SC145 compact flash interface troubles

[Derry UK]

I built a SC145 today, installed it in my SC126 and ROMWBW recognised it and reported the correct CF size.

After a break I swiched to the SCM rom to format my CF. But, the CF adapter (CF-IDE40 V.EO) active (amber) LED was not lit. Switching back to ROMWBW it now did not recognise the CF.

I'd be grateful if someone could could point me at things to check.

Thanks.

Derry.

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Derry,

Does the SCM format program still detect and format the card?

I've just formatted at 128MB card using the format utility in:

SCWorkshop\SCMonitor\Apps

I then switched to RomWBW and the card is correctly identified at startup.

It is worth noting that the format used by RomWBW is different from that used by plain CP/M 2.2. The SCM format program is for pain CP/M. Having the card formatted for the wrong system does not prevent it from being correctly identified, it just means it needs to be prepared/formatted before it can be used by the OS to store files.

Steve

[AB]

hey (sorry to hijack thread!) is there anyway to prep a CF using RomWBW and then adjust it in some way so that CF works on SCM?

cheers!  andy

[Derry UK]

Well today at switch on my CF was back and it could be seen by both ROMs.

I examined my soldering and could see some flux between the joints of the 2x20. I gave the board another clean with methylated spirits and could still see flux with my x10. I popped the board in the dishwasher and this time it came out clean.

Using SCM I ran "SCM_CFFormat_v0.4_code8000.hex" and "SC126_PutSysPlus_CF128_code8000.hex" but on entering CPM the system hangs. Am I using the wrong putsys I wonder?

I did use info "SCM_CF_Info_Z80_CFx10_code8000.hex" and got the following:

Small Computer Monitor - SC126
*Ready
*
*g 8000
Compact flash card information v1.0 by Stephen C Cousins

Number of sectors on card: $003BBD40
Card size: 2GB

Card model:       "TS2GCF133                               "
Serial number:    "2E8584208029C0D53047"
Firmware version: "20171204"

Default number of cylinders:  $0F2C
Default number of heads:      $0010
Default sectors per track:    $003F

Card's self diagnostic test passed
*

Anything else I can try?

Derry.

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Derry,

I think the attached set of tools should do the trick.

I just tried the following sequence of the attached tools on SC126 with SCM v1.3 (I think it will work okay on earlier releases)

Send to SCM and run: Format 

Send to SCM and run: PutSysPlus

Send to SCM and run: Install Download.com

Send to CPM: MBASIC package (for download.com)

Steve

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Andy,

I don't think there is a way to use or convert a CF card prepared on RomWBW with the plain CP/M distributions for RC2014 (eg. from SCM)

There are a number of programs on modern computers to create and copy suitable CF card images. For example, have a look at the bottom of this page:

https://www.z80.no/info/InitCFdrive.html

Steve

[AB]

Hi Steve - I followed the instructions at https://www.z80.no/info/InitCFdrive.html I was unable to perform step #8  to copy the XMODEM.COM files over - "To complete the initialisation of CF drive, there are 2 more programs which are very useful, xmodem ..."

The procedure from z80.no is to go to CP/M and then paste the hex file in step 8.  The file starts downloading (my FTDI LED is flashing for quite a while)  but eventually locks the machine.  I don;t get the opportunity to type "DIR" or anything, I need to reset.  BTW I tried pasting it at different baud rates (9600, 19.2, 38k) and with a variety of ms delays. Also tried with and without CTS/RTS.  MY CF card is in the slot next to the SC111 CPU.

Any further tips appreciated!!

Andy

PS Also from the z80.no link I created the 64MB image CF for MC68B50P ACIA and 64MB image for Z80 SIO2 ....but neither of them would load CP/M from my Cisco 64MB card

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Andy,

The images from z80.no that you tried are for serial ports using ACIA and SIO serial chips. I assume you are trying to use the serial ports on SC111, which are neither ACIA nor SIO compatible. I suggested taking a look at the site to see how images can be used and what programs can be used to create and copy images. However, you need images compatible with your hardware. Sorry if I misled you.

Tomorrow I will try to look into the issues you are having and hopefully post documentation and/or software to solve the problem.

There are now so many combinations of hardware, ROMs, CP/M BIOS,  and software that things are getting confusing. I'm working on a solution to this version nightmare. I think clearer documentation and a set of software for each "standard" set of hardware is the way forward. Trying to support all possible combinations of hardware in a modular system is problematic. For example, my current system of filenames for CP/M BIOS versions attempt to indicate the supported hardware but it has become too complex.

Steve

[AB]

Hey Steve, apologies for the confusion and my posts all over the place (!)  - my machine is a stock SC203 (SC111, 119, 112) along with an RC2014 CF card.

thank you again for the help!

Andy

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Andy,

Please try the attached set of tools for SC203.

Steve

[AB]

Awesome, thank you Steve - that worked great!  

Appreciate the help ...  Andy

[Derry UK]

Thanks Steve, CPM 2.2 up and running but ...

I can't get download to work. I saved it with SAVE 2 DOWNLOAD.COM but when I SEND a hex file CPM displays A:DOWNLOAD file.name as expected and then hangs. If I reset and reload CPM there is no downloaded file.

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Derry,

It might be that you don't have hardware (RTS/CTS) flow control enabled. All the other steps work fine without flow control but CP/M needs it for DOWNLOAD.COM file transfers.

Alternatively, you may not have all the correct tools for SC126 (which I think you are using). Attached is a set for SC126. 

Steve

[Derry UK]

Ah, missing RTS/CTS was the answer.

Thank you

Derry