Re: [ql-users] Is there anybody out there ?

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 03:54 ìì 10/5/2002, you wrote:

>In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>uk>, Norman Dunbar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
> >Bit quiet today, are we all QL'ing ?
> >I didn't get any mail last night either - must be busy out there.
> >
> >Anyway, here's a laugh - not !
> >
> >I use a ZIP disc to run QPC on so I can travel between home and work and
> >still do stuff QL wise.
> >Today, I decide to upgrade my version of QPC on the Zip disc, so I slot it
> >into my work box, and lo, it is totally blank.
> >Selecting Properties, shows it has 100 MB of free space and nothing used at
> >all.
> >
> >Oh dear, I feel something bad coming on !
> >
> >Hopefully, when I get home to Win98, it will still be full of data - if not,
> >I'm up that creek again :o(
>
>... Just shows that the SyQuest disks are far more reliable :-)


And that's probably why they stopped making them  too ;-)

Phoebus

RE: [ql-users] Haven't seen the sun in a while...!

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 12:54 ðì 11/5/2002, you wrote:

>On 10/05/02 at 13:02 Phoebus Dokos wrote:
>
> >Actually when the GF will be hopefully available, its onboard DSP will be
> >able to deal with tasks like that IIRC the specs Nasta released.
>
>Eh, information is only as good as it is accurate. The DSP is not on the GF
>(for it to fit, the printed circuit board would have to be from a 4 - or
>more - dimensional space :-) ), but on the Aurora II, which will be the
>next project after the GF (and that one will be much simpler and quicker to
>do). And I have not released the specs for Aurora II :-)
>
>Phoebus, before you leave for Greece, do you by any chance have the LRESPR
>version of the QUBIDE driver? I need something to test the Super/EtherIDE
>with :-)
>
>Nasta

I don't have it unfortunately... It wasn't included in the 2.x driver disk 
and Phil Borman hasn't replied to my email yet concerning it... (Probably I 
have the wrong email?)


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Haven't seen the sun in a while...!

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 12:58 ìì 10/5/2002, you wrote:

>Hi Phoebus.
>
>Well, the plan at the moment is to complete Manchester's DVD in time for 
>Washington, and produce a second DVD with material shot in Washington.
>
>I'll discuss the possibilities with him re. using your material and we'll 
>see how it goes, so thanks for offering.
>
>Shame you won't be around in a few weeks - would have been nice to say 
>hello in person.
>
>Steve

I know but between the QL and Sun'n'fun in Greece (windsurfing and booze 
included) -not to mention my parents that would kill me if I didn't show up 
;-) - there's really no contest :-)

Phoebus

RE: [ql-users] Haven't seen the sun in a while...!

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 12:46 ìì 10/5/2002, you wrote:

>Hi Norman.
>
>I'm using a Mac PowerBook G4 and while it's pretty nippy, I've still had 
>to wait 25 minutes for a 2-minute piece to render broadcast-safe colour 
>correction.  Still at least now the MPEG encoder won't spit at it when I 
>encode it for authoring.
>
>The material's all Apple Quicktime DV - no AVIs or redigitising needed 
>here, though I am rapidly running out of disk space.
>
>You never know... maybe once the Q200 comes along I can throw away this 
>Apple stuff ;)  Any takers for developing a QL(or derivative)-based 
>real-time MPEG2 encoder...???  WHEN it works, you'll get a lot of sales - 
>especially in the States.  I know, I know - probably pushing things a bit 
>far, but it was only in Manchester that I was discussing alternative 
>applications for the Q60 with the D & D boys.  Maybe this could be one.?

Actually when the GF will be hopefully available, its onboard DSP will be 
able to deal with tasks like that IIRC the specs Nasta released.
Realtime MPEG2 decoders/encoders exist currently and I really see no reason 
why a QL-based system could serve as one and yes that wouild sell nice 
(another good Idea would be a QL used as an mp3 decoder in a car :-) (We 
will need a shrinked enough QL system, probably equipped with one of these 
new Coldfire chips though ;-)


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Haven't seen the sun in a while...!

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 11:42 ðì 10/5/2002, you wrote:

>Phoebus - DB tells me you've been to these things before, so any idea what 
>time the crab fest will start on Sunday 2nd June?
>
>Just wanted to say you're not the only ones around today.
>
>Thanks for listening.

Actually I have no clue. Last time I was around Maryland (Don't know if 
you've been in the US before but the distances are enormous for Europeans 
so be prepared) during a crab fest, I avoided it like a vampire avoids 
garlic :-) - Amazingly enough for a Greek I totally despise sea food :-) - 
so I really can't help you there (not to mention that I will be in Greece 
at the time).

BTW: We will have DV footage from the mini-Greek QL gathering we are 
planning with Darren so if your DVD isn't done by then I will be able to 
send you a copy in any format you like (I use a D-8 camera - unfortunately 
an NTSC one- but I can encode either in PAL or NTSC format)... The footage 
will most likely include a huge meal (Hehe I am sure I will put Darren to 
shame ;-) but we can arrange to exclude that :-)


Phoebus

RE: [ql-users] Is there anybody out there ?

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 10:50 ðì 10/5/2002, you wrote:

>Hi Phoebus,
>
>thanks for that info.
>
>The Zip disc is fairly new, but has only ever been used for QPC purposes.
>There are no noises from the drive - apart from the normal ones.

There is also a possibility of the zip disk being locked in the drive while 
a shutdown was in progress. Usually Windows ejects all removable disks (or 
disconnects them - Ejection is the case though with Zip disks/drives) and 
if that did not happen and for some reason your QXL.WIN file was left open, 
weird things could happen to the FAT. This is extremely rare though (Never 
happened to me personally but on one occasion to somebody I know).

If that is the case, the Unformat procedure of Norton utilities should be 
used instead of the Disk Doctor (DO NOT USE the Windows utilities as they 
are totally useless).
Make ABSOLUTELY SURE that you have an "Undo" disk ready (better use a 
previously checked and totally blank floppy disk) for that procedure. Also 
it would be best if you could run that from DOS. Please contact me 
privately if you wish assistance with/or need other utilities for recover 
(i have some pretty decent ones here :-)

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Is there anybody out there ?

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 10:20 ðì 10/5/2002, you wrote:

>Bit quiet today, are we all QL'ing ?
>I didn't get any mail last night either - must be busy out there.
>
>Anyway, here's a laugh - not !
>
>I use a ZIP disc to run QPC on so I can travel between home and work and
>still do stuff QL wise.
>Today, I decide to upgrade my version of QPC on the Zip disc, so I slot it
>into my work box, and lo, it is totally blank.
>Selecting Properties, shows it has 100 MB of free space and nothing used at
>all.
>
>Oh dear, I feel something bad coming on !
>
>Hopefully, when I get home to Win98, it will still be full of data - if not,
>I'm up that creek again :o(

Norman,
I am afraid that the problem lies with the ZIP disk, not Windows (amazing 
isn't it?). I had in the past experienced similar problems and usually it's 
a sure sign that the Zip is failing. To identify if that is the case, try 
to listen for any abnormal noise (clicks or little "bangs") while the disk 
is being read. If you hear anything, better throw away that disk :-(.
Norton Disk Doctor was able to recover the files from the disk but the disk 
had to be thrown away. (BTW: I think that Zip disks carry a 5 year 
replacement warranty)


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Phoebus

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 03:00 ðì 3/5/2002, Rich Mellor wrote:

>Is there any reason why all your emails to the ql-user mailing list are 
>sent twice??

Yes, I am stupid :-) (Stupid enough to poke in Eudora's settings that is :-)
Anyway, tis fixed now :-)

Phoebus

[ql-users] A quick to Europeans travelling to the US show

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
Just a quick tip for Europeans traveling to the US show in June...

If you want to bring your mobile phone with you, I would like to remind you 
that only Tri-band or 1,9 GHz enabled dual band phones can work in the US. 
These include the Motorola P7xxx series and the T250, Siemens S20 and the 
older Bosch World 719i among others. The show area is serviced by 
Voicestream Wireless (A T-Mobile/Deutsche Telecom AG company) and Cingular 
Wireless. Check your local providers to see if they have roaming agreements 
with the US.

If you do not have a 1.9 GHz GSM (It's called PCS here - beats me why) 
phone you can rent one in advance from the Airport usually.

Now to the tips:

1. Make sure your phones are charged. You will be asked to turn your phones 
on/off at security points both at exit and entry to the airport (The exit 
doesn't make too much sense but has happened to me). Avoid 
misunderstandings (and a lot of trouble) by having your batteries charged 
if you carry your phones on you.
2. If you are using a GRPS or WAP phone be almost certain that these 
features will NOT work in the US.
3. If you have features like Call barring and diverting, it's best you shut 
it off BEFORE you leave your countries. Advanced GSM features are not 
usually implemented in the US and if they are they cost money to turn on or 
off. (Not to mention the roaming charges)
4. If you plan on using SMS messages, its best that you use Cingular's 
network (Your phone will find both) as the Voicestream one plainly said 
SUCKS! Half the time international messages get lost or bounced.
5. If you want to call Customer Service of the network that you will be 
logged on, (By calling your standard customer service no that is diverted 
to the local 611 here) just forget it. You will spend hours trying to 
figure out what's wrong (and it's usually their fault) and customer service 
for both GSM providers is below sub-standard. You will only get frustrated 
and will end up paying extreme fees.. (A whole different story best left 
unsaid)
6. If you are in need of assistance of the Police, Fire Dept. or anything 
else DO NOT call 911 from your mobile phone. Instead use 112 which is free 
:-) (Hey why pay?)

Finally for ONE "lucky" person that's interested I have an extra Bosch 718i 
which I can lend to anyone that wants to use his SIM card here. It's not 
much and in semi-shaky state (Battery is not exactly hanging on the phone 
right) but otherwise works fine and has served me in addition to my 
Timeports fine since 1999 :-) (it will be totally unlocked too and already 
preprogrammed with OmniPoint's SMS gateway in it as well :-) Send me an 
email. First come first serve basis of course but do it quickly because I 
am leaving for Greece in two weeks...

That is all,


PhOEbus R. (and Not L. as Roy wants me ;-) Just saw that one!) DokOs

[ql-users] A quick to Europeans travelling to the US show

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
Just a quick tip for Europeans traveling to the US show in June...

If you want to bring your mobile phone with you, I would like to remind you 
that only Tri-band or 1,9 GHz enabled dual band phones can work in the US. 
These include the Motorola P7xxx series and the T250, Siemens S20 and the 
older Bosch World 719i among others. The show area is serviced by 
Voicestream Wireless (A T-Mobile/Deutsche Telecom AG company) and Cingular 
Wireless. Check your local providers to see if they have roaming agreements 
with the US.

