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October-November 1985

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Inside ZCPR3 . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

Xerox in Black And White ......................................

New PIO For The Big Board ....................................

Faster Screen Output With Turbo ................................

Cleaning Up Your Screen - Video Adjustments ....................

dBASE To Bibliofile In Small C .................................

T~o

Megabytes And More On The DSI-32 ........................

SOG IV .......................................................

The Future Of Computing ......................................

MS-DOS In The Public Domain .................................

Selecting A Drive Within CP

.................................

Graphics In Turbo Pascal (For Any System) ......................

Regular Features

The S-100 Bus ..............

In The Public Domain .......

C'ing Clearly ................

The Xerox 820 Column ......

86 World ....................

The Kaypro Column ........

FORTHwords ..............

Pascal Procedures ...........

On Your Own ..............

Technical Tips .............. 86

Culture Corner .............. 95

Crossword No.2 Solution .... 97

Future Tense

Tidbits ..................... 98

Express - Text Editor ....... 100

The Last Page ............. 104

NEW LOWER PRICES!

"BIG BOARD II"

4 MHz Z80·A SINGLE BOARD COMPUTER WITH "SASI"

HARD·DISK INTERFACE

$545 ASSEMBLED

TESTED

Jim Ferguson, the designer of the "Big Board" distributed by Digital

Research Computers, has produced a stunning new computer that

Cal-Tex Computers has been shipping for a year. Called "Big Board II", it

has the following features:

$145 PC BOARD WITH 16 PARTS

SIZE:

8.75"

15.5"

POWER:

+5V

3A, +-12V

O.1A

• "SASI" Interface for Winchester Disks

Our "Big Board II" implements the Host portion of the "Shugart Associates Systems

Interface." Adding a Winchester disk drive is no harder than attaching a floppy-disk

drive. A user simply 1) runs a fifty-conductor ribbon cable from a header on the board to

a Xebec controller that costs only $295 and implements the controller portion of the

SASI interface, 2) cables the controller to a Seagate Technology ST-506 hard disk or

one compatible with it, and 3) provides power for the controller-card and drive. Since

our CBIOS contains code for communicating with hard-disks, that's all a user has to do

to add a Winchester to a system!

. 4 MHz Z80-A CPU and Peripheral Chips

The new Ferguson computer runs at 4 MHz. Its Monitor code is lean, uses Mode 2

interrupts, and makes good use of the Z80-A DMA chip.

• 64K Dynamic RAM + 4K Static CRT RAM +

24K E(E)PROM or Static RAM

"Big Board II" has three memory banks. The first memory bank has eight 4164 DRAMs

that provide 60K of user space and 4K of monitor space. The second memory bank has

two 2Kx8 SRAMs for the memory-mapped CRT display and space for six 2732As, 2Kx8

static RAMs, or pin-compatible EEPROMS. The third memory bank is for RAM or ROM

added to the board via the STD bus. Whether bought as a bare board

assembled and tested, it comes with a 2732 EPROM containing Russell Smith's superb

Monitor.

• Two SynchronouslAsynchronous Serial Ports

With a Z80-A

SIOIO

and a Z80-A CTC as a baud-rate generator, the new Ferguson

computer has two full RS232-C ports. It autobauds on both.

•

A Parallel Keyboard Port

Four Other Parallel

Ports for User

1/0

The new Cal-Tex single-board computer has one parallel port for an ASCII keyboard

and four others for user-defined

liD.

• Multiple-Density Controller for

SSIDS Floppy Disks

The new Cal-Tex single-board computer has a multiple-density disk controller. It can

use 1793 or 8877 controller chips since it generates the side signal with TTL parts. The

board has two connectors for disk signals, one with 34 pins for 5.25" drives, the other

with 50 pins for 8" drives.

• Two Z80-A CTCs

Eight

Programmable CounterslTimers

The new Ferguson computer has two Z80-A CTCs. One is used to clock data into and

out of the Z80-A

SIOIO,

while the other is for systems and applications use.

