MTX+ Running BASIC

Modern, Memotech inspired, hardware projects
Martin A
Posts: 799
Joined: 09 Nov 2013 21:03

MTX+ Running BASIC

Post by Martin A »

I/O board for the MTX+ isn't fully wired yet, but it's sufficient to allow the keyboard to work.

CPU is clocked at 4Mhz, 512k ram visible to basic

VDP board fitted with 128k, although MTX basic only uses the 16k of the 9929A it expects to see.
15 pages of ram seen
15 pages of ram seen
512k basic.jpg (42.44 KiB) Viewed 9664 times
The first test pogram
The first test pogram
first basic.jpg (67.18 KiB) Viewed 9664 times
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Dave
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Joined: 11 Aug 2012 18:16
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Re: MTX+ Running BASIC

Post by Dave »

Hi Martin,

Not that it needs it, but, as you know, the video board can take another 64k of VRAM. Are you short of the VRAM chips? I have some spare that Lez sent me if you want a couple?

Regards
Dave
Martin A
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Joined: 09 Nov 2013 21:03

Re: MTX+ Running BASIC

Post by Martin A »

Printer output tested and running to spec.

Shame about the output, that was a previously un-opened ribbon, I guess 25 years in storage has taken it's toll on the ink, sealed or not.
Printer Connected
Printer Connected
printout.jpg (43.52 KiB) Viewed 9660 times
System test at 8Mhz was partially successful, BASIC booted and ran as expected there were a lot of graphical glitches as the VDP minimum access times weren't being met.

16Mhz was way too fast for any meaningful VDP output, the Video routines will need altering before BASIC can run at that speed.
Martin A
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Joined: 09 Nov 2013 21:03

Re: MTX+ Running BASIC

Post by Martin A »

Dave wrote:Hi Martin,

Not that it needs it, but, as you know, the video board can take another 64k of VRAM. Are you short of the VRAM chips? I have some spare that Lez sent me if you want a couple?

Regards
Dave
I've got more chips, the board is wired for them, however at the moment I can't see any real need for them. It'll need a lot of work just to get the system to use the VRAM it's got.
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1024MAK
Posts: 757
Joined: 24 Dec 2012 03:01
Location: Looking forward to summer, in Somerset, UK

Re: MTX+ Running BASIC

Post by 1024MAK »

Martin A wrote:Printer output tested and running to spec.

Shame about the output, that was a previously un-opened ribbon, I guess 25 years in storage has taken it's toll on the ink, sealed or not.
A short spay of WD40 may help to sort that out ;)

Mark
:!: Standby alert :!:
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb :!:
Looking forward to summer in Somerset later in the year :D

Not as many MTXs as Dave! :lol:
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thewiz
Posts: 137
Joined: 12 Aug 2012 16:08

Re: MTX+ Running BASIC

Post by thewiz »

Just like to say well done. Not being a hardware whizz this is just like magic to me.
THIS is what Memotech is doing now.
lezanderson
Posts: 186
Joined: 14 Aug 2012 15:31

Re: MTX+ Running BASIC

Post by lezanderson »

The Beast Lives Dr Frankenstein ! Yes Igor it's alive !!

Awesome Job.....
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1024MAK
Posts: 757
Joined: 24 Dec 2012 03:01
Location: Looking forward to summer, in Somerset, UK

Re: MTX+ Running BASIC

Post by 1024MAK »

I've just looked at the pictures again (last time, I was on a mobile ithingy device).

Now I'm sure that Master is calling the shots :lol:

Mark
:!: Standby alert :!:
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb :!:
Looking forward to summer in Somerset later in the year :D

Not as many MTXs as Dave! :lol:
Martin A
Posts: 799
Joined: 09 Nov 2013 21:03

Re: MTX+ Running BASIC

Post by Martin A »

1024MAK wrote:I've just looked at the pictures again (last time, I was on a mobile ithingy device).

Now I'm sure that Master is calling the shots :lol:

Mark
The Master that has been cleverly modified to run with the power off....

Actually the Master has a Gig or so of CF storage hanging off the back.

It would be nice if we could have the MTX+ have full access to a CF, at the moment all we have is the ability to read one sector to a buffer.
Bill B
Posts: 593
Joined: 26 Jan 2014 16:31

Re: MTX+ Running BASIC

Post by Bill B »

Dave should have a copy of my CP/M code for reading and writing FAT format disks. You would need to replace my code for reading/writing 512 byte sectors from the SDX drive with your CF sector read/write code.

Not that my code is a full implementation, it only processes files in the root directory, but good enough to use to transfer files between MTX and PC.

There is also a small Y2K issue with displaying the file dates that I have never got around to fixing.
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