FINALLY, AN AFFORDABLE CRT INTERFACE FOR THE EPSON GENEVA PX-8 Dear Epson Geneva Owner; June 1988 The Epson PX-8 is a great portable computer; very powerfull and complete for its size. However, I've always wanted to be able to connect to a CRT monitor to enjoy a larger screen. Previously, the only CRT interface available for the PX-8 costs around $400. Though I wanted a CRT interface, I didn't want to spend that much. So I set out to build one myself. A few months have gone by and I have my interface working. The best part about it is, I can offer to build a CRT interface for other PX-8 owners for only $120!!! With this CRT Interface 24 lines of text can be seen at once. This makes writing a lot easier. The CRT screen refreshes much, much faster than the LCD screen so you never have to wait for the screen. With this CRT Interface your PX-8 laptop computer can become your desktop computer. If you were thinking of buying another computer to get a larger screen size, this will change your mind. It's like having a totally new computer!!! HOW IT WORKS _________________________ This CRT Interface comes in a 9 / 8 / 2 inch grey box, and has a built-in power supply. The Geneva connects to it through the RS-232 port. A DB-25 socket on the back accepts the standard Geneva printer cable #724. Your TTL monitor connects to a DB-9 socket also on the back. The console logical device output (CON:) is then changed to the RS-232 port with STAT.COM, (STAT CON:=TTY:) or TOGGLE.COM. All programs that you run will then appear on the CRT monitor; with the exception of the Menu and the System display. The CRT Monitor you need is the readily available, TTL, IBM clone type, monitor. It will have a cable with a DB-9 plug on the end of it. TV sets or "monitors " with an RCA phono connector will not work. (I built my 12 inch TTL CRT for $25) Also note that the printer is then connected to the serial port. If you want to be able to print out while connected to the CRT Interface, be sure that your printer works with the serial port. WHY SO INEXPENSIVE ________________________ By keeping overhead to a bare minimum, by using new, surplus parts whenever possible, and by allowing some software limitations to remain, I've been able to get the price down to a reasonable level. For instance; the power supply was made for a discontinued TI computer, and the case was designed to become a benchtop DMM. By not having to design or manufacture a custom case or power supply, great savings can be passed on to you. Though not affecting performance, this gives it a small "homemade" air. But to save a few hundred dollars, I didn't think you'd mind. Besides, it is homemade. CABLES _____________________________________ You will need the standard Geneva printer cable #724 to connect the PX-8 to the CRT Interface. If you do not have one or use the one you have for your printer, then I can make one for you. I have made many #724 cables for my friends by purchasing a cable for the Macintosh and installing a DB-25 male connector on one end. The result is a very high quality cable. I also an make adaptor that plugs directly into the DB-25 end of the #724 cable and allows the Geneva to be connected to a MAC +/SE/II, or Imagewritter II. The cost for the cables are: $11.00 for a 3 foot #724; $16.00 for a 5 foot #724 cable. The MAC adaptor is $10.00. A Cable Set includes a 5 ft #724 cable and a MAC adaptor, is $22.00. I recommend getting a Cable Set. SOFTWARE COMPATABILITY _____________________ Most CP/M programs that I have tried work with no problem. Some programs written exclusively for the Geneva need a start-up patch to work properly, and a few will not work at all. CP/M programs that have been ported to the Geneva generally need to be only slightly modified or the general CP/M version used. More specifcally: WORDSTAR for the Geneva needs a patch (WSVP) to display all 24 lines. CONFIG, STAT, WSCONVER, SORT, OTHELLO, DFE, BRADFORD, RTX141, MBASIC, ZBASIC, MMERGE, FTNOTE14, RECOVER, DB, FFG, SPELL, plus many more, work without modification. NSWP, SPZ25, and E.COM needed slight modification for the arrow keys to work. CALC needs a patch for the arrow keys to function. Though it only displays eight lines it updates the screen much faster. Public domain Calc programs are available that will display all 24 lines. SNAKEPIT and ZONE will never work because they make extensive use of User Defined Characters. Epson Basic also doesn't run quite yet. I never use it so I'll probably not get around to patching it. PXUTIL runs and works but the screen display needs a lot of more