Integrated VT100 driver: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "= REX#/REXCPM Integrated VT100 Driver = <big>'''Add 80x24 external video to your M100!!!'''</big> '''Version 2 firmware is now available!''' See the Software section belo...")
 
 
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<big>'''Add 80x24 external video to your M100!!!'''</big>
<big>'''Add 80x24 external video to your M100!!!'''</big>


[[Image:VT100_1.jpg||center]]<br/>


<big>'''References:'''</big>
'''Version 2 firmware is now available!''' See the Software section below for details.
 
Version 2 offers the following improvements:
 
* First, and most importantly, a serious bug that impacted stability is addressed in Version 2
For information on the VT100 driver and MVT100 video adapter:
* Version 2 also includes some new features:
 
** integrated VT100 video driver support (for M100/T102 only) see --> [[Integrated VT100 driver|REX# / REXCPM Integrated VT100 driver]]
[[VT100|MVT100 information]]
** multi-bank support (for T200 and NEC only)
 
** CNTL-A to start REX Manager quickly from Menu
 
For the original TRS-80 DVI User guide (Disk BASIC commands):
 
[[Media:DVI.zip|Disk Video Interface / Disk BASIC Overview]]
 
 
For information about modifying the BCR port to support external video:
 
[[BCR_TTL_SERIAL_HACK|BCR Hack Information]]


= Overview =
= Overview =


<big>'''What is REX#?'''</big>
Starting with "Version 2" REX# and REXCPM Manager software, 80x24 displays can be directly driven by the M100 over either RS-232 interface, over the "BCR HACK" TTL serial interface.
 
The VT100 driver makes use of video related commands specified in the DVI User guide.
When enabled, the user can redirect BASIC, TEXT, ADDRS, SCHED and TELCOM functions to either
* the LCD (aka SCREEN 0)
* the RS-232 port (SCREEN 1, 19200 baud, 8N1)
* the BCR port (SCREEN 2, 57600 baud, 8N1, TTL)
 
It is strongly suggested that the user read the DVI User Guide!
 
  Note:
  In general, VT100 displays do NOT perfectly support the M100.
  The VT100 command set excludes many functions that the M100 needs.
  So, the VT100 driver is really customized to work with
  the MVT100 external video adapter board.
 
  ***sounds like a new project***
  ... a Windows/Linux VT100 display that emulates the M100 command set and characters!
 
 
 
= Enabling / Disabling the VT100 Driver =
 
The integrated VT100 driver is enabled or disabled via a Quick Menu function, CNTL-V.
In MENU, when REX Manager is installed, pressing CNTL-V pulls up a menu that allows the user
to select from 3 possible configurations for VT100 driver.
 
  1.  DeInst:  this option removes all traces of the VT100 driver, and enables full OPTION ROM use.
  2.  SAFE:    Safe mode allows the user to use VT100 (Disk BASIC) and DISABLES OPTION ROMS.
  3.  EXPERT:  Expert mode enables VT100 and also enables OPTION ROMS.


REX# is an add-on memory card that plugs into the Option ROM socket in a supported laptop, augmenting significantly the amount of memory in the laptop as well as what that memory can be used for.
  Note about Expert Mode:
* REX# provides 1MB of flash memory for the laptop.
  Disk BASIC and VT100 are not really compatible with most OPTION ROMs.  So, in general you have to swap between
* REX# puts bank switched flash memory into the OPTION ROM memory bank (1x32k bank)
  using SAFE mode and DeInstalling VT100 to use OPTION ROM software.
* The 1MB flash (32 blocks of 32kB) may then be accessed, one 32k block at a time.
  Rom2 Cleuseau is an exception; it appears to tolerate VT100 operation well.
* REXMGR (aka REX Manager) software, loaded into the first 32k block, makes all this memory useful!
  So, it is possible to switch to EXPERT mode, and enable R2C100 or R2C1D, and make use of that ROM
  on either SCREEN 1 or SCREEN 2.


The user can freely switch between modes at any time, by returning to MENU and keying CNTL-V.


<big>'''Main Features and Functions of REX#'''</big>


REX# (via REXMGR software) enables several key capabilities for the Model T user. 


* Option ROMs: Applications for Model T laptops were originally distributed as Option ROMs.  These ROM images may be loaded into flash blocks, and then quickly switched/activated for use by REX Manager.
= VT100 Driver Status Indicator =
* RAM Images:  Users can quickly backup or restore the current working RAM of the laptop into one of the 32k flash blocks.  This provides a great way to store data, programs, or quickly recover from a cold boot situation.
* Quick Menu:  the laptop main menu now has some custom keystrokes that speed up REX# usage.
* Active Optrom display:  the main menu also shows the name of the installed option ROM.
* Additional nice things:  REX Manager fixes the Y2K date display problem


REX#/REXCPM both display configuration information to the user when installed, and when in MENU.
Normally, the display is changed to show the following things:


  1)  Year is changes to "20" from "19"
  2)  the current active OPTROM image is shown on the top left.


Now, REX#/REXCPM displays the status of the VT100 driver.  See the image below.


= Model T variants supported by REX# =
[[Image:VT100_status.jpg||center]]<br/>


* TRS-80 Model 100
The status of the VT100 driver is shown on the top right of the MENU screen, just to the left of the active OPTROM indicator.
* Tandy 102
* Tandy 200
* NEC PC-8201, 8201A, 8300
* Olivetti M10
* KC-85 (well I don't have one but I'm sure it would work!)


