From: rknop@cco.caltech.edu (Robert Andrew Knop)
Subject: Beta Release: Comp.sys.cbm FAQ
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 22:02:23 GMT

0. INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the newly created comp.sys.cbm FAQ file.  For a first FAQ, the
question will be, "What is a FAQ file?"  FAQ stands for "Frequently Asked
Questions."  Many newsgroups maintain a FAQ file which is posted monthly, and
is a repository for general interest and common information that many readers
of the newsgroup, or new readers of the newsgroup, might be interested in.

I have appointed myself the maintainer of comp.sys.cbm's putative FAQ file.
Anyone with comments, _corrections_(!), additions, or suggestions should
contact me at rknop@tybalt.caltech.edu.

This proposed c.s.c. FAQ is organized currently into six parts:

I.   Connection a C64/128 with the outside world
II.  Common Hardware Problems
III. RAM expansion issues
IV.  Net resources
V.   On-Line services
VI.  Publications
VII. Accelerators

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I.  CONNECTING YOUR C64/128 WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD


A. Terminal Programs

The most straightforward way to connect your computer to the outside world is
using a terminal program.  With this and a modem, you can use your computer
just as a terminal to log on to any mainframe systems you may have access to
at school or at work.

Popular shareware and freely distributable terminal programs available on the
net include DesTerm128 for the 128, Novaterm for the 64, and Kermit for both
the 64 and 128.  Each of these programs include emulations of popular terminal
types (e.g. VT100, ANSI), as well as one or more download protocols (q.q.v.).


Downloading files

To transfer files from your mainframe (usually Unix or VMS) system to your
64/128, you typically need to use some sort of error-correcting file transfer
protocol.  The most popular protocols for the 64/128 are xmodem and kermit.
These two protocols are very common, and are available on many computer
systems.


Varieties of Xmodem

Xmodem comes in several varieties.  Standard xmodem sends files in 128 byte
packets.  There are two standard error-correction methods with Xmodem,
checksum and CRC.  CRC is the more modern of the two.  There is also a version
of xmodem which supports 1K-byte packets.  This version is most commonly known
as xmodem-1K, but is sometimes erroneously called ymodem.  Ymodem is a "batch"
xmodem protocol, allowing you to transfer multiple files in one operation.  A
final *modem transfer protocol is Zmodem.  There are currently no terminal
programs for the 64/128 that support Zmodem.  While the debate rages on
whether or not it should be possible to implement Zmodem on the 128, the
overriding consensus seems to be that Zmodem is not possible on the 128.


B. Reading Foreign Disk Formats

Commodore computers use a disk format which is not compatible with the disk
formats of other computers.  However, some programs exist which allow you to
read foreign, specifically MS-DOS, disks.  Note that in general to do this,
you must have either a 1571 or 1581 disk drive.  The 1541 cannot read MS-DOS
disks.

A commercial package, The Big Blue Reader, from SOGWAP software, runs on
either a 64 or a 128, will read and write MS-DOS format 3.5" (with a 1581) and
5.25" (with a 1571) disks.  Other freely distributable programs exist to read
and write 5.25" MS-DOS disks.  One such program is Crosslink, although it is
limited to reading files 43K in size or smaller.  Finally, there are a few
CP/M MS-DOS reading utilities that work in the C128's CP/M mode.


C. Archived Files

When you have downloaded a file to your system, often it is in archived
format.  These files typically need to be de-archived with an archive program
before they can be used by your system.  You can usually ascertain the nature
of these files from the extention (the letters after the last period in the
filename).  This is a brief summary of the most common of these extentions:

Extention:    Meaning:              Notes:
-----------------------------------------
.sda          Self-Dissolving       Just load and run the .sda file to
                Archive             dissolve the archive.  Will dissovle
                                    itself into its constituent files.
                                    C64 and C128 .sda files are not
                                    compatible with each other.

.sfx          Self-Extracting       Load and run just like a .sda file.
                Archive             The same archive can be extracted on
                                    either a C64 or a C128, memory permitting.

.arc          ARChive               Use the program arc for the 64 or arc128
                                    for the 128 to dissolve the archive.
                                    arc128 is available as part of the
                                    CS-DOS package.  Other de-archive
                                    programs may exist.

