johny_2k wrote:

> 1. Can i plug the CVBS pin to a video terminal, or do I need to make
> some interface before?

Not quite. Check this out...
<http://www.excamera.com/articles/15/ntsc.html>
and follow the link it refers to.

> 2. Does anyone have changed the zxgate to use VGA interface?

I've modified the trs project in zxgate for VGA - that was the simplest
because it has an NTSC mode which can be doubled for VGA mode.

PAL is difficult to scan-double unless you use a frame buffer as there is
(AFAIK) no compatible VGA mode that is a multiple of the PAL frequency. One
option you have is to dual-port the internal video RAM in the design and
hang a VGA controller off that.

Regards,

--
|              Mark McDougall                | "Electrical Engineers do it
|  <http://members.iinet.net.au/~msmcdoug>   |   with less resistance!"

Hi,

I am trying to run the zxgate implementations on Altera DE1 and Xilinx
Spartan 3E.

Have 2 questions:
1. Can i plug the CVBS pin to a video terminal, or do I need to make
some interface before?

2. Does anyone have changed the zxgate to use VGA interface?

Regards,
Roni

Oh yeah, a _quick_ fix for the Level II BASIC Character set is to copy the
data for codes $40-$5F down to $00-$1F. At least it's legible...

Regards,

--
|              Mark McDougall                | "Electrical Engineers do it
| <http://members.optushome.com.au/msmcdoug> |   with less resistance!"

Mark McDougall wrote:

> I suspect the problem is the "1us" tick generated in the glue logic - it's a
> fair bit under 1us (~750ns with the non-europe build) and the resultant
> clock is probably out of spec for some PS/2 keyboards...

Yup, that was it!

Regards,

--
|              Mark McDougall                | "Electrical Engineers do it
| <http://members.optushome.com.au/msmcdoug> |   with less resistance!"

Mark McDougall wrote:

> Should get a another chance at the scan-doubler this weekend!

Finally got around to looking at the scan doubler - ended up using a tweaked
version of the doubler in Space Invaders on the fpgaarcade site.

Works with the non-Europe builds of trs.

Email if you want details...

Regards,

--
|              Mark McDougall                | "Electrical Engineers do it
| <http://members.optushome.com.au/msmcdoug> |   with less resistance!"

Just wondering if anyone else had problems with the PS/2 on trs?

I've got one keyboard which works, one which doesn't.

I suspect the problem is the "1us" tick generated in the glue logic - it's a
fair bit under 1us (~750ns with the non-europe build) and the resultant
clock is probably out of spec for some PS/2 keyboards...

Regards,

--
|              Mark McDougall                | "Electrical Engineers do it
| <http://members.optushome.com.au/msmcdoug> |   with less resistance!"

Bonjour ZX81 and TS1000 fans,

"YOOGOR" will be released at the ZX-MICROFAIR to be held in Germany
during the week-end of March the 16th to the 18th. "YOOGOR" features
Yoo who you first saw in "ZXOKO-BAN" and in "IZXOLA". More details
about the ZX-MICROFAIR at http://www.zx-team.de.

"YOOGOR" is an all-graphics, all-animation adventure game. The
graphics were made only with the ZX81 characters and the program is
written with the Sinclair basic. Yoogor is a complete character with
head, arms, legs and body. It is not only a symbol or a letter on
screen. He is an animated character who can walk, climb up, climb
down and... do a little more.

Here are some of the outstanding features of the game:

- A 32 X 24 screen
- Only 4 keys are needed to play the game.
- More than 30 differents messages will apprear in the dialog box to
help the player.

The aim of the game is to find Yoogor's shield and to bring back
Yoogor with his shield to his castle. Four (4) major difficulties
await you: 1) The constant threat of falling of the edges, 2) The
secrets of the gates opening, 3) The selection of the safest path to
continue and, 4) The various traps along your quest.

