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Date: Tue, 26 Apr 1994 00:53:09 EDT
Reply-To: Mauricio Tavares <mauricio@MOZART.AERO.UFL.EDU>
Sender: COCO - Tandy Color Computer List <COCO@PUCC.BITNET>
From: Mauricio Tavares <mauricio@MOZART.AERO.UFL.EDU>
Subject: CoCo FAQ -- updated!
Lines: 433
**************************************************************************
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*** ***
*** CoCo Frequently Asked Questions ***
*** ***
*** ***
*** ***
**************************************************************************
First of all, I would like to thank all of you who contributed to this new
edition of the CoCo FAQ. I will do my best to try to add make this FAQ as
complete as possible, but I must admit I am not the most knowledgeable
person on CoCos. I still need help. For instance, can anyone send me info
on all those neat Disto stuff I always hear about? What about Burke &
Burke? I myself can't say much about their products since I never bought
them! Anyone?
One other question: should I post this FAQ to the list once every month?
Contributors:
------------
o Unknowingly :)
Andrew Martin <martin.a@fs.jschool.wlu.edu>
Timothy A. Johns <Z_JOHNSTA@CCSVAX.SFASU.EDU>
Jeff Shepler <r3jks@vax1.cc.uakron.edu>
N.G. Brookins <ngb5865@ultb.isc.rit.edu>
David M. Graham <Nimitz@delphi.com>
Brian Forth Worth, TX 76102
o Knowingly
Me! (?)
Allen Huffman <coco-sysop@GENIE.GEIS.COM>
Shawn Driscoll <EARTHER@delphi.com>
Scott McGee <smcgee@microware.com>
<I have that strange feeling I am leaving people out... sorry. :(>
First Edition: April 1 1994 <mauricio@gauss.aero.ufl.edfl.edu>
Last Modified: April 26 1994
***********************************************************************
QUESTIONS and ANSWERS (Or something like that)
--------- --- -------
Hardware
Software
Literature
Sources
HARDWARE:
--------
Q1) What is a CoCo?
The name TRS Color Computer, known as CoCo by its owners,
refers to a familiy of Motorola 6809-based personal computers
made by Radio Shack and produced from 1981 (CoCo 1) until 1990
(CoCo 3). Each CoCo comes with a variation of Microsoft BASIC
built-in its ROM. Differing from an Apple ][ or an IBM, the
CoCo comes with a variety of I/O ports built-in. On the rear
panel of the unit are connections for 2 analog Joysticks, Serial
I/O (which can handle data transfer up to 2400 baud), cassete I/O,
and TV/monitor output. To the right of the computer is a slot
in which cartridges -- or Paks -- of different functions can be
inserted. Among the Paks available for the CoCo are games,
word processors such as Color Scripsit, modems, serial and
parallel interfaces, assemblers, and disk drive controllers. A
Pak called Multipak Interface allows up to 4 Paks to be
connected to the CoCo at a given time. The selection of which
Pak to be active can be made by using a switch on the Multipak
or by software control.
The different CoCo models are as follows:
CoCo 1 - The first Color Computer, it was first sold in 1981 and
originally had only Color BASIC, 4Kb of memory, 32-column
screen, and a cheap keyboard. Later versions came with
6Kb of RAM and Extended Color BASIC, required environment
to handle disk drives. By changing memory chips, setting
jumpers, and removing some capacitors, the CoCo 1 memory
*officially* could be expanded up to 64Kb (3rd party upgrades
for the CoCo 1 took it to several megs of memory, for what
that tidbit is worth. (I think 7 megs was the largest board
made, though. <can we get names for these manufacturers?>),
minimum to run OS-9 Level 1.
CoCo 2 - The Color Computer 2 is a refined -- but fully compatible --
version of the original Color Computer. The refinements
consist mostly of a new, smaller case with a
typewriter-looking keyboard and redesigned motherboard.
