Q & A - Aug.88 - Mar.89
From: Len Stys (aa399)
Date: 02/26/90-04:05:37 PM Z
From: aa399 (Len Stys)
Subject: Q & A - Aug.88 - Mar.89
Date: Mon Feb 26 16:05:37 1990
Time Capsule - Q & A - Aug.88 - Mar.89
Question Subjects Date Posted
----------------- -----------
Sega Light Gun for Atari Aug.27,1988
Olivetti Printer Aug.27,1988
AMODEM Aug.27,1988
800XL Video Aug.27,1988
800XL Power Supply Aug.27,1988
Answer to Steve (WEFAX) Sep.06,1988
XF551 (8-BIT) Sep.14,1988
Atari 800XL Power Supply Sep.20,1988
Text files Sep.20,1988
SX212 Modem operation Sep.24,1988
Atari files to IBM??? Sep.24,1988
SX212 Revisited! Sep.28,1988
XF551 Answer Oct.02,1988
Percom Disk Drive Oct.14,1988
Pin Dot Matrix?? Oct.14,1988
Modem Jan.16,1989
Ultima V for 8-bit Jan.18,1989
BBS Jan.26,1989
Disk drive with 1030 Jan.28,1989
Ultima V... Feb.07,1989
VCRs Feb.18,1989
GFA Mar.16,1989
Programmer Information Feb.21,1989
Memory Banks Mar.10,1989
800 MEM upgrades Mar.09,1989
Dead Atari Mar.09,1989
Atari ST memory Mar.16,1989
Atari Repair Mar.16,1989
Sound Mar.23,1989
Sound Part II Mar.31,1989
BASIC help/where is Zork? Mar.31,1989
-From:ae826:qa:582706179:585298179:Sega Light Gun for Atari
I heard somewhere that there is a way to modify the Sega Gun to work on an
Atari. Is this true? and how?
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Sat Aug 27 16:02:21 1988 **
Sorry, but I can't help you with this
one. Maybe you should just buy
an Atari gun.
Doug Wokoun
Atari SysOp
-From:ag479:qa:585836523:588428523:OLIVETTI PRINTER
CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF AN OLIVETTI PRINTER WITH CENTRONICS
PARALLEL PORT (ORIGINALLY USED WITH COMMODORE VIC 20) WILL
WORK WITH MY ATARI 800XL? AND WILL IT REQUIRE ANY SPECIAL SOFT-
WARE? THANKS. S.H.
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Sat Aug 27 17:27:09 1988 **
Sorry I can't help you with this, but
if anyone has the answer or suggestions,
please send them to me at aa384.
Doug Wokoun
Atari SysOp
-From:visitor:qa:586872215:589464215:AMODEM
HAVE A 1030 MODEM WITH A GEMINI PRINTER INTERFACE THAT ATTACHES
THRU THE JOYSTICK PORT. AM UNABLE TO ENTER BBS SYSTEM UNLESS
I ENTER SOLELY WITH THE MODEM WITHOUT DISK DRIVE. HAVE ALSO
TRIED THE 1030 EXPRESS BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS, ITCONNECTS
BUT JUST SITS THERE DOING NOTHING. CAN ANYONE HELP WITH THIS
PROBLEM
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Sat Aug 27 17:23:05 1988 **
If you have the modem on the system
after the disk drive, it could be a
bad connector. If the modem is on the
system before the disk drive, it could
be that the modem is not meant to
be used except on the end of a
daisy-chain. That's all I can think
of.
Soryy I can't be of more help.
Doug Wokoun
Atari SysOp
-From:af941:qa:587002496:589594496:800XL VIDEO
Can anybody tell me whats wrong with my 800XL? It was working
fine, the suddenly the video quit. Everything else seems to
work just fine. I just can't see what I'm doing. I get no output
from the RF or the video output connections. Is it worth fixing?
I already have another one, so if the broken one isn't worth
fixing, what parts should I salvage?
