C64 09-15-1997
Q: How do you hook a C64 to a VCR?
A: The answer lies in the type of monitor cable you have. If you have the kind that has the Video on one line then it is a simple matter of plugging the audio and the video from the computer (via this cable we were just talking about) into the VCR's audio in and video in. If you have the cable that splits the Chroma and Luma, you can use a "Y" connector to join the signals into one video line and plug that into the video in on the VCR. The audio is the same as before.
If you use a TV with the tv out to a switcher box, you can also run the signals via the switcher box to the VCR via the antenna in, just like they are on the tv now.
Now you need a couple of extra RCA cables. (RCA is simply the designation for the type of jack or plug used by standard VCRs and stereos). The cables need to have the male RCA on both ends. They come with most VCRs. Run the audio out and video out from the VCR to the monitor's audio in and video in. On a 1701 or 1702 use the ones located on the front of the monitor. A 75 ohm cable may also be used for hooking up to a tv that supports it (the standard cable tv type of cable). If your VCR supports this, but your tv doesn't, use the 75 ohm cable anyway and go to Radio Shack and request a 75 ohm to 300 ohm adapter. Then you can hook up right where your switcher box used to be (before you hooked it up to your VCR).
You can run video in and tv out as well as tv in and video out. Or video in and out or tv in and out. It makes no difference. Be sure to slide the switch on the right hand rear side of the 170x to the right to switch the video to the front, if you have a 170x. Also, you may have to set the VCR to AV or Audio/Visual.
This can be done from any computer that has a composite signal (the RCA route) or an RF modulator (the tv switcher box route). Amigas, STs, Atari 8-bits, post PET/CBM commodores, PCjr, and many, many other computers. Take a look at your machine, you may be surprised. Hook up to a VCR today and send your friends demos of your latest programming creations or make slide shows with music and narrative. There are some waycool non-traditional desktop video applications that become available to you!
C65 08-30-1997
Q: Will commodore 64 cartridges plug directly into the C65?
A: No, the expansion port on the C65 is smaller, much like the one on the B128. I don't know if an adapter can be made because I have no technical information on the pin out of the C65. Any takers?
Epson PX-8 02-21-1999
Q: I need to know proper syntax for: SAVE, LOAD, MOUNT and LOGIN.
A:
SAVE"dev:filename",option
dev: ....... device (A: is RAM Disk, H:= cassette, etc)
filename ... 8 character alpha/numeric file name
option ..... A for ASCII file
P for protect puts the file into encoded binary format
(P permanently keeps file from being listed or edited)
dev and option are optional
LOAD"dev:filename",option dev: ....... device (A: is RAM Disk, H:= cassette, etc) filename ... 8 character alpha/numeric file name option ..... R used for chaining files and/or load and RUNdev and option are optional
REMOVE
REMOVE writes the file names of files that have been saved to tape from RAM to the tape's DIR.
MOUNT will read the DIR on the tape to RAM.
These are to expedite tape usage. When a file is saved, the DIR on tape is not updated until the REMOVE command is executed. MOUNT is not necessary from BASIC, as it is automatic if the REMOVE command has been used before the new tape is put in when LOAD, SAVE or FILES is used.
LOGIN prgno,R prgno ...... is the program area number (1 to 5) R .......... will run the program
Epson PX-8 02-21-1999
Q: What does "PIP" mean?
A: Peripheral Interchange Program:
From direct mode,
PIP H:=A:filename
will copy a file (filename) from RAM (drive A: to cassette (drive H:)
The syntax is:
PIP destination dev:[filename]=source dev:filename
Wild cards work also, making it possible to copy more than one file in one use of PIP:
PIP A:=H:*.*
will move all the files from H: to A:
From program mode (loading PIP into memory first), PIP has many, many options and takes up several pages in the manual, which is a bit more complex than I can get into here. However PIP is the same on most all CP/M machines. You might want to check the local library for books on CP/M. (I need to update the links here for CPM info as things have moved and my not be of much help.)
