lines of PALM assembly, using ASW (Arnold's AS assembler for Win32) results in a 2696 byte machine code file that is loaded into address 0x4000. Having no serial or comm. card for my 5110, I "streamed" the binary in through the keyboard lines from an Arduino-based adapter.
1967 Dune Buggy Dream (Do Not Try This on Your Home Planet) Xiphod 2024-05-23 | Testing an engine far, far away from civilization. Now what to do next?
Commander X16 Carbon Fiber Edition Sneak Preview Xiphod 2024-04-28 | I wanted a "portable, no-hanging-wires" package of the X16, so I got a table-saw and some carbon fiber and made one! Still a work in progress, but it is already very portable. I'll be presenting this, and a few other things, at VCF SW later this year!For more info, see forum discussion here:cx16forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=33320#p33320Why carbon fiber? To do my part in saving the planet, carbon can be extracted from CO2 emissions and re-purposed back down into a dense 3K twill woven fiber pad! At 5mm thickness, it is very rigid and easy to work with (very little sanding was necessary and none of it ever cracked).
Total Eclipse Sequence (North America 2024) 90-second sequence summary Xiphod 2024-04-09 | April 8th 2024 starting at approximately 12:44 PM CST.This sequence has three different audio background.00:01 Option 1 (DJ Visage, The Return)01:35 Option 2 (DJ Hyperlite, Warm Up)03:09 Option 3 (MC Mario, Dance Mix)04:44 Equipment SummaryHere is a description of the main interesting points in the sequence:002 partial eclipse has started. The black spot near the center is a "sun spot" (another one is slightly lower further to the left).006014016019020 the eclipse (of the moon) is approaching the sun spot that is on the surface of the sun030066068069070071 the eclipse of the moon has passed the centrally located sun spot------072 Speed Up: the sun (solar) filter has been removed during a couple minutes before totality. The partial remaining portion of the sun (without the solar filter) overwhelms the sensor, so it appears "blown out" with no surface features of the sun.074075079081083 last remaining portion of the sun remains uncovered084 Totality! Solar Eclipse Totality achieved! (the white dot at bottom right is a revealed solar flare)085 Totality!086 Totality!087 Totality!088 Totality!089 Totality!090 Clouded Totality (clouds in the Earth atmosphere adjust the apparent ring around the sun)091 092 093 094 095 096 097 098 099 100 101 102 103 start of "diamond ring"104 105 106 107 108 diamond ring109 111 112 113 114 "Diamond Ring" effect is finished, now see edge of the sun. (solar filter is still removed)116117 118119120121124 Solar Filter re-attached to scope. While faint, you can start to see surface feature of the sun again.125127128129130 Speed Up / Fast Forward134 past sun spot again136138139140 heavy clouds appear141 heavy clouds appear
Commander X16 and the OtterX16 Demo/Testing Xiphod 2023-12-21 | Introducing a little friend of the X16: the OtterX!X16 DevBoard: www.texelec.comOtterX: www.vectorheadarcade.comThe X16 DevBoard is the official licensed Commander X16 system, complete with multiple expansion slots, onboard support for 2MB RAM, up to 4x SNES gamepads, dual VIA, and excellent active community support.But for those a bit more experienced with hardware: the OtterX is an amazing compact ITX-form factor kit. Limited to a single expansion slot and onboard 512KB RAM, but it does maintain the IEC port and full VERA support (meaning still has VGA, Composite, S-Video output and onboard SD-card reader). It is made available by a long time X16 contributor (one of the X16 SMC firmware developers).Here is a sample of some casual gaming on the X16 DevBoard while "stress testing" the OtterX16 by listening to some ZSM formatted audio. All audio in this video is coming from the OtterX board (and through the white speakers shown). While not the best audio capture, it is authentic to what the hardware is producing. And "click/clacks" are from the SNES controller, not the keyboard.00:08 Rally Speedway [Johan Kårlin]03:26 Scumbotron [EyeballKid]06:08 Petaxian [borgar ]10:05 Quarx [8BitGuy]12:50 PETSCII Side-Scrolling Platformer [Jimbo](Melodius is by MooingLemur)There are many other great games available on the X16. For this set I focused on ones with good SNES gamepad support.These are both fun boots-up-to-BASIC low-power 8-bit systems to chill with! Come check out the available developer tools and other related news and projects from the X16 community:commanderx16.comgithub.com/X16Community(also on Facebook and Discord)NOTE: I have a special project that I've been working on, that is hopefully ready to present in about a month - a working Poly-88 from 1976!! Stay tuned...