If you do not have a 1.9 GHz GSM (It's called PCS here - beats me why) 
phone you can rent one in advance from the Airport usually.

Now to the tips:

1. Make sure your phones are charged. You will be asked to turn your phones 
on/off at security points both at exit and entry to the airport (The exit 
doesn't make too much sense but has happened to me). Avoid 
misunderstandings (and a lot of trouble) by having your batteries charged 
if you carry your phones on you.
2. If you are using a GRPS or WAP phone be almost certain that these 
features will NOT work in the US.
3. If you have features like Call barring and diverting, it's best you shut 
it off BEFORE you leave your countries. Advanced GSM features are not 
usually implemented in the US and if they are they cost money to turn on or 
off. (Not to mention the roaming charges)
4. If you plan on using SMS messages, its best that you use Cingular's 
network (Your phone will find both) as the Voicestream one plainly said 
SUCKS! Half the time international messages get lost or bounced.
5. If you want to call Customer Service of the network that you will be 
logged on, (By calling your standard customer service no that is diverted 
to the local 611 here) just forget it. You will spend hours trying to 
figure out what's wrong (and it's usually their fault) and customer service 
for both GSM providers is below sub-standard. You will only get frustrated 
and will end up paying extreme fees.. (A whole different story best left 
unsaid)
6. If you are in need of assistance of the Police, Fire Dept. or anything 
else DO NOT call 911 from your mobile phone. Instead use 112 which is free 
:-) (Hey why pay?)

Finally for ONE "lucky" person that's interested I have an extra Bosch 718i 
which I can lend to anyone that wants to use his SIM card here. It's not 
much and in semi-shaky state (Battery is not exactly hanging on the phone 
right) but otherwise works fine and has served me in addition to my 
Timeports fine since 1999 :-) (it will be totally unlocked too and already 
preprogrammed with OmniPoint's SMS gateway in it as well :-) Send me an 
email. First come first serve basis of course but do it quickly because I 
am leaving for Greece in two weeks...

That is all,


PhOEbus R. (and Not L. as Roy wants me ;-) Just saw that one!) DokOs 

Re: [ql-users] ROM versions

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 06:28 ìì 2/5/2002, Roy Wood wrote:

>In message 
><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Norman 
>Dunbar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
>>Don't forget who invented it in the first place though :o)
>>(I suspect, as with all smugness, I shal regret that sentence !)
>I seem to recall the invention of copper wire - two Scotsmen fighting over 
>a penny.


These are all lies... Copper was invented because of a Greek guy that took 
the said penny away from them :-) (They did fight hard though ;-)

Phoebus

[ql-users] Latest QL-Toady ;-)

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hmmm just got my hands on the latest QL Today (renewal form's on the way 
Jochen, together with the Ad ;-) and I only have one remark for Roy ;-)

True in QL-"Toady" fashion, not only (once more) you made a Roman out of me 
(DokUs instead of Dokos ;-) but also reversed my first name  to Pheobus 
instead of Phoebus ;-)

Of course I guess I shouldn't complain as you only changed my nationality 
while in a recent case  you renamed Phil Borman (of Rebel/QubID/QTPI fame) 
to Phil Boreman :-)

Hehehe :-) It was funny I must admit :-)

PhOEbus DokOs

Re: [ql-users] ROM versions

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 06:40 ðì 1/5/2002, Al Feng wrote:

>Essentially, when you swap QL ROMs, the video output for "TV" mode
>changes from NTSC to PAL and vice-versa for JSU & JS, respectively.
>
>Al

I would imagine that it is "patch"-able though no?

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] ROM versions

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 04:44 ìì 1/5/2002, you wrote:

>On 01/05/02 at 15:02 Phoebus Dokos wrote:
>
> >>I have also constructed (ah, the good old days!) a 68020 add-on board...
> >>I did a lot of guesswork when doing that circuit and more logic would
> >>have been needed to get it to work right... I would probably make short
> >>work of it today since now I have a logic analyzer and it would be very
> >>easy to see what the 8301 actually does - if I had a standard QL handy.
>
> >I volunteer mine :-) You interested? (I will be gone in two weeks and I
> >have three QLs in Greece so I won't miss it "=_
>
>Well, you are welcome to send it over. No need to have a US one, either.
>I'll just hook it up to the video in on the PC, and that's multi-standard.
>I'll have a QL in a window :-) Muahahaha (Mad scientist crazy laugh)

Right now I only have a US one so it will have to do :-) I will be sending 
it then over soon...

That Aurora idea sounded cool too... that way for -not-that-much-money, 
some Auroras could be used/build/sold until the GF becomes available 
(instead of hunting down a second hand SGC--- Stupid me I had two and I 
gave away one for free... now I could have two Aurora QLs... Doh!)

I will be bringing a PAL/NTSC/Secam-B VCR and TV from Greece to watch tapes 
from home :-) So back to my nice 100Hz Philips :-) (That pertains to your 
other message ;-)


Phoebus

P.S. Maybe an unpopulated board would be best? I remember that Bill 
Richardson was selling Issue 5 boards... Which one would be the best to 
modify and who has unpopulated ones nowadays? (Tony?)

Re: [ql-users] ROM versions

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 03:40 ìì 1/5/2002, you wrote:



>On Wed, 1 May 2002, ZN wrote:
>
> > The EU and US specs are actually remarkably similar, and only really differ
> > in the number of lines drawn on the screen. 312 EU, 262 US. However, both
>
>However, the English PAL system is BETTER! ;P

I do agree... being extremely sensitive in the eyes (due to my extremely 
rare combination of sight disorders I have) I have to say that I do miss my 
nice PAL/SECAM TV in Greece :-)


>If you watch US TV for too long, you go blind, and I'm not referring to
>the lousy programming either ;P

You are of course totally forgetting, The History Channel and History 
Channel International I gather ;-) (Okay and Sci-Fi -all right and UPN on 
Wednesday ;-))

> > To summarise: nothing to spectacular would happen if the ROMs were
> > exchanged.
>
>
>What if the onboard RAM has been disarmed, and there is faster memory in
>its place? And there was a 5lb heatsink on the 8301 ;)

Then you would probably break the mainboard ;-) Don't forget it's a 
Sinclair Design not Nasta's ;-)

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Di-ren Keyboard interface

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 03:15 ìì 1/5/2002, you wrote:

>John Hall bought a Di-Ren interface from jjohn gilpin at the Manchester 
>Show. He also got the manual (I know, as I was on John Gilpin's house when 
>he found it!!)
>
>Maybe John Hall would be able to photocopy it for you - its only a single 
>A4 page (front and back).
>
>His email address is [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
>Darren.
>
>


My GOD Darren is ALIVE

Seriously now, I've been trying to find you for days now! Are you okay? 
(Your new email doesn't seem to work and your hotmail bounces)

Send me an email...


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] ROM versions

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 02:46 ìì 1/5/2002, ZN wrote:

>
>It may be possible to use a bit of external logic to slow the 68008 down on
>certain cycles and make it compatible again. I know Stuart H had to solve
>that for the GC.
>In fact, running the 68008 at double rate would probably make the logic
>simpler, I suspect the 8301 generates it's cycles synchronously to the CPU
>clock, based on the way the 68008 generates it's signals. In retrospect, it
>was a wonder that an asynchronous clock for the 68008 worked at all...
>
>That being said: a board with a 68008 and some trivial logic to get the
>correct addresses on an Aurora, would quite efficiently work as a QL with
>256k or RAM - pretty much for any speed 68008. A 68008FN and extra RAM,
>plus adjustment to apparent extended res screen address, would also give
>the user all of the Aurora extended graphics capability.
>
>I have also constructed (ah, the good old days!) a 68020 add-on board. The
>68020 is quite nice because it has an 8-bit bus mode. However, the timing
>is different from 68008 (faster even at the same clock). I did a lot of
>guesswork when doing that circuit and more logic would have been needed to
>get it to work right. I wish I had the ability to do GALs at the time, it
>would have made it all much simpler - as it was, I used a few 74xxx chips,
>but that wasn't enough, so I could not get it to work right. The OS would
>come up (at that point I had my own RAM expansion which shadowed the
>internal 128k to make things faster so it did not rely on data returned
>from the on-board RAM by the 8301) but the picture was garbled and
>communication with the 8302 didn't work (no wonder since it's decoded by
>the 8301) so there was no reaction to F1/F2. I whipped this up on a small
>piece of protoboard during the week-end so it was no great loss when I
>scrapped it. The whole thing was inspired by a piggyback board that was
>used in the Thor20 and 21 to add a 68020 to a QL motherboard (the Thor 21
>had a 68881 FPU added too). I would probably make short work of it today
>since now I have a logic analyzer and it would be very easy to see what the
>8301 actually does - if I had a standard QL handy. One interesting thing
>which I found out was that a 68020 used less current at 16MHz than a 68008
>at 7.5!

I volunteer mine :-) You interested? (I will be gone in two weeks and I 
have three QLs in Greece so I won't miss it "=_


>I also know that Branko B. had overclocked the whole thing - changed the
>on-board slow RAM to fast 70ns, and clocked the 8301 and consequently the
>68008 at a much higher rate by replacing the 15MHz crystal with a higher
>frequency one. This increases the video synch frequency, he used what was
>basically an EGA monitor. Worked just fine, too.
>
>Nasta

That would be interesting to see...


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] USA 2002 QL Show, 1st June 2002

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 12:39 ìì 28/4/2002, you wrote:

>Hi all
>
>As I have plenty of "holidays" left (our human resources manager is
>pushing me to take them this year) and I also have plenty of
>Qualiflyer-miles (ex Swissair, now Swiss). I consider to do a
>"few days trip" to the US and with the right timing it could be end of
>May/beginning of June. So why not to travel to Washington DC
>aera and attend the QL meeting/show!? I've been in Oak Ridge in
>1995 and this was great fun...
>
>Some questions:
>- What other Europeans are consindering to attend the US QL show?

Except me (I am European after all Sorry but not even a QL beats 45 
days in Greece:-)

>- How you travel?

AVOID AT ALL COSTS plane changes inside the USA... Right now it is 
crazy Take my advise on that.

>- Do all Qlers stay at the Park In?

You should ask them :-)

>- What's best and cheapest to rent a car at Dulles International Airport?
>(I think Swiss only flyes to Dulles...)

The cheapest rates I found so far are either AutoEurope's website or 
through Enterprise. Also a good idea would be to rent ("hire" in Brit. 
English) a car would be to go to either Orbitz.com or Expedia.com)
Also although it is required to have an Intl. Drivers license most cops in 
Maryland/DC/PA will not make a fuss about you using a foreign drivers 
license provided it is has some form of latin characters on it :-)


>"QLing keeps people together..."