Even if the game runs within only 16kb of memory, do not expect to
complete the game within an hour. It is really a long adventure game
as you have never seen yet on the ZX81 or TS1000.

For more infos about "YOOGOR", visit the web sites listed below.

Goodby(t)e, ANDRE***
http://www.zx-team.de/andre
http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/andre/andre.htm

Dirk Verwiebe wrote:

> Currently i am porting the colecovision core to my spartan board. It
> nearly works, i get the bios messages but
> roms(dkong) donīt work. I converted the rom file with hex2rom. I neednīt
> move the video ram to external ram
> because the rom fits into the fpga,too.
> The system doesnīt recognize the rom.
> Is there something special for connecting the rom ?

It's been a while, but looking at my source - the only 'special' part I did
was remove the 16->8 data mux (process cart_if) and wire the (8-bit)
cartridge ROM data output directly to cart_d_s. Use cart_a_s(13:0) for the
address part if you do the same.

I'm using external SRAM for the video RAM, and internal RAM (RO) for both
the BIOS and cartridge ROMs. I didn't use hex2rom because I have my own
utilities for converting binaries to hex/mif files that the Altera tools
require. Maybe hex2rom doesn't support 16-bit wide memory?

Regards,

--
|              Mark McDougall                | "Electrical Engineers do it
| <http://members.optushome.com.au/msmcdoug> |   with less resistance!"

Hello Mark,

this sounds good.
Currently i am porting the colecovision core to my spartan board. It
nearly works, i get the bios messages but
roms(dkong) donīt work. I converted the rom file with hex2rom. I neednīt
move the video ram to external ram
because the rom fits into the fpga,too.
The system doesnīt recognize the rom.
Is there something special for connecting the rom ?

regards

Dirk



Mark McDougall schrieb:
> Mark McDougall wrote:
>
> Dirk, been side-tracked with porting the 1-chip MSX! ;)
>
> Should get a another chance at the scan-doubler this weekend!
>
> Regards,
>
>

Mark McDougall wrote:

Dirk, been side-tracked with porting the 1-chip MSX! ;)

Should get a another chance at the scan-doubler this weekend!

Regards,

--
|              Mark McDougall                | "Electrical Engineers do it
| <http://members.optushome.com.au/msmcdoug> |   with less resistance!"

Dirk Verwiebe wrote:

> Mark McDougall schrieb:

>> There's a few scan doublers to choose from - in the past I've used the
>> one from the fpgaarcade 'Ladybug' project and the one from c-one. IIRC
>> they each require only 1 clock so I might use one of them...

> Ok. I will wait. :-)

Well tonight I had a bit of spare time so I dropped the Ladybug scan doubler
into the ZXGATE TRS project (because it has a 60Hz video mode).
Unfortunately, I haven't got acceptable results as of yet. Not sure what the
problem is - will have a closer look when I get the chance.

Regards,
Mark

--
|              Mark McDougall                | "Electrical Engineers do it
| <http://members.optushome.com.au/msmcdoug> |   with less resistance!"

damn! these guys just fixed up my current house loan, consolidated all the old
ones, and im saving 600 bucks a month!! http://nipitout.info/wgnf

Mark McDougall schrieb:
> Heh, funnily enough I was thinking about attempting just that in the
> next day or two! I've just finished (tonight) porting all 4 ZXGATE
> projects to my hardware. Atm I've got composite output (50Hz) going and
> was going to try to get VGA output on at least one of them next...
>
> There's a few scan doublers to choose from - in the past I've used the
> one from the fpgaarcade 'Ladybug' project and the one from c-one. IIRC
> they each require only 1 clock so I might use one of them...
>
> If you can wait a day or two I'll let you know how I go!
>
> Regards,
> Mark
>
>
Ok. I will wait. :-)


regards

Dirk



>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

Dirk Verwiebe wrote:

> Has anyone build the Spectrum Core with a working Scandoubler ?
> I need some tips for it.
> Thanks in advance.