Commander X16 Audio Demo (Melodius + DreamTracker) Xiphod 2023-11-03 | On hardware runtime sample of two fantastic Commander X16 software application: the ZSM and MIDI audio player Melodius and a multi-channel FM + PSG on-system audio editor called DreamTracker.Audio Track samples credited to...00:29 dANcE wiTH ME - SofT MANiAC '04 [YM2151+PSG+PCM]01:57 Dans Le Rue.zsm - cerror & xylo 2009 [PSG+PCM]03:37 Melody of Certain Feelings - SnugglyBun [PSG+PCM]04:20 GODS_MD_HS - nicco1690 [YM2151+PSG]05:43 keys to imagination - aleksi [YM2151]07:48 Rising Blue Lightning - GTR3QQ [YM2151+PSG+PCM]08:46 nouveau_cheese - dumbut [YM2151+PSG+PCM]10:52 Watching Paint Dry - Burnt Fishy [PSG]12:50 ProgressiveProgressions - Crisps [YM2151+PSG+PCM]16:03 Shades of Blue - MooingLemur [YM2151+PSG]19:34 Göte Går På Tivoli - zalza [PSG+PCM]21:26 X16TIME - Crisps [YM2151+PSG]27:45 RUNNING.DTR - No Doubt cover [YM2151+PSG+PCM]33:10 TEARS.DTR - m00dawg [YM2151+PSG+PCM]The 16x16 LED display is available here from TechDungeon.xyzhttps://techdungeon.xyz/index.php/our-products/led-display-2/I had to program the X16-themed effects myself (Arduino C-like INO files). I'll try to find the INO file and get it onto github. But TechDungeon has a baseline with many examples to start with.This audio was on X16 DEV108 that has a YM2164
Commander X16 Promotional Preview (with official Lazer3D case) Xiphod 2023-09-05 | This is a brief capability demonstration of the Commander X16 computer system, highlighting some of the available software and usage features. The initial X16 hardware was released in June 2023. An additional batch of units is planned to be available before the end of the year. There is an excellent Commander X16 emulator available, to help start getting familiarity with the system. While there are some similarities with the C64 (including use of the 6502 instruction-set and the PETSCII character set with console control codes), the X16 is quite its own system.WEB EMULATOR:commanderx16.com/webemu/x16emu.htmlSOURCE AND RELEASES: (click Releases on the right side)github.com/X16Community/x16-emulatorFor notes on the L3 KeyAT-4 PS/2 used to automate the keyboard inputs, refer to here:cx16forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6739An introductory manual to the X16 is available here:github.com/voidstar78/X16_MANUALS/blob/main/CommanderX16_IntroducingYourX16_Manual_DRAFT_REV8.pdf
Commander X16 VERA FX Mariposa (Butterfly) Demo (coded by JeffreyH) Xiphod 2023-08-27 | Using the VERA FX ROM 0.3.1 software update, this is a 3D modeling capability demonstration running on the Commander X16 released system.Featuring the X16 logo in 3D!
Commander X16 HXD (Hex Editor) Preview Xiphod 2023-08-11 | Sample usage of a beta version of "HxD" hex editor being used to edit a file on the Commander X16, using multiple 80 and 40-col video modes.
voidstars Commander X16 Developer Board celebration kickoff 2023 (warning: spoilers) Xiphod 2023-07-18 | Deepest respect to the direct hardware and software contributors to this project, to seeing it through and Creating Something that now the rest of us can enjoy and build upon! This is absolutely a Passion Project and has involved extreme amounts of talent, combined with patience and determination.This is just my own "celebration video" of this moment, but I hope this also gives other folks insight to the potential here to just have a bit of fun again on some real hardware. No ads, no login. Just turn it on and get back to First Principles of computing!My notes about the X16 are located here:https://voidstar.blog/voidstars-commander-x16-notes/00:39 Confetti BASIC program01:00 Crazy Snake Epic Run!02:20 Mirrors Edge Audio Demo04:17 Calliope Audio Demo05:53 Take to the Skies Concept Demo06:46 Planet X16 Concept Demo08:20 Memory Test08:39 Using SD2IEC Device 909:19 BadApple Visual Demo10:16 MENU Command Usage10:51 Color Bars Sample11:00 Sonic on CRT Audio Demo11:23 Montezuma's Revenge! Play Demo15:51 Chase Vault Play Demo17:22 XIXIT Play Demo19:40 XIXIT Level 19 Issue (has been fixed!)19:55 Crazy Lander Play Demo20:36 Crazy Lander Level 220:56 Crazy Lander Level 322:18 Crazy Lander Level 4 Final Pass23:23 One Happy CustomerNOTE: This video captures my first couple hours with the system, I wrote some BASIC and then tried the demos and sample games for the first time.
IBM 5120 Disk Drive Example (benchtop experiment) Xiphod 2023-06-29 | Recording "as-is" operational condition of an IBM 5120 disk drive unit. Unsure of what "normal" operation looks like, but the system is not currently reading these disks (nor able to MARK/format them).
Sharp PC-5000 printer sample (first printing in over 30 years!) Xiphod 2023-05-06 | Example of using the Sharp PC-5000 ribbon cartridge to print on plain paper. This system was made in Japan in 1983 and ran MS-DOS 2.0.There is no ink within the printer, it uses a heated head instead. For plain paper, the ribbon cartridge is needed, but thermal paper can be used also (by just removing the ribbon cartridge).After removing all the expansion cartridges, I found that the PC-5000 internal ROM has a built-in sample program that includes an option to print a full production description. This includes a bulleted list of product features that fits on a single page of paper.While the print quality appears "poor" keep in mind two things: (1) there is a dial to adjust the "print contrast" that can increase the quality and (2) this printer and ribbon cartridge hasn't been used in over 30 years.
Commander X16 VTERM (initial demo, local only) Xiphod 2023-05-04 | This is an initial sample demo of a terminal emulator program for the Commander X16 (running in the CX16 r42 version of the emulator). This sample is just the initial proposed user interface. It is groundwork towards building an API/SDK for this type of "text-mode" software on the CX16. This was compiled with cc65 (using a mixture of C and 6502 inline assembly):- switching video modes- writing text to the screen- monitoring key presses and modifiers- binary to string conversion and padded right alignment- accessing the RTC jiffies counterNOTE: For improved performance and less memory footprint, this is not using the standard C library.
