Enterprise Forever

:UK => Hardware => Topic started by: gflorez on 2018.October.27. 14:12:42

Title: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2018.October.27. 14:12:42
Hans Tillema, from TMTLogic, commited by Prodatron, is on the final stages of development of  an all in one card for CPC computers named SymbiFace in his third reincarnation.

It will have the following features:

"Do you think there is a demand for this card for the Enterprise?
will cost around € 89

2mb ram
512kb rom flasable
mp3
codec voip
tmtnet
rtc
oled
fat32 usb stick
usb mouse

and more.."

"I have forgotten
wifi
sd card for roms an internal storage"
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: tofro on 2018.October.27. 14:21:39
"Do you think there is a demand for this card for the Enterprise?
will cost around € 89

Now, that's a bit of a silly question with an obvious answer: YES

Tobias
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: weirdocollector on 2018.October.27. 15:38:35
YESYESYESYESYESYESYES!! :)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: szipucsu on 2018.October.27. 20:14:25
Gflorez from Spain, Tofro from Germany, Weirdocollector from Italy. Great to see people here from all over the world.

Is Symbiface the name of the card? My first thought was using Facebook with SymbOS but I don't think it is true. :D
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: geco on 2018.October.27. 20:24:12
Yes :)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2018.October.27. 21:25:41
Simply, if you search "symbiface" on Google you can find a description of the former version, SimbiFace II (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/SYMBiFACE_II).

There wasn't a first version, but something named CPC IDE made by a German developer named DR. ZED aided by CPC users Octoate, TFM and Tolkin.

The SymbiFace II was a modernization of the CPC IDE, committed by Prodatron to DR. ZED.

All the features of the SymbiFace II where implemented on the CPC port of SymbOS, so this time Prodatron will do the same with the added characteristics.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Dr.OG on 2018.October.28. 05:29:13
Will this use the USB-stick as a mass storage device? If so, I'm interested in one, as have still no SD-card interface for my beloved EP...
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: John Fante on 2018.October.28. 05:46:25
The answer is YES :-D
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2018.October.28. 19:08:22
Hans adds this:

"The final shape of the SymbiFace for the Enterprise will be dependent on what you want, with which ICs will it be built.

The firmware for the CPC is almost ready to test so, I think that  the development for the Enterprise will also be brief.

I will need a lot of information and help writing the Enterprise ROMs and applications, however, the CPC Z80 source code will be available from the developers.

I could also add a second SD card and, if 2mb Ram is not so important, I can add more memory for Roms. I can adjust it.

I also can remove the USB mouse as you have your own standard, and possibly these changes will make the card cheaper.

The goal is to not reach more expensive than the quoted price"
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.February.04. 16:08:08
This (https://youtu.be/BIx_pvOov9w) a Youtube video where Hans shows us the SymbiFace CPC nearly finished.

He will present it on a CPC convention in March this year. He claims that once done he will have the 95% of the work done for the Enterprise SymbiFace....

List of the specs:

Microcontroller:    Cortex -M7 216 MHZ
RAM:        2 MB
ROM/FLASH        2 MB
USB Host         Hid Mouse
USB Host         Fat32 mass storage device
AUDIO         MP3 Player
AUDIO         recorder  / prepare for VOIP
WIFI        IOT moudule / MQTT
RTC         +Battery
VU        stereo level indicator
CPC 464        Extern memory hack
JTAG        onboard
MEASUREMENTS    Power 5v, ARM temp, RTC batt
SD Card        for internal system storage        
OLED
BUZZER

Prodatron is busy with the SymbOS drivers.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2019.February.06. 09:23:13
Good stuff! :)
We are waiting for the Enterprise version :D
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.February.06. 09:51:59
I'm very like the sound leds! :-)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.February.16. 23:23:09
I didn't understand Hans on his list.... he was asking.....


 He proposes us now:

what are your wishes....

No usb hid

No ram

Usb msd?

Wifi?

Seone

Mp3

Or anothee hardware

Lcd big screen or oled

Tft

Ir

Infra red remote

Sound dsp

Radio

HAHA

He want us to  debate to put or remove devices on the SymbiFace list, you even can propose other or others. The SymbiFace for Enterprise can be even more complete than the CPC version. A new project that will take advantage of his previous work.

SymbiFace for CPC has, for example an USB HID, that means a way to connect a lot of control devices to the computer, including mice, keyboards, joysticks and more. This is more necessary on a CPC, that doesn't have a mouse standard due to the lack of +5v on the joystick ports. Prodatron will give support on SymbOS to HID, but on EXOS we would need a new driver for every demanded device. Do we need HID?

About memory, Hans can add it on all its forms, but, how much?

SE-ONE(MP3) included, of course..... with Radio.... and DSP.

USB MSD(massive storage device), of course...

WIFI... it can be amazing.... or unnecessary?

He also proposes a LCD, OLED or TFT display to see what we have set on the interface.

IR(Infra Red control) . With it we could use the interface as a stand alone Hifi set while we do another different thing on the Enterprise... Interesting, but not my priority.



What are your more craved desires?(reasonable please).

Edit: one option I would add is, at the same time direct connexion and as expansion on a Bus Expander. To do this only is needed +5v generation on the PCB.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Z80System on 2019.February.17. 09:25:53
Quote
The answer is YES :-D

Most probably, the question for this answer was about EXOS and not SymbOS.

Am I correct ?

So yes, the storages can be used by SymbOS,
but maybe the question was about ordinary EXOS/EXDOS usage for loading ordinary (not SymbOS based) stuff (,as well).
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.February.17. 09:52:00
Thanks to Zozo, having a driver for another massive storage is the easier of all the aspects.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.February.17. 19:56:07
Really, the list of specs is important to Hans.

What if somebody creates a similar thread on the Hungarian side?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.March.06. 18:15:39
Hans, from TMTLogic, has released a preliminary manual for the CPC SymbiFace. All its functions can be managed from simply Basic, like on his other creations.

[attach=2]

Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.March.18. 00:35:58
Yesterday, the anual SymbOS developers meeting was held at Kirchen(Germany). The main point was the imminent release of the SimbiFace3 for the CPC range of computers.

Hans wrote:

It was nice in Kirchen.

Jorn(Prodatron), sos, sinning, and tfm now have version 2.1(of SymbiFace 3).

Now we have 4 weeks for test it and fix bugs.

[attach=1]

We must  talk about an adapter(temporary, only for testing purposes) between CPC and Enterprise soon, then you can use the SF3 on the Enterprise.



About this I want to concrete where the SYMbiFace3 ports will go on the Enterprise.

On the planed SymbiFace3 for MSX the 20-27 ports are used for SE-ONE  and 40-4F for the SF3. On the CPC range they can use 16bit ports addressing, so they have taken FF20-FF27 and FD40-FD4F  ranges  to avoid collisions with old hardware.

Using FF20-FF27 and FD40-FD4F on a MSX computing is like using 20-27 and 40-4F, because only the lower byte is used, so it can be easy for Prodatron to unify every app used by SymbiFace3 on SymBOS.

We have a problem on the Enterprise with the 40-4F range, it is used by the Spectrum emulator. But we also have a problem with 16bit port addressing, as we can only use 14bit addressing, and only on "virgin" ports, because Dave's pagination corrupts bits 14 and 15, and traditionally the classic hardware have only used the lower byte, producing mirror ports on all the 16bit boundaries.

If we still opt to use the 14bit port addressing we can't use the FFXX or FDXX range as on the CPCs.

In this situation, Prodatron will be forced to modify all the code to suit our computer apps versions, because the SymbiFace3 ports need to be moved to an unused range on an Enterprise.

Or we can use the same 40-4F range for SF3, knowing that it will not work at the same time with the Spectrum Emulator.

What do you think?

------------

Another doubt. By now I can easily manage the SE-ONE and GFX-NINE MSX cartridges from IS-Basic, because I use 8bit port addressing, but I don't know if IS-Basic will cope with 16bit port addressing.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.March.18. 20:16:09
I think most of us can live without the hw Spectrum Emulator compatibility :-) It is also need a modernized version (with GAL or CPLD), then easy to move to other address, just need a recompile the ROM.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.March.18. 20:36:39
I agree, but I didn't want to force other users. I thing that the SymbiFace3 can offer a lot more to us if it shares the same ports on the three platforms, MSX, CPC and Enterprise.

I am going to say it to Hans. Thanks.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.April.10. 12:23:39
I've just received the SF3 for CPC. It is an earlier version, without WIFi and MP3, but good to interface and test on the Enterprise.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.April.11. 21:21:13
SF3 Working!

[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: pear on 2019.April.12. 05:47:22
Where do you get so much time to play ? Envy :shock:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.April.12. 08:20:45
On lunch time..... I have my Enterprises at work....
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.April.12. 09:48:30
Where do you get so much time to play ?
I think the days much longer in Spain :lol:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.April.12. 11:12:43
This adapter has taken me less time, I had the PCB and connectors made the day before yesterday.

I had luck with the leads yesterday, whitout errors and only some pull-ups.

I use sections of connectors to make my dirty prototypes...
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: pear on 2019.April.12. 11:21:33
Dirty, beauty ... the most important that it's working.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.April.26. 12:12:49
This Holly Week I have been doing a very different thing with the SF.

One of the 4 platforms that can run SymbOS is the Amstrad PCW series (http://www.habisoft.com/pcwwiki/doku.php?id=en:start), CP/M native machines, intended more as electronic write machines than for computing.

(http://www.habisoft.com/pcwwiki/lib/exe/fetch.php?w=300&tok=432c7e&media=hardware:pcw-8256.jpg)

With green or white mono-colour screens, they came in a pack with a printer, so they where a cheap ready-to-work equipment that sold 8 millions of units on all the world, competing with the much more expensive similar PCs approach.

Here in Spain it was the choice of a lot of humble business, and there where software houses specialised on program commercial programs for the PCW platform.  


I have a friend nicknamed Habi that is a Guru of this computer. He even has programmed a simulator of the computer, named CP/M BOX (http://www.habisoft.com/pcw/).

Returning to the start of this post, this weekend I have successfully connected the SF3 to the PCW expansion bus. As you know, I am not so skilled, so I asked for aid to Hans and Habi to accomplish it. I can follow a schematic, so the first thing was to think on how to connect them. First I made a simple bridge card with the two connectors, soldered to a bread-board pcb.

[attach=1]
[attach=2]
[attach=3]

observe the unusual vertical way of the PCW expansion connector.

Then I started with the technical side...

Like the Enterprise, the PCW only uses the lower 8 bit Z80 ports not caring for the rest of the 16 bit ports and the higher byte signals, but its hardware uses almost all the 256 ports range. This, added to a variety of add-ons that where offered on its time, leaves only a few "virgin" ports to use with this project.

What can be done? Habi offered a neat solution: swapping bytes... but this can only work with "virgin" ports. Happily there are still a few unused ports on the BXh range.

I have just used that B0 port to try my interface. The trick is to use the MSB of the 16bit port as the working 8bit port, leaving the LSB fixed as B0h. This gives us a totally new 256 ports range to use...

But this swap has to be interpreted also on the adapter. We take the A0-A7 signals and then swap them with the A8-A15 ones. Easy, isn't it?

There are other complications, of course, the external CPC hardware can't be commanded from the B0XXh port range, as it needs 16bit de-codification, we have to change its MSB for it to work. Hans hinted me to use a 74l688 on the higher A8-A15 signals to give /IORQ only when B0h on them. Once done we can put on A8-A15 what we want.

[attach=4]

The SF3 uses the FD4Xh range of ports, inherited from the first SF. But the SE-ONE (the SF3 has one inside...) uses the FF2Xh range. So I can command the SF3 if I fix the A8-A15 signals to 11111111(FFh, all +5v) or 11111101(FD, all +5v but A9 to ground). I made the selection with a jumper, but my SF3 is an early prototype that lacks the SE-ONE and the WIFI.


There where other software problems: Basic interpreters deal usually with only the first 256 Z80 ports, so Habi gave me an example of how to manage 16 bit ports with a short machine code subroutine in Mallard Basic, the interpreter  used on the PCW.

Mallard Basic is like Microsoft Basic but earlier, so it was easy to transcribe my EP examples to it, with the aid of the manual, of course.

This is my first working try.

[attach=5]
[attach=6]
[attach=7]
[attach=8]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.April.26. 21:05:17
It would be great begin to integrate the different aspects of the SF3 on EXOS.

One of them can be the RTC. It can be easily accessed by INs and OUTs:

Code: [Select]
 100 PROGRAM "OLEDTIME.BAS"
  110 TEXT 80
  120 LET C=0
  130 LET A=IN(65)
  140 IF A=1 THEN GOTO 130! ready?
  150 OUT 65,101 ! read time command
  160 LET A=IN(65)
  170 IF A=1 THEN GOTO 160! ready?
  180 LET A$=STR$(IN(66))
  190 IF LEN(A$)=1 THEN LET A$="0"&A$ !pick hour
  200 LET B$=STR$(IN(66))
  210 IF LEN(B$)=1 THEN LET B$="0"&B$  !pick minutes
  220 LET C$=STR$(IN(66))
  230 IF LEN(C$)=1 THEN LET C$="0"&C$ !pick seconds
  240 LET A$=A$&":"&B$&":"&C$
  250 IF C=0 THEN
  260   TIME A$
  270   LET C=1
  280 END IF
  290 WAIT DELAY 1
  300 LET A=IN(65)
  310 IF A=1 THEN GOTO 300! ready?
  320 OUT 65,0:OUT 65,200! clean buffer and OLED screen
  330 LET A=IN(65)
  340 IF A=1 THEN GOTO 330! ready?
  350 OUT 66,0:OUT 66,30:OUT 66,18! X,Y, Font
  360 FOR B=1 TO LEN(A$)
  370   OUT 66,ORD(A$(B:B))! add character to the text string
  380 NEXT B
  390 OUT 65,210! execute print command on the OLED
  400 GOTO 130

This simple listing prints the time on the Enterprise screen and on the SF3 OLED screen.

But there are other commands on the SF3 to manage the RTC:

Code: [Select]
F100  Set time   hour minute sec
F101  Get time   hour minute sec
F102  Reset RTC
F103  Get time BCD hour minute sec
F104  Get date BCD day month year
F110  Set date   day month year  
F111  Get date   day month year  

Some examples(CPC Basic, discard the upper byte of the address):

Code: [Select]
F100  Set time   hour minute sec
 
100 call ARM ready
  110 out &FD41,0        reset buffer pointers 0
  120 out &FD42, hours      hours 0 - 23
  130 out &FD42, minutes      minutes  0 - 59
  140 out &FD42, seconds      seconds  0 - 59
  150 out &FD41,100        function set time
  160 call ARM response
 
F101  Get time   hour minute sec
 100 call ARM ready
  
  110 out &FD41,101        active function
  120 call ARM response
 
  130 print inp(&FD42)      hours   0-23
  140 print inp(&FD42)      minutes   0-59
  150 print inp(&FD42)      seconds  0-59
  
 
F102  Reset RTC
  Note: Only needed when are problem with the time and date, all value are 0 !
 