Has a good search engine that may give some good results. Keep in mind you are looking for info on PIP and not the PX-8, since that would limit your search somewhat.
Epson PX-8 02-21-1999
Q: Does the PX-8 computer have built-in BASIC?
A: No, it does not. However, if you have a ROM capsule that has BASIC in it (or cassette) BASIC can be loaded into memory, but it is not built in. If you have the ROM, it will not automatically bootup. It can be loaded by moving the blinking highlight to BASIC on the menu and pressing [RETURN] or load it from direct mode by typing DEV:BASIC, where DEV: is the device where BASIC resides.
Epson PX-8 02-21-1999
Q: What is "ICBA?"
A: Those are the drives selected to appear on the menu screen (the screen you usually see when first powering up the PX-8). I: is the ROM socket on the Modem Pack (you will know if this is installed as the PX-8 will not have foldout legs and will have a place to plug both a handset and a phone line into), C: and B: are the standard ROM sockets on the stock PX-8 and A: is the RAM drive. These are the default drives, -- you can, of course, reconfigure the system so the designators are different, i.e. C: can be assigned to RAM, et cetera.
Epson PX-8 02-21-1999
Q: What is "MCT?"
A: MCT is where you setup how your Micro Cassette Tape verifies and saves information. Selecting option 4 from the system menu takes you to the setup menu for that and is relatively self explanatory.
Epson PX-8 02-21-1999
Q: How do you save Wordstar files?
A: ^KS will save (update) WORDSTAR files from within Portable Wordstar. ^KD close and update, ^KX close, update and exit Portable Wordstar, and ^KQ abandon file (quit without updating). Keep in mind the ASCII save option has a bug, in that it will not save the files as ASCII, but rather as Portable Wordstar files.
Epson PX-8 02-13-1998
Q: I would like to know if I can run a DOS based program with my PX-8?
A: No, the systems are very different.
If you have a compiler and the DOS source code you may be able to compile a downsized version of the program, however many of the labels may need to be changed. It would be a lot of work. The PX-8 can be expanded to almost 128K (it uses part of the expander even if you don't use the RAM Drive) and many PC programs started off needing 128K to run.
There may be a CP/M version of the program in question. At one time, you may have been able to get a version for either, as many programs were available for a wide variety of platforms. It definitely depends on what program you want to run - Microsoft Word is not going to run under CPM...if you're good enough to port it, you're hired!
Many CP/M PRGs will run on the PX-8 despite the screen size as the display will auto scroll. This is according to the manual and I have not tried any full-screen programs on it, or anything not written specifically for the PX-8.
Epson PX-8 02-16-1999
Q: I would be interested in whether there is still a PX-8 user group, libraries and someone still burning ROMs for them.
A: campanelllc@erols.com has the ability to burn & test PX-8 ROMs and has offered to help to anyone still using the PX-8.
Anyone have any info on User Groups?
Epson PX-8 09-01-1997
Q: Could you tell me the pin-out of the PX-8's serial ports.
A: RS-232C and Serial:
RS-232C
EEEEEEEE
E E
E 1 2 E
E E
E 3 4 5 E
E E
E 6 7 8 E
E E
EEEEEEEE
Pin No. Symbol Direction Description
1 GND -- Ground
2 TxD out Transmit data
3 RxD in Receive data
4 RTS out Request to send
5 CTS in Clear to send
6 DSR in Data set ready
7 DTR out Data terminal ready
8 DCD in Data carrier detect
E FG -- Frame ground
SERIAL
EEEEEEEE
E E
E 1 2 E
E E
E 3 4 5 E
E E
E 6 7 8 E
E E
EEEEEEEE
Pin No. Symbol Direction Description
1 GND -- Ground
2 PTX out Transmit data
3 PRX in Receive data
4 (RTS) out Request to send
5 (CTS) in Clear to send
6 PIN in Status ready
7 POUT out Control signal
8 FG -- Frame ground
Franklin ACE 1000 Plus 09-17-1997
Q: Other than a built in drive housing, is there any difference between the ACE 1000 and the ACE 1000 Plus?
