Text screen for Spectrum.

The idea of ​​making a subject has appeared to many people. But it needs to be done simply,
so simply that most of the spektrumists can make
the necessary modifications to their computers. Everything, as always, rested on slow
memory. I’m not proposing anything fundamentally new, but if the computer has already been
modified to 512x192 mode, then half of the work to implement the subject is already done.

What is needed:

1. Add a BS signal to the address formation (border on the line).
2. Remove 3 minor ones address signals - 8 identical lines each.
3. Between the shift register and the video RAM output, install a high-speed
character generator ROM.

EVERYTHING! Monochrome text mode 112x24 is ready (in reality it will be ~90x24).
Extra characters along the edges on the border will be spaces.

The whole knife fight will basically come down to connecting the ROM and AP5(6) in parallel.
You will also need everyone’s favorite KP11 to switch all the signals (3 junior
which are disconnected and 1 which will go from the BS + you need to turn on 512x192). Well,
you need to submit a ROM to ChipSelect through the inverter from CS AP5(6), which will go to
switching KP11 (and CS is on GND). I hope I explained it clearly...
I don’t want to deal with ASCII-ART.

Addressing the screen will be a little strange, but everything can be corrected by software
and it doesn’t require many clock cycles. If you wish, you canmake 32 lines of text in height
- this is even better IMHO, but there are more details for one more KP11.

Now, of course, they will say that why is this necessary, but there is no software...

And Masdai 512x192 for the sake of one melon was not worth soldering?

Well, what are the advantages - the main thing is that the screen itself takes up less memory,
and there are fewer clock cycles just need it for maintenance. And frame scrolling and
hz. what can you do? But only the character generator is fixed 8x8.

Take CP/M as an example - the brake is immeasurable... And that's why - displaying 1 letter on the screen slows down. And LARA? And in Melon, how do the letters in the terminal
disappear? So my point is that it’s high time to introduce more promising
ideas, even the sprinter already has a text screen. There is no need to take an Amiga, it
has a RISKY percentage, and the PC has a text screen since 1981! And in CP/M machines
it was just like that... Because the text screen is the most effective screen
in the world, especially if it is black and white, or even better, black and green...

P.S. Should I draw a diagram? I myself would have checked everything on my Spectrum a long time ago,
but it would completely fall apart from this :-( Already now it’s not the board,
but a large skein of MGTF that is falling apart. Well, if someone in 5030 on conditions close to the echo tag
SPB.HALYAVA gives/sells a Spectrum board like Scorpio or KAY, then how
will time, I'll do it...

Kirill Frolov. [ZX]

Thu 3 Jun 1999 you wrote here:

KF> The idea of ​​making a subject appeared to many people. But it needs to be done simply,
KF> so simply that most of the spektrumists could make
KF> the necessary modifications to their computers.

Here. The introduction is wonderful!
But there is a lot to do. Although the subject is a very necessary thing.

Georgy Shepelev once suggested attaching a video card from the PC to the Spec - imho
it would have been cooler and less work to do.

KF> 3. Between the shift register and the output of the video RAM, put
KF> high-speed
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
KF> Character generator ROM.

556RT7?! Excuse me. It eats a lot and, most importantly, it’s difficult to sew. And RF2 is a brake. :(
Can we pick out some imported RAM from the PC and make a loadable cash generator?
But there they are at least 32K, it seems, and this is a bit much.

Imho no one will do this in their computer.

All the best.
Sincerely Roman.

07 Jun 99 12:06, Roman Milukov wrote to Kirill Frolov:

RM> Once Georgy Shepelev suggested attaching a video card from the PC to Speck
RM> - imho it would be cooler and less hassle.

IMHO not the worst idea. Yes, and replace the mother with a stump one... ;-(

RM> 556RT7?! Excuse me. It eats a lot and, most importantly, it’s difficult to sew. And RF2 is a brake.

Yes, you can do it for 100ns, just extend the circulation until the next cycle.

RM> :( Can we pick out some imported RAM from the PC and make a loadable
RM> cash generator? But there they are at least 32K, it seems, and this
RM> is a bit much.

If the downloaded one is 6..8 pieces of AP5, IR23.

RM> No one, imho, will do this on their computer.

Well, it’s always like this... And why, after all, you understand pentium... ;-(

Kirill Frolov. [ZX]

RM> Once upon a time, Georgy Shepelev suggested attaching a video card from the PC to Speck -
RM> imho
RM> it would be cooler and there would be less to do.

8-((( o ))))

Uh-uh-how is that anyway???
And there the frame and line frequencies change depending on the
resolution... :-7
I tried to connect to the b/w monitor - nothing good has worked out so far.... :(

That's it, bye! Vladimir Galtscev.

RM>> - imho it would be cooler and there would be less work to do.

KF> IMHO not the worst idea. Yes, and replace the mother with a stump one... ;-(

Better shut up about the mother!
And the PC video card is the most realistic. It is difficult (almost impossible)
to force any significant number of users to go into their computers and sculpt
a relatively complex text mode scheme there. Attaching a video card
is quite easy.
Once in ZX.SPECTRUM (right now I don’t know what’s going on there), I remember they talked about the new
video card for Spec and forgot about it :(

Sat 12 Jun 1999 you wrote here:

RM>> Once upon a time Georgy Shepelev suggested attaching a video card from the PC to the Spec -
RM>> imho
RM>> it would be cooler and less business.

VG> Uh-uh-what’s that like anyway???
VG> And there too frame and line frequencies change depending on the
VG> resolution... :-7
VG> I tried to connect it to a b/w monitor - nothing good has worked out yet
VG>... :(

The monitor is connected to the card. Does it work on the PC?

RM>>> from the PC - imho it would be cooler and less business.

RM> The monitor is connected to the card. Does it work on the PC?

Only you need a monitor that matches the CARD!

Kirill Frolov. [ZX]