• Vastly Improved CRT Display

The new Ferguson SBC uses a 6845 CRT controller and SMC 8002 video attributes

controller to produce a display rivaling the display of quality terminals. There are three

display modes: Character, block-graphics, and line-graphics. The board emulates an

ADM-31 with 24 lines of 80 characters formed by a 7x9 dot matrix.

• PROM Programming Circuitry

The new Cal-Tex SBC has circuitry for programming 2716s, 2732(A)s, or pin-

compatible EEPROMs.

• CPIM 2.2**

CPIM with Russell Smith's CBIOS for the new Cal-Tex computer is available for $150.

The CBIOS is available separately for $25.

• STD Bus

The new Ferguson computer has an STD Bus port for easy system expansion .

• DMA

The new Ferguson computer has a Z8Q-A DMA chip that will allow byte-wise data

transfers at 500 KBytes per second and bit-serial transfers via the Z8Q-A SID at 880 Kbits

per second with minimal processer overhead. When a hard-disc subsystem is

added,

the DMA chip makes impressive disk performance possible.

··CP/M is

registered trademark of Digital Research.

CAL-TEX

COMPUTERS, INC.

12788 HWY. 9 • BOULDER CREEK, CA 95006 • (408) 338-2572

Terms: Orders paid for with a cashier's check or bank card will be shipped within three

working days. Orders paid for with a personal check will be shipped within three weeks.

Add $5 for packing & shipping in North America.

MICRO CORNUCOPIA

P.O. Box 223

Bend, Oregon 97709

503-382-5060 Orders Only

503-382-8048 Tech. 9 - Noon

111110 IIDllallD.11

Oct. -Nov. 1985

The Micro Technical Journal

No. 26

Editor

Publisher

David

Thompson

Operations

Advertising

David Pogue

Associate Editors

Rebecca Ozrelic

Gary Entsminger

Accounting

Sandra Thompson

Graphic Design

Craig Lannes

Graphic Production

Michael Odell

Tracey Braas

Technical Department

Dana Cotant

Eric Roby

Bruce Berryhill Laine Stump

Larry Fogg

Staff Assistants

Dorcas Dsenis

Cary Gatton

Laura Pendley

"Renee Katter

MICRO CORNUCOPIA supports systems

programming languages and builders of

single board and S-100 systems.

Application to mail at second class postage

rates is pending at Bend, OR 97701 and

additional entries. Published bimonthly by

Micro Cornucopia Inc., 155 NW Hawthorne,

Bend, OR 97701. Postmaster: Send address

change to Micro Cornucopia, PO Box 223,

Bend, OR 97709.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES:

yr.

(2nd Class)

$16.0D

yr.

(Canada

Mexico)

$22.00

yr.

(Other foreign)

$30.00

Make all orders payable in U.S. funds on a

U.S. bank, please.

ADVERTISING RATES: Available on re-

quest (call Alice Holbrow).

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please send your

old label and new address.

SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, AND BOOK

VENDORS: We would very much like to

review your software, Single Board, and S-

100 products. Send materials to the Review

Department, Micro Cornucopia.

Micro Cornucopia Inc.

ISSN 0747·587X

Not Funny!

Seriously

Last issue

was short (in a long sort

of way), but a lot of people thought

was hilarious.

think they're hilar-

ious, too. So we're even.

Some folks 'really got a belly laugh

when

mentioned Ampro's Jumbo

Board. However, Ampro's Rick Lehr-

baum wasn't chuckling when he called

to ask how

had found out about his

massive proj ect. Actually

made it

up, but

didn't let on.

(It

was so

absurd that

shouldn't have been

surprised the military might fund

such a task.)

Anyway, Rick informed me they

have a dedicated microwave

link

engineers can work at opposite ends of

the board without running up large

phone bills. (Good idea.)

Now, just so you won't be fooled

again, be forewarned that practically

everything in this editorial is serious.

The Gap

We get a lot of comments on our

renewal forms from people who say we

are over their heads technically:

don't understand half of it, but

it."

These are the people who renew. The

folks who don't renew probably don't

understand half of it and probably

don't like it, either.

