exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

Higgy wrote: 07 Apr 2022 08:53 You might have all this info, but this is where I first saw the CASDunio for MSX:

http://arduitape.blogspot.com/2016/03/a ... m.html?m=1

I naively thought oh the the Dragon also uses .CAS files so I contacted the team. After some back and forward they tweeked the firmware and got Dragon .CAS files working on the same firmware as MSX :)

I don't have any Dragons now, and I am not sure if MiSTer Cores accept tape input. I was helping some American Roger test his CoCo/Real Dragon Core but that has gone quiet.

Dragon tape files were a right pain to get the right format to actually load. I still have the files on my SDcard for my CASDuino. I can send them to you if you want? You really want to be starting with tape images you know will load, and load quickly at that ;)

Sounds like you've been pretty busy in the Dragon scene in the past :)

I think my main issue is that I misunderstood what tapduino was capable of, and didn't realise there was a MaxDuino that did a whole lot more, such as MSX which I also want a cassette emulator for.

If you still have the files, that'd fantastic if you could send them or link me to them, thanks so much.

It's a pity that the SVI-CAS is only available directly from the developer in Australia as that looks like the best of the tape loading devices at the moment.

stephen_usher wrote: 07 Apr 2022 10:56 It's a pity that the SVI-CAS is only available directly from the developer in Australia as that looks like the best of the tape loading devices at the moment.

Yeah, it looks pretty good I have to say. Not cheap, but well worth it if you need a one size fits all solution.

I think I'm going to try and install MaxDuino on the TapDuino I have, seems like the quickest solution.

rubber_jonnie wrote: 07 Apr 2022 11:21 I think I'm going to try and install MaxDuino on the TapDuino I have, seems like the quickest solution.

Will be interested how that goes. If all’s well I may try it on my TZXDuino

Icky wrote: 07 Apr 2022 18:04

rubber_jonnie wrote: 07 Apr 2022 11:21 I think I'm going to try and install MaxDuino on the TapDuino I have, seems like the quickest solution.

Will be interested how that goes. If all’s well I may try it on my TZXDuino

Looking like a faff to do (Needs doing via the Arduino IDE), so may take a little time to get done. Ho Hum.

Well, I've been trying to use the COCOSDC and boy what a pain in the rear, but not its fault.

Nope, the Dragon keyboard is possibly the worst of all the keyboards for all of my machines, and I include the ZX81 in that list!!

Trying to type commands of any sort, be it basic or those for the COCOSDC is a nightmare, because despite having mechanical switches and having a refurb, including contact cleaner, some still don't work well at all, requiring heavy or repeated prodding to work.

Not only that, but the debounce is not great, so you sometimes end up with double characters. It's annoying as it's only about 3 or 4 keys, but trying to type SDIR or DIR when both I and R are not behaving is very frustrating!!

:dizzy:

So I need to have a closer look at those switches, see if I can improve things to the point where typing isn't a chore.

From what I remember, they use the same keyboard switches as the BBC Micro and Memotech and they are prone to tarnishing on the contacts, generating noisy connections, which the machines see as multiple key presses.

*SOMETIMES* you can get "Deoxit" or similar (Electrolube, the version with a reducing agent chemical) inside via the stem and it will help, but it often doesn't help. The only full solution is to disassemble the switch and thoroughly clean and sand the tarnish off the stems or replace the switch.

stephen_usher wrote: 10 Jun 2022 10:29 From what I remember, they use the same keyboard switches as the BBC Micro and Memotech and they are prone to tarnishing on the contacts, generating noisy connections, which the machines see as multiple key presses.

*SOMETIMES* you can get "Deoxit" or similar (Electrolube, the version with a reducing agent chemical) inside via the stem and it will help, but it often doesn't help. The only full solution is to disassemble the switch and thoroughly clean and sand the tarnish off the stems or replace the switch.

You've probably hit the nail on the head with the noisy connections. I can't speak for the Memotech, but the keyswitches on the BBCs I have are different to those on my Dragon, which are like this with the keycap removed:


With every keypress the metal fingers can come together and make contact (or not!). Also on my Beebs, the switches can all be replaced individually and have 2 contacts at the bottom (These can actually be removed and allow for DeOxit or similar to be sprayed in), but on my Dragon at least, the switches and stems are in a one piece plastic keyboard unit that I suspect has to be removed all at once, but does allow for switch replacement.

I think my only option, since Electrolube hasn't worked, is to physically clean the connections, so I'll do that next.

@rubber_jonnie I might have a Dragon keyboard about here somewhere, lemme see if I still have it.

PhilC wrote: 10 Jun 2022 11:32 @rubber_jonnie I might have a Dragon keyboard about here somewhere, lemme see if I still have it.

Appreciate that, though I think with a bit more fettling this one can be salvaged, it's only about 4 keys, they're just keys I need to use :dizzy: