CompuServe Thread

#GVP PhonePak

11 messages in this thread
#99345From: Paul HigginbottomMay 11, 1993 8:39 PM
Oops – wanted to make clear. PhonePak works in A2000 or A4000 without anything else, and requires the 16 bit memory mentioned only in the A3000.
#99421From: Joe LoweryMay 12, 1993 11:24 AM
Thanks for the clarification regarding PhonePak. I was a little concerned when you started talking about the extra memory. Thanks for the information. – Joe
#99482From: Jerry ThompsonMay 12, 1993 6:32 PM
Paul, are all A2000 (Zorro II?) memory cards 16 bit? I may be able to get an ooooold memory card from an A2000 cheap, real cheap. -Jerry
#99525From: Paul HigginbottomMay 12, 1993 10:32 PM
Yes, all A2000 (Zorro II) memory cards are necessarily 16 bit because Zorro II is 16 bit. Zorro III is 32 bit. If it's an ANCIENT memory card you might be able to get, make sure it works properly with other cards in a machine. Some early cards weren't real friendly. We recommend (of course) either a GVP RAM/8 or a GVP Series II HardCard 8 populated with 2MB for use with PhonePak in an A3000. You actually only need about 512K for PhonePak to work. Paul.
#99544From: Jonathan BlackwellMay 13, 1993 12:37 AM
Paul, I have a Series II SCSI+ RAM controller and have lost my documentation. Could you upload a quick jumper config for memory? -Jonathan
#99825From: donnellanMay 14, 1993 11:34 PM
I have a GVP series II ram board with 2megs onboard and another 2 in SIMMs … and I wouldn't sell it to my worst enemy! So far I've had nothing but problems because it declares itself as a ram board and a SCSI controller with 64k ROM although it's only a ram board. That leaves one controller in the configuration area which doesn't exist in reality! The problems don't arise until you start using other boards or software which is resident and tries to change or use the autoconfig lists which are setup during a bootstrap. I tried asking DTM (GVP's destributors in Germany) about a solution… but guess what they said… "normally it shouldn't act up… it only happens with 0.000001% of software… WE HAVE TESTED IT HERE AND IT WORKS…!" This probably means that eather I got a dud or they got something that they don't sell with the board. I've tested the board on an a2000a/b/c so that there's no doubt that it's not the computer! I hope that that helps someone out there who might be thinking of buying one! Sean
#100062From: Paul HigginbottomMay 16, 1993 7:34 PM
Hi Sean. I'm sorry you're not happy with your Series II, but I really am unclear as to what the problem is. You say: "because it declares itself as a ram board and a SCSI controller with 64k ROM although it's only a ram board." I don't understand this last part since it IS a SCSI controller AND a RAM board. Perhaps you could explain why this is a problem. You go on to say "That leaves one controller in the configuration area which doesn't exist in reality!" But it does exist. What am I missing here? You say "the problems don't arise until you start using other boards or software which is resident and tries to change or use the autoconfig lists which are setup during a bootstrap." Pray tell, what software needs to worry about the autoconfig lists at all, and (shudder) changes it? I don't see why this should ever be a problem. I really need you to explain what you're trying to do, and then hopefully I can help. So far, I guess I don't see that the board is performing improperly.
#100505From: donnellanMay 20, 1993 12:04 PM
Paul, Well what I have isn't the SCSI+RAM series II board it's just the RAM series II board… "NO SCSI!" Which means that it should only declare itself as such and not as something else aswell. Just for any experts out there: Model: A2000-RAM8 MFG CODE 0391 SERIAL *D000909* RAM INSTALLED = 2MB So what I'm talking abaout seems to be slightly (not much) different to what you're talking abaout just that my board thinks that it's a SCSI board with RAM. Nobody told it that the SCSI was amputated! It's like a fly without wings… every time it gets to a high spot it jumps off in the hope of flying………. Shall I say more? Hmm you're wondering what kind off software patches the autoconfig list. Well the autoconfig list is patched by any programm which loads the kickstart into ram to then boot from it (zkick, kickit, skick, etc). There is also other software which gurus out because of the board.. but I don't have it anymore as I find it rather anoying removing the board everytime something doesn't run! Other than that the board is a gift from God! It's just that I can't use ROM images if I want to run 1.3 or any old ROMs I have lying around… I can't run a lot of resident modules… My turbo board has difficulties with it (sometimes) depending on what mode it's in… and it can't be switched off! As I said … It's really a gift from the skies :-). Here's what the SCSI part looks like after a NORMAL boot with just it and a REAL Masoboshi SCSI controller in my a2000c(68010): Flags = CDF_CONFIGME Board Address = e90000 Board Size = 65536 Slot Address = 233 Slot Size = 1 Driver Code at 0 er_Type = d1 er_Product = b er_Flags = 0 er_Reserved03 = 0 er_Manufacturer = 7e1 er_SerialNumber = eeeeeeee er_InitDiagVec = 8000 er_Reserved0c = 0 er_Reserved0d = 0 er_Reserved0e = 0 er_Reserved0f = 0 (taken with the EXPANSION tool from C=) Say "on ara!" Sean.
#100527From: Paul HigginbottomMay 20, 1993 1:19 PM
Will forward your info to someone at GVP and see if they can figure out a solution. Sorry for the confusion and your troubles.
#100648From: donnellanMay 21, 1993 11:05 AM
Ok thanks for the help. Sean
#101313From: Jerry ThompsonMay 25, 1993 1:07 PM
Paul, thanks for your help. I got a great deal on a CBM 2052 memory card with 2 meg on it (kind of a gift from a friend). Both the memory card and a GVP PhonePAK are working fine in my A3000. Thanks again. -Jerry Thompson