Domesticating the computer: how the appliance computers came to be (Mandie Edition) Xiphod 2023-04-09 | This is an updated version of the original "Domesticating the computer" mural story. In addition to a few cosmetic updates, this version also has our good friend Mandie doing the narration!This is a story of how the computer came to be an affordable home consumer appliance. Those of GenX and earlier are the last generation of people to know the world before "a computer in every home" became a reality. Nearly all the core aspects of Computer Science were established in academia before the 1970s, but as surplus equipment following the Apollo program made its way into the garages of hobbyist and tinkerers, a "computer liberation" movement began with a direct intention of making all this capability available to the masses. This is a brief highlight of some of the computer systems involved in that transition, where within a decade the personal computer went from still costing more than a house to down to under $1,000, and software-applications began to become their own packaged commodity.** Credits **voidstar (script and video editing)CarrionCrow (background art and composition)Mandie (narration)For the Aaron edition (which has greater details in its "More" Video Description):youtube.com/watch?v=dTHV-qRf-0cA web site link with further details is IN-WORK, see here:https://voidstar.blog/domesticating-the-computer/
IBM 5110 (1978) custom PALM application initial demo Xiphod 2023-03-24 | Demo of loading PALM machine code into a physical IBM 5110 (made in year 1978) using the KBD5110 serial keyboard interface.Additional details here:https://voidstar.blog/ibm-5100-palm-assembler/This PALM assembly is over 1300 lines and compiled to 1538 bytes. The serial interface took 36 seconds to transfer this binary into the IBM 5110's DCP memory. This works out to a transfer rate of about 400 baud (or a person typing this in at about 500 word per minute, which would blow up their keyboard).Application demo includes:- output a given string- 32-bit (two register) main-loop counter - WASD keyboard input handling- 1-9 and 0 keyboard input and a representation of binary conversions- invoking the CRT beeper at varying delay times in response to keypressesThe source code is here:github.com/voidstar78/5110VEMU/blob/version2/bin/sample7_outc.asmAll of this same PALM code would run on an IBM 5100, only the data values for the keyboard scan codes and screen "symbol codes" would be different.
Domesticating the computer: how the appliance computer came to be (Aaron Edition) Xiphod 2023-03-18 | For an updated alternate voice narration version, see: youtube.com/watch?v=alI_RnLbamoThis is a story of how the computer came to be an affordable home consumer appliance. Those of GenX and earlier are the last generation of people to know the world before "a computer in every home" became a reality. Nearly all the core aspects of Computer Science were established in academia before the 1970s, but as surplus equipment following the Apollo program made its way into the garages of hobbyist and tinkerers, a "computer liberation" movement began with a direct intention of making all this capability available to the masses. This is a brief highlight of some of the computer systems involved in that transition, where within a decade the personal computer went from still costing more than a house to down to under $1,000, and software-applications began to become their own packaged commodity.*** Credits ***voidstar (script and video editing)CarrionCrow (background art and composition)Amigo Aaron (narration)Thank You for direct feedback in reviewing content by the following "I-was-there" individuals:Dennis Roberson (SCAMP/IBM 5100 lead engineer)Dan Bricklin (VisiCalc)Scott Adams (AdventureLand games)Ken Williams (Sierra OnLine)Thank You for feedback and advise (and your patience dealing with my many revisions) the various members of the following groups:CoCo Discord crewretrocomputingforum.comforum.vcfed.orgcctalk mailing distribution*** Audio ***rainforestsunday eveningAirea 51venetian canalsA high-resolution copy of the background mural is available here:github.com/voidstar78/mural1970/tree/version2For an even deeper historical perspective, highly recommend the following:Brian Stuart "Whence Came the Personal Computer" (includes PDP-8 usage demo)1513041.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Whence+Came+the+Personal+Computer/1_dq6va75gOther outstanding world-class Vintage Computing Encyclopedia resources:oldcomputers.netwww.oldcomputermuseum.comcomputerhistory.orgA web site link with further details is IN-WORK, see here:https://voidstar.blog/domesticating-the-computer/"The Mother of all Demos" - Douglas Engelbart (1968)youtube.com/watch?v=2nm47PFALc8MOSFET – The Most significant invention of the 20th Centuryyoutube.com/watch?v=bHwl8TdEI6kThe F-14 “Tomcat” First Microprocessor (1968-1970)firstmicroprocessor.com"The First Ten Years of Amateur Computing" PDF article - Sol Libes (BYTE July 1978)tech-insider.org/personal-computers/research/acrobat/7807.pdfThe Complete History of the Home Microprocessor (decent for post 1990s content)youtube.com/watch?v=EJh4BIujpHAUS Government Census Information (compiled as of 2018)census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2018/acs/ACS-39.pdf"Low-Cost Remote CRT Terminals" - D.J. Theis and L.C. Hobbsand "Software for Terminal-Oriented Systems" - Datamation 1968http://www.bitsavers.org/magazines/Datamation/196806.pdf"The Emerging Microcomputer" articlehttp://www.bitsavers.org/magazines/Datamation/197412.pdfThe Appliance Computer - 1977archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1977-01/page/n7/mode/2upThe first complete small computer (page 74) SOL-20 [uses term of "motherboard"]archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1976-11/page/n73/mode/2up?view=theater"A mess of parts doth not a computer make" (BYTE magazine "ad")archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1977-04/page/n5/mode/2up?view=theater"History of Microcomputer Flight Simulator"meridianoutpost.com/resources/articles/timeline-Microsoft-Flight-Simulator-history.phpSoftware in Bags (article)https://retro365.blog/2019/12/20/bits-from-my-personal-collection-robert-clardy-synergistic-software-and-the-birth-of-the-personal-home-computer-roleplaying-game/80 Micro August 1980 (TRS-80 factory)archive.org/details/80-microcomputing-magazine-1980-08/page/n9/mode/2up?view=theaterSee also "Intercom" Radio Shack magazine issues (1981):https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1764417/m1/1/
