Most liked posts in thread: Guys, there be a DRAGON in that there CAVE(!)

Hi Richie
I don't appear to have the other parts of that and I stayed up late (like you ) going through it, I've also searched online to see if the Magazine is archived and found nothing, although many Electronics and computer magazine had issues around that time with take overs renaming, and closures. I'll have another search for it!
It's tcked away at the moment so I don't recall the name of the magazine nor the issue early 80's I think.

 

Checking out RetroHax

 

Here’s the memory map mate,




upload a picture

 

That's a start but i'll need to know the decoded Addresses of the PIA's the Video Chip etc. these will have as an example for the PIA only 4 register addresses say E000h-E003h and the second one at say E100h-E103h etc.
They will exist in the bit E000h-FFFFh in the memory map showing.

The Atari chips are well documented, at D0xx(GITA),D1xx, D2xx(POKEY) D3xx(PIA) D4xx(ANTIC),D5xx(CARTRIDGE) etc some chips some unused and other when a cartridge is inserted such as the OSS Cart at D500,D501,D509

Its this level I'll need

 

Hi Richie
That looks to be the level of information needed, I'm at hospital waiting for a blood test at the moment, so can't download (I did try ) phone didn't like it.
I'll check it out when home, it would be great if either of the PIA's are socketed, as would make a nice easy conversion.
What were you thinking of using the additional posts for?

 

It’s an Dragon 32 MKII PCB and is an Issue 5 so there is a photo of this type of board in the archive and the PIA’s are soldered in and not in sockets. So it looks like this...



Sadly there is a problem with Idris that I have messaged Andy about so until he is aware I cannot go into details.

 

Oh thats a shame
I've had a look at that book and extracted the information I needed attached..

 

RICHIE - the boy done good - you are a genius and a frugal one at that - what a relief that the problem wasn't a major meltdown or colossal cash cow. Big relief this end as I'd told Bev that Idris wasn't well and that the beast could be coming home to our cave once more and she shot me such a look of sheer menace that my Maltesers melted and my Bounty bar broke beyond bite-sized chunks... Fella - GREAT NEWS - I just hope Idris is now happier in your home as it sounds like you've already loads of great upgrades planned for her whereas here she was sat under an Oric, here, waiting for Bev to hurl the whole heap of my sweet, saucy beauties into the skip at the back of our house(!!) ;-)



PS.Thanks for the payment too, Richie - best wishes, enjoy mate, and have a top weekend tinkering.

 

Richie

Yey nice one.

sounds a great plan, I wonder if it's worth buying one of the CPU protectors as well, based on the fact your going to be playing with the guts?

Is the Dragon fitted with 6821's or 68B21's the 2MHz is the later one?
Be nice to know what the most useful extra you'll be adding will be? an SDC cart (think thats right)
I'm also glad about the PSU caseing, And I guess I screwed up and didn't wrap in in enough bubble wrap, mind you kinda went over board with the 1050..

Your most welcome, sorry I'd not done it before, but hope you are pleased with it's operation.

Andy
What do I see wrapped up at the bottom of that pile next the Dragon, and another tucked over the back as well?
Least the dust wont get in

 

The DragonPlus board has 64K RAM upgrade, a 6845 CRTC chip ( ala BBC Micro ) to give you a 80 column display, there is 2K VRAM for the CRTC. So it gives a lot of expansion for a Dragon.
The UDW runs off the printer port and leaves the Cart port free for a Dos cart or another expansion. So there is a lot of potential.
Can you remind me Graham why you were stacking two PIA’s in the Atari?

 

Fellas, I seem to recall that it was in this thread that I first posted pics of the kitchen extension works here.

The sad news, after three weekends of solid hard graft is that our one man kitchen-fitting team, and friend, Chris, has now gone down with COVID, but as testimony to his skills, commitment and efforts, here are a few shots of his handiwork which we are so so so pleased with (now Bev finally has that "dream" kitchen):







No working stove or sink yet as we have had "issues" there and now we're self-isolating for a fortnight there's no quick fix team waiting in the wings to sort it so we'll just soldier on with the microwave, baby belling oven and takeaway deliveries.