Thanks very much for any help that you can give me. Birmingham
is a lonely town for an Atarian!! >>>>> Ishmael<<<<
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Sat Aug 27 15:57:55 1988 **
If the power light doesn't come on,
it's the power supply, you need a new
one. If it's something else, the
video chips could be damaged and your
only choices would be to fix it,
junk it, or take it apart and try
to fix it (or you could take out
the parts for replacements)
Doug Wokoun
Atari SysOp
-From:ad094:qa:587619826:590211826:atari 800xl power supply
i have an atari 800xl and the power supply went dead.
does anybody know where i can buy one or possibly how
to fix it???
and suggestions would be apprectated.
** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Sat Aug 27 15:54:15 1988 **
Fixing it would cost more than
replacing it. Atari has some new ones
with vents, but they are more expen-
sive. you should be able to find
someplace to order one from in just
about any Atari magazine.
Doug Wokoun
Atari SysOp
-From:ae826:qa:589588984:592180984:Answer to Steve Lin (Wefax)
The part you need is no longer manufactured, Radio Shack had 3 of those same
parts, but Len Stys bought them all,
ask him if he is willing to sell you a
piece.
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Tue Sep 6 21:57:50 1988 **
There might be some elsewhere or at
another Radio Shack store.
Doug Wokoun
-From:ad343:qa:590223643:592815643:XF551 (8 BIT)
HELP ! I GUESS THE LAST QUESTION I
SENT WAS LOST IN THE BIT BUCKET.
ANYWAY, CAN ANY ONE TELL ME HOW TO GET
MY '551' TO ACCESS, OR FORMAT THE SECOND
SIDE OF THE DRIVE ????
ANY INFO IS GREATLY APPRECIATED....
"MICK"
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Wed Sep 14 20:02:07 1988 **
I suppose you sent the first one in
before the "crash". Well, the XF551
is a little more picky than the single-
sided alternatives. One thing is
that is DOES read the timing hole.
The timing hole is the small black
hole just to the right of the center
hub. To use side 2, the disk must
have two holes. This can't be done
by yourself as far as I know, so
you have to buy diskettes with two
holes if you wish to use the second
side. The only brand that I know of
that has two holes is BASF. There
are probably others. Also, if you
are using Atari DOS 2.5 or 2.0,
you can't use both sides because
they were not built to support a
DD/DS drive. I belive Atari is
now shipping a version of DOS with
the drives.
Thanks for asking.
Doug Wokoun
Atari SysOp
-From:ad132:qa:590589523:593181523:ATARI 800XL POWER SUPPLY
Unless the transformer is open/shorted
it would NOT cost much to repair! There
is only a capacitor, rectifier, xfmr,
and regulator inside. Have someone
check it out for you if you don't
feel confortable doing it yourself!
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Tue Sep 20 06:13:33 1988 **
Also, note these things can have a
tendency to hold an electrical charge.
Thanks for the tip.
-From:ac365:qa:590724473:593316473:Text Files
I would like to load an ATARIWRITER
text file into a BASIC program which
I wrote. The program takes care of
displaying it an the like. Is there
a simple routine which can be used
to ENTER or SHOVE IN THERE a text
file into BASIC without a VARIABLE?
(Don'T tell me GET!)
[please explain in detail, my DOS
manual is really bad]
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Tue Sep 20 06:00:21 1988 **
Unless you're switching to another
machine, the use of a variable in
loading text is quite necessary.
You could use machine language to
load a byte off the disk (get) and
place it on the screen (put), but
it's still the same concept. Turbo
BASIC has a command BGET that can
be used to load a series of bytes
into a memory location and not a
variable, which could be screen
memory.
BGET #n,addr,len
is the systax for this command.
Other than that, GET is all Atari
BASIC offers unless you use INPUT
which, of course, uses variables.
Doug Wokoun
Atari SysOp THANKS for asking.
-From:ag717:qa:591069489:593661489:SX212 Modem operation
I was wondering if anyone could help me
get the SX212 Modem up on an Atari 800
(Original - 48k) with the SIO connector
I am currently using SX-Express with
the SX-Companion handler, but I am not
happy with it.
SX-Express does not have Auto-Login
capabilities or 80-Column. (I used both
of these features with my old MPP 1000c
modem with either HomePak, Amodem [Mod-
ified for Auto-Login], or VT 10^2)
If anyone either has a PD or Shareware
handler that will work with my old
term programs, new term programs that
have the features I'm looking for, or
technical information that would allow
me to construct my own handler; I
would be very appreciative.
