TechTools Archives: Re: 9010A Getting Started

From: John Robertson <jrr_at_flippers.com>
Date: Tue Apr 16 2002 - 23:33:18 EDT

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You are  a programmer aren't you? I want you on my Pod to PC interface project team! (actually I'd like anyone on the team ;-) 
I use RKSIC, as it works in Windows, and by and large does everything needed. Still need to find out about transferring Binary programs via the RS-232 port... 
Al Kossow says it;s fine to copy his Fluke stuff to the archive, so I think I'll make up a page for it on my web site and provide the links for my FTP section, a little cleaner interface would be nice, eh? 
Now, does Mark (basementarcade)say it's OK to put any of his PDFs up as well? 
Anyone here familiar with version 1.94.4 of Majordomo? I need to set up an archive, and a digest... 
John :-#)# 
At 02:35 PM 17/04/2002 +1000, Marc Alexander wrote: 
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Firstly, thanks very much Kev and John for the info to get me started, I 
really appreciate it. 
Please note with my comments below I haven't hardly started reading the 
docs, just looking at scripts and ideas... 
Does anyone use the mame source code drivers memory map and hardware info 
to help with writing the scripts? 
I've been putting one together based on Kev's and the galaga.c mame driver 
to get started. So far I've done almost nothing but begin to add some comments 
in and the galaga memory map to the bottom, otherwise it is still the unedited 
V3 script from Kev. 
Do you use RKSIC.EXE or 9LC.EXE to compile it? or either? 
What are the pros and cons of each one? 
 (I'm trying to work out what I can get away with with comments and script format) 
> > > Third thought.  Has anyone tried to tie pins 2 & 3 of the 232 plug together 
> > > to make the 9010A "fault tolerant".  I want to put a switch on my cable to 
> > > do that, load the program, flip the switch & run the program.  Or is there 
> > > anyway to have the PC monitor output from the 9010A serially & send <CONT> 
> > > on failures? 
> > I don't understand this feature yet? 
> > 
> You know how when the 9010A fails a test command <RAM SHORT @ 0-3FF> it 
> stops? 
> 
> By tying pins 2 to 3 & adding additional code to test the state of the 232 
> port your program can be "fault tolerant".  IE you could create a program 
> that would let you go get a beer and when you got back it wouldn't be 
> stopped at the first fault it found but could list every fault it found. 
I see a SETUP MESSAGES code called SET-EXERCISE ERRORS? on the reference card that 
has this description: 
"Determines whether error messages and prompts for looping on errors are displayed" 
You could also use REG8 or REG9 to keep user entered script controls and counts: 
    a) Have a user input yes/no to a "stop on errors" prompt at the start of the 
       script, or is the setup code only allowed at the script start? 
    b) Count the number of errors? and display it at the end of the tests 
       if non-zero. 
    
    If there were 8 tests, you could store a bit pattern in the register, and 
    then report which tests failed at the end based on which bits were on. 
    (if this thing will do the appropriate math on the register?) 
> The other problem I've noticed when coding I've strung a bunch of RAMs 
> together & check each pair (2114s on Pole), but when it gives you an error 
> message it just says RAM error at $4401, so now you've got to go back to the 
> memory map & figure out which ram it is.  Be nicer if it said VIDEO RAM 7F 
> 8F BAD. 
Isn't it possible to split the ram tests up into memory mapped pieces that match 
the chips or chip pairs? 
If there's a fault could it branch to a sub-test program that poked 0x00 and 0xFF 
into the failed address and reported the faulty read-back result? This would show 
which of the 4bit 2114's may be at fault. 
If the ram (or rom) test failed couldn't the script go to a sub-test that just 
poked that address only, continuously, so you could find the chip enable on the 
faulty ram/rom ?  (or is that the looping function anyway :-) ) 
 
Cheers, 
Marc 
 
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Received on Tue Apr 16 23:33:18 2002

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