CompuServe Thread

#2320 on A1000 ?

28 messages in this thread
#3317From: Daryl AndersonNov 8, 1990 7:52 AM
NOPE – never heard of any way to get Video-slot equivalence on an A1000 <<anyone ?!>>… oh well, be still my pulse. I am really only looking for a decent way to run AMAX with interlace without sending myself into flicker-induced seizures :-> – da
#3320From: Jim MoncherNov 8, 1990 8:21 AM
The Rejuvenator has a video slot. I have seen A1000 running with a FF and a NEC 3D. It works great and gives 2.0 compatablity to boot.
#3358From: Black Belt SystemsNov 8, 1990 8:07 PM
Sure – video slot equivalance can be had with the Expert Systems "Rejuvinator". Talk to Greg Tibbs, right here, this forum. :^) BBS->Williams.Ben[AA7AS]
#3478From: Daryl AndersonNov 10, 1990 4:03 PM
Ben, Thanks. I thought I had seen that in some of the early Rejuvenator stuff but honestly didn't follow it since I didn't plan to miss much from lacking all those "fat ladies", not for $500-ish. Course if it gives me another Meg (I can sell my old Insider for $100), plus access to the opportunity to spend $400 for a FlickerFixer and maybe $600 on a monitor, so my Mac emulation is "crisp"… sheesh. .. sigh, I am starting to talk myself out of this after all. Actually I am interested in the beast and awaiting a catalog from Grapevine Group who sell it but are lengthily re-printing their catalog… -da – da
#3537From: Eric SchwertfegerNov 11, 1990 2:41 PM
Well, if you are interested in a cheaper but less general solution, someone was advertizing a cable that hooked up to the video port on the back of the amig passed through the RGB stuff to your regular monitor, and sent other data on to an IBM monocrome monitor. It claimed to be able to display interlaced viio without the flicker (a function of the diference in color and white phosphors. If this actually works (I want to find out, too), then you could get very sharp monocrome graphics for AMax, which doesn't support color anyway. Eric Schwertfeger
#3568From: Mike SchillerNov 11, 1990 10:54 PM
Eric: I have the cable you're talking about. (well sort of, I don't have the pass thru type, mine is to ONLY use an IBM monochrome monitor) I find that it works great, although the monitor might need some adjustment. When I first hooked it up I had a 2 inch border on BOTH top and bottom, and had to remove the case and play with a couple of internal adjustments (not something recomended nontechnical types do) to get the screen to the proper proportions, and it's been running great since then. I use it on my 2000 as a second monitor, and I have a C= 2320 delaceing board with multisync as the main display (I often work on things with a friend, and having 2 monitors makes it easier for him to follow along). I have a Tandy VM-5 monochome monitor hooked to it (an IBM style high persistance monitor), and the only thing that is a mild pain is that the monitor only responds to the blue signal, and it uses the Amiga's digital signal rather than it's analog signal, so there are only 3 colors available – black, white (or green, or amber depending on the monitor) and grey (or darker green or darker amber..). -Mike Schiller In sunny Fort Lauderdale
#3570From: Mike SchillerNov 11, 1990 10:54 PM
Eric: I almost forgot to mention… It works great with AMax!! -Mike Schiller In sunny Fort Lauderdale
#3658From: Daryl AndersonNov 13, 1990 8:30 AM
For that matter I don't think you need IBM version Monochrome "TTL". The old Monitor /// from Apple was set up to handle interlaced output from the Apple ///+ in 1984, alas I sold my only one a while back… I'm told that other plain vanilla B&W (or Green&White) monitors will handle interlace and expect to have my dealer show me what it looks like on the used Zenith 109's hs is trying to clear out for $30 apiece. – da
#3583From: Black Belt SystemsNov 11, 1990 11:48 PM
I was under the impression you did not have to sell your insider – I _think_ that it will work with the RJ. BBS->Williams.Ben[AA7AS]
#3696From: Daryl AndersonNov 14, 1990 9:45 AM
The requirement that I sell my Insider was, ahem, an "economic imperative"… since I just added Xetec FastTrak and Fastram with 4MB and have an offer of $100 for the Insider……. I figure I can live with 4.5M as well as 5.5M since 1.5M was fine for 4 years ! And the bucks would go towards the RJ and asst chips… – da – via Whap!