Heh, funnily enough I was thinking about attempting just that in the
next day or two! I've just finished (tonight) porting all 4 ZXGATE
projects to my hardware. Atm I've got composite output (50Hz) going and
was going to try to get VGA output on at least one of them next...

There's a few scan doublers to choose from - in the past I've used the
one from the fpgaarcade 'Ladybug' project and the one from c-one. IIRC
they each require only 1 clock so I might use one of them...

If you can wait a day or two I'll let you know how I go!

Regards,
Mark

Has anyone build the Spectrum Core with a working Scandoubler ?
I need some tips for it.
Thanks in advance.

Greetings

Dirk

Hi,

A quick note on the Spectrum project - my composite video is generated
by an ADV724 and it doesn't like border colours being fed to it during
VSYNC (the picture rolls) so I modified spectrum48.vhd thusly:

	 R(1) <= R_i and RGB_En and not VSync;
	 R(0) <= R_i and Bright and RGB_En and not VSync;
	 G(1) <= G_i and RGB_En and not VSync;
	 G(0) <= G_i and Bright and RGB_En and not VSync;
	 B(1) <= B_i and RGB_En and not VSync;
	 B(0) <= B_i and Bright and RGB_En and not VSync;

Regards,
Mark

The first program of 2007 is.... not from ANDRE*** but from
Xavsnap. "TRAIN RUSH" is available at http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/.
It is a fast arcade game in which you must cross the USA from east to
west.

    "http://www.ts1000.us" has extended the program contest for
another year to include the celebrations for the 25 years of the
Timex-Sinclair TS1000, the ZX81 American cousin. Let's go programmers!

    "http://minigamecomp.org.uk" has included again this year the
ZX81/TS1000 computer in its program contest. Three (3) categories are
offered: 1K, 2K and 4K game. The program can be 1024 bytes long, not
running within 1024 bytes. Same for the other categories.

       When I first began in March 2004 giving a NEW program per
month, I stated that this series was to last for 2 years till the
25th birthday of the ZX81. But I overshot the date and continued till
I ran out of programs, programs from my diskettes (I have a Larken
diskdrive on my ZX81). I will now have to find my old audio tapes to
retrieve the other programs, then update them, then make them
presentable to you, ZX81 fans. So more programs are comming!

     And yes, I am working hard on "YOOGOR". For the adventure games
lovers, this program will be a treat with a hero that has to search
high and low for his lost shield through his castle and the castle
surroundings and mainly down in the underground caves. A hero that
will have to find the secret mechanisms to open the gates, the keys
to open the doors, the safest passage to continue his quest, etc...

    Key operation is simple: Only the 4 arrow keys are required. To
pick objects, you simply walk over them. To help you, there are more
than 30 different messages appearing in the dialog box. Yoogor can
move right, move left, climb up, climb down, but can not jump.

    It is all graphic, all animation and all within 16kb of memory and
the graphics are made with the basic ZX81 characters and written with
the Sinclair basic language.

    "YOOGOR" will be first released for the visitors at the annual ZX-
MICROFAIR held in Germany, March 16 to 18. Visit "http://www.zx-
team.de" for more details.

       I am also working on revamping the content of "my" web site
with more pictures.

   Goodby(t)e,    ANDRE***
http://www.zx-team.de/andre
http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/andre/andre.htm

NEW EMULATORS:
    New ZX81 emulator for the Nintendo DS! Yes,  Nintendo DS owners
can now play on their machine the unbelieveable ZX81 games. The
emulator DS81 v1.1a  is available from http://www.noddybox.co.uk

    Mike Wynne has updated his ZX81 emulator Eightyone to version
0.43c. Get your new version from http://www.chunty.com/eightyone/

NEW PICTURE:
    Do you remember Nancy? She awaits you on the web site!

