Important Note
All modifications are COMPLETELY at your risk. I have not the slightest idea if any of them work. If you decide do to any of this stuff, and it damages your hardware, that’s on you. Proceed at your own risk.
Hardware Modifications and Patches – Model 4
Menu
Memory Related Modifications:
- Conversion and Installation of a Model III Hires Board into a Model 4
- Upgrading from 16K to 64K
- Model 4P Memory Modification for Gate Array Boards
- Model III/4 Shows Only Garbage at Startup
- Model 4 Memory Modification (Non-Green Screen)
Storage Related Modifications:
- Adding External Drives to a Model 4P
- Install a 3.5″ Standard IBM Floppy Drives in a TRS-80 Model III or 4 (Download)
- How to Add a Drive Select Switch to Model III or Model 4 by Rick Shear.
Video Related Modifications:
Other Modifications:
- Quick Model 4 Speed-Up Modification
- Making the USRobotics Courier 2400 Modem Work With A Model 4
- How to Bolster the Power Supply for the Model 4
- How to put the SmartWatch Clock board in the Model 4 with a Hi-Res graphics board
- Improving 4/4D/4P Reliability
- Model 4 Power Supply Fault
- Improving the Model 4P Speaker Out
- How to check a Model 4 before Powering Up.
- Mark Blair’s Model 4 ROM EPROM Adapter Board (Gerbers)
Other:
- Making a Hardware Clock and Hard Drive Play Nice Together
- Convert 5″ Drive Cable to 8″ Drive Cable
- TRS-80 Hard Drive Bubble Repair Information (PDF Here)
- Power Line Filter (Link is a download link)
- Radio Shack Hard Drive Lamp Replacement
- Null Modems
Conversion and Installation of a Model III Hires Board into a Model 4
This details the conversion, and installation, of a Model III Hires board, Cat # 26-1125, to a Model 4 computer.
Ted Haigh – Radio Shack technical bulletin – April 25, 1984
First, Modify the Model 4
- On the Model 4 mother board, CPU board, a modification must be made.
- Remove ALL cables from the CPU Board.
- Remove the screws fastening the CPU board to the case.
- Remove the CPU board from the computer.
- Free pin 12 of U22 (7432) from the printed circuit board.
- Jumper the free pin to ground (a good place is to pin 7 of U22).
Next, Modify the Graphics Board
- Purchase a 74LS02
- Bend all the pins except 7 and 14 from the body of the 74LS02.
- Connect the pins (7 and 14) to pins 7 and 14 on U25, piggyback style.
- Cut the trace from U25, pin 8, that goes to U8, pin 11.
- Place a jumper from pin 9 on the 74LS02 to pin 25 on the 50 pin connector (this is the I/O connector).
- Place a jumper on Pin 8 on the 74LS02 to pin 21 on the 50 pin connector.
- Place a jumper from pin 10 on the 74LS02 to pin 11 on U8.
Next, Install the Graphics Board
- There are three pin connectors clumped together on the top right corner of the graphics board, this is if you are looking at the board with the components facing you, and the 50 pin connector down.
- The far right 6 pin connector is for the CPU video input.
- To connect to the CPU board, use the cable supplied with the board. If there is no cable, make a 6 wire cable with each end a 6 pin connector.
- Plug the supplied cable on the hires board into the CPU video out, this is a 6 pin jack at the top right of the CPU board next to the power cable for the CPU board.
- Plug the cable that usually goes in the CPU video out slot to the second 6 pin connector, the second from the far right, on the Hires board.
- The remaining 2 pin connector is for the power to the hires board, if you don’t have a cable already made, check the cables to see if there is one already installed in the computer.
- Look at the Hires board and note the pin that has a small plus sign next to it, “+”, this is for a plus 5 volt input and the other pin is for common.
- Connect the hires board to the CPU by connecting it with a 50 pin flat cable, to the I/O bus (The component side of the graphics board should be facing away from the CPU board, the back of the graphics board should be facing the component side of the CPU board. The 50 pin cable should have a short extension that exits the bottom of the case, this is to allow use of any I/O devices (Hard Drives, etc.).
Next, Test The Board
- To test the grahics board you will need to get any Hires program and see if it runs, and produces a hires output. A good program is HIRES/CMD, by Mel Patrick, this will allow you to load and view any standard Model 4 hires file, 19k “/HR” types, and there are several on Compuserve.
Making a Hardware Clock and Hard Drive Play Nice – Joe Kyle-DiPietropaolo
The Problem
Fairly often I have been asked, “Gosh, why won’t my hard disk and hardware clock work together? The hardware vendors say they should ’cause they are addressed differently, but they don’t.”
The Cause
On the Model 3 and 4, there is a signal line that is used to reverse the data bus on the external I/O bus so that data can be input to the computer. Normally, the data bus only “points out”. When an external device “realizes” that it has been addressed, it can pull this line low to send data to the computer.
There are two basic methods by which the external device can control the lead. First, a “normal” TTL or LS-TTL output. This is the one that causes the problem. Second, an “Open Collector” output, which is the correct way.
Open collector outputs know how to share. Any device can pull the lead low without conflicting with any other device on the bus. Each may pull the line low, or do *nothing* to the lead.
“Normal” TTL signals, on the other hand, may pull the lead low, as above. The problem is that when a “normal” output is not pulling the lead low, it is pushing the lead high, as opposed to just leaving it alone. Now, when there is more than one device in the system, and one of the devices becomes active, it tries to pull the lead low while the rest try to push it high. The result is “contention” and somebody wins. Who wins is up for grabs. If the right party wins, the whole system may seem to work… for now. As the temperature of the components change, the system ages, etc., this can change.
If one or more devices in the system are open collector, and some are normal TTL, then some combinations of devices may work and others won’t. If only one is TTL and the rest are open collector, the system may seem to work but that TTL device is eventually going to burn out.
A technically competent person armed with the schematic for the device in question should understand the problem if given this whole description. They should then be able to look on the schematic for the device and tell whether or not an open collector output was used. If all devices pass this test, then they may all be used together without conflict as long as they are addressed differently.
The Solution
A 7405 open collector hex inverter can be used to buffer or replace the output device used. Note that the 7405 will invert the logic of the signal, so you must either pick off the signal at a point that it is inverted to begin with, or run the signal through two sections of the 7405 with a 2.2K pull-up resistor on the output of the first section. The pull-up for the final output is already in the Model 3 or 4.
The 7405 is a fourteen pin chip, and may be piggy-backed to any existing fourteen pin chip in the device that uses pins 7 and 14 for ground and power. All leads except pins 7 and 14 are bent ninety degrees so that they point straight out. It is then placed over the “host” chip and pins 7 and 14 are soldered to the corresponding pins on the host chip. Wire wrap wire may be used to connect the 7405 inputs and outputs as necessary. If two sections of the 7405 are to be used (if the inverted sense of the output signal is not available), the pull-up resistor may be run from the output of the first section to pin 14 on the chip.
One trace cut should be necessary, to separate the output lead from its existing driver chip.
Disclaimer
As they say on TV, “This kind of stuff is best attempted by experienced people taking all the necessary safety precautions.” If the above explanation and procedure did not make perfect sense to you, I recommend that you do *not* try this yourself. Find a local hardware hacker to help you, or take this explanation and the matter up with your various hardware vendors.
Quick Model 4 Speed-Up Modification – Bryan Eggers
Background
Here’s a simple modification to speed-up some early Model 4s. This does not work on all Model 4’s, but it may work on yours. There were a few variations of the Model 4 circuit board, but I’ve heard that this works on MOST of the early boards. I haven’t tried it, so do it at your own risk! If you’re successful, you’ll eliminate the wait states and your Model 4 will run faster. This speed difference is very noticeable with Orchestra-90.
How To Do It
- Locate the integrated circuit marked “U3” (the marking is on the PC board itself). It’s on the top left of the board near the jumpers.
- Carefully remove it from its socket.
- Carefully bend back pin 7 and insert the IC back into the socket (the object here is simply to keep pin 7 from making any contact when you plug the IC back in).
Conclusion
That’s all there is to it! This supposedly eliminates the wait-states and gives you a “true” 4 Mhz. Perhaps it will work on your board. Larry Payne did this to his system and said that it worked perfectly, and I guess you could call him somewhat of an expert on Model 4’s!
That’s all I know about this little trick. Perhaps some others can tell you more about it.
Additional Comments from Ray Pelzer
On the later machines (like MINE), you can pull out the Z-80 itself, and bend up pin 27. That cuts it off right at the final in-point.
Adding External Drives to a Model 4P – Bob Griggs (June 27, 1985)
For the earlier 4P’s with the white screen
- Cut traces U75 pins 1,2,3
- Cut traces U77 pins 4,6,8,9,11
- Make Jumper: U75 pin 13 to U75 pin 2
- Make Jumper: U55 pin 12 to U75 pin 3
- Make Jumper: U77 pin 6 to U74 pin 13
- Make Jumper: U75 pin 1 to U54 pin 1
- Make Jumper: U32 pin 2 to U77 pin 11
- Make Jumper: U32 pin 5 to U77 pin 4
- Make Jumper: U32 pin 7 to U77 pin 8
- Make Jumper: U32 pin 7 to U20 pin 11
- Make Jumper: U20 pin 10 to J5 pin 14
- Make Jumper: U32 pin 10 to U77 pin 9
- Make Jumper: U32 pin 10 to U20 pin 9
- Make Jumper: U20 pin 8 to J5 pin 6
- Make a New cable so that all pins are connected to all of the drives.
- Select the drives at the drive (pin #10 is drive 0, #12 is for drive 1, #14 is for drive #2, and #6 is for drive 3.
For the Gate Array’s with the green screen.
Don’t rely on page 132 of the 4P Service Manual #26-1080 for the correct IC labels because there are a few typo errors. Change these labels on page 132 before doing the work:
- U54 to U34
- U35 to U16
- U34 to U14
- Make Jumper: U34 pin 7 to U14 pin 9
- Make Jumper: U34 pin 10 to U14 pin 13
- Make Jumper: U14 pin 8 to J5 14
- Make Jumper: U14 pin 12 to J5 6
- Make a cable with *ALL* of the pins in it and select the drives as 0 & 1 inside the 4P (#10 is for 0 and #12 is for 1) Numbers 14 is for drive 2 and #6 is for drive 3. If you are going to use double sided drives, be sure that #32 is connected because it’s used for side select.
Convert 5″ Drive Cable to 8″ Drive Cable
The following pin configuration will effectively translate the 34 pin cable required by the 5″ disk drive to the 50 pin cable required by an 8 inch disk drive. In order to run eight inch drives, however, you will need to install a disk controller capable of eight inch operation. Homes Engineering and Micro Mainframe sell such disk controllers.
34 pin connection 50 pin connection
pin 1...............pin 17
pin 2...............pin 22
pin 3...............pin 19
pin 4...............Cut
pin 5...............pin 21
pin 6...............pin 32
pin 7...............pin 23
pin 8...............pin 20
pin 9...............pin 25
pin 10..............pin 26
pin 11..............pin 27
pin 12..............pin 28
pin 13..............pin 29
pin 14..............pin 30
pin 15..............pin 31
pin 16..............pin 18
pin 17..............pin 33
pin 18..............pin 34
pin 19..............pin 35
pin 20..............pin 36
pin 21..............pin 37
pin 22..............pin 38
pin 23..............pin 39
pin 24..............pin 40
pin 25..............pin 41
pin 26..............pin 42
pin 27..............pin 43
pin 28..............pin 44
pin 29..............pin 45
pin 30..............pin 46
pin 31..............pin 47
pin 32..............pin 14
pin 33..............pin 49
pin 34..............Cut
Model 4P Video “Shake” – Bob Haynes – Sep 24, 1989
Much ado has been made of problems with the solder joints on the power supply boards where the output pins are located. But it’s very easy to overlook the harness pin connectors!
In the 4P, the p/s connector is well out of the main flow of ventilation. Of course, it shouldn’t heat up at all, but a bad connection produces resistance and will cause heat to be generated. This tends to weaken the spring tension of the female connector, the weakened tension causes an even poorer connection, resistance increases, and the problem worsens. You go in, look for the problem, wiggle the wires and the problem disappears. And because the 12v video connector pins are different than the others, they are especially susceptible. You can’t determine the problem without actually removing the pins from the plastic connector housing.
After this problem became a nuisance on BOTH my 4Ps about a month ago, I really HAD to do something! Eventually I ended up removing the pins, cleaning them with pink pearl and alcohol, then bending them slightly with a small needlenose for more tension. Problems have completely disappeared in both machines.
Shakey Video in Model 4 Mode – David Dalager
If you happen to have the non-gate array mother board in your 4/4P and the video screen is “shakey” in the model 4 mode or speed and is NOT while in the model 3 mode, the video VCO (voltage controlled oscillator) which generates the 80 character by 26 line signal is probably on the edge of stability. This sometimes shows up more as the ‘puter warms up.
On the 4P: in the front of the board, between U148 and U149 there is a variable capacitor (usually orange in color) designated C231, but you probably can’t read the designation. It is about 3/8 inch in diameter, and has a whole in the top with what looks like a screw slot in the hole, you are looking at what is probably the culprit!! Using an insulated shaft TUNING tool that will fit into the hole, with the ‘puter in the model 4 SYSTEM (FAST) and the ‘puter warmed up so the symptoms appear, adjust (just a WEE TAD) so the video is again stable. Do this gently or you’ll hate me!
On the model 4 the technique is the same, but the location is different. The capacitor is designated as C210 and located in the upper left quadrant of the board near the FDC conector, very close to U5.
There is the possibility that something else may cause the problem, but this usually accomplishes the desired result: a good working computer.
Making the Courier 2400 Modem Work With A Model 4 – Luis M. Garcia-Barrio
The USRobotics Courier 2400 Modem uses pin 12 of the RS-232C to indicate ‘High Speed’ to the computer. When it is set at the 2400 baud rate, (default), the HS LED in the front goes on and pin 12 of the RS-232C interface goes high.
The RS-232C interface of the TRS-80 Model 4 does not recognize pin 12 at all: it is connected to ground.
When the Courier sends the HS signal, the TRS-80 Model 4 sends it to ground, pin 12 goes low, and the HS LED does not go on. However, transmission is not affected.
An easy cure to have the HS LED function properly is to remove the wire that connects pin 12 at either end of the cable.
Connecting an ATARI 400 to a Model III – Dan Hamilton
I bought an ATARI 400 and quickly got sick of that damn monopanel keyboard. Even with communications gear, it was a hit or miss proposition getting copies of programs off CompuServe, because with the small memory I must use unsophisticated terminal software. Little errors in file transfer were causing big problems.
To overcome that I tried to find a way to use my TRS-80 Model III for the download portion, because it supports the CompuServe A protocol, has gobs of memory, and runs circles around the 400 except in the areas of sound and graphics, where the Atari makes the TRS look mighty poor. I assume similar transfer between an ATARI 800 and Model III is possible too, but I doubt there is any compelling need.
So, I made up a cable to go from port #1 on the 850 interface to a black box, which looks fancy, but merely provides a place to hang two DB 25 connectors and some wire.
Here is how to wire two female DB 25’s together, and how to make the cable from the 850 to the black box.
- Cable
- Hook pin 1 on a male nine-pin plug to pin 20 on the male 25-pin plug
- Hook pin 2 on a male nine-pin plug to pin 8 on the male 25-pin plug
- Hook pin 3 on a male nine-pin plug to pin 2 on the male 25-pin plug
- Hook pin 4 on a male nine-pin plug to pin 3 on the male 25-pin plug
- Hook pin 5 on a male nine-pin plug to pin 7 on the male 25-pin plug
- Hook pin 6 on a male nine-pin plug to pin 6 on the male 25-pin plug
- Hook pin 7 on a male nine-pin plug to pin 4 on the male 25-pin plug
- Hook pin 8 on a male nine-pin plug to pin 5 on the male 25-pin plug
- Don’t hook pin 9 on a male nine-pin plug to anything
- If you already have an Atari modem cable it is likely to be wired this way already.
- Black Box
- Wire two female DB 25’s together in the following manner. (note: Model I users can skip this part; a TEL/COM switch on your RS-232 swaps pins for you). The object is to end up with pins 2 and 3 swapped,
- Wire from one connector’s pin 2 to the other’s pin 3
- Wire from one connector’s pin 3 to the other’s pin 2
- Wire from one connector’s pin 4 to the other’s pin 4
- Wire from one connector’s pin 5 to the other’s pin 5
- Wire from one connector’s pin 6 to the other’s pin 6
- Wire from one connector’s pin 7 to the other’s pin 7
- Wire from one connector’s pin 8 to the other’s pin 8
- Wire from one connector’s pin 20 to the other’s pin 20
- Connect
- Hook the cable from the 850 to the black box, and hook the cable from the Model III RS-232 port to the other end of the box.
- TRS-80 Software
- Now just fire up a smart terminal program on your TRS. I use STERM, available on many BBS’s, because it allows me to select speed of transmission and gives me a huge buffer.
- Atari Software
- Get MINITERM (from XA2) or, if you have more memory, use one of the fancier programs like JTERM or AMODEM, and you are ready to go.
- Download
- Go online and use the VIDTEX Model III exec to download error free copies of SIG programs.
- Transfer
- Fire up the terminal program on the Atari, turn on the capture buffer, (no pouncing on the START key because YOU choose when to start sending) and watch the goodies flow onto the screen in living color from your poor old monochrome TRS.
- Save Buffer
- Then, simply save buffer contents the way your program specifies. You can even use the TRS keyboard to enter programs into the ATARI (as long as ATASCII characters are not needed or can be added later) by using the echo mode on programs like STERM.
Upgrading a Model III to a Model 4
The process itself was not difficult, but I did encounter a couple of ‘pitfalls’ that resulted in not getting a working computer back until Tuesday evening (yes, I was getting worried!). To start at the beginning, when I visited the tent sale I noticed a large display of cassette based Model 4’s on sale for $50.00. After picking out one that seemed to have all of its parts intact and lugging it into the store and plugging it in to see that it brought up ROM BASIC ok as evidenced by the familiar ‘Cassette?’, ‘Memory?’ and ‘Ready’ prompts, I paid my money and took my prize home.
My first thought was to simply install the Model 4 motherboard and keyboard in my Model III. After some consultation and reflection, however, I decided it would make more sense to move the drives, drive controller, and RS232 board from the 3 to the 4. This offered the benefit of taking advantage of the newer electronics in the 4 and it would LOOK like a 4. With this plan in mind, I disassembled both machines and set about the task of removing and installing parts. The first difficulty I encountered was the fact that the ribbon cables that connect the floppy drive controller board and the RS232 board to the motherboard were different for the two machines. On the III, the connectors at each end of the cable are exposed on the same side, while the 4 required that the connectors be exposed on opposite sides. This is a function of a difference in the plugs on the motherboard.
The plugs on the III have teeth on both sides of the plug, while the 4 plugs had teeth on only one side. The original cables are also a bit flimsy and don’t lend themselves to successful modification. This meant putting everything away for the night with plans to call National Parts the next morning. The young lady I spoke with at National Parts was quite helpful and looked up the part number for me. She explained that they could ship the new cables that day and I would have them in two or three days. I explained to her that she was speaking with a desperate man and asked her to try to visualize my den floor with parts from two computers scattered about. She very kindly arranged for me to pick up the cables that afternoon at the Northside Drive outlet store (next door to National Parts). After picking up the cables (about $7.00), I headed home confident that my ‘new’ Model 4 would be soon be up and running!
Here’s where the REAL problem began! After reassembling everything and double checking all the connections, I plugged in the 4 and hit the power switch. No smoke, but no drives either! The Model 4 simply refused to recognize that the drives were there! I disassembled EVERYTHING and put it all back together slowly,rechecking every connection as I went – with the same result! The machine would come up in cassette basic just fine, but the drives wouldn’t spin. More phone calls and consultations. Finally, it dawned on me that I had forgotten one of the basic rule of electronics (though I had been warned): Make sure nothing is grounded where it shouldn’t be!
The culprit in this case was the floppy drive controller board! It didn’t have the insulators on the back. The mounts on the Model 4 chassis are slightly different from their counterparts on the Model III chassis – enough different to cause a ground (short). I fabricated suitable insulators, reinstalled everything and the 4 booted just fine with drive 0 spinning and the ‘Diskette’ message appearing on the screen.
I did have to make one more trip, this time to the auto parts store to get a supply of wire ties before putting everything back together (those wire bundles looked like they could be a real problem if not securely fastened).
Would I do it again? You bet, but I’d do it a little differently of course as a result of what I learned in the process. The end result is very much worth the investment of $57.00 and the time required to swap parts. I’ve only been using the 4 for a few days now, but I LIKE it! From a hardware standpoint, the Model 4 keyboard is greatly improved over the 3 and of course the 80 by 24 display is much more convenient. Model 4 software (public domain) seems to be much more plentiful as well and you can still run Model III software in the Model 4’s ‘Model III’ mode.
If you decide to tackle such a project, I’ve included some tips below that you might find helpful.
- Get the required parts first:
- 20 conductor ribbon cables to connect the floppy drive controller and the RS232 board to the Model 4 mother board. Two are required and they are identical (Radio Shack National Parts).
- Wire ties. (Auto supply store)
- Insulating washers. (You can fabricate these yourself by cutting them out of a sheet of thick plastic or other suitable insulating material)
- Find something else for your six year old to do instead of ‘helping’!
- Stake out an area you can control. (I chose the floor of my den, but leaning over on your hands and knees does get painful after awhile.)
- Carefully disassemble the machine by placing it on its side and removing the screws from the bottom (10) and the middle of the back (1). Three different size screws are used on the bottom so keep track of which screw came out of which hole. After the screws are removed, right the machine and GENTLY lift off the top. The back of the CRT is vulnerable in this step. You must lift the cover straight up or angled slightly towards the front so that the back of the tube will clear the wiring and the aluminum shield housing the boards. On your Model 3, you can look through the drive 1 hole to make sure it clears. If you feel resistance, don’t force it. Once the cover is up and the CRT is clear, lay the cover over on its side to the left of the base. There are two connectors (one ground, one card edge connector) connecting the video to the base. Disconnect these and place the top in a safe place out of the way.
- Remove the screws holding the aluminum panel in place and remove the panel exposing the mother board.
- Disconnect all the plugs around the edges of the mother board.
- Remove the screws holding the mother board in place and gently remove the mother board, setting it aside in a safe place.
- After the above steps are performed on both machines, disconnect and remove the drives from the 3.
- Unplug the power supply on the side of the drive tower and remove the drive tower. Reinstall the drive tower in the 4 case and reconnect the power supply (make note of the orientation of the plug in the 3 and plug it in the same way in the 4).
- My 4 had some type of network board installed behind the mother board. If your’s is the same, remove this board and all associated wiring (here’s where you’ll have to cut the old wire ties).
- Remove the floppy drive controller board and RS232 board from the III and reinstall in the 4 making sure to insulate between the back of the board and the aluminum frame. The RS232 board plugs into the main power supply and the FDC board plugs into the power supply on the drive tower. Plug your new ribbon cables into these boards making sure that the exposed conductors will be in the correct position to contact the model 4 board’s contacts when the cable is looped over the top of the board (opposite from the side they were on in my 3).
- Reinstall and reconnect the drives.
- Reinstall the model 4 mother board (again making sure of proper insulation behind the board) and reconnect all plugs.
- Secure all wiring with wire ties.
- Using a pair of wire cutters, cut the plastic around the edges of the plastic blocks covering the drive holes in the top of the Model 4 case. Gently ‘break’ out these plastic covers, remembering that you will want to use them to cover the holes in the 3.
- Reconnect the two leads to the Model 4 video. This would be a good point to plug in the 4, cross your fingers, and apply power. If all is well, drive 0 will light up and spin and the monitor will display the ‘Diskette’ message. On the 4, the drive will keep spinning until you insert a disk. Insert a system disk and make sure it boots normally. If it doesn’t perform as above, its time to unplug and go back and check all your connections.
- If you got through step 14 ok, replace the aluminum cover over the boards and replace the top (again making sure you don’t damage the back of the tube), replace the screws, and begin enjoying your new Model 4. Don’t get so caught up in the 4 that you forget to put the 3 back together, remember, it’s still a good machine and can run cassette based software (a present to your six year old for staying out of the way?).
BUT ….
According to page 5 in the hardware section of the manual, a motherboard configured for 16K operation (jumper positions and capacitors) uses three voltages (+12, +5, -5) for 16K RAM Chips while 64K rams require only +5. When power is applied to the replacement motherboard with the jumpers and capacitors positioned for 16K operation, the 64K rams will get ‘zapped’ when hit with +12 volts. Modify the board to 64K operation before using non-16K chips or you WILL lose all your RAM chips!
Keyboard Repair
Model III – PDP11 Hacker
- Unplug everything (esp power cable), and let the CRT discharge.
- Remove top cover of the machine, the keyboard bezel (screws round the edge), unplug the keyboard, remove it
- Remove all the keycaps (they just pull off).
- Remove the screws from the track side of the PCB
- Now for the tricky bit. Unsolder all the keyswitches from the PCB. I found the easiest way to do this was to remove the solder with a solder sucker from each switch in turn, and then to pop the switch out of the metal frame. Start with the ones round the edge. When you have got them all free, the PCB separates as well. You can remove a switch from the middle of the keyboard if you are careful. Pull off enough keycaps to get to it easily, unsolder the pins, and then you can release the clips holding the switch to the metal frame with a screwdriver while pulling out the keyswitch with pliers.
- Each switch can be uncliped into 2 parts. You can then see the contacts
- When reassembling, I found it best to fit all the switches to the metal frame, put the PCB over them, screw it down, and then solder them
If you are stuck for a keyswitch, move the bad ones onto the numeric pad, and use the ones from there (which tend to have little wear) onto the main part of the keyboard. That gets you 12 good switches.
Do NOT use a spray cleaner, or attempt to pop off the keys like on a Model 1. These solutions do not work for a Model 3.
How to put the SmartWatch Clock board in the Model 4 with a Hi-Res graphics board – Dan P. Cramer
This is a text file on how to put the SmartWatch Clock board in the Model 4 with a Hi-Res graphics board. First you have to purchase the SmartWatch from your local Radio Shack store. Stock number 25-1033. Also required is the program “SMTWATCH/ARC” found on this board. Unarc SMTWATCH/ARC and follow the instructions given therein. If you have a Hi-Res board for your Model 4, you must follow these added instructions as well.
IF YOU ARE A NOVICE, PLEASE GET ASSISTANCE FOR THIS!!
First, Remove the screws on the bottom of the Model 4 and remove the top, unplug the large cable and the ground cable from the monitor and set the monitor (top part of computer) aside out of the way. Next, remove the shield from the back of the computer and set it aside, Next remove the Hi-Res board to get to the “C” ROM chip. It should be U70 on the motherBoard, now CAREFULLY remove the mother (large) board that the Hi-Res board plugged into. You have to remove the cables on the sides of the board plus the ones along the top. To remove the cables on top, grab hold of the plastic cable in the center and pull gently toward yourself. They should come out with little effort. Now remove the cables on the top right of the main board in the same manner, except you grab them on the sides of the connectors (never pull on the wires!). You also have to remove the cable that goes to the sound board, it will come off like the ones on the right. The last cable you have to remove is the keyboard cable, remove the 2 screws that hold the shield around the connector and pull it off.
Now, with all connecting cables removed, remove the Phillips-Head screws that hold the board in place. Once this isdone, Lift the board out VERY CAREFULLY! Set the board on a not static surface and remove ROM C from the board by prying on BOTH ends carefully (one side at a time or both sides at the same time). Put the ROM C chip in the black foam-rubber that the Smart Watch is packaged in (it is a special anti-static foam rubber). Now get out your soldering gun (small) and solder-sucking tool. Carefully remove the empty I.C. socket that the ROM C chip WAS in. When you have it out and all the holes cleared out of excess solder, CAREFULLY solder pin 26 to pin 28 on the SmartWatch unit. Now clip off pins 1-2 and bend pin 28 out to the side. Clip off pin 27 and insert the now modified SmartWatch into the socket where the ROM C socket WAS at (make sure to get pin # 3 on the SmartWatch into Pin #1’s place on the board ).
Now solder the SmartWatch in place (very carefully, that is!!). Double check all connections as some are also soldered in on top of the board (it is a DOUBLED SIDE board). If you do a good job of flowing the solder around the connections, it will solder both sides at one time. Now check your work for solder bridges VERY CAREFULLY, if no solder bridges can be found, Plug in the ROM C I.C. into the top of the SmartWatch. Now you have to make a slight modification to the case back (monitor housing). The screw plate in the center of the case MUST be removed (has a black metal piece with a hole in the center) Make sure you locate the right bracket first, it is the one ALMOST in the exact center of the back of the computer, behind the CRT. It is below the center screw close to the top of the back panel. The center bottom screw will fit into it.
Take a pair of side-cut pliers and cut the metal part out. It is best to trim the plastic away and remove the metal piece. After the metal piece is removed, cut about 1 inch of the plastic away to make it about 1 inch SHORTER than it was. When you think you have enough removed from the bracket, put the Mother board back in and insert all the screws back into there proper place. Attach all cables, insert Hi-Res board and see if the monitor will fit back onto the machine. If it does fit right, be sure to attach the monitor and ground cables back where they go. If it does not, trim some more off the center support bracket till it does.
All the above in 1 paragraph or less……… Open computer, remove CRT cable, remove shielding and Main circuit board,remove Hi-Res board, remove ROM C’s I.C socket, Solder SmartWatch in place of socket (after removing pins 1-2 and 27, attaching pins 26-28, bending pin 28 to side.), Soldering Unit in place, modifing case, putting it all back together again!
SmartWatch Pinout follows…….
1-. * .-28
2-. front .-27
3-. of .-26
4-. I.C. .-25
5-. .-24
6-. .-23
7-. .-22
8-. .-21
9-. .-20
10-. .-19
11-. .-18
12-. .-17
13-. .-16
14-. .-15
The front of the I.C. is a notch or other type of marking on one end.
If in this document I have made a omission, I am sorry, please read through once or twice to get a good understanding of what you must do before opening the computer. This was done on the OLD model 4 (white screen type) and may or may NOT apply to all Model 4’s. Take your time and do it right the first time and you will NOT have to set the time or date again on the Model 4!!!
You MUST get SMTWATCH/ARC as it has the driver programs and primary instruction docs for the installation.
Radio Shack Hard Drive Lamp Replacement – By Jerry Murphy
On the front of the stock Radio Shack Hard Drives rated at 5 or 15 Meg there are two lamps. The red lens monitors the status of the hard drive write-protect, and the green monitors I/O activity. Most of us will never have any serious problem with the red one, since it is rare that we would use the write protect feature. Not so with the I/O lamp. Mine was going on and off so often, it finally burned out. The replacement can be expensive and long, by taking it to the repair center, or it can be done cheaply and easily in just a few minutes at home.
The lens snaps on or off with a simple flat screwdriver placed such that it levers against the top of the space just above or below the green lens, prying carefully. Small slots in the top and bottom of the green lens engage nibs in the lamp assembly. It’s easier to see than to describe. With needle nosed pliers or tweezers pull the lamp straight out; notice it is a small bulb with two wire leads, much like an LED. Don’t try to replace it with an LED, the voltage present is nearly 5VDC.
I don’t know the part number of this lamp, nor the exact price through National Parts. But I’ve never seen another bulb like it anywhere. I did hear a rumor that it might cost about $9, and probably take a few weeks to get from Parts. There IS a cheaper way to do it, and will take just a few minutes of your time.
From a Tandy Radio Shack store in your neighborhood, while they still have them, get a miniature lamp with wire leads rated at 6VDC, 25 ma. (272-1140). There’s about 6″ excess leads on this little critter; cut off all but about 3/16″ past the shrink tubing that secures the leads to the bulb. Strip and tin each of the leads with solder, straighten out the leads, insert in the socket, replace the cover, and call it a job well done. For 99 cents!
It took me almost as much time to do it as it did to tell you about it. Polarity means nothing to a bulb, so don’t worry about that aspect. And if the lamp is too bright, or you want a really long-lived one, use the 12 volt version; it might not burn bright enough to shine through the white mask. Throw it away if you’d like.
Upgrading from 16K to 64K
Maurits van Wijland has documented the steps needed to upgrade a 16K Model 4 to 64K, complete with pictures. You can download a PDF here.
Model III/4 Shows Only Garbage
Both the Model III and Model 4 will give garbage screens if there is a dead memory chip or processor. There are many many reasons why they might not be running that various parts and tests would need to be done to track down the culprit, but memory chips and processor are a good place to start.
Model 4 memory is a 4164 and may be available on the web without resorting to eBay.
Improving 4/4D/4P Reliability – by David Dalager
I had a terrible visit from Mr. Murphy — the Murphy of Murphy’s Law fame. Murphy left after making sure that I’d torn into the 4P that was thought to be working at 6.177 MHZ. Lo and behold, I’d lied to the only person one should NEVER lie to: myself! The poor old hard working 4P had been operating at a little over 6.5 MHZ for over a year!
Well, when changed to 6.177 MHZ the unit would work fine, but when taken a wee hair above 6.6 MHZ the unit began to fail realiably. The keyboard would apparently have a case of “key- bounce” putting some garbage on the screen whenever some keys were struck. I finally traced it to U86 (my 4P is the gate- array), which is a 74LS245 – a bi-directional transceiver chip which handles data (lines) between the Z80 to keyboard, memory and the I/O (50 pin edge connector).
Now for the new probem. No 74LS245’s; no 74LS645’s either, they would have worked also, but I’d let my stock deplete and had not re-filled!
At this point my sweetheart, Miss Serendipity rang my gong. I had left over from an earlier project one 74HCT245 chip. Looking again into the spec manuals to check it out, I found that the HCT version was faster than either the ‘LS245 or ‘645. Let me do a little explaining: HC stands for Hi-speed CMOS, and the T means that it is compatable with the TTL type of chip. The very type used in our computers. It worked. Oh JOY,JOY! No more keyboard “garbage”. In the gate array 4P this is a plug-in conversion as it is on the non-gate array 4P: U71. BUT, since I had ONLY ONE, I had to shift it to the non-gate array 4P — it worked! This is U71, also a socketed (plug-in) chip.
The conversion also worked on the gate array 4 and the 4 non-gate array that I have. On the non-gate array 4 board the chip number is also U71 — also a plug-in — at least on the board that I have. I don’t know about the earlier revisions. Sorry. It is possible that they also may be of the “socketed” (plug-in) variety.
The top speed that I tried on the non-gate array was 5.xxx MHZ. Didn’t have the time or the parts (remember: MY 4P WAS DOWN!) to do any more.
The chip number on the gate array version of the model 4 was U28. That now brings us the pain in the Zorch! The very thing of which so many have a fear: SOLDERING! I’ll provide you with the information, but the rest is up to you!!
For this type of work one needs to have the CORRECT tools. While I’m not a complete convert to Radio Shack, there are SOME tools they have which are adequate and good enough to do the job. The list follows:
Soldering iron (cool handle) .............. cat# 64-2080 $6.49 23 or 27-watt heating element ............. cat# 64-2081 $5.99 2 Long Life Iron-clad tips Package ........ cat# 64-2089 $4.99 "One-hand" Desoldering Iron ............... cat# 64-2060 $7.95 Desoldering Braid ......................... cat# 64-2090 $1.69 Soldering iron holder & cleaner (option)... cat# 64-2078 $6.29 Recommended solder: 63/37 .050", 1.5 oz.... cat# 64-015 $2.49
A word of explanation for those who may not know: the 63/37 figures for the solder refer the alloy 63% tin and 37% lead which provides one of the lowest melting temperature solders for electronic work. There are others, but these are exotic alloys and expensive as all get out! The word that is applied here is EUTECTIC, which simply means that it melts at a lower temperature than any of its parent metals. The .050″ refers to the outside diameter of the solder. This smaller size permits you to get-on and get-off more quickly than otherwise possible with larger diameter solders.
The “one-hand” desoldering tool is very good for removing (literally, sucking out) solder from the holes. However, a word of caution: if the “hole” is not completely filled with solder to the point of being “over the BOARD SURFACE”, a good idea is to ADD a little solder in order to have some solder available to conduct the heat THROUGH the solder in the hole before applying the “SUCK(TION)” to the now melted solder.
The De-soldering Braid you will find useful to clean-up some “stubborn” holes, as one cannot always get all of the solder out. Again, adding a little solder can be helpful at times to completing the cleaning job.
Now to the “surgery”. Since you may not have access to a $500 to $600 de-soldering tool that I have in my shop (bedroom #2), I would suggest that you use a technique that I OFTEN resort to: Take a pair of NARROW-NOSED wire cutters and clip the IC leads as close to the sides of the chip as possible — ALL of them!! Make sure you note the orientation of pin ONE :a “dimple”, notch, or a similar marking that would indicate the end that pin one is on. Note that the board should indicate the “notch” also. Take an ordinary pair of TWEEZERS (don’t let the wife catch you!), clamp onto the cut pins one at a time and from the reverse side of the board apply the soldering iron. When the solder melts, the tweezers will easily extract the cut pin. Do this to all of them. Upon the removal of all of the pins, you will need to remove the solder that is still in the holes. One can apply the de-soldering braid and use up a LOT of it, or do it correctly as described above. Using the de- soldering braid alone includes the risk of damaging the board. But after all, IT IS YOUR BOARD!!!
Now to something I should have mentioned above among things needed: Sockets! I would think that one would look ahead and get sockets. But my point is: I DO NOT recommend the low profile sockets that Radio Shack might have in stock (part number below), UNLESS they LOOK EXACTLY like the sockets that are used for the Z80 and memory sockets. Though Tandy tries to do things as inexpensively as possible, Tandy did not use poor sockets on their later (4/4D/4P) boards. The 20 PIN sockets are made by the AMP Corporation, and though they may be tin- plated, these are fine sockets. The usual low-profile sockets Radio Shack had to sell (if not as described above) were made by TI and others. Check cat# 276-1991 (20 pin socket) and be sure that they are as described above! The price on these sockets is approximately $0.59 each at Radio Shack.
If they do not have the correct sockets, I’d recommend soldering in the 74HCT245 chip; it can be obtained from JAMECO for about $0.69 or JDR MICRODEVICES for $0.99. However, JAMECO has a minimum order of $20 and JDR MICRODEVICES has a minimum order of $10. JDR MICRODEVICES has a 800-538-5000 number, free in the USA and Canada, and accepts credit cards. JAMECO also accepts credit cards but does not have a toll free number. If on the other hand you wish to write either of them: JDR MICRODEVICES, 110 Knowles Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95030. JDR has a BBS where you can place your order; the number is 408-374-2171. The address of JAMECO ELECTRONICS, 1355 Shoreway Road, Belmont, CA 94002. Their hotline (24 hours) number is (415)-592-8097.
If any you who may be hardware oriented and would like to experiment further, feel free to do so. However, I would suggest a bit of caution: There is actually a great deal more to speeding-up a computer than merely changing the microprocessor, the speed of the microprocessor, and memory chips. Remember, in TRS-Link #12 we exchanged the Z80A for a Z80B (6 MHZ), and Tandy’s 200 nano-second memory chips with 150 nano-second memory chips.
One can run into ALL sorts of timing problems. One could possibly run a whole gamut of experiments without having any problems, but on the other hand… I will continue to work on the speeding up of our computers, and I will keep you posted on the speed-up mods I’m doing in TRSLINK; however, for ease of installation, I still recommend the speed-up plug-in board from Anitek for only $35.00 USA. One can easily continue from there!
Model 4 Power Supply Fault – by K. Mohr
This article was written to make the SMUG membership and clubs we exchange newsletters with, aware of a problem that appears to be becoming commonplace with the Model 4 computer.
Phil Brown mentioned to me some time ago that he was having problems with his Model 4 in respect that the screen would flicker occasionally. We came to the conclusion that there was probably a poor connection somewhere between the power supply or on the video circuit board itself. As this fault appeared very randomly, we thought we would leave it until it got worse. (Hopefully making it easier to find.)
At about the same time, Bill Vanderstelt started having trouble with his Model 4. Although the problem appeared the same with the screen flickering, it acted very much different than Phil’s computer did. It seemed to Bill that the problem occurred around the same time of the day, about 4PM, just when people would start preparing the evening meal. With the heavy load on the power lines, the line voltage would start dropping and, as we all know, if the voltage drops low enough, it causes computer screens (T.V. screens) to shrink. This is what appeared to be happening with Bill’s computer. The screen would shrink briefly, then go back to normal size, as if a heavy current draw had occurred. Bill spoke to the power company, but I don’t know if they ever came and checked the lines in Bill’s area.
Phil’s Model 4 got worse with time just as we predicted. We had a look at it a few days ago to see if we could find the fault, and came up with the answer in just a few minutes. The problem was in the power supply, where the connectors plug onto the power supply pins. We found that the solder that held the 12 volt video supply pins to the foil on the back of the power supply had developed a hairline crack around several of the pins. The solder would make and break its connection at random times and cause the screen to go wild. We resoldered all the connection pins to ensure good solder joints. To date, Phil reports that he has had no more problems with screen jitters!
Bill brought his Model 4 over the next day to see if we could find any fault with his machine. It turned out that the problem was in the identical spot as Phil’s computer. We resoldered all the pins on the power supply in Bill’s computer and it’s been working great ever since.
I did my own computer several months back, with the problem being the same and in the identical place. That makes three machines that had a similar problem in a very short time. If any of our readers are experiencing problems with the screen flickering, I would suggest checking the solder at these points. It’s very easy to check and repair this problem. With the computer top off, unplug the connectors to the power supply, remove the 4 screws that hold the board in place. Then check the solder at these points. Use a magnifying glass if needed and be in good light. If you see cracks in the solder around these pins, simply resolder them and your problems should be cured.
Improving the Model 4P Speaker Out – David Dalager
Well I guess I had better deliver now what was promised: How to prevent you 4/4D/4P from sounding like a mosquito passing gas! This idea came about when I was trying out “13 ghosts”. The music sounded LOUSY and it sure was improved with the following modification.
The 4P is quite easy and simple because the “cassette out” signal (yes, I know that the 4P does not have a cassette port) goes through the “sound port” also. Because of this all you have to do is but two items: Change one resistor, and change the “speaker” along with some additional wire.
- Obtain a speaker with a good sized magnet (2 to 4 ounce) of about a 3 to 4″ diameter and mount it just below the floppy drive header connector with RTV also known as “Silicon Rubber”. (So what if it says “bathtub” or “wind shield” caulk, or is black, white, or clear such as what Radio Shack calls in their catalog “silicone rubber sealer”; as long as it smell strongly of vinegar (acetic acid), you have the “right stuff” (sorry ’bout the pun). There is a _very_ good reason for using silicon rubber like this and for this purpose: moisture accelerates the curing, so it won’t hurt to put a _little_ water on it to quicken its curing… about 20 minutes, otherwise about 5 hours when it is not humid. Also, to help _prevent_ this stuff from curing in the tube I recommend putting the tube into a jar that is then flushed with freon, you know, the air conditioning stuff.)
- Now for the fun, change out R38 on the non gate array, R19 on the gate array board (in both cases the appropriate resistor is next to the “speaker”), to a 1/2 watt 10 ohm resistor, the tolerance doesn’t matter.
- The next step is to _remove_ that smelly thing called a transducer (speaker). In both cases it is located at the mid-front edge of the motherboard.
- Solder a twisted pair of small gauge wire that is long enough to reach the speaker as well as tie onto the new speaker in order to prevent breakage of the wires later, into the holes left by the speaker when removed and run them across the motherboard, then soldering the wires onto the new speaker.
- Re-assembly completes the play.
The 4 non gate array: the one with the RS232 connector out the bottom is just this side of exasperating. That is because you have a separate sound board which announces errors. It is located just behind the floppy drive support “towers” and must be removed. Some were held in place with double-sided foam sticky tape, some used a “Ty-rap”.
- In either case, remove the power connector from the computer’s motherboard, mark that end as some cables that Tandy made were NOT bi-directional. Failing to MARK the connector cost me hours of work repairing the damage. The cable concerned was a POWER cable, but now I take NO chances!
- Once you have the sound board in hand, look for R1 on the board; if it is there, remove it by unsoldering the wires on it, pulling them out. You could as an alternative cut the lead nearest the edge that is close to the cable connector.
- Unsolder the two “speaker” (joke) leads and remove.
- Make up a twisted pair of wires that can (loosely) go over to the bottom near the video board. If there is room below the floppy drive rear-end, you could mount the speaker (as above) over the vent slots located there. No, that will _not_ cause you troubles!
- Now, if you desire to have the cassette sound come out of the new built-in speaker, do the following modification:
- Into the inboard hole where R1 was removed, feed one lead of a 4,700 ohm 1/4 or 1/2 watt resistor; bend the resistor so it is flat on the board at a right angle to the other resistors, solder.
- Cut off excess lead on back of board. Cut the other lead about 1/4″ long.
- Add a wire to the end of the new R1 and twist it onto the power cable, making the wire long enough to reach over to the cassette connector, J3. Cut it off. Strip it back 1/8″, tin and solder it to J3-5, or if you want it a little louder, solder it to U27 on pin 5.
Hams (Amateur Radio Operators) can appreciate not having to hook up a amplifier-speaker combination to their 4. I use it to practice Morse code.
The Gate array 4 (RS 232 connector out the back) is a lot easier.
- Change R43 to a 10 ohm as above
- Remove the speaker. You Hams might save it as it can substitute for a mike or an earphone.
- Solder a 4,700 ohm resistor (as above) to R19 at the end nearest Q19 using short leads on both ends approximately 3/8″ long, add a wire to the unused end of the added resistor long enough to go to J3 pin 5 orto U51 pin 9 (loudest as above).
Now play the games and enjoy! Remember, in all cases your errors are announced more loudly as well.
A friend did the mod on his wife’s non gate array 4. What he didn’t tell me was that he had lost the speaker that I’d given him and had installed a 6×9″ speaker with a heavy magnet on it into the machine. He was busy when I visited, so he asked me to “check-out” the mod that he’d done. The sound was so loud that it nearly blew me out of the chair!
In addition, one could add a internal/external speaker jack to the computer. I assure you, you’d be amazed at how loud 25 to 50 milliwatts of audio is when put it through something like Mach One or Mach Two speaker!!
Memory Modification for Non Green Screen Types – Dave Huffman
Well for the 4 we will Need 18 TTL Chips, a roll of Wire Wrap wire and tool. And 16 to 32 120ns 256K rams. (Yea I know 150ns will work Just a well but… If you want to speed up the machine faster that 4 Mhz then get the 120ns) I use NEC and have had good luck. Now I said 16 to 32 or 512K to 1 Meg. the addressing is good to 2 meg. I have had up to 1.5 meg in my Model 4.
We will need to add a New port and it was nice of Tandy to leave two decoded address on U50. I used U50-10 (94H) as the Ram control port.
To be fully compatable with all model 4 software port 94H Must have at least 1 of the lower 5 Bits set. For example if you set 94H to a 1 then this will enable the second group of 64K addressing in the first 256K ram to be used for the Alt 64K ram bank (32K high & 32K low).
The way this works is simple. In the model 4/4P the Alt 64K ram is accessed using port 84H, this will not change after the mod. Port 94H will select which 64K group within the 2048K Max Ram will be used as the alt 64K ram bank that is accessed by port 84H. So we have 5 bits in port 94H D0-D4. This will give us 1 to 31 pages of 64k Ram that we can select for port 84H to access.
To get more than 512K ram we will need to stack ram chips and bend up pin 15 of the stacked chips. This is the CAS* control line and will be connected to the 74S08 chip in the drawings. You can get 1 meg in a model 4 without cutting any metal.
The addition of the HD64180 will require the following
- Be able to switch between an address decoding of 64K & 256K.
- Disable Memory map decoding when Address lines A16,A17,A18 is active but A19 & A20 will have no effect.
What did he Say Hmm.. Well the best way to Have your cake and eat it too, is to make two options avalible for address decoding. We can use the “Z80 Bank Method” in which you use the port 148 to select the starting address for the 64K alt memory.
Port 148 - D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7
A16 A17 A18 A19 A20 WP Z80/HD64180
Mod 4
When D7 is Set HIGH then the HD64180 MMU will control the first 512K of addressing and we can select the starting address for the Upper 256K Ram address area of the MMU.
Port 148 - D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7
Not Not Not A19 A20 WP Z80/HD64180
Used Used Used Mod4
Now D6 is Reserved for the model 4 Z80/HD64180 mod because the model 4 doesn’t have a Write Protect Bit for the Lower Ram if Used for Rom Image.
Ok A16-A20 is as follows.
A16 65536-131070 A17 131071-262140 A18 262143-524287 A19 524288-1023999 A20 1024000-2047999
The Parallel Connection List on Page 2 is a wiring diagram for the daughter borad. It works like this. Get an adapter socket like the SAMTEC Model APA-640-G-D for the Z80 then get a Robinson Nugent ICS-6475-2-TG30 for the HD64B180R0P. The Wire Wrap Adapter plugs into the Z80 socket and will fit through a perf board. Then wire across Per the Parallel connection list.The DUP1 is the HD64B180R0P.
The Last thing to do is add the Crystal freq. We used DCLK on U3-16 and connected it to pin 3 of the HD64180. This has a freq. of 10.1376 Mhz used in 64×16 Mode and 12.672 Mhz for 80×24 Mode is found at U17-12. The Model 4P doesnt provide the seperate clocks before being switched like the model 4.
The reason we use the 10 Meg clock is that the Model 4 has some slow PAL chips and the placement of the MREQ in relationship to T1 is different for the HD64180 than the Z80. I believe that if the PALs were replaced with some fast 74F chips then we could run at 6.144.
See Readme/txt for Limitations..
I am sorry but I have not put together a step by step procedure for modifying the model 4 so if you can’t figure out what must be done then PLEASE don’t do it.
These mods were done because the people who manufacture add on boards would not provide Schematics. I was not going to BUY a $200 or $300 board and not get schematics.
I have tried several times to contact a Certian Company for some technical info but was always lost in the answering service. I would much rather plug in a PC board than wire wrap this mod but if it dies and you don’t have schematics the so do you.
Parts List:
Chip # Piggy back # Type 1 U41P 74LS244 2 U37P 74LS273 3 U35P 74LS157 4 U63P 74LS157 5 U25P 74LS32 6 U53P 74S74 7 U39P 74LS32 8 U12P 74S86 9 U27P 74S08 10 U14P 74S08 11 U75P 74LS157 12 U76P 74S42 13 U63P 74LS157 14 U64P 74S08 15 U29P 74S260 16 U31P 74S11 17 U61P 74S04 18 U20P 74S32
DUP1
The 74LS Chips could be 74S Chips. I would advise spending the money for them however I have used LS where shown and they work. However some are close.
Now I am sure that when you buy “Quality” chips from the discount hous that they are “PRIME”. I have found that there is a large difference between the Tol. of the S and LS series. So if you get a “SLOW” LS chip And donot have a good SCOPE (At least 40MHZ) you will go nuts.
So do the mod in pieces.
- Do the Port mod – U41P,U37P,U25P and check it out
- Do the rest except for the Ram change and the HD64180 board (of course dont remove the jumpers at E11 & 12)
- Add the Ram (256K)
- Last build the Daughter board.
Make the daughter board large enough for the Z80 adapter,HD64180 socket, and the nessary 1488,1489 level converters for the 2 serial ports. ( You can design this as I am tired of typing )
===============================================================================TRS-80 Model 4 HD64180 and Memory Modification
MOD4FIG1/TXT - Updated 01/21/87 Fig 1
All chips are piggybacked and use Vcc & Vss on the host chip.
|--------------| +5 >-----|
| 74LS244 | |----|----| See Note 3
D0 >-------|12 Addr 16 8|---------------------|2a0 15 | Pin 1-A8
D1 >-------|16 Addr 17 4|---------------------|5b0 d 9|---> 256K Rams
D2 >-------|3 Addr 18 17|---> HDA16 >--|3a1 c12|---> A18A
D3 >-------|18 Addr 19 2|---> HDA17 >--|6b1 b 4|----------|A17
D4 >-------|5 Addr 20 15|---> HDA18 >--|13c1 a 7|-------| |A16
D5 >-------|14 Unused=0 6|--> BK 64 U14P-8 >-|14c0 | | |
D6 >-------|7 W Protect13|--> | 74LS157| | |
D7 >-------|9 Z80/MMU 11|---------------------|1M 3-U35P| | |
| 1-U41P 1&19|--| |----|10d1 Mux | | |
|--------------| | | |--|11d0 | | |
________ 5-U25P | | | |---------| | |
U50-10 Port94 >10|----\ | | |----------------| | |
__ | LS32|8-----| *---1|----\ | | |
U48-4 IN >-----9|----/ OR | | S08 |3------| | |
|--------------| U14P-11>-|---2|----/ AND | |
| 74LS273 | | 9-U27P | |
D0 >-------|13 Addr 16 12|-< U41P-8 | |---------| | |
D1 >-------|14 Addr 17 15|-< U41P-4 |-----|4a 3a1|------| |
D2 >-------|17 Addr 18 16|-< U41P-17 | 2a0|---------|
D3 >-------|18 Addr 19 19|-< U41P-2 | 4-U63P | ____
D4 >-------|3 Addr 20 2|-< U41P-15 +5 >--|5 LS157 7|--> ICAS
D5 >-------|4 Unused=0 5|-< U41P-6 Gnd >-|6,15 1 | See Note 2
D6 >-------|7 W Protect 6|-< U41P-13 |-------|-|
D7 >-------|8 Z80/MMU 9|-< U41P-11 |->Mux See Note 1
U17-8 Rese>-|1 11 | ____ |------------|
|----------|---| MREQ |--------| |
2-U37P | On all 157's U38-12 >----|2 D Q |---|
_______ | pin 15 is to Pclk |6-U53P 4|--< +5
Port 94 5-U25P | be grounded HD64180-64>----|2 Ck 1|--|
U50-10 >--1|----\ | Use Z80-6 if |--------| |
| LS32|------| the 64180 is___ S74 |
U49-4 >---2|----/ not used. REF U60-4 >----|
___ OR
OUT
|----> AD18 U37P-16
|-5|-----\
AD19 U37P-19 >-|-----\ | LS32 |6----9|----\
| LS32 |3-----4|-----/ | S08 |8--> U35P-14
AD20 U37P-2 >-|-----/ 7-U39P |10|----/ Bank 64K
7-U39P OR | 10-U14P
OR | AND
U55-18 >----1|----\ |
A15 | S86 |3------12|----\ |
|--2|----/ | S08 |11:-*--> U27P-2
U37-6 >--| 8-U12P |---13|----/ Bank
FXUPMEM XOR | 10-U14P
U37-2 MB0 >-4|----\ | AND The Only Cutting Needed:
| LS32|6--|
U37-5 MB1 >-5|----/ | Note 1. MUX - Cut trace from U18-7&13 to
5-U25P | feed through just below U18-8
OR | Connect U63P-1 to Feed through
Note 3. A8 - Remove R44 & the | Note 2. ICAS - Cut Trace from U18-12 to
Jumper between E11 & E12. Connect a wire | feed through under R53
from U35P-9 to E12 & also to the RAM | Connect U63P-7 to Feed through
side of R44 pad. | under R53
===============================================================================
TRS-80 Model 4 HD64180 and Memory Modifications
MOD4FIG2/TXT - Updated 01/21/87 Fig 2
U58-19 Cas >-|12|----\
See Note 4. | | S08 |11--*---------10|----\
*13|----/ OR | |LS32 |8--> CAS1x 0-256K U14-1
9-U27P | A18A>--*-9|----/ Note 4. Remove U58 & bend up
| | 5-U25P pin 19 then replace it.
|------------------------| | OR Connect U58-19 to U27P-12&13.
| |-----------------------| Then lift U72 bend up pins
| |----|----| 12&19 then replace it. They
|----|3a1 1 | |----------| connect to nothing.
| 13-U75P | |----------|12 1|--> CAS2x 256K-512K
+5 >---|2a0 4a|------| | 2|--> CAS3x 512K-768K
| 74LS157 | A20 U37P-2 >---|13 3|--> CAS4x 768K-1024K
Gnd>-15|---------| A19 U37P-19 >---|14 4|--> CAS5x 1024K-1280K
| 74LS42 5|--> CAS6x 1280K-1536K
|-------| |12-U76P 6|--> CAS7x 1536K-1792K
AD18 U37P-16 >-|2a0 a4|----------|15 7|--> CAS8x 1792K-2048K
A18A U35P-12 >-|3a1 | | 9| Unused
|13-U63P| | 10| Unused
|74LS157| | 11| Unused
Z80/MMU U41P-11>|1 | |----------|
___ |-------| ___
REF >---------2|----\ ____ REF >----9|----\
_____ | S08 |3---> Ram Bank 1 CAS1 | S08 |8---> Ram
CAS1x >--------1|----/ See Note 4. CAS2x >--10|----/ Bank 2
10-U14P Cas1&2 connect to the feed 9-U27P ____
___ AND holes just below the ram banks AND CAS2
REF >---------4|----\ that went to U72 12&19 ____
_____ | S08 |6---------------------------> Ram Bank 3 CAS3
CAS3x >--------5|----/
14-U46P Note: Cut Traces for Cas lines at the feed hole
___ AND just below the ram banks going to U72 if the
REF >---------1|----\ ram appear to be unstable____
_____ | S08 |3-------------> Ram Bank 3 CAS4
CAS4x >--------2|----/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Write Protect for Ram Based Operation - 0 to 14K
Tandy Mod-This Res. is not on
U55-9 A14 >------1| __ the Sch. 56 Ohm
U55-18 A15 >-----2|----\ WR All 256K Rams <-----/\/\/\---|
U35P-4 A16 >-----3| S260|5---------------1|----\ R63 |
U35P-7 A17 >----12|----/ |---------2| S11 |12----13|----\ |
U14P-9 A18-A20 >13| 15-U29P | |---13|----/ |LS32 |11--|
NOR | | 16-U31P |-12|----/ R63
| | AND | 7-U39P Memory
U72-6 Fxupmem >--4| | | | OR Write
U25P-6 MB1&0 >-- 8|----\ | | | For Ram
*-------9| S260|6-------| |------| |---------|
*------10|----/ | ___ |
*------11| 15-U29P U59-2 SEL0 >---| U38-11 MWR >--|
| NOR Note 5.
|------------------------------------| Find Resistor on back of
| main board between U38-11
| \ | and R63. Remove and mount
| \ | on the front side with
U37P-6 Write >------5| S04 O-----------------| above connections.
Protect Bit | / 6 the 56 Ohm
D6 | / 17-U61P resistor
====================================================================
TRS-80 Model 4 HD64180 and Memory Modification
MOD4FIG3/TXT - Updated 01/21/87 Fig 3
Address Mapping Defeat
A16 U35P-3 >---1|----\
| S32 |3--------4|----\
A17 U35P-6 >---2|----/ | S32 |6-------1|----\
18-U20P |---5|----/ | S08 |3-----|
HDA18 U35P-13 >---------------| 18-U20P |----2|-----/ |
| 9-U27P |
Z80/HD U37P-9 >-------------------------------| |
|
|--------------------------------------|
| If we could replace U37&59 with
| a faster PAL or 74F logic
| then we could run at 6.0Mhz
| or faster
U37-12 >-------------------|-----9|----\
| | S32 |8------------> U31P-13
Lift U37 bend up Pins |----10|----/ Sel 0
12&15 then replace it. | 18-U20P
Connect to U20P |----12|----\
| S32 |11-----------> U59-1
U37-15 >------------------------13|----/ Sel 1
Note : Remove U59 then
This circuit will disable address bend up Pins 1&2
decode when the MMU is accessing memory on U59 and Replace it.
beyond the normal 64K map.
=====================================================================
Z80H - Adapter - HD64180 Fig. 4
Parallel Connection List
MOD4FIG4/TXT
This is a Parallel listing of the common connections between
the Z80 Socket/Z80H cpu/HD64180 Cpu.
-------------| |---------------| |-------------|
Z80 Description | Z80Soc | | DPU1 |
| Z80 Socket | | HD64180 Cpu|
Pin/Desc | | Pin/Desc | | Pin/Desc |Comments
1 A11 |----| 1 A11 |---| 24 A11 |Address Line
2 A12 |----| 2 A12 |---| 25 A12 | "
3 A13 |----| 3 A13 |---| 26 A13 | "
4 A14 |----| 4 A14 |---| 27 A14 | "
5 A15 |----| 5 A15 |---| 28 A15 | "
6 U3-16 10 Mhz Freq. 3 CLK Clock HD64180
7 D4 |----| 7 D4 |---| 38 D4 Data Line
8 D3 |----| 8 D3 |---| 37 D3 "
9 D5 |----| 9 D5 |---| 39 D5 "
10 D6 |----| 10 D6 |---| 40 D6 "
11 +5 Volts |----| 11 +5 Volts |---| 32 Vcc 5 Volt Power
12 D2 |----| 12 D2 |---| 36 D2 Data Line
13 D7 |----| 13 D7 |---| 41 D7 "
14 D0 |----| 14 D0 |---| 34 D0 "
15 D1 |----| 15 D1 |---| 35 D1 "
16 INT |----| 16 INT |---| 9 INT0 Maskable Int
17 NMI |----| 17 NMI |---| 8 NMI Non Maskable Int
19 MREQ |----| 19 MREQ |---| 59 ME Memory Enable
20 IORQ |----| 20 IORQ |---| 58 IOE I/O Enable
21 RD |----| 21 RD |---| 63 RD Read Enable
22 WR |----| 22 WR |---| 62 WR Write Enable
24 WAIT |----| 24 WAIT |---| 4 WAIT Wait Input
26 RESET |----| 26 RESET |---| 7 RESET CPU Reset
27 M1 |----| 27 M1 |---| 61 LIR Load Inst. Reg
28 REFRESH |----| 28 REF | | 57 RFSH Refresh
29 GND |----| 29 GND |---| 33 Vss Ground
30 A0 |----| 30 A0 |---| 13 A0 Address Line
31 A1 |----| 31 A1 |---| 14 A1 "
32 A2 |----| 32 A2 |---| 15 A2 "
33 A3 |----| 33 A3 |---| 16 A3 "
34 A4 |----| 34 A4 |---| 17 A4 "
35 A5 |----| 35 A5 |---| 18 A5 "
36 A6 |----| 36 A6 |---| 19 A6 "
37 A7 |----| 37 A7 |---| 20 A7 "
38 A8 |----| 38 A8 |---| 21 A8 "
39 A9 |----| 39 A9 |---| 22 A9 "
40 A10 |----| 40 A10 |---| 23 A10 "
================================================================
Model 4 Memory Modification for Non Green Screen types
Parts List
MOD4FIG5/TXT
Chip # Piggy back # Type
1 U41P 74LS244
2 U37P 74LS273
3 U35P 74LS157
4 U63P 74LS157
5 U25P 74LS32
6 U53P 74S74
7 U39P 74LS32
8 U12P 74S86
9 U27P 74S08
10 U14P 74S08
11 U75P 74LS157
12 U76P 74S42
13 U63P 74LS157
14 U64P 74S08
15 U29P 74S260
16 U31P 74S11
17 U61P 74S04
18 U20P 74S32
DUP1 On Daughter Bd. HD64B180R0P
Null Modems – by Luis M. Garcia-Barrio
Think of a “null modem” as a way to fool two computers into “thinking” they’re connected to modems, when in fact they are connected to each other through their serial ports.
The RS-232 is one standard used for serial communications. The most common connector used for this standard is the DB-25 (male and female) (but ATs and others use a 9-pin connector; if this is your case, see the note at the end).
Two types of equipment are connected:
- DTE (Data Terminal Equipment)
- DCE (Data Communications Equipment)
DCE normally uses female connectors, but for DTE it varies. In most cases, the computer is DTE and the modem is DCE.
The following is a list of connector pins used in the project and their use. Normal modem communications use also pins 12 and 22, Speed Indicator (SI) and Ring Indicator (RI).
Not always used
DTE sends data to DCE through this pin
DTE receives data from DCE through this pin
DTE tells DCE if it is ready to send data
DCE tells DTE if it is ready to receive from DTE
DCE tells DTE if it is connected to the phone line
Sometimes, 1 and 7 are connected
DCE tells DTE if it is connected to another modem
DTE tells DCE if it is on and ready to work
A “null modem” makes each computer (DTE) believe that the other is DCE, by pairing the lines and crossing the signals used.
- TD of computer A goes to RD of computer B and viceversa.
- RTS of computer A goes to CTS of computer B and viceversa
- DSR of computer A goes to CD of computer B and viceversa
- DTR and DSR signals for each computer are combined
For the construction of the “null modem” let’s assume that each computer has a cable connected to its RS-232 serial port, and that there is a male connector at the free end of each cable. Since you would normally connect that end to a modem, and since most modems (DCE) have female connectors, that should be the case in most instances, but do not underestimate manufacturers.
- Buy two female DB-25 connectors of the type that uses “pin insertion” (AMP 205207-1 8331) or the type that requires soldering. (The type designed for pressing ribbon cable into the connector is not well suited for this case, but it could be used with lots of patience.)
- Get 10 short (about 2 inches) pieces of insulated wire, remove the insulation from both ends and prepare them for connection to the type of DB-25 connectors you are using.
- Note the pin numbers in the female connectors. As seen from the front, there are two rows: the top row has 13 pins, and the bottom row has 12. Pin 1 is the rightmost pin in the top row; pin 25 is the leftmost pint of the bottom row. Note that when you look at the connecter from the back, the position of the pins is reversed!
- The following:
Connect pin 1 of connector A to pin 1 of connector B " 2 " A " 3 " B " 3 " A " 2 " B " 4 " A " 5 " B " 5 " A " 4 " B " 6 " A " 8 " B " 7 " A " 7 " B " 8 " A " 6 " B " 6 " A " 20 " A " 6 " B " 20 " B
(Note that in the last two steps, pin 6 is connected to pin 20 of the SAME connector) - Use whatever enclosure you like best. I prefer the type of DB-25 hood that allows for two connectors in one hood.
- Connect the free ends of the two cables coming from the computers to the “null modem”.
You have built a “full” null modem. There are other types, such as the “standard” null modem. To build the “standard” type:
Connect pin 1 of connector A to pin 1 of connector B
" 2 " A " 3 " B
" 3 " A " 2 " B
" 6 " A " 20 " B
" 20 B " 6 " A
" 7 " A " 7 " B
" 8 " A " 4/5 " B
" 4/5 " A " 8 " B
" 4 " A " 5 " A
" 4 " B " 5 " B
(Note that in the last two steps, you are connecting pins 4 and 5 of the same connector)
Depending on the two computers being connected, one of the two types indicated could be more suitable than the other. Try both before giving up!
Uses
A common use for “null modems” is the transfer of files from one machine to another. I will cover it briefly.
Let us assume you have a TRS-80 Model 4 and a Tandy 2000, and that you have terminal programs for both. (If we had double sided 80 track drives in your Model 4, we could do it with SX4, but let us assume we don’t).
- Start the terminal programs for both machines, after they are connected through the “null modem”.
- Use the same configuration parameters for both machines: 8 bit word, No Parity, 1 Stop bit. The baud should also be the same. I would suggest 9600 baud if your two terminal programs allow it. If they allow for faster baud, try it: it may or may not work. Lower it if it doesn’t.
- Turn ECHO ON and HALF DUPLEX in ONE of the two computers. Some programs use a different terminology. For example, FastTerm uses “REMOTE ON” for “ECHO ON”, and “LOCAL ON” for “HALF DUPLEX” (correclty so!). If connections and settings are correct, you can type at either computer and see it in the screens of both, just as if you were connected to a Bulletin Board System.
- Select XMODEM Send in one and XMODEM Receive in the other. You could also use other transfer methods allowed by your terminal progams, such as “buffer capture”, etc., but they may not be as reliable as XMODEM.
- Press
in both and the transfer should start. Experiment with higher baud and select the highest allowed.
Note on DB-9 (nine-pin) Connectors
The AT and similar computers (and the Model 1400-LT!) don’t use the DB-25 connector: they use a smaller, 9-pin version. Since in most microcomputers only 9 of 25 pins in the DB-25 connector are used for the RS-232, it makes a lot of (painful!) sense.
Here are the equivalent signals for the 9-pin connector:
Pin 1 is CD, equivalent to pin 8
" 2 " RD " " " 3
" 3 " TD " " " 2
" 4 " DTR " " " 20
" 5 " GROUND " " " 7 (and maybe 1)
" 6 " DSR " " " 6
" 7 " RTS " " " 4
" 8 " CTS " " 5
" 9 " RI " " " 22
Model 4P Memory Modification for Gate Array Boards
How about expanding your model 4P to 512K ram or even to 2 Meg. Sound expensive? Well for the 4P we will Need 10 Chips, a roll of Wire Wrap wire and tool. And 120ns 256K rams. (Yea I know 150ns will work Just a well but… If you want to speed up the machine faster that 4 Mhz then get the 120ns) I use NEC and have had good luck. The last set I bought were $3.54 ea. So a 512K system should cost you $75.
This Mod is for the GATE ARRAY board ONLY. If you donot have a gate array board and have schematics that logic used here will also apply. The chip numbers will change. Actually the original memory mod was first done on my old Model 4 which has 1 Meg installed
We will need to add a New port and it was nice of Tandy to leave two decoded address on U28. I used U28-10 (94H) as the Ram control port.
To be fully compatable with all model 4 software port 94H Must have at least 1 of the lower 5 Bits set. For example if you set 94H to a 1 then this will enable the second group of 64K addressing in the first 256K ram to be used for the Alt 64K ram bank (32K high & 32K low).
The way this works is simple. In the model 4/4P the Alt 64K ram is accessed using port 84H, this will not change after the mod. Port 94H will select which 64K group within the 2048K Max Ram will be used as the alt 64K ram bank that is accessed by port 84H. So we have 5 bits in port 94H D0-D4. This will give us 1 to 31 pages of 64k Ram that we can select for port 84H to access.
To get more than 512K ram we will need to stack ram chips and bend up pin 15 of the stacked chips. This is the CAS* control line and will be connected to the 74S08 chip in the drawings. In the 4P however you will need to cut away some of the metal sheld so the rams will clear. You can get 1 meg in a model 4 without cutting any metal.
I don’t own a Model 4P (Don’t get Worried) so Jerry Johnson’s 4P was the first ginnypig. Jerry says it nice to have 352 Grans (512k) for a system disk.