rewriting. Since this is one of my favorite programs, I'm sure to get around to "fixing" it. All the programs and patches for the CRT will be available on the BBS as CRTFORPX.LBR. Or enclose an extra $5 and I'll send you a disk. IMPORTANT: If you're need to know if a particular program not listed above will run properly, send me a copy of it and I'll check it out before building your CRT Interface. ORDERING INFORMATION _______________________ I do not maintain a stock of ready-made CRT Interfaces. Each one is built to order. I won't even order the parts until after I've received your check. That cuts down on inventory and risk costs. Also, I need a semi-large group order to get the prices I need to make the $120 price. So there will be a time lag between the time you order and the time your CRT Interface arrives. Count on 3-7 weeks depending on how soon orders arrive. I custom make each CRT Interface as if it were to be the one I personally was going to own. That way I feel comfortable offering a 90 day guarantee on parts and labor. To order send a $US check made payable to me at the following address: Sam Wuebben, P.O.Box 370, Lake Shandalee Road, Livingston Manor, NY, 12758 Sam Wuebben ORDER FORM ______________________________________________________________________________ YES! Build a CRT Interface for my Epson PX-8. I've read the above description. NAME: UPS SHIPPING ADDRESS: (no PO boxes) CRT Interface $120 each ________ Program disk $ 5 ________ Cables ________ (see prices above) Sub total ________ Shipping ___$3___ Amount Enclosed SOFTWARE AND EPROM CHIPS FOR THE CRT INTERFACE SOFTWARE ___________________________________ The CRT Interface displays 24 lines of text. Programs written for the Geneva display only 8 lines of text. Those programs usually need to be only slightly modified, either directly or with a start-up patch. Most general CP/M programs that run on the Geneva work with the CRT Interface with no probrem. I have run the following CP/M programs without modification: BRADFORD, CONFIG, DB, DFE, FFG, FTNOTE14, MBASIC, MMERGE, OTHELLO, PCFILE, PCSORT, RECOVER, RTX141, SORT, SPELL, STAT, TOUR, WSCONVER, ZBASIC. The list is limited only because it is all the programs I have available to me. WORDSTAR for the Geneva needs a patch to display all 24 lines. See below for the exact patch you need. To use, place WS in the B: and run the patch. CALC for the Geneva needs a pach for the arrow keys to work right. Though it still only displays 8 lines, it updates the screen faster. NSWP, and SPZ needed slight modificaton to get the arrow keys to function. The version you have will run properly, but the arrow keys will only work if you use the version I modified. E.COM needed to be modified as instructed in EPX.Z80. The version you have has to be modified with a patch or you can use the version I have already modified. See below for the printer commands and macro keys installled in that version. EPROMS _____________________________________ One of the main advantages of the Geneva over other, small, CP/M laptop computers is the availability of using EPROMs. EPROMs are a small, safe, handy way of storing your programs. They load much faster than cassette or disk. I strongly recommend you get the patches and programs you will need for the CRT Interface put on an EPROM. I can custom program EPROMs and supply them to you at a cost of $30 for each 32K CMOS chip. I have put together a few program combinations I thought would be most usefull. If you are not familiar with some of the programs, a short description of each follows. E.COM A short, fast. easy to learn, simple to use, word processing 8K program. Many of its commands are the same as WordStar. In the version I offer, the printer patch and macro keys have been modified as listed below. Main advantages over WS include: improved screen updating, simple windowing, directory, small size allows non-disk drive users to edit much longer files. See E.DOC for a full list of features. Main disadvantages: doesn't right justify and has fewer available commands. I like this program so much, it is about all I ever use. NSWP Very usefull file maintenance program. Transfers files plus 11K more. This program is in BYTE magazine's CP/M Hall of Fame. WSV This is the patch you will need to run WordStar on the CRT WSVP1 Interface. WSV is for MX/FX compatable printers. WSVP1 is for WSVP2 non-MX/FX compatable printers and contains WSPATCH, the usual WSVP3 WS printer patch. WSVP2 is like WSVP1 but contains a printer 1K ea. patch for the Okidata 192. WSVP3 is like WSVP1 except "condensed" (^PQ) has been changed to NLQ-on. Choose the one you need based on the type of printer you have. CONFIG See Geneva manual for features. 