It does indeed :-)

Phoebus

[ql-users] Web site almost done...

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
the new address of the website is www.dokos-gr.net
 From there you'll be able to access most of my pages (Proforma fonts 
etc..., Web & Graphic design, music & photography all of which I am sure 
are of no importance :-)) as well as Thierry's QDOS-SMSQ/E software 
repository (With a new logo now), Dilwyn's mirror (With a new logo as well) 
and the new RWAP Software page (again with a new logo ;-)
Please note that only the SMS repository (and not suppository Dave!) and 
RWAP Software links are currently active, but I expect them all to be 
active within the weekend.

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Re: QBOX-USA

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 07:51 ìì 24/4/2002, John Impellizzeri wrote:

> > It was actually more expensive to call Michigan (It is Michigan isn't it?)
>Yes, Detroit area.
>
> > Indeed the files were very old and you
> > could tell they weren't maintained as a message I left never got
> > answered... That's not by any means a bad thing, every one has a personal
> > life and hobbies many times take too much time out of it.
>
>Sorry about that, if I read it I must not have had the chance to reply
>immediately and then forgot about it.  Never enough time to spend on all my
>hobbies.  I just wish I could find a way to make a living at them.


Don't we all :-)

Phoebus

RE: [ql-users] QCDEZE

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 03:00 ìì 24/4/2002, Duncan Neithercut wrote:

>Hello,
>What are you running it on?
>Phoebus Dokos had this problem can arise on SMSQ/E with version less than
>2.98.
>I produced a version with a work around for Phoebos Dokos while I am working
>on an upgrade.
>
>Duncan

Duncan,
I sent him the upgrade and he still can't make it work. I advised him to 
contact you.


Phoebus

RE: [ql-users] spamcop.net

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 11:03 ðì 24/4/2002, Ian wrote:

> >Yeah and that's why:
> >http://spamcop.net/w3m?action=checkblock&ip=139.149.1.38%3E
> >
> >Phoebus
>Well, if that was an explanation of why I was blocked (and I suppose it 
>would be for network gurus) it goes way over my head.  How come it just 
>picked one message at random to block?

I would imagine because probably spamcop's name resolution server wasn't 
working at the time it tried to resolve it. So in effect the problem was 
outside your network.

(I would imagine :-)))


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] spamcop.net

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 10:09 ðì 24/4/2002, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

>I tried sending a message to the list earlier, and got this back:
>
>Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.
>
>   Subject:  RE: [ql-users] QXLWIN v1.06 and partitions
>   Sent: 24/04/02 13:45
>
>The following recipient(s) could not be reached:
>
>   [EMAIL PROTECTED] on 24/04/02 13:46
> There was a SMTP communication problem with the recipient's 
> email server.  Please contact your system administrator.
> < gate2.ldn.ubswarburg.com #5.5.0 SMTP; 550-Blocked - see 
> http://spamcop.net/bl.shtml?139.149.1.38>
>
>Not sure whether the message was blocked by the bank's server or the list 
>server.
>
>Anyone else seen anything like this?
>
>Ian.


Yeah and that's why: 
http://spamcop.net/w3m?action=checkblock&ip=139.149.1.38%3E

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] QCDEZE

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 02:58 ðì 24/4/2002, you wrote:

>Thanks.
>
>But I cant get it to work.. It stops with  QCDEZE Line 19330 BGET , or
>a similar message on a different line. cdrom_explorer_bas works.
>
>/Michael

Michael,
you have probably the same problem I had with it... I will send you my copy 
privately which corrects that

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] QXLWIN v1.06

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 04:08 ìì 23/4/2002, Fabrizio Diversi wrote:

>Claus , dont  forgot to mention that qxlwin works very
>well also with Compact Flash card .
>Ciao
>Fabrizio

Yep it works and the interesting part is that unfortunately he cannot test 
it himself as his CF adapter has some problems which I hope he'll soon 
solve either by a minor change or by a replacement (by me).
Talk about "SuperScalar" programming... It works even if you don't use the 
device yourself!

Great job Wolfgang.

Kudos also to Duncan for making QCDEZE work with the Aurora with no 
problems as well :-) (Talk about online support there :-)


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] QeyMail question...

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 12:40 ìì 23/4/2002, you wrote:

> > By having a plugin filter rule system, we can also direct emails that
>contain
> > "this is not spam", "!!" and "" can be
>directed
> > straight to hell...
>
>A few things not often found, but very useful to have in order to block
>spam:
>1) Delete messages without plain text (only HTML attachment)
>2) Delete messages with over that N recipients or forwarder to over N
>recipients
>3) delete messages with 'undisclosed recipients'

3) would be very useful if the sender does not belong to your address book 
(ie a company in which you subscribe
One good example is a Stock brocker that sends mails with buy or sell 
recommendations to its clients but for obvious reasons shouldn't include 
the actual email addresses of users), which brings me to the required (?) 
facility of having LDIF Address books (Not a big deal tho I would imagine)

Phoebus

RE: [ql-users] QeyMail question...

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 10:47 ðì 23/4/2002, you wrote:



>On Tue, 23 Apr 2002 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> > How about support for both POP3 and IMAP?
>
>POP3 support is trivial, and I have all the RFCs here. I don't have
>documentation for, and have never personally used, IMAP, so it will come
>second, but it will come.

I use IMAP and honestly I like it more than POP :-)

>The real intention behind this project is to do a simple, general purpose
>email client that is easy to use and has some range of configuration and
>flexibility.
>
>Dave
>
>
>
>
>---
>Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Ôï åéóåñ÷üìåíï ìÞíõìá åßíáé 
>åëåýèåñï éþí.
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>Version: 6.0.350 / Virus Database: 196 - Release Date: 17/4/2002

Re: [ql-users] QeyMail question...

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 03:12 ìì 22/4/2002, you wrote:


> > There is a working stack. However several facilities are missing. Among 
> them:
> >
> > PPP support and Name resolution.
>Implementing name resolution cant that hard. I volunter.
>
> >
> > uQLx has full TCPIP support for some years now and there are a couple of
> > email programs for the QL that can do the job. However what Dave is
> > proposing will be far more complete than those and be a lot more user 
> friendly
>I know that.
> >
> > For a beta test version of soql (The TCP/IP package on the QL) contact Jon
> > Dent.
>
>I cant reach him , I think.
> >Make sure you have a SLIP connection with your provider tho or that
> > you have at least a Linux box, where you can effect a slip connection with
> > the QL using the serial port (If you have a regular QL, I strongly
> > recommend you buy the superHermes add on as it is THE ONLY reliable way 
> for
> > serial comms using the QL...). For lower speeds you can still use the QLs
> > serials but the IPC code is bug ridden and very unreliable. At a minimum
> > buy the regular Hermes that at least corrects the serial port bugs (plus a
> > 100 others :-)
>I have a Q40.


In that case forget the sH :-)

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Re: QBOX-USA

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 01:39 ìì 22/4/2002, you wrote:


> >
> > Thierry has been a point to me for many years now.
> > QBOX USA are also, but I have not had anything from them for a long
> > while now - is it still going?
> >
>
>QBox-USA has been down for a few weeks now.  The power supply died and while
>I got that replaced I was looking through the logs and noticing that the BBS
>had received very few callers over the past year or so.  I also started
>looking at the increasing costs of the phone line, when I started Qbox-USA
>the phone line ran approx US$15 per month.  Now it's getting close to $30.
>
>I think the lack of use is due to most people being on the net these days
>maybe not directly with a QL but still on and probably with a local phone
>call (or DSL/cable modem).  Could also have something to do with the fact
>that the BBS was a little out of date and I haven't had the time to maintain
>it other than basic functionality.  There are a lot of web sites out there
>with more current stuff than the BBS had.
>
>So I decided to shut it down and cancel the phone line, the extra $30 a
>month will be put to good use.  I think it had a good run and was definitely
>very heavily used for a few years.  We started it around September 1993 with
>'94 - '97 probably it's peak years.  I have no regrets running it as long as
>we did but I think it's time has come and gone.


That's actually a good choice in a way... I called the Q-Box BBS twice last 
year and surely were totally depressed whenever I received my phone bill! 
It was actually more expensive to call Michigan (It is Michigan isn't it?) 
than Greece or Germany - Heck is more expensive to call Pittsburgh and I am 
only 90 mi. away from it :-). The way rates are, It will cost me less to 
call TFS bbs or JMS mailbox instead of Michigan! and I suspect that many 
other users had the same problem. Indeed the files were very old and you 
could tell they weren't maintained as a message I left never got 
answered... That's not by any means a bad thing, every one has a personal 
life and hobbies many times take too much time out of it. Nonetheless with 
a fully functional TCP/IP very soon now, Websites like the SMS repository 
(that I currently host) as well as forums as Dave's (spodmail.com) and 
vendors websites can surely fill the gap.

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] QeyMail question...

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 02:13 ìì 22/4/2002, you wrote:

>In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>   Dave <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> >
> > Hi all,
>
>Hi
>
> >
> > I'd like to promote a discussion about the features of a QL-based email
> > program. I don't want to discuss standard features just yet, but those
> > exotic features that will really help us.
>Email using tcp/ip ? Do you have a working stack ?

There is a working stack. However several facilities are missing. Among them:

PPP support and Name resolution.

uQLx has full TCPIP support for some years now and there are a couple of 
email programs for the QL that can do the job. However what Dave is 
proposing will be far more complete than those and be a lot more user friendly.

For a beta test version of soql (The TCP/IP package on the QL) contact Jon 
Dent. Make sure you have a SLIP connection with your provider tho or that 
you have at least a Linux box, where you can effect a slip connection with 
the QL using the serial port (If you have a regular QL, I strongly 
recommend you buy the superHermes add on as it is THE ONLY reliable way for 
serial comms using the QL...). For lower speeds you can still use the QLs 
serials but the IPC code is bug ridden and very unreliable. At a minimum 
buy the regular Hermes that at least corrects the serial port bugs (plus a 
100 others :-)

Phoebus

[ql-users] 68040 to 68060 upgrade

[Phoebus Dokos]

I found a little adaptor that enables the upgrade from a 68040 to an 68060...

Does anyone think that this could work on a QXL or Q40???

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] The Shell's utilities

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 12:45 ìì 20/4/2002, you wrote:

>At 09:00 AM 4/20/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>>Hi all,
>>I was wondering if any one has "The Shell"'s accompanying utilities 
>>available. The zip file i had them in is (once more) corrupt and i would 
>>appreciate it if someone mailed them to me :-)
>
>If you don't get all that you need from Dilwyn, I had a number of 
>utilities that came with "The Shell" and some that did not (some from 
>C68).  I can zip them up and e-mail them to you.
>
>BTW, I did an article a while back on Unixifying the QL and it covers a 
>bunch of things like "The Shell".  Check my web page for it 
>(www.geocities.com/svenqhj/).
Thanks Tim,
I had them from you originally :-)
I also noticed that the last Shell was 1.10 and the one with C68 is 1.09... 
Do you have that too?
I will need the RKUtils plus some other ones I had in the same archive... 
(ls etc.)