.lzh          LHArchive             Use the program lhx in CS-DOS on the
                                    128 to dissolve this archive.  These
                                    are not very common.  This archive
                                    uses the same format as .sfx files,
                                    but is not self-extracthing.  It is
                                    a standard format also used by
                                    Amiga (and MS-DOS?) computers.

.lnx          Lynx Archive          The above formats all compress files when
                                    storing them; Lynx just stores them.
                                    There are many different versions of
                                    Lynx out there, so good luck dissolving
                                    these.

.lbr          Library Archive       A format similar to lynx.  Library
                                    dissolving programs exist for both the
                                    64 and 128 to dissolve these.

.cvt          Converted GEOS        GEOS files can not be uploaded and
              file                  downloaded as they are; they must
                                    first be converted to Commodore format.
                                    See the note on GEOS below

.other        What did I forget?


Note on GEOS

GEOS files are formatted differently from standard Commodore files.  They
cannot be uploaded or downloaded directly.  Before you upload a GEOS file, use
the GEOS application convert2.5 by W.C. Coleman to convert it to Commdore
format.  When you download a GEOS file, you must use the same program to
convert it to GEOS format.  By convention, GEOS format files converted to
standard Commodore format have a .cvt on the end; however, many converted GEOS
files just have the same name as the original GEOS file.  As a rule of thumb,
any GEOS file you download, regardless of the extention, must be converted to
GEOS format with convert2.5.

If you download an archive of GEOS files (e.g. a .arc or .sda file containing
GEOS files), you must first dissolve the archive using your C64 or C128 in
native mode.  The constituents of the archive will be converted GEOS files,
whether or not they have the .cvt extention.  Each of these constituents
(which are GEOS files) must be individually converted to GEOS format with
convert2.5.

The rumor mill has it that there is at least one GEOS archive program in the
works.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

II. COMMON HARDWARE PROBLEMS


A. Disk Drives

1541

The most common problem facing the 1541 disk drive is alignment.  If your 1541
has trouble reading commercial disks, or reading disks written some time ago,
but has less trouble reading recently written disks, chances are your 1541
is out of alignment.  C= service centers will typically align a 1541 for
anywhere from $20 to $45.  There are also 1541 alignment programs, (e.g. Free
Spirit's "1541/71 Alignment System") which allow you to align a 1541 yourself.
There are those who claim that this does not produce good results, but there
are others who claim to have had satisfactory results with these programs.


1571

The C=1571 drive is normally a double sided drive.  However, it can also
emulate a 1541 and read single sided disks.  Some of the earlier 1571's had
older system chips (ROMs) which caused a couple of problems.  One, these older
drives were typically very slow when writing to the back side of a disk.  Two,
it would take these drives ~30 seconds to go into single sided mode.  To check
your ROM version, read the error channel of the disk drive right after
startup.  On the 128, just PRINT DS$.  On the 64, use:

10 open15,8,15:input#15,a,a$,b,c:close15:printa,a$,b,c

Run the program; if the message says v3.0 or v3.1, you have the newer ROM.  If
it has a version <3.0, you probably have the older ROM.  [Could somebody check
my accuracy on this?]


1581

The C=1581 drive is a 3.5" drive that uses DSDD 800K disks.  It is compatible
with both the C64 and C128, although some programs will not work correctly
with the 1581.

A small number of 1581's were shipped with an early version of a controller
chip which has problems with some software.  <<INSERT DETAILS>>


B. POWER SUPPLIES

The most common problem with the C-64 is it's power supply.  The C64 power
supplies are not especially powerful, and have this disturbing tendency to
fail.  If your computer stops working, first check the power supply.
Replacement power supplies can be obtained from a number of mail order places
(e.g. Tenex, Parsec, Inc.).  Additionally, several places advertise
"heavy-duty" power supplies that come with warranties, and give the C64 enough
power to run a REU (q.v.).

If your power supply goes, it can sometimes take other parts of the computer
with it.  If your power supply has died, but the C64 continues to fail with a
known working power supply, it is likely that a few of your chips got fried.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

III. RAM EXPANSION ISSUES


A. C1700/1764/1750

The original form of RAM expansion available to the C64 and C128 were the
Comodore REUs (Ram Expansion Units).  These REUs plug into the cartraige port,
and provide 128K (the C=1700), 256K (the C=1764), or 512K (the C=1750) of
additional RAM.