Binary sequence using a rediscovered font from the IBM 5110 of 1978 (visualizing the power of two) Xiphod 2023-02-11 | This is not vector graphics. These were found as a perfectly arranged set of font apparently intended for this purpose (of cycling through binary sequences for diagnostics). There is an "upper" and "lower" portion to this font, so you can extend the count past 16-bits (to 20-bits total).This is an arrangement of the first 64 font symbols stored in the IBM 5110 character set ROM, representing four style sets of 16-character sequences. This arrangement allows users of the system to quickly convert internal binary values (in memory or in registers) into a corresponding visual symbol that depicts the value of each individual bit within a byte. The sequence here only uses one of the upper styles (group two), then cycles through all 16 of the lower styles within that same group in order across 4-bytes.For example, if a register contains the binary value of 0101 1010 1111 1100, we would convert this to ASCII as follows: reserve memory for the string (e.g. 4 bytes + 1 null terminator character, so 5 bytes), process each nibble (4-bits) into a lookup table, and gradually build up the string "5AFC\0". Numerals (0-9) would need to be indexed differently than letters (A-F), making the conversion typically be a slow subroutine (since in normal ASCII, A-F and 0-9 are not sequential groups).But if your system has a font that conveys the digital/binary arranged in the natural order of 0-F (or 0 to 15), then no conversion is necessary: use the natural binary value to just index directly into the character set to get the equivalent representation. And that is what is being done here: the internal processor of the IBM 5110 has an 8-bit ALU but offers 16-bit registers. A small 16-bit counter program was written and is being executed to cycle through all values 0000 to FFFF (coordinated across two registers). Instead of converting the current count from binary to "hex ASCII" (or "hex EBDIC" in the case of the 5110), each byte of the 16-bit count is indexed directly into the second group of the IBM 5110's character set. The binary pattern of each byte is then visually represented, with a short line for "1" (one) and an empty gap for "0" (zero).The four white symbols shown here represent the 2-bytes of the 16-bit count (4-bit * 4) in order of MSB (most significant) to LSB (least significant). The LSB (on the right) cycles very quickly relative to the MSB (on the left) that increments much more slowly.Another perspective here is that this depicts the binary "power of two" sequence (that is, depicting how much work/effort it takes to get to the next power of 2).For more information about the IBM 5100 and IBM 5110 character sets, see:https://voidstar.blog/ibm-5100-character-sets/03:56 Reduced speed to show roll over to 0x8000 (half way point!)04:08 Alternate version (different filter and tempo)10:02 Amy's FlashlightAudio:Oxygene 9 (1998) Ayla Megamix
RS232 Serial Communication with a Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer - Ultimaterm V-Term Twilight NETMATE Xiphod 2023-02-02 | In this video I originally wanted to focus on examining actual serial signal at various baud rates, to present a real feel of what a bit is (electrical pulses) and how they are serially communicated across systems. While I did do that after coming up with a way to intercept the serial pins, the video also grew into doing a presentation of various "terminal emulator" software for the Color Computer system. This shows a nice evolution of capability throughout the 1980s, while also showing increasingly clever software to be able to receive, process (parse escape sequences), and present this streamed data (ultimately using graphics mode to present non-native character sets).This is not meant as a tutorial of any specific terminal program. But there are some "close up" shots towards the end that may help clarify how they are used.The specific WiModem232 device I used is:cbmstuff.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=60This same model is also available for C64 and PET. Ask the shop about a case, I highly recommend a case because the edge of the LCD screen is fairly easy to crack when plugging it in without a case. And I do recommend the LCD version, to make it easier to verify what the current baud rate on the modem is.For the DELUXE RS232 Pak:The original versions of these are getting harder to find. What I used is a clone production out of Australia from "dr.ians_junque" (search eBay for "New RS232C Serial Interface for Radio Shack Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer 1 2 3"). While it doesn't come with the same case as the original, it does operate identical to the original and uses much of the same components. An excellent hardware walk-through of this RS232 Pak is available here:youtube.com/watch?v=iIsdBGWa1kIIf interested in the terminal setup on the PET side of things, I have another video with more information about PETTERM used on that system:youtube.com/watch?v=PH7YtoxOdrITable of Pertinent Time Indexes00:10 CoCo1 SerialIO Setup00:20 Loading COMPAC with CTR-80A Cassette (CLOADM)00:47 Powering up the WiModem232 (initial router connection)01:33 Observing serial signal