Ron Boswell
(ag717)
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Sat Sep 24 14:16:21 1988 **
Express was never intended to use 80
columns, auto-logins or any of the like.
If you can find some documents for the
handler, you could probably write your
own program using the handler.
>From:ad336:qa:591073753:593665753:ATARI FILES TO IBM??????
I HAVE A LARGE DATABASE IN
SYNFILE. APPROXIMATELY 2300 RECORDS.
IS THERE A WAY TO TRANSFER THESE
TO AN IBM DATABASE????
IF I HAD THREE GUESSES THEY
WOULD BE:
SAVE THEM TO A DIF FILE AND
TRANSFER THEM VIA MODEM. SOUNDS GOOD
BUT I AM NOT SURE HOW TO MAKE THE
CONNECTION.
PRINT ALL THE RECORDS OUT IN
HARDCOPY AND REENTER THEM INTO MY IBM
DATABASE BY HAND. YCCCCH.........
SAVE THEM ALL TO A GENERIC FILE
AND SEND THEM TO AN ON-LINE FILE SUCH
AS MY FREENET OR COMPUSERVE E-MAIL AND
READ THE FILE BACK FROM THE IBM. I AM
NOT SURE IF THAT WORKS EITHER.
IS THERE A SOLUTION???
THANKS.....DAN
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Sat Sep 24 14:20:41 1988 **
First you must make sure that your
IBM database will handle the Atari
data files. A null modem will allow
you to transfer the files between the
computers, but you must have an
Atari 850 or a P:R: connector to
hook up the Atari to an RS-232 cable.
You could just find someone with a
modem, send them the file and have them
send it back to you using the IBM.
Also, you could upload it to a system,
but if it's something you don't
want people reading, that wouldn't be
a good idea.
Some BBS have a file mail option and
you might be able to mail it to
yourself also.
If you know somebody with a modem,
it's easy to send it to them and have
them send it back. The other ways
are a little more difficult.
-From:ag717:qa:591332219:593924219:SX212 Revisited!
I'm sorry that I have not made myself
clear the first time. Let me try
again.
I understand that SX-Express (or ANY
Express program) is not designed to do
the things that I want it to do. I
also understand that with proper doc-
umentation I could write either:
1) A modem program that works with
the very limited handler that I
do have . . .
or . . .
2) A SX-Handler that allows me to use
the term programs that I have
and liked with my old 300 baud
modem.
My problem is two-fold.
1) I have no technical documentation
on the SX-Companion handler that
I am useing, so I cannot get it
to do anything other than execute
SX-Express. I cannot even get to
DOS or BASIC after loading it!!!!
2) I have no technical documentation
on the modem so that I can write
my own handler for it. Typical
to Atari, the owner's manual that
I received barely tells me how
to turn the modem on.
Fortunatly, I have worked with Hayes
modems, and as far as command-set goes,
the SX212 seems to be 100% compatable
(right down to the S-Registers!).
So I repeat my question!
Does anyone either have a term program
that works on the SX212 and supports
the type of options I want, or a
handler for the SX212 that allows me to
use my old programs like HomePack and
VT10^2.
A distant third would be the doc-
umentation that I have said that I
cannot get.
Ron Boswell
(ag717)
P.S. If you look carefully, your pre-
vious answer did not say ANYTHING
that my previous question did not.
If you cannot help me youself,
maybe you can suggest as to who
can?
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Wed Sep 28 17:04:47 1988 **
Maybe I should be a little clearer
also: I don't know...
Suggestion:
-----------
If you are an ML wizard, disassemble
the code and try to figure it out.
I don't know who wrote the handler,
but you could write them a letter and
ask them for some information.
-From:ae826:qa:591778063:594370063:XF551 Answer.
To format side two of the disk (assuming you have the disks with 2 holes)
you can use SpartaDOS 3.2d and up or MYDOS, SmartDOS, and TOPDOS, I have
only used SpartaDOS with the XF551 and it works. you don't need to flip the
disk over in that, just use the XINIT program, 40 tracks/DS Double Density
no sector skew and you should get around 1400 free sectors of 256k each.
You need not turn the disk over since that side has been formatted when you
formatted the first side. And ADOS
has been finished fer a long time,
a few days/weeks after OSS joined ICD.
