AST 6-Pak/Bridgeboard
14 messages in this thread
I have just bought a AST 6 pak plus memory board very cheap without
instructions etc. Does anybody know how to set up the board for a
XT Bridgeboard.
Cheers Allan
from the UK – via Whap!
Allan…
If the board is expanded memory, you'll probably want to set the page frame
at D000. That means the Bridgeboard itself should be set for E000 (in
PCPrefs).
If you have a parallel port, set it for LPT2: so you can still use the
"LPT1" program, which lets the Bridgeboard use the Amiga printer.
Set the serial port for COM1–the Janus software uses COM2.
If the manual tells you to set a jumper on the board for the amount of
memory already in the computer, set it for 512K.
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for the Bridgeboard, etc.
Marion The problem is I don't have any instructions for the board at all.
If I plug it in I get LPT2: and an extra 128k of memory. My bridgeboard is
set for D000 but I can't change it as I'm running 2.04. I will have to try
experiment with the expansion boards jumper and see what happens. By the
way what is CROSSINGS and is it available in the UK.
Cheers Allan
from the UK – via Whap!
Hi Allan…
I don't have the manual for that board, so I can't give you any details,
I'm afraid.
CROSSINGS is a monthly newsletter, specifically about PC compatibility with
the Amiga, emphasis on Bridgeboards. Annual subscription for overseas air
mail is $US50. Leave me your postal address by e-mail and I'll be happy to
send you a sample issue.
Marion
The D000 is the Amiga's memory location used by the BB, it will have
absolutely nothing to do with your 6-Pak. Memory expansion on the PC side
of your Amiga starts at $80000. I have a 6-Pak manual lying around at
work, I'll try and find out what the settings should be. I do know that the
only memory the 6-Pak can give you is System memory, which maxs out at 640K
abouts. Since your BB has 512K already, you can only use 128K of the 6-Pak.
Mike McCormick
Thanks for the reply. I have now been given the phone number of AST on-line
and have now got the correct settings.
Allan
from the UK – via Whap!
Michael…
D000 is the PC memory location used by the Janus software, and it's often
used by PC Expanded memory for the 64K page frame. However, Allan's 6-Pak
doesn't have expanded memory, so it shouldn't cause any problems.
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for the Bridgeboard, etc.
D000 is the MS-DOS memory area where the Janus interface "sits", it
is NOT the Amiga memory area.
Alan,
Set the switches as follows:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1
where 1 is ON and 0 is OFF (ON = UP and OFF = DOWN). Jumper immediately
above the DIP switch should have jumpers on 4 and 7. On jumpers
immediately below the battery (round thing at top middle) should be left as
they come from the factory except that you should either disable LPT1 by
removing the jumper or move it to LPT2. If you don't have any memory in
the board, then you should 256 x 1 chips in the left most bank and 64 x 1
chips in the other two banks. The DIP switch settings will provide
backfill for 128k memory to bring the BB from 512 to 640k. If you want a
copy of the docs I can run a xerox for you if you will send me a stamped,
self-addressed large envelope. The docs are pretty extensive. Do you have
the software, too? To use the clock you must run ASTCLOCK. You need to
run it in resident mode initially to set the clock. Do ASTCLOCK /R. Then
run DATE and TIME and set current date and time. Then reboot, but only run
ASTCLOCK without the /R in your autoexec.bat. Hope this helps.
Steven
Thanks for your offer of Docs,but I think it will be expensive to
send to the UK. I have been given a contact number in the UK which I will
try first.
Cheers Allan
from the UK – via Whap!
Allan,
I have an AST SixPakPlus on my XT Bridgeboard. Positions 1 throught 3
of SW1 should all be on to indicate that you have 512K of memory. You need
at least 128K on the SixPakPlus. Switches 4, 5, and 6 are set to OFF, ON,
and OFF for 128K using 64K DRAMs in Bank 0 and Bank 1. Bank 2 would be
vacant.
Bank 0 Bank 1 Bank 2 SW1-4 SW1-5 SW1-6 Total RAM onboard
OFF OFF OFF 0 KB
64 KB — — OFF OFF ON 64 KB
64 KB 64 KB — OFF ON OFF 128 KB
256 KB — — OFF ON ON 256 KB
64 KB 256 KB — ON OFF OFF 320 KB
64 KB 64 KB 256 KB ON OFF ON 384 KB
256 KB 256 KB — ON ON OFF 512 KB
64 KB 256 KB 256 KB ON ON ON 576 KB
When the starting address is 320 KB or higher, the SixPakPlus
automatically limits the amount of usable memory on the card. This
prevents conflicts with areas of memory reserved for the monochrome or
color display cards. This occurs even if SW1 positions 4 through 6 are
configured for more memory than the maximum indicated in Figure 2-5.
Position 7 is not used.
Position 8 of SW1 will enable parity checking if on.
Your DRAM memory chips must have 150 or 200 nanosecond access time for
64 KB chips, pin 1 not used, +5 volt only.
Manufacturer Part Number
AMD AM9064-15PC, AM9064-20PC
Fujitsu MB8264-15P, MB8264-20P
Hitachi HM4864P-2
Inmos IMS2600P-15
Intel P2164A-15, P2164A-20
There are more, but you should order the manuals and software so that
you can use the onboard clock.
For 256 KB DRAM chips 100, 120, or 150 nanosecond access times, Pin 1
not used, +5 volt only.
Manufacturer Part Number
AT&T WCM41256FX-15
[ MORE ]
[ continuation ]
Fujitsu MB81256-15
Hitachi HM50256P-15
Mitsubishi M5M4256P
Motorola MCM6256L
NEC D41256C-15
Texas Instruments TMS4256-15NL
Toshiba TMM41256P-15
You can reach AST On-Line! at the following numbers:
USA 714/727-4723
UK 44-1-847-5389
Australia 61-418-7353
Switzerland 41-1-761-68-85
Asia 852-5-714-215
Their address is as follows:
AST Research, Inc.
16215 Alton Parkway
P.O. Box 19658
Irvine, CA 92713-9658
Their telephone number is 714 863-1333 and 714 727-4141. I think that
they have an 800 number, too. You could 800 directory assistance and try
it.
My inquiry turned up 1 800 876-4278 for AST Product Information.
Sincerely,
(Mr.) Gayle Lee Fairless
'Perfessor Fearless'
– via Whap!
Gayle, Thanks for all the information. I will see if I can contact AST for
the docs and software. What are the jumpers above the output port.
Cheers Allan
from the UK – via Whap!
Allan,
The jumpers above SW1 enable IRQ3, IRQ4, and IRQ7 for COM2, COM1, and
LPT1 respectively.
Up above the SW1 switches and the IRQ jumper block is the RS-232C jumper
block which has 6 positions for 3 pairs that control DSR, DCD, and CTS in
the serial port. The first jumper in each pair will force the condition
true thereby disabling it. The second jumper in each pair will enable the
flag.
The jumpers below the clock battery enable the COM1, COM2, LPT1, LPT2,
GAME, and CLOCK ports and/or functions. Since the board has only one
serial port, obviously either COM1 or COM2 should be enabled. Of course if
you have plenty of serial ports on another card, it may be that you would
not want to enable either of them. The same reasoning applies to the
parallel port for LPT1 and LPT2.
The GAME port may not have the necessary chips to operate since it is
labeled as an optional item. Consequently, this is a piece of hardware
that you may also wish to order from AST. If you did not get the ribbon
cables for the parallel port and the game port, then you also need those if
you want to use either or both of those. The serial port is on the AST
SixPakPlus card.