#3751From: Black Belt SystemsNov 15, 1990 6:20 PM
Gotcha. BBS->Williams.Ben[AA7AS]
#3633From: Gregory B. TibbsNov 12, 1990 8:04 PM
Daryl, The Rejuvenator will convert a stock A1000 to a 1.5 Meg machine, with the opportunity for a second meg of chip RAM (for a total of 2.5 Meg). It works well with both Insider models, and the Spirit IN-1000.(Note to Dean: the new Rejuvenator PALs fix the Insider clock problem) A flicker-fixer discount coupon is included ,bringing the price to $300, rather than $400. The $300 CBM DEB is being tested by a third party. A reasonable multiscan monitor can be easily had for $450. However Expert is backordered and a wait will be had. -Greg
#3697From: Daryl AndersonNov 14, 1990 9:45 AM
Greg, Thanks for taking the time to reply…mostly I will be selling the Insider to raise $$$ for the other stuff, now that I've got 4MB on my Xetec Fastram card. That discount coupon sounds like a good idea, and the Insider compat surely shows that you are aware of your primary market… fanatical A1000 users who never took, ahem, advantage of the 1000-plus-1000 "deal" cuz their 1000's were "too loaded"… I have been trying to get a catalog from Grapevine Group here in NY who advertise and sell your product but they are "in printing"… I'd like to re-review the facts on RJ. Is there a review here on CIS ? wasn't there one in AmigaWorld or Amazing ? Can you tell me what I get and don't get for the 'base price' (if there is one) (e.g. do I still have to buy ROMS, Fat Ladies, etc, etc). On monitors I get a little lost — do I need "multisync" to get flicker-free interlace ? is "VGA" or "hi-res VGA" capable equivalent to Multisync ? The spec on my current Panasonic DT-M140 don't mention multisync… is there any other codeword of technology alternative for flickerless interlaced display ? Thanks for any (and all) you time ! Even if I don't buy the beast it is great that you and folks like you are beating CBM at the technology game. – da – via Whap!
#3704From: Gregory B. TibbsNov 14, 1990 12:43 PM
There is a conference I did here over a year ago. It may be a little dated. Amazing printed the conference, so its the same thing, maybe slightly reduced. I'm not sure where it is now that things are reorganized. Normally, the Agnus is included at the $499.95 suggested list price. ROM is extra, as without it, Kickstart disk mode works as before. You also get 1 Meg of RAM at that price. Versions may be available without RAM. There is an A2000 video slot subset that works with the MicroWay flickerfixer. There is the same clock chip & battery as used on the A2000. Installation is fairly complicated. YOu have to completely disassemble the A1000 to install the Rej. There are no cuts or jumpers required, only three clip leads need be attached. For the person not mechanically inclined, Expert performs the installation for $35 plus shipping and extends the warranty from 90 days to a year. So far, with PALs, we have gone beyond the 90 day warranty as they have changed. I generally make some sort of announcement here on CIS when there is a major change. With 2.0 comming out, there should be a lot of 1.3 ROMs floating about. The 2.0 Enhancer package should contain a minimum of the ROM and disks, so you can buy those directly. The Rejuvenator is designed for 2 meg of chip ram, and upgrades will be available shortly. It also will work with the ECS Denise, available from Expert Services for $60, I believe (Only available to Rejuvenator purchasers due to contractual agreement with CBM). With a normal installation, you reuse your existing PAULA and Denise chips. In that case, you can use your standard monitor that you use now. If you purchase a deinterlacing card or use the productivity mode of the ECS Denise, you need a multiscan monitor. A multiscan monitor is available from $450 or so, depending on quality, name brand, where bought, etc. You will need a special cable buffering HSYNC and Vertical sync to produce a tear-free display in productivity mode (for the 23 pin RBG port). Any standard genlocs that plug onto the 23 pin RGB port will work ( at least several have been tested and found to work).