This RAM is not true system RAM however; simply adding a 512K REU to your
system does NOT mean that your word processor will suddenly be able to edit
512K larger documents.  A REU will only be used by a program that was written
to take advantage of an REU.  As a caveat on this, you can use your REU as
additional RAM for a RAMLink (q.v.).

Although the C=1764 was originally advertised for the C64, and the 1700 and
1750 for the C128, any of the three RAM expanders will work with either the
C64 or the C128.  Note that if you want to use any of them on the C64, you
need a heavy duty power supply.  The 1764 comes with such a power supply.

There exist hardware hacks that will expand a 1700 or a 1764 to 512K;
additionally, a 512K REU can be expanded to 1 Meg or more.  There exist text
files on the milton ftp site (q.v.) that describe this procedure.  If you
don't wish to do it yourself, there are people who will do it for you, for a
fee.  >>INSERT NAMES/ADDRESSES<<


RAM expansion with GEOS

One software package that makes very effective use of a RAM expansion unit is
GEOS.  GEOS allows you to configure your REU to appear just like another disk
drive- only a very fast one, although it does not keep its contents when you
turn your comptuer off.  So, any GEOS software that works off of a disk will
work out of your REU.  Since GEOS is very disk-intensive, this greatly
improves the performance of your system.  Indeed, some firm GEOS adherents
have said that they would not use GEOS without a RAM device of some sort.

GEOS will not work with a stock 1700.  To have a RAM drive, in GEOS, you must
have at least 256K of expansion.  Thanks to patches developed by Jim Collette
(configure2.1, available on milton (q.v.)), GEOS also supports 1 Meg, 1.5 Meg,
and 2 Meg REUs.


B. geoRAM

When Commodore REUs became hard to find several years back, Berkeley Softworks
introduced geoRAM, which is a 512K RAM expander.  This RAM expander gives you
all of the advantages of a 1750 with GEOS; however, it is not 1750 compatible,
so it will not work like a 1750 outside of GEOS.  (As a caveat on this, see
the info on RAMLink)).


C. RAMDrive, RAMLink

RAMDrive (RD) and RAMLink (RL) are relatively new RAM devices from CMD.  These
RAM devices come with software and hardware that allows them to emulate
commodore disk drives.  What this means is, software does not have to be
specifically written to run with a RD or a RL; these RAM devices should appear
as a disk drive to most programs.  (One notable exception is DesTerm v2.00,
which does not work with RD or RL.)  These RAM devices have separate power
supplies from the computer.  If you turn off the computer, but leave the power
on to the RAM device, the contents of the RAM device remain intact.  (For
safetly from power outings, battery backups are also available.)  The RAM in
these devices can be partitioned into native mode partitions (whith
subdirectories), or competely 1541, 1571, or 1581 emulating partitions.

RAMDrive is avaiable in sizes of 512K, 1 Meg, or 2 Meg, and is not easily
expandible.  It is a relatively small box that plugs into your cartraige port.

RAMLink is a more powerful, larger device.  It can be configured with 1, 2, 3,
4, 8, 12, or 16 Meg of RAM, using industry standard 1 Meg and 4 Meg SIMMs.
Additionally, RAMLink has a port into which you can plug a Commdore REU or a
geoRAM.  You can configure RAMLink to either leave this RAM device alone, or
to use the REU/geoRAM's RAM just as if it were part of the RAMLink's RAM.  A
RAMLink also has a pass-through port, in which you can plug a normal C64/C128
cartraige, and a parallel port for a CMD hard drive.  The latter greatly
improves the transfer speed of data between your computer and the hard drive.


D. C128 Video RAM

The original, "flat" C128's came with an 80 column display that had it's own
display RAM that was separate from the system memory of the computer.  This
"VDC RAM" was 16K in size.  When Commodore introduced the C128D, it came with
64K of VDC RAM.  Since them, some programs (e.g. I-Paint, Dialogue128) have
come out that either need or support 64K of VDC RAM.  Owners of flat 128's can
upgrade their video RAM to 64K either by ordering an upgrade plug-in board
(e.g. from Software Support International), or by replacing the RAM chips
themselves.  All that needs to be done is, the two 4416 RAM chips next to the
VDC chip need to be replaced with 4464 RAM chips.  Note, however, that since
this involves soldering in tight quarters on your 128's motherboard, it is
very easy to damage the motherboard or the nearby VDC chip.


