Challenger 4P - Let's get started!

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CommodoreZ
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Re: Challenger 4P - Let's get started!

Post by CommodoreZ »

Yes, that's me. Thank you for your kind words about the Cactus. I'm actually hoping I can get the C4P running well enough to handle BASIC for VCF East in less than 2 weeks, to sit at a table with the Cactus. I figure the C4P is a close relative, primarily due to the BASIC in use being identical.

Back on task: M + ENTER is ineffective as far as I can see. The on-screen garbage is not consistent with each power cycle, except I noticed a pattern in the garbage: so far every character I've looked up that I see on screen? The second nibble is 1011, or 0xB.

Previously, I got this months ago when I had just acquired the machine:
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Which indicates to me that the ROMs are still viable.

I'm also noticing that the warmth of some of these RAM chips I've installed seems a bit... toasty. It is entirely possible I got some bogus RAM. Welp, I think it's time I started swapping out pairs until I reach a viable set! So I started pulling RAM chips in pairs, starting at the end farthest from the backplane. I had about 1/3 of it out, when I got a C on screen at RESET.

A few more pairs later, and I got a C/W/M ? prompt. No response beyond it flashing back onto screen, but it's still progress. I'm going to monkey around with RAM until hopefully I have a winning combination.
Superboard Replica (400, 420C, 440) | C4P (502, 540) | Mini OSI-300 | https://www.commodorez.com 🌵
waltermixxx
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Re: Challenger 4P - Let's get started!

Post by waltermixxx »

not sure if the same holds true with the C4P, but you you have to make sure shift lock is down,
before it will pay attention to any responce to C/W/M. just a thought?

cheers. :) glad to see progress. :)
Turning into quite an OSI Junkie (HTFDTH?) Superboard II REV B-40K, 9600b, HC-05 Bluetooth, Superboard II Rev D, C4P rebuild- 502, 542c, 540B. :)
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CommodoreZ
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Re: Challenger 4P - Let's get started!

Post by CommodoreZ »

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Well, that's promising. Sure enough, Shift or Shift Lock needs to be depressed for it to respond properly. Good suggestion, waltermixxx. I can now get it to hop into the Monitor too!

I've only got 6x 2114's installed right now. I'm going to try adding a few more shortly. I've been told to watch out for the RAM bank selector chips. I haven't checked the schematic lately to know precisely how that's handled, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

I've got it running some simple BASIC programs, which is great. I've noticed two annoying things while entering programs: the RUB OUT key doesn't seem to do anything expected. I'll check the key response again followed by continuity to wherever it's supposed to lead on the 542 board. The other is that the rightmost shift key doesn't shift things as I figured it would. No idea what's going on there.
Superboard Replica (400, 420C, 440) | C4P (502, 540) | Mini OSI-300 | https://www.commodorez.com 🌵
waltermixxx
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Re: Challenger 4P - Let's get started!

Post by waltermixxx »

rub out actually doesnt do anything, unless you have replaced your monitor rom with a CEGMON which will allow the rub out to work as one might think. :) I'm so glad I was able to help if even just a bit. :) (literally a Bit, i think the shift lock holds a bit high or low, i forget. :) ) at any rate, CTRL-0 I think does a rub out, but if you replace your default monitor with one of the "better ones" you will get more functionality as well as proper editing :)

I think with the 502board you will need to cut a track and add a jumper etc to get a 2716 to work in the monitor socket. :)
keep up the progress, and update the thread when ever possible.

cheers.
Turning into quite an OSI Junkie (HTFDTH?) Superboard II REV B-40K, 9600b, HC-05 Bluetooth, Superboard II Rev D, C4P rebuild- 502, 542c, 540B. :)
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CommodoreZ
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Re: Challenger 4P - Let's get started!

Post by CommodoreZ »

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I would call this a win. I went through a bunch of 2114's until I found a combo of 16 chips that would give me a full complement of RAM.

Next, I need to replace the rear panel switches for baud rate selection and serial vs. tape mode, as well as clean up the rear panel wiring mess. Because this is not going to fly.
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I find it interesting that the C4P can't handle backspace/delete/etc. in BASIC, but serial implementations of this same version allow it no problem.
Superboard Replica (400, 420C, 440) | C4P (502, 540) | Mini OSI-300 | https://www.commodorez.com 🌵
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CommodoreZ
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Re: Challenger 4P - Let's get started!