with oscilliscope 02:25 PART 2: Swapping CoCo1 to CoCo303:30 Machine to machine bit-bang serial communication demo04:04 PART 3: To show a variety of connection speeds (110 to 19200 baud)04:14 CoCo3 SerialIO Setup (plus RGB to HDMI video out)04:43 Demo of 110 baud speed05:05 Demo of 300 baud (with signal view)05:13 Demo of 2400 baud05:30 Comparison of 9600 vs 19200 baud05:53 PART 4: BBSing at 9600 baud05:58 Greg-E-Term 2.506:49 PARTICLES BBS (since 1992)06:58 Ultimaterm 2.407:53 Ultimaterm 4.109:19 V-Term Terminal Emulator 3.04.0010:12 Twilight Terminal 2.1212:13 NETMATE 0.53 beta13:21 Comparison of 4800 vs 19200 baud13:44 Official End :D13:53 Graph of 110/300/19200 serial signal speeds14:02 Oscilloscope monitoring various alphabet signals14:33 Closeup View: Greg-E-Term 2.515:47 Closeup View: Ultimaterm 4.117:09 Checking weather using Ultimaterm17:24 Closeup View: V-Term17:55 Closeup View: Twilight Terminal18:52 Checking weather using Twilight Terminal19:14 (saying hello to hyjinx, AlsGeekLab SysOp)19:36 Closeup View: NETMATE20:27 Checking weather using NETMATE21:36 Static Images: Greg-E-Term22:07 Static Images: Ultimaterm 2.722:25 Static Images: Ultimaterm 4.123:07 Static Images: Twilight Terminal23:33 Static Images: NETMATE
IBM 5110 Interactive Star PALM and internal QIC tape capability presentation (VCCC2022) Xiphod 2023-01-03 | This is a capability demonstration of the IBM 5100 and IBM 5110 systems from 1975/1978. The demonstration uses a VCCC2022 "Christmas Star" entry as a reference example and presents some updates to the 5110VEMU emulator (broader disassembly, pre-load binary from command line).PART 100:16 D.I.Y. PALM machine code entry01:15 Saving machine code to tape01:43 Loading machine code from tape01:58 Review of the machine code02:17 First run of Christmas Star ("wild" 17x16 star)02:36 "I Still Function" - Magatron03:10 Demo of RUN/STEP operation (internal switch)04:02 Running "Christmas Star" in 5110VEMU06:22 PALM Assembly Code for Star (reference) [will be on github]PART 207:26 IBM 5100 Power Up07:42 Start of the Star Listing (valid 17x17 star)PART 308:42 A verbose BASIC solution for IBM 511009:00 Loading BASIC "Star" program in 5110VEMU09:26 Full Speed Sample Run 09:34 Step/Trace Sample Run10:51 Continued Step Sample Run (Language ROS/Executive ROS)11:43 Quick Overview of Alternative Star Approachesvoidstar's IBM 5100 Noteshttps://voidstar.blog/ibm-5100-personal-computer/https://voidstar.blog/ibm-5100-programming-examples/For additional solutions and approaches to the Christmas Star Challenge across a variety of platforms, see the following:VCCC2022 Instructionshttp://logiker.com/Vintage-Computing-Christmas-Challenge-2022VCCC2022 Official Resultsdemozoo.org/parties/4578
IBM 5100 Tape Usage Demonstration (internal and external IBM 5106) with Ball Bounce surprise at end Xiphod 2022-11-20 | Having come across an IBM 5100 (from 1975) that is fully functional, including both the internal and external tape units, I decided to make a video of this usage to have on record how that experience was. More info available at:https://voidstar.blog/ibm-5100-personal-computer/PHASE 100:00:14 Insert QIC DC6150 tape00:00:30 "MARK 3,2,1" of the tape00:00:40 MARK finish, brief explanation of MARK00:01:22 Proceed demo ("UTIL" command is like DIRECTORY)00:01:54 Multi-CRT demonstration00:02:37 UTIL issued to show no listing (show that must REWIND first)00:02:50 REWIND/UTIL shows the filenames00:03:00 LOAD 0 (this clears memory, what most people expect as "NEW")00:03:37 Modify program, SAVE to file 1 with a new modified filename00:04:50 LOAD and modify file 200:05:43 RUN brief run of the modified program and save the modified program back to file 2.00:06:09 REWIND/UTIL to show modified filenames00:06:27 clear (LOAD 0) and reload file 100:06:49 LOAD 2, back to the modified version 2, brief run demo00:07:23 conclude initial tape usage demonstration (end phase 1)PHASE 200:07:37 "MARK 8,5,1" show effect of re-MARKing an existing MARKed tape.00:07:52 "ERROR 158" is "Are you sure?" indicator00:07:59 graph showing progress of MARKing 8KB files00:09:22 "LOAD 1,E40" demo to show loading from the external 5106 tape unit00:10:20 LOAD 0 and load the file again from E40.00:11:09 "MARK 3,2,1" (full 5100 view only)00:11:22 confirm re-MARK with "GO"00:11:46 "UTIL DIR 1" to show all files (blank)00:12:02 "MARK 2,5,1" (with close up view)00:12:12 "GO" (using ATTN to clear the end of line)00:12:33 "UTIL" to (again) show that UTIL while at end of the data portion can be misleading00:12:36 "UTIL DIR 1" use this to automatically rewind back to file 1 and show the fill file listing from that point on.00:13:07 Load (again) the sample BASIC program from E40 (external) since all memory and files on E80 have been cleared.00:13:18 save program back to E80 file slot 100:13:42 save program to E80 file slot 2, but this time showing how long the filename can be (limit 17 characters).00:15:06 using UP/DOWN arrow keys to edit existing program change program intro and show four computed values per line.00:16:04 brief program sample run00:16:14 longer program sample run00:16:25 longer program sample run with "large screen"00:16:37 show R32 vs L32 switch effects00:17:08 very long program sample run on "large screens"00:17:14 show all three external CRTs00:17:17 reducing the contrast on the 14" JVC monitor to fix the smearing issue. (this is a monitor issue, it just does this the longer it is on)00:17:55 use of R32/L32 modes during long program runtime00:18:37 back to program listing, end demo phase 2PHASE 300:18:38 "UTIL DIR 1,E40"00:18:52 HOLD, CMD-MINUS entering the DCP diagnostic control program00:19:04 altering address 2000 to enter the "show all character symbols" program.00:19:11 The actual entering of the machine code is fast forwarded because it is already shown on a prior video demonstration. The reason it is being entered again is to save it as a RWS DUMP to a file.00:19:25 "BR 2000" to briefly show the program running (and verify it was entered correctly)00:19:38 "C"-9 to write the RWS DUMP to a tape file file type is "0048" since that is HEX version of 72.00:20:22 saving of RWS DUMP to a tape file00:20:30 notice the "garbage" at the bottom of screen,00:20:35 one of the ROS addressing check programs00:20:43 RAM TEST (notice the DCP uses the word RAM instead of RWS). 