Still, as you can see, Chris has done brilliantly well for us (working on his own and giving up three solid weekends of his own personal time) and we just hope that he recovers real soon from his symptoms (pains, feels crap and has a temperature) and that our results prove negative when we go at lunch for our tests.

Take lots of good care, guys - we now know of upwards of 10+ friends and friends of friends who have been affected by COVID this time around (3 are in hospital). It seems much more prevalent right now.

 

looks nice, very classy..

Those pics from previous post not showing for me even after a cache refresh??

But yes, the one's in the post look really good...

 

Thanks, Paul.

Odd. Wonder if the other guys see the original ones or just the zoomed out screengrab 2nd effort?

We are absolutely tickled pink.

We've never had anything as swish as this before, I can tell you.

It will be even better - when it all works!!

 

Exactamundo....for at least two self-isolation weeks, bud.

 

Hi Andy
Firstly Pictures don't show on your original post, only on the 2nd Post looks like a AOC screen grab or similar.
Although very small it does indeed look very nice indeed.
I hope it all gets completed ontime for Christmas. If it becomes a major problem and Chris remains unwell, let me know I'm happy to fininsh off the electrics for you if need be.
Paul, Yes It would be nice for Serena to get home to You & Cindy hopefully these test's they have just anounced for Students will allow that, even if you have to collect her.
Sorry I've not been about to much and had to put down the old soldering iron etc. Been busy with new fencing round a neigbours, sorting out my newist shed, resolving issues with Doctor's & Mum, repairing guttering, repairing my mates car.. OO and a few other bits and bobs.. Should be free ish from tomorrow, as will have finished off. apart from MOT for mates Car but thats out of my hands now, MOT Sat.. at least it has working brakes .. needed Discs and Pads. (not floppy ones)
I hope I may have some energy left to spend sometime online as well, best I've been doing is from my phone the odd time I've not fallen asleep after a shower when I've got home .. must be an age thing
Anyway I'll wish everyone Well, Stay safe

 

Guys, thank you very much for your kind thoughts and sentiments re the works here - we will get there, we're sure (we hope) for Christmas but most of all we just wish for good health and happiness to us all to enjoy time with our nearest and dearest. That's got to be the number one hope for us all. Thank you so much for the offers of help - massively appreciate that Graham and by god you do sound busy - Paul is spot on there. Will catch you later as MICROWAVE TEA is ready!! Cheers, guys. Stay safe...

 

I'm prone to falls because my balance is stuffed but I normally make sure I'm careful but wasn't expecting such a strange step and BOOM. Felt such a pillock, between the balance and my eczema which causes facial redness when its flaring up it looks like I've fallen over because I'm drunk which is not the case (I drink only with food and stuff like wine is too expensive so a nice treat but that's it.)

I don't have vices. never smoked, only drugs I take are prescribed and as said, any wine is a rare treat..Very much the silly old family man.

Looking forward to my daughter being home for Xmas...

 

BRILLIANT!
I've only just seen this reply - lurve the green, green "grass" on the Dragon and your retro CRT tv, Dimitris.

Fabtastic output and results, mate.

Very nice indeed - thank you for sharing.

What next for the Dragon projects on A.O., guys, anyone adding a speech synthesiser, DIY joystick port or maybe a dot matrix (or even a laser?!) printer to their set-ups?

 

Thank you for your (as always) kind words Andy, I'm glad you liked it!
Well, my next Dragon/CoCo project is to repair a poor faulty and missing-a-lot-of-parts-inside and PSU Dragon, and to.....tadaaaaaa..... try to achieve artifact effect out of the PAL machines...
How? Just be patient, I had a silly idea and I am waiting for a couple of thingies to arrive from the Far East (loooong delay, loooooonger due to COVID now) and we *may* have spectacular results (or a spectacular failure, just like Monty Python said "a very brave retreat" for Sir Robin, hahaha)
Cheers!!!

 

As ever, you are full of imaginative mods and surprises, Mr K!
We wish you well and...
keep us posted, please!

 

Q



Ops

 

I've taken my foot out of my mouth, bar 32Kbytes of 'Dragon stuff'

 

Hmm 25
Radio waves travel at the speed of light...

 

Hi Graham,
The text for fig 2 [ Dragon Interface ] must be on the reverse side. Do you the you could scan both sides and email it to me?