	       ***************************************

	       *                                     *

	       *           Portfolio  User 9         *

	       *                May 1996             *

	       *                                     *

	       *    The Internet Magazine For The    *

	       *        ** Atari Portfolio **        *

	       *                                     *

	       * Edited By: Paul Jolliffe            *

	       *            paulj@jollyp.demon.co.uk *

	       *                                     *

	       ***************************************



     Contents

     ========



     Introduction

     An Unusual Use For A Portfolio

     Programming

       Programming The Portfolio

       Setting The Alarm

     Portfolio On The Net

       New Home Page For PL/1

       Permission To Post PF User On BBS

       PF User On Web Site

     Tips

       Parallel File Transfer Cable Pinouts

       What UPDATE.COM Fixes

     Problem Corner

     For Sale/Wanted

     Suppliers Lists



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

     Introduction

     ============



     Another month another news  letter, what a busy month so far.  I  have 

     changed job so I should be  able  to  spend more time  dealing with PF 

     related issues.  The next issue will  be out in about six months, then

     monthly after that.

     

     As you most of you are  aware I have finally  managed to get the  mail 

     server  sorted  at home.  Phew after a long hard  slogg it works and a 

     week or so of working at home :)  



     In simple terms the mail server will allow anyone to  subscribe to the 

     PF User  letter  my  simply  sending an email  to  the   list  manager 

     (majordomo@jollyp.demon.co.uk).   To  add  your  name  send  an  email 

     containing the message: 'subscribe portfolio' to the list  manager, to 

     remove yourself send the message 'unsubscribe portfolio'.



     The mail server  has  extra features, this includes an archive server.  

     Again by sending a  message  to  the  list owner you can get a list of 

     available files,  currently  there are  about 50 on the machine  but I 

     have a further 1,500 that need to be sorted  through  and added once I 

     have checked them, which I am hoping will only take a month or so.  



     All files have been virus checked for all  known viruses and once they 

     are on the archive server  they cannot be  infected.  To get a list of 

     available files send the message: 'index portfolio' to the mail server 

     manager (majordomo ...).  Due  to the large volume  of files that will

     be contained on the list server  in the  future it would be an idea if

     you were to request an index listing periodically.



     My machine will contect to the internet twice a night once at midnight 

     (GMT) then again a 06:00 (GMT) so the  longest you should need to wait 

     for a response is 24 hours.  



     As part of this  upgrade to the software  on my home machine, my email 

     will be a lot more reliable and should I  be  away from my machine for 

     more than 24 hours you will be sent an automatic response just letting 

     you know that I have  received  your email.  There  will possibly be a 

     time of bedding down, where there may be unusual things  happening, if 

     they do then let me know as soon  as possible so I  can correct  them, 

     this includes receiving more than one copy of the PF User.



     I notice that some people (only a few)  are not  happy about receiving 

     adverts for the PF due to limitations of on-line time and mail storage 

     areas, I am considering setting up a  second  list  containing anybody 

     who wants to receive the adverts and  allowing any advertises password 

     access to post to that mail list.  If  anyone  has any comments either 

     way then please let me know.



     I should also have a  compuserve address  within  the next month, once 

     I know the address I  will  post  details  about  the  PF  User to the 

     Portfolio Forum, which should allow a greater audience  (as compuserve 

     reckon they have over 30 millions  users  worldwide).  Whilst trauling 

     through   compuserve  with  an  evaluation  copy  of   the  Compuserve 

     information  manager I came accoss  over 10 Megabytes  of programs for 

     the  Portfolio  and  PC !!  One of  the  great  things  I  found  were 

     electronic books ffor the PF, these include Alice in Wonderland  and a 

     Star Trek Next Generation story, as a consequence I went 'surfing' and 

     found loads and loads of ASCII versions of books so if anyone wants to 

     embark on a conversion I can get the files and email them to you.

     

     I now that some of  you had problems  last month receiving the PF User 

     due to its size, I keep forgetting  that  most mail gateways will only 

     accept a message less than  60,000 characters.   Should a future issue 

     of PF User go over this  limit  I will split it d own into two or more 

     pieces.