The instillation for the 4P is as follows:
- Open up the machine and remove the main Cpu board
- Mount the following Chips on the board. We will Piggy back them and only solder the pins that we dont bend up
#1 74LS32 - U105P - Bend all pins Except 7&14 #2 7486 - U24P - " " " 7&14 #3 74S08 - U129P - " " " 7&14 #4 74LS32 - U87P - " " " 7&14 #5 74S08 - U114P - " " " 7&14 #6 74157 - U111P - " " " 8,15&16 #7 74157 - U110P - " " " 1,8,15&16 #8 74LS244- U125P - " " " 3,5,7,9,10,12,14,16,18,20 #10 7442 - U116P - " " " 8,16
- Connect the following:
U85-16 to U24P-2
U85-12 to U105P-9
U85-15 to U105P-10 - Place the 74LS273 on U85 with all pins Bent up except 1,3,4,7,8,10,13,14,17,18,20
- Make all connections except U114-3&5 and U115
- Power up the board in the machine and check for operation. At this point the only change noticed should be a new port 148 (94H). Set and reset the bits and read the port to verify operation.
- Then remove the Main Cpu board and do the following:
- Pull all Rams
- Wire all pin 1 of the Ram sockets together and connect to U129-6
- Remove R21
- RAS MOD – Lift one end of R23 that goes to U115 (See Drawing). Add jumper from R23 on board side to pad on R21 oppsite to U115(See Drawing). Connect lifted end of R23 to U114-11. Connect remaining Pads of R21&23 to U114P-12&13
MAKE SURE IT IS LIKE THE DRAWING !!!!!! - CAS MOD – Find the feedthrough next to RP1 between pins 15&16. This should be the CAS line for the rams. MAKE SURE – it should connect to pin 15 of the RAMS. (Use Digial Ohm meter only or LOOK). Turn board over on the Non Componet side (Bottom) and follow the trace to another Feedthrough about the same distance from the rams as the first feedthrough. Cut the trace that connect the Two Feedthrough. The Feedthroughs will now be the RAM CAS connections. U133-140 will be “Cas1” & U153-160 will be “Cas2”. Now follow the trace from the first feedthrough on the bottom of the board to U136 & U156 – 15. Cut the trace that connects U136-15 & U156-15. Follow the trace to a feedthrough next to pin 16 of U136. Cut this trace near feedthrough. Now we should have seperated the two rows of Rams on pin 15. Check With a Digital Ohm meter that the two rows are seperated. Make Sure you understand which traces to cut !!!!
- Now connect U114P-3 to a 47 Ohm and place the other end in the feedthrough “Cas1”. Connect U114-6 to a 47 Ohm and place the other end in the feedthrough “Cas2.”
- Now to add more RAM just Stack the Ram and Bend pin 15 out and connect all pin 15’s per row of Rams to a 47 Ohm and to Cas3-7. Walla 2 Meg.
I recomend you run 512K for a month before you stack Rams. - Refresh is found on pin 5 of U87. Connect it ( You can run the wire through any avalible feedthrough ) to U114-2&4
- Replace the Main board and power up
If you Get Trash on the Screen Check the Wiring You GOOFED.
If it runs but is unreliable then you will need a good scope and look at the RAS line. Check for Ringing. Add resistance to the series resistor if you have ringing. If the transitions are a good 4.75V then reduce the resistance.
Check the Cas line also. 47 Ohm maybe to much.
On My model 4 I have No resistors in the Ras or Cas.
NEWDOS/80
If you Use NewDos/80 then I have a RamDisk program that will add a 5th drive and use the memory we just added.
The RamDisk uses the fourth Pdrive, so if you have 512K ram then set Pdrive #4 as follows:
- Pdrive 0 4=0
- Pdrive 0 4 tc=99
Then type:
Ramdisk 4 ‘ I renamed it to RM so it would be ” RM 4 “
If the NewDos/80 4P system has two Directorys then we need two steps (I calculated the Directory starting and ending points so I can return Directory Protected Status)
Copy 0 4,,fmt cbf ndmw /sys
Copy 0 4,,nfmt cbf usr ndmw
If you Made the ModelA/III a SYS file then a full disk copy will work
Copy 0 4,,fmt cbf ndmw
then to mount as drive 0:
Ramdisk 0
thats it. ( Yes Jack we “Can” CHAIN through this Version )
The Ramdisk program will support a standard Model 4 or 4P with Just 128K if You set the Switches accordingly
Model 4P Hd64180 Mod.
I have Mods for the Model 4 and Have 1 Meg in mine But the design incorporates u sing a HD64180. This Makes the Mod a little Complicated. The Model 4 Version board that I have is one of the older Non Green screen type and I had to Redo the the RAS/MUX/CAS circuits in order to Run the 1 Meg rams . However if there is some interest for the model 4’s I will send in the Mods I have done. interest for the model 4’s I will send in the Mods I have done.
This is an additional mod to add the HD64180. If you are doing this all at once then you must use the MOD4PHDx/TXT files for reference. The difference between the two mods is really the need to:
- Be able to switch between an address decoding of 64K & 256K.
- Disable Memory map decoding when Address lines A16,A17,A18 is active but A19 & A20 will have no effect.
What did he Say Hmm.. Well the best way to Have your cake and eat it to is to make two options avalible for address decoding. We can use the “Z80 Bank Method” in which you use the port 148 to select the starting address for the 64K alt memory.
Port 148 - D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7
A16 A17 A18 A19 A20 WP Z80/HD64180
Mod 4
When D7 is Set HIGH then the HD64180 MMU will control the first 512K of addressing and we can select the starting address for the Upper 256K Ram address area of the MMU.
Port 148 - D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7
Not Not Not A19 A20 WP Z80/HD64180
Used Used Used Mod4
Now D6 is Reserved for the model 4 Z80/HD64180 mod because the model 4 doesn’t have a Write Protect Bit for the Lower Ram if Used for Rom Image.
Ok A16-A20 is as follows.
A16 65536-131070
A17 131071-262140
A18 262143-524287
A19 524288-1023999
A20 1024000-2047999
The Parallel Connection List on Page 2 is a wiring diagram for the daughter borad. It works like this. Get an adapter socket like the SAMTEC Model APA-640-G-D.
This is a Wire Wrap Adapter that plugs into the Z80 socket and will fit through a perf board. Then wire across Per the Parallel connection list. The Last thing to do is add the Crystal freq. We used DCLK on J7-10 and connected it to pin 3 of the HD64180. This has a freq. of 10.1376 Mhz in 64×16 Mode and 12.672 Mhz in 80×24 Mode. Now if you use NewDos/80 then the 64×16 mode is the most used. But if you want 80×24 then a different clock must be obtained. All you need is a crystal for 10 Mhz and place it across pins 2&3 of the HD64180.
Model 4P Memory Modification for Gate Array Boards
MOD4PFG1/TXT
|---------------------------------| Fig 1
U28-10 >---|--4|----\ |----- 9|----\
Port 94H | #4 6---| | #4 8-----|
U30-5 >------5|----/ | U29-5 >------10|----/ |
OUT* U87P OR | IN* U87P OR |
74LS32 |----| 74LS32 |---|
|-----|-----| |--------|--|
D0 >-------| 11 2|-------- Addr 16 --------|2 1&19 |64-128K
D1 >-------| 5|-------- Addr 17 --------|17 |128-256K
D2 >-------| 74LS273 6|-------- Addr 18 --------|4 74LS244 |256-512K
D3 >-------| U85P 9|-------- Addr 19 --------|15 U125P |512-1024K
D4 >-------| 12|-------- Addr 20 --------|6 |1024-2048K
D5 >-------| 15|-------- Unused --------|13 |
D6 >-------| #9 16|-------- W Protect ------|8 #8 |
D7 >-------| 1 19|-------- Z80/MMU --------|11 |
|----|------| |------| |-----------|
| Mux >---1| 74157| Note Pin 1 #7 is Bent Down
Reset* >-------| Addr16>-2| U110P|
Addr17>-3| #7 |4----------5|----\
U27-14 >----1|----\ |------| | #3 6---->
A15 | #2 3---------1|----\ |----4|----/ Pin 1
U85-16 >----2|----/ | #3 3----|-Bank---| U129P All 256K
Fxupmem U24P |----- 2|----/ | 74S08 Rams
7486 | U129P | AND
XOR | 74S08 |----9|----\
U85-12 >----9|----\ | AND | #3 8---->>MUX 256
MB0 | #1 8--| |---10|----/
U85-15 >---10|----/ |
MB1 #1= U105P U85P-12 >---5|----\ |
74LS32 A20 | #1 6--|
OR |-------4|----/
U85P-6 >----1|----\ |
A18 | #1 3----|
U85P-9 >----2|----/
A19
U115-6 >----2|----\ Cas1A
Cas* | #4 3-----------------------------1|----\ 47 Ohm
MUX256>>-|--1|----/ | #5 3---/\/\/-->
| U87P U87-5 >-----2|----/ Cas1*
| 74LS32 Ref* U114P 0-256K
| OR 74S08 AND
|-------| |-------|9----->1792-2048K Cas8A
|---1---| | |7----->1536-1792K Cas7A
U115-6 >----3| U111P | | U116P |6----->1280-1536K Cas6A
Cas* | 74157 |4-----------12| 7442 |5----->1024-1280K Cas5A
+5V >---2| #6 | | |4----->768-1024K Cas4A
|-------| Addr20 >-13| #10 |3----->512-768K Cas3A
Addr19 >-14| |2----------5|----\ 47 Ohm
Additional Memory Addr18 >-15| | Cas2A | #5 6--/\/\/-->
CasXA >---|----\ |-------| |--4|----/ Cas2*
| #X --->Pin 15 256K Rams | U114P 256-512K
U87-5 >---|----/ Each New bank U87-5>-----| 74S08
Ref* CasX* Ref* AND
=========================================================================
Model 4P Memory Modification for Gate Array Boards
MOD4PFG2/TXT Fig 2
Lift R23 Closest to U115-11
U115-11 >--*-------------------X |-/\/\/---*--->RAS0
| | 27 Ohm |
|---12|----\ | |
| #5 11---------| |
|---13|----/ |
| U114P |
| 74S08 |
| AND |
U115-3 >---*-----X -/\/\/- X----------------|--->RAS1
Remove R21
1 U105P - 74LS32
2 U24P - 7486
3 U129P - 74S08
4 U87P - 74LS32
5 U114P - 74S08
6 U111P - 74S157 or 74157
7 U110P - 74S157 or 74157
8 U125P - 74LS244
9 U85P - 74LS273
10 U116P - 7442
11 U117P - 74S08 For additional memory
12 U96P - 74S08 For additional memory