Info-Atari16 Digest         Tue, 12 Nov 91       Volume 91 : Issue 592
 
Today's Topics:
                     !BGERVIN! I can't email you
                    "C" on the ST - Public Domain
       advice on using the STe Parallel Port as a control port?
               Atari Mega 4 + 50 MB HD + Laser for sale
                        FAX-modem problems...
             HD to TT ? and TOS 3.06 (not 2.06!) (2 msgs)
                              MiNT 0.91
                SEEKING ALBERT JOCHEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                                Stacy
                             Stacy 4 Sale
                           ST PAD/ GRiD PAD
            Talk to me about TeX and Gemini. . . (3 msgs)
                          WD1772 IC (2 msgs)
 
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Date: 11 Nov 91 21:08:15 GMT
From: fs7.ece.cmu.edu!crabapple.srv.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!mc4c+@sei.cmu.edu
 (Mark Choi)
Subject: !BGERVIN! I can't email you
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
OK. The monitor is the 640x400 mono. It does have an external monitor
connection, I use the Video key by Practical solutions so I can use my
TV as a monitor, as I have no colour monitor. Works fine. It does not
have the RF mod. like the old ST's did, but there are many ways to hook
it up, like the Video key. The keyboard is fine. The portfolio's
keyboard is cheap :) as is the TT's, but the STacy's seems a bit better
than the ST's IMO. Remeber, though, that keyboard appreciation is
subjective. The only real misgiving I have is that the function keys and
the numberpar were shrunk. But since I do not use them all that much, it
is not so bad.
        To answer any other questions that might crop up, here is a detailed
description:
        40mb conner hard drive
        ST 840k floppy (thats what I format my disks to, with an extended formater!)
        MIDI ports
        External monitor port
        external floppy port
        ACSI hard drive/ Atari laser printer port
        serial port
        parallel port
        Cartridge port (Spectre GCR, yeah!)
        MEGA expansion bus, for those cool video cards
        mouse port
        joystick ports
        two button trackball
        4 Mb RAM
        Uh,..., Hmmm....
I guess that is about it. As you can see, it is basically the same as the ST.
 
 
        The trade seems fine with me, except for one thing. HOW THE HECK CAN I
E-MAIL YOU?! :( Everytime I send to you I bounce.  I will try to do it
one more time, but If not I will have to post on the net. I doubt we
should do it all there, though, so if you can, can you e-mail me your
tele no., as you seem to be able to get through to me just fine. My
number is 412 422 3983. Let's set this up.
 
 
mark
 
PS One thing I need to concider is how to back up my hard drive. Perhaps
I could just do a copy onto the MegaFile before I shipped, If you don't
mind waiting, or I guess I can do a 20 meg to floppy ST backup,and a 20
meg to floppy GCR backup. :(
 
 
ciao
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 12 Nov 91 12:58:21 GMT
From: mcsun!news.funet.fi!sunic!ugle.unit.no!nuug!ifi.uio.no!jarleb@uunet.uu.net
 (Jarle Brinchmann)
Subject: "C" on the ST - Public Domain
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
In article <16830017@col.hp.com>, don@col.hp.com (Don Allison) writes:
> Also, although a cursory inspection didn't find them at atari.archive, there
> have been pascal and fortran to C converters posted in one of the comp.sources
> groups (look for p2c and f2c).  These have been ported to non-Unix platforms
> (eg MS-DOS) so I imagine they could be ported to the ST without too much
> effort.  (Does anyone know of a port of these to the ST?  If not, would anyone
> be interested in such a port?)
>
> Don Allison
> don@col.hp.com
 
Well, if you look in the RUS FTP archive at the University in Stuttgart.
 (129.69.1.12), You can find in soft/atari/lang/f2ps
a converter for the Atari. It converts Fortran 77 to Pascal and C. I haven't
 tried them myself, but maby someone else has.
 
(BTW. It's part of a Diplom arbeit from Herman Dupper.
 