100 call ARM ready
  110 out &FD41,102        active function  
  120 call ARM response
 
F103  Get time BCD hour minute sec
 
100 call ARM ready
  110 out &FD41,103        active function
  120 call ARM response
 
  130 print hex$(inp(&FD42))      hours   0-23
  140 print hex$(inp(&FD42))      minutes   0-59
  150 print hex$(inp(&FD42))      seconds  0-59
  
 
F104  Get date BCD day month year  
 
100 call ARM ready
  110 out &FD41,104        active function  
  120 call ARM response
 
  130 print hex$(inp(&FD42))      day   1-31
140 print hex$(inp(&FD42))      month  1-12
  150 print hex$(inp(&FD42))      year  0-99 (real is + 2000)
  160 print hex$(inp(&FD42))      Weekday  0-31  
 
 
F110   Set date   day month year  
 
100 call ARM ready
  110 out &FD41,0        reset buffer pointers 0
  120 out &FD42, day        day   1 -31
  130 out &FD42, month      month  1 -12
  140 out &FD42, year       year   0-99 (real is + 2000)
  150 out &FD41,110        active function
  160 call ARM response
 
F111  Get date   day month year  
 
100 call ARM ready
  110 out &FD41,111        active function  
  120 call ARM response
  130 print inp(&FD42)       day   1-31
  140 print inp(&FD42)      month  1-12
  150 print inp(&FD42)      year  0-99 (real is + 2000)
  160 print inp(&FD42)      Weekday  0-31  
 

ARM ready and ARM response are checks if the ARM processor is bussy. It is done with an IN(65d), 0 is ready, 1 is bussy and  3 is error. The error codes or error text can be read.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.May.15. 19:32:12
Beta-testing the SF3 on my Enterprise:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0ah22oucwpe8fsh/VID_20190515_185823.mp4?dl=0
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.May.15. 19:54:13
Nice!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Ep128 on 2019.May.15. 23:55:51
Congratulations! :-)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: geco on 2019.May.16. 08:32:00
coooool :)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2019.May.16. 10:54:14
Nice! :smt026
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: szipucsu on 2019.May.16. 12:22:07
Beta-testing the SF3 on my Enterprise:
Cool! Even a youtube video would do.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.May.16. 17:17:01
Ok, I had no time to put it on Youtube, maybe this evening.

Today's lunch time has been very profitable...

Just for test, and advised by Zozo, Hans has enabled the 60-6F segment zone for Rom, and 70-7F for Ram.

The system has found correctly the added Ram, from 1088KB to 1344KB(1376256 bytes in system)

The SF3 manages a SF3.INI batch file that, if found on the SF3 card's SD slot, is executed just before the EP starts. If a modified EXOS has been installed, a 16KB Rom can be put on any of the segments, including on the Ram zone, and it will be found and added to the Rom list, just like EPDOS does. On the non modified EXOS, the Rom will be only found on 60, and maybe on 70(?).

The test file is the Cyrus.rom. This picture is when I have loaded it to the 60(Rom) segment.

[attach=1]

Then I have loaded it to 70(Ram). I have loaded EPDOS, but as an extension to call its useful commands, like HROM:

[attach=2]

Observe that Cyrus is on 70, but I have loaded it there with SF3, not with EPDOS.

[attach=3]

It works correctly from the SF3...
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.May.16. 18:26:54
This (http://HTTPS:raw.githubusercontent.com/BeCube1/Symbiface-3/master/S3.bin) is the CPC rom that is executed when the SF3 starts. It would be great if Geco converts it to Enterprise, to put it on the 60 segment.
It has to take total control, print the SymbiFace 3 screen and then release control to system.

Youtube video (https://youtu.be/aKReZ0dDx0o).
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2019.May.17. 00:25:42
Great job Gflorez,
Unfortunately I don't have time to answer the forums.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.May.17. 09:49:51
This (http://HTTPS:raw.githubusercontent.com/BeCube1/Symbiface-3/master/S3.bin) is the CPC rom that is executed when the SF3 starts.
Is there a source for it? And any description/video about what it does?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.May.17. 10:15:41
I will ask Prodatron.

Please, Zozo, can you answer some questions about reset on Slack, the SF3 Enterprise thread?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.May.21. 20:20:46
Still no news from Prodatron, sorry.

But I am not losing time....

Today, at lunch time, I have tried the Wifi capabilities of SF3. I have sent the Cyrus.Rom to Hans, and he has put it on his Web page as downloadable.

Then I have put the SSID and password of my Wifi Router on the SF3.INI script:

"
WIFI_PASS   =XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
WIFI_SSID   =ZZZZZZZZZ
 
WIFI_CONNECT
"

And the following Rom loading command:

"
ROM[96] =HTTP:www.tmtlogic.com/cyrus.rom
"

And then, at the booting, it has connected to TMTLogic and has downloaded the Rom on the segment 60.... Perfect, on only a little more time than loading from the SD or USB....

I have also tried to share Wifi from my phone, and it did the same flawlessly.

By now the internal software of the SF3 only manages 16KB Roms because is how was planned for the CPC. This probably will change, but I have cut the Pasziansz 32KB version on two, then I have put the first halve on segment 61 and the second on segment 62. Of course all has worked.

This has surprised Hans a lot, because he says that CPC roms need to have an external header, sometimes as long as 128 bytes...
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.May.25. 23:39:42
when I have the second batch of SF3s ready I will continue with the firmware.
-enlarge the roms 32 48 and 64kb
-hexadecimal rom number
-Enterprise,CPC,MSX or PCW  name on the oled display.
-continu with the wifi stuff

Great!

More good ideas will come from its use.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.May.26. 17:00:34
A great idea from Zozo:

SF3 has the powerful option of being able to inject Roms or enable or disable Ram/Rom zones on the 4MB EP addressable space. This can be done by means of a script that is executed every switch-on by the Arm processor that manages the SF3, but the card can also be configured while the computer is running(after that, a hard reset is needed for the system to recognize the changes).

Zozo proposes to create a new SF3.Rom to configure the EP at start and to add SF3 drivers. It will be placed on a X0h segment, so every kind of EXOS can find it at switch on.

Then, depending of the EXOS version and the internally installed Ram/Rom, several configurations  of Ram/Rom will be allowed, some Roms injected, and a hard reset executed.   

The process will last only a little more than a normal boot, and only at the start of the session, all the changes will survive hard resets but not a switch off/on.

The best is that we will be able to easily test a lot of configurations like we do with the emulator, putting  Ram or Roms where we would want. 

---

More good ideas are welcome....
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.May.29. 15:41:00
[attachimg=1]

A little video showing a test program to try the movement and buttons.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kct1yu5ioswf5xq/SF3%20USB%20mouse.mp4?dl=0

Code: [Select]
SF3_mouse: ;X_REL, Y_REL, SW_Z_STATUS, FIRE_STATUS
ld a,23  ;any number suits except 255, the normal status of the data bus when idle
out (04Fh),a  ; SF3 data bus echo
in a,(04Fh)
cp 23
ret nz   ;no SF3 present
SF3_ready?:
in a,(041h)
cp 0
jr nz, SF3_ready?
ld a,20
out (041h),a ;retrieve mouse data command
in a,(042h) ;-100<>+100
cpl
inc a
ld (X_REL),a; 8 signed bits
in a,(042h) ;-100<>+100
cpl
inc a
ld (Y_REL),a; 8 signed bits
in a,(042h); bit 0= main button, bit 1= secondary button(right), bit 2= middle button
push af
in a,(042h)  ; Wheel movement -100<>+100
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: geco on 2019.May.30. 13:38:32
very good :)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.June.19. 11:16:39
Have you ever feel the curiosity to know if a real Enterprise could handle all the 4MB memory populated?

Zozo has proposed Hans a memory scheme for the SF3 that allows it to fill every addressable space on the machine, with Ram or Rom, individually every single segment....

My Enterprise has EXOS 2.4 on 00-03, and the SD reader on 04-07. Then, counting that I have a Saint's internal memory expansion, I have memory from BC to FF.

The SF3 enables by default a Rom zone on 60-67, and a Ram zone on 68-6F.

Then, I have added some commands on the SF3.ini script on the SF3 SD card:

EPRAM[#B0-#BB]
EPRAM[#A0-#AF]
EPRAM[#90-#9F]
EPRAM[#80-#8F]
EPRAM[#70-#7F]
EPRAM[#50-#5F]
EPRAM[#40-#4F]
EPRAM[#30-#3F]
EPRAM[#20-#2F]
EPRAM[#10-#1F]
EPRAM[#08-#0F]

This has enabled the memory on the rest of the "holes".

And then, to finish, I have injected some Roms on 60-67:

ROM[96]  =SD:SF3BOOT.ROM
ROM[97]  =SD:SPEM128a.ROM
ROM[98]  =SD:SPEM128b.ROM
ROM[99]  =SD:SPEM128c.ROM
ROM[100]  =SD:epd19uk1.rom
ROM[101]  =SD:epd19uk2.rom


ROM[103] =HTTP:www.tmtlogic.com/cyrus.rom

[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: geco on 2019.June.19. 11:26:44
:ds_icon_cheesygrin:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.June.19. 11:47:28
Surely you have noticed that there is a new "SF3BOOT.ROM". It has been created by Geco, converting the plain CPC graphics, adding some fading and shine.

By now it only shows a presentation screen, but I think it will be more useful on a future, holding SF3 config files, drivers and new EXOS commands.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.June.20. 18:21:26
I have made a new Youtube video about SF3.

[attachimg=1]

https://youtu.be/E7dVVluChmA
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.July.11. 21:33:44
Hans(from TMTLogic) has just added a new function to the superb SymbiFace3 card: webradio.

The procedure is to open a socket on the wifi module to the stream IP and then feed the data received to the music player chip. Surely not a great explanation, but is all what I can say about how it is done. The result is impressive, as you can see on this video:

https://youtu.be/Y410lwBRt18 

The two radio stream IPs have been took from https://www.internet-radio.com

The Basic program is very simple(and probably not very neat inside), although a little machine code subroutine has been added to make things faster.

Code: [Select]
  100 PROGRAM "WEBRADIO.BAS"
  110 TEXT 80
  120 IF SF3_DETECT=1 THEN GOTO 1000
  130 ALLOCATE 95
  140 CODE STREAM_LOOP=HEX$("AF,67,3E,07,D3,41,3E,12,D3,49,7D,D3,49,3E,5A,D3")
  150 CODE =HEX$("41,DB,41,FE,01,28,FA,FE,00,28,03,67,18,3F,DB,4E")
  160 CODE =HEX$("FE,01,28,FA,FE,00,28,03,67,18,32,3E,07,D3,41,3E")
  170 CODE =HEX$("15,D3,49,7D,D3,49,3E,5A,D3,41,DB,41,FE,01,28,FA")
  180 CODE =HEX$("FE,00,28,03,67,18,16,DB,4E,FE,01,28,FA,FE,00,28")
  190 CODE =HEX$("03,67,18,09,3E,03,D3,B5,DB,B5,17,38,A3,C9")
  200 DIM IP(1 TO 5)
  210 LET ACTUAL$="78.129.228.187:8088/stream"
  220 !  let s   :    socket number
  230 !  let d#  :    data to send
  240 !  let c   :    character number
  250 !
  260 ! open tcp webradio
  270 OUT 65,7
  280 OUT 73,5
  290 GOSUB 1010
  300 LET ACTUAL$=A$
  310 ! IP ADDRESS:
  320 OUT 73,IP(1)
  330 OUT 73,IP(2)
  340 OUT 73,IP(3)
  350 OUT 73,IP(4)
  360 ! port number High Low in hexadeximaal  (9000 decimal)
  370 OUT 73,HIGH
  380 OUT 73,LOW
  390 INPUT AT 4,1,PROMPT "Socket number (0-3): ":S
  400 IF S<0 OR S>3 THEN GOTO 390
  410 PRINT
  420 OUT 73,S
  430 OUT 65,90
  440 GOSUB 760 ! response ARM
  450 GOSUB 830 ! response wifi
  460 !
  470 ! send data request to  TCP
  480 !
  490 LET D$="GET /"&TAG$&" HTTP/1.1"&CHR$(13)&CHR$(10)&CHR$(13)&CHR$(10)
  500 OUT 65,7
  510 OUT 73,8
  520 OUT 73,S
  530 LET L=LEN(D$)
  540 FOR T=1 TO L
  550   LET C=ORD(D$(T:T))
  560   PRINT CHR$(C);
  570   OUT 73,C
  580 NEXT
  590 OUT 65,90
  600 GOSUB 760 ! response ARM
  610 GOSUB 830 ! response wifi
  620 PRINT "Request is send ok"
  630 PRINT :PRINT "press ESC to exit from this stream"
  640 LET ERROR=USR(STREAM_LOOP,S)
  650 PRINT
  660 IF S<>0 THEN PRINT "ERROR:";S
  670 GOSUB 760 ! response ARM
  680 GOSUB 830 ! response wifi
  690 OUT 65,7:OUT 73,10:OUT 73,S:OUT 65,90
  700 GOSUB 760 ! response ARM
  710 GOSUB 830 ! response wifi
  720 OUT 65,7:OUT 73,0:OUT 73,1:OUT 65,90
  730 GOSUB 760 ! response ARM
  740 GOSUB 830 ! response wifi
  750 TEXT :GOTO 260
  760 ! check response ARM
  770 !
  780 IF IN(65)=1 THEN GOTO 780
  790 IF IN(65)=0 THEN RETURN
  800 PRINT "ARM Error "
  810 LET ERROR=USR(STREAM_LOOP,S)
  820 PRINT S:STOP
  830 ! check response wifi
  840 !
  850 IF IN(78)=1 THEN GOTO 850
  860 IF IN(78)=0 THEN RETURN
  870 PRINT "WIFI ERROR"
  880 RETURN
  890 !
  900 DEF SF3_DETECT
  910   NUMERIC A,B
  920   ! Output : Z=detected , NZ=not detected
  930   LET SF3_DETECT=0
  940   OUT 79,170 ! 10101010d
  950   LET A=IN(79) !4Fh system databus echo
  960   OUT 79,85 ! 01010101d
  970   LET B=IN(79)
  980   IF A<>170 OR B<>85 THEN LET SF3_DETECT=1
  990 END DEF
 1000 PRINT :PRINT "SF3 not found":STOP
 1010 !IP input
 1020 LET COUNT=1:LET TAG$="":LET C1=1:LET C2=1:LET CHA=46
 1030 PRINT AT 2,1:"Example: XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX:CCCC/xxxxxxx"
 1040 PRINT AT 1,10:ACTUAL$
 1050 LINE INPUT AT 1,1,PROMPT "IP?      ":A$
 1060 LET L=LEN(A$)
 1070 FOR B=1 TO 4
 1080   LET IP(B)=0
 1090   IF B=4 THEN LET CHA=58
 1100   IF A$(C2:C2)<>CHR$(CHA) THEN
 1110     LET C2=C2+1
 1120     IF C2>L THEN GOTO 1020
 1130     GOTO 1100
 1140   END IF
 1150   LET IP(B)=INT(VAL(A$(C1:C2-1)))
 1160   IF IP(B)<0 OR IP(B)>255 THEN GOTO 1020
 1170   LET C2=C2+1
 1180   LET C1=C2
 1190 NEXT B
 1200 LET IP(5)=0
 1210 IF A$(C2:C2)<>"/" THEN
 1220   LET C2=C2+1
 1230   IF C2>L THEN GOTO 1020
 1240   GOTO 1210
 1250 END IF
 1260 LET IP(5)=INT(VAL(A$(C1:C2-1)))
 1270 IF IP(5)<0 OR IP(5)>65535 THEN GOTO 1020
 1280 LET C2=C2+1
 1290 IF C2>L THEN GOTO 1020
 1300 LET TAG$=LTRIM$(RTRIM$(A$(C2:L)))
 1310 IF TAG$="" THEN GOTO 1020
 1320 !PRINT :PRINT "Good IP! :  ";STR$(IP(1));".";STR$(IP(2));".";STR$(IP(3));".";STR$(IP(4));":";STR$(IP(5));"/";TAG$
 1330 LET HIGH=INT(IP(5)/256):LET LOW=IP(5)-(HIGH*256)
 1340 RETURN