E. The C-256 and C-512

Twin Cities 128 (q.v.) issues #30 and #31 have a hardware scheme for expanding
your 128 to 256K or 512K.  To people who understand banking on the 128, the
256K modification adds RAM blocks 2 and 3 to your system.  The 512K
modification adds four more RAM blocks that can be accessed as alternate RAM
blocks 2 and 3, or as a completely separate set of RAM blocks 0-3.

As with Commodore REUs, software must specifically support the expanded RAM.
Since these modifications are relatively new, there is not much software out
yet that supports the additional RAM.  However, with the promise of additional
RAM available on the ZIP board (q.v.), it is reasonable to expect that
software will start to appear that takes advantage of the additional RAM.

The hardware modification, while simple from software's point of view, is
rather difficult to perfrom in hardware.  Ricard Curcio, the designer of the
memory modifications, can modify your 128 for you.  See Twin Cities 128 issue
#31 for more information.


F. Expanded 64's?

I have heard things about adding memory to the motherboard of the C64.  I
would be grateful if anyone who knows anything about this would write a
paragraph or two about them for this FAQ.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. NET RESOURCES.

A. Comp.sys.cbm

Comp.sys.cbm is the Usenet discussion group related to commodore 8-bit
computers.  Message volume typically falls in the range 10-30 messages per
day.  Anyone is welcome to join the group and ask questions, or make any
comments that they feel are appropriate.  Do not be afraid to ask what you
think are stupid questions; people out there are willing to help, and the lot
on comp.sys.cbm tends to be a rather nice and helpful lot.


B. Anonymous FTP

Freely distributable (PD, freeware, shareware) files are available for you to
download at a number of "anonymous ftp" sites on the net.  To get files from
these sites, you use (on most systems) a program called ftp.  For instance, to
connect to the site milton.u.washington.edu (a site that has some Commodore
archives), you would type "ftp milton.u.washington.edu".  When prompted for a
username, type "anonymous".  When prompted for a password, type your real
internet E-mail address.  You will then be logged on.  A small number of
commands are available to you.  "dir" typically lists the current directory on
the remote system.  "cd" changes the current directory on the remote system.
"binary" instructs ftp to transfer binary files (it is VERY important to issue
this command before copying any programs), and "ascii" (sometimes "text")
instructs ftp to transfer text files.  "get" copies the speicified file to
your home system.  "put" copies the specified file from your home system to
the remote system.  (Note that some ftp sites do not accept PUTs, and some ftp
sites only accept PUT in specific directories, typically an "incoming"
directory.)

Robert Ferguson posts a list of ftp sites that support commodore files more or
less monthly to comp.sys.cbm.


C. Mail Servers

If you do not have access to ftp, there are also some "mail servers" that
distribute commodore files.  >>COULD SOMEBODY SUPPLY MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
[PLEASE!<<

----------------------------------------------------------------------

V. ON-LINE SERVICES

In addition to InterNet, there exist on-line services to which you can
subscribe and connect to with your commodore comptuer and a modem.


A. Q-Link

Q-Link is a Commodore specific telecommuncations service.  >>I HAVE NOT BEEN
ON Q-LINK FOR >1 YEAR, SO COULD SOMEBODY ELSE WRITE A QUICK SUMMARY?<<


B. GEnie

GEnie is a general interest telecommuncations service run by General Electric.
For a montly price of $4.95, you are given unlimited access to so-called
"Basic" services during non-Prime hours (6 PM - 8 AM).  This includes a number
of news and educational services, some discussion Bulletin Boards, as well as
(notably) E-mail.

Non-basic services are available at the rate of $6.00 per hour of connect time
during non-Prime Time hours, and $18.00 (?) per hour of connect time during
Prime Time hours.  (Note that during Prime Time, you pay the full connect time
charges regardless of what services you are using.)