                        Jarle.
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 12 Nov 91 13:36:54 GMT
From: mcsun!uknet!keele!gerry@uunet.uu.net (G.D.Pratt)
Subject: advice on using the STe Parallel Port as a control port?
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
Hi,
I am posting this for a friend so this is all the info I have:-
 
  Does anyone have experience/advice about the software side of using the
  STe Parallel Port as a bit by bit input/output control port
  for lego-like motors and sensors? Is it just a matter of putting a
  signal on and doing a read, then masking to get the input bits?
  Plus any advice on the hardware side so that I don't destroy the MFP.
  Have any PD programs been posted that do this sort of thing?
 
any replies, by email to me, gratefully received.
 
gerry
--
gerry pratt  --  workstation support  --  university of keele
email:  gerry@seq1.keele.ac.uk   *   telephone :  0782 583072
"these opinions are mine, mine, Mine.....ALL MINE I TELL YOU!"
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 11 Nov 91 16:12:47 GMT
From:
 noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!yale.edu!spool.mu.edu!olivea!apple!c
 laris!szebra!spectrx!system@arizona.edu
Subject: Atari Mega 4 + 50 MB HD + Laser for sale
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
meggin@epas.utoronto.ca (David Megginson) writes:
 
>  Atari SLM804 laser printer (300 dpi, 8 pages/sec) + controller
                                          ~~~~~~~~~ now thats a fast laser
                                                printer!
 
-------------------------------------
   Aaron Anderer/System 0perator
 SPECTROX SYSTEMS     (408)252-1005
    UUCP:szebra!spectrx!system
INTERNET:system%spectrx@saigon.com
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 11 Nov 91 23:46:39 GMT
From:
 noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!malgudi.oar.net!
 caen!deccrl!bloom-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!liuida!isy!lysator.liu.se!nicke@ariz
 ona.edu (Niklas Andersson)
Subject: FAX-modem problems...
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
Hello everyone!
---------------
 
A few weeks ago a bought a FAX-modem to my ATARI 1040st, but as always
the software to it was for PC-machines...
 
Does anyone out there have a Fax-program to ATARI st then PLEASE send it
to me, or tell me where I can get a program.
 
The best would be if I had a printer-driver for my fax in CALAMUS, and
a dialing-program as accessory. But I dont realy believe that it
exists.
 
MANY THANKS!
 
Niklas Andersson (nicke@lysator.liu.se)
 
(excuse me for my bad English)
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 12 Nov 91 11:37:36 GMT
From: mcsun!corton!laas!ralph@uunet.uu.net (Ralph P. Sobek)
Subject: HD to TT ? and TOS 3.06 (not 2.06!)
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
In the Oct. 25th issue (#91-45) of Z*Net International Atari Online
Magazine is the following under Z*NET NEWSWIRE:
 
DETAILS ON THE NEW TOS!
 Atari has developed version 3.06 of TOS for the TT dated September 24,
 1991.  It will not be available as an upgrade but will soon be installed
 in all new TT machines in production.  This new version fixes previous
 bugs in TOS 3.01 and 3.05, and a few new features have been added.  When
 first 'booting up' with TOS 3.06 installed, the Atari logo is displayed
 in the upper left-hand corner.  Next it goes through a memory check
 which is displayed in dashes ('-') and the user is informed of total RAM
 in kilobytes.  A black bar is then drawn across the screen and gets
 smaller in width as the 2 minute delay timer counts down while the hard
 drive(s) come up to speed.  Finally the system continues as normal;
 loads Auto boot PRG's, ACC's, and displays the desktop.  TOS 3.06
 supports the new floppy disk chip which Atari has developed in order to
 read, write and format 1.44 meg floppy disk drives.  A key combination
 (CONTROL-ALT-something else) places you in the extended character set
 mode as it does on DOS machines.  Atari will also be creating a new
 version of TOS, with the same features added, for the Mega STE. It, too,
 will not be available for upgrade, and will only be available in new
 machines.  (Thanks to Jeffrey C. Davis, CEO, Magnum Software)
 
 
Since Sept. 24th has come and gone, does anybody have any comments?
 