Also, the CoCo 2 was the first CoCo to be able to generate
true lowercase letters (NOTE: later model CoCo 2s that said
"Tandy" instead of TRS-80 had the lowercase). Besides that,
it has the same 64Kb/32-column limitation of its antecessor.
This CoCo was in the same class of machines as the Atari 800
series and the Commodore 64.
CoCo 3 - The last Color Computer has quite a collection of
improvements as compared to the previous machines: true
80-column, higher resolution graphics, and more memory --
the barebones configuration (like mine) comes with 128 Kb
of RAM that can be expanded up to 2Mb. It was intended
more as competition for Atari's ST series and the original
Commodore Amiga. The CoCo 3 can run OS-9 Level 2.
There were also some companies that manufactured CoCo clones
Dragon - <get info on this critter>
TDP System 100 - CoCo 1 clone made by Tandy and sold through other stores
MC-10 "Baby CoCo" - made by Radio Shack
Q2) What is a Multi-Pak?
The multipak is a device that allows the CoCo to use of up to 4
paks at a time. It is normally used by people who have multiple
devices that need to be used simultaneously, such as OS-9 users.
A possible combination is as follows:
1 RS-232 pak
2 parallel Pak
3 hard drive controller
4 floppy drive controller pak.
There are 2 ways to access a given slot. One is with the switches and
the second is by storing values in control memory locations.
Q3) How to connect a modem to the CoCo serial port (bitbanger)?
If you are in RSDOS, you can connect a modem to the CoCo
serial port. The nice thing in this setting is that you can
have a modem and a floppy drive controller connected to the
CoCo without needing a Multipak. As far as I know, the fastest
you can go using the CoCo serial port is 1200 baud (has anyone
gone faster?)
Under OS-9, it does at 300 baud and sorta-sorta at 1200 (there was a
CoCo OS9 BBS ran by Tim Johns in town at 1200 baud through the bitbanger)
and the improved 1200 baud bitbanger driver reportedly does it better,
though slowing things down.
List of Materials:
1 DIN-4 connector, male
1 DB-25 connector, male (though here it depends on your
modem)
6ft 4-wire cable (I got mine out of an old ribbon cable, but
ideally you should be a shielded cable with 3 cables inside;
If you can get such cable, make the GND pin in the pinout
below to be the shield)
Pinout:
COCO Modem (RS-232)
DIN-4 pins DB-25 pins
----------------------------------------
CD 1 ------------------+-- 5 CTS (Clear to send)
I
+-- 8 (Received line detector)
RxD 2 --------------------- 3 RxD (Received data)
GND 3 --------------------- 7 GND (Signal ground)
TxD 4 --------------------- 2 TxD (Transmitted data)
+-- 6 DSR (Data set ready)
I
+--20 DTR (Data terminal ready)
Q4) How to connect a serial printer to the CoCo serial port?
NOTE: In this explanation I will use the Apple ImageWriter I printer as
the serial printer in question since it is the printer I have. :)
List of Materials:
1 DIN-4 connector, male (CoCo)
1 DB-25 connector, male (Printer connecto1 **** Not connected ****
RxD 2 --------------------- 20 DTR (Data terminal ready)
GND 3 ------------------+-- 7 GND (Signal ground)
I
+-- 1 (Frame Ground)
TxD 4 --------------------- 3 TxD (Receive data)
Once you have the cable built, you need to set the printer's baud rate,
serial interface protocol, and number of bits to match that of the
CoCo. For the Imageriter I, that is done by setting 2 banks of DIP
switches found in a slot under the ribbon's path.
Back of Printer
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
+---------------+
Io o o I closed
I o o o o oI open
+---------------+
4 3 2 1
+-------+
I o I closed
I o oI open
+-------+
Once you have set the dip switches in the printer, configure your
program to use the same settings (baud/parity/CRLF/etc) as the printer.
<copy down the settings you used when printing from TW-80 as an
example>
<listing a few POKEs to set BAUD rate?>
Q5) What is a Word Pak?
