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I just tried a Ralle Pa A2VGA card in one of my Taiwan ][+ clones and while it produces flawless 40 column video when I try PR#3 (cand is in slot 3) it just hangs and I get nothing. So either I don't have the right firmware loaded, the GAL programmed rigjht or my understanding of how this is supposed to work is wrong.. Does 80 column on a ][+ still require an 80 column card and the A2VGA somehow figures out how to decode its frame buffer or am I just completely off?
I'm going to ask Ralle Pa some questions over on FB and see if he can shed some light on it. Open to hearing what anyone else knows or even speculates...
I had to wonder the same but I don't think it would/should work that way, because in the case of a physical 80 col card, isn't [it possible that] the card is producing video output not present on the bus to sniff in the first place? Intersted to hear what you find out!
Also I don't have a lowercase character ROM in this II+, but I do have another II+ with a videx character ROM. I don't know if that would make any difference at all though.
I wonder about the lower case also. I will have to try that. I don't think the ROM installed on the motherboard matters at all. I think it is whatever is in the firmware loaded on the Pico.
These cards cannot read the character ROM on the motherboard or anything from an 80-column card for an Apple II/II+. On my Pravetz 82 though (an Apple II+ clone with a toggle key for Cyrillic/Latin), I discovered that the Vince Briel version of the card works with the Apple IIe firmware, which has Latin lowercase in the firmware. So when I switch to Cyrillic either using Shift or the toggle key, I get lowercase Latin.
Both the uppercase and lowercase fonts can be in this file: https://github.com/markadev/AppleII-VGA/blob/main/pico/textfont_iiplus.c, but for some reason only the Apple IIe firmware has lowercase Latin. However it can be added to the Apple II+ firmware in two ways:
1. By copying it from this file: https://github.com/markadev/AppleII-VGA/blob/main/pico/textfont_iie.c
2. Using this software: https://www.min.at/prinz/o/software/pixelfont/
My guess is that this will also work on other Apple II+ clones that support lowercase or second alphabet.
Ralle sent me another .jed file which I am going to try. Oher than that I have had no luck getting 80 columns on a ][+ using this card. The other thing I am going to try is a couple other ][+ clones and I will also dig a real ][+ out of storage.
Well, I am looking at CP/M running on a Ralle A2VGA card outputting through another one. No 80 coumns though. This is on that same ][+ clone I was using before. I haven't gotten around to trying the new .jed file yet.
Here is that new .jed in case someone has time to try it before I do.
I also need to try the Z80 on a //e and see if I get 80 columns there.
OK, I was able to get CP/M in 80 columns on a //e using two RP A2VGA cards. One in slot 2 in VGA mode and one in slot 4 doing Z80.
So it is just getting 80 columns on a ][+ that isn't working for me at this point. Hopefully over the weekend I will have time to try the new .jed
Nice, but was it without an 80-column card in the AUX slot? I am asking, because with an 80-column card in the AUX slot even the Vince Briel version can do 80-column mode on the Apple IIe. It's the card in the AUX slot that is making it work.
I had an 80 column card in the AUX slot. I know it was using that but I just wanted to make sure CP/M was using 80 columns.
You mind sharing the CP/M version you use, also the Jed file witch works for you and eventually the uf2 file. I have tried using different versions of files but no luck. Thanks in advance
I am using the PCPI CP/M images. The uf2 I am using is the 4ns VGA ones from the zip file posted earlier. I am still using the older .jed
However, I found out today from Ralle that this card doesn't actually emulate an 80 column card like I had been led to believe. It will work with 80 columns for sure on a //e with an 80 column card in the AUX slot, I've verified that. Supposedly it will also work with a Videx card in slot 3 of a ][+. That I have not yet tested, but hopefully will be doing soon.
I had this suspicion after reading the source code.
I don't have a videx on hand but I have a micromax viewmax 80 iirc. I can always throw it in a II+ and see what happens.
No harm in trying, but if this card cannot do 80-column mode without an Apple II/II+ 80-column card, I don't see how it could do it with one. Unlike the Apple IIe, the 80-column cards for the Apple II/II+ have their own video memory + character ROMs and produce their own composite video. They never write it back to the Apple II bus.
I built two of the 1.2 version card and both work with the NOPLD jumper. I haven't programmed any ATF22V10B for these yet because somehow I managed to misplace my Minipro TL866-II and the chips. I have no idea what I did with them. I've been going crazy trying to figure out where I put them. Anyway. I think my old TL866CS will work to program ATF22V10, if not I will have to order another TL866-II I guess. I already ordered some more ATF22V10B chips. I could probably use some of the Lattice GAL 22V10 that I have but those are hard to find now so I am saving them for something that might need them specifically. Anyway, the 1.2 cards work fine for VGA. I don't think I can try them for CP/M until I get the PLDs installed. I have more Picos and Dsub15 connectors ordered so I can complete the other three 1.2 boards I have. I may order some 1.3 boards as well. On the 1.2 boards I verified that the built in POP9 support works, so no need to solder a wire on the back side like the 1.1 boards. I also by Ralle's suggestion left all the diodes except D1 out, he says they aren't needed and he did away with them in 1.3 version. I just hardwired across them. I also just hardwired the fuse because I know these cards will be used with POP9 modified VGA->HDMI adapters, so I don't think the fuse is really needed, it's no different than the added wire in the 1.1 card.
I think the fuse is a very good idea for production. You never know if some cheap VGA cable won't have pin 9 grounded in order to save on shielding and without the fuse the PSU will need repair.
Sure, that's probably true, it is a good safety measure for people who might not be using POP9 for a VGA->HDMI converter like I am. A jumper like was suggested would also work - only enable if you know you need it.
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