00:20:58 local CRT view of the test.00:21:11 RESET system, to prepare to show how to load the dump from file. RESET ensures clearing of the memory.00:21:25 UTIL DIR 1 to show file type 72 written to file 3.00:21:49 enter DCP to begin loading the dump00:22:06 before loading the program, I do "D 2000" to show the existing memory contents (and that it is not already equal to the test program).00:22:20 "C"-8 to issue load dump command (tape file back to RAM)00:22:40 "BR 2000" to run the loaded binary programPHASE 400:22:52 aded modern LCD screen to the BNC chain of output showing a full boot-up sequence NOTE: the audio is different in this portion, it is recorded directly off the action camera that is further away00:23:20 "UTIL DIR 1" result, notice file 4 is type "P4"00:23:31 "C"-8 to load the dump from tape to RAM. Using address 0B00.00:23:46 "D 0B00" to show the program contents. Some of you might recognize it. Quick preview of the code (to make sure it loaded ok).00:24:02 "BR 0B00" to run this mystery program.00:24:38 showing registers while program runs00:25:41 reset, and to show some BASIC samples
IBM 5100 PALM demo to display character symbols using DCP Xiphod 2022-11-12 | This is a demonstration on how to enable the DCP (Diagnostic Control Program) of the IBM 5100, then use it to enter a brief PALM machine code sequence of instructions. This program displays the full set of characters built into the display card and projected onto the CRT.Also showing how key presses are processed in the Level 3 interrupt and scan code results stored in registers, which can be read as memory offsets.NOTE: This video is a practice to a longer upcoming video about the tape unit (in terms of lighting and avoiding glare on the screen and how to show both the screen and what keys are being pressed).The program that was entered is described in greater detail at the following link:https://voidstar.blog/ibm-5100-character-sets/For general topics about the IBM 5100, see:https://voidstar.blog/ibm-5100-personal-computer/And for details of how this particular IBM 5100 was obtained:https://voidstar.blog/ibm-5100-5110-sources/
BACK TO THE PET (Commodore PET 4016 hardware demo made in 2022) Xiphod 2022-11-06 | This is a playing of shiru8bit's excellent "Back to the PET" demo compo on physical hardware with amplified audio out. This is amazing software for a 1MHz 6502 microprocessor system packaged into a standalone 29KB "PRG" binary. This makes exclusive use of the "PETSCII" character set in 40x25 text mode.This demo is presented on the physical hardware in a "dark mode" (lights off and screen focused) followed by a "light mode" (lights on and full view of the system). See 4:47 for the lights on version.Demos like these are extraordinary forms of artwork! The original hardware system to do this was first available in 1977 (although most systems at that time did not have a full 32K of RAM and would need a CB2 mod for the audio). By mid-1980, 32K RAM became more widely available/affordable to home consumers, and the 40XX series of Commodore PET included a piezo speaker for the CB2-style audio out. Crafting this kind of audio-visual experience on such an early home-computer requires very precise understanding of the instruction set and determining very clever coding techniques to pull off the desired effects (especially also while intermixed with audio, which represents a form of multitasking)."Back to the PET" was developed using ca65 (6502 assembler) and multiple support tools, and an emulator (called VICE) - no physical hardware was available during the development. To see how this physical hardware playthrough shown here compares with the emulator, see shiru8bit's original recording here (also with links to the original PRG and source code):youtube.com/watch?v=3FFPCuDqi_gPresented with permission, thanks shiru8bit!To emphasize: I didn't create this demo, it is the work exclusively of shiru8bit. But he didn't have a physical system to run the demo on, so this is a recording to demonstrate how fantastic the results of his dev and testing on an emulator translated over to the real hardware.NOTE: "Back to the PET" is a homage to a scene in the "8088MPH" demo for the IBM PC (CGA), both inspired by the excellent "Back to the Future" movie released in 1985 with Michael J. Fox.In honored memory of Jack Tramiel, Leonard Tramiel, Chuck Peddle. For an outstanding in-depth paper about the PETSCII character set, refer to:https://acris.aalto.fi/ws/portalfiles/portal/39040680/PETSCII_A_Character_Set_and_a_Creative_Platform.pdfFor other Commodore PET related works, see also:- Attack of the PETSCII Robots- Destiny Hunter for Commodore PET- Jim Orlando's excellent Commodore PET software (Defender, Lode Runner, etc.)- Commodore Stupid PET Tricks
WiModem232 Demo Usage (connecting two systems at 1200 baud) Xiphod 2022-10-30 | This is a demonstration of two early home computers using WiModem's to connect to each other across a LAN.For specific how-to-setup discussion is located here:https://voidstar.blog/wimodem232-setup-examplesThe WiModem devices can be obtained here:cbmstuff.comFinding and loading old terminal software can be a challenge. Ask in Comments here or at the links above for help.I believe a WiModem could be used on even older systems (such as Altair, SOL-20, IBM 5100), but suitable terminal software will have to be written. WiModem's can also be used on newer systems - I'll be working on a part two that shows 9600 baud on the IBM PC 5150, and how a modern system can use this over USB.