--
Ralph P. Sobek                    Disclaimer: The above ruminations are my own.
ralph@laas.fr                              Addresses are ordered by importance.
ralph@laas.uucp, or ...!uunet!laas!ralph
If all else fails, try:                               sobek@eclair.Berkeley.EDU
Phone: (+33-)61-33-62-66  FAX-1: (+33-)61-33-64-55  FAX-2: (+33-)61-55-35-77
===============================================================================
Got a Mega 4 ST.  Wishing it was a Mega STe!  :-| Do I *really* want a TT? ;%#
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 12 Nov 91 12:42:55 GMT
From:
 noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!yale.edu!ira.uka.de!sun.rhrk.uni-kl.
 de!seimet@arizona.edu (Uwe Seimet [Chemie])
Subject: HD to TT ? and TOS 3.06 (not 2.06!)
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
ralph@laas.fr (Ralph P. Sobek) writes:
 
>In the Oct. 25th issue (#91-45) of Z*Net International Atari Online
>Magazine is the following under Z*NET NEWSWIRE:
 
>DETAILS ON THE NEW TOS!
> Atari has developed version 3.06 of TOS for the TT dated September 24,
> 1991.  It will not be available as an upgrade but will soon be installed
> in all new TT machines in production.  This new version fixes previous
> bugs in TOS 3.01 and 3.05, and a few new features have been added.  When
> first 'booting up' with TOS 3.06 installed, the Atari logo is displayed
> in the upper left-hand corner.  Next it goes through a memory check
> which is displayed in dashes ('-') and the user is informed of total RAM
> in kilobytes.  A black bar is then drawn across the screen and gets
> smaller in width as the 2 minute delay timer counts down while the hard
> drive(s) come up to speed.  Finally the system continues as normal;
> loads Auto boot PRG's, ACC's, and displays the desktop.  TOS 3.06
> supports the new floppy disk chip which Atari has developed in order to
> read, write and format 1.44 meg floppy disk drives.  A key combination
> (CONTROL-ALT-something else) places you in the extended character set
> mode as it does on DOS machines.  Atari will also be creating a new
> version of TOS, with the same features added, for the Mega STE. It, too,
> will not be available for upgrade, and will only be available in new
> machines.  (Thanks to Jeffrey C. Davis, CEO, Magnum Software)
 
 
>Since Sept. 24th has come and gone, does anybody have any comments?
 
The facts mentioned above are true. In Germany all TTs have the new
controller built in and 1.44 meg floppy disk drives.
 
********************************************************
*              Uwe Seimet                              *
*              seimet@rhrk.uni-kl.de                   *
*------------------------------------------------------*
* I hate this machine, I wish that they would sell it. *
* It doesn't do what I want but only what I tell it.   *
* (Programmer's lament)                                *
********************************************************
 
>--
>Ralph P. Sobek                   Disclaimer: The above ruminations are my own.
>ralph@laas.fr                             Addresses are ordered by importance.
>ralph@laas.uucp, or ...!uunet!laas!ralph
>If all else fails, try:                                      sobek@eclair.Berkeley.EDU
>Phone: (+33-)61-33-62-66  FAX-1: (+33-)61-33-64-55  FAX-2: (+33-)61-55-35-77
>===============================================================================
>Got a Mega 4 ST.  Wishing it was a Mega STe!  :-| Do I *really* want a TT? ;%#
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 12 Nov 91 15:16:04 GMT
From:
 noao!ncar!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!utgpu!news-server.ecf!helios.physics.utoronto.ca
 !julian!uwovax.uwo.ca!7103_2622@arizona.edu (Eric Smith)
Subject: MiNT 0.91
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
MiNT 0.91 is now available at atari.archive.umich.edu, and has been sent
to comp.{binaries,sources}.atari.st (I had asked the moderator to hold
onto MiNT 0.9 until the newer version was available).
 
ksh works under this version of MiNT (if anyone knows Guy Gascoigne, please
tell him to change the string "x:/*.%03d" to "x:\\*.%03d" in the next
version of ksh; MiNT now longer officially supports '/' in place of '\\',
although I did put a hack into Fsfirst so that ksh will continue to work).
 
Also, programs linked with dLibs (including the sozobon C compiler) will
work under this version of MiNT, so the problems people have noted with
less and elvis *should* go away (let's keep our fingers crossed :-).
 
