HiassofT's Atari 8bit world

Here is some info about programs I have written and hardware I developed for Atari XL/XE computers.

AtariSIO driver and utilities for Linux

Current version: please use the development snapshots

• A Linux kernel driver to handle the lowlevel SIO protocol. The interface is quite simple, so you can develop your own applications if you like!
• atariserver - an Atari disk drive emulator, similar to SIO2PC or APE. At the moment atariserver supports up to 8 disk drives, 57600 bit/sec high speed SIO, and various tracing/debugging levels.
• atarixfer - a small tool to read/write Atari disk images to an Atari disk drive connected by a 1050-2-PC or ProSystem cable

Please note: AtariSIO code is still beta. If you have some troubles, please contact me by email!

AtariSIO requires a 2.2, 2.4, or 2.6 series Linux kernel (with enabled module support) and a serial port with a 16550 compatible chip. So far I've tested it only on i386 and x86_64 architecture (I don't have any other platforms running Linux). It works well on my laptop (a Compaq Contura Aero with a 486SX/33 and 8MB RAM running Debian potato with a 2.2.19 kernel), on my main PC (Core2Duo 6750, 4GB RAM, running Debian Lenny with kernel 2.6.29) and several other Linux boxes.

Attention: please use the same gcc version to compile the kernel module as you used / it was used to compile the kernel. If you mix gcc versions, your system might crash or lock up!

Download the atarisio tarball and read the file README for usage and installation instructions.

Here's the Changelog, if you are interested.

AtariDsk

Current version: V1.2

Ataridsk is a program for MSDOS-PCs that allows you to access Atari floppy disks in double density (180k). All you need is a PC (XT or 286 should be sufficient) and a 5.25" floppy drive.

Features of this tool:

• Menu driven user interface
• read, write and format Atari disks on the PC
• small size (only 35k)

The source code to AtariDsk is available here. Please note: You need TopSpeed Modula-2 V1.17 to compile the source.

WriteAtr

Current version: V0.92b

With WriteAtr you can write double density ATR-images to Atari floppy disks on your MSDOS-PC. You can also create ATR-images of double density floppy disks! All you need is a PC and a 5.25" and/or a 3.5" floppy drive.

Version 0.92b added experimental support for the enhanced density (1040 sectors/128 bytes per sector) format. Please note: this format doesn't work with a lot of floppy controllers - use it at your own risk!

Unzip the file and read writeatr.doc for installation notes.

MyPicoDos

Current version: V4.04

MyPicoDos is a "gamedos" for the 8-bit Ataris that can read COM, EXE, BIN and BAS files. It's main feature is the ability to cope with the special MyDOS features like subdirectories and large disks (eg 3.5" HD disks). The current version supports all single and double density DOS 2.x and MyDOS formats from 720 up to 65535 sectors and can access D1: to D8:.

Starting with version 3.0 MyPicoDos is GPL'ed and comes with the full source code in Atasm format.

MyIDE Tool

Current version: V0.30

MyIDE Tool is a program that provides direct access to harddrives in MyIDE format on your Linux/Windows PC. It will work with IDE harddrives, with Compactflash cards attached to either a CF-IDE adapter or to an (USB) cardreader and with images.

You can easily write ATR images and MyIDE movies to your MyIDE drive, list the contents of your drive or back up your data to your PC.

The current version V0.30 also supports Shawn Jefferson's MyIDE Image Manager. You can set the image category when writing (new) images to your disk, or quickly sort the image manager info (a lot faster than on your Atari).
Note: you need to use version 4.1 or higher of the MyIDE Image Manager, older versions are not supported.

Highspeed SIO patch for XL/XE OS and MyIDE OS

Current version: V1.20

This patch extends the SIO routine of the OS so that the following highspeed SIO modes are supported:

• Ultra speed (Happy 1050, Speedy, SIO2PC, ...) up to 126kbit/sec
• 1050 Turbo
• XF551
• Warp speed (Happy 810)

It is the first patch that is 100% compatible with the MyIDE OS (tested with versions 3.x and 4.x). Of course, it also works with the stock Atari XL/XE OS.

The package includes the full source code and a precompiled EXE (patchrom.exe) so that you can create a patched ROM file on your PC (and then, for example, program it into an EPROM).

512k SRAM extension for Atari XL/XE

Current version: V1.2 (released 2009-09-28)

The main goals when designing this SRAM extension was that it should be cheap (less than 10-15 EUR), easy to build (you just need a 512k SRAM, a GAL 22V10 plus a few wires and resistors) and compatible with as many programs as possible.

The extension can be configured to 4 modes (using 2 switches or jumpers):

• 0k / off
• 256k - using PortB bits 2, 3, 5, 6 (compatible with the "Atari Magazin" ramdisk)
• 256k with separate Antic access - using PortB bits 2, 3, 6, 7 (Rambo/CompyShop compatible)
• 512k - using PortB bits 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

Optionally you can add battery back-up so that the contents of the RAM extension are preserved when you power off your Atari.

• installation instructions
• schematic in PNG format
• schematic in Eagle format
• GAL source in PALASM format
• GAL JEDEC file

Here are some pictures of an early prototype version installed in my 600XL:

• 600XL mainboard with SRAM extension
• close-up of GAL
• close-up of PIA, with pull-up resistors
• close-up of RAM, from the back of the 600XL

If you are searching for a cheap GAL programmer, have a look at GALBlast. It's a DIY project and it's reported to work very well (but I haven't tried it myself, yet).

Contact

If you have suggestions for future versions or problems with these programs, please send email to hias+atari@horus.com