[Coco] question about MPI and Orch-90

Tue May 7 10:53:57 EDT 2013

My $0.02 is -> don't worry too much about which PAL is which, for most
practical purposes the un-upgraded MPI will work with the CoCo 3, it is
just so that properly fixing the PAL logic will make things tidy for use
with the CoCo 3. The details on what is affected and how are somewhere
within this list archives - this matter has been brought up before many
times: once you upgrade the MPI there are a couple of software/hardware
items that won't run if you use that MPI with a CoCo 1 or 2 (without
changing the PALs again).

So, put the other PAL into the socket (mind chip's orientation though) and
PEEK again at it - very likely the previous user/owner changed the PAL to
the original one.

-- RP

On Tue, May 7, 2013 at 10:32 AM, Todd Wallace <dragonbytes at cox.net> wrote:

> Update. I have opened the MPI and discovered a few things.  First, whoever
> modded this saved an alternate PAL chip stuck inside upside down as can be
> seen in this pic:   http://cl.ly/image/253N3V1v112c
>
> This second pic is the currently socketed PAL chip:
> http://cl.ly/image/2O0Y3o3p4716
>
> Hopefully u guys can read the number.  So the question is, which PAL chip
> is currently in there?  Is it the one for CoCo3? Perhaps the spare one
> stuck upside down in there is the one for the CoCo3?
>
> - Todd Wallace
>
> On May 7, 2013, at 10:10 AM, Todd Wallace <dragonbytes at cox.net> wrote:
>
> > Ok this is the weird thing.  This gray MPI TRS-80 Radioshack model
> 26-3024 has a sticker on the bottom that says CoCo3PAL.  On cloud9's
> website, they suggest the follow PEEK to see whether or not your MPI is
> modded for use on a CoCo3.  PRINT PEEK (&HFF90).  If the value is 126, its
> all set for CoCo3, if it is 255, then it is NOT modded for CoCo3.  My MPI
> returns 255 which baffles me because the sticker says "CoCo3 PAL".  Anyone
> have any idea why there might be conflicting info? maybe someone modded it
> for coco3, and someone else UNmodded again? When i plugged it in, it seems
> to work.  I mean, i can select a slot, turn on the coco3, and it will load
> the appropriate cart.  I am a complete newb when it comes to MPI so any
> advice on how to test if its working properly or not would be gratefully
> appreciated.
> >
> > - Todd Wallace
> >
> > On May 6, 2013, at 11:30 PM, Luis Fernández <luis46coco at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> www.Cloud9tech.com sells a chip to repair and correct MPI addresses
> used
> >> to serve in coco3 and clash between different utilities
> >> not if specifically with Orchertra80
> >>
> >>> To: coco at maltedmedia.com
> >>> From: ooogalapasooo at aol.com
> >>> Date: Mon, 6 May 2013 22:42:13 -0400
> >>> Subject: Re: [Coco] question about MPI and Orch-90
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Todd,1st, I don't think you can "hurt" the MPI is it doesn't have the
> PAL fix, it just will not operate properly on a Coco 3. I know I'll be
> corrected on this if I'm wrong.
> >>>
> >>> On the Orch90 pak... to play the demo, you do not press "E", as that
> will put you in "Edit" mode.
> >>> Instead, you press "S" to "Score" the file for play. It will come back
> to a cursor in a few moments and when it does, press "P" for play.
> >>> Any time you "Load" a new file or "Edit" a current file, you must
> press "S" before "P".
> >>>
> >>> Hope this helps.
> >>>
> >>> Bill Pierce
> >>> My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3
> >>> https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
> >>> Co-Webmaster of The TRS-80 Color Computer Archive
> >>> http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
> >>> Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
> >>> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
> >>> E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: Todd Wallace <dragonbytes at cox.net>
> >>> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> >>> Sent: Mon, May 6, 2013 10:28 pm
> >>> Subject: [Coco] question about MPI and Orch-90
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Hey all,
> >>>
> >>> I got my hands on a grey radio shack trs-80 26-3024 MPI.  There's a
> sticker on
> >>> the bottom that says CoC3 PAL, so I assume that means its been
> modified for use
> >>> with my CoCo3.  My question is, will plugging it in and turning it on
> cause
> >>> damage of the mod is NOT in place?  I know theres a PEEK to check, I
> just don't
> >>> want to damage the coco3.
> >>>
> >>> My second question is, I got a cool Orch-90cc cart.  I plugged it in
> to try and
> >>> play the demo like the book suggests.  You press E [ENTER] and then P
> [ENTER] to
> >>> play the demo.  but when i type P [ENTER], i just keep getting ERR 04.
>  Can
> >>> anyone help?  I don't know if i'm missing something or if theres
> something wrong
> >>> with the cart, etc. Any help is appreciated.  Thanks
> >>>
> >>> - Todd Wallace (LordDragon on Freenode)
> >>>
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
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