BTW: Your article link on your page points to: 
http://www.geocities.com/svenqhj/unit.txt instead of the correct: 
http://www.geocities.com/svenqhj/unix.txt (Just typed an x instead of a t 
and I was lucky :-)

Phoebus

[ql-users] The Shell's utilities

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
I was wondering if any one has "The Shell"'s accompanying utilities 
available. The zip file i had them in is (once more) corrupt and i would 
appreciate it if someone mailed them to me :-)

Thanks,



Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] The Next Step...

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 12:14 ðì 20/4/2002, you wrote:

>On Fri, 19 Apr 2002, Timothy Swenson wrote:
>
> > With all that said, I'm still a big fan of TURBO as it is FREEWARE.  I'd
> > like to see some more elegant work-arounds to some of the issues, but I'll
> > take what I get.  The combination of TURBO and TurboPTR is the only
> > freeware way to write PE programs in SBasic.
>
>I downloaded it and all the various files, and I have them in the qxl.win
>"drive".
>
>Seeing the problems of unzipping them using winzip and losing the headers,
>I have two questions...
>
>One, how do I unzip something and keep the headers.
>
>Two, is there a utility like the Linux RAWRITE utility that would allow
>someone to distribute disk images and have them reproduce perfectly at the
>other end? Maybe, if there isn't one, someone could find a simple way to
>make a disk image that RAWRITE can use?
>
>Fun. Joy!
>
>Dave


Dave gimme a call :-)
I'll tell you all there is :-)

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] The Next Step...

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 11:56 ìì 19/4/2002, Tim Swenson wrote:

>
>>Actually equivalent Sbasic code generated by Turbo is faster by a factor 
>>of almost 15% or so (in tests I run) over QLiberator.
>>Turbo has other problems though like parameter passing...
>
>TURBO does have more constraints than does Qlib.  Qlib allows linking in 
>of extensions (TURBO does not).  Qlib allows for keywords not loaded in an 
>extension, if the code never hits that section (TURBO complains at runtime 
>about a keyword not being available even if that section of the code is 
>never executed).  There are other examples out there.  I find that TURBO 
>feels a bit more constricting that Qlib.

I don't see that really to be a problem. However I remember reading 
somewhere about George wanting to solve this. It's like not loading 
QLib_run! The thing is that Turbo being around for so long (from the time 
of Supercharge) it has an impressive amount of code templates that do the 
trick. And George updates it extremely often. What was the last time 
Q-Liberator was updated? Additionally being restrictive in some aspects I 
believe that is a feature. By being very strict programmers are forced to 
write "clean" programs (Not that dirty tricks aren't possible of course... 
you can still call machine code ;-) or mess with the Memory :-). And now 
with full GD2 support it's a clear choice.

>With all that said, I'm still a big fan of TURBO as it is FREEWARE.  I'd 
>like to see some more elegant work-arounds to some of the issues, but I'll 
>take what I get.  The combination of TURBO and TurboPTR is the only 
>freeware way to write PE programs in SBasic.

Well in a little bit EasyPTR too :-) (At least that's what I gather :-))



Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Wee_Haa... Got a QXL!

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 09:20 ìì 19/4/2002, you wrote:

>On Fri, 19 Apr 2002, Phoebus Dokos wrote:
>
> > > > I have a 20 Giger drive here and it seems pretty stupid to have to
> > > > partition the drive in order to get Win2_
> > >
> > >Well, it just is that stupid.
>
>I think something is getting lost in translation here, so I will try to
>help ;)

Nah... Marcel got it right :-)

I just wanted to have all my .WIN files together and with different names 
(same way I have them with QPC but it is impossible :-(((

>I think Phoebus is asking why we have to format the HD and have the image
>of the QL HD in a file on, for example, a FAT32 filesystem. He seems to
>think it's a big omission that it can't use its own filesystem natively
>on the hard drive.



Nah, wrong again, although a DOSx_ device would certainly be most welcome 
on the QXL...




>Or maybe he means something else.

Yep :-)


>Dave

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Wee_Haa... Got a QXL!

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 08:43 ìì 19/4/2002, you wrote:
>At 08:26 ìì 19/4/2002, you wrote:
>
>>Phoebus Dokos wrote:
>> > Yes I know that (and I did), but I was asking if you can assign a .win 
>> file
>> > (any QXL.WIN file, regardless of filename or disk - a la QPC :-).
>>
>>Well, you can try the ASSIGN command under DOS. Don't know about
>>Windows (but a QXL and Windows is no good combination anyway).

Assign doesn't work well with DR-DOS... (When using a FAT-32 driver which 
is hmmm somewhat beta (that's an understatement!)) - Can't do otherwise I 
have BeOS, DR-DOS and Windoze on the same machine... Yep I call it the 
wife's machine but that's only to keep her happy... It's the testbed ;-)

Re: [ql-users] Wee_Haa... Got a QXL!

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 08:26 ìì 19/4/2002, you wrote:

>Phoebus Dokos wrote:
> > Yes I know that (and I did), but I was asking if you can assign a .win file
> > (any QXL.WIN file, regardless of filename or disk - a la QPC :-).
>
>Well, you can try the ASSIGN command under DOS. Don't know about
>Windows (but a QXL and Windows is no good combination anyway).
>
> > I have a 20 Giger drive here and it seems pretty stupid to have to
> > partition the drive in order to get Win2_
>
>Well, it just is that stupid.
>
>Marcel

hey I am sorry to say it is stupid but the blame is all on you Marcel! With 
QPC 2 you made us get used to little niceties like that :-)))

So YOUR FAULT :-))

Hehe,


(Fighting amongst a house plentiful of QLs right now)
Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] gccDhrystone 2.1

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 08:25 ìì 19/4/2002, you wrote:

>Phoebus Dokos wrote:
> > Is that possible?
>
>Hard to say, my database is not based in GCC compiled binaries, but
>once can take a rough factor of 1.3 to 1.33 between C68/GCC and
>according to that it should be 25000-25500 i/s for an Athlon 750
>(Thunderbird, that is).
>
>For some reason I don't have any QXL values in my database, but
>according to http://sol.spaceports.com/~vader/text/bench.htm it's
>
>QXL 20MHz
>Dhrystone  6578 Dhrystones/Sekunde
>Bogomips 9,58 Bogomips
>
>QXL2 25MHz
>Dhrystone 8620 Dhrystones/Sekunde
>Bogomips 13.42 Bogomips

It's @ 25 MHz


Also the Dhrystone figures (Me thinks) are with the previous version of 
Dhrystone.

This is the 2.1 one :-) (Thierry says IIRC that's it's 33% faster)

>This is a lot less from your figures, which by the way almost resemble
>the ones of a Q40 (36443) and that shouldn't really be the case. Mind
>you, don't do any tests in a Windows DOS box, the timer rate is all
>wrong there. Also on the QXL there quite some factors that can affect
>the speed pretty much, like the DISP_UPDATE rate (which should be set
>to IIRC 10,10 if you want a fair comparison).

I run it starting with DR-DOS 7.3, however I am going to run some extra 
tests and change the DISP_UPDATE too
I want to be accurate... however it did stun me.
The QSBB benchmark shows the difference in the I/O (visible with the naked 
eye too).
QPC of course beats the QXL (any QXL unless a PCI version materialises, 
-Knowing Dave that's not entirely impossible!-)
by leaps and bounds in disk access and graphics.

It would be extremely interesting to see a QPC version handling all the 
screen, disk I/O and assisting with the FPU and the 68040 doing the raw 
processing :-)Kinda like the QL emulator on the Atari :-)

>According to the figures on the page a K6-III 400 is comparable to the
>QXL. But generally one can say that the QXL has decent power but even
>a much slower QPC usually feels faster because of the better IO
>response.

I agree. Even with a Celeron 400 and only (!) 64Mb QPC does feel faster (is 
indeed though slower in real number crunching operations).
I am going to try and find a full blown 040 and also to push it up a tad to 
see what gives :-)) (Yeah I know! Speed freak!).

One thing I did not try though is to test with QSBB and QL colours option. 
Also it would be interesting to measure QPC 2 v.3... Off I am to download 
the demo :-)

Phoebus

>Marcel
>
>
>
>---
>Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Ôï åéóåñ÷üìåíï ìÞíõìá åßíáé 
>åëåýèåñï éþí.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.350 / Virus Database: 196 - Release Date: 17/4/2002

Re: [ql-users] Wee_Haa... Got a QXL!

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 07:58 ìì 19/4/2002, you wrote:

>Phoebus Dokos wrote:
> > I was wondering if anyone knows (Marcel probably :-) how you can attach
> > other QXL.WIN files apart from the one you can make.
>
>Put WIN1 in C:\QXL.WIN, WIN2 in D:\QXL.WIN etc.

Yes I know that (and I did), but I was asking if you can assign a .win file 
(any QXL.WIN file, regardless of filename or disk - a la QPC :-).
I have a 20 Giger drive here and it seems pretty stupid to have to 
partition the drive in order to get Win2_


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Language Switching, TRA etc..

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 07:56 ìì 19/4/2002, you wrote:

>Phoebus Dokos wrote:
> > So there's no hotkey transparent switching? VERY annoying :-(
>
>Why don't you just define one?
>
>Marcel
>

Because I assume it will have to switch from whatever you're doing to 
S*Basic, load the keyboard_table, do the appropriate tra and then return 
back... how are you going to return back to the application if you don't 
know who called it?

The only (reasonable) way I see it possible to be done with a thing, but I 
am the wrong person to do it :-)

The other way is to trap all keystrokes... (Not very effective).

The problem with a language like mine that you get a lot of mixed English 
with Greek which makes fast switching imperative. The hotkey method is not 
really effective and deters you from actually being able to type. You may 
not see it the point because of the latin characters that you are using but 
I am and it's not funny.
I wish I had the greek rom right now. This was modified to accept the 
standard (at the time) combination CTRL-ALT-F1 (English), CTRL-ALT-F2 
(Greek). All messages were in Greek and the keyboard was totally switchable...


Phoebus

P.S. I remind you that I don't have an SMSQ/E manual so whatever I know 
about hotkeys etc... have been learned through practice and trial and 
error... That's why my assumptions might (which I hope they are) wrong.



>---
>Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Ôï åéóåñ÷üìåíï ìÞíõìá åßíáé 
>åëåýèåñï éþí.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.350 / Virus Database: 196 - Release Date: 17/4/2002

Re: [ql-users] The Next Step...

