Problems with DOS using an Y-type connection

For the discussion of all hardware related topics.
dublevay
Posts: 173
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2019 3:41 pm

Re: Problems with DOS using an Y-type connection

Post by dublevay »

Thanks guys. I think I understand a bit more now.
dublevay
Posts: 173
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2019 3:41 pm

Re: Problems with DOS using an Y-type connection

Post by dublevay »

I can confirm that Pere's streaming programs do work with the CocoSDC and WordPak 2+. So it is obviously something environmental being introduced or exacerbated by the DMSX2+ or more specifically the CPLD.
16098807531987752160952858216548.jpg
16098807531987752160952858216548.jpg (3.45 MiB) Viewed 7556 times
dublevay
Posts: 173
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2019 3:41 pm

Re: Problems with DOS using an Y-type connection

Post by dublevay »

I can't resist showing off the difference in image quality between the WordPak 2+ and the DMSX2+!!

I think the WP2+ unfortunately suffers from VRAM interference, hence the jail bars.

Image
Attachments
20210105_213542.jpg
20210105_213542.jpg (2.79 MiB) Viewed 7552 times
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: Problems with DOS using an Y-type connection

Post by pser1 »

Hello John,
this is strange, I have not this problem.
What mode where you looking at? Let me know and I will try it tomorrow...
The best images use to be for BASI12 which uses two frames for each image.
But the other resolutions give very acceptable images too and no vertical noise bars at all ...
cheers
pere
dublevay
Posts: 173
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2019 3:41 pm

Re: Problems with DOS using an Y-type connection

Post by dublevay »

It may just be my cable. I wouldn't worry too much. But are you sure you get no bars at all? This is with BASI12I.
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: Problems with DOS using an Y-type connection

Post by pser1 »

Hi John,
most probably I will not have the time untill late evening ...
But then I will take some photos of a few images in this resolution
BASI12 is using YJK color mode that allows for 19268 colours on screen
with 256x424 pixels resolution
cheers!
pere
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: Problems with DOS using an Y-type connection

Post by pser1 »

Hello John,
sorry for the delay, but it has been impossible to take the photos earlier ...
I attach here the eight images we use for testing and I can asure you that vertical bars do *not*
appear on the screen on any of them.
But taking a photo opens a door for camera-screen effects and you will notice some vertical bars
on Image1 but not in the others ...
These have been made running BASI12.BAS too
By the way, using the special YJK modes that mix data from 4 vertical dots, we know that there will
be artifacts and some curved lines may appear as ladder steps but not too much.
If an image gets this effect in excess, then we should choose another resolution with just 256 colours
cheers
pere
Image01.jpg
Image01.jpg (1.65 MiB) Viewed 7502 times
Image02.jpg
Image02.jpg (1.17 MiB) Viewed 7502 times
Image03.jpg
Image03.jpg (947.69 KiB) Viewed 7502 times
Image04.jpg
Image04.jpg (955.7 KiB) Viewed 7502 times
Image05.jpg
Image05.jpg (757.71 KiB) Viewed 7502 times
Image06.jpg
Image06.jpg (1021.91 KiB) Viewed 7502 times
Image07.jpg
Image07.jpg (1.11 MiB) Viewed 7502 times
Image08.jpg
Image08.jpg (1000.37 KiB) Viewed 7502 times
dublevay
Posts: 173
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2019 3:41 pm

Re: Problems with DOS using an Y-type connection

Post by dublevay »

It must be my WordPak 2+ cable at fault then.
dublevay
Posts: 173
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2019 3:41 pm

Re: Problems with DOS using an Y-type connection

Post by dublevay »

OK - the immediate issue is now solved. Many many thanks go to Pere and Darren Atkinson for their assistance with the random DOS failures issue.

The fix has been to add pull-up resistors (4k7) to the address bus and RD/WR. I made the decision to mod the Oojamaflip rather than the DMSX2+, as the Oojamaflip can then function as not only a splitter, but also a clean-up device. Image

I'll be creating a new version of the Oojamaflip board which will have space for these pull-up resistors to be added somewhat more neatly. Image.

The theory behind this solution was explained by Darren Atkinson as being down to the various DOS versions using the SYNC command in different ways. Essentially, when the 6809's SYNC command (0x13) is issued, the address bus, data bus and R/W signals are set to open-collector/high-impedance. For some reason which is beyond my means of investigation, the combination of both the CocoSDC and the DMSX2+ is causing signal levels on the address bus and/or the R/W signal to fluctuate, causing spurious writes at a time when the main system should be idle, just waiting for an interrupt to arrive from the DOS hardware.

The Dragon, Coco 1 & Coco 2 all seem to suffer from similar issues (though in the latter examples, this is Darren's experience, and not my first-hand knowledge). Studying the schematics, it can be seen that for the Coco 3, Tandy did indeed add pull-ups on the address bus and the R/W line. https://colorcomputerarchive.com/repo/D ... Sopko).pdf.

Thanks all for your input on this issue.
Attachments
Oojamaflip_2021.jpg
Oojamaflip_2021.jpg (148.03 KiB) Viewed 7450 times
Oojamaflip_2020_modded.jpg
Oojamaflip_2020_modded.jpg (205.01 KiB) Viewed 7450 times
pser1
Posts: 1655
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Location: Barcelona (SPAIN)

Re: Problems with DOS using an Y-type connection

Post by pser1 »

we are happy enough to have a hardware guru like Darren Atkinson helping us to solve awkward problems
Thanks a lot, Darren, you are vey kind!!
cheers

By the way, I could not resist and have taken two resistor arrays of 4k7 and a std resistor 5k6 .. the only components I have right now
and have added the pull-ups to the oojamaflip.
Now I can execute all of the programs without any issue! Really great news!!
I attach a photo of the modified oojamaflip
cheers
pere
Oojamaflip_with_Pull-ups.jpg
Oojamaflip_with_Pull-ups.jpg (566.9 KiB) Viewed 7438 times
Last edited by pser1 on Sun Jan 10, 2021 11:02 am, edited 1 time in total.
Post Reply