Code: [Select]
START:
        xor a
        ld h,a
        ld a, 7 ;check RX wifi socket buffer
        out (65),a
        ld a, 18
        out (73),a
        ld a, l
        out (73),a
        ld a, 90
        out (65),a
ARM1:
        in a,(65)
        cp 1
        jr z,ARM1
        cp 0
        jr z,WIFI1
        ld h,a
        jr END
WIFI1:
        in a,(78)
        cp 1
        jr z,WIFI1
        cp 0
        jr z,CONT
        ld h,a
        jr END
CONT:
        ld a, 7 ;copy incoming socket data to mp3 stream
        out (65),a
        ld a, 21
        out (73),a
        ld a, l
        out (73),a
        ld a, 90
        out (65),a
ARM2:
        in a,(65)
        cp 1
        jr z,ARM2
        cp 0
        jr z,WIFI2
        ld h,a
        jr END
WIFI2:
        in a,(78)
        cp 1
        jr z,WIFI2
        cp 0
        jr z,KEYS2
        ld h,a
        jr END
KEYS2:
        ld a,3
        out (181),a
        in a,(181)
        rla
        jr c,START
END:
        ret


Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.July.12. 19:40:56
It sounds interesting!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.July.24. 14:37:21
I have made minor changes on the "webradio.bas" program.

Hans is re-writing the Wifi Engine.

By now, to maintain the Radio reception, the EP has to continually execute 2 SF3 commands in machine code. Also, for example, some radio IPs work at my office but not at home.

Probably this task will be done by the Arm processor on the next SF3 upgrade. Then, this program will be obsolete and re-written.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.July.29. 13:29:53
New SF3 update. I have re-written the Basic program. Also the manual has been updated.


Wifi engine cleaned and enhanced. Now, the Basic listing doesn't need machine code to listen the web stations.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.July.31. 11:52:54
I'm also start playing with SF3 :-D (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EAC0UXeVMgUSKAjnHjwvSIvE7uggSrJM/view)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Ep128 on 2019.July.31. 23:46:35
I'm also start playing with SF3 :-D (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EAC0UXeVMgUSKAjnHjwvSIvE7uggSrJM/view)

Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.August.05. 21:32:06
Playing MP3 from BASIC. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YEvREWzDfMYaF874G1tl2dHMl5fQz5Ls/view)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Z80System on 2019.August.05. 22:12:48
1,

Ebből a cuccból mikor várható rilizelt termék ?

2,

Azmiaz az mball zene feldolgozás ami hallható ?

Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.August.05. 22:16:38
Azmiaz az mball zene feldolgozás ami hallható ?
There is a music remixes on ep128.hu:
http://www.ep128.hu/Mp3/Cross_Road_remake.mp3
http://www.ep128.hu/Mp3/Magic_Ball_remake.mp3
http://www.ep128.hu/Mp3/Orient_Express_blues_Remake.mp3
http://www.ep128.hu/Mp3/Nodes_of_Yesod_Remake.mp3
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.August.06. 09:48:44
The Symbiface3 expansion card, as you already know, is a CPC card created by Hans, TMTLogic group, commissioned by Prodatron, creator of the famed SymbOS multi micro-computer operative system.

This means that the SF3 card has been created with a variety of Z80 computers in mind, including our Enterprise.

Actually, being a CPC card, it needs a re-programation of the CPLD that controls its input and output signals, no more being a CPC card except by its connector, that needs to be converted to an Enterprise slot connector by means of a dummy bridge board.

As you can see, it works flawlessly on I/O mode, even on 10Mhz frequency, but it needs some minor fixings on the memory management side to be perfect.

Also, it needs to be integrated on EXOS to be considered "real Enterprise hardware".  For example, the included Real Time Clock, mouse port, USB port, SD port, Wifi module, etc, will be integrated with drivers on the system, allowing natural EXOS access to them. It will be a huge task, that surely will also need rewriting of the SF3 core.

Is by those reasons that the release of the SF3 as an Enterprise product still will take months, sorry.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2019.August.06. 15:46:48
Thank you so much for all the work on this.
We wait patiently :D
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Z80System on 2019.August.06. 16:04:41
Quote
Is by those reasons that the release of the SF3 as an Enterprise product still will take months, sorry.

Ohhh, do not be bothered by that ... when it will be done, that will be the perfect time.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.August.06. 21:25:53
No problem, my enthusiasm for the SymbiFace3 and the Enterprise has grown even more, now that Zozo has got interested on it....

Eventually, every little success  will be extensively described here to all.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2019.August.07. 00:10:14
after the vacation,
 do I buy a nmos Enterprise. to solve the memory problem
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2019.August.07. 00:16:23
I had the Enterprise for a week in my hobby room. I think it's a very beautiful computer.
technically well designed.
Too bad that this computer is not so well known in the Netherlands
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.September.10. 12:03:06
Just because SF3 will add all the functionalities needed for a stock Enterprise, I have tried a stand-alone adapter. This one will go for Hans to make tests.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kmrDWW3hlAc/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEjCPYBEIoBSFryq4qpAxUIARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJDeAE=&rs=AOn4CLAe9w1-r7J_wdPs2c_aO9SkHE9cmg) (https://youtu.be/kmrDWW3hlAc)
Youtube video.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.September.10. 12:34:07
Nice! :smt038
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2019.September.10. 23:28:30
Great work @Gflorez :razz:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2019.October.03. 15:15:20
https://youtu.be/c4Jqtvd1vVs (https://youtu.be/c4Jqtvd1vVs)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2019.October.03. 15:29:31
Enterprise SF3
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: pear on 2019.October.04. 06:34:02
Lovely :cool:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: SlashNet on 2019.October.06. 10:46:08
Nice photo!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.October.20. 21:23:31
I was trying with a buggy CPC Basic listing... so until yesterday I have not realised that the SymbiFace3 can be managed within marvellous Geco's CPCemu. Thanks for the advice Noel!

[attach=1]

CPC hardware manages 16 bit Z80 ports, but the EP ignores the higher byte on an IN or OUT Z80 instruction.

For example, the SE-ONE and SymbiFace music side is accessed on ports $FF20-$FF2F, and on the Enterprise and MSX on $20-$2F.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.October.20. 22:00:23
Wow, awesome!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.October.20. 23:04:58
You can try this SymAmp specially coded for 16 bit ports.(I don't have the source)

It works perfectly playing MP3 files on SymbOS, both Enterprise and MSX. But Prodatron has coded it without iterative IN/OUT commands(only for 8 bit ports), so it can't play high-bitrated MP3s.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.October.21. 11:21:45
And, just for the same reasons, we have won a new SymbOS app... SF3MON.EXE, coded for the CPC 16bit Z80 ports but working on the Enterprise(and probably on MSX).

At this moment only worth for Hans, Zozo and I...

[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: pear on 2019.October.21. 13:42:49
Hot stuff :) 2150°C
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.October.21. 14:13:00
Hot stuff :) 2150°C
:smt043
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.October.21. 15:02:07
Here in Spain we say: "A caballo regalado no le mires el diente" ≈ "Don't examine in depth the tooth of a gift horse".

[attachimg=1]

The coder(Prodatron?) probably forgot the dot in the middle of the four digits, because the function assumes 2 integers and 2 decimals.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.October.21. 15:05:42
Here in Spain we say: "A caballo regalado no le mires el diente" ≈ "Don't examine in depth the tooth of a gifted horse".
In Hungary: "Ajándék lónak ne nézd a fogát" :ds_icon_cheesygrin:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: szipucsu on 2019.October.21. 19:19:13
Here in Spain we say: "A caballo regalado no le mires el diente" ≈ "Don't examine in depth the tooth of a gift horse".
It is among the collection on my web page. (https://webnyelv.hu/kozmondasok-szolasok-nehany-nyelven/)
Don't forget Latin either: Noli equi dentes inspicere donati. :D All the world uses this proverb.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: pear on 2019.October.21. 19:20:22
In Poland: "Darowanemu koniowi w zęby nie zaglądaj". Similary to Spanish.
It was just a joke - wordplay ;)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: szipucsu on 2019.October.21. 19:22:04
Here in Spain we say: "A caballo regalado no le mires el diente"
Do you say "... el diente"? Not "... al diente"?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.October.21. 20:32:58
Those phrases are called "refranes"("sayings"), and come from ancient times.

Here "el diente" means "la dentadura", the whole teeth, or better the tooth condition, like a general term. Like saying "the sea" naming all the Earth salt water instead of the particular Mediterranean Sea. Other better example: the Man named as the generic of the human race.

Old "sayings" jump country borders and languages, as you can see. Being "common sense" or "good manners", all "refranes"(sayings) have their "moraleja"(lesson). In this one we are advertised to not annoy the host with bad commentaries about the gift. Also to be graceful with our benefactor. Google returned me as a translation other different British "saying" that can complement the lesson:  "Beggars can't be choosers"...
 
In Spanish there is another "saying" used to accuse somebody of not being thankful to his benefactor: "Muerde la mano que le alimenta". Here that person is being compared with a dog: "He bites the hand that feeds him".
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: BruceTanner on 2019.October.22. 15:50:25
In English very similar, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

And yes, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you," "Beggars cannot be choosers" too.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2019.October.23. 21:55:26
the temperature of the ARM and the battery voltage will come later.
do not want to work with this STM32F767 yet
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: pear on 2019.October.24. 05:53:11
I can explain.
Is there a chance to buy this hot stuff now or do I have to wait yet ?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.October.24. 09:55:56
On a month or two if all goes well, Hans will have a SF3 specially modified for the EP.

The original device works on I/O, but not totally correct on RAM. A 74HCT245 on the Data Bus fixes all the issues. He has redesigned the PCB to put it inside. Surely this will benefit other computers, at least CPC and PCW.  Every MSX has a 74XX245 inside, triggered by a /BUSDIR signal that comes from the cartridge expansion.

The tradition on the Enterprise is that every expansion has its own 74XX245 to not add own noise on the Data bus.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: John Fante on 2019.October.25. 09:34:20
He has redesigned the PCB to put it inside.

I have not followed this thread in detail so sorry if this question has been answered elsewhere. The SymbiFace3 is installed inside the EP?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.October.25. 11:02:42
No!, sorry for my bad explanation....

Is the  74XX245 chip on the Data bus what Hans has introduced on the Symbiface3 PCB design, necessary to fix a memory issue on the Enterprise.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2019.October.27. 15:03:40
this week I will test version SF3V221.
Specially made for the Z80 which is critical with TTL levels.
a 74hct245 has been added
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2019.October.27. 17:46:29
this week I will test version SF3V221.
Specially made for the Z80 which is critical with TTL levels.
a 74hct245 has been added
Great! Results will be interesting!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.November.20. 18:08:37
Hans continue adding new features to SF3, this time TMTnet, a net protocol based on a server:

Sorry, the names of the pictures are swapped.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Ep128 on 2019.November.20. 23:36:02
:smt026 :smt041
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.November.22. 10:39:34
Related with SF3 but not with Ep, I have made 2 videos of the card playing MP3 files on a Philips NMS8250 MSX2 computer I have borrowed from a friend.

The procedure is the same as with the EP, an straight adapter is used to connect the CPC header to the MSX slot, and the CPLD on the SF3 is reprogrammed to change some lines.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4utz6j9k8vt70km/SF3%20SymAmp%20MSX.mp4?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b6md2u6ftqzn8bt/SF3%20Basic%20player%20in%20MSX.mp4?dl=0

This is the third computer that will use the SF3, the last on development will be the Amstrad PCW.

The four versions of Basic are different, being the Amstrad CPC and the MSX ones the more similar.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: szipucsu on 2019.November.22. 11:13:13
Related with SF3 but not with Ep, I have made 2 videos of the card playing MP3 files on a Philips NMS8250 MSX2 computer I have borrowed from a friend.
This is great!
Next time in your videos you can tell something in Spanish in connection with the content of the video. :D
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.November.22. 20:37:21
Está bien, lo haré.... Pero vas a ser el único que lo va a apreciar.

--------

Ok, I will do.... But you will be the only one who will appreciate it.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: szipucsu on 2019.November.22. 20:48:28
Está bien, lo haré....
--------
Ok, I will do....
Thank you! Muchas gracias!
But it is enough to do it in your next video if you feel like.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.December.13. 19:01:59
[attach=1]

Here you can see a simple chat application made in Basic that takes advantage of TMTnet, a net protocol for 8 bit machines designed by Hans, being in development for at least 16 years....

On the image you can see 2 text columns, being the left one the text I type locally, and the right one the text received from other TMTnet user, including myself. All characters go and return from a server on the Netherlands in real time, but for what I can see, the only speed limitation can be IS-BASIC.

I have associated to every user one of the 4 palettes that TEXT 80 has. On the picture you can see my Enterprise receiving its own text and the text from a MSX computer I have at the side. Yes, I am abusing the SF3 dose..... now I have 2 of them...

