Identifying Coco's

[witka]

Ok Thanks to all who helped me in regards to the rf modulator
question...now the real test... Is there a way in which I can tell what
processor (6809 or 6309) and how much ram I have in the machine? I tell
you what I know
Coco 2 #1 has model # 26-3027 and boots up to say Extended Color Basic
1.1 etc..
Coco 2 #2 has model # 26-3134 and boots up to say Color Basic 1.2

Is there a difference between the two (besides the basic) and is one
"better" than the other?

Thanks for your help and patience...

Jason

[Ralph Fox]

On Sat, 26 Feb 2000 12:34:04 -0700, in article
<38B82AAC...@v-wave.com>, witka wrote:

> Is there a way in which I can tell what
> processor (6809 or 6309) and how much ram I have in the machine? I tell
> you what I know
> Coco 2 #1 has model # 26-3027 and boots up to say Extended Color Basic
> 1.1 etc..
> Coco 2 #2 has model # 26-3134 and boots up to say Color Basic 1.2

Hi, Jason!

To tell how much RAM you have in the machine...

PRINT PEEK(116)*256 + PEEK(117) + 2 ; "BYTES"

Except: a 64K machine will appear to be a 32K machine (32768 Bytes)
because Basic only uses the first 32K of RAM in a 64K machine.
The full 64K can only be used by machine language programs or
by other operating systems such as OS9 and Flex.

As for telling which processor you have (6809 or 6309) ...

For myself, I would open up the CoCo and check the markings
on the processor chip. I don't know about the CoCo-2, but
on the CoCo-1 the processor chip is the big one closest to
the expansion slot.

Someone else may have a program to test which processor
(6809 or 6309) is in the CoCo.

Ralph.
--
Please reply to the newsgroup. That is why it exists.

[Pete Bumgardner]

The 26-3027 is a 16K Ext. BASIC machine, and the 26-3134 is a 16K Std.
BASIC machine.

Pete

witka wrote:

> Ok Thanks to all who helped me in regards to the rf modulator

> question...now the real test... Is there a way in which I can tell what

> processor (6809 or 6309) and how much ram I have in the machine? I tell
> you what I know
> Coco 2 #1 has model # 26-3027 and boots up to say Extended Color Basic
> 1.1 etc..
> Coco 2 #2 has model # 26-3134 and boots up to say Color Basic 1.2
>

[Ian Mavric]

Hi Witka, these are pretty basic questions...for starters, all Cocos (1, 2,
and 3) use the 6809E except for the Coco 3 which uses the 68B09E (a faster
version of the 6809E).

Secondly, for memory, power each system up, type PRINTMEM<Enter> and you'll
get one of the following:

On Color Basic: approx 14000 (16K machine), or approx 30000 (64K machine)
On Extended Basic: approx 8000 (16K machines), or approx 24000 (64K machine)

Color Basic takes up 8K ROM and is pretty limited, there in no easy access
to the high-res graphics modes
Extended Basic takes up an extra 8K Rom and is quite powerful, is easy to
use, and is installed in addition to the Color Basic 8K Rom.

Also, if you want to add a disk drive (approx $USD50 on eBay) you need to
have an Extended Basic computer...so if one is to become a "parts" computer
to keep the other running, it should probably be the Color Basic unit.

I have a Coco 1 myself.

Ian.

witka <wi...@v-wave.com> wrote in message
news:38B82AAC...@v-wave.com...

[Mike Yetsko]

Ian Mavric <ian...@lexicon.net> wrote in message
news:38b8...@pan.izone.net.au...

> Also, if you want to add a disk drive (approx $USD50 on eBay) you need
to
> have an Extended Basic computer...so if one is to become a "parts"
computer
> to keep the other running, it should probably be the Color Basic unit.
>

> Ian.

Also, if you get the Floppy, try to get the 1.0 version. That firmware
can copy the 'protected' games, where the 1.1 version can't.

Mike

[Ian Mavric]

Very true Mike, but remember one thing, those old 1.0 controllers require a
Coco with 12V at the cartridge slot - so you need either an old grey case
coco 1, or a Multipak connected between the Coco 2 and the disk controller
to make controller 1.0 work with Coco 2.

:-)

Ian.

Mike Yetsko <j...@user.com> wrote in message
news:Q1wu4.2241$iv2....@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...

[Frank Swygert]

The 6309 was never put in a CoCo from Tandy. It will work in
any model CoCo, but there is only software to access the
extra features in OS-9 Level II. Some of the features of a
6309 can be accessed from DECB, but there was never enough
interest to implement anything except in OS-9, which
benefited the most.

The catalog numbers identify the CoCos as original 16K
machines, but they could have been upgraded. If the factory
seal is still intact, they are probably original 16K. You
can use the memory tests as people have suggested or take
the top off the case to see how much memory the computers
have. The CoCo 2 could have a row of 8 memory chips or just
two -- depends on the model. Get the numbers off the memory
chips and post them, someone should be able to tell you what
they are. Do the memory tests first, but if you come up with
the correct numbers for 32K, look at the chips. The chip
number will tell if you have 32K or 64K machines.
--
Frank Swygert -- Warner Robins, GA
Publisher, "American Independent Magazine" (AIM)
Supporting all AMC related vehicles, 1902-1987
Main site: http://home.att.net/~farna
alternate: http://www.javelinamx.com/AIM