Re: More Zip stuff...missing docs

[rubywand@aol.com (RUBYWAND)]

In article <5361ue$m0b@strange.dfwmm.net>, mgruen@chaos.dfwmm.net (Martin
Gruen) writes:

>
>I can't believe there is absolutely no online help or docs to the Zip 
>software I got!
>
>According to the manual if you want info on the utilities all you have to

>do is you the hypercard stack.  But that doesn't have info on the
settings!
>
>I still don't know what slots to accelerate, or what options to have on 
>or off, some one help.  Especially since this modem problem is really 
>becoming a pain in the butt!
>
>

     Maybe we can start to build some kind of Zip info base.

     Our 10MHz/64k Zip GSX (version 1.02 board) has these SW-1 ("Misc")
settings: 

DIP SW1   1-ON 2-OFF 3-ON 4-OFF 5-OFF 6-ON 7-OFF 8-OFF

On the Zip CDA "Misc Settings" the above shows up with the following
(checked) defaults:

Joystick Delay       On
Speaker Delay       On
Appletalk Delay      Off
I/O Cache Disable   Off
Counter Delay         On
CPS Follow            On


Note: Unfortunately, the Zip "Misc" software switch
designations/descriptions do not exactly correspond to SW1. For example
SW1-2 is set ON to _defeat_ Joystick Delay. If you want a Delay for
Joystick, SW1-2 is set OFF (the default, factory-setting position).  So,
OFF for the second switch of SW1 = "Joystick Delay  On" on the CDA "Misc'"
display. There is no actual conflict in the descriptions for SW-1
functions and the software; but, this sort of thing can lead to some
confusion.
 

Speed settings which seem to work fine (with a RamFAST in Slot 2, Zip card
in Slot 3, Focus HD in Slot 7) are as follows: 

DIP SW2   all except  6 (Slot 6) are set to ON (Fast)


     There seems to be general agreement that users are better off
installing Zip's CDA and not installing the NDA. However, there is a bug
in some CDA versions. Greg Templeton produced a ZipDA.Patch to fix the
bug. There is a good chance that any current ZipDA which may be downloaded
does not have the bug and/or has been patched. (The ZipDA Patcher will
tell you if the CDA is already patched.)

     Settings made via Zip's CDA, NDA, or other software are not
remembered after power is turned OFF.

     Hard disk users will, normally, have no use for the Zip Init.


Modem

     Our system seems to work fine under Spectrum with Slot 2 set to "Your
Card" (for the RamFAST mentioned earlier) and Zip GSX speed at "Fast". 
Programs like Spectrum do not care about the Slot 2 firmware.


Problems

     When adding a Zip GS leads to system bombing the main suspect is
system noise resulting from (of all things) skimpy power supply leads and
skimpy motherboard Slot power traces. The cure is fatter leads (mainly +5V
and GND).

     Our Zip GSX has card 'fingers' which do not extend all the way to the
bottom. Users with a similar situation are likely to experience system
bombing after the card is pulled and replaced or when the card is pushed.

Like the skimpy PS leads, the explanation is another hard-to-believe
design screw-up. As fate would have it, the sprongers in the standard GS
Slot socket want to make contact near the bottom of an inserted circuit
card. It is all too easy for one or more contacts of a Zip GS card to be
disconnected.

For a time, I settled for pushing the card in until it made satisfactory
contact (i.e. the system booted). Eventually, the contact became too
unreliable and the Slot 3 socket was pulled and replaced with one having
gold sprongers which contacted higher up on the card. This fixed the
problem.

     William Shuff has discovered that the gray cables which plug into the
microprocessor socket may develop open circuits. He suggests making your
own cable using better quality ribbon cable and gold-plated plug
components.      

      

Rubywand