[attach=2]

Soon I will have the design of the definitive Enterprise SF3 adapters, and Hans is now starting to make a new SF3 batch.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: szipucsu on 2019.December.13. 19:12:26
Here you can see a simple chat application made in Basic that takes advantage of TMTnet
This seems really cool! Will we be able to chat using the EP128emu some time?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.December.13. 19:25:25
Yes, my EP can stay days connected to the Server. On a future, sharing of files will be also possible.

Sorry, I have misunderstood your question. I think that  SF3 simulation is not viable, but maybe somebody makes a TMTnet app for the PC.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.December.13. 19:33:57
The way to connect to TMTnet is by means of an user number and a password provided by Hans.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: ergoGnomik on 2019.December.14. 17:42:54
I think that  SF3 simulation is not viable...
How so? The whole Enterprise computer with Z80, custom ICs, PAL display effects and artefacts, as well as WD-1772 and floppy drives can be emulated. Why not SF3?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.December.14. 20:44:34
You are right, probably it can be emulated on its final form, but SF3 is constantly evolving, and it is formed by a CPLD(Complex Programmable Logic Device) and a lot of modules(Sound, RTC, Wifi, USB, Memory) on a I2C bus governed by an ARM processor with its own program.

SF3 (http://www.tmtlogic.com/tmtlogic.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2:tmtlogic&catid=2&Itemid=101) is like killing fleas with cannon shots, a lot more powerful than the machines on which it can be connected. But its main characteristic, what makes it less "emulable" is that it is not made with fixed electronics, at least the CPLD, the Arm and the Wifi module(also based on Arm) can be updated with new firmware.

Think on a new fascinating and necessary characteristic for the SF3 and Hans will struggle to put it inside(but first he has to finish the interfacing on the 4 computers).

For example, on the CPC side there is a development to install disk images, it will be the Arm code who will move the "disk image engine". We "Enterprisers" don't need such thing, the Enterprise doesn't have protection schemes on commercial disks(neither even commercial disks....). We have always managed plain files. On the SD we have files, not images, and the HxC and Gotek floppy emulators have not been very successful on the Enterprise user base.

Every computer(CPC, EP, MSX and PCW) has its own CPLD and ARM firmware. Some characteristics are shared, others not.

Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2019.December.15. 04:53:40
If TMT functions properly, an explanation is provided on how to use this on the arduino PC and other systems.
this will be very limited. as @gflorez already wrote. TMTnet is deeply integrated into the hardware and firmware.

the firmware is updated on average every 2 days.


Now we have a lot of fun testing.
communication with TMTnet is easy.
every user has a unique number with password.
there are 2 status bits for tx rx
io address for setting or reading userId
io address for data read write

beta testing is up to 60 users.
then newer version of TMTnet, 16000 accounts can be created.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2019.December.15. 13:54:38
I don't really understand...
Can't the NET on the SF3 card be used and programmed freely?
Is TNTNET a closed system?
Please also write it down for non-professionals. Many users are amateurs on the topic! :(
I think it's important for you to sell these cards!

On the other hand, Enterpress magazine would be happy to write about this development.
Let's hope this happens, unlike other dead improvements!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2019.December.15. 15:19:30
Yes, the TMTnet can be programmed freely because it is very simple, only reading and writing 2 Z80 ports from Basic, machine code or other language, but the protocol will need a server to manage all the communications, as it is planned a huge interchange for 16000 users.

Maybe you mean a peer 2 peer connection between 2 computers. I think it is possible if the Wifi module admits it. I will ask Hans about it.

I am already a humble amateur, only one of the beta-testers of the system..... but please, ask what you don't understand.

For Hans it is also a hobby, although he is a skilled professional working as Engineer.

Prodatron(Jorn Mika)...., he is on another galaxy. A mysterious skilled programmer and also the financier of the SF3 project. He is the main  reason because this project will not dead.

But don't worry about this project disappearing , SF3 is real hardware. It works on the Enterprise and needs Enterprise programmers to squeeze its juice, but not only skilled ones, base users can create wonderful Basic listings. Had I said it before....? Almost all its characteristics can be managed from the Basic editor.

Of course, the are still some lacks that depend on other Enterprise projects. I mean, a driver for the USB pendrive/SD on the SF3, that I think will be delayed until Bruce releases the new EXDOS with FAT16 support.

Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2019.December.15. 18:09:44
The development continues. this is not a dead improvement.
I work on this project on average 3 hours a day ;-)

I have been working on TMTNET for years, and if it works as planned, there will be very nice functions that will greatly improve your enjoyment of your compter.

mind you, even though sometimes the Enterprise is quiet about the SF3, meanwhile I continue testing at the CPC or MSX amd PCW
this is all the same Firmware. There is, however, its own DFU update file available for each type of computer.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2019.December.16. 21:37:14
Thanks for the answers, gflorez gave me the answer. :)
We appreciate your work and I, who do not know these, are very welcome! :bow:
I'm good at editing newspapers and organizing clubs. :oops:
So let's see SF3 in the newspaper, advertised!
Forgive me for the exciting English :shock:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.January.07. 17:31:10
It is possible that the 30h-3FH range will be used in a near future by the SF3 instead of the 40h-4Fh one, because that range is very populated by other devices on the MSX side.

I think it will benefit us because on the EP side the SF3 using the 40h-4Fh range collided with the Hardware Spectrum Emulator.

On the other side, on the Enterprise, the ports 32h and 3Fh are actually used by Zozo's Z180 experiment.....

I enquire the use of the range 30h-3Fh for the Symbiface3, if it can be....
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2020.January.07. 20:28:20
At reset used these:
Code: [Select]
TESTROM         IM 1
                LD A,12
                OUT (191),A
                LD BC,32H
                LD A,B
                OUT (C),A    ;Z180 WAIT STATES DISABLE
                LD C,3FH
                LD A,01000000B
                OUT (C),A    ;Z180 INTERNAL IO 40-7FH
                LD C,40H+1FH
                LD A,80H
                OUT (C),A    ;S180 CLOCK DIVIDE XTAL/1

Spectrum Emulator easy can be moved to another location. It is also needed for a Z180 :-) But the Z180 are default put their register to 00-3Fh at reset. Which is needed to move, because collosion with EXDOS.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.January.07. 21:53:08
Then, the SF3 should better remain at 40h4Fh?

How much Z180 cards there are compared to Spectrum emulator cards?

It is not a big problem.... every SymbOS computer will have different port range:

MSX:  30-3F
CPC: FD40-FD4F
EP:     40-4F
PCW: 40xx-4Fxx  XX is an unused 8 bit port still not decided, but the main port number will be the higher byte. The SF3 will swap the bytes inside the CPLD and will pick the 40-4F range only.

The SF3 programs will parse the ports, no problem.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.January.07. 22:13:55
Ah, I was forgetting it. Attached you have the first Quigs(SymbOS) program made by Hans.

It only shows the SF3 logfile on a text box when clicking on a button. The icon inside the app gets corrupted on 4 colour modes, soon it will be fixed.

Zozo, can you try it when you can?

Tomorrow I will put a short video about it.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.January.08. 21:26:32
One new SF3 example app is being coded by Hans. This time is a demo of some web radio stations while playing tracker music(internal) and running Pacman.

Sorry for the bad video and my finger...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s56db9jpi8pzkro/SF3%20apps.mp4?dl=0
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: szipucsu on 2020.January.08. 22:34:22
a demo of some web radio stations while playing tracker music(internal) and running Pacman.
This seems so real multitask system!
The Hungarian radio station is also awesome. All the radio stations are available from all over the world. But I love Spanish music too, especially from the '80s.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2020.January.08. 22:59:39
Then, the SF3 should better remain at 40h4Fh?
Yes.

Quote
How much Z180 cards there are compared to Spectrum emulator cards?
Main problem, the mentoined port writes included in EXOS 2.4 and also in cartridge version of my RAM test (for example in a SD adpaters). These are already running on lot of machines! :oops: Probably on near to all everyday used Enterprises!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.January.09. 20:08:50
Ok, then....... But you are in debt..... You have to do a tutorial to change the Spectrum Emulator port numbers, both on the original and on Pears's clone.

Would you? When you have time.

Not related but some.  The EXDOS card wastes a lot of possible places for memory or Roms when the SF3 is plugged(20h-2Fh). Now that we can put the EXDOS Rom wherever we want, it will be great to cancel that space on the floppy controller.

Another tutorial, please.....
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.February.14. 18:12:53
Hans is making tests with a possible new function on the SF3: MIDI...

For test purposes, and to not disturb excessively the SF3 development, he has enabled it on the debugging serial port that the SE-ONE shares with the SF3.

The extra hardware required are the connectors and a few standard chips and resistors, just to convert the 3,3V serial levels from the SE-ONE to the TTL(5v) levels used by MIDI, and an opto-coupler as is required by the standard.

Here (https://www.dropbox.com/s/sutvtqbya7ne09p/Midi%20on%20Basic%20with%20SE-ONE.mp4?dl=0) you have the first song I have made, good for the Enterprise anniversary. On the video you can see the toy keyboard I use to receive the notes I send, and at the back of the bus expander the cheap Midi interface.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.February.18. 17:57:40
Today I have received the first batch of 10 PCBs of the SymbiFace3 standalone adapter designed by Hans:

[attach=1]

[attach=2]

It can be connected at the end of the Bus Expander. I have in mind to make a slot version, like the MSX-Slot.

Here (https://www.dropbox.com/s/clnlfb06fv36kbi/New%20standalone%20adapter.mp4?dl=0) is a short video of it working.

It will be very cheap.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2020.February.18. 21:27:16
Does this have the 245?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2020.February.18. 21:42:39
Yes. With 74ls245 socket.
Its possible to make an 245 jumper. With the 245 jumper breakout.
See in the right corner of the pcb
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2020.February.18. 21:46:27
Yes. With 74ls245 socket.
Its possible to make an 245 jumper. With the 245 jumper breakout.
See in the right corner of the pcb
Yeah! I hope this board eliminate all signal problems!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2020.February.18. 23:09:12
the SF3 supports sector base Fat16 and 32. this can be used for all kinds of DOS drivers.

I recently started working on FILE base USB Fat32 routines.
so you don't save the data by sectors. but through a simple LOAD and SAVE functions.
the SF3 then handles the FAT32 itself.

this function is later expanded with USB SD FTP HTTP HTTPS and more.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: BruceTanner on 2020.February.19. 18:02:21
Yes. With 74ls245 socket.
Its possible to make an 245 jumper. With the 245 jumper breakout.
See in the right corner of the pcb
Can I ask what the 245 issue is?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2020.February.19. 20:01:18
Can I ask what the 245 issue is?
In some configuration RAM from SF3 become unreliable. Mostly at machines with the original NMOS CPU. For example using both cartridge and SF3...
Because all old fashioned Enterprise cards have a own 74LS245 for driving the data bus, come the idea add one to the SF3. It is have a built in bus driver but probably because it is a modern 3V device, it is not enough.
Gflorez tested it on the hand wired adapter, added one hand wired 245 :-) Solution worked. At SF3 side the CPLD modified, one pin modified (which is not used at Enterprise originaly) for generate OE signal to the external bus driver.

Now Gflorez made well made converter board, including the 245 socket.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.February.19. 20:28:52
Not really an issue, it is more a characteristic of the Enterprise and the MSX computers.

If you check the Enterprise EXDOS original schematics and even the Hungarian classic expansions, you always will see a 74LS245 protecting the Z80 Data Bus. You already know that the Enterprise is very noisy, with all the buses running from right to left of the PCB.

And on some MSX and all MSX2 and upwards, there is a signal named /BUSDIR that every cartridge has to create from the ports decoding and Ram/Rom allocation, to return to the computer slot, to be passed to a 74LS245 inside, guess for what?, to protect the Z80 Data Bus.

I am very new to interfacing "things" to the Enterprise, if someone had told me only a few years ago what I am doing now I would not have believed it...

May be the issue is me... When I started to try the SE-ONE(MP3 MSX cartridge) from Hans(TMTLogic) on the Enterprise, I connected the Buses and some signals and it started to sound almost immediately. But it was only casualty, or the very good components and construction of such MSX cartridge.

But when I tried to connect the GFX-NINE(Yamaha V9990 graphics) with the same system, I found that the cartridge had a strange behaviour and that often hanged the Enterprise.

Some months passed and then I found the /BUSDIR signal and the 74LS245 chip  on the schematics of most MSX computers. Zozo pointed me that the chip was also used on the Enterprise classic expansions, and then, advised by Hans, I tried to intercalate the 74LS245 on my M-SLOT adapter with total success.

What I learned was that some expansions add noise to the Data Bus, so it is convenient to only communicate with them when the Z80 wants it. But wrongly I also assumed that this was because the V9990 was an under tested and under used chip that was refused by the MSX computer makers on the MSX2+ phase.

When I started to interface the Symbiface3 to the Enterprise, I had forgotten all those problems, SF3 was the totally new all-in-one-card planned for the Amstrad CPC series, so I assumed that it would work straight.

It more or less did it accessing Z80 ports, but I had some strange issues with memory on my 2 CMOS Z80 Enterprises. When Zozo tried to test my hand made interface on some stock computers, he had worse results, probably due to the NMOS Z80...?

Some months after, and thousands of tests later, Hans proposed me again to put a 74LS245 and /BUSDIR signal(I had been rejecting that option several times, unbelieving about it). Hans sent me a new CPLD update and instructions on the point where to take the /BUSDIR signal. It took me an hour to put it aerial with a socket and some leads.... Of course it cured all the errors, and it was the base for Hans to design the SF3 adapter I presented Yesterday.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: BruceTanner on 2020.February.19. 21:52:39
Ok thank you.

My reason for asking is that I was wondering if you had found the glitchy signals, /RD particularly, that have caused me many many problems! So far no one else has reported seeing them on a 'scope, so occasionally I start questioning my sanity! :smt120 Then I remember the factory glitch mod that some EXDOS cards have...

Worse on early EPs is familiar! And so is worse on memory than I/O! And so is being affected by the 245!

One lesson I learned (maybe a proper h/w designer would have already known): use a real LS245, not a CMOS HCT245, because CMOS inputs left floating (eg on the tri-state data bus) are bad - can cause the chip to oscillate, and I have seen this. Even on a chip designed to interface to busses. :roll:

In my case the h/w had auto-incrementing registers so was very sensitive to glitches. On a memory-type interface if a glitch causes a double read or write, the device will just stop & start outputting or reading the data again, and nothing will go wrong unless the glitch occurs at just the wrong time.