A: On the 1000 the drive controller is in slot 6. On the plus it is built into the mother board and while most software looks to slot 6, the Plus is set up to handle the situation, it acts as if nothing has changed and drive access works fine. Slot 6 is now available for your use. I am at this time, unaware of any difficulties of using slot 6, it seems as long as anything you write to access slot six is not a disk drive you should have no problems. The drive controller for slot 6 on the mother board (PN: 1100019) consists of a gate array at H10 which is labelled "Floppy Disk Controller" and a ROM at H7. If you remove these, along with the plastic plug (if any) from slot 6, you can logically enable slot 6 for use.
Some of Pluses also had an adapter to plug joysticks into the back of the cabinet, rather than onto the mother board. You could easily by-pass this by simply unplugging the adapter and plugging into the socket on the mother board.
IBM PS/2 09-22-2000
Q: I've recently inherited an old IBM P/S2 system. It is the "Z50" model, with a 286 processor, 2MB RAM, 1.44Meg floppy, and a 30Meg hard drive. It was working but then one day became intermittent and now it gives many error codes and the floppy drive when connected to the "A" slot will not shut off. I just keeps running. If the floppy and hard drive are removed the machine will default to IBM Basic language. So far some basic trouble shooting has revealed that there are some open traces in the PCB itself, and being a multilayer PCB with the interconnecting traces buried deeply I can't follow them. What I need is a schematic for this motherboard to continue troubleshooting. Time and patience I have... I enjoy doing this kind of thing for fun... If you could point me in the direction of locating a schematic it would be appreciated (Yes, I tried IBM and was able to download the complete service manual for this machine but no schematic, and IBM wants $100 per hour for anything else). Please drop me an email if you have any suggestions or leads. Brian Kennedy (bnet "one")
A: Anyone?
Lexus Nexus 10-01-1997
Q: Through no fault of my own, I have recently come into possession of a very old computer. The name on it is Lexus Nexus. It is built in to a desk which also contains the printer and a monitor. It appears to have a phone attachment, as if it might have hooked to a mainframe. I found a date of 1972 on it. I would appreciate any information you might have, and would like to know if it has any value.
A: John Maguire wrote: There was an IBM computer that matches that description to a tee. 8" drives - I had a copy of the manual and software at one time (the manual is at least three moves ago - long gone, sorry!). Ran a version of RPL(?). My guess is that it is a terminal that would sit in a law office to access the Lexus-Nexus Data Base. It sums up my thoughts on the matter as well. Both John and I are speculating at this point. If anyone has any info on this please email me -- thank you!
As far as to what value it may have, at this point I would say you might getanywhere from $US10 to $US50 for it. But please try not to sell it to anyone who might part it out, as it is a bit of history, and is quite a treasure!
PCjr 09-04-1997
Q: Can the PCjr be expanded to 512k?
A: That is a loaded question. It can be expanded to 128k via the expansion provided by IBM. I heard a third party made an expander that would take it up to 256k. I suppose you could do a hardware hack, but unless you really know what you are doing, that might not be advisable.
Power Macintosh 02-16-1999
Q: Can the old Quick BASIC for the Mac run on the PowerMac?
A: Unfortunately, it can't and can. It seems to go back and forth. I never got it to compile on the 6100 series. It works well on the Plus, but the iMac can only run compiled versions, if it hangs move the mouse, if it locks up, reboot. My PowerBook used to run the editor but not the compiled PRGs, now the editor doesn't even open up but the compiled PRGs that I never got to test run wonderfully. Perhaps it has to do with virtual memory, as I believe that is all I changed on that system. -- Experiment!
The compiled programs it makes will run under System 7.6 and below, as well as on System 8.5 (when my program locked up the iMac under 8.2, it may have been an extensions conflict). But then, the iMac is a G3!
I am presently looking into Mac emulators for the Mac to see if it will function under emulation. (Yes, they have Mac emulators for the Mac.) It looks like it will be sometime before I can give a definite answer.
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