NEW PROGRAMS:
    "IN BETWEEN", the new game from ANDRE*** is now available at
http://www.zx-team.de/andre  ***  I bet...you can't stop playing!  ***

    A more colorfull version by XavSnap of in "IN BETWEEN" is
available at http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/andre/andre.htm

   "CODE BREAKER" the newest game by Stafford White is available at
http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/stafford/stafford.html

   More ZX81 games to play at
http://www.mattrudge.net/cgc2006/games.html.
Look for game # 21. "EROTICA".  For adult only!

LAST MONTH:
    This is last month to enter the programmer's contest of the 25th
anniversary of the ZX81. Visit  http://www.ts1000.us.  You can win a
true ZX81.

NEW IN 2007:
   "YOOGOR" by ANDRE***, an all-animated adventure game.

   "QUI VIVE" by Stafford, a strategy game.

   "TRAIN-RUSH" by XavSnap, a colorfull arcade game.

    As the winter soltice approaches, I wish  you all to end  this
25th year of the ZX81 in good heath and a better 2007 year as more
new ZX81 and Timex TS1000 programs will be coming to you.

   Goodby(t)e,  ANDRE***

Biggest drawback with the live-design kit is the lack of
configuration flash chip, or general flash storage.
The Altium software only has a 30day licence aswell, IIRC.

If you are keen to go Altera, it's difficult to go past the DE1 board
at the low end of the spectrum:
http://www.de1.terasic.com/
Cyclone2C20, plenty of SRAM/FLASH, SD-card slot, config flash etc.
Comes with a neat plexiglass cover too :)

Or if you prefer Xilinx, the Nexys from http://www.digilentinc.com/
is about half the (physical) size of the DE1.
By the time you add the PS/2, RS232, and VGA interfaces and select
the XC3S1000 variant of the board, you are up to about the same
price/functionality as the DE1.

Both are capable of handling the ZXGATE project.

I have one of each, with no particular preference boardwise.
QUARTUS is marginally superior to ISE (personal opinion), though they
tend to leap-frog each other with each subsequent release.

Cheers,
Leslie


--- In zxgate@yahoogroups.com, Tony <tony@...> wrote:
>
> Thinking of getting the board described in the below link. Its
inexpensive
> enough but wasnt sure if its big enough to be able to run the zx
core or
> not..
>
> I also want to build up a DLX cpu + perhiphrials on it to play with
as well...
>
> Any opinions?
>
> www.altera.com/products/devkits/partners/kit-alt-live-design.html
>

What's new ?

    NEW emulator for the ZX81!  The emulator PSPZX81 v1.0.2 for the
Sony PSP machine is available at
http://zx81.zx81.free.fr/serendipity. Welcome PSP owners to the world
of the Sinclair ZX81 and the Timex/Sinclair TS1000.

    NEW program project from Stafford White,   "QUI VIVE", a beta copy
is running. Watch for the arrival of this new game on Stafford's NEW
web site http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/stafford/stafford.html

    NEW program project from XAVSNAP,   "TRAIN" a machine language
arcade game. You have to cross the USA from New-York to San-
Francisco. Stunning graphics. Again a beta copy is running. Watch for
it at "http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/".

    "IN BETWEEN", the NEW program from ANDRE*** will be available in
December at http://www.zx-team.de/andre.     I bet ... you can't stop
playing!

    An enhanced version of "IN BETWEEN" by XAVSNAP will be available
at http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/andre/andre.htm

   Goodby(t)e,  ANDRE***

Bonjour,

    "SUDOKU" is available NOW at "http://www.zx-team.de/andre". You
can now play the game on your ZX81 or TS1000. The coding and the
graphics are from Stafford White and the speed from ANDRE***.

    A NEW WEB SITE with NEW PROGRAMS!
"http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/stafford/stafford.htm".  Stafford White
has now his own web page and he is offering you a NEW program "CODE
BREAKER".

    TWO (2)  more NEW ZX81 programs:  "INTERCEPTOR" from Siegfried
Engel and "TRON TRAILS" from Andy Rea. Games #25 and #27 are
available at "http://www.mattrudge.net/cgc2006/games.html".
Also "EROTICA", game #21 is still there.