The Commodore support area on GEnie is known as the FlagShip RoundTable.  Most
of the FlagShip is not a Basic service, although some introductory and
informational information can be read at a Basic rate, and the C64/C128
specific GEnie front end (Wizard) is available at Basic rates.  The FlagShip
RT includes some "Real-Time Conferences" (RTCs) featuring classes or
discussion of issues associated with Commodore computers.  Additionally, there
is a BB (Bulletin Board), which works much like Usenet's comp.sys.cbm (only
the discussion is broken down into categories and topics).  Finally, the
FlagShip has an extensive library of Commodore files.

Although not a Basic service, the BB messages can be read economically by
capturing all new messages in a terminal programs buffer and reading the
messages offline.  Wizard, the C= GEnie front end supports this.

Because GEnie is a general interest service, it supports many different
computers, and you can use any ASCII terminal program to connect to GEnie.
Wizard is available, but not required.  GEnie operates normally at 300, 1200,
adn 2400 baud, although for additional cost you can connect at 9600 baud.
There are local access numbers across the country.


C. Other?

If anyone wants to say something about C= support on CompuServe, the Portal
System, or whatever, feel free to submit something to me.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. PUBLICATIONS

There are a number of publications which are specifically geared to
information associated with the C64 and C128.

A. RUN

Run is perhaps the largest Commodore-specific magazine.  It is published
bi-monthly, and features news about the world of Commodore computing and
type-in programs.  A companion disk is also available.

>>insert subscription info<<


B. Twin Cities 128 (TC128)

After nearly a year of not publishing, Twin Cities 128 is under new management
(Parsec, Inc.) and is again being published.  Twin Cities 128 features
Commodore 128 specific information, and attempts to cater to readers at all
levels of experience, not just novices.  Additionally, starting with Issue #31
(February/March 1991), Twin Cities 128 comes with a companion disk.

Coming Soon: Twin Cities 64, the 64 specific magazine, from Parsec, Inc.

>>insert subscription info<<


C. geoWorld

>>CAN SOMEBODY WRITE ABOUT THIS?<<


D. User Group Newsletters

Your local user group newsletter is another source of commodore information.
Often, newsletters will reprint articles of other user groups, allowing
information to spread further.  Many user group newsletters can be subscribed
to in the mail.  (If anyone is interested, I am willing to compile a list of
user group newsletters to which one can subscribe; send me mail at
rknop@tybalt.caltech.edu.)


E. The Transactor

Sure, it's dead, and has been for a few years, but this one was a classic.
Calling itself the magazine for Commodore programmers, this magazine was
enough to make any C64/C128 programmer drool.  Featuring in-depth techincal
information and programming tutorials, as well as "out-of-the-way" topics
(things along the line of Richard Curcio's 256K and 512K articles that
appeared in TC128).  If you are a programmer, and can get your hands on back
issues of this magazine, do so.


F. LodeStar

A disk magazine that features C64/C128 programs. >>CAN SOMEBODY WRITE A BLURB
ABOUT LODESTAR?<<


G. Other:

What did I leave out?  Could sombeody write a blurb about the Gazette edition
of Compute!, if that still exists?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

VII. ACCELERATORS

Believe it or not, there are a few products out there which can improve the
operating speed of your C64/C128.

A. Turbo Master Accelerator for C64.

Accelerates your C64 to 4 MHz, over the 1 MHz standard.  >> COULD SOMEBODY
WRITE THIS UP? <<


B. The ZIP card for your C128.

This does not yet exist, but is currently under development by Parsec, Inc.,
the company that publishes Twin Cities 128.  The ZIP chip promises to be a CPU
replacement board for the C128 and C128D that boasts 8 MHz performance, as
well as additional system RAM on board as an option (supported in software in
the same manner as Richard Curcio's TC128 256K and 512K hardware
modifications).  If have sent in a commitment to put down a $50 deposit on
this board, it will be available to you for under $200.

For more information, grab the file ZIP.form from the anonymous ftp site
tybalt.caltech.edu in the directory /pub/rknop.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

VIII. WHAT ELSE?

What else needs to be covered?  Do you have additional questions that you
think should be in the FAQ?  Can you fill in some of the gaps?  Please post or
mail questions, and mail me submissions.

-Rob Knop
rknop@tybalt.caltech.edu