     I have receieved many emails  asking permission to post the PF User on 

     various bulliten boards and web pages, please distribute it to as many 

     people you want and place it  where ever you want it.  Should there be 

     enough interesst I will do a  proper HTML version that Web Page owners 

     can receive and just  attach to  their  servers.  Let me know what you 

     think.



     I am looking for five volunteers to  evaluate software for the PF user 

     magazine.  I will send  each  of  them  several files once a month via 

     email for them to test  and  put  a couple of sentences together about 

     what they liked about the program  or  what  they disliked and then to 

     score  the  program   on   a   scale   for   usability,  presentation, 

     documentation and  functionality,  if anyone is interested then please 

     let me know.

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

     An Unusual Use For A Portfolio

     ==============================



	From: Lenz Grimmer <93ti016@ba-mannheim.de>

     Subject: Using Portfolio as a GPS-Navigation Unit.



     Hallo Paul,



     I  finally  made  it  to  contact   the  guy  who  uses  his  PF as an 

     GPS-Navigation-unit.  I had a 30min phonecall with and asked  him some 

     questions  about how he did it.  He's  a sailor and also an electronic 

     wiz.  In fact, he  uses  the  PF  either  for  navigating or receiving 

     RTTY-Information  (whatever  that is-I'm  not  a sailor).  As  far  as 

     navigation is concerned, he uses the PF to display the navigation data 

     (Actual Position, Altitude, Time, etc) that  is  fed  into  it using a 

     serial  interface.   The   navigation  data  comes  from  an  external 

     GPS-Receiver  called  Globos 3000 (?)  tha t was Made  by  Alcatel SEL 

     Mannheim,  Germany (Yes, I do work in this company!  But  this product 

     line has ben closed down an I don't know if we still sell these units. 

     If anybody  is  interested,  send me a mail!). He  wrote the  software 

     using Borland C.



     The RTTY-receiver and the related software i not a product of his own, 

     he  said he found the  information  about  this  in  a magazine called 

     "Pocket- und Laptop-Computer" that was published  by  a german company 

     called Fischel GmbH, Kaiser-Friedrich-Str. 54a,  1000 Berlin  12 (this 

     is the old zip-code! Germany changed the numbering  some  time ago...) 

     The telephone number of  this  company  was (030)  3236029.  I haven't 

     tried to get in contact with them yet. 

 

     Mr.  Mindt  (that's the  name of  the  man  with  the  GPS-PoFo)  also 

     mentioned, that this company ran a  local  Computer-Club  called  ADCC 

     e.V..



     Well, that's all I found out so far,  if anybody would like to receive 

     more information or has specific  questions,  I'll ask Mr. Mindt if he 

     would like me to spread his adress (he has no e-mail).



     Many greetings and much fun, Lenz G.



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

      Lenz Grimmer                                Berufsakademie Mannheim    

      e-mail: lenzg@ba-mannheim.de or lenzg@rummelplatz.uni-mannheim.de

		     WWW: http://www.ba-mannheim.de/~lenzg

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

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

     Programming

     ===========



     As  promised  I  have  written  an  article  covering  details   about 

     programming   the  Portofolio  and  the  various  languages  that  are 

     available  to do it.   I  make no warranty to the information supplied 

     and I am sorry if it starts a bit non-technical for most.



     The   PF is technically an  IBM  PC  in  your  hand,   but  there  are 

     differences.  The biggest  is  at the  hardware  level. When a program 

     tells a machine what to do it can do it one of  two ways, the first is 

     at BIOS level (now I've  heard of that you say  to yourself) the other 

     is via hardware calls.  Now the BIOS (theres that word again) is a set 

     of routines, written normally  by the manufacturer of the motherboard.  



     These routines allow your programs  to  communicate with the hardware, 

     regardless of what the hardware type  is.  For instance on a normal PC 

     you could have anyone of over a hundred different makes of video card, 

     if it wasn't for the BIOS you  would  have to write a routine for each 

     one.  By using a BIOS call all  you  need  to  do  is  put a couple of 

     values in the processor and call a routine, the  BIOS  then takes care 

     of the rest.  The draw back of BIOS calls is they tend to be slow.  By 

     contrast  a  hardware call would involve  you knowing, in great detail 

     the internal programming of  the video card.   Once you have written a 

     specific program for that video card you have a program that will only 

     work on that particluar card,  the  advantage  is  it will run several 

     times faster than a BIOS program.



