Dick Smith Super 80 computer kit

[Robert]

Warm is norm, hot is not.

 

If the test mode fails to work, you will have to check the voltages and waveforms on the Z80 and the eproms.

 

The test mode is described in the Technical Manual on pages 31 and 32, although it's not referred to as the test mode.

 

I don't know if you have the Assembly Manual, if you do, read page 19.

 

The required modification for 2532 eproms is listed on page 2 of Appendix F of the Technical Manual, and page 16 of the Assembly Manual. Look at the bottom of the board, under U26 (monitor rom), and if you can see a cut track then it's already done.

 

The other mod, involving some extra ICs, is detailed on page 14 of the Assembly Manual.

 

 

edit: oops, i forgot to welcome you to 1emulation!!

[Peter]

Warm is norm, hot is not.

 

If the test mode fails to work, you will have to check the voltages and waveforms on the Z80 and the eproms.

 

The test mode is described in the Technical Manual on pages 31 and 32, although it's not referred to as the test mode.

 

OK. I found that, I had read it before but forgot about it. It's a bit vague but it does make sense now.

 

I don't know if you have the Assembly Manual, if you do, read page 19.

 

No, I have the Technical Manual (B 3600) and BASIC Handbook (B 3602] I'd like to see the assembly manual I'm assuming its cat# B 3601. Strangely though the tech manual has "assembly manual" at the top of each page. I think the original owner may have misplaced the Assembly Manual.

 

The required modification for 2532 eproms is listed on page 2 of Appendix F of the Technical Manual, and page 16 of the Assembly Manual. Look at the bottom of the board, under U26 (monitor rom), and if you can see a cut track then it's already done.

 

The other mod, involving some extra ICs, is detailed on page 14 of the Assembly Manual.

 

OK. I found that too but the work looks dodgy, a couple of traces have been ripped off (fried perhaps) and replaced with point to point wiring, the track in question has been cut. I put the logic probe on the CE pin for U26 and it's never in the lo state (selected) same pin on U33 oscillates. Looks like I need to do some intensive work with logic probe and tracing with continuity tester.

edit: oops, i forgot to welcome you to 1emulation!!

 

Cool, I'm impressed with the presentation, I'll have a snoop around when I get time. Anyway I really appreciate your help with this, to me it's invaluable! I've always held a fascination for the Super-80 and I'm determined to see it working.

 

Cheers,

Peter.

[Robert]

The Assembly Manual comes with the kit, and therefore has no part number of its own. It has the kit's part number, K-3600.

 

The other books I have are:

* Monitor Handbook

* B-3606 Dick Smith's First Book of Super 80 Programs

* Software for the Super-80 Computer

* The assembly manual for the Printer Interface

 

Here's my complete list of Dick Smith part numbers:

K3600 SUPER 80 COMPUTER KIT

K3601 COMPUTER KEYBOARD

K3602 TAPE BASIC

K3603 OPTIONAL IC SOCKET PACK

K3604 ROM BASIC

K3606 S100 EXPANSION KIT

K3607 SUPER 80 DELUXE CHARACTER GENERATOR

K3610 PRINTER INTERFACE FOR THE SUPER 80

B3600 SUPER 80 TECHNICAL MANUAL

B3602 SUPER 80 BASIC HANDBOOK

B3606 FIRST BOOK OF SUPER 80 PROGRAMS

H2515 MOULDED PLASTIC CASE FOR THE TRANSFORMER

H3200 SUPER 80 CASE

H8402 SUPER 80 CIRCUIT BOARD

M2325 TRANSFORMER

A2461 MOLEX CONNECTOR FOR TRANSFORMER SECONDARY

P4160 16-PIN SOCKET FOR RAM

X1186 16K EXPANSION RAM

X3607 HORSE RACE GAME

X3790 DEBUG-80 SUPER-80 DEBUGGER DISASSEMBLER

X3791 EDIT-80 SUPER-80 EDITOR ASSEMBLER

X3792 DUNGEON DILEMMA GAME

[Peter]

Wow, that's a comprehensive assortment, thanks for that. Do you have the EA articles? I'm wondering if they're worth buying? Or is it just a rehash from the technical manual?