Well, we have been a technical

journal from day one. And we

will

remain technical. There are many

good publications for people who are

primarily interested in running W ord-

Star, Perfect Calc, and other applica-

tions. There aren't very many publica-

tions like Micro C which deal

primarily with hardware, operating

systems, and structured languages .

The problem is that there is a moat

between the applications stuff (you

know, "hit ctrl-K, ctrl-E to turn off

the menu") and high level "discussions

of new compilers.

Spreadsheets and editors are get-

ting "friendlier," which means the

user is having less and less contact

with the operating system and the

hardware. (That's why we're getting

calls from folks trying to boot up a

disk under WordStar.)

Magazines such as User's Guide

and Profiles can help these people use

their software and their operating

system. Then if they become interest-

ed in how their operating system is

put together or how to modify it, they

become candidates for Micro C (hoo-

ray for new candidates).

So we will be running some get-up-

to-speed articles. That way up-and-

comers will know intuitively the dif-

ference between a hex and a gaggle of

fairies. (There is a decided difference,

but it's too technical to cover here.)

We'll also be watching for books

and other publications which will help.

(If

you have any recommendations,

drop me a note containing a short

description plus price, publisher, and

where it's available.)

I'll be flagging the introductory

articles here in the editorial, plus

there'll be special items for beginners

in Tidbits and The Last Page.

Where Do We Go From Here?

There's been a continuing undercur-

rent of frustration, or uneasiness, or

queasiness, or something in the Micro

C office lately, and though

haven't

quite pinned down the source,

have

an idea what it might be.

Technically, we're frustrated, and it

shows up in our discussions about the

relative merits of the new processors,

new operating systems, new any-

things.

We know the

8080, Z80

world. We

know the

Z80

Kaypro inside and out.

We have paid our dues learning

Z801

8080

mnemonics and assemblers. We

have a

~ood

feeling for what's great

(continued on page 90)

•••

LBTTBRS

Tandon Blues

I upgraded my Kaypro II to 5MHz

last year, and I was the envy of.

everyone in the Southern Colorado

Users Association. But this year,

when I changed to the PRO-8 monitor

ROM and the Kaypro 4 with DSDD

Tandon 100-2A drives, my machine

would only run at 2.5MHz. Since we

have 10 Kaypros at work, I swapped

new drives to see

the problem was

my soldering, the PRO-8 ROM, or the

RCA 74S04. It proved to be the

Tandon 100-2As because the Epson

drives from a Kaypro 4-84 and the

Shugart drives from a "New 2" all

work like a charm at DSDD and

5MHz. Thought readers should know.

Doug Shake

436 Redwood Dr.

Colorado Springs CO 80907

sions, the precompensation can be

turned off for 40 track drives by

selecting 80 track in byte 1 of the

MTAB in the BIOS. This change will

tum on precompensation only on

tracks greater than 40, which, of

course, do not exist. Check the BIOS

supplied with the machine to find this

location.

3. The maximum specified ripple on

the 12 volt supply is 100 mV pk-pk.

To help achieve this, I placed 2200

uFd across the supply to ground.

Although I found no improvement in

operation, it was comforting to have

the value in spec.

4. As supplied, the speed adjust-

ments on my drives seemed to be off

slightly. While the drive motor's

strobe ring is illuminated with a

fluorescent light, adjust R30 (the pot

on the lower back wall of the drive)

until the strobe ring remains station-

ary.

5. Don't adjust things if you can't

measure the results.

6. Be sure the connections to motor

control cards are good. Spread the

pins on the male connector so they

conduct well.

this connector is

loose, the drive motor runs open loop

and sounds like a possessed sewing

machine.

7. Buy someone else's drives!

Mark Sihlanick

121 Twin Creek Terrace

Forest VA 24551

changed the CPU crystal to 20 MHz,

and it works!

