W4IPA

@W4IPA@mastodon.radio
72 Followers
42 Following
46 Posts
Ham radio operator, retro computer nerd, electrical engineer. I have way too many unfinished projects.
Proverbs 3:5-6
My Websitehttps://w4ipa.dev
W4IPAAug 8, 2023
Anyone good with CRTs? I modded my SSM-14n5u to add RGB and it has these weird lines in the upper left, and my on screen menu bounces around and is sometimes distorted when there is no video signal. When I do have a video signal everything is fine… #retrocomputing #retrogaming
W4IPAJul 24, 2023
Finally joined the Trinitron gang and absolutely loving it. Just need to RGB mod it now. #retrocomputing
W4IPAJul 20, 2023
Mockingboard is assembled and ready to be tested! #retrocomputing
W4IPAJul 13, 2023
Not much, but started playing with CC65, still trying to figure out where proDOS fits in all this.
#retrocomputing
Show threadW4IPAJul 11, 2023
The really interesting thing about this card is that bold text is inverted for some reason. Would really like to dump that ROM and compare it to others. #retrocomputing
W4IPAJul 11, 2023
Trying to identify this very obscure MGA card. Google is failing me. The Sertek chip really seems to be the one of interest. Anyone have any ideas? #retrocomputing
W4IPAJul 10, 2023
Picked up this enhanced Apple //e at VCF a couple weeks ago and have to admit I’ve been underwhelmed by it after playing with my C64 for the past year. Were my expectations too high or am I missing something? Admittedly I don’t have a mockingboard for it yet, but I haven’t decided if it’s worth shelling out the $85 for it. The homebrew scene seems drastically smaller than the commodore one. #retrocomputing
W4IPAJul 9, 2023
So I bought this startech CF to IDE adapter. It works fine, but after many hours of debugging my cdrom drive (and some forum posts to confirm), it turns out it has an issue… Even though the slave portion of the PCB is unoccupied, it still occupies the slave portion of the bus blocking secondary devices. Uggghhh #retrocomputing
W4IPAJul 7, 2023
Cheap eraser from amazon. It’s so crusty, let’s see how 5 min does
W4IPAJul 7, 2023
Not sure why this amuses me so much, but running linux on a 8088 machine is awesome #retrocomputing
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W4IPAJul 11, 2023
Trying to identify this very obscure MGA card. Google is failing me. The Sertek chip really seems to be the one of interest. Anyone have any ideas? #retrocomputing
Show threadW4IPAJul 11, 2023
The really interesting thing about this card is that bold text is inverted for some reason. Would really like to dump that ROM and compare it to others. #retrocomputing
Show threadF4JWJ, PierreJul 11, 2023

@W4IPA
My first though is that this chip may be a logic array.

Picture of a Multitech MDA board on the vgamuseum.info site.

https://www.vgamuseum.info/images/palcal/umc/394_um6845_multitech_top_hq.jpg

This board's SCX6212 is a logic array.

Notable difference :

- The Multitech has 4k memory (as the original IBM MDA).

- Your card has 64k memory

Why that much memory in a MDA board ?

Is there a possibility that your board is compatible with other modes like CGA or Hercules ?

Show threadW4IPAJul 11, 2023
@F4JWJ I think it’s some sort of Hercules clone card since it has the 64K of memory
Show threadF4JWJ, PierreJul 11, 2023
@W4IPA You will be able to run X11 ! 😜
Show threadW4IPAJul 11, 2023
@F4JWJ lol, I just need to get linux running on the 8088
Show threadThe Penguin of EvilJul 11, 2023
@W4IPA @F4JWJ No X but https://github.com/jbruchon/elks/releases/tag/v0.6.0
Release ELKS v0.6.0 · jbruchon/elks

ELKS v0.6.0 Downloads Prebuilt disk images for floppy and hard disks are downloadable below from Github Assets for this release. These images can be used to boot from PC/XT/AT or PC-98 hardware, or...

GitHub
Show threadF4JWJ, PierreJul 11, 2023

@W4IPA I didn't find any mention of a framebuffer in the ELKS doc (quick browse of the github).

But there is a mention of a mouse connexion for Nano X.

Had a quick look at the Nano-X source on github : ELKS is a build target.

A more in depth look shows some references to Hercules, but ELKS **seems** limited to EGA/VGA - (has to be checked !)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwindows

Have fun !
My 2¢

Microwindows - Wikipedia

Show threadW4IPAJul 11, 2023

@F4JWJ i have a VGA card that works on the 8-bit system but it doesn’t have a bracket. Haven’t thought of a solution yet.

I would love to get a CGA or EGA card

Show threadPulkoMandyJul 11, 2023
@W4IPA have you tried matching it with the pictures in total hardware 99? https://th99.preterhuman.net/v/v8ISA_i.htm
Show threadW4IPAJul 11, 2023

@pulkomandy i used a website similar, haven’t heard of this one. There were some that looked a bit similar. This one looks to be the same, just a different layout

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175646201694

Vintage Amdek 6042 MGP Monochrome Graphic Card | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Amdek 6042 MGP Monochrome Graphic Card at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

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