11 February 1985 Z-NEWS 105 Z TIPS: From ZRDOS author, Dennis Wright (Joseph Wright wrote ZRDINS semi- auto installation program): "Several apparent problems and questions regarding ZRDOS Version 1.0 have come up. I hope the following information will help to clarify these questions. "It has been found that at least one system (CCS 300, 400) uses part (the last 16 bytes) of the BDOS image area in the SYSGEN image for cold boot configuration information. Installation of ZRDOS overlays this area. The solution is to first install ZRDOS into the sysgen image and then reinstall the BIOS hex file. This will cause no problem for ZRDOS as the last 48 bytes of the image is stack area. The CCS system uses the information contained there to configure the system during cold boot. Once the cold boot occurs this information is no longer needed and will be overlaid by ZRDOS. "The ZRDOS installation instructions contain an example SYSGEN image installation based on a standard CP/M SYSGEN image (ORG 980H). Some systems use a different image base address. So be sure to calculate the correct offset when installing the ZRDOS.BIN file. "ZRDOS is the replacement for a standard CP/M 2.2 BDOS. Non-standard BDOS implementations are not [and cannot be] supported. "Some public domain utilities have been found to function incorrectly under ZRDOS. In all cases reported so far the utilities were using undoc- umented internal features of CP/M 2.2 BDOS. ZRDOS supports only the Digital Research documented features. The utilities reported so far are ARCHIVE.COM by Kelly Smith which requires a patch to BDOS, and SDIR.COM which modifies BDOS error vectors. ARCHIVE is not needed under ZRDOS; AC.COM [called COPY.COM in the early issues] does the same job. SDIR should be modified to use the ZRDOS set and reset cold boot trap functions (Functions 50 and 52) that are provided to handle these needs. [Joseph Wright updated Super Directory (SD97): it works with ZRDOS; it's been distributed to BBS network.]" Jay Sage (Newton Centre, Massachusetts) has corrected ERROR1/2 to run under ZEX command-failure conditions. He also made the single-command error display more meaningful. At same time he worked over DU3. His updates are in file Z3SAGE.LBR. This file plus ZRDOS HLP and six utility files are presently on our Z-Nodes. (ZRDOS utilities only run if you're using ZRDOS.) Incidentally, Jay is becoming, along with Al Hawley, full Z-Node. You Boston locals try Jay's system at 617/965-7259; Los Angeles folks try Al's at 213/670-9465. (Many more Sysops are signing up to become Z-Nodes. Their access numbers will be given as the relationships firm.) While Zilog moves slowly to production with advanced Z800 8-bit chip, Hitachi America (2210 O'Toole Avenue, San Jose, CA 95131, telephone 408/942-1500) announces volume March 1985 shipments of their new HD64180 (sampled last year as piece-part HD62801). We are investigating its instruction set and other features: 512k-byte RAM control, dual UART, CTC, and DMA controller, plus 8- bit multiply and block memory move, on chip. Additionally, a two-way clocked high speed serial port (CSI/O) provided makes for interesting Local Area Networking (LAN) possibilities, direct 400k-baud communications at 8 mHz clock rate. (We presently finish our Z port to it, should be complete when you read this newsletter!) Specifications point to not one, but two super 8-bitters being available to run Z-based software! (Though these newer chips run 8080/Z80 instruction sets, and even more, neither is physically pin-for-pin compatible with older chips--you can't simply unplug one and replace with other. Printed circuit board redesign is necessary.) Hitachi's HD64180 is 80186 of eight-bit world, as Z800 is the 80286 (chip used by IBM AT). Tony Moroyan (Strategic Marketing Manager, Hitachi) said, "Many would prefer better performance in eight-bit, and compatibility to present software." His colleague, Sarv Thakur (Microprocessor Group Marketing Manager), indicated present high 8-bit demand by stating, "We expect this market to remain for many years to come." Remember, Echelon is here now with advanced Z Operating System (ZCPR3 combined with ZRDOS3) ready to support high-technology microprocessor architecture. These new high-integration chips are superior in many ways to their 16/32-bit counterparts, and can be used without sacrificing incredibly large base of existing 8080/Z80 software and programming know-how! The Z800, because of high clock rate capability and superior design, should run circles around Intel 80286. This not withstanding, Hitachi's chip sets_a_standard for cost effective, high performance computer designs. Here are bench marks running BYTE Magazine "Sieve" under MBasic (HD64180 clock at 6.144 mHz and one wait state; other computers, as delivered): Apple IIe -- 2806 seconds (6502) TRS-80/II -- 2250 " (Z80) IBM PC -- 1950 " (8088) Unannounced Computer -- 1322 " (HD64180) Apple Macintosh -- 1214 " (68010) Over twice as fast as Apple II, nearly as fast as Macintosh (32-bit?), and much faster than IBM PC (16-bit?)