There seem to be a few problems

that could trip up others trying the

same upgrade: (1) Obtaining the part

for a good price. This offer will not

last forever, and might be restricted

to the U.K. or Europe. (2) Having fast

enough memory to work with the

CPU. Nominal memory speed needed

is 120 ns, although I am using 150 ns

chips. Also, I suspect that some

TMS4500s

will

not work at this speed,

since there seem to be several variants

of the chip. Finally, the Z8530 comms

chip on the expansion board runs at

half the CPU speed, and you will need

the Z8530A part if this is fitted.

Other chips may cause a problem,

but the CPU clock is not used else-

where, so this is less likely, and could

be cured by adding extra wait states

on the chip select programming.

This upgrade is obviously of most

use to people running CPU bound

programs, such as large compilers,

graphics programs, etc. Also, Concur-

rent

CPM/DOS

would benefit. The

only times I notice the speed improve-

ment are when running

CP/M2.2

Ad-

venture, using an 8080 emulator, or

when compiling large (1000 line) C

programs.

Stephen Hope

16 Lakeside,

Littleborough, Rochdale

Lancashire U.K.

Editor's note:

I'm not too surprised about the

problems I'm hearing from Tandon

owners. Kaypro began buying

apa-

nese drives because

the quality

the first double-sided half heights that

Tandon produced. (And

keep won-

dering why Tandon doesn't advertise

in Micro C.)

Having Your Remex

Using It Too

I have been running the notorious

Remex RFD,480 5.25" drives for

about five months in a Morrow MD-2

and have several observations about

them that may help others who were

sucked in by a "good deal;"

1. The drives are incredibly sensi-

tive to EMI (electrical interference).

To see if this is a problem in your set-

up, remove the drive from the comput-

er's case and place it several inches

away from anything. Alternately

place a sheet of steel (not aluminum)

between the drive and everything else.

this cures the problem, construct.a

steel shroud around the drive.

2. The precompensation supplied by

some computers (notably Morrow Mi-

cro Decisions) is 250 ns. This appears

to be more than the poor drives can

handle. Recommended precomp is 150

ns or less. On Morrow Micro Deci-

Slicer 10MHz Upgrade

I originally bought a 'B' step 6MHz

80186 CPU with a bare Slicer board. I

recently noticed an offer by Hawke

Electronics, Amotex House, 45 Han-

worth Road, Sunbury-on-Thames,

Middlesex, U.K. to supply 10MHz

AMD 80186s at L12.50 each. (Editor's

note: readers will have to figure out

the U.S. dollar equivalent.) An appli-

cation engineer told me that this was

a special by AMD to attract design-

ers. There are no details of an equiva-

lent Intel step version.

I estimated that the price was about

10% of normal list price, so I bought

one, plugged it into the Slicer,

PRO-884Max

I just wanted to give you some

feedback on the PRO-884 Max Moni-

tor ROM. I installed it, a plus-4

decoder board, and a quad density

TEAC drive in my Kaypro 4-84.

Generally, they all work fine. Your

instructions were very clear, and in

fact, it was easier to add the third

internal drive than you indicate. Any-

one with minimal electronics exper-

ience (and a hacksaw) should have no

problem doing this.

As long as I had my hacksaw out, I

installed the four "hidden" keys

above the numeric pad. However, I

had some trouble finding the right

Micro Cornucopia, Number 26, October-November 1985

LITTIRS

size keys. My keyboard was made by

Maxiswitch of Minneapolis, but they

didn't even want to talk to me, much

less sell me loose keys. Finally I

bought them from a Kaypro dealer.

At $8 a key!

N ow I have a dynamite three drive

ZCPR system - drive A: quad densi-

ty for my standard programs, drives

B: and C: for data and lesser used

codes. My dual density Dysan disks

took to quad density very well.

A few tips may help other installers.

Before tearing things apart, take

a test drive. Set the new drive on top

of the drive housing, pull the plugs

out of old drive A: and plug them into

the new drive to be sure it works

properly.

All

the cables should be long

enough for this.

2. To unscrew the inside mounting

screws on the old drive you might

need to remove the CRT. This is easily

done with the proper allen wrench.

(Don't loosen the coil which is at-

tached to the neck.)