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 06:44 ìì 19/4/2002, you wrote:

>For SBASIC programming, best start is TURBO, which is now freeware.  It's not
>quite as powerfull as Qliberator, but you can get it online (check Dilwyn's
>web site) with manuals and a number of extra tools including TurboPTR, a tool
>for creating Pointer Environment programs with TURBO.

"Powerful" is in the eye of the be(er)holder :-)

Actually equivalent Sbasic code generated by Turbo is faster by a factor of 
almost 15% or so (in tests I run) over QLiberator.
Turbo has other problems though like parameter passing...

(I usually force feed them in a place in memory and then grab em from there 
:-) Presto! problem solved although not elegantly I should say :-)

Phoebus

[ql-users] gccDhrystone 2.1

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
being that I just received my QXL I went ahead and used a Thierry's 
Dhrystone (gcc compiled) 2.1 to compare my 25MHz QXL w/8 Mb. with QPC 
v.2.03 running on an Athlon 750 / 512 Meg. Ram

The results are kind of stunning:
I set it for 500 runs


Here goes:

QPC

OS: SMSQ/E 2.99

ìsec per run:  42.2
Dhrystones/sec: 23692.2
VAX MIPS:  13.484


QXL
OS: SMSQ/E 2.91 (It was 2.91 after all :-)

ìsec per run:  30.2
Dhrystones/sec: 33108.2
VAX MIPS:  18.844 


Is that possible?

Also Turbo 4.15 really shows its quality on a real 68K processor (Marcel 
uses a lot of accelerating code so you can't really judge S*Basic from 
compiled - Small differences only-
It gave me an improvement on QSBB_BAS (Not the best test I know) of over 
45%!!! (Except print that relies heavily on the host)


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Wee_Haa... Got a QXL!

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 03:15 ìì 19/4/2002, I wrote:
>Hey all,
>I was wondering if anyone knows (Marcel probably :-) how you can attach 
>other QXL.WIN files apart from the one you can make.
>I have SMSQ/E 2.91 with the QXL btw :-) (So does Dave ;-) Many thanks to 
>Wolfgang


Make that 2.85 :-) It just said 2.91 but when I used MenuConfig it said 
2.85 so unless 2.91 hasn't the version right in its config block

Phoebus

[ql-users] Wee_Haa... Got a QXL!

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hey all,
I was wondering if anyone knows (Marcel probably :-) how you can attach 
other QXL.WIN files apart from the one you can make.
I have SMSQ/E 2.91 with the QXL btw :-) (So does Dave ;-) Many thanks to 
Wolfgang

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Language Switching, TRA etc..

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 01:34 ìì 19/4/2002, you wrote:

>Wolfgang Uhlig wrote:
> > As far as I know there are only three keyboard layouts which you can 
> choose by typing
> > "kbd_table countrycode"
> > for example: kbd_table 49 is German, 44 English and 33 French
>
>There's a separate table for the US. One can btw also specify a
>string, like 'd' for German, 'uk' for the UK etc.
>
>Marcel
>

So there's no hotkey transparent switching? VERY annoying :-(


>---
>Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Ôï åéóåñ÷üìåíï ìÞíõìá åßíáé 
>åëåýèåñï éþí.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.350 / Virus Database: 196 - Release Date: 17/4/2002

[ql-users] Language Switching, TRA etc..

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
since I don't have the SMSQ/E manual, I would like someone (non 
British/American) to tell me how keyboard layout switching is performed (if 
it can be performed) on SMSQ/E. For example if you are typing in English 
and want to switch say in German or Norwegian what do you do? Is there any 
key combination like in Windows for example (ALT-SHIFT or CTRL-ALT-F1/F2) 
that switches to and from the layout enabling at the same time the dead 
keys for accents etc or you just have to use key combinations to do that? 
(Eg. CTRL-3)

I know that the TRA command switches to your appropriate layout but is it 
possible to switch to a dual layout? Eg. normal english (QWERTY) and french 
AZERTY.

I realize that for many of you that is not a problem as the main alphabet 
is latin so just the introduction of dead keys would be enough but for me 
(Greek) it's mandatory (too many keys to remember in CTRL sequences).

Thanks,


Phoebus

P.S. I have an article by TT here on IQLR containing a listing for language 
tables, messages etc. Does anyone have it typed in? (I know I am lazy ;-)

Re:[ql-users] More on QL hardware?

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 02:13 ìì 18/4/2002, The DaveMAN wrote:

>On Thu, 18 Apr 2002, Phoebus Dokos wrote:
>
> > http://www.pc-extras.com/prods/adcgav.html
>
>The connector shown does not convert the signal from CGA to VGA - it only
>converts the conenctor from a CGA-style 9-pin socket to a VGA+-style
>15-pin socket.

Actually it just lists the pinouts doesn't say anything about just being a 
thru port...
In any case just to clarify the issue, i sent them an email :-)

On another notice! Dammit now that I was gathering the necessary funds to 
buy a Q60, Adobe goes and releases Photoshop 7. Their audacity is without 
precedent... a mumblings of a mad Greek... just disregard it.


Phoebus (Spammers of the world unite!)

P.S. Dave email me privately pls.

[ql-users] Third and final (from now) stupid hardware question...

[Phoebus Dokos]

I was wondering if something like the inverse of what was to be the QXLGold 
could be constructed in order to connect a QXL to a regular QL bus

Just a wild question!

Phoebus

Re:[ql-users] More on QL hardware?

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 01:44 ìì 18/4/2002, you wrote:

>On 18/04/02 at 11:46 Phoebus Dokos wrote:
>
> >>Where can you get the CGA-VGA adapter?
>
> >Here
> >http://www.pc-extras.com/prods/adcgav.html
>
>Ah, don't bother. It only adapts signal levels - will not work unless the
>multisynch monitor supports low synch frequency...
>
>Nasta

Hmmm, that's what happens whenever you are tired :-) I didn't see that 
(maybe I didn't bother to look even)

Phoebus



>---
>Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Ôï åéóåñ÷üìåíï ìÞíõìá åßíáé 
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[ql-users] Manual and smsq(/e) for QXL

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
where can I find a QXL manual and SMSQ (/e) for it? Is it still on sale etc?

Phoebus

Re:[ql-users] More on QL hardware?

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 09:51 ðì 18/4/2002, Al Feng wrote:

>Yes, the US QL can be used with a CGA monitor; BUT, one line's signal 
>needs to be inverted -- others who are more technically inclined can 
>hopefully elaborate.
>
>An older, NEC EGA-multisync monitor _can_ be hooked up to a QL, but my 
>recollection is that the equivalent image is less than full screen; BUT, 
>exceptionally crisp.
>
>Presumably, the QL image when projected on a VGA monitor will be 
>equivalent to the SMSQ's "standard" reduced screen display.
>
>Where can you get the CGA-VGA adapter?
>
>Al

Easy :-)

Here

http://www.pc-extras.com/prods/adcgav.html

Re: [ql-users] Another stupid question.... re Floppies

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 11:29 ìì 17/4/2002, you wrote:

>On 18/04/02 at 00:04 Dexter wrote:
>
> >> It is all explained in Keith Mitchell's hardware docs. Every other line
> >> in the ribbon is an earth. By twisting lines 10 through 13 you are
> >> swapping the drive 0 with the drive one signal with the earth line as a
> >> pivot. Quite what the PC one does is not clear.
>
> >As I understand it, there are two drive select lines, allowing selection
> >of one from 4 drives, so on a PC cable they flip those, and their grounds.
>
>Actually, originally the shugart standard (inherited from 8" drives) had 4
>drive selects and one motor on signal. When drives still had jumpers, you
>could choose which one of the 4 selects to use, and wether drive select
>also implies motor on, motor on is only alowed on a selected drive, or the
>drive will turn on the motor when the motor on signal is active, regardless
>of select signals.
>
>On the PC the drive was jumpered to use select 1. There are two motor on
>and two drive select signals, but they are set to the actual 4 signal pins
>of the standard, and actual selection has to be handled by twisting the
>cable because that way the correct select and motor on appear where the
>drive expects them.

Hmm so two drives can work simultaneously (theoretically?) Wouldn't that 
affect the data transmission?... IIRC there's no way to distinguish where 
the data is coming from on the Shugart I/F

>These days drives do not have jumpers any more. there are two selects and
>two motor on's, the correct combinatiopn is achieved using a twist in the
>wire (the unused select and motor on end up on unused pins on the drive,
>that once used to be select 2, 3, 4).

So theoretically with the right twist you can access the drives even if 
they are prejumpered for DS1 right? (which brings me back to these IBM ED 
drives we talked about a while ago).
BTW: Nasta as it getting a little late and I am kinda lazy (what else is 
new?) I am telling you here, that when you fix the QubIDE, send it directly 
to Dave so he can have it for his testing until he finishes the project. 
Mine is working fine now anyway (despite the little cable) so no problem - 
Unless you and Dave already covered that aspect.

>The twist for miracle drives may actually be for SGC, so you can use the
>right angle connector for drive 1 and 2 instead of 3 and 4.

It worked the same with the Trump card IIRC...

Phoebus

RE: [ql-users] Psion Chess

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 08:31 ìì 17/4/2002, you wrote:

> > Not the Qemulator though ;-) HINT HINT HINT (The site is down)
>
>Yahoo deleted the site, I have no idea why.
>Daniele

In any case does the registration.exe's info still stand?

Phoebus

[ql-users] More on QL hardware?

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hello again,
here's stupid question no. 2.
Since I don't remember its specs but I do remember that most multisync 
monitors cannot go low enough for the QL to output on them...
Is the QL compatible with CGA monitors (or was that only TTL and not Analog?)

If it is I just found a nice adapter from CGA to VGA that could take care 
of the rest (and for under 5 dollars too :-)


Phoebus

RE: [ql-users] Psion Chess

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 08:16 ìì 17/4/2002, you wrote:

> > But I don't know whether there is still a copyright or not?
>
>I remember there was a web site with images of the PC (DOS) version of Psion
>Chess. The site claimed that Psion gave permission to use them for non
>commercial purposes (while still retaining the copyright).
>If the PC version is freely available, I guess the QL one should be too.
>Just a guess.
>The Spectrum version of Psion Chess can be found on the web, too.
>
>Daniele
>

Not the Qemulator though ;-) HINT HINT HINT (The site is down)

Phoebus

[ql-users] QCDEZE

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
thanks to extreme promptness by Duncan Neithercourt, QCDEZE now works with 
the Aurora/SMSQ/E 2.91. (BTW: Great Icons :-)

A quick test result.

Copy of a713 Mb QXL.WIN from CD to the HDD in under 16 minutes (15,29 to be 
exact) :-) That's a really great result with QubIDE and (only) an SGC!