     So you say to yourselves why don't we use software that uses hardware 

     calls, well more often  as not the PF will just laugh at you when you 

     try to run it as its  internal  hardware  is  not IBM compatible, one 

     example is not being able to print  text  on  a  graphics screen, the 

     only way to do it is to draw each letter pixel by pixel.



     Even  allowing  for  these  differences  in hardware  there  are many 

     languages that you can use to program with.   There  are  mainly  two 

     types of languages, high-level and  low  level.   To  understand  the 

     difference, you need to understand  what  actually  happens  when you 

     program your machine, the machine works by using simple  commands and 

     address areas,for instance to add two numbers together you would need 

     code similar to  the following (my apologies to Assembler programmers 

     but it has been  over 10 years since I used  it and  it was on a 6809 

     processor).



	LDA 10  <-- Load register A with 10

	LDB 20  <-- Load register B with 20

	ADD     <-- Add Together And Put The Result In D



     To the machine this (once converted to machine code) could look like:



	01 10 03 20 03



     Not many people can understand that so software designers created high 

     level languages,  these  convert  simple  commands  that  you use into 

     machine code for  you,  in  the  above  example  we  added two numbers 

     together, to a high level langauge you would use a command similar to:



	LET D = 10 + 20



     In this simple example you need to  type  more  characters but you can 

     see the difference.



     High level languages, in the main are easier to learn, most novice and

     budding  programmers  tend  to  use  BASIC, I learn't programming from 

     BASIC on a Sinclair ZX-81 (Timex 1000).  



     If  you decide to use  a  high  level  language  you need to decide on 

     whether it should be compiled  or  interpretted  (or what ? I hear you 

     say).  The PF has  two  ways  of  processing your programs.  As I said 

     before the PF can  only  understand machine code programs so your high 

     level language needs  to  convert your program to machine code.  In an 

     interpretted language  to  PF  does  it  a line at a time, converts to 

     current line of code  and  then  executes  it, a compiled languge will 

     convert your program all at one go.



     So what  is  the  difference,  which  is  better,  well languages that 

     create compiled  executables are generally better.  The reason is that 

     they take less disk space (a priority on the PF)  and  execute  a  lot 

     faster.  The reason why they take less space is  that  the interpreter 

     for  the   language  does  not  need  to  be  present, to  put  it  in 

     perspective,  say  you  are using a very small language such as PBasic 

     v 4.91 which is 43K and your program is about 20K that only leaves you

     a  maximum of 70K  on a normal PF.  A compiled version might only take 

     20K or less.



     Next  month I  will  review each  of the various programming languages 

     that  are  available  for  the PF  and  provide  examples  within each 

     environment.  For the time being you have to  decide  compiled  versus 

     interpretted ?

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

	From: "M. Bokhorst" <M.Bokhorst@ect.nl>

     Subject: Portfolio





     Hello Paul,



     Maybe sonething for the next PF user:



     Something which is not documented in the technical reference:

     it is possible to set the alarm of the Portfolio yourself.



     Set alarm:



	AH=6 (set alarm)

	CH=hour (BCD)

	CL=minute (BCD)

	DH=second (BCD)

	INT 1Ah

	returns carry if error

	(alarm already set, invalid time, etc)



     The hour, minute and second are Binary Coded Decimal (BCD).

     For example 12 o'clock should be 12 hex (simple isn't it).



     Reset alarm



	AH=7 (disable alarm)

	INT 1Ah

	no return



     The alarm itself is handled by INT 4A. By installing your

     own interrupt handler is it possible to replace the standard

     alarm.



     Kind regards, Marcel

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

     Portfolio On The Net

     ====================



	From: Marcel Bokhorst <M.Bokhorst@ect.nl>

     Subject: Home page for PL1



     Hello Jan,



     I made a home page for PL1. You can find it at 



	     http://www.smdg.org/marcel/



     Maybe you can include a link to it.



     Kind regards, Marcel

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

	From: Florian Kuehn <florian@zedat.fu-berlin.de>

     Subject: Re: Portfolio Newsletter



     Hi Paul,



     Thanks again for adding to the mailing list...



     Now I know how to speak with majordomo... 

     it is really great!!!!!



     I just would like to ask you, if it is allowed to upload the portfolio 

     news as files on a bbs which is not connected to the internet in order 

     to give also users, which have (still) no access to the  Internet, the 

     chance to read and maybe to participate ...



     Thanks in advance for an short answer



     best regards



     florian

     Berlin 

     Germany



     PAULJ> If anyone wants to distribute the  Portfolio  User  then please

	    do, as  most of you are aware it is a  free  'publication' that

	    I edit, with the help of PF  fans from  around  the  world, all

	    that I  ask  is that you do not modify  it in any  way and tell 

	    people how you got it.

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

	From: David J Southworth <dave@xtal.demon.co.uk>

     Subject: Portfolio User On Web Page



     Hi Paul,



     You are  doing a great job with the Portfolio Newsletter! Well done. I 

     currently get the newsletter from a web site but the link always seems 

     very slow, is  there any way of getting the newsletter other than this 

     way or can you recommend a fast site?

     

     I am thinking  of adding a brief Portfolio  section  to  my home page, 

     would  you  mind  if I  put the newsletter  there, possibly  in a HTML 

     format?



     Cheers,



     Dave

     --

     Home Page: http:\\www.demon.co.uk\isotech\d2\

     Email    : dave@xtal.demon.co.uk



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

     Hints And Tips

     ==============





     Parallel File Transfer Cable Pinouts

     ====================================



	From: Lars Aschenbach <100542.3711@compuserve.com>

     Subject: File Transfer Cable



     Some Hardware information I found on CompuServe:



     This  is the minimum configuration of  a  cable  that will do parallel 

     file transfers from a PC compatible to an Atari  Portfolio.   A 25 pin 

     straight-through  cable  works,  but is  too  bulky for  travel.  This 

     minimum  configuration   cable needs only 6 wires.  Both ends are male 

     DB-25 connectors, and the connections are straight across.



	    2  -  2        Data 0

	    3  -  3        Data 1

	   11  -  11       Busy

	   12  -  12       Paper Error

	   13  -  13       Select

	   25  -  25       Ground  (This can be any or all pins 

				    18 through 25.  I used 18 - 18.)

 

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

     What UPDATE.COM Fixes

     =====================



	From: Lars Aschenbach <100542.3711@compuserve.com>

     Subject: UPDATE.COM 1.07 Details



     UPDATE.COM

     This is the latest update (version 1.07) for the Atari Portfolio 



     Size is 1664 bytes, checksum is 55fa.



     Included are all the bug fixes in previous UPDATE.COM versions and it 

     is compatible with earlier versions of the system.

 

     Fixes include:



      1.    Copy CON: 10 character limit.                    

      2.    Printers losing or replacing characters:                        

      3.    No power down while executing a .RUN:   

      4.    Card removal while executing a .RUN:    

      5.    The byte at 0:8030 being lost on power down:    

      6.    "Space-Return" bug in the editor which is apparent

	    only in versions 1.070 of the system and above.

      7.    Alarm divide by zero.

      8.    Int 24 C0 mapped out. 

      9.    DOS error on drve B:

     10.    Print screen.

     11.    Diary alarm problems.

     12.    Empty text file.



     The latest available UPDT107.COM should be invoked from the user's 

     AUTOEXEC.BAT.



     Atari assumes no responsibility for the incorrect usage of system 

     software or any damages which are the result of that usage.



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

	From: Lars Aschenbach <100542.3711@compuserve.com>

     Subject: LCD Controller Info



     Here's some info I've figured out on the Portfolio.