3. More information on the jumpers

in the drives would be helpful to be

sure they are all in the right locations.

Problems? Very few. The quad dens-

ity drive uses 4K blocks instead of the

2K blocks on the dual density drives.

Thus, small files eat up space quickly.

you run ZCPR, the cursor keys

must be reconfigured (using the Kay-

pro CONFIG program) for use with

WordStar. Smartkey seems to have

some problems with this setup, but I

haven't completely diagnosed them

yet. I'll let you know if I do, especially

if I find the solution.

David B. Nelson

2311 Spencer Road

Silver Spring MD 20910

Parallel" printer. This at least gets

you printing, but no matter how you

configure it (I spent many hours

trying) it will NOT do variable pitch

or variable line height, and it prints

the forward direction only, which

makes it barely faster than my J uki.

Finally 1 discovered that if you pull

the CPU board and close the "JY"

jumper (it is shipped with it open) you

can install it as a "specialty" printer,

and everything works. This changes

the backspace function so it prints

bidirectionally.

pass this along so

that perhaps

can save someone the

hours of frustration I experienced.

Don Hotson

26 Sutters Mill Court

Walnut Creek CA 94596

switch,

and a

Z80B. Your monitor

ROM

will

already run at 5MHz. If you

don't feel comfortable doing

little

jumpering (Micro C

#24

pg.

con-

tains

illustration of the mod)

contact

local Kaypro group. Some-

one there

will

doubt be

old hand.

Illegal First Byte

Some issues back, one of your

subscribers complained about XDIR

hanging, especially on the B drive. We

had the same problem, and it was

caused by an illegal first byte in the

directory.

this byte was not E5 (for

an erased file) or 00 for a good file,

XDIR went off into the woods. Clean-

ing up this byte with DU77 or the

monitor R command to read and write

back a 00 or E5 solved the problem.

Some versions of XD IR have this

problem and some don't.

Thomas Callahan

35 North Shore Avenue

Danvers MA 01923

Video Graphics Boards

Last January I purchased your Pro-

Set

and have been very happy with

improved performance of both the

Pro-Monitor

and Pro-Character

ROM chips.

am considering adding a

video graphics board as an upgrade to

my Kaypro

(which also has had an

SWP Co-Power 88 board added), and

was wondering if you might make a

board of this type or could recommend

a board which is compatible with the

Pro-Set

ROM chips.

My Kaypro

was purchased in

May 1983, and is

SIN 30551.

I am also investigating the various

Z80 CPU speed-up kits available and

wondered if you had a recommenda-

tion which would be compatible with

the Pro-Set

II.

John J. Mojonnier, Jr.

232 N. Ridgeland

Oak

Park IL 60302

Adapting

C. Itoh FI0-40

I just picked up a surplus C. Itoh

F10-40 that they've been selling for

$500. Before you buy it, they tell you

it has "Commodore" on the front,

which was OK with me. What they

don't tell you is that Commodore has

customized the thing for their sys-

tems. The mail-order outfit suggests

you install it (WordStar) as an "IBM

Editor's note:

The Gilderfluke board gives you VT-

52 (black

and

white block graphics)

emulation

on a

Kaypro

II or 4-83,

but

don't think there is room for that

board

and

your

unit. If you want

color graphics

and

LOGO you might

contact MicroSphere here in Bend (see

their

in this issue).

As for

speed up, you

can do

yourself with

couple pieces of wire,

Keyboard For Homebuilt Kaypro II?

am attempting to assemble the

equivalent of a Kaypro

('83) from a

surplus board. Most parts and assem-

blies have been relatively easy to find,

reasonably priced, and easy to con-

nect. Unfortunately, that has not been

true with a keyboard.

have not been

able to find much information about

the Kaypro

keyboard, or that any

particular surplus keyboard is com-

patible. I would appreciate hearing

from any Micro Cornucopia reader

who has information about the Kay-

pro

keyboard or has been successful

in finding a compatible surplus key-

board.

William D. Watson

1900 Forest

Denver CO 80220

_____

Micro Cornucopia, Number 26, October-November 1985

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