Atari is thinking of making it a commercial program in which you must buy,
BULL you say? No, that is what Atari is thinking of doing.
Phillip Chow
(soon to be CoSysop? When?!?!?!?!)
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Sun Oct 2 03:34:59 1988 **
Thanks for the info.
-From:af854:qa:592261213:594853213:ULTIMA IV help
Does any one know how to get passed the 6th level in the Abyss?
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Sat Oct 8 16:40:14 1988 **
-From:ae302:qa:592635966:595227966:PERCOM DISK DRIVE
I WAS READING ONE OF THE QUEST/RE IN THIS SECTION AND DOUG
WOKOUN MENTIONED THE PERCOM CONTROLER. WELL, I HAVE A PERCOM
DRIVE AND AM HAVING A LOT OF ERROR 138 (DEVICE TIME OUT) OCCURING
I CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TROUBLE SHOT THE
ENTIRE DRIVE ( AM A DOUBLE E MAJOR AT CSU) AND STILL CAN'T
FIGURE IT OUT. WHAT I REALLY NEED IS THE SERVICE MANUAL OR EQUIV.
ANY INFO YOU CAN SUPPLY ON THIS DRIVE WOULD BE HELPFUL I'M SURE.
THANKS
PETE
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Fri Oct 14 00:52:28 1988 **
Could be that you are too intelligent to figure out the problem...
like the man who spends two hours taking apart the car engine to find
the car is out of fuel...
Error 138 can result from bad sectors, like when I first was breaking
in my doubler chip. I don't know much about Percom drives, it's out
of my element. Sorry I can't help.
-From:af387:qa:592665010:595257010:24 Pin Dot Matrix ??
Am considering a Star Micronics 24 pin printer....
Are there any restrictions to consider for my 8-bit system?
Of course an interface is needed for conversion to parallel.
Will there be problems with word processor programs or graphics
programs? Are the drivers typically for 9 pin character fonts?
Are there differrent control codes for 24 pin vs 9 pin printers?
I am not even sure what questions to ask, so...
does anyone use 24 pin printer with an 8-bit? Thanks.
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Fri Oct 14 00:56:13 1988 **
There should be no problem with word processors because the character
sets are store in the printer. Programs like the Print Shop and such
will probably not support this printer. I don't think you would have any
problems because the computer just sends ASCII code over the buses and
the printer translates it to the dot combinations. Better to check first
with the person selling it to you, though...
-From:ae155:qa:600303465:602895465:modem
I recently aquired a Hayes modem and a Proterm operating disk.
Verything else works fine but I cant get It to upload when the
cursor appears after the 65 char.command, I cant get It to
upload from buffer or disk file>. What am I doing wrong?.
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Mon Jan 16 21:47:18 1989 **
You should try downloading a different
term program. DeTerm is a new program
and is very good with complete
documentation available within the
program.
Thanks for asking.
Doug Wokoun
aa384
Atari SysOp
-From:af854:qa:600741179:603333179:Ultima V for 8-bit
Does anybody know when Ultima V is SUPPOSED to come out for the
8-bit computers seen how I solved Ultima IV for it! Craig Potts
** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Wed Jan 18 05:46:11 1989 **
I haven't heard anything, but some
new software would be nice.
-From:ae655:qa:601833756:604425756:bbs
are their any atari bbs around the city of medina that for someone living
there can access without calling long distance ? thank you.
ray
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Thu Jan 26 21:47:21 1989 **
There is a list of national BBS in the
news section. You might want to
refer to this to see if there are any
systems local to you.
Thanks for asking.
aa384
Doug Wokoun
-From:visitor:qa:601876685:604468685:DISK DRIVES WITH 1030
I have an old (very old) 800 with a Percom disk drive that
contains my printer interface. In order to use my 1030 modem I must disconnect
my disk drive or I get the message "Modem Power Lost". Is
there an easy way to get my disk drive(and printer) to work
with the modem, or should I just wait until I scrape up enough
money for a new system?
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Sat Jan 28 08:29:06 1989 **
I don't really know what the
problem is with this set-up. The only
thing that might help is if you
switched the order of the peripherals.