The word pak is a 80-col Pak designed for the old CoCo 1 and 2, which
didn't have a built in high res screen. Its output goes to a monocrome
monitor. Word Pak RS/80 allows having 80 x 24 text under RSDOS and
OS-9, though my RSDOS disk is corrupted. :( The CoCo 3 does not need
this pak since the number of text columns, set by software, can go up
to 80 columns.
Q6) What is a Modem Pak? How does it work?
The Modem Pak is a 300 baud modem designed by Radio Shack for the
CoCo. The modem pak does have a communications program built in its
ROM, but it's not that sofisticated (It is better than the one in the
RS-232 Pak though). For those of you who do not stand the built-in
communications program, there are several PD terminal packages that
may suit your needs, as well as some VERY NICE comercial ones.
For a CoCo 3, there are V-TERM for RSDOS and KBCom (commercial)
for OS-9. If you can get files from listserv, there is a PD
version of KBCom on it. The commercial version is said to be much
better but I have never seen it. If you decide on V-TERM, Tim
Kneitzle (SP?) wrote it back when he was Tim Koonse and may be
able to tell you where to get it.
<Someone mentioned that Ultimaterm comes with a program to change the
register locations to work with the ModemPak.>
Using the Pak:
To use the Modem Pak, you'll need a dual adapter of some sort, and
a phone cable with a standard modular phone connector on each end.
Plug the Modem Pak into the Color Computer or Multi-Pak interface,
as desired. Plug the phone cable into the Modem Pak, and place
the other end into the dual phone line adapter. Plug a standard
telephone into the other half of the dual phone line adapter.
The adapter then plugs into the modular phone receptacle in your wall.
Dual modular phone jack adapters should be available from Radio
Shack, electronics shop, or from your nearest phone company store.
One end plugs into the wall, where your phone would normally plug
in. The other end allows both a cable from the Modem Pak to be
plugged in, and your regular phone jack.
With the connections made, turn on your system.
The Modem program MUST be run in a 32 column screen on a Coco 3.
If you are not sure, type WIDTH 32 to set the screen to 32
column mode.
To use the internal Modem program, type: EXEC &HC000 on a Coco 1
or 2, or EXEC &HE010 on a Color Computer 3. This will start the
program.
It starts with a menu page, where you can set # of bits per byte,
parity, and other fun stuff. It's all there on the screen in menu
form. The default settings will be shown in inverse video. Use the
<space> bar to get the second page of the menu. <space> bar typed a
second time gets you back to the first menu. Use the arrow keys to
move to an item you want to change to. Once your cursor is there,
type an <enter> to select that parameter. It will then be in inverse
video. Hit <break> to start communications mode.
Once in communications mode, the following key combintions apply:
<alt><1> Toggles opening and closing cassette buffer.
<alt><2> Send data in cassette buffer.
(Cassette buffer MUST be closed. See above.)
<alt><3> Clear cassettte buffer.
<alt><4> View cassette buffer.
<alt><5> Toggles opening and closing printer buffer.
(When operated from the main menu, this function prints
the entire cassette buffer.)
The cassette buffer allows you to both upload and download 'stuff'.
To call out, first pick up the phone handset, dial your number on
the phone, wait until you here some funny (high pitched like
DIH-DIH-DIH) tones in the earpiece, then press in the CONNECT button
on the back of the Modem Pak. Finally, hang the phone up, and press
<enter> on the Color Computer.The ON LED comes on when the CONNECT
button is pressed. The CD LED comes on when a valid carrier is on
the line.
To disconnect, just press the Modem Pak's CONNECT button to move
it out. The two LED's on the side of the Modem Pak should both be
out then.
Special Character generation:
<clear> <8> --> [
<clear> <9> --> ]
<clear> <,> --> {
<clear> <.> --> }
<clear> </> --> \
<clear> <3> -->
<clear> <7> --> ^ <clear> <1> -->
<clear> <@> --> ` (a back-quote mark like when you are quoting a
command in Unix)
<clear> <-> --> _
<clear><break> --> ESCape character
To generate the '@' mark, you must press <shift> together with <@>,
since '@' is used for the ALT key function.