    XAVSNAP is creating HI-RES versions of ANDRE***'s and Stafford's
programs. You can download them from ANDRE***'s web page and
Stafford's web page.

    I thought the ZX81 was a Brithish computer. I thought 25 years
would qualified as retro. So can you tell me why "RETRO GAMER" the
monthly British magazine about retro gaming did not print one word
about the year 2006 being the 25th year of the ZX81?

    For the gambler in you, "IN BETWEEN", the addictive card game will
be released in December. Another UNBELIEVABLE game from ANDRE***.   I
bet you will not stop playing !

    Goodby(t)e,  ANDRE***
http://www.zx-team.de/andre
http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/andre/andre.htm
http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/stafford/stafford.htm

Bonjour  ZX81 and TS1000 fans,

    Extra works at home has delayed my work on my ZX projects so...In
the mean time...

    "EROTICA" is available at
http://www.mattrudge.net/cgc2006/games.html . Game #21.

    "THE SUDOKU PUZZLE" created by Stafford White will be the (mid)
October program release.

    "5 ARCADE GAMES', the whole series is available NOW at
http://www.zx-team.de/andre

    "IN BETWEEN", an (acey deucey) card game will be released in
November.

    "YOOGOR", the UNBELIEVABLE, *ALL ANIMATION* adventure game will be
released in March 2007.

  Goodby(t)e,  ANDRE***
http://www.zx-team.de/andre
http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/andre/andre.htm

Sorry about replying to my own post, but I just noticed that there are 2 chip
options for that board after going to the vendor's site..

Apparently, It also can be ordered with a Xilinx XC3s1000 ( which i believe is
1mb ) as well as the altera cyclone ep1c12f324c8  ( which i know nothing
about.. )

For 99 bucks it sounds like a good deal, if either is big enough that is :)
And if it is, ill be ordering one next week i do believe.

Cheaper then the digilant s3 starter board with the same xilinx chip, and has
a few more features, like audio and a 2nd ps/2 port.

On Friday 22 September 2006 06:31 pm, you wrote:
> Thinking of getting the board described in the below link. Its inexpensive
> enough but wasnt sure if its big enough to be able to run the zx core or
> not..
>
> I also want to build up a DLX cpu + perhiphrials on it to play with as
> well...
>
> Any opinions?
>
> www.altera.com/products/devkits/partners/kit-alt-live-design.html

Thinking of getting the board described in the below link. Its inexpensive
enough but wasnt sure if its big enough to be able to run the zx core or
not..

I also want to build up a DLX cpu + perhiphrials on it to play with as well...

Any opinions?

www.altera.com/products/devkits/partners/kit-alt-live-design.html

>   James wrote: "I only complained because he's posting >these everywhere he can.  693 hits and counting."

 

 Bonjour to everyone,

 

    I post on about 10 groups on Yahoo and about the same amont on Google. That's it! 20 postings!

 

    If more groups or clubs, forums or newsboards repeat it, that proves to me the vast interest for the new software.

 

    I am more then pleased to find out the incredible interest in my work. Thank you James for the information. I will do like you did to find out who are all those people interested in my work.

 

   Because you group is mostly interested in hardware, I must mention to you that I made myself a circuit board to retrieve data from old (partly erased) cassette tapes. It works well for me with my ZX81. It should work also for other old computers.

 

   I finally THANK YOU all from the ZXGATE group for your positive support.

 

  Goodby(t)e,  ANDRE***

http://www.zx-team.de/andre

http://zx81.ordi5.free.fr/andre/andre.htm

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/zxgate/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
zxgate-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

While its not relevant im sure, but after voting a bit ago and seeing the #'s
of votes, its nice to see there are still people out there :)

I, like many others, dont have time to actively work on FPGA stuff ( i dont
even have time to work on the z80board group i founded.. blah! ), but its
good to know there is enough interest to prevent it from dying off.

