VGA Display Questions ...

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

I got a VGA display connected to the Altair-Duino Pro, When I boot with the "DEPOSIT UP" and "Power ON" I see the "ASCII Video Terminal Ver 1.3 etc." on the screen.

I actually found that if I just turn the computer ON that "ASCII Video Terminal Ver 1.3 etc." comes on too.  

When I try the example in Chris' video demo;  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xINymzBidoE

I don't get any disk listings on the VGA monitor, but just the TeraTerm window. 

The only port changes are speed/BAUD and the "(4) Configure 2SIO port 2     : Serial (pin A6/A7) " from the default settings.  

Do I have to change the 2SIO port 2 to another PIN?  What PIN?  

My current setup is; 

20210904 Altair-Duino Pro Settings

Configuration Editor:
Configure host serial settings
(0) USB Programming Port : 9600 baud
(1) Serial (pin 18/19)   : 9600 baud 8N1
(2) USB Native Port      : 115200 baud
(3) Serial (pin A6/A7)   : 9600 baud 8N1
(4) Serial (RXL/TXL)     : 9600 baud 8N1

(P)rimary host serial : USB Programming Port

Configure serial cards
(1) Configure SIO             : Primary (USB Programming Port)
(2) Configure ACR             : Not mapped
(3) Configure 2SIO port 1     : Primary (USB Programming Port)
(4) Configure 2SIO port 2     : Serial (pin A6/A7) 

Configure printer settings
(P)rinter type                : Generic
Map printer to (i)nterface    : Serial (pin A6/A7)
(F)orce real-time mode        : no
Status register (b)usy value  : 00h
Status register (r)eady value : FFh

Configure disk drive settings

(F)orce real-time mode : no
Drive (0) mounted disk image : DISK18.DSK: Walt's BASIC Games1 Disk5
Drive (1) mounted disk image : DISK19.DSK
Drive (2) mounted disk image : DISK1A.DSK
Drive (3) mounted disk image : DISK1B.DSK

 Configure hard disk settings 

(F)orce real-time mode : no
(0) Hard disk platter 0 image : HDSK03.DSK: Mike Douglas' 88-HDSK CP/M
(1) Hard disk platter 1 image : HDSK04.DSK: Infocom Adventures CP/M
(2) Hard disk platter 2 image : HDSK01.DSK: Altair Hard Disk BASIC
(3) Hard disk platter 3 image : HDSK02.DSK: Walt's Programs & Files

(R)eset hard disk controller

E(x)it to main menu

 Command:

 

[Terry Fox]

The initial message you are getting is coming from the PIC chip on the expansion port, not the Due.  You will need to change the board configuration so that all Due I/O goes to the expansion port instead of the current serial port.  I’m not near the AltairDuino ATM to give you more specifics.

Terry

[Chris Davis]

Why don't you just download the SD card contents?  It's pre-configured and ready to go.

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

I tried making a duplicate 256MB SD card with the original files, but for some reason it doesn't work in the Altair-Duino Pro despite being FAT formatted.  

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

I had forgotten I had made a copy of the original microSD card and put the original away for back-up.  

I installed the original microSD card into the Altair-Duino Pro, I unplugged the USB cable and did the power up with Deposit held up, but still when I goto list the A12 file list there is nothing on the VGA monitor.  

This is the only thing on my VGA screen;  

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

BTW, it really would be nice to be able to see everything on both the PC via USB cable and the VGA screen at the same time.  

Seems that there should be some kind of way to set that up in the Configuration Editor.  

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

Okay, trying to get things working on the VGA and so I thought since it didn't work any different with the original microSD card in the Altair-Duino Pro, I'd try the "RESET" as on page:   Reset to defaults | Adwater & Stir (adwaterandstir.com)

Now setting my PuTTY at 115200 8N1 BAUD or at 9600 8N1 BAUD I only get garbage on the screen some times and nothing most of the time!  

I have been trying both PuTTY and TeraTerm at different BAUD rates, but I cannot seem to get anything back to normal and the VGA is still stuck only on the initial BOOT up screen.  

How do I ReSET the Altair-Duino Pro back to normal operations?  

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

I powered the Altair-Duino Pro OFF for 30-minutes.  Turning it back ON now it seems okay and back to normal.  

Now I understand why some people have more than one Altair-Duino Pro to experiment with.  

Still, I am not getting anything on the VGA screen other than the BOOT display and a blinking cursor.

[Chris Davis]

Did you ever try downloading the original contents of the SD card from the website?

You can also try this: https://adwaterandstir.com/2017/06/03/serial-device/ 

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

I have the original microSD card that came with the kit and I did try the files downloaded from the website.  

My best working setup I had copied the files from the original microSD card to a 2GB microSD card with my customized .DSKs. 

I was thinking that maybe there should be more detailed YouTube demo videos along with text in the "Show More" text section below the video to show the "Configuration Editor" settings for the demo video as well as a short list of Switches Up/Down etc.  

One demo video for simple VGA + Keyboard connections.  

Another demo video for Serial Port OUT to PC or vintage serial terminal.

And IF possible, how to setup the Altair-Duino Pro to connect both a VGA screen and use the USB to PC/TeraTerm or PuTTY for dual display of everything going on.  

I really think a dual display setup can be the most useful if some programs are doing graphics rather than just text output.  

I have a Parallax Serial to USB adapter connected to the back serial port ... but I haven't actually done a setup in the "Configuration Editor" to point to that port for output, although I could run both PuTTY and TeraTerm at the same time, but that's not the solution I want to use.  

The local thrift shops sell nice VGA monitors for $15 or less.  I have a really nice 17" DELL monitor tied to the Altair-Duino Pro, but it only shows that BOOT screen and a blinking cursor.  

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

Read the very first message in this thread to see what I'm trying to do ... 

I already mentioned that I watched that and other videos, went though the instructions online in the manual too.  

The problem is my Altair-Duino Pro doesn't seem to be working exactly like in those instructions, despite resetting everything to the defaults, swapping out the microSD card etc. 

On Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 7:29:37 PM UTC-8 furba...@gmail.com wrote:

there is a video.

https://adwaterandstir.com/2019/08/31/how-to-use-vt100-emulator-video/

[Chris Davis]

You don't need to rely on the config settings on the SD card.  You can do it the manual way:  https://adwaterandstir.com/2017/06/03/serial-device/ 

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

Using the USB cable from the back of the Altair-Duino Pro to my PC running TeraTerm or PuTTY works perfectly,  and I want to continue using the USB to my PC/TeraTerm and have the same stuff I type and get back displayed on the VGA port.  

That page shows how to use the serial port on the back of the Altair-Duino Pro to goto a serial terminal, but I use that port for my "Phrase-A-Lator Development Kit" for the computer to speak and sing songs.  

I just want Input and Output from the USB/TeraTerm mirrored to to the VGA monitor.  

I did try the front panel switching for VGA + USB although I don't have a keyboard attached to the back of the  Altair-Duino Pro, I figured I should get the listings from the microSD card, but I only see the initial BOOT image from the PIC chip.  

I'm thinking something is jumpered incorrectly, or something else is not right on the Altair-Duino Pro's back I/O board.