8K long. TOGGLE1 This program senses which screen mode you are currently in, TOGGLE2 LCD or CRT, and switches the computer to the other screen 1K ea. display. When the CRT mode is toggled on, the serial port automatically becomes the printer device. If TOGGLE1 is used; when the LCD screen is toggled on, the serial port remains the printer device. If TOGGLE2 is used; when the LCD screen is toggled on, the RS-232 port becomes the printer port. If your printer works in the serial port, choose TOGGLE1. CVP This patch allows CALC to run but only 8 lines display. WSCONVER Converts E.COM documents to WordStar documents and vise versa. 2K SORT Sorts a document or list numerically or alphabetically. 2K SPZ25 SuperZap 2.5 - Allows file or disk sector editing in ASSCI or HEX. You'll learn a lot about machine programming using SPZ. STAT See Geneva manual for features. 6K long. Not all of the above programs will fit on one 32K chip. I have listed a few combinations that have been found to be usefull. You can make up your own combination of programs if none of these fits your needs. UTILITY 1 E.COM, NSWP, WSVP, WSCONVER, TOGGLE, CONFIG UTILITY 2 E.COM, NSWP, WSVP, WSCONVER, TOGGLE, STAT, SORT UTILITY 3 WSVP, NSWP, WSCONVER, STAT, TOGGLE, SORT I have three EPROMs that I use all the time. The first one is for use with the CRT, the second and third for the LCD screen. The fourth one is a game for a little break. UTILITY 4 E.COM, NSWP, WSVP2, WSCONVER, SPZ, TOGGLE2, SORT UTILITY 5 PXUTIL, E.COM, CONFIG, STAT, TOGGLE2 COMMMUNICATIONS 1 MODEM, TERM, DB, RTX141 GAMES 1 OTHELLO This plays well only on the CRT ORDERING INFORMATION _______________________ Each 32K EPROM Chip is $30. A hardcopy of the documentation for E.COM, WSCONVER, SORT, SPZ, and RTX141 will be supplied when those programs are ordered. If you want other programs put on EPROM, I can do that too. Just send me the program you want. Bob Herman of Epson_Support_Disks also can make the EPROMs for you, and he has a lot more software. The maximum is 32K minus 3 records per chip. To order, send a check, in US$ made payable to: Sam Wuebben, PO Box 370, Livingston Manor, NY, 12758. E.COM --- Macro Keys and Printer Commands___ The Macro Keys in the version of E.COM configured for the CRT Interface have had the following functions installed. They are initiated by hitting ESC and then 0-9. ESC 1 - Save-&-resume. ESC S does a save but takes you back to the top of the document. ESC 2 - Down one page. Use to check page breaks. ESC 3 - Creates a left margin. Use just before printing. Puts a TAB at the begining of each line. Be sure to have extra space on the right before using. ESC 4 - Find-&-Change repeat. Does a CTRL A, then a CTRL Z. See E.DOC. ESC 5 - Reforms all paragraphs from cursor to end. ESC 6 - Yank-&-delete. First step in moving a block of text. See E.DOC ESC 7 - Down-one-paragraph. Puts cursor to begining of next paragraph. ESC 8 - Sets right margin to 92 characters and puts a CTRL at the begining of the document to turn on Elite (12 cpi) mode. ESC 9 - ESC 0 - Deletes everything from the cursor to the end of the document. The Printer Commands are used like similar commands in WordStar. Actual HEX codes sent to the printer are in parenthesis. TOGGLES - First use turns on feature, second use turns off feature. CTRL PB - Bold or Emphisize on/off. (1B 45 / 1B 46) CTRL PS - Underline on/off. (1B 2D 01 / 1B 2D 00) CTRL PY - Italics on/off. (1B 34 / 1B 35) SWITCHES - Turn on feature indicated. CTRL PA - Elite or 12cpi on. (1B 4D) CTRL PQ - Near Letter Quality on. (1B 78 01) CTRL PE - Begin enlarged mode. (0E) CTRL PR - End enlarged mode. (14) CTRL PH - Backspace. Prints over previous character. CTRL PL - Form Feed CTRL PP - Conditional Form Feed. See E.DOC. ***** ***** WSVP3.COM ***** ***** This is a list of the printer commands in WSVP3.COM. Notice that "condensed" has been changed to NLQ/Draft. If your printer does not recognize the actual HEX codes as the commands listed then you will need a different patch. CTRL PA - ALternate pitch/Elite. (1B 4D) CTRL PN - Standard Pitch/Pica. (1B 50) CTRL PT - Superscript on. (1B 53 00) CTRL PV - Superscript off. (1B 54 00) CTRL PQ - Near Letter Quality on. (1B 78 01) CTRL PW - Draft mode on. (1B 78 00) CTRL PE - Enlarge on. (0E) CTRL PR - Enlarge off. (14) CTRL PY - Italics on/off. (1B 34 / 1B 35) CTRL PS - Underline on/off. (1B 2D 01/ 1B 2D 00) CTRL PH - Strikeover or backspace. (08) CTRL PB - Boldface.