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diff --git a/content/hardware/imc-2001-status-todos.md b/content/hardware/imc-2001-status-todos.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ba7995 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/hardware/imc-2001-status-todos.md @@ -0,0 +1,133 @@ ++++ +title = "IMC-2001 Status and Todo List" ++++ + +# Todos + +Trying to fix several issues: + +- CPM65 works on the machine in 40-character mode (hacked), the + Videx card is the next goal. The 40-character mode still is quite + unreliable and crashes the machine, the screen TTY driver is still + to be done for apple2. +- the 5V rail is on 4.5V now, causing issues with the keyboard (the + length of the cable) and with the paddles. Not clear, whether this + is the PSU (which is also showing 4.7V without load) or something + on the motherboard. There are two +5V lines on the original PSU and + only one on the replacement PSU, maybe that's a problem? +- the keyboard beeps and issues '=' and '/' characters when connected + to a longer serial cable, no problems when connecting the botched + wire from the old connector on the keyboard PCB directly to the + computer. Some shielding or capacitance issue? It also appeared + only after playing with the paddle connectors. +- the new paddle connector with DIN-5 connectors works somewhat with + paddle 0, though the nob is not totally up when on 255. This indicates + again a capacitance issue, probably with the cable itself? +- two new teac drives turned out to have the very wrong connector for + an Apple \]\[ disk controller, some adapted has to be designed and + a PCB has to be printed. +- strange issues with floppy images not working in LinApple or also + not on the real computer, always bailing out in the monitor in strange + locations. Used Fluxengine and ADTPro to get images, they are identical. + Checked the RAM of the machine, no errors. Must investigate if boot + addresses are the issue (48k floppy masters not working on 64 or similar + issues) +- HGR shows a line on row 0 only partially. This could be an adjustment issue + of the CRT image or also bad RAM. +- the CRT shows some flickering and diagonal effects. Testing on an old TV + shows the same issue (so I suspect it's some grounding/shielding issue + with the new PSU). +- the CRT is producing some flickering when turning the brightness nob, + this should be fixable with some deoxit. +- the second floppy drive (the more used one) now sees floppies always as + "write protected". Diagnostic tests show alignment issues of the drive, this + could be true, or the clone always had a different alignment than a default + Apple 2 drive? +- the paddle wire is self-made on paddle 1 and quit a mess. Doing a rewire + with DIN-5 connectors which then lead to a 9-pin DSUB-Apple ][ standard + joystick connector, which will go to the 16-pin DIP socket on the motherboard. + The original joystick connector has a completely weird layout and is not usable + (it has no Apple 2 layout) +- really bad design to connect DIP 2x8 cables of the joystick and the paddles + directly on the motherboard, you pull the cable a little bit too much and + you tar out half of the motherboard. +- possibly much more + +# Fixed Issues + +- ~~the paddle and the joystick connectors miss some legs for putting them into + the sockets on the motherboard~~. No essential pins are missing, will + rework this anyway as a 8x2 DIP to 9-DSUB, from there to an adapter + where you can connect 2 DIN-5 cables, needs rewiring of both paddles. +- ~~paddle 0 seems to be a little bit shacky (the button works unreliably)~~. + DeOxit in the button helped. Works much better now. +- ~~the lever moving the contacts between 40-character and 80-character + mode for the CRT output is corroded, doesn't always make contact + and produces a flickering image~~. The box is heavily sealed and there + is no easy way to fix it. Using an audio switch box for switching modes now + (the cables are standard audio-like cinch connectors). +- ~~the floppy drives read floppies (both) but they don't write to floppies + (when copying in CP/M or creating a file), they work when formatting + a drive on CP/M though. ~~Could be a side-effect of the PSU not working properly.~~ + The PSU has been replaced, the voltages look ok, so I rule out the PSU. + Could be some missing code in the Apple ROM (but that would be weird to + call 6502 firmware code from the Z80 CPU). It could also be the write + current being to low for writting (but why does formatting a drive work then?!)~~ + So, yes. DOS 3.3 and CP/M both use some ROM routines from ROM1 to write to disk. + Works now. +- ~~floppies written read/written with Fluxengine don't really work either + on the real hardware or the emulator. Suspecting a encoding/decoding issue.~~ + Updating Fluxengine solved the issue, also choosing 96dpi 5 1/4" for the real + floppy drive. :-) +- ~~the keyboard reset line cannot be taken to ground on the keyboard, works + with shrtening ground and reset though just fine. Must be a bug on the + ICs of the keyboard controller or a broken trace.~~ Fixed with a botch + to bridge the broken ribbon cable between keyboard matrix and the PCB with + the controller logic. +- ~~ROM 1 with BASIC is broken (and gets really hot). This explains + the booting issues.. (will be tricky to get a replacement). The + board layout doesn't fit to the original ROM sizes too..~~ + Got an AT28C256, no more frying of chips, Apple Basic prompt appears, + tested some commands and it seems fine. The 32k ROM has to be filled in + starting from 0x6000 with #E000-$EFFF and from $7000 with $D000-$DFFF. + If this ROM is ok we will see. +- Reseated and deoxied all ICs, some of them were quite corroded, at + least 3 more turned out to be bad. ~~Sadly it didn't have an effect on + ROM 1 not getting hot (must be something else).~~ The new replacement + ROM works fine and doesn't get hot. So I actually blame it on the ROM + itself causing the other ICs to fry and not vice-versa. +- ~~power switch made some hissing noises, it was not the switch, now + the original power is dead (and some transformers are humming). Ordered + a Apple 2 replacement PSU, waiting for it..~~ + The new replacement power supply works like a charm, also replaced + the power switch, the old one was too unreliable. +- ~~sometimes I get into the monitor~~ +- ~~lower-nibble bit 3 of the key + being pressed is missing, unclear where it is lost, I suspect a + bad register on the motherboard holding the current ASCII value of + the key pressed or something similar~~. Replaced a bad 74LS257N, + works now just fine. + +# Not fixed issues: + +- ~~The 220V fan no longer works.~~ + I just disconected it, I don't think, it really helps to cool the system. + +# Known things to work: + +- The keyboard works electronically (8039 MCS-48 like CPU with a 2K EPROM), + has a new serial cable now and is fully functional +- the Rockwell R6502 CPU has a phase 0 clock and seems to go through + address lines and output data (another strong indicator is the 'Apple \]\[' + sign on the monitor when switching on which indicates 6502, 40-character + ROM, video circuit seems to be just fine). +- Monitor is working just fine (which is sort of amazing for such an old + CRT monitor). +- I can boot from a Apple \]\[ CP/M 56k floppy and I get a prompt, now + as the keyboard works and the CP/M on the 80-character card I can also + assume the Z80 is working just fine. +- the 80-columns card (a Videx Videoterm or rather a clone of it) works just fine. +- the highres graphic mode works just fine, I can run "Peter Anvin Chess" and play it. +- Applesoft BASIC works fine +- the new Super Serial Card II I got works fine, though it looses characters + (without parity and adding some delay in minicom). Definitely usable. |