IBM 5110 sample of a Bad Display Card Xiphod 2022-06-12 | From another older IBM 5110, I determined that it has a bad Display card (it has components from 1977). It does partially work. We haven't yet isolated down the specific issue. The test system I am using here does startup fine with its own original Display card. I can also place all the cards from this working 5110 into the older 5110, and that older system will work as well. This is how we know the problem is isolated down to some component on this specific Display card.
IBM 5110 Keyboard Replacement Prototype (part 3) Xiphod 2022-06-11 | Fully working keyboard replacement concept for IBM 5110. This would likely also work for IBM 5100 by just updating the scan code values (listed in MIM document), and the design might also apply to other parallel-input style keyboards of that era. If the tape or disk unit of this system is not functional, this is an alternative way to inject code or data into this ancient IBM system.Code available here: github.com/voidstar78/KBD5110
IBM 5110 Keyboard Replacement Test 2 Xiphod 2022-06-05 | Using an Arduino Nano, programmed to use D2 and D11 that are connected to KBD_P and KBD_STROBE, demonstrating use of a MCU device to coordinate typing keys on an IBM 5110. The scan code for "9" is already 0xFF, making it the easiest key of this system to type (just indicate EVEN bit count {8} on the PARITY, then STROBE to press). The program intentionally had a 1 second delay between key presses.
IBM 5110 Keyboard Replacement Test 1 Xiphod 2022-06-03 | Brief initial test to show concept of applying scan codes directly to the keyboard connector. The scan code for "9" on this system requires just a single pin change, followed by a brief signal on the STROBE pin, making it the easiest key to "type" on the 5110.
IBM 5110 Tape Unit Internals in action Xiphod 2022-05-29 | This is a brief demonstration of two aspects of the internal tape drive of the IBM 5110. The mechanism is essential the same for the IBM 5100 and also for the external tape unit (known as the IBM 5106). The first aspect is an "x-ray" view of how the cassette tape is inserted and what happens inside to allow the head to contact with the tape (by having the tape control card and corresponding connector removed). The second aspect is the operation of the belt and select-magnets that actuate the forward/reverse movement of the tape. Note that the metal enclosure around the tape head has been removed just to make it easier to identify the head.
Fixing IBM 5110 Extra Horizontal Lines using Sub Brightness CRT Adjustment Xiphod 2022-05-17 | Brief preview of a problem encountered on an IBM 5110 CRT, where the CRT screen would elevate brightness after startup (and that brightness would not respond to the front panel brightness adjustment). Simple fix is shown. Also, a brief PSU demonstration at the end (different project, but 5110 related).
Retro Charm CGA Snow Example in 80-column Color Text Mode - THIS IS NORMAL :D Xiphod 2022-03-17 | A design flaw in the original IBM PC CGA resulted in 80-column color-textmode software often having "snow" effects (when scrolling and/or using high intensity colors). Software that used the BIOS to access the display would not have this issue (but would run slower waiting for a proper screen refresh), but software that wrote directly to the display typically would have this "snow effect" issue. In this example, MODM (a MOD music player) is being run on an original 4.77MHz IBM PC 5150 at 11khz playback.
