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2008-01-05 22:17

6R6

Registered: Feb 2002
Posts: 245

CMD RamLink and RamDrive

Hello,
coming up is N0SD0S for CMD RamLink and CMD RamDrive:

Currently we have only implemented loading,
saving will be implemented soon, and we're
looking into how to make it work with irq-loading as well.

I wonder how many here have these devices, and I wonder
if you are willing to test your devices with our new
N0SD0S loader ?

I dont expect a rush of YES! here but i think somone
out there has a different ramlink version than me, and
maybe even a ramdrive.

Btw, the RamLink I have here uses 4mb ram and
its dos version number is:
73, cmd rl dos v2.01,00,00

cheeeeers!

.:[ GRG ]:.

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2008-01-25 00:27

Copyfault

Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 468

Today I took the time to test at least one of the RamLinks we have in 'the shelter'. It has the following numbers printed on the back:
serial No. RL000813
rev. G

Test 2 was possible without any probs; loading of all 32 text pages worked fine. I tried the two different RL-'modes' (normal/direct), the SWAP8-key, different partitions and subdirectories.

Test 1 was a different story. It took me at least half an hour before I got _any_ sensible effect. The program kept crashing after some loading and depacking action (text fragments like 'trotzdem...' and 'saving saving saving...' could be seen just before the crash ended in a reset). Then suddenly it worked; my first thought was that it must be run from partition 1, but some further tests revealed that the 'Test 1'-procedure worked from _any_ partition, also if started in a subdir! Maybe this was some kind of hw-prob (too cold??? - don't know). By 'it worked' I mean the very same as for Test 2: all the 3 textpages were loaded and saved correctly, all pix were shown correctly and the loader+saver was partition/SWAP8/subdir-sensitive.

As I had a SCPU lying around I also tried if the loaders work for RL+SCPU... this apparently didn't work - not that I expected it to do so;)

That's it for today - next report as soon as I get my hands on another RL!

cF

2008-01-27 01:56

6R6

Registered: Feb 2002
Posts: 245

Thanks copyfault,

The loader is designed to run from the current device number - there's no need to use the Swap 8/9 buttons.

The test-1 problems sounded strange.
On my c64 here I have to use a jumperclip cable for
proper timing operations. Without this cable the RamLink
won't work properly. Maybe you dont have this cable ?

The SCPU is set to 1mhz mode by the installer.

My Ramlink is attached to an old C64,
the switches and cables are like this:

Ramlink jumperclip cable is attached to a pin inside c64
No cartridge in ram port
No cartridge in pass-thru port
Enable switch is on
Normal switch is on

Serial: RL 003498
Revision: 2D

GRG

2008-01-27 02:14

6R6

Registered: Feb 2002
Posts: 245

One thing i forgot to mention about that test-1 program.
When scanning the iffl file it will print each block
it reads to the screen at $0600-$0700.
If a error happens during scanning ( such as illegal track+sector or read error ) the program will reset the
c64 with jmp $fce2.

When scanner has completed you will see some text
on the screen from the last save file. It will be
shown for a few seconds until loader has been installed.

Then the screen is cleared with white color and the demo starts.

GRG

2008-01-28 14:04

Copyfault

Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 468

Hi GRG,

yes, I most probably forgot about the cable. Next time I will try to use a C128 as the RL manual says that this cable is not needed for the 'big brother of the C64'. If I can find the cable I'll do some tests with a cable-patched C64, too.

Skern also did some tests with his RL - here is a brief list of his experiences:

setup: RL hooked to the scpu64 on a C128 (64 mode)

i) scpu turned off, 4 partitions: 1. nat 256, 2. nat 256, 3. 1541 emulation, 4. nat (rest of RAM, don't know the correct size), files for 'Test 1' copied to part. 4.
SWAP8 on, starting the loader gives
---
/*
n0sd0s v1.3
scanning
73,cmd rl dos v2.01,00,00

bOrtzde
m gern..
saving
saving saving
vL@dthi
s is the
---
on the screen followed by a reset

ii) SWAP8 off, loader starts, pictures are loaded, but on the 2nd loop the Terminator-pic is corrupted and the proggy freezes

iii) SCPU on, speed set to slow, only one partition installed on the RL with the thwo files from 'Test 1'. Program resets after 'run'

iv) same as iii) but SCPU off -> works 100%

Now the results of Skern's results for 'Test 2':

v) RL only has one partition, files for 'Test 2' copied to it. SCPU on gives corrupted data on the screen

vi) same as v) with scpu off -> works 100%

vii) RL partition setup as in i), SCPU off; here

@cp4
/*

works fine, but

@cp1
/4:*

gives 'file not found'

That's all from Skern up to now! I'll keep on bombing this thread with experiences as soon as I get fresh reports or find the time to do tests on my own.

I'm off - CF

2008-01-29 07:38

6R6

Registered: Feb 2002
Posts: 245

http://home.eunet.no/~ggallefo/pics/ND13-RAMLINK-Test1-NTSCFIX...

ntsc fixed version..

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