(I don't even know if the 1030 has
a second port on it)
Thanks for asking.
aa384
Doug Wokoun
-From:ag792:qa:602885937:605477937:Ultima V...
To Craig: Ultima V is supposed to be
comming out for the Atari 8 bit. But
they have not specified the exact time.
Rumors were going around that it was on
the west coast... Hopefully it will not
be too much longer. Ultima IV sold well
so i think they will put it out.
###
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Tue Feb 7 16:13:13 1989 **
Thanks for the info...
Doug Wokoun
Atari SysOp
aa384
-From:ah241:qa:603688325:606280325:VCRs
I have an Atari 800, and I would like to know how to hook it up tp
to my VCR or Video Camera.
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Sat Feb 18 12:25:35 1989 **
The way I usually do it is to take
the TV switch box and use the 300 ohm
connector that normally goes to the
TV. Since VCR's usually use 75 ohm
input, you will probably need a
converter to hook the 300 ohm prongs
to a 75 ohm coaxial cable wire.
Then screw the 75 ohm end of the
connector into the input port of the
VCR and from the output port of the
VCR, run a cable to the television so
you can see what you are doing.
Hope this helps-
Thanks for asking.
Doug Wokoun
aa384
Atari SysOp
-From:visitor:qa:603928626:606520626:GFA
Could someone help me with a problem I've encountered while using
GFA Basic? I'm trying to write a small database and found that
when a record is erased, it simply skips that field and goes on
to the next. EX. Say I have an array called A(10). A(1)=1, A(2)=2,
A(3) is blank, A(4)=3, A(5)=4, A(6) is blank and A(7)=8.
How can I compact the file and rewrite it so that
A1=1, A2=2, A3=4 A4=5 and A6=7. I hope I made myself clear on this.
Also, I'm not presently a member of this board so if I can't
retrieve this message, please leave E-mail to
Rick Ortman on the TAP board at 228-7335. Thanx
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Thu Mar 16 18:21:11 1989 **
One way that is a little
different to do this is to set up a
table or allocation map of a sort.
In order to access a record, it has
to be marked as available. New data
would be added where the area was
marked deleted. Sort of like how
a disk works.
-From:ae962:qa:604054683:606646683:Programmer information
Several people have been asking for this information to utilize
in the writing of a terminal emulator. In case anyone wants it:
Partial list of VT100 control sequences:
----------------------------------------
Cursor up ESC [ Pn A
Cursor down ESC [ Pn B
Cursor right ESC [ Pn C
Cursor left ESC [ Pn D
Direct cursor addressing ESC [ Pl ; Pc H
Alternate of above ESC [ Pl ; Pc f
Index ESC D
Reverse Index ESC M
New Line ESC E
Save cursor and attributes ESC 7
Restore cursor and attributes ESC 8
Set character attributes ESC [ Pa ; Pa ; Pa ;...; Pa m
Clear to end of line ESC [ K
Alternate of above ESC [ 0 K
Clear from beginning of line ESC [ 1 K
Clear entire line ESC [ 2 K
Clear to end of screen ESC [ J
Alternate of above ESC [ 0 J
Clear from beginning of screen ESC [ 1 J
Clear entire screen ESC [ 2 J
Notes:
------
ESC is Escape, ASCII 27. Omit the spaces I have added.
Pn is an optional decimal parameter given for the number of
positions to move the cursor, but not beyond the screen edge. If
Pn is omitted or zero, the default of one will be performed.
Pl is the line number.
Pc is the column number.
Pa is a selective parameter indicating the following
attributes. Several may be present seperated by semicolons,
which are performed in order:
0 or None All attributes off
1 Bold on
4 Underscore on
5 Blink on
6 Reverse video on
Index moves the cursor down without changing columns,
scrolling up the screen if necessary. The cursor down command is
different than this because cursor down will not move the cursor
if it is at the bottom of the screen.
Reverse index moves the cursor up without changing columns,
and will scroll down the screen if necessary.
Examples:
---------
ESC [ 3 A Move 3 lines up.
ESC [ D Move 1 column left.
ESC [ 3 ; 28 H Move to line 3, column 28.
ESC [ 0 ; 4 m Turn all attributes off, then bold on.
ESC [ m All attributes off.