:shock:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: lgb on 2020.February.19. 22:22:18
One lesson I learned (maybe a proper h/w designer would have already known): use a real LS245, not a CMOS HCT245, because CMOS inputs left floating (eg on the tri-state data bus) are bad - can cause the chip to oscillate, and I have seen this. Even on a chip designed to interface to busses. :roll:

No because I'm expert here ... But I think proper bus should never float. If in it's high-Z state not driven, passive component (pull-up/down resistors) or even an active solution designed for that purpose should cause to have a proper well defined state. The physical realization of the bus (ie PCB traces) alone can produce problems if it's allowed to float time-to-time. But it's just my opinion, surely there are much more clever people than me in this area ...
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2020.February.19. 23:02:20
But I think proper bus should never float. If in it's high-Z state not driven, passive component (pull-up/down resistors) or even an active solution designed for that purpose should cause to have a proper well defined state.
This is what is missing from EP motherboard :roll:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2020.February.19. 23:20:44
@ BruceTanner
how is the automatic increase made with the Chip select?
do you have a circuit diagram of that?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2020.February.19. 23:23:29
@ BruceTanner
When does the RD glitchy occur? is that when the IORQ and the RD are low ?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: BruceTanner on 2020.February.19. 23:59:38
Sadly, yes! Some pics here https://enterpriseforever.com/maintenance/glitch-on-rd/ (https://enterpriseforever.com/maintenance/glitch-on-rd/)

My problem is in the WIZ W5300 network chip - it has an internal FIFO with a auto-incrementing data pointer. So to read a received frame, for example, you just do lots of reads, and the pointer auto-increments to the next byte. I interfaced it using I/O, so it happened when the I/O address was decoded and there is a /RD cycle. The main glitch happens when /RD is low :roll: so the W5300, being a modern fast device, sees 2 read cycles and increments the FIFO pointer twice. Not every cycle, just occasionally.

I have seen the glitch on a EP with no expansion attached - you just need to look at /RD on a scope that can trigger on a short high pulse (basic Rigol scope in my case). My early EP64 seems worse than my later EP128s.

Having got to the bottom of this, Zozo pointed out that a few EXDOS cards have a factory-fitted bodge on the back. When I looked, it was a R and a C on the /RD line going to the EPROM, and it successfully removed the glitch! I could also see it at the WD1770 but it works...so must happen at a slightly different point in the cycle. Or the WD1770 is too slow to notice the glitch. Or a double read doesn't matter to it.

@gflorez sorry, I have accidentally hijacked your thread :oops:

B.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.February.20. 02:26:05
No problem, this is all's thread, not my own thread. And I, think that talking about any signal glitch is pertinent here.

Being myself not skilled on hardware, I tried long ago to explain expert Hans the /RD glitch unsuccessfully, but he now has adquired a knowledge on the problematic Enterprise signals, more than when we started interfacing the SF3 , and surely he will understand you better than  from my words.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.March.13. 20:07:36
In order to make work the SF3 with the new adapter, a simple lead has to be sold:

[attach=1]

[attach=2]


To fix some memory issues that happened interfacing the SF3, a 74LS245 chip was needed to protect the Data Bus. Actually this chip is in every Enterprise expansion, so it was the logical move.

But Hans found that there was no free pin to implement it on the CPC connector, so he redefined the TP3 point to be /Busdir, a returning signal that activates when memory(RAM/ROM) or ports are accessed(decoded) inside the SF3.

The lead will connect TP3 to pin 1 on the CPC connector.

This is not the perfect solution, because pin 1 on the CPC connector is the Sound output, and being the SF3 made for the 4 SymbOS computers, this would cause noise when connected to a real CPC.

There is planned a revision of the SF3 with the 74LS245 chip included, is for that the Enterprise adapter has a detachable pcb scrap to make a dummy chip for the 245 socket.

[attach=3]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.March.13. 20:58:56
Zozo asks me:  you also will make a "SF3 adapter board with a 245" for a bus card slots?


Yes, it is my intention, to make better use of the Bus Expander, but the designs I have done, due my poor experience with Eagle, are modifications of the MSX slot adapter, actually very tall.

It is not so important on a MSX cartridge, but the SF3 has already a respectable length....

See what happens when I put the SF3(not connected...) above a M-SLOT adapter on the Bus Expander:

[attach=1]

Ok, subtract 1 cm. because the Sf3 is not connected, but 21 cm. tall is very ugly to see at the side of our slim computer....

May be using a 4 layer design I could shorten it some cm.

I accept ideas......
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.March.13. 22:23:51
One idea I have is to use a flat ribbon cable male to female like this (https://www.ebay.es/itm/362657382164) to connect the SF3 to the future SF3 slot adapter, making a Z with the 2 pcbs and the ribbon cable the SF3 can be lowered at max. to the Bus expander surface, but this only can be made on the first slot because this approach can be very thick.


But then the SF3 would need to be fixed in some way to the future SF3 slot adapter.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: geco on 2020.March.14. 21:32:24
I think it is a good idea.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2020.March.16. 10:30:32
In order to make work the SF3 with the new adapter, a simple lead has to be sold:
Now working :ds_icon_cheesygrin:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.March.16. 10:42:52
GREAT!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.April.01. 11:51:02
Zozo, now, if you want, the next step is to try the SF3 MIDI.

Hans is now trying proper MC6850 emulation on the MSX, later on the EP, but by now we can play with the modified ScoreTrack Rom.

First, you must update the SF3 with the attached DFU file, then do the CPLD update.

Load the Strack3.Rom to the SF3 SD card, and add an entry on the SF3_EP.INI file:

ROM[#06]  =SD:strack3.rom

This will inject the modified ScoreTrac Rom on segments 06 and 07, so you couldn't use the SD cartridge due to clash of Roms.

You only will have external drives to launch programs. Load all the ScoreTrack songs(.SGN), the DAVE.ENV file and the attached SYNTH.BAS listing on the external drive.

Restart the Enterprise+SF3. Then RUN "SYNTH.BAS". The listing will put the SF3 on SYNTH mode and lauch the ScoreTrack Rom, so any try of sending midi data to the emulated MIDI adapter will go to the MP3 chip acting like a General Midi instrument. You will not need external Midi equipment to hear the ScoreTrack songs.

Once inside ScoreTrack you can move with the joystick and Space bar. At the extreme left, press the "Integrated Circuit" symbol button to swap from Dave sound to MIDI OUT(the 5 pin Din symbol) and then press the "floppy" symbol button to load a song.

First do a DIR, and then select a .SGN file. The song will be loaded, and you only have to press the play button.(Some songs only make some notes and stop.)

------

There is another mode, MIDI, that makes real IN and OUT from outside of the SF3, but it needs a circuit and connectors to be created, and also external Midi equipment. But my experience is that the new internal Midi instrument is as good or better than the GM instrument that Windows provides.

This will open the door to convert a Midi program from CPC or MSX, or to finish the ScoreTrack program, making it able to record an incoming Midi stream or being Midi file compatible.

But first is needed the correct MC6850 emulation, to not reinvent the wheel.

----------------------------

Edit:  I forgot to mention that, on the SYNTH mode the SF3 also accepts data on the MIDI IN connector(when available), so I can send a song from a PC or from the MSX I have at the side of the Enterprise....

The SF3 has a diagnosis serial port that is used to send or receive Midi messages. This is the schematic:

[attach=4]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2020.April.01. 17:27:04
Zozo, now, if you want, the next step is to try the SF3 MIDI.
Thanks!

Quote
This will inject the modified ScoreTrac Rom on segments 06 and 07, so you couldn't use the SD cartridge due to clash of Roms.
This is the right time of your external cartridge adapter :ds_icon_cheesygrin:

Quote
You will not need external Midi equipment to hear the ScoreTrack songs.
Great! :smt038
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.April.01. 17:56:53
Please use the provided Strac3.Rom, not the Strack2.Rom  modified by IstvanV. The two versions use different ports.

Yes! you are right, you can use the external cartridge adapter designed by you... I only was its maker.

When you have all joined and working, I think that the occasion deserves a video, I can do it if you can't.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.April.17. 19:42:11
Derived from a CPC new function, Hans has added it also to the Enterprise.

It is named Romtable, a different way to inject Roms.

On the usual way there is a start-up file named SF3-EP.INI, where we can define the Roms and the start segment(from the 256 possible). The Enterprise Roms can be from 16KB to 64KB, so the definition would be as this:

ROM[#61]  =SD:SPEMU128.ROM

61h is the start segment, but the Rom is a 48KB one, so it will use the consecutive segments 62h and 63h.

All the Roms defined must be on the SF3 root directory of its SD card.

----

The new Romtable is a different approach. There is a directory on the SF3 SD named EP, and another one inside named Romtable. All the Rom files found on the directory at start-up will be placed on memory.

To make things faster, the  Roms have been named as ROMXXX.BIN, where XXX indicates the decimal segment where they will go. Another auxiliary file will aid to know the real name of the Rom, ROMXXX.TXT.

----

The two systems will be shared on the future, so better if the same Rom definitions are not put on the two systems. The INI file is executed the last, so it will have priority over Romtable.

On the future, banks of Romtables will be allowed, being selected by a SF3 button and OLED screen at start-up.

----

Is this important for an Enterprise user?  I don't know, really.... We don't have the CPC problems, where only the first 0-15 segments are possible to be defined for the SF3. We have Roms, a lot of useful Roms, but with fast SD cartridge access it is not very important for us if it is a file or a Rom.

And, for me is very awkward to manage Rom files with changed names, I prefer to have them defined with their real names on the INI file.

It has one main advantage: start-up is faster. And with the last update, the SF3 only connects to wifi on demand, when there is a service that needs it, not at start-up.

-----

It seems that all new functions work on the Enterprise:

F62,10:  EP/Z80 >>> Array
F65      WEB     >>> Array ! In development  
F62,14   MSD    >>> Array
F62,9:   Array   >>> Z80  
F66      Array   >>> ROMTABLE[]  
F62,13   Array  >>> External RAM
F62,12:  Array  >>> MSD

MSD here is the USB or SD port on the SF3.
Array is a zone on the Arm intermediate memory used by the SF3 to transfer data.

Hans wrote a minimum Rom manager in Basic with some of the functions:

[attach=1]

Tho only CPC specific function was the 1, where an example 64bytes Rom on DATA lines is created. I have adapted The function to the Enterprise, now it loads the "*.Rom" found on the program directory and tranferes it to the Array zone.

To not make things slow I have used a very simple machine code routine that reads characters one by one from the file and OUTs them to the SF3:

Code: [Select]
Mete:         ld a,1                ;  Channel 1
                        rst 30h             ;  EXOS 5 , Read character
                       db 5
                       and a
                       jr nz, fin            ; NZ end of file
                      ld a, b
                      out (42h),a
                      jr Mete
fin:      ret (editado)

I know, a system call every byte... but it avoids to allocate memory, and only last about 10 seconds to transfer a 16KB Rom.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.May.16. 20:21:05
I have published on Youtube a short video about how good the Enterprise mixes the external sound(expansion connector) with the internal sound(Dave).
 
Even the volume level is good, I feed directly the SF3 sound to the 3,5mm jack base at the adapter.

The programs used are SymAmp(SymbOS) playing tracker music, and the Webradio app for the SF3(also SymbOS). The web radio option is a Wifi connection to an IP that is broadcasting a sound stream compatible with the MP3 chip inside the SF3.


https://youtu.be/-R05OfcMEhU

The mixer inside the EP is this little circuit made with two pairs of resistor+capacitor marked in red.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.May.18. 16:58:43
At last the Symbiface3 slot adapters have arrived and have been tested for good:

[attach=3]

[attach=4]

As I said, added to the height of the SF3 it is simply excessive...

[attach=1]

[attach=2]









Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2020.May.18. 16:59:48
At last the Symbiface3 slot adapters have arrived and have been tested for good:
Nice! :smt038
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.May.18. 17:04:22
But with the flat cable add-on the thing changes:

[attach=1]

[attach=2]

[attach=7]

[attach=4]

[attach=6]

Here the three pieces detached:

[attach=5]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.May.18. 17:15:31
This is the "Stand-alone" Symbiface3 adapter:

[attach=1]

[attach=2]

[attach=3]

Here an overview of the complete Enterprise set with the SF3 on the slot adapter:

[attach=4]

And to end, one back-side view of the SF3, where you can see the two connectors, the black one is to update the CPLD, but actually an internal update is used instead, and the other pins are the FTDI connector, a serial diagnosis port that will also be used for IN/OUT MIDI.

[attach=5]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Ep128 on 2020.May.19. 22:42:50
When can we buy SF3 interface? :?: ;-)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.May.20. 00:38:19
You can order just now. Put a PM here to Hans(TMTLogic), he is waiting you all.

Soon I will send him some Enterprise adapters, so he can sell the complete set to Enterprise owners.  

Please specify if you want the slot version adapter (https://enterpriseforever.com/hardware/symbiface3-is-near-your-enterprise/?action=dlattach;attach=24745;image)(needs bus expander) or the stand-alone adapter (https://enterpriseforever.com/hardware/symbiface3-is-near-your-enterprise/?action=dlattach;attach=24763;image).
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2020.May.20. 03:01:53
I still have a few sf3 components.
it remains to be seen how the delivery from china will be
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.May.20. 11:11:04
Ok, I have decided that 12 Euro for the adapters will compensate the building cost+delivery(from Spain to The Netherlands). I mean the same 12 Euro for each of the 2 options,  slot version+flat cable, or stand-alone version.

Note that the slot option needs the useful bus expander (https://wiki.enterpriseforever.com/index.php?title=New_Bus_Expander_by_Wilco#The_predecessor), on stock for 15 Euro+shipping(available from me).

The SymbiFace has a price of 105 Euro, then the only remaining cost is the shipping cost from The Netherlands to your country.

If you plan to use the SF3 on one of the other SymbOS computers, MSX, CPC or PCW, better if you advise of it to Hans, because then, the /BUSDIR cable fix (https://enterpriseforever.com/hardware/symbiface3-is-near-your-enterprise/msg78741/#msg78741) has to be made on a not definitive way, probably with a lead and connector on the adapter.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: John Fante on 2020.May.22. 07:27:19
Thanks for all your work with this :)

A couple of questions. And sorry in advance if this has been answered before. I have been away for a rather long time ...

What is the approx. price for the SymbiFace3?

Can I use this busexpander (https://www.dropbox.com/s/vuxz5vtet53ovu3/Busexpander.jpeg?dl=0)? I know I have to the special 12 euro adaptor for the symbiface card.

And a related question? Is there any news on EP support for GFX-NINE? As far as I remember you where working on that also.

Thank you in advance!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.May.22. 08:22:29
Hello John Fante.

Yes, the price of the Symbiface3 is 105€. You have the correct bus expander, so you will also need the slot adapter, 12€ more. To this the shipping cost to your country will be added.

About the GFX-NINE, yes we can enjoy a wonderful  g9k version of SymbOS (https://enterpriseforever.com/programming/symbos-106/msg77398/#msg77398) on the Enterprise, but for that you will need a fixed version of the M-Slot adapter,. The one I sold you lacks a 74LS245 chip needed for correct operation of the MSX cartridges. I will send you one free of charge.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: John Fante on 2020.May.22. 13:31:35
Thanks for the info!