Q7) What is an EDTASM+ Pak?
The EDTASM+ Pak is a package that allows you to program the CoCo in
Assembly language, as opposite to machine language or BASIC. From what
I read in its manual (I am yet to learn Assmbly programming), it is
pretty powerfull. However, you can't use the cartridge with the disk
drive (not even with a multipak). The pak is made to use the tape system,
so if you don't have a tape system, you're outta luck. Ok, ok, not really
since someone made a patch to the cartridge to work with disk. The trick
was to dump the pak onto tape, move it over to disk, and patch it...
...or just get Disk EDTASM
Commands:
e - editor (a _simple_ line editor)
a - assemble
z - debug mode (ZXBUG)
SOFTWARE:
--------
Q1) What are the operating systems available to the CoCo?
RSDOS
OS-9
Flex
SK*DOS
Q2) What are the languages available to the CoCo? Where can I
get them?
Without disk drive:
o Assembler (tape)
o Basic (built-in, old CoCo 1s)
o Extended Basic (built-in, newer CoCo 1 and newer models)
RSDOS:
o Assembler
o Disk BASIC (built-in)
Compiled BASIC
o C
o FORTH
DAC-FORTH
o DEFT Pascal
OS-9:
o Assembler
o BASIC-09
o C
o Forth
o Pascal
Q3) Which communication programs can I get for the CoCo?
Well, there are a lot of comm programs for the CoCo. I will try to
organize them in a table by their features (at least those I think
important):
Name | format | Type | VT100 | ANSI | protocol | AutoDial?
============+========+========+=======+======+=============+===========
KBCom | OS-9 | sw/com | yes | | XY modem(?) | yes
Kermit | RSDOS | free | ? | no | kermit | no
Kermit | OS-9 | free | | | kermit |
Mikeyterm | Tape | share | | | |
UltimaTerm | RSDOS | free | yes | Yes | XY modem | yes
V-TERM | RSDOS | com | yes | | XY modem(?) | yes
Note: for rsdos, V-Term supports an amazing varitey of hardware. KBCom is
nearly an os-9 V-Term lookalike.
LITERATURE:
----------
o Dale L. Puckett, 'The Official Basic09 Tour Guide,' Microware, 1985
ISBN 0-918035-00-7, Radio Shack cat. no. 26-3189.
o Dale L. Puckett, Peter Dibble, 'The Complete Rainbow Guide to OS-9,'
Falsoft, Inc., 1985, ISBN 0-932471-00-5, Radio Shack cat. no. 26-3190.
o Dale L. Puckett, Peter Dibble, 'The Complete Rainbow Guide to OS-9
Level II, volume I: A Beginners Guide to Windows,' Falsoft, Inc.,
1987, ISBN 0-932471-09-9, Radio Shack cat. no. 26-3188.
o Peter Dibble, 'OS-9 Insights (second edition),' Microware, 1992,
ISBN 0-918035-03-1. (May be ordered directly from Microware)
o William Barden, Jr., 'Assembly Language on the Color Computer III'
Excellent book for learning assembly, period, and it just so happens
to use EDTASM and the Coco. It gives many detailed examples using
EDTASM.
o William Barden, Jr., 'Color Computer Graphics,' Radio Shack, 1982,
ISBN unknown, Radio Shack cat. no. 62-2076.
SOURCES:
-------
o COMPANIES:
CoNect
449 South 90th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53214
(414) 258-2989 evenings and weekends
Email
Delphi: RICKULAND
Internet: rickuland@delphi.com
Microware
1900 NW 114th St
Des Moines, IA 50325
(515) 224-1929
Email: info@microware.com
o FTP SITES:
chestnut.cs.wisc.edu
wuarchive.wustl.edu
o MAIL SERVERS:
listserv@pucc.bitnet
o BBS:
8/N/1 - (904) 377-1200
***********************************************************************
Corrections? Additions? Updates? Criticisms? Money offers?
Send them to mauricio@gauss.aero.ufl.edu