#3729From: Betty Clay/SYSOPNov 15, 1990 1:11 AM
All of the Conference transcripts are in library 3 of AMigaUser forum. Betty
#3738From: Gregory B. TibbsNov 15, 1990 7:08 AM
Thanks for the information, Betty! -Greg
#3770From: Daryl AndersonNov 16, 1990 7:18 AM
Greg, Good point about the 1.3 ROMs. I figure to be comfortable with the installation but am glad to hear that Expert can do it. Thanks – I'll go hunting thru Amazing for the CO. I hope you'll bear with me for a few more questions (most are things I should have been paying attention to elsewhere but didn't since "that doesn't apply to my A1000"… which may all change now !) – I take it running 2.0 and 2.0 ROMS is fully possible with RJ ? – Fat Agnus included is the one that gives me 1MB CHIP ram ? Does 2MB CHIP RAM require "even-fatter AGNUS" ? (obese?) Is RJ socketed for the extra RAM ? – Denise is the one that gives me the extra (2.0 ?) video modes ? I thought people are saying that its not available yet… – Is ECS productivity mode possible without a FlickerFixer ? If so I'll need the special cable and ECS Denise only ? Where can I get that cable ? Is Grapevine group a good dealer for RJ? – Is a "VGA monitor" or "hi-res VGA" same as "multiscan" ? -thanks – da – via Whap!
#3774From: Gregory B. TibbsNov 16, 1990 12:51 PM
Okay, one at a time. The Beta versions of 2.0 that work on the 2000 run just fine on the RJ. These are not ROMs, but special software that requires an autoconfig memory board. As of now, I haven't tested the 2.0 ROM because they aren't available. The 2 meg chip ram requires the 2 meg version of Agnus. The Agnus included is the 1 meg ECS (Super) Agnus. The 2 meg of chip ram is based on using 4 1megx4 drams instead of 8 256Kx4s. It is socketed, so changing is easy. Because I (or Expert Services) have a contract with CBM, we have had ECS Denises for sale. CBM is currently re-evaluating the contract and the decision to continue it is resting with Mr. Copperman at the moment. -Greg
#3775From: Gregory B. TibbsNov 16, 1990 12:59 PM
ECS productivity mode is really a waste. It uses up nearly all the chip ram bandwidth (i.e. the CPU can't get to the RAM except at HSYNC and VSYNC) and requires a multisync monitor, but it does solve the flicker problem. If you don't have fast RAM, the system will slow to a crawl. The display enhancers buffer the screen and display it twice as fast to eliminate flicker.. This means that you can run normal interlace modes and reduce the chip ram contention back to normal, yet still have superior adn faster graphics. Applications not designed for productivity mode will only work if they can cohabitate on the Workbench screen. To use it you'll need to wait for 2.0, have the ECS Denise, and a buffered cable and the multisync. All you save is the display enhancer board cost. That doesn't mean ECS Denise is useless, I really like the 1280×200/400 super hires mode. -Greg
#3776From: Gregory B. TibbsNov 16, 1990 1:08 PM
A buffered cable is not hard to make, but you might try Redmond cable. You need to know which multisync you will buy as the pinnout at the monitor end is often different. All you need is a 74HC04 to twice invert (so you wind up with a buffered non-inverted signal) both HSYNC and Vsync. VGA monitors are NOT multiscan monitors. Most multiscan monitors are VGA compatible. Be careful of the HSYNC (horizontal syncronization) frequency. Many do not go down to 15.750Khz that the Amiga requires. Right now you can only order the Rejuvenator through the Grapevine group or through Expert Services. There is a 60 day backorder and Expert maintains a queue, so you'd be better from a delivery time standpoint to order through Expert Services, and a few dollars cheaper (I've checked their ads) to order through Grapevine. -Greg
#3891From: Daryl AndersonNov 19, 1990 11:07 AM
Greg, OK… now I will spend a while digesting and only thank you again for taking the time to reply, no more laundry lists for now ! -tnx – da – via Whap!