! The production HD64180 units are said to run at 10 mHz clock speed increasing above performance by more than 50% to 806 seconds, leaving Macintosh in road dust! Just guessing, IBM AT likely does Sieve in 600 or so seconds. We understand Hitachi is offering a companion, high thru-put graphics processor: 2 mega-pixels per second, both for full-color and monochrome. Now that's more than state-of-the-art (NEC eat your heart out)! S-100 and single-board computer manufacturers, which of you are first with a board using one of these great new chips? Eight-bit microprocessors continue to be designed into new systems, and in accelerating amounts, with little notice from popular press. We predict such systems will be around as long as they serve well so many applications-- they provide unusually high overall performance because it's so easy to stay with Assembly Language, instead of having to move to inefficient high-level languages. (Something is never received for nothing...learn a little each day and reduce a little anxiety and frustration.) Using Richard Conn's Syslib3 for standard subroutine functions makes program writing efficient and fast, both in-doing and in-results. It's now so clear that IBM's selection of pseudo 16-bit Intel 8088 for their PC has distorted normal development progress of microcomputers. What a waste! We also sense a small backlash from deception and lack of editorial leadership of popular press. Who likes to feel duped! But who takes blame for poor leadership? Leader or followers? Let us (and them) know your feelings. What you do is infinitesimal, but it's infinitely important that you do it! Z-Tools are shipping! Some highlights of Z80 ZDM/ZDMZ debuggers: twenty- one (21) commands versus DDT's 12. One of these commands (B) permit string searches (in both hex and ASCII) over a specific memory block range. Others enable monitor and complete debugger, patcher operations. Command line prompts ease operator mental overhead. ZDM P (print) command is toggle expecting no trailing arguments. The effect is to send all output to printer as well as to console. It is turned off by a subsequent P command. Whenever P toggle is on, a 'P' will be displayed as part of X (examine and alter current cpu state) or T (trace) display. Jump (J) command is also toggle without arguments. It only affects subsequent T or U (untrace) commands. If J has been executed then T command displays only conditional and unconditional CALLS, JUMPS, RETURNS, RESTARTS, PCHL (IX or IY) and relative JUMPS. The Tn form of trace is usually used where n represents actual number of instructions to be traced. Whenever the J toggle is on, a 'J' will be displayed as part of the X or T display. QI and QO permit input and output of byte value to selected I/O port while DI and EI permit interrupt disable and enable. Any ZDM command may be cancelled by pressing the rubout (DEL) key. Works with both extended Intel and Zilog mnemonics. ZDM, a super-value tool for $50.00 plus S&H. REVAS3: superb documentation is monument to understanding Assembly Language and disassembly of object code to source listing. Enough here for everyone to learn something from, enough for you advanced hackers and program designers. Major features include interactively assisting you analyze your software for modification, disassembling files as large as 64k-bytes, assigning real labels to subroutines, inserting comments to disassembled code, and generation of cross reference listings. A tool of great prize at $90.00 plus S&H! ITOZ-ZTOI-TTOI-ITOT: these four (4) Zilog/Intel/TDL (Xitan) mnemonic and pseudo-op code translators make source code conversions so easy compared to hand translating with a text or program editor--night versus day. A tool- value similar to ones above: $51.00 plus normal S&H. (Z-News next highlights our Cadillac, DSD, Dynamic Screen Debugger sel- ling for $195.00 plus S&H. Also keystone of our software development system, versatile and fast Zas, with Zlink, is featured.) Shipping dates for Echelon items not presently shipping (all calendar '85): Zas with Zlink -- 18 February DSD -- 25 February ZRDOS2 (and Z-Com2) -- 28 February ZCPR3: The Manual -- March Term3 -- second-quarter ZCPR3: The Libraries -- second-quarter ZRDOS3 -- third-quarter Emsg -- third or fourth-quarter DMM (MaintMan) -- not scheduled yet Please stay (and learn) with us--we move as fast as a shoe-string permits; eagles wish such speed! Amateur Computerist Corner: The joy of learning is enhanced when using Z- System--everywhere you turn is another surprise; another useful, but until the moment, unknown welcomed feature! You go for months like this, thinking each new discovery is the last; but surprise, it seems to never stop...beat goes on! Alternate telephone services seem to be giving lots of us trouble when attempting to access Z-Nodes and other BBS's. Apparently the signal level is too low to permit carrier detection circuits to work correctly. Under conditions where you get an indication of connection followed by immediate lost of remote carrier, try the conventional, high-priced long-distance tele- phone service: AT&T! No entity (search the Cosmos, if you will) provides quality telephone service like erstwhile Ma-Bell. AT&T profits not too bad! Divestiture company earned $1.4 billion last fiscal year (ending 31 December 1984), versus projected $2.1, on sales of $33 billion. For a company having $40 billion assets, return on investment should be much better, but could be worse. Present calendar year should see battle lines fully drawn between them and IBM. (AT&T's personal computer is said to be twice as fast as IBM's; that makes it as quick as our S-100 4mHz Z80 systems.) What will the future hold? Lo! Behold! the future is now! See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc. 101 First Street Los Altos, CA 94022 Telephone: 415/948-3820 ZCPR3 BBS & Z-Node: 415/489-9005 Trademarks: Z80/800, Zilog; HD62801/64180, Hitachi; 80186/286, Intel; Z- System, Z-Tools, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Com, Z3-Dot-Com, Discat, Syslib3, Emsg, Term3, Zas, Zlink, DSD, ZDM, ITOZ, Revas3, DMM, Lasting-Value Software, Echelon and their respective owners and authors; IBM PC, AT, IBM Corp.; Macintosh, Apple Computer; TRS-80, Tandy Corp.; CP/M, DDT, Digital Research; MBasic, Microsoft; Cadillac, General Motors. Z-News 105 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to reprint automatically granted if source credit is given to Echelon.