There are 2 status items shown - a letter and a number.  Here is the decoder:


   Notes
   D == DeInstalled.  The driver is "off"
   =====
   S == Safe Mode.  The driver is installed and active, and OPTROM access is disabled.
  Model 100:
   E == Expert Mode.  The driver is installed and active, and OPTROMs are enabled, so be careful!
  * In Europe and UK, and probably elsewhere, there are newer versions of M100 that have different boards.
 
   * Model numbers are 26-3801B and 26-3802B.
   0 == SCREEN is set to 0, meaning LCD.
  * REX# does not function correctly in these models, due to the significantly different main ROM.
   1 == SCREEN is set to 1, meaning CRT over RS-232 @ 19200 8N1
  Olivetti M10 note:
   2 == SCREEN is set to 2, meaning CRT over BCR Hack @ 57600 8N1
   * In order to use REX#, the Olivetti M10 must have it's main ROM updated to be "like the M100".
   * The M10 is compatible with standard 27C256 eproms
  * Obtain the replacement main ROM image, burn the image and mounting the chip in the main ROM socket.
   * the link to the M10 ROM page --> [[Olivetti M10 ROM patch|Olivetti M10 ROM patch]]


= Links =
= Supported DISK BASIC Commands =


[[REX|REX Products home page]]
Here is a list of DISK BASIC commands enabled by VT100 driver.


[[Ordering_Information|REX Products ordering information]]
  SCREEN
  OPEN
  CLOSE
  PRINT#
  PRINT@
  CSRLIN
  POS
  + Escape codes as listed in the DVI User Guide.


= Status =
  Note:
  WIDTH is always assumed to be 80 columns in SCREEN 1/2.
  So this command is not supported.

Latest revision as of 04:40, 10 January 2021

REX#/REXCPM Integrated VT100 Driver

Add 80x24 external video to your M100!!!

VT100 1.jpg


References:


For information on the VT100 driver and MVT100 video adapter:

MVT100 information


For the original TRS-80 DVI User guide (Disk BASIC commands):

Disk Video Interface / Disk BASIC Overview


For information about modifying the BCR port to support external video:

BCR Hack Information

Overview

Starting with "Version 2" REX# and REXCPM Manager software, 80x24 displays can be directly driven by the M100 over either RS-232 interface, over the "BCR HACK" TTL serial interface.

The VT100 driver makes use of video related commands specified in the DVI User guide. When enabled, the user can redirect BASIC, TEXT, ADDRS, SCHED and TELCOM functions to either

  • the LCD (aka SCREEN 0)
  • the RS-232 port (SCREEN 1, 19200 baud, 8N1)
  • the BCR port (SCREEN 2, 57600 baud, 8N1, TTL)

It is strongly suggested that the user read the DVI User Guide! 

  Note:
  In general, VT100 displays do NOT perfectly support the M100.
  The VT100 command set excludes many functions that the M100 needs.
  So, the VT100 driver is really customized to work with 
  the MVT100 external video adapter board.

  ***sounds like a new project***
  ... a Windows/Linux VT100 display that emulates the M100 command set and characters!


Enabling / Disabling the VT100 Driver

The integrated VT100 driver is enabled or disabled via a Quick Menu function, CNTL-V. In MENU, when REX Manager is installed, pressing CNTL-V pulls up a menu that allows the user to select from 3 possible configurations for VT100 driver. 

  1.  DeInst:  this option removes all traces of the VT100 driver, and enables full OPTION ROM use.
  2.  SAFE:    Safe mode allows the user to use VT100 (Disk BASIC) and DISABLES OPTION ROMS.
  3.  EXPERT:  Expert mode enables VT100 and also enables OPTION ROMS.

  Note about Expert Mode:
  Disk BASIC and VT100 are not really compatible with most OPTION ROMs.  So, in general you have to swap between
  using SAFE mode and DeInstalling VT100 to use OPTION ROM software.
  Rom2 Cleuseau is an exception; it appears to tolerate VT100 operation well.
  So, it is possible to switch to EXPERT mode, and enable R2C100 or R2C1D, and make use of that ROM
  on either SCREEN 1 or SCREEN 2.

The user can freely switch between modes at any time, by returning to MENU and keying CNTL-V.


VT100 Driver Status Indicator

REX#/REXCPM both display configuration information to the user when installed, and when in MENU. Normally, the display is changed to show the following things: 

  1)  Year is changes to "20" from "19"
  2)  the current active OPTROM image is shown on the top left.

Now, REX#/REXCPM displays the status of the VT100 driver. See the image below.

VT100 status.jpg


The status of the VT100 driver is shown on the top right of the MENU screen, just to the left of the active OPTROM indicator.

There are 2 status items shown - a letter and a number. Here is the decoder: 

  D == DeInstalled.  The driver is "off"
  S == Safe Mode.  The driver is installed and active, and OPTROM access is disabled.
  E == Expert Mode.  The driver is installed and active, and OPTROMs are enabled, so be careful!
 
  0 == SCREEN is set to 0, meaning LCD.
  1 == SCREEN is set to 1, meaning CRT over RS-232 @ 19200 8N1
  2 == SCREEN is set to 2, meaning CRT over BCR Hack @ 57600 8N1

Supported DISK BASIC Commands

Here is a list of DISK BASIC commands enabled by VT100 driver. 

  SCREEN
  OPEN
  CLOSE
  PRINT#
  PRINT@
  CSRLIN
  POS
  + Escape codes as listed in the DVI User Guide.

  Note:
  WIDTH is always assumed to be 80 columns in SCREEN 1/2.
  So this command is not supported.
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