Finally, there were a couple of bug fixes, and some streamlining of the
memory allocation functions that should reduce memory fragmentation a bit.
If you've been having compatibility problems with MiNT 0.9, by all means
get the newer version!
--
Eric R. Smith                     email:
Dept. of Mathematics            eric.smith@uwo.ca
University of Western Ontario   7103_2622@uwovax.bitnet
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 12 Nov 91 12:00:07 GMT
From: mcsun!news.funet.fi!sunic!lth.se!newsuser@uunet.uu.net (Peter Tomaszewski)
Subject: SEEKING ALBERT JOCHEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
JOCHEM I LOST YOUR ADDRESS AND THE LAST MAIL YOU SENT ME.
 
PLEASE EAMIL ME AGAIN.
 
d88pt@efd.lth.se
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 9 Nov 91 13:59:02 GMT
From:
 noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!hobbes.phy
 sics.uiowa.edu!news.iastate.edu!sharkey!wybbs!therip!FredGate@arizona.edu (Rod
 Fulk)
Subject: Stacy
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
Actually the stacy is not a laptop... Its a transportable...
At over 15#'s and no battery it definetly is not a laptop...
 
 
 * Origin: The R.I.P.  (616)235-2313   [HST] (1:228/24)
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 12 Nov 91 02:39:56 GMT
From: bagate!cbmvax!albright@rutgers.rutgers.edu (Bob Albright - Product
 Assurance)
Subject: Stacy 4 Sale
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
FOR SALE
 
     ATARI STACY 4
 
         40 Meg hard drive
          4 Meg RAM
          1 MIDI Out
          1 MIDI In
        3.1 C-LAB Notator
            C-LAB EXPORT 3 MIDI Outs
            Hybrid Arts GenEdit
            Other software
            Digital Music The Funnel 6 MIDI In
            Complete with all manuals and other books
 
     $1600 + shipping
 
 
     YAMAHA DX7-IIFD + Gray Matter E!  (Excelent Condition)
 
        Anval Case
        Pedals
        Voice disks
        RAM Expansion
        Complete with manuals and other books
 
     $800 + shipping
 
 
     YAMAHA TG-55 Tone Module
 
        Drum expansion cards
        Manual
 
     $250 + shipping
 
 
     DRUMKAT Midi Drum pads
 
        2.0 software
        Manuals
 
     $450 + shipping
 
 
 
     ULITMATE SUPPORT
 
        3 level black A frame
        with carry bag
 
     $100 + shipping
 
 
                           Call Bob
 
                            (day) 215 431 9271
                           (nite) 215 431 3949
--
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
 
           STRATHAIRD                  /// BOB ALBRIGHT
Where Mountain men are kings and      /// COMMODORE AMIGA TEST ENGINEERING
the sound of the piper counts for \\\/// N2CGI
           everything              \\\/ albright@cbmvax.cbm.commodore.com
 
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 11 Nov 91 21:43:03 GMT
From: fs7.ece.cmu.edu!crabapple.srv.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!mc4c+@sei.cmu.edu
 (Mark Choi)
Subject: ST PAD/ GRiD PAD
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
Here at cmu ther is currently a computer expo. On display were the
Powerbook, Quadra, and the Grid pad, among others (NeXT, SUN etc.)
        Well, The Quadra blows any TT out of the water, as expected. The
powerbook was nice, and comes with and active matrix configuration with
faxmodem, and two standard LCD versions. They seem quite nice. I have
not seen the ST book, so no comparisons.
        BUT The GRiD PAD, one of the major competitors, to the ST PAD,
SUCKS!!!!!!!!! In addition to being an MSDOS machine, All applications
have to be specifically written to take advantage of the Pen technology.
You CAN run normal DOS apps, but with no keyboard, the screen is splitt,
and you get half the screen as a msdos "window" and the other half as a
virtual keboard, where you hunt and peck for the letters. The ST pad
seem to me to be a better implementation, if they can get it out, and if
there are some good software titles written for niche markets.
 
mark
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 12 Nov 91 09:32:19 GMT
From: mcsun!uknet!harrier.ukc.ac.uk!eagle.ukc.ac.uk!rlw@uunet.uu.net (R.L.Wall)
Subject: Talk to me about TeX and Gemini. . .
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
On the subject of gemini, has anyone got it to work with TOS 1.0
 
I have a 1 MEG STFM with tos 1.0 and want to know if there is any way
I can run the excellent gemini. Can I get a replacement TOS in software
(hardware is really a little out of my price range) on the PD or has
someone actually changed gemini to work with the older OS?
 