Post by CommodoreZ »

I brought my C4P to VCF East this past weekend. It performed admirably, however it got stupid hot a few times. Like, way too hot for me to be comfortable with it, thus we turned it off every so often to give it a rest. It is my intention to add in a fan to the appropriate mounting point on the rear chassis, and it looks like a common 80mm model will fit just fine. Can anyone confirm this?

Bill Sudbrink, a fellow OSI owner (I'm not sure if he's present on this forum) suggested that I replace the old linear supply with a modern switching supply to reduce the heat and increase the amperage when I upgrade the RAM. Sounds like a fine idea to me, but I'm not sure how many amps to go with. I'm open to suggestions for what to look for from those who have made such a change.

You can see the C4P in action at the very beginning of the video here. Keep watching, and you will see the OSI-300 I was lent by Bill:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/uhyEWSl7KlU
Superboard Replica (400, 420C, 440) | C4P (502, 540) | Mini OSI-300 | https://www.commodorez.com 🌵
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glitch
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Re: Challenger 4P - Let's get started!

Post by glitch »

Glad to see this one up and living again :)

You can certainly replace with a modular switcher, the little supplies used in the smaller C*P systems or as the disk supplies in the C2/C3 OEM boxes are not super well built. I personally like Mean-Well supplies if I have to buy new. Lambda modular supplies are nicer but cost a lot more, and it doesn't really matter for these old machines.

If you're going to use my GW-OSI-RAM1, then you don't have to worry about a big increase in power consumption for the RAM. You can also use it to replace the 502's onboard RAM -- TangentDelta is doing that with his reproduction 502 board and my RAM board.

You are probably best off with a 100-150 watt triple voltage switcher, providing +5, +12, and -12. You will have to regulate -12 down to -9 for the backplane, you can do this with a 7909 TO220 regulator on a little piece of perfboard. -9V draw is not particularly high. I may have something in the junk bin if you end up down my way soonish, or you can order a Mean-Well unit from Mouser or Digi-Key or whoever. 100-150W should be overkill for a C4P, especially if you use newer RAM.
Check out The Glitch Works
OSI Challenger 3, 510 CPU, 8" floppies, 23 MB hard disk system starting to work!
Parts bin Challenger 3 board set, never had a chassis in its time
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CommodoreZ
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Re: Challenger 4P - Let's get started!

Post by CommodoreZ »

It's been awhile. Just over a week ago, I attended the System Source museum's workshop in conjunction with the Vintage Computer Federation. A handful of folks on this forum were in attendance, and there were about 5 different Challengers being actively worked on. Mostly the large metal chassis versions, about half with dual 8" floppy drives integrated in the same case. I took the opportunity to begin gutting the nasty wiring on my 4P so I can make progress once again.

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I removed all but 2 of the existing conductors that run to the back section. I also removed the home-made back panel which covered the fan hole, along with some I/O ports. I also replaced the plastic toggle switch which had been damaged quite some time ago.

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The nasty old linear supply had to go, so it's been extracted and placed in a box for storage. A fancy new triple voltage Lambda supply (which I got from glitch late last year) was installed in a temporary plastic adapter plate. I would much prefer to use a metal one, but my metalwork skills are lacking, as are my available facilities.

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I picked up an A15 board at VCF West last summer, and while I don't have a 505 board to truly take advantage of it, I was able to bodge on some wires to avoid the excess of a ribbon cable that wouldn't really be used to the fullest.

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Lastly, I installed a slim 80mm fan. No idea where my fan protective fan grating went to, but I'll be careful until I figure out where it ended up.

The result is a machine that stays relatively cool after hours of operational time. Whereas previously this machine would be too hot to touch on top after ~45-60 minutes, it's now barely warm. A machine that doesn't try to burn you or cook its own chips is a good thing in my book. You even get a slight breeze on your hands as you type on the keyboard. I feel much more comfortable operating my 4P now, which is good because I really like this machine. I also discovered that shift + O is the backspace key-combo for OSI BASIC? That's a game changer for me, wish I knew about that sooner.

What's next for this machine:
  • Testing and debugging the cassette storage port
  • Finding a socket for the 502's I/O connections so I can remove the board safely without desoldering anything
  • Building up a GW-OSI-RAM1 to expand beyond 8K
  • Figuring out what the MOD port is supposed to do with the UART signals at TTL levels rather than RS232 levels
  • Fabricating a proper metal adapter bracket for the power supply
  • Finding a good way to interface the 542 and A15 to give me at least one joystick port.
Superboard Replica (400, 420C, 440) | C4P (502, 540) | Mini OSI-300 | https://www.commodorez.com 🌵
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