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] US QL specs... (and problems ;-)

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 07:05 ìì 17/4/2002, Hohn Impellizzeri wrote:

>
>It's been awhile and I'd have to haul out an old QL and a 'scope to verify
>it but I think the composite signal had all the components it was just
>output at the wrong levels and most monitors can't tolerate the signal being
>that far out of spec.  Can you get a color display using a television set
>connected to the RF modulator?  If so you might have better luck connecting
>a composite monitor to the composite input pin on the modulator and
>disconnecting the modulator if you don't use it.  I seem to recall the
>signal was a little closer to "proper" here than it was at the DIN-8 jack on
>the back.

That was my second choice. That was the solution I used with my Spectrum 
too... Just trying to avoid it for now...
Anyway the QL will not be in it's proper case for long as once I am done 
copying the microdrive cartridges, I will remove the board and replace it 
with SGC/QubIDE/Aurora

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Thierry's CD ROM extensions and QDOS

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 06:22 ìì 17/4/2002,I wrote:

>>Mind you someone reported at Manchester that Xchange does not work
>>loaded from RomDisq in his system (SGC) but does with GC.
>>He gets a crash with creeping screen drawing from bottom.
>>Most odd, as mine does work from RD with all hardware.
>>Anyone else seen similar oddities.
>
>Creeping screen is either an SGC not plugged all the way through or the 
>RomDisq not plugged all the way in... Every time mine does something like 
>this it's my fault not the RomDisq's. XCHANGE works great with both a 
>standard QL (tried it yesterday) with a SGC (yeah I overcame my fear of 
>soldering/de soldering although I NEED a new soldering iron) or TRL delta 
>disk OR my Aurora/SGC

I have to point out here that for peripheral operational stability and 
predictability, Aurora and RomDisq are my top picks. These are the only 
ones that performed flawlessly every single time...
The SGC and even the Trump Card, Expanderam etc have lots of quirks, are 
generally unstable (although 2.49 SGC is extremely stable).

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Thierry's CD ROM extensions and QDOS

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 06:01 ìì 17/4/2002, you wrote:


>Mind you someone reported at Manchester that Xchange does not work
>loaded from RomDisq in his system (SGC) but does with GC.
>He gets a crash with creeping screen drawing from bottom.
>Most odd, as mine does work from RD with all hardware.
>Anyone else seen similar oddities.

Creeping screen is either an SGC not plugged all the way through or the 
RomDisq not plugged all the way in... Every time mine does something like 
this it's my fault not the RomDisq's. XCHANGE works great with both a 
standard QL (tried it yesterday) with a SGC or TRL delta disk OR my Aurora/SGC

Phoebus

(I guess it has something to do with timings)

[ql-users] Another stupid question.... re Floppies

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hmmm can someone tell me why the twist on the floppy cable for Miracle fdd 
cables consists of 3 signals only unlike the one used on the PC?

Believe it or not, I just noticed! Well better late than never :-)

Is it like that with every FDD controller used on the QL or there are some 
with the PC standard?

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Thierry's CD ROM extensions and QDOS

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 04:03 ìì 17/4/2002, Claus wrote:

>On Wed, 17 Apr 2002 02:41:28 -0400
>Phoebus Dokos <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
> > has anyone tried yet to use Thierry's ATAPI/CD ROM extensions under QDOS?
> > Does it require the THING_rext extension?
> >
> > Phoebus
>
>IIRC it does not and it even was discussed here in the list why.
>But I have forgotten,
>
>Claus

That's what I figured...
However it is interesting that if you use ther ROMx feature of Romdisq, 
regardless of your OS it DOES load! (So you only have to load the CDROM_bin 
driver from your boot file after booting in SMSQ/E. If on the other hand 
try to load it from QDOS it fails :-) WEIRD! I wonder what alchemy TT, TF 
and SH performed in that Romdisq code :-) H SH? (superHermes or 
stuartHONEYBALL? Interesting)

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Psion Chess

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 12:20 ìì 17/4/2002, Malcolm wrote:

>It also works fine in hi-colour mode at any resolution using the 
>QPC_QLSCREMU command.

IF you have QPC 2 v.3.x :-) hehe

Phoebus

(Does work right in "QL Colours" with v.2.x too tho )

[ql-users] Thierry's CD ROM extensions and QDOS

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
has anyone tried yet to use Thierry's ATAPI/CD ROM extensions under QDOS? 
Does it require the THING_rext extension?

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] lost qpac settings

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 03:22 ðì 17/4/2002, you wrote:

>Ok , Its what I do , today.
>
>Can PROG_USE contain more places than one ? or is there any other $PATH
>like variable ?

There are two extensions that create devices called PTH (path) and DEV 
(device) which will do the trick... albeit not as good of elegant as DOS or 
Un*x (I personally prefer the DOS style of paths... really easy to use... 
and one of the few things that don't require you to reboot the system every 
time you change it!)

IIRC The Shell (in the C68 Distro.) can accept a path statement as well...


Phoebus

[ql-users] Software wanted :-)

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi All,
now that my QL is up and running (even without the cover!) I am trying to 
recover some of my programs that are dead (microcartridges DO go bad and so 
do DD 5 1/4" disks formatted as Quad Density -I know I should have used the 
Quad Disks that I was selling but they were expensive! :-)

Specifically I am searching apart from the ones that I mentioned on a 
previous email the following:

Sandy CP/Mulator (Have the Rom, Manual but DOA disk)
Eidersoft's Citadel (Dead CITA_CDE file... of course the largest :-) just 
my luck)
Cuthbert in Space (The tape is cut :- )
The Pawn (I have that on a ZIP-interpreter compatible format but I would 
like to get back the original - my cartridge is dead again)
Psion Chess and Matchpoint (Both tapes DOA)


Anyone has one or more of those?  I can provide you with the original 
cartridge or (if you are a little patient until I go to Greece) with the 
purchase receipt! (To prove I am legit that is :-)))


Also I would be very much interested in buying any kind of ROM based 
toolkit/software etc...



Phoebus

[ql-users] US QL specs... (and problems ;-)

[Phoebus Dokos]

Am I right to assume that the US QLs do not generate a "proper" (US spec 
that is) Composite video signal?
I tried GND and where in the manual says PAL (which I assumed would be NTSC 
for the US but since I don't have a US manual I don't know!) but the only 
place I can get the QL to output composite video signal is on the 
Monochrome... Any Ideas?


Also my mdv1_ appears to be dead (Starts and stops but gives a "not found" 
when you try to do anything with it

Finally the sH lite is IMPOSSIBLE to work with an unmodified US QL as when 
the case is closed the extra thick metal on the keyboard sits on the sH's 
board and shorts something (non destructible thank God!)

So until I cut that piece out... it's a "see through" QL...


Phoebus

P.S. Anybody has spare Empty Care Rom cartridges (board and cover). (Tony?) 
I have accumulated A LOT of ROMS over the years and I would like instead of 
pulling off chips (with the great possibility of destroying them) to be 
able to use them :-)

Re: [ql-users] lost qpac settings

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 02:58 ðì 17/4/2002, Michael Grunditz wrote:

>Is it best to keep "all" utils in the same place ,directory ?
>
>/Michael

I personally believe it's a good idea to try to keep them separate 
according to type... Less clutter...

The filing facilities of SMSQ/E - QDOS are really limited and directory 
listing is even worse so if you don't have "The Shell" that allows * and 
other wildcards like ? you will be lost if you don't categorise them a 
little

My two cents :-)


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Latest SGC SMSQ/E???

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 07:23 ìì 16/4/2002, you wrote:

>In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Phoebus 
>Dokos <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
>>Hi all,
>>I asked a little while back for info on which is the latest SMSQ/E for 
>>the SGC Does anyone know?
>Difficult question. 2.99 was released but failed with the Minerva ROM in 
>place and previous versions had problems with DD disks. Most people would 
>not find this a problem but I have to update these disks so I need it to 
>work. I am using 2.95 still.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a problem with some programs compiled with 
QLiberator and SMSQ/E v. 2.91 to 2.98 (ie. I have trouble running Duncan's 
QCDEZE which btw: doesn't run on his Qx0 either if SMSQ/E is <2.98b)

I experienced the same problem with other programs as well and given that I 
don't use DD disks I don't see a problem using it :-)


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] SMS/QDOS Repository "survey"

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 05:50 ìì 16/4/2002, Rich Mellor wrote:

>OOh, Phoebus, this is now approaching seriously dodgy ground.  I have 
>various updates of the old software I can provide which enable them to 
>work from disk. See my web-site for details - 
>http://hometown.aol.co.uk/rwapsoftware/updates.html
>
>However. copyright is a problem - it is protected in the UK up until 50 
>years after the death of the author.  I am sure many of the companies even 
>if they were still around would be uncertain whether they or the original 
>author had the copyright, so this is a problem.  Who do you ask for details.
>
>I know Alan Sugar has been trying to get hold of ex-Spectrum software 
>authors to enable him to sell their games again over the internet for use 
>on his em@iler machine.  Guess he has had just as many problems.
>
>It was for this reason that I only supply the updates to people with the 
>original microdrive cartridges.
>
>BTW, what is : Josiah Oobadiah - some game I've never heard of??

That's exactly why I am asking for info before going on and putting them on 
the web :-) However there is a "workaround" provided there is a clearly 
stated disclaimer that says that use of this software by people that do not 
own it legally is an offense. (See for example MAME rom sites).

That was point no. 1.
Secondly, most of this software is unable to run on modern or even slighly 
expanded QL systems which makes it just a backup for an old machine and not 
something you can use with emulators (although someone could tinker the code).

The versions I propose to put up will be the original ones with copy 
protection intact (where applicable).
I do legally own (through original purchases, from eBay or other sources 
(gifts, etc). everything I have "imaged" already.
The situation I want to remedy though is the inability to repair a dead 
program once the original cartridge or disk is dead...

For example I bought back in the day, Karate, Sandy CP/Mulator, Spook, 
Hyperdrive... etc. All these are dead and I can't resurrect them. It is 
impossible for me to find them anywhere (and I do enjoy them you know) and 
if I get them from somewhere to replace my original cartridges disks I will 
not be breaking any laws... The same is true I think for most QL users (in 
any case our software is not expensive - not to the point of MS price craze 
that is :-).

However the implications could be serious and that's exactly why I ask for 
information...


Phoebus

P.S. I found about 3 years ago Janko Mrsic Flögel who gave me permission to 
distribute his games for free  (Zapper etc..) I just need to find the 
email... This talk reminded me of that :-)

Re: [ql-users] SMS/QDOS Repository "survey"

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 06:00 ìì 16/4/2002, you wrote:

> >BTW, what is : Josiah Oobadiah - some game I've never heard of??
> >
> >Rich Mellor


An Arkanoid clone (and pretty good too) to be precise :-)


Phoebus

[ql-users] Latest SGC SMSQ/E???