     I reckon the  LCD controller  is  a  Hitachi  HD61830  (which I have a 

     manual for),  or workalike. It has two ports, address and data, with a 

     dozen or so registers:-



	 R0 - mode - display on/off, blink, cursor, graphics/text bits

	 R1 - char pitch, high nybble rows - 1, low nybble 6/7/8 

	      dots wide - 1

	 R2 - chars/line 2 - 128

	 R3 - lines/screen 1 - 128

	 R4 - cursor line 1 - 16

	 R8,9 - display start (low, high)

	 RA,B - crsr addr (high, low)

	 RC - write byte

	 RD - read byte

	 RE - clear bit (bit # in low 3 bits, LB bit is bit 0, RH is bit 7)

	 RF - set bit



     If you read from the  address  register,  DB7  is  a  busy flag, which 

     should be checked before  doing  anything.   If you want to read data, 

     you have to do a dummy read first. (ie write RA, check busy, write RB,

     check  busy,  read RD, check busy,  finally read RD).  (write RA means 

     write  0AH to addr reg,  value  to data reg.  You can set DX to 8011H, 

     then  do an OUT (DX),  AX)  The cursor auto-increments on a read/write 

     (for  bits also).  If  you want  to  change the cursor addr, low order 

     byte,  you must set the high order  byte as  well  (the Hitachi manual 

     says) (If you only change the high order byte, thats ok)



     The  R/W routines in  ROM  looks very slow, as far as I remember (they 

     keep on setting DX I think). The CPU runs just too quickly to not need 

     the busy checks. You  can  probably  find an optimum number of NOPs, I 

     decided its easier to do the busy checks.



     If  this  is the right sort of info, and you'd like more details, just 

     say.  I  did a couple of routines that read and wrote the whole screen 

     in one go,  disabling & re-enabling interrupts before and after. I was 

     going  to do some graphics stuff, but haven't got round to it. (I used 

     DOS to set graphics mode etc.)



     Here's some other stuff I worked out, of varying use:-



     All ports are between 8000H & 807FH, in blocks of 10H, I think:



     8000-0F show last key pressed (bit 7 = 1 means released) see below



     8010 }  LCD  { data    } duplicated in pairs up to 801E,1F

     8011 }       { address }



     8020 tone generator



     8040-4F - word - 1/4 second ticks ?

     8050-5F - word - always C202H ?

     8060-6F - byte - contrast level

     8070-7F - extender

     

     Control keys

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



      ^2   - 00

      ^[   - 1B

      ^\   - 1C

      ^]   - 1D

      ^6   - 1E

      ^_   - 1F

      ^bsp - 7F

     

     Key codes (the row value is the low order nybble I think)

     ---------



     (This is incomplete, )|( stands for the Atari key, <<>, <>>, <^> and 

     <v> are the arrow keys)

     

	 0   1    2   3

     0  )|(  \d   s   \

     1       w    p   z

     2   1        4  <sp>

     3   2        g   ;

     

     4   3   r  <ins> .

     5       t   <v>  =

     6   5   \r   ,

     7   6   y    l   x

     

     8 <del> 0

     9       i    h   v

     a   q   -    j

     b   u <ins> <<>  n

     

     c   o   [   <>>  m

     d   7  <^> <ins> /

     e <del> '    8

     f   9   ]    k <esc>

     

     

     Hope this helps,  I  don't  know  anything about undocumented int 61s, 

     I've done a small music program, the tone generator is fairly straight

     forward, also have several games programs (logical rather than arcade) 

     if  you're  interested.  Also  a  fair  amount  of stuff on the serial 

     interface as I don't have a PC, only a home  brew machine, so have had 

     to do my own comms stuff.  I'd be interested to know how they know how 

     to put up a 'battery low' message (maybe something at 8020H or 8030H?)



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



	From: Marcel Bokhorst <M.Bokhorst@ect.nl>

     Subject: Re: Portfolio (LCD Controller)



     Hello Jan,



     >> 1. The Portfolio contains a HD16830B LCD controller of Hitachi.

     >>    I do have the specifications of it.

     >

     > I think it would be fine if this info was available. I think

     > we could put the description into our buletine or put it onto

     > ftp server.



     See attached file with documentation.



     >> 1. At I/O address 8040h you can find a timer,  which ticks 

     >>    (increases) every 1/2 second, which is a higher resolution than 

     >>    the built-in clock.

     >

     > Do you know the purpose of this timer?

     > The internal clocks ticks once in 128 secs or once in 1 sec.