Great to hear that GFX-NINE is working. Thank you very much for offering to send a new adaptor free of charge. I would be happy to pay for one. So please PM me the cost and I will paypal you and give my adress.

I will send a message to TMT logic about symbiface3 :)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.May.24. 12:07:42
Yesterday I was producing some SF3 slot adapters.

I am out of stock of 50 pin EDGE connectors for the MSX Slot. The big PCB is an AMSDAP designed by Hans, an Amstrad CPC bus expander with 4 CPC slots + 2 MSX slots. A different approach than on the Enterprise.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.June.26. 21:30:02
I am sorry, but I must rise a few Euro the prices of the adapters.

This is a hobby activity, and what I can't do is to loss money on it.

The reasons are evident, the CoVid19 disease has almost closed the cheap component shops in China, so I must find similar components on on-line European shops, slightly more expensive.

Some parts still have to be bought in China, like all the connectors, the PCBs and some outdated components.

But don't worry, the adaptors are still cheap enough.

For the same reasons, Hans has raised 5 Euro the price of the SymbiFace3, up to 110 Euro.

New prices will be only applied to new orders from now on, not to already accepted pending orders.

Also, to discharge Hans from work, and because he is very new to the Enterprise computer, from now on, better order yours adapters and SF3s directly with a PM to my nick.

Thanks for your understanding.

Gustavo.

Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.August.12. 14:52:08
New important update!

-Fixed Ram allocation on segments F8-FB(internal 64KB on EP128). Now EP64 users can define Ram on the area and the SF3 allocates it correctly. Thanks Teopl Ludic for testing it.

-Re-writing some parts of the code with VHLD(¿? Hans knows...)

-Added a new option to the INI file. The RomTable is executed just before the INI file so, the script file has priority over the Romtable Roms definitions. This produces a curious effect when injecting a Rom on a segment(write protected), but you can define the same segment as Ram on the INI. This can be useful on some cases because, when EXOS searches for Roms, it only needs a Rom header(Ok, not only...) to classify the segments as Roms.

This would allow us to emulate and test some very rare Enterprise devices, like EPDOS2X or other cartridges with attached Ram or Sram. Hans has confirmed me that there is no room on the CPLD for a mix of Ram and Rom on the cartridge area, 04-07, but now we can have easily emulated Roms and Ram there. Soon I will try it. It is not like SRam+batery, but at least can serve to emulate a session.

But some badly written Roms use the damned technique of writing to itself, and then the emulated Rom hangs...

This is the case of ScoreTrack, Vilmos Kopácsy's MIDI sequencer(Written by Jeffrey), which Geco is fixing to work on any memory segment, not only on cartridge area. I was trying it as emulated Rom and it hang, but started to work immediately when I defined it as a real Rom.

You can find the DFU file as usual on the Enterprise downloading area  on Hans Page (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oB4hK69VODDx04XLaXJwGLEbGX-OmYD3?usp=sharing).

The file is named: SF3_EP_20200810_cpld.dfu  11 August 2020.

You must update the file on the usual way (https://enterpriseforever.com/hardware/questions-about-symbiface3/msg79628/#msg79628) with the DfuSeDemo program, and then follow the procedure to also upgrade the CPLD. 
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: BruceTanner on 2020.August.13. 09:26:35
But some badly written Roms use the damned technique of writing to itself
FYI... EXOS, EXDOS and Cyrus Chess also write to their own ROM! :roll: :twisted:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.August.13. 18:06:50
In this Fake News era it seems like it existed a conspiracy inside IS.... 
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: dangerman on 2020.August.13. 23:13:39
FYI... EXOS, EXDOS and Cyrus Chess also write to their own ROM! :roll: :twisted:

Was Cyrus Chess officially made as a ROM? I always assumed the ROM version was a hacked version of the cassette :?:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: BruceTanner on 2020.August.13. 23:28:56
Was Cyrus Chess officially made as a ROM? I always assumed the ROM version was a hacked version of the cassette :?:
Good point, you may well be right! :idea:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.September.05. 18:36:41
Geco has produced one more of his fine conversions. This time it is the SF3boot.Rom (https://enterpriseforever.com/letoltesek-downloads/enterprise-software/?action=dlattach;attach=25426) from the CPC.

This Rom was made some time ago, more like a proof of concept of RSX extensions and as a demo of some SF3 commands.

RSX is the name of the modules that can be added to the Locomotive Basic used on the CPC, much the same as can be done on IS Basic, being the best example our "Basic Extensions" made by Boxoft.

Geco has adapted the CPC's RSX commands as EXOS commands, making them usable from any program or game able to present an EXOS prompt, not only from Basic.

A list of the commands can be displayed at any time executing the ":SF3"+Enter command:

Code: [Select]
ROM
---
SETROM  "SD/USB","segment","rom file"
        Set specified ROM from
        SD/USB to segment
        It ends with HARD RESET!!!
        SETROM "sd","40","cyruss.rom"
MEMCFG  Displays memory config of EP
RTC
---
RRESET  Resets the RTC
RSDATE  <Day>,<Month>,<Year>
        Sets the RTC-Date
        e.g. RSDATE 31,12,19
RGDATE  Get the actual Date
RSTIME  <Hour>,<Minutes>,<Seconds>
        Sets the RTC-Time
        e.g. RSTIME 9,44,30
RGTIME  Get the actual Time
Buzzer
------
BUZZ    tone,rhytm
        Make a 'beep'
        e.g. BUZZ 2,3
        Values:
        Tone   00 buzzer off
               01 low
               02 middle
               03 high
        rhythm  00 continious
               01 slow
               02 middle
               03 fast
BUZZ    without a param gives silence
BEEP    The same as BUZZ
LED's
-----
LEDT    Tests LED's
LEDV    LeftLED-Value,RightLED-Value
        Set the LED's
        LED-Value - One Bit per LED
        e.g. LEDV 1,17
MISC
----
AMODE   x   Select Audio mode
        0 - Disable SE-ONE
        1 - Seone_MP3A
        2 - Seone_MP3B
        3 - Seone_FM
        4 - Seone_REG
        5 - Audiostream
        6 - MIDI
        7 - SYNTH
        8 - VOICE
        e.g. AMODE 1
VER     Shows Symbiface 3 - Version
LOG     Shows Log
MEMTEST Tests Symbiface 3-RAM
GERR    Shows last Error/Status-Text
MEASURE Get Power Supply 5v
        RTC batt voltage ,ARM temp
DFU     Shows actual Firmware-FileName
NET
---
IPCONFIG Shows the actual IP-Data

The commands inside the Rom are called with ":SF3 " followed of the name of the command. For example ":SF3 DFU" will show the actual version of the SF3 firmware.

For this first complete version of the Enterprise SF3 Rom(the former one only presented the SF3 logo), Geco has adapted the existing CPC sf3 approach commands to the Enterprise SF3 approach, for example SETROM. But also other totally new have been created, like MEMCFG and AMODE.

MEMCFG is a valuable command that will return a detailed list of all EP memory segments used. It can work also on any EP without SymbiFace3, and gives a detailed map of the use of the 4MB memory range, much the same as the HROM and LRAM commands from EPDOS do.

This is an example of what a stock EP+languageRom+EXDOS would return(results from the Emulator):

Code: [Select]
ROM: 00 EXOS 2.1    
ROM: 01 WP    version 2.1
ROM: 04 VDUMP Imprimir Gr@ficos
VSAVE Grabar Gr@ficos  
VLOAD Cargar Gr@f.
ESP   Modo en Espa|ol      
UK    Modo en Ingl^s        
ROM: 05 BASIC version 2.1
ROM: 06 SF3   version 0.2
ROM: 20 ISDOS version 1.0
EXDOS versi}n 1.4
ROM: 21
RAM: F8-FF

The text returned by the Roms has been used, but for Roms that don't return a text, like EXOS or Basic, some version detection has been implemented.

The other command added is AMODE, that is an acronym of Audio Mode. As some of you know, the SE-ONE side(MP3) of the SF3 has several modes, starting from MP3A(MSX legacy mode), then MP3B, the mode used by the SEPLAYER Basic Program, but some others and growing... like REG, MIDI and SYNTH. FM mode is not applicable to the SF3, that lacks an FM tuner(SE-ONE MSX cartridge), but instead the SF3 has the Audio stream mode, the junction of the Wifi+MP3 modules to broadcast Webradio stations. And Voice is the provisional name for a new mode that will allow to make audio calls between SF3 users.

This command has been implemented as a direct way to enter these modes from MP3A, the default mode. Due to the special configuration that some modes have, the return to the default mode is not always sure. Some times you will find that SymAmp on SymbOS doesn't play MP3 files after the SF3 being configured on the MIDI modes, 6 and 7. This will be fixed soon, but by now a fast and effective solution is to switch OFF/ON the Enterprise.

To use this Rom with the SF3 you only need to inject it on the 60h segment. Also, a copy of it will be put on every DFU upgrade, because when there is an execution error on the INI file, or there is not an INI file at all(if you extract the SD, for example), a copy of the Rom will be injected automatically on the 60h segment. This Rom also shows the SymbiFace3 logo on the Enterprise boot sequence.

Use this command, adapting it to your file path, on the INI file, if you have never used the SF3boot.Rom:

Code: [Select]
*ROM[#60]  =SD:SF3BOOT.ROM
If you have already  used the first version, only copy this new version file on the place of the old one.

This is a perfect opportunity to also test the ScoreTrack MIDI Rom (https://enterpriseforever.com/letoltesek-downloads/enterprise-software/?action=dlattach;attach=25424), that has been fixed by Geco.

Just enter the SYNTH mode executing :SF3 AMODE 7   and then press the Enter key. Once done you can enter the ScoreTrack Rom you have already installed, with :ST  + Enter.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.September.05. 18:38:00
Second part
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.September.05. 18:39:33
Third part. Join and un-pack to see a short video.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: szipucsu on 2020.September.07. 14:23:00
Quote from: gflorez
SF3boot+ScoreTrack.part1-3.rar
I couldn't open the 3 files with 7-zip. Does it work with another program?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.September.07. 15:10:51
It was archived with WinRar (https://www.win-rar.com/start.html?&L=6)(free).  Once installed you need to put the 3 files on the same place and then a double click on one of them will execute Winrar.

I don't know if the video worths all the hassle, but it is a good way to jump the uploading limit. Dropbox and others could disappear, and I can lose the files, but this web page not, it is.... forever.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.September.12. 17:50:25
Today a new SF3 update(DFU+CPLD) has been released. You can find it on the official SF3 TMTLogic Drive page (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oB4hK69VODDx04XLaXJwGLEbGX-OmYD3?usp=sharing).

The enhancements of the SF3_EP_20200903.dfu are:

-The new SF3Boot.Rom version from Geco(also on the Drive) has been added inside the DFU. If no INI file is found or any error is detected, the SF3Boot Rom will be injected on the 60h segment.
-The F40 command to swap Audio modes have been expanded to select also the two MIDI modes, and now the SF3Boot.Rom benefits from this on the  new :SF3 AMODE command. Now the SF3 audio mode can be modified with a simple EXOS command.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: John Fante on 2020.September.19. 11:51:17
Today a new SF3 update has been released. You can find it on the official SF3 TMTLogic Drive page (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oB4hK69VODDx04XLaXJwGLEbGX-OmYD3?usp=sharing).

The enhancements of the SF3_EP_20200903.dfu are:

-The new SF3Boot.Rom version from Geco(also on the Drive) has been added inside the DFU. If no INI file is found or any error is detected, the SF3Boot Rom will be injected on the 60h segment.
-The F40 command to swap Audio modes have been expanded to select also the two MIDI modes, and now the SF3Boot.Rom benefits from this on the  new :SF3 AMODE command. Now the SF3 audio mode can be modified with a simple EXOS command.

Is there a bug in this release?

I have tried updating but afterwards the SF3 refuses to load the ini file and just goes into default 512K mode. Furthermore it does not autoload SF3BOOT.ROM when it can not find the ini file.

The DFU from august works fine on my setup.

It ofcourse can be my ini file that is not compatible with the new DFU but I do not think so.

I can take this to SLACK if that is the best :)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.September.19. 14:50:42
Sorry for the problems. I can't tests it until Monday, so better ask Hans on the Slack.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: John Fante on 2020.September.19. 16:42:44
Sorry for the problems. I can't tests it until Monday, so better ask Hans on the Slack.

No problem! Just checking if others have the same issue :) The august DFU works great.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: geco on 2020.September.19. 16:44:24
As i see you installed 20200903 dfu, i installed it also, i did not have any problem with it. This dfu contained both cpld and arm update, did you perform cpld update also ?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: John Fante on 2020.September.19. 17:55:31
As i see you installed 20200903 dfu, i installed it also, i did not have any problem with it. This dfu contained both cpld and arm update, did you perform cpld update also ?
Found the solutions. Apparently I managed to forget to update CPLD and somehow it did not complain about it. Fixed now.

SF3 NOOB signing out :)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2020.September.20. 17:11:36
shows the Display "CPLD UPDATE NEEDED?"
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: John Fante on 2020.September.20. 20:07:50
shows the Display "CPLD UPDATE NEEDED?"

Found the solution. Stupid error from my side! Everything works fine now :)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.September.23. 19:46:47
Some adapters travelling from Spain to the Netherlands. The large PCBs at the left side are the AMSDAP, a CPC bus expander with 2 MSX slots. Hans kindly shared the diagram design with me when I was trying to make the M-Slot.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Allf on 2020.September.24. 06:01:26

Congratulations. Big shipment - the result of a lot of work...
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: John Fante on 2020.September.24. 12:55:31
Some adapters travelling from Spain to the Netherlands. The large PCBs at the left side are the AMSDAP, a CPC bus expander with 2 MSX slots. Hans kindly shared the diagram design with me when I was trying to make the M-Slot.

(Attachment Link)

Impressive work @gflorez. As allways :smt041
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.October.24. 05:59:19
One of the web-stations I put on the SymbOS Webradio app has ceased to broadcast, and forces a hang when selected. It is the Hungarian one, the first on the list. Avoid to click on it.

Hans(and I) plans to enhance the program with a text file where to put the preferred stations, not hard coded like the actual version.

While this happens I offer some enjoyment to the Hungarian SF3 users: A little list of working Magyar stations that you can hear with a basic program.

It is the same Basic listing that is stored on the SF3 Drive, but I have added some details to make it easier to search for working stations. If the program founds a recoverable error, it runs again itself resetting to one working web-station. Pressing ESC the program will let you to enter other IP.

Code: [Select]
            IP                             Station name
--------------------------------------------------------------------
92.61.114.191:9310/stream                 AlienWare
82.141.165.6:8000/stream                  KORONAfm100
195.56.193.129:8300/lakihegy              Lakihegy Rádió Online
185.161.204.105:80/mr6g.mp3               Danko Radio
79.172.209.223:7070/;                     Taska Radio
79.172.217.50:9090/stream                 I don't remember....