[Peter]

Robert,

 

I've made a bit of progress with the Super-80. After swapping out the 1 of 8 decoder IC 74LS138 I get a random jumble of characters on the screen but there are white solid verticle bars superimpossed on top of the characters at each and every character position. It looks like the Char Generator is outputting 1's for the MSBs (bits 5 and 6). I might have to make one from an EPROM or locate one on the net somewhere. I was hoping this chip would be OK.

 

Cheers,

Peter.

[Robert]

If you're using IC sockets they will very likely be causing problems.

Check the voltages both at the pin and on the board to be sure.

 

I have the EA article but it's exactly the same as the Assembly Manual.

 

Perhaps we need to organise a visit sometime, I have a spare Assembly Manual.

[Peter]

If you're using IC sockets they will very likely be causing problems.

Check the voltages both at the pin and on the board to be sure.

 

Ok. The output pins (bit 5 and 6) on the 2513 are constantly hi (pin level) this carries on over to the 74LS165 shift register. At this stage I think the 2513 is cactus. I'm missing an 81LS95 chip too. The 74LS795 is a substitute but that looks scarse too.

 

I have the EA article but it's exactly the same as the Assembly Manual.

 

Perhaps we need to organise a visit sometime, I have a spare Assembly Manual.

 

Yes, I'm not sure I can get to Campbeltown any time soon, I'm in the middle of house renovations. That's consuming a lot of my time lately.

[Robert]

No, I meant coming to your place. I have a spare 2513.

I have a bunch of spare chips somewhere, could be a 81LS95 there, who knows.

 

It's a pity you don't have the lowercase kit, then you wouldn't need the 2513.

[Peter]

No, I meant coming to your place. I have a spare 2513.

 

I have a bunch of spare chips somewhere, could be a 81LS95 there, who knows.

 

Sure, that would be great. Do you come up this way much? I'll be flat out next week end (11/11) but following (18/11) should be OK, if you drop me an email I'll send you my address etc. Let me know what you want for the chips.

 

It's a pity you don't have the lowercase kit, then you wouldn't need the 2513.

 

How complex is it? If there are no obsolete parts I could cobble one up.

[Robert]

Would Sunday the 19th be ok?

 

I seem to recall that a 81LS97 could be used in place of the 81LS95.

 

The lowercase kit consist of one eprom and what looks like a 74LS166.

[Peter]

Sunday 19th would be OK. Email me at ************ and I'll send you my details etc.

 

Would Sunday the 19th be ok?

 

I seem to recall that a 81LS97 could be used in place of the 81LS95.

 

The lowercase kit consist of one eprom and what looks like a 74LS166.

 

I think that's what it says in the manual. I couldn't find the 74LS795 in any catalogs it might be just as scarce. Perhaps the lowe case board could be made up from scratch. I'm looking for double ended machine pin headers for this sort of thing. I'm not sure what they're called though.

Edited November 4, 2006 by Robert

[Robert]

We used to call them "dip headers" and they were available at any parts store. Well, back then they were.

 

I'll send you an email shortly.

 

What chip position (Uxx) is the missing 81LS95 used in?

[Peter]

OK. 81LS95 is missing from either U4 or U12, I have one of them but removed the chips for testing. This is the S100 interface. I think the 74LS174 is faulty, there's lots of noise coming out if the 0V pin and this drives the relay transistor and LED etc.

 

 

We used to call them "dip headers" and they were available at any parts store. Well, back then they were.

 

I'll send you an email shortly.

 

What chip position (Uxx) is the missing 81LS95 used in?

[Robert]

Aha! Unless you are planning on using the Printer Interface card (which contains a serial and a parallel port), I wouldn't worry about the S100 area.

 

If the 0v pin (pin of U18 is not zero volts, then it's not grounded properly.

 

There are some mistakes in the circuit diagram around U18 (on my copy at least).

 

Make sure that on the left side of the chip it shows pins 2,7,10,12,15,5 and the right side should show

3 D0, 6 D2, 11 D3, 13 D4, 14 D5, 4 D1.

 

 

edit: I've sent you an email, and I removed the address from your post, to spare you from the spammers.

Edited November 5, 2006 by Robert

[Peter]

OK. I should've checked the grounding of that chip, there seems to be a lot of gunk on the pins too and this could be afftecting the operation. I'll check the schematic as you suggest. I think I've noticed a few discrepancies between board and shematic.