I appreciate as much info on this as possible. I realise the power of an
ST but also realise that this power is hidden to a great extent by a rather
limiting user interface. Certainly Gemini with the pop up command line
windows etc looks a much better bet.
 
Also, will gemini work under MiNT? (I have not used mint - having just
recently upgraded, and I am not entirely sure that MiNT does not also
have a replacement desktop).
 
I anticipate your answers (to me or this newsgroup)
 
Cheers - Dick
--
Crack junkies, guns, sluts and cocaine; Men killing men, feeling no pain;
We've all gone insane; The world is a gutter! - Chip Z'nuff (Enuff Znuff)
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 12 Nov 91 14:02:05 GMT
From:
 noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!malgudi.oa
 r.net!yfn.ysu.edu!ysub!psuvm!frmop11!dearn!dmswwu1c!onm07@arizona.edu
Subject: Talk to me about TeX and Gemini. . .
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
In article <70@eagle.ukc.ac.uk>, rlw@ukc.ac.uk (R.L.Wall) says:
>
>On the subject of gemini, has anyone got it to work with TOS 1.0
>
>I have a 1 MEG STFM with tos 1.0 and want to know if there is any way
>I can run the excellent gemini. Can I get a replacement TOS in software
>(hardware is really a little out of my price range) on the PD or has
>someone actually changed gemini to work with the older OS?
>
 
No, there is no way with the current version (btw: distributing a patch
would be a violation of the author's rights). Future GEMINI versions
ssibly will run TOS 1.0. But, it's really a better idea to upgrade to a
newer TOS version.
 
>I appreciate as much info on this as possible. I realise the power of an
>ST but also realise that this power is hidden to a great extent by a rather
>limiting user interface. Certainly Gemini with the pop up command line
>windows etc looks a much better bet.
>
>Also, will gemini work under MiNT? (I have not used mint - having just
>recently upgraded, and I am not entirely sure that MiNT does not also
>have a replacement desktop).
>
 
Yes, but it won't use any of MiNT's features.
 
>I anticipate your answers (to me or this newsgroup)
 
>
>Cheers - Dick
>--
>Crack junkies, guns, sluts and cocaine; Men killing men, feeling no pain;
>We've all gone insane; The world is a gutter! - Chip Z'nuff (Enuff Znuff)
___________________________ cut here _____________________________________
Julian F. Reschke, Hensenstr. 142, D-4400 Muenster, Phone: ++49 251 861241
fast eMail: ONM07@DMSWWU1A.BITNET,    slow: jr@ms.maus.de (++49 251 77216)
____________________ correct me if I'm wrong _____________________________
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 12 Nov 91 14:02:14 GMT
From:
 noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!malgudi.oa
 r.net!yfn.ysu.edu!ysub!psuvm!frmop11!dearn!dmswwu1c!onm07@arizona.edu
Subject: Talk to me about TeX and Gemini. . .
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
In article <8574@bgsuvax.UUCP>, jdemlow@bgsuvax.UUCP (Thanatos) says:
>
>        Okay. . .  First of all:  How do I get Gemini to work with an
>english resource file?  I read German, but I'd like my environment to be
>in my native language. . .  Second:  I just set up CS-TeX and it looks
 
Get the official english version of Gemini. It has both english manuals AND
resources.
 