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
I asked a little while back for info on which is the latest SMSQ/E for the 
SGC Does anyone know?


Phoebus

[ql-users] SMS/QDOS Repository "survey"

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi All,
I intend to put on the repository additional software like for example 
Microdrive based games (eg. Steve Davies Snooker, Bounder, BJ, Quboids etc...)
in order to preserve as much QL software as possible.
If anyone has any information on games / software (apart from the ones we 
know like RWAP's re-issues) that is STILL protected by copyright (or not) I 
would like him to contact me and pass that info on :-)

Also I would like to include as many ROM images from cartridges as possible 
provided they are not copyright protected still. I already started creating 
the archive and I would appreciate info and titles so it can be as complete 
as possible.

I already have images of the following ROMs (TK2 won't be on of course ;-)

TK2
ICE
Sandy CPMulator
Speedscreen (I need to contact Simon for permission on that)
TKIII (although not working)
Digital C

and the following games:

Bounder
Quboids
Chess
Steve Davies Snooker
Josiah Oobadiah



Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] THING questions

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 02:15 ìì 16/4/2002, Timothy Swenson wrote:

>
>Tim Swenson

IIRC all these are explained in the QDOS/SMS Reference Manual... I'll look 
into it and tell you

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] [OT] Joke (Short)

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 12:33 ìì 16/4/2002, Tony Firshman (manually edited,,, THERE) wrote:

>On  Tue, 16 Apr 2002 at 15:41:01, Norman Dunbar wrote:
>(ref: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>)
>
> >So did Douglas :o)
>Whoops - who was 'Richard' I wonder (8-)#

The one that couldn't apparently :-

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] smsq.free.fr OOOPPPSSS

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 10:26 ðì 16/4/2002, you wrote:

>yes me, it is ok, it is a pity not having back also
>q60linux.free.fr !

I think that Richard has something along these lines?
Claus also can definitely point you to it

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] smsq.free.fr OOOPPPSSS

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
Did anyone try to access the SMS repository yet? (Oh I know I am too lazy 
to read my stats ;-)


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] [OT] Joke (Short)

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 09:07 ðì 16/4/2002, you wrote:

>I thought I'd share this one with you all - seeing as how there is no
>Assembler Tutorial in the latest QL Taody.
>
>There are 10 kinds of people in this world -
>Those who understand binary, and those who don't !!

Good One! :-) Although given my recent experience I would phrase it:

...11 kinds of people, those who understand binary, those who understand 
decimal and Phoebus who does neither ;-)

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] smsq.free.fr OOOPPPSSS

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 09:38 ìì 15/4/2002, Dilwyn Jones wrote:
>At 08:30 ìì 15/4/2002, Me, myself and I wrote:
>>At 04:44 ìì 15/4/2002, Dilwyn Jones wrote:
>>
>>>Yes please! I'd even take a copy on CD of the whole lot if my cheek
>>>doesn't offend you! I have received QCDEZE from Duncan this weekend so
>>>can (privately) email this to you if you wish.

Well in any case you still want it I can send you a CD of it :-)
As for QCDEZE, Duncan has sent me his software already to test it on the 
Aurora :-)

Phoebus

P.S. I do have an almost full complement of Aurora Mode 256 and Mode 16 
commands/procedures ready - Currently compiled with Turbo and turned into 
extensions- which include:

Aur_CLS (Well obvious ain't it?)
Aur_SCRXLIM% and
Aur_SCRYLIM% functions
Aur_Mode (mode) - Accepts 4, 8, 16 and 256
Aur_Point (x,y,colour) - An absolute coordinates point command
Aur_Line (x,y,x1,y1, colour,[thickness]) - An absolute coordinates line 
command with optional thickness (or antialiasing if passing -1 into thickness)
Aur_Circle (x,y,radius) - Same as above with circles.

Next will be Aur_Block, Aur_Arc, Aur_Ellipse, Aur_Rect, Aur_Triang, 
Aur_Poly and last
Aur_Print (x,y,string$, colour, [mode] (Mode being 0 -the default- for x,y 
being the columns/rows and 1 for x and y being pixel coordinates)

That's all for now,


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] smsq.free.fr OOOPPPSSS

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 08:30 ìì 15/4/2002, Me, myself and I wrote:
>At 04:44 ìì 15/4/2002, Dilwyn Jones wrote:
>
>>Yes please! I'd even take a copy on CD of the whole lot if my cheek
>>doesn't offend you! I have received QCDEZE from Duncan this weekend so
>>can (privately) email this to you if you wish.
>
>I will upload it (doing it now) on: www.dokos-gr.net/dj/ This is actually 
>reserved to hold your mirror (until you decide to change the link in your 
>website :-)) HINT HINT HINT


The link is actually www.dokos-gr.net/~dj/

There :-)

Phoebus...

Still uploading...

Re: [ql-users] smsq.free.fr

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 04:44 ìì 15/4/2002, Dilwyn Jones wrote:

>Yes please! I'd even take a copy on CD of the whole lot if my cheek
>doesn't offend you! I have received QCDEZE from Duncan this weekend so
>can (privately) email this to you if you wish.

I will upload it (doing it now) on: www.dokos-gr.net/dj/ This is actually 
reserved to hold your mirror (until you decide to change the link in your 
website :-)) HINT HINT HINT

Phoebus

[ql-users] smsq.free.fr

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi All,
I remind anyone interested that I do have a saved copy of Thierry's 
smsq.free.fr website before free.fr destroyed it all...
Unfortunately it doesn't include QCDEZE and a couple updates Thierry did to 
it after I "snatched" it.

Anyone interested, please send me an email so I can send you its index file 
(in html format)


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] CF Hot Removable adapters

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 10:44 ìì 14/4/2002, Dave wrote:

>On Sun, 14 Apr 2002, Phoebus Dokos wrote:
>
> > Yep but I said readers didn't I The specs of the readers I am selling
> > say up to 33 Mbps :-)
>
>Well, yes and no.
>
>The readers are passive, and some CF media support ATA-66, and while these
>CF readers aren't designed for ATA-66, a new version of RomDisq that uses
>CF media instead of traditional flash RAM could take advantage of the
>extra speed ;)
>
> > Yep but not reading my posts thoroughly (Gotcha!) :-)
>
>I don't see why I should put more effort into reading them than you put
>into writing them ;P

I can't win can I?

:-)

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] CF Hot Removable adapters

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 07:53 ìì 14/4/2002, Dave wrote with Dexter(ity):

>On Sun, 14 Apr 2002, Phoebus Dokos wrote:
>
> > The CF readers can go up to 33 Mbps guaranteed and the HDDs well 
> depends on
> > the machine :-) Some up to 133Mbps (like the 80gig Maxtor that I have on
> > the Aurora :-) Guess how long it took to format all the partitions :-)
>
>It's a bit better than that, Phoebus.
>
>A CF card by definition supports three different interfacing modes:

Yep but I said readers didn't I The specs of the readers I am selling 
say up to 33 Mbps :-)


>True IDE mode (uses IORW# and IORD# to access I/O locations)
>PC Card mode (uses IORW# and IORD# to access I/O locations)
>PC Card Memory mode (uses WE# and OE# to access memory locations)
>
>The CF is basically a solid state ATA device where one writes to task file
>registers (see www.t13.org)
>
>See, Phoebus, I've been studying ;P

Yep but not reading my posts thoroughly (Gotcha!) :-)

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] CF Hot Removable adapters

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 06:27 ìì 14/4/2002, Tony Firshman wrote:

>Of course, there is fixed QL processing time here as well.
>This means that the actual physical read from RomDisq is, in percentage
>terms, even better.
>In my measurements, I found RomDisq read at 2mbyte per second.
>What is the physical read speed of CF and HD I wonder?

On a QL or on a PC?
The CF readers can go up to 33 Mbps guaranteed and the HDDs well depends on 
the machine :-) Some up to 133Mbps (like the 80gig Maxtor that I have on 
the Aurora :-) Guess how long it took to format all the partitions :-)

>To test, I copied a 1mb file a 100 times to ramdisk.  To ensure slave
>blocks had minimal effect, I loaded first to ram, and then did
>ALCHP(free_memory - 2000) - or some similar value to 2000 until the
>following would run:
>
>FOR j= 1 to 100:COPY_O rom1_file to ram1_file
> >I will provide the list with more "scientific" results once I perform
> >them (soon I hope :-)
>Above method might be a better way - it eliminates the fixed processing
>time.

Okay good idea,
I'll do it and get back to you :-)

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] CF Hot Removable adapters

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 04:17 ìì 14/4/2002, Bill Waugh wrote:


>- Original Message -
>From: "Tony Firshman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2002 8:26 PM
>Subject: Re: [ql-users] CF Hot Removable adapters
>
>
>On  Sat, 13 Apr 2002 at 02:37:27, Phoebus Dokos wrote:
>(ref: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>)
>
> >At 02:22 ðì 13/4/2002, Tony "The Wizard" Firshman wrote:
> >
> >>On  Fri, 12 Apr 2002 at 21:19:52, Phoebus Dokos wrote:
> >
> >
> >>..., think again Even with
> >> >the fastest card, due to QubIDE restrictions (yep 8 bit bus and all the
> >> >magic Nasta performs in order to make this thing work :-) It is a lot
> >> >slower than the RomDisq.
> >>Phew (8-#
> >
> >Oh I said it many times... by far the RomDisq is the fastest flash
> >drive i've seen  If only there was a larger version... (Say 64 Meg
> >:-)
>Is it possible to maintain RomDisq speed using CF media on the RomDisq
>instead of or as well as the flash rom, I,m thinking of maybe flash rom for
>boot up and applications and CF for file storage on one device, ummm perhaps
>this is re-inventing a spare wheel, don't see the need for more expensive
>flash rom when CF media is quite cheap and fairly fast.
>Just the ramblings of a lay user (;-)

Speed comparable to the RomDisq will only be attained by using the superIDE 
interface WITH
a GoldFire card.
It is totally impossible for a standard Qubide equipped SuperGoldCard QL to 
reach these speeds PERIOD!
The only other possibility to reach comparable speeds would be a QubIDE 
with a fairly large amount of
cache memory on board.
Please note here that in General and in comparison with standard hard 
drives, I have found the CF cards to be
extremely close to even the speediest hard drives, the potential of which 
cannot be explored with current QL hardware (including the Qx0s) due to 
transfer speeds to and fro the i/f.'
The overall "feel" of any decent speed compact flash card is that it is a 
lot faster than the hard drive (mainly because of the almost minimal seek 
time).
Additional benefits do include totally quiet operation and extreme 
mechanical stability... in other words throw it against the wall... if it's 
not a Microdrive, chances are nothing's going to happen to it.
Since the CF adaptors are my "babies" I have to tell the truth about 
them... They're fast and furious ;-) but not faster than a RomDisq.
e.g. Boot up time using the RomDisq as opposed to boot up time using a 26x 
64Mb Compact Flash card: (CF specs stored on sH ram so minimal boot time):

Boot file loads the following:

SMSQ/E 2.91
QLiberator runtimes
IPCMouse
QPAC2

Time to boot using a 2 Mb RomDisq (From the F1/F2 prompt till windows set 
up and everything): 12.8 sec. (Cache_off and SCR2EN)
Same thing with a 26x PQI Flash card : 18.3 sec
With a WDC36400 (2 Mb Cache on board): 22.6 sec

I think that this says it all...