I only complained because he's posting these everywhere he can.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=andre+AND+bonjour+AND+zx81&btnG=Search

693 hits and counting.
I'm sure not all those are his but he's clearly advertising anywhere
he can.
If I weren't seeing them all over the place already I wouldn't have
said anything.

--- In zxgate@yahoogroups.com, Andrew McMeikan <andrewm@...> wrote:
>
> I guess you did, James objected to andre posting in any forum he could,
> personally (and I'm saying this as the person who can kick people out) I
> don't mind the odd bit of zx related email.  While this list is for more
> hardware issues, whats the point of a zx81 in a matchbox if every
> software site went away?  I am a hands off moderator though (unless
> clear spam, then your banned).  Sadly I myself am not getting to put
> much time into fpga's.  It is rising in my priorities so in the next
> couple of years it will start getting big chunks of time.
>
> Please folks lets all get along, any go to
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/zxgate/surveys?id=12411345
>
> and perform your duty as list members by voting in this poll.
>
>  cya, Andrew...
>
> On Wed, 2006-08-30 at 18:28 -0400, Tony wrote:
> > What remark? Did i miss something?
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tuesday 29 August 2006 11:10 am, zxgate@yahoogroups.com wrote:
> >
> > > 1.
> > >  ZX81, maybe the last NEWS for your group....
> > > Posted by: "zx81ab"  zx81ab@...     zx81ab
> > >  Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:38 am (PST)
> > >  Bonjour,
> > >
> > >  Following the previous remark made by James Diffendaffer, your
> > >  group will be cut off the list of groups receiving the latest
news of
> > >  the Sinclair ZX81 and the Timex TS1000...Unless someone replies in
> > >  favor of continuing to receive the monthly news.
>

I guess you did, James objected to andre posting in any forum he could,
personally (and I'm saying this as the person who can kick people out) I
don't mind the odd bit of zx related email.  While this list is for more
hardware issues, whats the point of a zx81 in a matchbox if every
software site went away?  I am a hands off moderator though (unless
clear spam, then your banned).  Sadly I myself am not getting to put
much time into fpga's.  It is rising in my priorities so in the next
couple of years it will start getting big chunks of time.

Please folks lets all get along, any go to

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/zxgate/surveys?id=12411345

and perform your duty as list members by voting in this poll.

	 cya, Andrew...

On Wed, 2006-08-30 at 18:28 -0400, Tony wrote:
> What remark? Did i miss something?
>
>
>
> On Tuesday 29 August 2006 11:10 am, zxgate@yahoogroups.com wrote:
>
> > 1.
> >  ZX81, maybe the last NEWS for your group....
> > Posted by: "zx81ab"  zx81ab@...     zx81ab
> >  Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:38 am (PST)
> >  Bonjour,
> >
> >  Following the previous remark made by James Diffendaffer, your
> >  group will be cut off the list of groups receiving the latest news of
> >  the Sinclair ZX81 and the Timex TS1000...Unless someone replies in
> >  favor of continuing to receive the monthly news.

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
zxgate group:

Should Andre*** be encouraged to stay or to leave?
(Assuming 1 message per month about zx software, with no hardware relavence)

   o Andre*** should stay
   o Andre*** should go
   o Whats all the fuss?  Who cares?


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/zxgate/surveys?id=12411345

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

What remark? Did i miss something?



On Tuesday 29 August 2006 11:10 am, zxgate@yahoogroups.com wrote:

> 1.
>  ZX81, maybe the last NEWS for your group....
> Posted by: "zx81ab"  zx81ab@...     zx81ab
>  Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:38 am (PST)
>  Bonjour,
>
>  Following the previous remark made by James Diffendaffer, your
>  group will be cut off the list of groups receiving the latest news of
>  the Sinclair ZX81 and the Timex TS1000...Unless someone replies in
>  favor of continuing to receive the monthly news.
>