Also, I can search the web-stations name you like, but not always they work on the SF3, the protocols are often encrypted.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.October.24. 11:31:12
This one should also work, but sometimes has stuttering sound here in Spain:

Code: [Select]
213.164.242.44:8000/(£1         Mas Radio Szekelyudvarhely             

 £=#(English/German keyboard)

Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2020.October.24. 12:44:47
Don't get mad, I don't really understand that!
SymbOS webradio app on Enterprise?
As long as there is no net driver for SymbOS (Prodatron is gone), how can one work?
If you already have so many SF3 users, you need better information, which we understand. Don’t get mad, the whole thing is a little scattered, that’s how we see it (not just me!).
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.October.24. 13:24:38
Yes, I feel the same, some impotence... The SF3 is a great card but its use is limited on SymbOS. But not on IS BASIC!

Just run the Basic program attached and start to play introducing web station IPs on it.

I said you some time ago that we must aid ourselves, if a net driver or USB driver is needed is very easy to sit and wait some other guy make it for you..... I am not accusing anybody with this.

For example, the Basic programs you download have been translated by me from CPC, and also I have transcript some to/or MSX or PCW. This is amazing for me, a complete null programming... Or these IPs from Web stations... they took me to search the information on the HTTP code of some web pages around 4 hours.

As I have said on other thread of this web, I don't want any appreciation for my efforts, because I have enjoyed doing that.

I think that this whole thing of the "computing" has the main incentive on learning every minute new knowledge, in a search of awareness of the way  our mind, and the machine as a replica, works.

And every one can found his place on the Enterprise scene, you know it very well.

This is a hobby, we waste our spare time doing this while having a family work, life, etc. We are not like consumers that demand new software and hardware because we pay for it..... All stuff released here is donated, but on due time....

Please, all SF3 users..... move.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2020.October.24. 19:28:45


gforez is the engine behind the Enterprise version of the SF3.
He is committed to 200%.
so giving him a beer or cup of coffee is an idea
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2020.October.24. 19:43:32
You're absolutely right! I'm sorry, I may be impatient. :( We talked on the phone with Geco for almost an hour today and he reassured me. Gustavo, not a beer and a coffee, as Hans mentioned. That's a lot of beer and coffee! :) I hope to see you at the postponed jubilee EP meeting.
You do a lot for us and thank you for that!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.October.24. 19:49:48
Hardly.... because I don't drink beer or coffee.... Ok, a Coke can will be accepted, with all the  hard drug inside(sugar and caffeine).

Hans, you spoil me, granting me all my whims. Thanks you also, Tutus and Geco.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2020.October.24. 20:13:25
:)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: szipucsu on 2020.October.25. 10:17:52
Hardly.... because I don't drink beer or coffee....
Then, maybe we should offer some gazpacho? :D However it is not really a drink, it is some kind of soup as I know but somebody told me they drink it too. I don't know typical Spanish drinks but I think they are delicious. A Tequila would be really hard I think.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2020.October.25. 10:33:02
OFF
Gazpacho is a very good Spanish band! I love them very much!
ON
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.October.25. 15:04:40
Yes, the gazpacho(the word almost sounds Magyar....) is a drink made with shacked fresh vegetables including garlic, olive oil, vinegar and other ingredients, varying from every Spanish zone. Almost a drinkable salad, very refreshing and nutritive on hot summer if maintained on the fridge.


Uff!, the Gazpacho group was from the early 70s, mixing pop, gypsy sound and rumba. I like more the Triana group, the evolution some years later, progressive/symphonic rock mixed with flamenco Andalusian sounds. One example:, click on the image:


[attachimg=1] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_Emy_19bos)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: elmer on 2020.October.25. 16:43:13
I like more the Triana group, the evolution some years later, progressive/symphonic rock mixed with flamenco Andalusian sounds.

Very nice, I like it a lot! :)

YouTube also recommended this great song to me, from their first album ... Abre la Puerta (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy1Tz276ErA).
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.October.25. 18:03:30
Yes, one of their more known and beautiful songs. Intense sound, transcendental words about love but asking what is behind these emotions:

Code: [Select]
Yo quise subir al cielo para ver
y bajar hasta el infierno para comprender
qué motivo es, qué nos impide ver
dentro de ti, dentro de ti, dentro de mí...

I wanted to go up to heaven to see
and go down to hell to understand
what reason is it, what prevents us from seeing
inside of you, inside of you, inside of me...

And then:

Code: [Select]
Abre la puerta niña que el día va a comenzar
se marchan todos los sueños, que pena da despertar.
Por la mañana amanece la vida y una ilusión
deseos que se retuercen muy dentro del corazón.
Soñaba que te quería, soñaba que era verdad
que los luceros tenían misterios para soñar.

Open the door girl, the day will begin
all dreams leave, what a shame to wake up.
In the morning life and an illusion dawns
desires that twist deep within the heart.
I dreamed that I loved you, I dreamed that it was true
that the stars had mysteries to dream about.

The song tries to explain the end of love comparing it to when you slowly awake and have the sense that you have lost something very important on your dream. You try to remember... but you only can feel the strange and intense sensation slowly fading while the harshness of the real world invades your whole being....
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.October.25. 23:10:15
New version of the SymbOS Webradio app.

RetroRadio has changed the IP of its WebRadio stream and more things, and it is no more compatible with SF3. You can still listen it on your PC clicking this URL list:  
http://79.172.224.15/mid.mp3  
http://84.21.10.38/mid.mp3  
http://79.172.224.16/mid.mp3  
http://79.172.224.15/high.mp3  
http://79.172.224.14/mid.mp3  

Due to this problem I have removed it from the list of stations on the program. Also Hit Radio OE3 has modified its stream and is no more accessible.

But I have added Danko Radio(Hungary) and Traxx FM(France) to the list.

The program is still unmodified... but Hans has some ideas for it. I also want to add some others.

Enjoy!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2020.October.26. 11:42:56
New version of the SymbOS Webradio app.
RetroRadio has changed the IP of its WebRadio stream and more things, and it is no more compatible with SF3. You can still listen it on your PC clicking this URL list:  
:smt038 Thank You very much! :)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.October.26. 12:39:02
Thanks.

Actually valid Retroradio IPs seem to go from 79.172.224.14 to 79.172.224.16 and from 84.21.10.31 to 84.21.10.38, both on middle and high quality, mid.mp3 and high,mp3.

When a stream IP shows no channel, it has the default one, 80, so these addresses should be like this:

http://79.172.224.15:80/mid.mp3   

I have tried all the range on the SF3, but something has changed in the stream.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: John Fante on 2020.October.26. 19:57:12
Quote
This is a perfect opportunity to also test the ScoreTrack MIDI Rom, that has been fixed by Geco.

Just enter the SYNTH mode executing :SF3 AMODE 7   and then press the Enter key. Once done you can enter the ScoreTrack Rom you have already installed, with :ST  + Enter.

Is there special MIDI-files you have to use with ScoreTrack?

I tried the above method with a couple of MIDIs from here https://enterpriseforever.com/sound/midi/msg80702/#new but I always get an error saying that the file does not work with version 1.0 of ScoreTrack. ScoreTrack sees the .MID file.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.October.26. 20:53:25
No, sorry.... the Score Track Rom manages its own file format. It was abandoned on an early development status. I think that MID files were planned, because the Rom manages somehow the .MID tag file, but it was not implemented....

You can use the files found on the ScoreTrack disk (https://enterpriseforever.com/sound/midi/?action=dlattach;attach=18437). Remember to have the DAVE.ENV file on the same place as the songs.

But wait.... Some has happened on the last update and the Synth mode can't be selected. I will ask Hans.

Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.October.26. 21:02:12
He has answered that he will fix it tomorrow.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: John Fante on 2020.October.27. 06:19:44
Thank you very much for the answer! :smt026
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.October.27. 08:03:42
At the request of Tutus, I have swaped the boring station, Danco Radio, for a very good station called Civil Radio, also Hungarian.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2020.October.27. 08:40:15
At the request of Tutus, I have swaped the boring station, Danco Radio, for a very good station called Civil Radio, also Hungarian.
Thank You! :)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.October.27. 10:41:54
About ScoreTrack and the Midi Sinth option on SF3, Hans has found the error and fixed it.

To those who want to try the ScoreTrack Rom and don't want to wait for the next DFu release, you can update with a beta DFU (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oB4hK69VODDx04XLaXJwGLEbGX-OmYD3?usp=sharing).

Remember, inject the Rom on some place, load the songs and ENV file on a directory or floppy, :CD to it, and then execute:

:SF3 AMODE 7
:ST
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2020.December.28. 21:02:00
A new update for the SymbiFace3 has been released by Hans. You can find it on the usual TMTLogic page link (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oB4hK69VODDx04XLaXJwGLEbGX-OmYD3?usp=sharing) on the Firmare update files drawer.

It brings some changes, lets start with the more inconvenient one.

-New Ram/Rom management.

Due to the lack of space for improvements on the CPLD chip, from now on the Ram enabled zones will be 256KB wide, X0-XF, except some special zones that will be smaller, 08-0F, F0-F7 and F8-FB.

The possible write protected(ROM) zones will be limited to a few ranges: 04-07, 08-0F,60-6F and 70-7F. This only limits the use of real Roms on the SF3, but the user still can put Roms on Ram zones, that will be found correctly by EXOS as emulated Roms.

This is not exactly a limitation, because we still will be able to use the SF3 in the same ways that we did before this update, but with less freedom. Now we need to be more aware of not putting Ram/Rom on zones that clash with the memory installed by other devices. For example, Saint's memory expansions usually put a 64KB memory chunk on its lower row, usually XC-XF. If we enable that entire 256KB row on the SF3, then the two memories will clash and the Enterprise will malfunction, nothing armful. So we must leave that 192KB zone disabled, (X0-XB).

But we still have a lot of Ram/Rom to assign if we need.

-New CPLD update inside this DFU file, due to the new memory management.

Once the SF3 updated, but with the SF3 still connected to the PC, select the down position on the switch near the big connector at the bottom of the SF3 and press the reset button, at the left side of the SF3. It will ask for a "Z80 update", so press the middle button under the little Oled screen. It will show "updated", and then you can disconnect it from the PC.

-Then, a great new: From now on you will be able to use the USB pen-drive as a massive storage on the Enterprise...

Thanks to the skills of Geco we are now able to manage the FAT32 formatted pen-drive on our old FAT12 system. He has implemented a tunnel like driver that talks directly with the SF3 and translates the orders between the two different systems. In fact, it is almost transparent to the user, because even multi-file programs can be used.

The trick has been programmed on a new version of the SF3Boot.Rom, that you can find on the same TMTLogic link on the Roms drawer.

The use is easy:

Geco has implemented a new command DEF_DEV_ that has to be executed at the start of a session.

:def_dev_XXXX
file - sf3 usb
disk - exdos
tape - tape loading

As the name implies, if you execute :def_dev_file, what it does is to assign the default path of Saving and Loading to the SF3, but the trick doesn't use the EXDOS.Rom...., so, if you execute a :Dir, it will produce an error on an only-Tape Enterprise, or will show you a different drive content on a SD, IDE or Floppy based Enterprise...

To solve this, Geco has implemented some simple file management commands inside the SF3Boot.Rom, that make the same actions as the known ones in the EXDOS.Rom:

:sf3 cd
:sf3 dir
:sf3 md
:sf3 rd
:sf3 del

Of course you don't loss the other massive storage units, because you still can redirect the action to them by only including the letter of the drive on the name file, for example:

load "f:example.bas", or the same with tape:.

As a beta-tester I have tried a lot of programs and files and the system is very reliable.... with an exception: SymbOS.

Symbos will load the same from the USB pen drive, but once loaded it doesn't manage it, only the usual SD or floppies. But this is not a fault of Geco's driver, it is only that the Enterprise SymbOS version still doesn't talks with the SF3 USB....

This was fixed on the CPC version long ago, so we are near to have it, but by now is only a matter of waiting for Prodatron to implement it.

Enjoy!    Feel free to ask your doubts.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2021.January.28. 09:50:31
Is there an updated manual for the latest DFU? On the link I found only 2020 July version :oops:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: geco on 2021.January.28. 10:18:13
I found this is the latest, but it is also for previous DFU:
SF3 DOC Nov 2020 (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cCoygYzwxfHuTIPWsQmWgJ4CGwuitd15)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.January.28. 10:40:48
Hans is a one-man-orchestra... he will update the manual on time...

Soon a new DFU will arrive, with CPLD update.

Developing for for the SF3 connected to other computer, a Sega SC3000, he has found a way to speed-up some internal file uploading/downloading processes, so all computers will benefit.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2021.January.28. 10:53:37
There is a way for get the installed DFU version? With the OLED buttons? Or the DFU updater can read it on PC?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: geco on 2021.January.28. 10:55:03
There is a way for get the installed DFU version? With the OLED buttons? Or the DFU updater can read it on PC?
I can be done with a short basic program, but if i remember well i implemented a command into SF3BOOT.ROM also, please enter :SF3 it will list all available commands, otherwise F72,20 Get firmware date on page 39.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2021.January.28. 10:57:48
I can be done with a short basic program.
And if the card faulty and system crashing? :oops: (Tutus's card...)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.January.28. 11:06:13
Yes, but that online WIFI method has been dropped since the internal Jtag is being used.

An internal CPLD update needs the SF3 to be completely unplugged from the Enterprise and the adapters, because some short-circuits can happen on the programmable chip, breaking the SF3.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: geco on 2021.January.28. 11:06:43
And if the card faulty and system crashing? :oops: (Tutus's card...)
Understand the problem, i do not know if DfuSe shows the info about the firmware at the top right corner when you plug SF3 for a firmware update. page 14 bottom.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.January.28. 11:09:58
Tutus' SF3 crashes when connected to the EP, but not when connected to the PC by the USB DFU cable. Or at least is what I know.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.January.28. 11:53:32
OK.... I misunderstood all the conversation... it happens for reading too fast.

The SF3 has a diagnosis port at the rear, a 6 pin header, that is used for developing. It reacts on real time with the SF3.

I use Putty to connect to it with a USB to serial module (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9716).

(https://cdn.sparkfun.com//assets/parts/3/6/2/9/09716-SparkFun_FTDI_Basic_Breakout_-_5V-01.jpg)

The LOG file is also written to this port, so you can know what firmware version the SF3 has.

The pin-out is exactly the same.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.January.28. 13:12:30
Actually the settings of the serial port are: 256000 baud, data bits 8, stop bit 1.

Also the MIDI data modes can be monitored, and then the settings are: 31250 baud, data bits 8, stop bit 1.