>wonderful.  My question is: I try to TeX a file and it says 'can't find PLAIN
>format file, create it!'  So, I create it, the file PLAIN.inf goes in the
>proper place, but it still can't seem to find it. . .  Ideas?
>
>        If these are common questions, post a response. . .  otherwise email
>to jdemlow@andy.bgsu.edu
>
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>_______
> / hanatos
>                aka Jason Demlow
>
>
>
___________________________ cut here _____________________________________
Julian F. Reschke, Hensenstr. 142, D-4400 Muenster, Phone: ++49 251 861241
fast eMail: ONM07@DMSWWU1A.BITNET,    slow: jr@ms.maus.de (++49 251 77216)
____________________ correct me if I'm wrong _____________________________
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 12 Nov 91 10:42:18 GMT
From:
 noao!ncar!asuvax!gatech!bloom-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!lth.se!newsuser@arizona.
 edu (Jerker Nilsson)
Subject: WD1772 IC
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
In article <1991Nov12.003540.7201@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> wmagro@roma.uiuc.edu
 (William Magro) writes:
>In article <1991Nov11.225518.17589@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>,
 jesinger@ucsu.colorado.edu (Peter Jesinger) writes:
>
>|> I have a 1772 in my ST which can do 1.44m (actually I have a 1.2 MB 5 1/4
>|> drive connected to my ST). The only thing you have to do is to double the
>|> clock rate for your 1772. The problem is, that not all of them can handle
>
>When one performs such a modification, does s/he lose the ability to do
>   720K format?
 
Yes, but it is easy to detect if there is a HD or a DD disk in the drive
and switch clockspeed accordingly (sp?). Generally you should also let the
computer be aware of what kind of disk you're using (bit 6 or 7 of PSG).
   Use eg. Fastcopy PRO to format.
>If so, what is the effect on emulators such as GCR or IBMulators?
>
None, if it switch to 8MHz when a DD-disk is in the drive. IBMulators should
be able to use 1.44 Mb disks. (GCR too in the future I think).
 
--
               - Jerker Nilsson, email d91jn@efd.lth.se -
     ---- My opinion may change, but not the fact that I am right! ----
         Insert own toughts here. The above is mine, and only mine!
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 12 Nov 91 09:30:16 GMT
From: mcsun!hp4nl!alchemy!nico@uunet.uu.net (Nico Verwer)
Subject: WD1772 IC
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
In <1991Nov12.003540.7201@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> wmagro@roma.uiuc.edu (William Magro)
 writes:
 
>In article <1991Nov11.225518.17589@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>,
 jesinger@ucsu.colorado.edu (Peter Jesinger) writes:
>
>|> I have a 1772 in my ST which can do 1.44m (actually I have a 1.2 MB 5 1/4
>|> drive connected to my ST). The only thing you have to do is to double the
>|> clock rate for your 1772. The problem is, that not all of them can handle
 
I recently bought a high density upgrade, consisting of a drive and a
board with some TTL chips. It uses 16MHz from the video shifter. I
installed the HD drive, but not the modification board (so that means no
HD yet), because the documentation said that the original WD1772 works
on 16MHz, but in many Ataris (including mine) there is a 1772
manufactured by VLSI, which won't work on 16MHz. So if you have a chip
from VLSI, you should replace it before going to 16MHz.
 
>When one performs such a modification, does s/he lose the ability to do 720K
 format?
>If so, what is the effect on emulators such as GCR or IBMulators?
 
Most HD drives can tell whether there is a HD floppy or a DD (720k)
floppy in the drive. The modification board I mentioned above switches
between 8 and 16 MHz according to this. This means that it is possible
in principle to format 720k. Using a HD drive on 720k, however, I have
experienced the following problem: When you format a disk which was
previously formatted and written to by a `normal' 720 k drive, the HD
drive may not be able to erase all the data. This means that you cannot
write to the disk succesfully afterwards.
I believe the problem is the head of the HD drive, which is about half
the size of a DD head, to accomodate 18 sectors/track (or more). This
means that the effective track width is also half that of a `normal'
drive, and that data is not completeley erased when formatting.
A possible way to solve this could be to format the disk on 1.44 MB
first, to erase everything, and then to format it on 720 kB again. I
have not tried this, because I cannot use my HD drive on 1.44 MB yet
(due to the controller problems mentioned above).
Formatting clean disks should work. My guess is that IBMulators should
work as well (my ATonce does), but I am not sure about GCR.
--
Nico Verwer                                       | nico@cs.ruu.nl
Dept. of Computer Science, University of Utrecht  | phone: +31 30 533921
p.o. box 80.089, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands | fax:   +31 30 513791
 
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End of Info-Atari16 Digest
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