PaulJ Progress

[exxos]

Exxos you now have three babies out there, how many more will be born?

I've not heard anything past what has been posted here. So not sure who else is building currently. But I heard my board is almost completed today. So I hope to get cracking myself very soon!

[troed]

So not sure who else is building currently.

I'm starting this weekend. That's likely not the same as finishing though

[PaulJ]

Jameco now lists the long header pins. Good for memory card and the un-f*ck boards.

https://www.jameco.com/z/PH1-787-120-04 ... 20276.html

[PaulJ]

Ok, I've had a hard time getting the floppy tests working from the diag cart.. Also the serial has been intermittent that is sometimes it starts and sometimes not. Well I found the issue!! . Pin 7 of the MAX238 is routed to pin 3 (RD) of the serial connector which is additionally routed to pin 19 (RD) of the 1772. The 1772 didn't like the negative voltage applied to its RD pin. Cut the run from serial pin3 to 1772 pin 19. It has to be cut to the right side of the via where pin 19 of the 1772 goes to pin 1 of the external floppy connector. Its late here so I'll post a pic tomorrow.

Floppy tests now work!


Floppy disk drive routines:
(WARNING--all choices except 2,6,7 write to the disk)
1 Quick Test
2 Read Alignment Disk
3 Disk Interchange Test
4 Disk Exerciser
5 Check copy protect tracks (80-82)
6 Test Speed
7 Install disk drives




Disk A: DS
Formatting Side 0 Track 00
Writing Side 0 Track 00
Formatting Side 0 Track 01
Writing Side 0 Track 01
Formatting Side 0 Track 79
Writing Side 0 Track 79
Reading Side 0 Track 00
Reading Side 0 Track 01
Reading Side 0 Track 79
Formatting Side 1 Track 79
Reading Side 0 Track 79
Formatting Side 0 Track 39
Writing Side 0 Track 39
Reading Side 0 Track 39
Pass

[Icky]

Great work and another patch by the sounds of it.

Now you have the floppy working you need to post a pic of not just your patch but your favourite game

[PhilC]

Well done and yes, the photo of it running your fave game is mandatory

[Icky]

Good spot - Just traced this through on the schematics STF remake and STFM.

On the STFM RD goes through a buffer to 68901 SI pin.

SI pin is already going to the MAX238 pin 6 on the remake.

[exxos]

Ok, I've had a hard time getting the floppy tests working from the diag cart.. Also the serial has been intermittent that is sometimes it starts and sometimes not. Well I found the issue!! . Pin 7 of the MAX238 is routed to pin 3 (RD) of the serial connector which is additionally routed to pin 19 (RD) of the 1772. The 1772 didn't like the negative voltage applied to its RD pin. Cut the run from serial pin3 to 1772 pin 19. It has to be cut to the right side of the via where pin 19 of the 1772 goes to pin 1 of the external floppy connector. Its late here so I'll post a pic tomorrow.

oh wow, great work there! I just had a quick look and I have "RD" name used on the 1772 and "RD" on the RS232 So yes the track between 1772 RD and RS232 RD needs to be cut.. nice find!

Amazing floppy worked at all really!

[PaulJ]

Every one else didn't see it because they use the monitor and keyboard. I'm using serial until I get the un-f*ck board so the -12v from the serial comes in and screws up the 1772. With no serial input the floppy even worked appeariently. It was driving me crazy, thought I had a bad solder joint some where. Some times the serial would work some times it wouldn't.

[exxos]

Impressive find though just the same!

This is why its good to have multiple people building this board as problems can slip by otherwise, and that problem is a prime example of such.