ESC [ 1 K Clear from the beginning of the line to the
cursor.
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Tue Feb 21 16:30:54 1989 **
Thank you for the information.
Doug Wokoun
Atari SysOp
aa384
-From:ah241:qa:604985766:607577766:Memory banks
I have an Atari 800. (Not one repair needed on it yet) I would
like to expand the memory to 64K. I have a 48K 800 and a extra
16K board. I would like to know how atari stuck the extra 16K.
did they switch out the OS? or am I hopelessly lost.
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Fri Mar 10 17:22:10 1989 **
I don't know the answer to this
question and neither do any of the
other SysOps.
If anyone has a solution, please
send a message to aa384
aa399 or aa400.
Doug Wokoun
aa384
One of the Atari
Triumvirs
Thanks for asking.........
Since this last message was left...
somebody left me a message with
some help....
---------------------------------------
-Date: Mon Mar 27 19:39:44 1989
-From: PETER C. HALLER (ae302)
-Subj: 800 MEM UPGRADE
THIS CONCERNS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IN TECH Q & A. I HAVE
UPGRADED AN OLD 800 TO 256K AND IT IS NOT TRIVIAL. THE OLD 800
WERE ONLY DESIGNED TO HANDLE 64K. IT REQUIRES A COMPLETE
REWORKING OF THE OS CARD AND PART OF THE MOTHER BOARD. GOING OVER
WHAT I DID FOR 256K, I THINK THAT TO ADD ONLY 16K MORE IS SILLY.
BASICALLY THREE THINGS WILL BE NEEDED TO EVEN ATTEMPT THE
CONVERSION:
1) THE TECH REF NOTES;
2) A SPARE OS CARD
3) ROMS TO THE 800XL/130XE(I USED THE LATER)
ALSO I CONVERTED THE STANDARD MEM CARDS FROM 16K TO 128K AND
THEN ADDED THE REQUIRED ADDRESS DECODING LOGIC NEEDED (AGAIN,
NOT TRIVIAL.) THIS IS RISKY IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING ( I DON'T RECOMMEN
(THAT SAID- I DON'T RECOMMEND IT.) BUT STILL, THE MODIFIED
SYSTEM WORKS FINE. I DON'T HAVE IT ANY LONGER, BUT
MY BROTHER IS STILL USING IT AS FAR AS I KNOW.
WITH ONLY ADDING 16K (WHY?), THE COMPUTER I GUESS WOULD
BE ABLE TO USE SPARTA DOS 2.X AND HIGHER, THOUGH I'M NOT
SURE (NEVER TRIED IT.)
THINK IT WOULD BE CHEAPER AND LESS FRUSTRATING TO BUY 800XL
OR 130XE, BUT THEN EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN MOTIVES.
ANY QUESTIONS, LEAVE MAIL....
PCH
PS: WHEN I SAID HANDLE 64K - I'M SURE YOU KNOW THAT - I MEANT
TOTAL 64K - 48K RAM + OS AND MEMORY MAPPED CHIPS. THE PROBLEM
BASICALLY IS THAT THE EXTRA RAM CAN BE PLUGED IN, BUT THE OS
IS FIXED - IE; CAN'T BE
DISABLED - THE XL/XE OS CAN BE ( I DIDN'T USE A FREDDIE CHIP
(THAT WAS DUMB.)
---------------------------------------
-From:ae155:qa:605417145:608009145:DEAD ATARI
My Atari 130XE quit working. When I turn it on (screen stays black) -
then after about 10 sec.,the screen turns blue as it should,gives
numerous flashs of white dots for a couple sec's and then turns
black again. Can anybody tell me where to start looking for this
problem?. I know the power supply is O.K - checked it on another
Atari.
L.V.Skala ae155
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Thu Mar 9 22:16:35 1989 **
I'm almost guessing, but I have heard
that a power surge through the modem
can damage the POKEY chip on the
main computer.
Since this chip controls most of the
interrupts in the system, it would
be impossible for the system to
"boot-up"
If you have received a power surge
that you know of or have frequent
surges (on the telephone line) due
to thunderstorms or whatnot, it could
be a fried video/audio chip.
But you'd probably be better off
getting somebody to look at it.