     I don't know, but every even tick it increments the internal clock.



     >> I have also some questions:

     >> 1. Does anybody know how to put the Portfolio in standby-mode?

     >

     > I do not know. I think it is done by stopping the clock signal to 

     > the CPU.



     I found out myself (using the ROM-listing):



	MOV DX,8030h

	XOR AL,AL

	OUT DX,AL

	HLT

	NOP



     I'm using this code for the WAIT command of PL1.



     I've uploaded the last version of Pl1 in the marathon directory.  This

     version is the same as the last version I sent you by mail, except for 

     the WAIT command.



     Kind regards, Marcel





     The LCD on the Portfolio is controlled by a HD61830 of Hitachi. The 

     I/O addresses are 8010h and 8011h.



       8010h is the data register

       8011h is the control register



     To program:



     1. Write the register number to 8011h

     2. Write the data to register 8010h



     For register and data value, see table below.  After the data values 

     the initial values for the Portfolio are show in hex (set during reset)





     Reg function                      Bits                            init

					7   6   5   4   3   2   1   0

				      +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

       0 Mode control                 | 0 | 0 |       Mode data       | 38

				      +---+---+-------+---+-----------+

       1 Vertical/horizontal          |   (Vp-1)      | 0 |   (Hp-1)  | 75

	 character pitch              |               |   |           |

				      +---+-----------+---+-----------+

       2 Number of characters per     | 0 |          (HN-1)           | 27

	 line/number of bytes         |   |                           |

				      +---+---------------------------+

       3 Number of vertical dots      |   |          (NX-1)           | 3F

				      +---+---+---+---+---------------+

       4 Cursor position              | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |     (CP-1)    | 07

				      +---+---+---+---+---------------+

       8 Display starting address     |          Address data         | 00

	 (least significant) (Lower)  |                               |

				      +---+---+---+---+---------------+

       9 Display starting address     | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Address data  | 00

	 (most significant) (Upper)   |   |   |   |   |               |

				      +---+---+---+---+---------------+

      10 Cursor address               |          Address data         | 00

	 (least significant) (Lower)  |                               |

				      +---+---+---+---+---------------+

      11 Cursor address               | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Address data  | 00

	 (most significant) (Upper)   |   |   |   |   |               |

				      +---+---+---+---+---------------+

      12 Refresh memory write         |   Character code/bit data     |

				      +-------------------------------+

      13 Refresh memory read          |      Refresh memory data      |

				      +---+---+---+---+---+-----------+

      14 Bit clear                    | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |   (BN)    |

				      +---+---+---+---+---+-----------+

      15 Bit set                      | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |   (BN)    |

				      +---+---+---+---+---+-----------+



     Mode data:



     1 1 1 0 0 0     Initial value for Portfolio



     5 4 3 2 1 0

     | | \ / | |

     | |  |  | +---  0: Internal character generator ROM

     | |  |  |       1: External character generator ROM

     | |  |  |

     | |  |  +-----  0: Character mode

     | |  |          1: Graphics mode

     | |  |

     | |  +-------- 00: Cursor OFF

     | |            01: Cursor ON

     | |            10: Cursor OFF, character blink

     | |            11: Cursor blink

     | |

     | +-----------  1: Master or slave (when multiple HD61830's)

     |

     +-------------  0: Display OFF (without clearing refresh memory)

		     1: Display ON



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



	From: "M. Bokhorst" <M.Bokhorst@ect.nl>

     Subject: Re: your mail



     Hello Paul,



     > I have received a copy of PL/1 from the portfolio site in the Czech 

     > Republic, I have a query, Is it shareware, freeware demo etc .. ?



     It is 100% freeware. It is up to the user to sent me a small donation 

     ($5-$10) to let me see PL1 is appreciated.



     > The other thing is from the small demos you have included it looks 

     > great, is there any chance of you throwing together some 

     > documentation.  I don't mind if it is rough, I can always pad it out 

     > for you.



     I try to write in the next comming days some basic documentation  about 

     the backgrounds, commands and keywords.



     > Again PL/1 appears to be a small well written, flexible  language for 

     > the PF, congratulations.



     Thank you very much.