5110VEMU Usage Demo - March 2022 Xiphod 2022-03-16 | 5110VEMU is a Wintel-compatible (Windows/Intel) IBM 5110 emulator, which uses actual extracted ROS (ROM) binaries and PALM processor instruction decoding. This is a command-line frontend to Christian Corti's outstanding core work. Additional work was in replacing the X11 interface with pdcurses, incorporating additional CPU-state monitors, adding the ability to script startup inputs of assembly and BASIC samples (essentially ASCII to PALM 5110-system converters), and adding the ability to step single instruction at a time (or a batch of multi-instruction at a time). Compiled for both 32-bit and 64-bit x86 systems. A "pure" MS-DOS version may be possible, but the chosen screen layout requires a 200x42 terminal console.The eventual goal of 5110VEMU is to use the executable insight to examine the CRC totals of ROS, to compare the Executable ROS of Model 1 vs Model 2, and to determine other viable I/O options beyond the standard disk and tape features of the system.To see actual physical usage of an IBM 5110 (that includes the Bouncing Ball DEMO1 assembly), see my video at youtube.com/watch?v=5I2bBNdsfGY
BDO Contest Video 2022 CalpheON 2 Episode - McBee of Comet Xiphod 2022-03-14 | A video-scrapbook of my two-years of adventures in BDO! From Calpheon to Valencia, Level 1 scrub with no horse to a Fallen God hero: Here is the origin story of the McBee family covered in 6 minutes!My main character is a Valkyrie named IMarpesiaI who was a Queen of the Amazons and said to have founded the city of Ephesus (which is a ruined city that I've visited, located in present day Turkey; Ephesus is famous for being where Mary and John escaped to after the death of Jesus). I do have a 2nd Valkyrie named Lampedo (who was the sister of Marpesia). These two women were credited by Giovanni Boccaccio in the 12th century (in a book where he describes over 100 famous women of history).While this brief set of slides shows the highlights, there are still many more details about BDO that are not shown: Elvia Kzarka quests, Hystria/Aakman, several dungeons, Sycraia underwater area, the joys of Life Skills, housing, manors, and PVP/Node Wars!Portions of audio credited to:Throw Off The Bowlinesfrom Believe by James Pagetjamespaget.bandcamp.com/track/throw-off-the-bowlines
CoCo3 vs CoCo1 Subtle Differences During Daggorath Demo Xiphod 2022-02-25 | Quick highlight of the subtle differences between a "real hardware" play of the built-in demo of the Dungeon of Daggorath game form 1982.There are three key differences:- after showing the SEER scrolls, the heart audio is very muffled on the CoCo3, for 3 heart beats (while it plays at full regular volume on the CoCo3)- on approach towards the GIANT, that giant's audio silenced abruptly on the CoCo3 (typically all creature audio play fully, but this particular one is stuttered since it resumes at the tail end of the audio)- At the very end of the demo, the knight "should" have a GIANT standing behind him (he doesn't appear in the CoCo3 version, since the GIANT has instead wandered in a different direction down the hall)
Destiny Hunter playthrough on original Commodore PET 4016 hardware Xiphod 2022-02-06 | In this video I describe some of the main game-play aspects of Destiny Hunter, a game I created in March 2021. 02:29 MAP 1 (Beach - JACK and JONAS)05:33 MAP 2 (Meadow - JERRY)06:20 MAP 3 (River - CROCS)07:43 MAP 4 (Divinity Island - STRZYGA)09:13 MAP 5 (Cave Entrance - JAMES and JUSTIN)12:01 MAP 6 (Cave - SLUAGHS)13:18 MAP 7 (Valley - JOSEPH and JIMMY)15:19 MAP 8 (Mountain - JASMINE)16:52 Artwork17:24 Game Instructions17:36 PET Hardware17:52 Example of Other PlatformsOriginally designed for the Commodore PET (using PETSCII characters), but also ported to the Apple2, TRS80, C64, and IBM PC.You can obtain the pre-built binary of the game (free) atwww.destinyhunter.org(playable with multiple emulators or on actual vintage hardware)The C source is available on github:github.com/voidstar78/DestinyHunter I try to avoid getting into the deep-technical behind-the-scenes aspects of the game. If you're interested in some of that, seek the Appendix sections of the Destiny Hunter manual (at the web link described above), which has Game Lore background, Rulebook, and other technical details (down to code memory map and design-decision notes).Half-way through the video, I ended up with too much background neighborhood noise to really complete the commentary. I'll be adding CC commentary to cover any highlights that were missed.I'm not affiliated with either TEXELEC or TFW8B, but I ordered their products and think they are fantastic! PET and C64 SNES GamePad adapter: texelec.com/product/snes-adapter-commodoreSD2PET floppy disk drive emulator for PET:thefuturewas8bit.com/sd2pet-future.htmlTo write the game code, I just used notepad++To compile the code and link together the binaries, I used:CC65 (PET, C64, Apple2 versions)Open WATCOM v2 (IBM PC version)Z88DK (Z80/TRS-80 version)The binaries make various system/BIOS calls, but otherwise do not depend on any particular operating system.To reduce wear and tear on original hardware, I used emulators to help during development and testing:VICE (xpet)AppleWintrs80gp86BOX and PCemThe PET 4016 machine used in this video was upgraded to have 32KB total system RAM. Some of the ROM system calls are at above the 32K address.TRIVIAThere are 8-maps and Divinity Island has a perfect 8x8 yin-yang as my homage to 8-bit computing! As an additional tribute: there are 8 CHIMEs (spirits), there are 8 player stats, there are 8 SLUAGHs in the cave, the game limits itself to 8 terrain types (6 are shown, 2 are "special"), and the map names are limited to 8 characters.TRIBUTES... DH borrows some concepts from various historical games, such as:Pac-Man [May 22, 1980] (naming opponents and orb is like a power-pellet)youtube.com/watch?v=-CbyAk3Sn9I&t=5sKing's Quest I [May 10, 1984] (animated interactive-story scenes)Ultima IV Quest of the Avatar [September 16, 1985] (chimes and persistency relate to the Virtues system)Legend of Zelda [February 21, 1986] (getting the wooden sword)youtube.com/watch?v=4NjvG72nz4w&t=95s1943 [June 1987] (blessing relate to concept of full-map effect: lightning-attack)(follow-on of 1942 arcade game released in 1984)youtube.com/watch?v=FbUN5ITWQQo&t=1405sSonic the Hedgehog [June 23, 1991] (cursed monsters are actually cute animals)youtube.com/watch?v=Gsa_4s3CjmI&t=286s