-From:visitor:qa:605766831:608358831:atari st memory
I need help in increasing the memory on my 520st...
i have added the required drams but the machine wont reconize the
additional memory.... did i skip or miss a jumper or something??
p.s. my name is not visitor
its C.J. Mitchell
Thank You
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Thu Mar 16 18:19:26 1989 **
Neither I nor the other SysOps
have the answer to this question.
If anyone has further info, please
send it to aa399, aa400 or aa384
-From:ae155:qa:605847603:608439603:ATARI REPAIR
Could anybody tell me of a local Atari repair source?.
** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Thu Mar 16 18:16:10 1989 **
I believe B&G can point you in
the right direction.
216-521-2855
15729 Madison Ave.
Lakewood
Doug Wokoun
aa384
Atari SysOp
-From:ah241:qa:606450985:609042985:sound
for some reason I am not getting my full sound capacity out of my
monitors speaker. If I turn it up all the way I can barely here
the stuff. Is it a problem with the monitor or In the computer??
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Thu Mar 23 05:54:25 1989 **
It might be that the sound volume
is not loud enough from the computer.
If the sound statement is what
you are using, that could be the
problem, but it could be the monitor
is not designed to output a lot
of sound or is just not working
properly. Make sure the cable to the
computer is not loose also.
Maybe something in the speaker
cone is damaged.
-From:ah241:qa:606670711:609262711:Sound Part II
Sorry but I did not explain myself clearly before. Here is what
it should have said:
I have an Atari 1040ST with an Atari Color monitor. About a half a year
ago my sound level coming out of the speakers was normal, but now for some
reason I can bearly here sounds coming out of the speaker. I have tried
Wiggling the connects but that did not help. Is the computer not sending
enough power through the cable or is the monitor not putting out enough
power.
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Fri Mar 31 20:52:00 1989 **
I know very little about the ST
and this problem is beyond me.
none of the other SysOps have
indicated that they know the solution.
If anyone has any suggestions...please
send them to aa384, aa399 or aa400.
thanks for asking....
Doug Wokoun
aa384
Atari SysOp
-From:ag971:qa:607319449:609911449:Basic help/where is zork?
Help! I have an Atari 800 XL, I'm writing in Revision C Basic
(because B has a BUG, and A is less powerful). My question is:
how could I have High Resolution Graphics on the first 1/2 of the
screen and text on the bottom half of the screen simultaneously?
Also--where could I find the Zork Trilogy for my computer?
Thanks a lot.
John Rowland
-** Answered by DOUG WOKOUN (aa384) on Fri Mar 31 20:32:11 1989 **
Basic REV.A also had a bug, just like
REV.B The Rev. B bug scrambled
programs when a multiple of 256 bytes
were inserted into a program...this
was CREATED by Atari while trying
to fix a bug in Rev.A where deleting
256 bytes from a program cause a
crash.
To get a Display List with mixed
graphics modes...
First you need to find out where
the Display list is....
DL=PEEK(560)+PEEK(561)*256
The first three bytes at location DL
are to move the screen down...(112)
The next three bytes are a LMS
(load memory scan with the graphics
mode and screen memory location)
79 is the LMS for gr.8
and the next two bytes are the
LSB,MSB for the display memory.
for each scan line of Gr.8, use
a 15 for that byte in the display
list....then to switch to gr.0,
use another LMS (66) and the
new memory location....you cannot
have more than 4K of screen memory
without a LMS
then, put several lines of gr.0 (2)
and top it off with a jump and
wait for vertical blank
(65) followed by the address of the
start of the display list.
To map this out:
Start > 112
112
112
79
LSB (screen memory)
MSB (screen memory)
15
15
15
... until you get halfway
down the screen...
95 of these should do
it.
66
LSB (screen memory for Gr.0)
MSB (screen memory for Gr.0)
2
2
2 (12 of these to get
2... to the bottom)
65
LSB (START)
MSB (START)
You can get more information from
Compute!'s Mapping the Atari which
has an excellent section on Display
List Interrupts. There are several
DL codes for blank scan lines and
other graphics modes unavailable
with BASIC.
Try B&G for Zork and other software
. It is about the only place left
locally.
Thanks for asking.
Doug Wokoun
aa384
Atari SysOp
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