At least I got this started before the last minute like the last two or so issues. I finally got some stuff done on the Z88. Some can be interpreted as very little from one standpoint. From another it was a lot of time mulling over why it didn’t work or how should I do it. From the article I submitted it will explain some of my problems BUT mostly a failure for me to understand what I was doing.
Back to trying to do hardware.
I picked up some connectors at Radio Shack and will try for a Z88 to Z88 connector to transfer programs from one to the other. If I get that going I will report on that later. Also, I have the parts to build a new interface for the disk drive. All I need is the 25 pin to 9 pin converter. I will have to peek into the hood to be sure there is nothing there except wire. By hood I mean the cover that is put over a connector (not one of those enforcers that lean on a lamp post waiting for trouble). The original disk drive cable has a hood that goes from 25 pin to 9 pin but I haven’t seen one locally or in the catalogs that I have.
Not that I don’t distrust the Z88 but I take a peek at the screen every few days (if I haven’t been using one) to see if the BAT LOW light is not on. Now that I have a back up external battery I can safely change batteries without loosing everything in the computer. For a while I sure was having to reset the clock and date often. Hopefully I am beyond that point.
I have a dock board for the TS-2068 that I have no docs for. The board has 48-85 A-0 design by AERCO on it. Two EPROM’s labeled “TS-2068 Toolkit (a)8000-BFFF” and “TS-2068 Toolkit (b)C000-DFFF”. I have plugged it in and nothing happens and punching keys does nothing. Anybody have any information an this dock board or the Toolkit?
Another interesting module that plugs in on the back with a feed-through. It is enclosed in a blue box and has on each end a screw terminal with space for 6 connectors. It has a chip CD74HC00E. It is a two sided board and one end an the front (as connected to the computer) has b, g, r, -, +, gn and sync in the etching. On the other end is soun or is it nuos, (maybe sound?) and gn and tape out and ear blurred by heavy solder soa? and etched in on the circuit board ENTER 1984 and below that LENGUA . I think it might be half finished since their is room for two more 14 pin ICs. It has markings for a 47K resistor and something is there and a 47µ cap that is missing. What is it and are there any docs for it?
The information that I did not give for external battery back-up for the Z88 from Tim Swenson’s article in UPDATE is given here. 270-627 project box 6¼ X 3¾ X 2 (inches) $2.79; 270-396 D battery holder $1.79; 274-1569A coaxial DC power plug 5.5.5 mm $1.69. The two lead wire for the connector is something else, I got mine from a AC to DC powersupply that I tossed after I cut the cord. The center of the plug is positive for the Z88.
Tim mentioned making a tie strip to control his cables for Z88 in his attaché case out of Velcro strips that he had to sew together BUT! did Radio Shack saw his idea? Anyway they have the strips that are 3/8″ wide and 3 foot long to be cut to length to make cable ties. 278-1675 (new item)) for $1.49. Your choice of colors so long as that is black! Be ideal to get that clutter of cables an the back of the TS- 2068 under control.
Enough for this issue. Better get this SAVEd to disk and printed off since a storm is rumbling and I could loose power. Till next issue, so long. 0/0