#3705From: Gregory B. TibbsNov 14, 1990 12:51 PM
(Continued) The only thing I know for sure that doesn't work right now is the Cltd 1 Meg ram expansion, and I am working on that. The Supra XRAM is another issue. The easiest way to get help is right here. I am always around and will provide as much help as possible. Considering the myrad of expansion peripherals and the overloading of the bus by some people, I'm pleased that the product performs as well as it does. -Greg
#3803From: Andre PageNov 16, 1990 11:17 PM
I have one of your Rejuvenator Boards and I have an old C-Ltd 1 meg ram (Megaboard) and it is working O.K. Altogether I have A-1000, Supra 4×4 SCSi interface w/MiniScribe 9380S HD 16MHZ 68020/68881 Midget Racer, and the MegaBoard. One problem I do have is when the computer is "Cold" during startup the hard drive seems to hang up. After resetting a few times it will boot up O.K. then once in a while while still "cold" the HD hangs when opening drawer or some programs. After running awhile everything is O.K. the rest of the day.?! I also have a Spirit 1.5meg inside board, but that doesn't work with the Supra and Midget Racer combined. It works with Midget Racer alone and with Supra w/o Midget Racer? I figure it is just "Buss Noise" or I've heard the Midget Racers are a little "Flakey". What do you think??? / / //ANDRE
#3813From: Gregory B. TibbsNov 17, 1990 11:42 AM
First, do you have the new PALs? If not, call Expert Services and get them. They are much better. Does your hard drive run off the A1000's power supply. It sounds like it is having a hard time driving all your equipment. The thing I would do is to add two jumper wires to the bottom of your A1000 motherboard. Basically, you want to run better ground and 5 volts to the 68000 socket. Use 22 gauge solid hookup wire. Take an ohmmeter and ring out ground from where the power supply connects to the board to one of two heavy copper traces that go from one side of the 68000 socket to the other (one is ground, the other is 5 volts). Note that there are vias (holes) that you an put the wires into at the CPU socket (from the bottom). Aft verify that you indeed have ground identified, look for +5 volts at the power connector. Note that it goes to a ferrite bead. You want to connect the +5 volt trace from the 68000 socket to the side of the ferrite bead furthest from the power connector. Be careful of shorting out the power. Use the lowest setting for your ohmmeter as there is enough circuitry on the board that makes a reading from +5volts to ground look like it is common. All of this construction of course assumes that you've removed power, all peripherals and have taken the motherboard out of the case. What you might notice is the way that the ground meanders from the power to the 68000 and then to the expansion bus. I changes from verythick, to very thin and back to thick again. It also goes through the board several times. This modification helps two fold. It provides a better ground to the CPU socket, helping out where things like the LUCAS, Spirit board, et. al. draw significant power without having both power and ground leads. Second, it also provides a better ground at the expansion bus. This means that devices that draw power from the Amiga 1000 power supply won't add nearly as much noise to the data bus and address bus. All in all, it makes the machine able to handle expansion bus devices more reliably than before. -Greg
#4067From: Andre PageNov 24, 1990 6:23 PM
Thanks for the info. I will look into the PALs (how can I tell which I have?). The wiring job will have to wait till I take the Amiga apart again. That may be pretty soon! / / //ANDRE
#4089From: Gregory B. TibbsNov 25, 1990 1:19 PM
Depends on how recently you bought your Rej. The newest PAls were distributed mid-Oct on. Expert knows by serial number, so give them that and they can tell. -Greg
#3773From: Patrick DohertyNov 16, 1990 8:35 AM
Keep the Insider! My rejuvenator works with my One Meg Insider. If space is a problem then use an extender cable on the video slot.
#4013From: Daryl AndersonNov 23, 1990 11:15 AM
Patrick, I loved the Insider for 3 years but its a fait accompli, sold it two days ago – the gent who bought it paid enuff ($100) to pay for 2.5M of the memory I put up on my Xetec FastRam and the 4M on that board seemed adequate (!) – course now I'm seeing some funny video problems (posted to AmigaUser since 'tech here doesn't seem to have a slot for HW stuff (?!)) and worry that the specific $C00000 memory from the Insider was giving me something extra beyond 1M (I missed the clock also but just revived my old A-TIME)… – da – via Whap!