[Coco] Raspberry Pi and RS-232 ports

[Ron Klein]

Hi Camillus,

I'll be bringing some SD cards, but only have a handful.  You don't need to
bring your Pi, but perhaps an SD card if I happen to run out before I see
you.  I can copy images to SD cards at the 'Fest.  I would ask that folks
bring 8GB (or higher).

Thanks!

-Ron


On Mon, Apr 10, 2017 at 6:40 PM, Camillus Blockx <camillus.b.58 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I have RPI 3 ,but I'm only on Sunday at the fest, do you want me to bring
> it?
> Cb
>
>
> On Monday, April 10, 2017, Ron Klein <ron at kdomain.org> wrote:
>
> > Hello all.
> >
> > How many folks here have Raspberry Pi 3's? I plan to bring a handful of
> > 16GB SD cards to CocoFEST next week with a preliminary Coco emulation
> > distribution it (see below). For those who can't attend, I'm looking for
> a
> > place to host an image file. I still need to type up some documentation,
> > but plan to demo it at the show.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > -Ron
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Apr 1, 2017 at 11:30 AM, Ron Klein <ron at kdomain.org
> <javascript:;>>
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> > > I've been working on getting an initial Raspberry Pi 3 Coco emulator
> > > distribution set up for those who might be interested to try for
> > > themselves.  It's being set up the why I like it, but could certainly
> be
> > > taken in any direction from the community as I plan to share an SD
> image
> > > soon.
> > >
> > > This is what I have so far:
> > >
> > > Raspberry Pi 3
> > >
> > > Latest Raspbian distribution
> > >
> > > Some RPi3 performance tweaks to allocate memory for programs and video.
> > >
> > > Restrict video mode to 640 x 480 (rather than the 1920 x 1080).
> > >
> > > A very slight CPU over clock and force all cores to be active all the
> > > time.
> > >
> > > Latest MAME (0.184) compiled with SDL2 (and video hardware
> acceleration).
> > > It runs from the console, no X involved.  I'm working on just
> compiling a
> > > version to support only the Coco / Dragon targets, but not a priority
> > just
> > > yet.  For those interested, ChoccyHobNob provides precompiled, current
> > > versions of MAME for the RPi3:
> > >
> > > http://choccyhobnob.com/mame-0-184-for-raspberry-pi-macos/
> > >
> > > ... great site and information.
> > >
> > > Latest XRoar for those who prefer that emulator for Coco 2 / Dragon
> > > emulation.  It can be run from console or X, though the X version is
> very
> > > nice with the added benefit of menus, etc..
> > >
> > > Drivewire 4 configured to host/serve DSK images to the local instance
> of
> > > MAME (or XRoar) running on the RPi3.  If you use a USB to serial
> adapter
> > or
> > > one of the serial interfaces to connect to the GPIO header, you can
> host
> > > files for a real Coco as well.
> > >
> > > Some scripts to start a Coco 2, Coco 3, MC-10 from MAME.  For the Coco
> 3,
> > > I have it configured with 2MB of RAM.  Great for NitrOS9 and Fuzix.
> Any
> > of
> > > these could be added to the /etc/rc.local file to boot directly into.
> > >
> > > I've also added am EMCEE server to host files for a real MC-10.
> > >
> > > Samba server and client packages.  You can transfer and DSK images,
> roms,
> > > etc., to the RPi3 from another workstation on your network or you can
> > > connect to other file server on your network from the RPi3.  Either way
> > > works and is available.
> > >
> > > Added a bunch of Coco development tools the distribution including
> > > everything needed to compile MAME and XRoar, lwtools, Toolshed, etc..
> > >
> > > Added William Astle's excellent lwwire application (with modifications
> > > from Brett) to allow Fuzix (running on a Coco 3) access to the
> Internet.
> > > This can include an emulator running on the RPi3 or a real Coco 3
> > connected
> > > to the RPi3 through the USB or GPIO serial port.
> > >
> > > I connect my RPi3 to a LCD monitor that happens to have both a HDMI and
> > > VGA connections.  I have not tested the RPi3's composite video output
> on
> > > the GPIO header, but will get to that at some point.
> > >
> > > I use a basic USB mouse and keyboard.  I came across a great deal on a
> > > Nintendo Wii U Pro Controller which works perfectly with the RPi3 as it
> > > already has built-in Bluetooth support.  Raspbian recognized the device
> > > with no issues.  I was playing Pop Star Pilot just yesterday using it.
> > > Very nice.  Nice thing is that controller has analog and digital
> control
> > > support.  Perfect the Coco!
> > >
> > > I know there's been much talk about booting into a Coco instantly at
> > > power-up.  I have not attempted to do that, but the boot process is
> very
> > > quick now (under 15 seconds).  I'm OK with that, but I'm sure there may
> > be
> > > other things to do to improve it more.  Unless you create an emulator
> > that
> > > doesn't require the Linux OS and talks directly to the hardware, not
> sure
> > > if there will ever be a way to achieve instant-on access to a Coco.
> > >
> > > The last part of my RPi3 testing is connecting a real Coco 3 keyboard
> to
> > > the RPi3.  I'm using information provided by Chris Hawks who really
> > > pioneered the early Coco emulation for the RPi.  I have the extra
> > keyboard
> > > and Coco 3 case, so I may be able to build my own CocoPi, just like
> Chris
> > > did a while back.  With things like the USB to Coco joystick adapters,
> it
> > > might even be possible to use real Coco joysticks with the RPi while
> it's
> > > in a Coco case (using the factory holes on the case).  The RPi3
> composite
> > > video and analog audio port could be run to the factory location on the
> > > case, too.  These types of things would require some sort of basic
> > > backplane to mount the 6 pin joystick DIN connectors and the composite
> > > video and audio connectors.
> > >
> > > Anyway, getting a bit closer each day.  I would like to share something
> > > soon, but need to find a way to limit the size the SD card image and
> > find a
> > > place to host it.
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > > -Ron
> > >
> > >
> >
> > --
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> >
>
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