I will provide the list with more "scientific" results once I perform them 
(soon I hope :-)

Phoebus

[ql-users] Q-Box

[Phoebus Dokos]

I found this:

http://www.caseoutlet.com/NWPc/default.htm

It's name (really appropriate) is Q-Box... unfortunately it only comes with 
a Mainboard :-(

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Keymap

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 01:44 ðì 13/4/2002, you wrote:


>Hi all,
>
>I don't have a QL manual. Could some kind sole with 30 minutes to spare
>please either scan the keymap or type it out, and email it to me?
>
>I am trying to check my Qeyboard design manually from the membrane I have
>here, and my eyes have given out!
>
>Could the first responder please also post here to say they've done so -
>to save others the effort if someone has helped already.
>
>Greatly appreciated.
>
>Dave
>http://ql.spodmail.com/
>
>

Will send you a printed copy tomorrow :-) Thank Timothy for that :-)

Phoebus


>---
>Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Ôï åéóåñ÷üìåíï ìÞíõìá åßíáé 
>åëåýèåñï éþí.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.346 / Virus Database: 194 - Release Date: 10/4/2002

Re: [ql-users] Keymap

[Phoebus Dokos]

>
>On 13 Apr 2002 at 7:22, Dexter wrote:
>
> > On Sat, 13 Apr 2002, Dexter wrote:
> >
> > > I don't have a QL manual. Could some kind sole with 30
>minutes to spare
> > > please either scan the keymap or type it out, and email
>it to me?
>
>Scanned and sent
>
>Anthony Gordon


in ANY case I am sending you a printed manual (US version) via snail mail...
SO THERE... I'll have the last word already ;-)

Phoebus
(So tired it's not even funny anymore)...
Off to bed :-)

Re: [ql-users] CF Hot Removable adapters

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 02:22 ðì 13/4/2002, Tony "The Wizard" Firshman wrote:

>On  Fri, 12 Apr 2002 at 21:19:52, Phoebus Dokos wrote:


>..., think again Even with
> >the fastest card, due to QubIDE restrictions (yep 8 bit bus and all the
> >magic Nasta performs in order to make this thing work :-) It is a lot
> >slower than the RomDisq.
>Phew (8-#

Oh I said it many times... by far the RomDisq is the fastest flash drive 
i've seen  If only there was a larger version... (Say 64 Meg :-)

> >So far my best combination is the following:
> >
> >Boot off the RomDisq, Win1_ being a Transcend 512Mb Type II CF 26x
> >speed and 32x CD Rom drive... NO floppy (don't need it anyway :-)
> >
> >Hmmm Tony, I think we should bundle the Romdisq and CF adapter / a 128
> >Meg card in order to make a totally portable solution :-)
>(8-)#

I'm serious :-) (Really!)


Phoebus


P.S. Have fun at the AGM (I suppose that's why you're up so early right?)

Re: [ql-users] Keymap

[Phoebus Dokos]

>On Sat, 13 Apr 2002, Dexter wrote:
>
> > I don't have a QL manual. Could some kind sole with 30 minutes to spare
> > please either scan the keymap or type it out, and email it to me?
>
>Gnnn! I'm such a heel. If the shoe was on the other foot, I'd kick myself!
>
>Dave
>
>(sole, geddit?)

Almost :-

Phoebus

[ql-users] CF Hot Removable adapters

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
I now can guarantee that the CF hot removable adapters DO work with both 
SMSQ/E and QDOS with a modified QubIDE... both versions 1.56 and 2.01 were 
tested.
Furthermore, if you only use one type of card if you store the drive 
parameters using the storesh_obj or storei2c_obj you are able to have it 
FULLY removable without the need of starting your Aurora or QL with the 
card plugged in.
Word of caution though...
If you plan on totally replacing a RomDisq, think again Even with the 
fastest card, due to QubIDE restrictions (yep 8 bit bus and all the magic 
Nasta performs in order to make this thing work :-) It is a lot slower than 
the RomDisq.
So far my best combination is the following:

Boot off the RomDisq, Win1_ being a Transcend 512Mb Type II CF 26x speed 
and 32x CD Rom drive... NO floppy (don't need it anyway :-)

Hmmm Tony, I think we should bundle the Romdisq and CF adapter / a 128 Meg 
card in order to make a totally portable solution :-)

BTW: For anyone REALLY wanting to play, I tried the CF powered by a 4.6 V 
li-ion battery and works great! (Extremely short cable though... needs more 
testing to be totally sure on how it behaves)... Now a battery powered QL 
and we're set :-)


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] QXL-Cards

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 03:46 ìì 12/4/2002, Al Feng wrote:


>BTW.  You may want to elaborate as to any OTHER (?) hassles that
>*Europeans* apparently encounter when accepting funds through PayPal
>since it sounds as though you have already made transfers between the US
>& individuals in Europe.
>
>Al
>

Hi Al,
first of all I have two PayPal accounts... one for here and one for Europe...
It didn't use to be like this but for about 6 mos. now, any NON-US 
resident-Paypal user, has to be charged and return the charge authorization 
code. That happens because banking (for the most part) is private 
information (unlike the US) and PayPal has no right to find out your data.
Second is that any international transaction (ANY except between US and 
Canada but this is about to change as well) was until last month subject to 
two fees:

1. The recipient of the money was paying a fee and
2. The sender of the money was paying a fee as well (2,5%)

After VISA became seriously annoyed by this (it's after all illegal to 
charge a credit card holder both in Europe and the US) they did away with 
fee no. 1 and decreased the international transaction fee to 1%.

And for users that don't come from France, the UK or the Netherlands (and 
IIRC Gernany now as well) it is IMPOSSIBLE to receive money unless you have 
a bank account in the US...
Many of these problems were unknown to me unless I started trading with the 
CF adapters...

Phoebus

>Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Ôï åéóåñ÷üìåíï ìÞíõìá åßíáé 
>åëåýèåñï éþí.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.346 / Virus Database: 194 - Release Date: 10/4/2002

Re: [ql-users] QXL-Cards

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 01:38 ìì 12/4/2002, you wrote:

>Hello Wolfgang,
>
>Despite some of the hassles of PayPal, it IS a viable method for
>transferring funds ... there are some limitations [they presume you have
>a bank account and credit card somewhere and ...] AND hassles.
>
>But, the "money" is real ... AND, they will give you (at least, new
>American accounts) a $5.00 bonus for signing up and suffering through the
>process after you complete their registration process.

Al, that is not true for Europeans... only for US residents.. As a matter 
of fact European accounts now get charged an extra 1.92 which they get 
refunded ONLY if they verify their accounts.
Also for people receiving from overseas there is a charge of 1% on the 
total amount... However it is most convenient...

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] QXL-Cards

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 11:54 ðì 12/4/2002, you wrote:

>Hi there,
>I was at the post office and the packed QXLs will go to England for ? 4,75 
>and to
>America for ? 9,50.
>
>I must admit, however, that I have no idea how you could manage to give me 
>the
>money - I have absolutely no experience with abroad money transactions. {%-(
>Do you have an idea??
>Okay boys, come on, do something for such a bargain :-)
>
>Wolfgang

I will mail cash via registered email :-) See my private email.

is that symbol a Euro symbol? (I can't see since my stupid mailer gives me a ?)

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] QubIDE v.2 software

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 09:35 ðì 12/4/2002, you wrote:

>I have a copy I can add to our web-site if you like.
>
>Just a warning, DO NOT TRY TO USE the recycle bin on Aurora - I trashed a 
>few files using this.


Sure put it in the commercial dir :-)

As for the trashcan.obj I had some brushes with it of my own... Roy can 
verified that although it's been a while :-) I managed to totally destroy 
my SMSQ/E file (clever of me to have it only on hard drive :-) Guess I 'll 
never learn :-)

Phoebus

[ql-users] QubIDE v.2 software

[Phoebus Dokos]

Hi all,
does anyone have a copy of the QubIDE 2.0 utilities disk and have enough 
bandwidth to send it to me

I by mistake (that's how I call stupidity these days :-) erased it before I 
kept a copy :-)

Thanks,


Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] Suggestions...

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 11:22 ìì 11/4/2002, you wrote:

>At 02:18 AM 4/11/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>
>>Definitely a must-read :-) Tim is extremely talented in making even the 
>>most complex subjects easy to understand...
>
>Ok, was that $5 or $10 for the glowing remarks. :-)
>
>Tim

Ahhh don't mention it... just send the check this way :-D...

Seriously though, you are REALLY good at it :-) So was the Army (Air 
Force) to blame for that?

Phoebus

Re: [ql-users] QL Forum

[Phoebus Dokos]

At 05:45 ìì 11/4/2002, Tony Firshman, hardware guru extraordinaire, wrote:

 ^   /
How about this---|   better? {:-D
  \


>On  Thu, 11 Apr 2002 at 14:17:54, Phoebus Dokos wrote:
>(ref: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>)
>
> >At 12:15 ìì 8/4/2002, you wrote:
>Who?^
>This is something I got pulled up (rightly) on quite a while back.
>This attribute is fine for personal email, but is not good in a public
>area.  I bet it is configurable - my mailer allows %c character
>substitutions to construct any weird and wonderful attribute you want.
>Mine is very boring but has your name, Phoebus (8-)#

Aside the jokes, I know, but due to a restructuring of my Opera files (due 
to the continuous development of the Greek version), I have reverted to 
using Eudora for the moment (where you have to manually edit the response 
string... or at least I don't know where the heck it can be found)... Will 
you forgive me for just a little longer - I do try to edit them but being 
Greek (and therefore very hasty I forget) ?? (Please please please???:-)


Phoebus

[ql-users] Black Peripherals cases etc...

[Phoebus Dokos]

I found some great black peripherals (including a great case which would be 
ideal for the Q60 here:

http://www.directron.com/blaccom.html

Phoebus