Introduction:
-------------
Hello!
My name is Oliver and I have just joined in at 8-Bit Software. 9 years
ago when I attended modern grammar school here in Germany I decided to
do a computer course which our science teacher asked us for. We had
C64s and soon I felt the need to have my own. When we went out for
shopping to Ulm I came across the Electron rather than a C64 and the
supplier said I should rather go for this since it was better. It also
was quite cheap (since it was one of the last few they sold) and my
father wasn't prepared to spend more on a computer so we bought it.
At first I was quite disappointed since the programmes we did at school
didn't work on it right from the start since it was incompatible. I
paid no attention to it for some time but then I used it again and got
more into things and found out that it was a much better machine.
Although slower it had a much better Basic (well the best compared to
computers of that time) and the system software was much better since
BASIC and the operating system were 2 separate units. It also had a
much better keyboard and higher screen resolution than the C64. I
expanded it with a SEDFS (slogger electron disc system), plus 1 and a
brother printer. There has never been a higher feeling than getting
this disc system (because it was quiet expensive at the time it was so
hard to convince my parents that I need it, but raising every penny I
finally managed it). I thought now everything ever imaginable can be
programmed on this, having a massive 400k of disc space at my
fingertips. Well the humble Electron also made me quite a few friends.
Since my parents lived in England for some time they love it and go
on holiday to south England every few years. We also went not long
after I got the computer and I bought my first books, games and
magazines for it (and the magic that came with it). I first subscribed
the Acorn User, then the Electron User which had more in it for the ELK
of course. I wrote to the Electron User asking people to contact me.
About 18 people wrote. Well not many (4) remained but I am now in
contact with them for quite a few years an I cannot imagine an end
since 2 don't even have their Electrons anymore and talking is more
general than it was at the start. However I'd like to thank them all
for writing, they have helped me a lot improving my English and some of
them I have even met for a few times. One is even also a member of 8BS.
Hello Bill! He's a retired teacher and met his wife (who is Scottish)
in Germany at the end of the war. He originally also went out for a C64
when he got retired but came across the Electron (fortunately since
otherwise we would not have met). He told me about 8-Bit Software and
when me and my girlfriend came over to Britain this summer for our
holiday we stayed a few days with Bill and I decided to call up Chris.
He asked me to come round and have a cup of tea and I came and joined
in 8BS. He sold me a Compact which I now use here in my studying
accommodation to read the 8BS discs. I put it into a Zenith PC Computer
case. Quite a few cables had to be done and some information had to be
taken from books I have, worked out and asked. I thought some of you
out there might also need it someday so I typed it in ... (although I
have taken care in providing correct information - I cannot be held
responsible for any mistakes)
Signal and Pin Assignments for the signal connector of IBM PC
-------------------------------------------------------------
compatible diskdrives as used with the BBC Micro / Acorn Electron
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Used Connector types
--------------------
* DIN (deutsches Institut fuer Normung = German institute for standard)
* D-Type
* IDC (insulated displacement connector)
3.5 inch diskdrives:
--------------------
disk drive signal connector (IDC)
---------------------------
__Pin No.2 __Pin No.34
/ /
---------------- ----------------
! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ! (view into disk drive
! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ! signal connector)
-------------------------------------
^ ^
!__Pin No. 1 !__Pin No.33
plug of the computer to diskdrive ribboncable that goes into the drive
------------------------------------------------------------------------
__Hole No.34 __Hole No.2
/ ----- /
----------------! !----------------
! o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ! (view into disk drive
! o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ! cable plug)
-------------------------------------
^ ^
!__Hole No. 33 !__Hole No.1
5.25 inch diskdrives:
---------------------
disk drive signal connector
---------------------------
__Copper Track No.33 __Copper Track No. 1
/ /
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
------------------------------ ----
! ! ! ! (view into disk drive
------------------------------ ---- PCB signal connector)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
^ ^
!__Copper Track No.34 !__Copper Track No.2
plug of the computer to diskdrive ribboncable that goes into the drive
------------------------------------------------------------------------
__Copper Track No.1 __Copper Track No. 33
/ /
-------------------------------------
! = =O= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ! (view into disk drive
! O ! cable plug)
! = =O= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = !
-------------------------------------
^ ^
!__Copper Track No.2 !__Copper Track No.34
1... 34
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 34 way ribbon cable
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wire No.1 is marked red or blue
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Signal and Pin Assignments of the Acorn / BBC Micro Computer
------------------------------------------------------------
__Pin No.33 __Pin No.1
/ /
---------------- ----------------
! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ! (view into BBC Micro disk
! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ! drive socket (IDC))
=================================================================== PCB
^ ^
!__Pin No. 34 !__Pin No.2
__Hole No.1 __Hole No.33
/ ----- /
----------------! !----------------
! o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ! (view into disk drive
! o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ! cable plug that goes into
------------------------------------- the socket above)
^ ^
!__Hole No.2 !__Hole No.34
PinSignal Name: (IBM) Input/Output: Signal Name on BBC
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
02 Reserved -- Not Used
04 Not Connected -- Used (Usage Unknown)
06 Drive Select 3 Input Signal Not Used
08 Index Output Signal Index
10 Drive Select 0 Input Signal Drive Select 0
12 Drive Select 1 Input Signal Drive Select 1
14 Drive Select 2 Input Signal Not Used
16 Motor On Input Signal Motor On
18 Direction Select Input Signal Direction Select
20 Step Input Signal Step
22 Write Data Input Signal Write Data
24 Write Gate Input Signal Write Gate
26 Track 00 Output Signal Track 00
28 Write Protect Output Signal Write Protect
30 Read Data Output Signal Read Data
32 Side Select Input Signal Side Select
34 Ready (Disk Change) *Output Signal Not Used
PIN No. 1,3,5,7,9...33 are connected to GND
Signal and Pin Assignments on BBC Master Compact D25 Connector
--------------------------------------------------------------
__Pin 1 __Pin 13
/ /
-------------------------------
\ . . . . . . . . . . . . . / View into disk
\ . . . . . . . . . . . . / drive plug
\-----------------------/
^ ^
!__Pin 14 !__Pin 25
__Hole 13 __Hole 1
/ /
-------------------------------
\ o o o o o o o o o o o o o / View into Master Compact
\ o o o o o o o o o o o o / disk-drive connector
\-----------------------/
^ ^
!__Hole 25 !__Hole 14
PinSignal Name: Input/Output
-----------------------------------------------------------
1 Index Output Signal
2 Drive 0 Input Signal
3 Drive 1 Input Signal
4 Drive 2 (NC if PL3 is open) Input Signal
5 Motor On Input Signal
6 Direction Input Signal
7 Step Input Signal
8 Write Data Input Signal
9 Write Gate Input Signal
10 Track 0 Output Signal
11 Write Protect Output Signal
12 Read Data Output Signal
13 Side Select Input Signal
14 to Pin 25 = 0Volts (GND)
NC = means Not Connected (PL3 is a link on the PCB of the Computer)
PCB = printed circuit board
Analogue RGB Monitor Cable (BBC Micro <--> Commodore 1084S Monitor)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
view into 6pin DIN plug view into D9 connector
1 2 3 4 5
blue ----------------
( . ) \ . . . . . /
yellow ( . . ) green \ . . . . /
( . ) -----------
black ( . . ) red 6 7 8 9
^
(notch)
connect: black to 1
red to 3
green to 4
blue to 5
yellow to 7
PC Power connector (for the main PCB)
-------------------------------------
------------- cable colour meaning no. of wires
! ! --------------------------------------------
! o o o o o ! white = - 5 Volt 1x
! ( rot = + 5 Volt 3x
! o o o o o ! black = 0 Volt 4x
! ( blue = -12 Volt 1x
! o o o o o ! yellow = +12 Volt 1x
! ! orange = control cable 1x
---^-----^---
Programming Hints and Tips
--------------------------
* Sometimes it's necessary to program a soft-reset to initialize.
The equivalent to pressing BREAK is: CALL !-4
(don't ask me how it works but it does I read it years ago in an
Acorn User I think)
* Some people might want to copy their tape software onto disc, however
some programmes on tape are protected and cannot be loaded using the
*LOAD filename command, the computer stops loading and says
protected. What happens is that Acorn has provided a facility for
software suppliers to protect their software against piracy. When the
computer loads a programme from tape the information block is loaded
first which contains the filename, protection information, loading
address and execution address. To make the computer ignore the
protection information and make it keep loading, the following
programme must be executed first.
P%=&880 however this code should not be used to pirate
OPT0 software
LDA&3CA
AND#254 software transferred from tape to disc may also
STA&3CA not work properly for several reasons:
RTS - it switches back to tape
?&220=&80 - it uses spaces needed by the disk filing system
?&221=8 - it can only be executed at &E00 (BBC B)
*FX 14,4 + most success is with a &E00 DFS
Non Programming Tips
--------------------
I use an HP Deskjet printer with my PC and Compact. Users of the HP
Deskjet printer might know that old ink cartridges were refillable with
normal writing pen-ink (and 2% to 4% isopropanol). When my old
cartridge went empty a friend of mine used the computer and bought a
new one (fortunately he didn't throw away the old one). Now that this
new one ran out I refilled the old and wanted to use it again. However
it didn't work, nothing came out. A dealer gave me a hint, to put it in
warm water (yes the whole cartridge) and leave it in there til it gets
cold. So I did, filled it with ink again and after printing a few
pages it became darker and darker. So try that first in order to save
money!
WANTED:
-------
Finally I'd like to ask BBC Master Compact Users to help me.
I didn't get a manual with my Compact - does anybody have a spare
manual or can anybody copy or lend me the manual to copy it. I'll
refund the cost of copying and postage, however please do first write
to me.
Does anybody have a circuit diagram of the Compact or/and can anybody
tell me which chips are required and where they go in for a RS432
serial port on the Compact.
Does anybody have information on how to connect a Mouse for the BBC B
/ Master 128 User Port to the Master Compact Joystick port. (They say
it is possible in an old Acorn User - but how?)
WANTED:
-------
Advanced Disk Investigator and manual by ACP. For the BBC with 1770
disk controller.
Eprom blower capable of blowing roms >16K (at least 32K) with software and
manual.
The BBC Literacy Project on video tape.
Please contact me:
------------------
Oliver Debus / Stuwo Z24 / Kotterner Str.40a / 87435 Kempten / Germany
Since I study electrics I am also interested in any Micro User Body
build articles for the BBC B, Master, Compact, Electron.
I got an EPROM programmer (faulty) from a friend which was reviewed
(how to build it) in Beebug in 1986 - can anybody send me the article
please?
I can offer anybody wanting a PCB diagram of the BBC B, Master 128
and Electron at the cost of photocopying and postage. If you are
interested write me.
Finally I'd like to say that I feel very sorry about Mark Colton's
death. I have grown up with VIEW on the Electron and Master
and now use Pipedream on my PC and Z88 regularly. (Pipedream is the
Z88, IBM PC and Archimedes version of VIEW PROFESSIONAL)
Thanks to Chris and Bill for tea and sympathy.
BYE! (Oliver Debus)