The program I use on the PC side is PuTTy (https://www.putty.org/).
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.January.28. 13:23:06
Also, there is a copy of the LOG file that is stored on the SD every time the SF3 is updated. You can read the DFU version in the file.

Search on the SF3 SD directory:  SD:/SYSTEM/LOGBOOK.TXT


The easier method, sorry for remembering it the last.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2021.January.28. 16:43:18
Search on the SF3 SD directory:  SD:/SYSTEM/LOGBOOK.TXT
Thanks!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2021.January.29. 14:32:35
Updated my card to the latest DFU, now start with "WIFI UPDATE NEEDED"... but on TMT page only found CPC version of Wifi update :oops:
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.January.29. 14:49:46
Proceed to internally update the CPLD. Connect the SF3 to the PC with the DFU cable, but with the DFU switch on the lower position. Press reset. The OLED screen will show you "Z80 update needed" or a similar text. press the middle button and wait wilr the OLED shows "Updating". On "OK" you can re-connect the SF3 to the EP.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.January.29. 14:52:36
Ah!, ok.... again I have read faster than needed....

You must update wifi loading a file from your phone(from Windows it fails).

I don't remember well the procedure, wait.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.January.30. 23:55:29
Wonderful Hungarian Civil Radio has changed its IP, so it is no more working on the SymbOS WebRadio app. Tomorrow I will release a new fixed version.

This is the new IP (http://92.119.121.107:8000/stream.mp3).
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.January.31. 19:25:15
Fixed WebRadio.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: ron on 2021.February.05. 00:24:26
SymbiFace III installed and running. This is awesome !
is there any way to run IS-DOS over the USB Storage ?

I'm still getting used to the symbiface, but it's very promising. Thanks to Hans and GFlorez.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: geco on 2021.February.05. 10:40:31
IS-DOS is not working, but you can load programs from usb, if you do not have EXDOS in your config, just load as you did it before, if you have, before loading, enter :DEF_DEV_FILE
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.February.15. 11:42:00
I have promoted the last beta update to official, because it fixed one elusive error on Tutus' SF3 after some months of tests and shipping from Hungary to The Netherlands and then return to Zozo's place.

As always, you can find the link to download it on the TMTLogic web page, Support (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oB4hK69VODDx04XLaXJwGLEbGX-OmYD3?usp=sharing).
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2021.February.21. 22:53:03
SF3 (CPC version) is playing MIDI with EMR midi software.   
We are busy with a MIDI adaptor for the Enterprise

https://youtu.be/YXQ2acY_SA0 (https://youtu.be/YXQ2acY_SA0)

Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2021.February.21. 23:06:10
OK.... I misunderstood all the conversation... it happens for reading too fast.

The SF3 has a diagnosis port at the rear, a 6 pin header, that is used for developing. It reacts on real time with the SF3.

I use Putty to connect to it with a USB to serial module (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9716).

(https://cdn.sparkfun.com//assets/parts/3/6/2/9/09716-SparkFun_FTDI_Basic_Breakout_-_5V-01.jpg)

The LOG file is also written to this port, so you can know what firmware version the SF3 has.

The pin-out is exactly the same.

(Attachment Link)

Note:  There are 2 versions... 5 volt and 3,3 Volt.      you needed the 3,3 Volt version
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2021.February.23. 14:41:33
SF3 (CPC version) is playing MIDI with EMR midi software.  
We are busy with a MIDI adaptor for the Enterprise

https://youtu.be/YXQ2acY_SA0 (https://youtu.be/YXQ2acY_SA0)

:smt038 :smt038 :smt038
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Povi on 2021.February.23. 14:47:30
We are busy with a MIDI adaptor for the Enterprise
https://youtu.be/YXQ2acY_SA0 (https://youtu.be/YXQ2acY_SA0)
Is it a standalone stuff, or requires sf3 interface?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.February.23. 21:26:53
Yes, it needs to connect to the rear of the SF3, sorry....

Hans has designed it to sit on one of the slots on the Bus expander(CPC or EP), but it only draws +5v and ground from the slot. I think it can work even with 3X1,5v cells or with an external +5v power supply. It is a good idea to put it on a box near the SF3 adapter.

Fist I will try the PCB on a little batch of 5 interfaces, if it is error free, Hans will release the gerbers(the PCB design to order from China).  

We think it is the best solution, because it is easy to build and the parts can be found on every country. We all will save on shipping.

Maybe Zozo wants to produce the Midi interface for  Hungarian users. I will make it for the Spanish and near countries users and Hans for the rest.

Of course, other solutions will be welcomed.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2021.February.23. 21:33:13

I advise you not to make too many Midi interfaces. because I am already working on the successor of the SF3. the RSF3
this RSF3 has a MIDI interface on board as standard

It is not yet clear when the Enterprise version will be released, the CPC version must work first.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.March.01. 16:48:27
I have published two new short videos about the SF3 development. This time is again about Midi, but with a difference. Scoretrack, the program inside the Rom of the never released Enterprise MIDI cartridge interface, was able to play some already made songs(MIDI OUT), but has limited use because its editor is broken, and we don't have an external song converter for it.

Then I thought about some software from CPC or MSX, but first their standard MIDI interfaces have to be emulated by the SF3.

Starting from the CPC scene, there are some MIDI interfaces, but only one is totally documented and with software: EMR Miditrack Performer, with the same UART chip used than the Enterprise MIDI interface attempt.

Some weeks ago Hans managed to emulate the EMR CPC interface (http://hardware.speccy.org/temp/Amstrad-EMR-MIDI.html) on the SF3, so I asked Hans the same on the Enterprise SF3. Then I passed the EMR Miditrack Performer software to Geco, that has managed to convert it at least to work on his own CPCemu. This is what you will see on the videos, Hans&Geco's magic.

The program is slightly faster on the Enterprise, about a 13%, so I have modified the beats per second on it to test it at the side of the CPC...

Don't expect a complete sequencer/player on it..... only weights 8KB, but what it intents to do is correctly done. It works like a cassette player recorder, but for Midi streams instead of sounds. But it can record 8 different tracks, and also mix incoming midi with the data in memory, so it can give a lot of entertainment.

On the other side... again its files aren't standard Midi files, you can't play here your collection of Midi songs. But.... you can record them instead, and then save the songs as EMR files. I have already made the test and it saves  the incoming song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHJ694FttD4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtfeFkSeBTs

I hope that Geco's next step with the software would be a real conversion.



Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2021.March.02. 20:44:41
I have published two new short videos about the SF3 development. This time is again about Midi, but with a difference. Scoretrack, the program inside the Rom of the never released Enterprise MIDI cartridge interface, was able to play some already made songs(MIDI OUT), but has limited use because its editor is broken, and we don't have an external song converter for it.
This is fantastic! Gustavo, thank you for this miracle. :smt038 :smt038 :smt038
And to Geco too! I'm looking forward to the MIDI card for SF3 :)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.April.14. 12:09:32
First test Midi-Adapter batch almost finished. Price still not fixed.

[attach=1]

Here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LOlxQ62GioeAn3UOV1WWRzdLCY5wFZBd/view?usp=sharing) you can see it managing the next to release EMR Performer program, another fine conversion from Geco.

 

Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: szipucsu on 2021.April.14. 12:57:02
Here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LOlxQ62GioeAn3UOV1WWRzdLCY5wFZBd/view?usp=sharing)
This sounds cool! What is the song? I have heard it.
Geco seems to be a full time developer for the Enterprise which is also great. :D
The only thing I missed during this video is some Spanish speech. :D
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2021.April.14. 13:24:50
The song is Van Halen's "Jump! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwYN7mTi6HM)", still a pleasurable sound nowadays, not like the group aspect and behaviour on the video... Here in Spain we call it "verguenza ajena", something like self embarrassment from others' attitude...



Edit: I am not criticizing the long hair nor the clothing they use, but I am against the use of drugs on public. Some of the members are visibly stoned(doped) on this video, and from my point of view it is not a good influence for children.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2022.March.31. 11:54:56
A new update has been released.

It corrects a multitude of errors and also adds a lot of new developer(internal) functions needed for future promising options.

You can find the DFU file on the usual place on the Drive (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oB4hK69VODDx04XLaXJwGLEbGX-OmYD3?usp=sharing). Remember also to update the CPLD. You have instructions to update just in case you don't remember how. Ask me any doubt.

There is also an HEX file that contains the same update but uses a new program to upgrade the SF3 named Cube Programmer. ST recommends to migrate to the new software, but Hans will continue supporting the old DFU upgrade program.

Don't hesitate to moment any issues you could find.

Thanks.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: geco on 2022.March.31. 14:13:36
File handling of SF3BOOT ROM will not work with USB, because file handling changed a bit in the new DFU, i will create new SF3BOOT ROM.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2022.March.31. 15:18:46
I better remove the update, then Hans will include your new  Rom in it.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2022.October.19. 11:49:44
I tried to update my SF3 to SF3_EP_20221005.dfu what I got from Geco but don't work. I executed both DFU and CPLD update process. At power on write a ERR, and no Wifi, no RAM, no ROMs, just the built in SF3 ROM present. If I switch back to 2021 January DFUs (what I have saved), then working. Tried many times install the 2022 October DFU, still not working. I noticed when install 2021 January DFUs, at the first poweron start a long Downloading procedure. Probably updating CPLD? With 2022 DFU no Downloading, just ERR... Probably something changed between 2021 January and 2022 October... Where are collection of ALL DFUs? Probably need to install step-by-step 2021 January, 2021 February, 2021 March, 2021 April, etc, etc, etc...
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2022.October.19. 13:35:03
You can find the DFU file on the usual place on the Drive (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oB4hK69VODDx04XLaXJwGLEbGX-OmYD3?usp=sharing).
I found two DFUs here.
20210226 working.
20220328 not working (ERR).
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: John Fante on 2022.October.19. 20:22:53
I tried to update my SF3 to SF3_EP_20221005.dfu what I got from Geco but don't work.

Is that a public version or is the latest official still the latest version on google drive: 20220328?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2022.October.20. 06:23:18
Zozo found the solution: On the latest updates it is actually necessary to have the pen-drive plugged at boot. This was not the usual behaviour on earlier updates.

Soon a fixed version will be available that will not trigger an error when the pen-drive is not plugged(not aborting further execution of the INI file), but still is recommendable to have it plugged on the very first boot after an update, because some needed files may be automatically downloaded from the TMT web page.

The next "proper" update release will bring other juicy new features that Hans and Geco are working on.... This is the reason of the beta update from Geco that Zozo was trying.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2022.November.17. 16:54:42
:ds_icon_cheesygrin:
[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2022.November.17. 21:11:06
Great job :)
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Tutus on 2022.November.17. 21:42:09
:ds_icon_cheesygrin:
(Attachment Link)
:smt038 :smt038 :smt038
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: ron on 2022.November.18. 12:24:43
Awesome !!!
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2022.November.26. 10:39:37
New "face" is coming for the RSF3 EP version:

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2022.November.26. 12:50:42
What are the RSF3 extras? What the big screen do?
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2022.November.26. 17:11:22
RSF3 is extended version of the SF3

some points:

- faster ARM dual core processor
- faster Wi-Fi
- DAC
- MIDI
- FM RADIO
- TFT settings / APPS
- FTP
- IR Remote Control
- SID
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: TMTLOGIC on 2022.November.26. 17:14:41
https://youtu.be/RPJ7pgqZFNc
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2022.November.26. 19:07:04
The touch screen allows better control of the inner settings of the device. For example, romtables are set doing clicks on the screen, SID player, FM player, are like apps on the screen.

Maybe a video would show better how it actually works.

Later.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2022.November.27. 02:00:06
Ok, I have managed to take this short video (https://drive.google.com/file/d/14UjJQTMFWPbw57loSK8-Y2scNBw2rCPA/view?usp=sharing) with my phone on my left hand while I was playing with my right hand on the little screen.

The idea is that the RSF3 can also work stand alone, not connected to the host computer.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Kapitany on 2023.March.11. 13:06:02
Hi there! Where can I find the most recent firmware for the SF3? I find only .hex files at the usual place, but using those I cannot update with the DFuse program. Did anything change in the update process? :)

Thx!
K.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2023.March.11. 13:30:13
I using this DFU. And there is my ROM for using USB drive with EXDOS.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2023.March.12. 00:08:22
The DFU programm it is no more recommended for updating the (R)SF3, because it has become obsolete.

Instead, the STM32 Cube programmer (https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stm32cubeprog.html) has been proposed. It uses such .HEX tagged update files, again with the same DFU cable.

It is as easy to manage as the old program, and soon I will start here a tutorial on how to use it.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2023.March.15. 11:44:39
Just waiting for the RSF3 prototype. It will arrive tomorrow.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: geco on 2023.March.16. 08:02:44
Just waiting for the RSF3 prototype. It will arrive tomorrow.
:smt038
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2023.March.16. 22:32:06
I am still doing some tests.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: Zozosoft on 2023.March.16. 22:45:49
Just that huge stick... :shock:
And what is that big white connector? For a cable tv? :-D
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2023.March.16. 23:14:35
The black stick is not so big, it is a WIFI antenna for better communications, and the white connector is for an external FM antenna. It is not the standard here in Spain, so I use an adapter.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2023.March.27. 11:12:42
Here you have the SF3 manual for updating the unit using the Cube Programmer (https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stm32cubeprog.html)(new HEX type updates). The use of the programming tool in the new  RSF3  is exactly the same.

Any questions are welcome.
Title: Re: SymbiFace3 is near your Enterprise...
Post by: gflorez on 2024.March.06. 12:29:53
Related with Geco's Wide scroll (https://enterpriseforever.com/basic/fenyujsag-mi-a-mano-mikro-magazin-198910/msg90774/#msg90774), the video attached  shows the purpose of it.

In words from Hans:  "Right cpc scrolls a text and sends output to left cpc through TMTNET.
So, I can make a banner and send it to many computers"

A little explanation:

TMTNET is a net for 8 bit computers that Hans continues developing for some decades. It comes included on every shape of SymbiFace3, also on the Enterprise version.

He has just released a stand-alone TMTNET MSX cartridge, so he is now very active developing multi-player games for it, both in Basic and in Quigs(SymbOS) versions. Programs in SymbOS are made multi-computer(CPC, MSX, Enterprise, PCW), but for the test he is programming on CPC Basic, then later the listings will be translated to the other computer's Basic(probably a task for me).

About the games, we are testing some easy to implement games, TicTacToe, UNO or Ludo. All include a 4 lines chat while playing. Imagine playing while chatting with Hans in The Netherlands, Teopl from Servia and me from Spain... Some games are only for two players, but others are for up to 4 or 7 players... all in remote.

On SymbOS the games work on 4 or 16 colour modes, so there is no need of a V9990 cartridge on the EP or the CPC, but recommended.

Here you have some pictures:

[attach=2][attach=3][attach=4][attach=5][attach=6][attach=7]