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General Stuff(tm)

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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

And Spectre GCR seems fully operational!

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This is the first time since 1991, when I bought the TT, that Spectre has ever run on this machine.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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exxos
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by exxos »

:bravo: :2k2:
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

The NetUSBee still refuses to work, but the timing on that may need more than a nanosecond or two adjustment.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Just as an experiment I fitted 2.2K pull-ups on the data lines, which was tricky as the pin spacing on the connectors is 2mm and not 2.54mm.

Although the NETUS.TOS diagnostic now reliably saw 0xffff when trying to read the non-existent USB chip (as opposed to 0xfffa with sometimes 0xfcfa, suggesting that the internal pull-ups aren't strong enough) the NetUSBee-Lite still isn't working.

The problem probably is a timing one then, with the generated /DTACK being too early, before the chips have output data onto the bus.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Well, I can pretty well pin it down to bad reads now, probably due to timing.

uiptool.tos manages to initialise the ethernet chip, read its ROM (which will be fast) and blindly send DHCP packets to the network, but it doesn't see the reply. I see the DHCP request packet on the net.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Just as a last test I upgraded to the very latest MiNT kernel and added the ne2kenec.xif driver, not thinking that it would help but...


IMG_4820.jpeg
IMG_4820.jpeg (94 KiB) Viewed 418 times


The NetUSBee-Lite network only goes and starts working!

It doesn't work under UIPTOOL though. However, it's amazing that it does actually work at all.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

I may have "accidentally" won the auction on an Atari 800XL...
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Mon Dec 15, 2025 10:29 pm I may have "accidentally" won the auction on an Atari 800XL...
Oooh nice, what sort of condition?

More details soon please :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Looks a bit rough but not too bad. No idea if it works. Probably more fun if it doesn't.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/157530564121
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
Top
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Oh dear. The seller is sending the machine via Evri.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceq107yxxjyo
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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