     I have one question myself: is there a easy and not dirty way to detect

     a PortFolio safely? (checking/calling  INT  60/61 as documented in  the 

     technical reference manual is not safe). I will try to find out the ROM

     BIOS signature of the PortFolio to do the check, but maybe you can tell

     me a better/easier method.



     Kind regards, Marcel



     PAULJ> Can anyone help Marcel with his query, if so let him know or

	    or me know so I can pass it on.



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



     Problem Corner

     ==============



	From: go4tahoe@sierra.net (Charles W. Cross)

     Subject: Port problem



     Paul here is a tidbit for you  or the  "problem corner"  in port user.  

     I have 3 ports in the family, 2 are ver 1.072 and 1 is ver  1.130.  In 

     the ver 1.130 (which I understand to be a special  european ver).  The 

     optrol 524k flash card won't boot up and let  you access  the D-drive. 

     The A-drive is  fine.  This optrol card works fine on the 2 ver. 1.072 

     ports.



     Here's the kicker ! The atari 32K and 128K Ram Cards work fine in  the 

     ver.1.130 port.sounds like a compatability problem. Ever heard of it?



     Let me know, and thanks for all your help so far. 



     Charles W.Cross



     PAULJ> I didn't know there  was  a  version 1.130 of the BIOS, I sent 

	    mine back to the makers (DIP) for an upgrade to the latest and

	    they  sent it  back  with 1.072  ROMS,  has  anyone  else  had 

	    similar  problems  with  there  machines, or  if you know more 

	    about version 1.130 then let me know.

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

     For Sale / Wanted

     =================



	From: A.C.Mmvanden.Abeele@att.com (Bram vd Abeele +31 35 687 1898)

     Subject: Portfolio For Sale



     Paul,



     A friend of mine wants to sell his Portfolio.  Can you place this

     advertisement in the coming issue of the Portfolio web magazine.



	     For Sale:

		     - Atari Portfolio HPC-004

		     - Portfolio Parallel Interface HPC-101

		     - owner's manual, software, interface cable

		     - price: DFL 250 (250 Dutch guilders)

     

     Cheers,

     Bram van den Abeele

     The Netherlands

     tel. +31 35 538 7539

     e-mail: abeele@lucent.com



        From: Jonathan Wildman <101461.514@compuserve.com>

     Subject: Wanted Parallel Or Serial Interface



     This is not an article but more of a notice , could you please include

     in  the  next  edition  of  Portfolio  user  (or  may  be able to help 

     yourself) the following notice.



     NEED DESPERATELY A PARALLEL OR SERIAL INTERFACE TO CONNECT  PORTFOLIO 

     TO MY PC!! ...(I AM ALSO INTERESTED IN SOLID STATE DISKS)



     AM WILLING TO PAY GOOD MONEY!!!



     PLEASE EMAIIL JONATHAN WILDMAN 101461.514@COMPUSERVE.COM

     OR RING (UK, ENGLAND) 0181 590 2764



     Many Thanks

     

     Jonathan WIldman

     101461.514@Compuserve.com



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

     ********************************************************************

     *     P O R T F O L I O    P R O D U C T S    P R I C E L I S T    *

     *                                                             *    

     *               valid from 10 March 1996                      *    

     ********************************************************************

     

     Here is the price list for the products that we can offer you.

     All prices are in German Marks (DM) and all prices

     do not take local tax and VAT into consideration.



     **************************************

     *  R E G U L A R     P R I C I N G   *

     **************************************



     PERIPHERALS MADE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC - 2 year warranty



     code       description                               quant./price

					     END 

					     PRICE      DEALER 1        DEALER 2

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

     HPD 103 Genuine Leather Case

	     with battery pocket                 29        20            18

     

     HPD 300 Parallel inteface 25 pin, 

	     cable, software             89        60            50

     

     HPD 350 Combined Interface

	     paralel + RS 232, software         149       130           120

     

     HPD 400 RAM Card 128 KB,

	     min 2 yr. battery life-span        119        94            89

     

     HPD 450 PORTFOLIO MEGA-PACK

	RAM Card 128 KB,

	Parallel interf. 25 pin, 

	soft, cable, file man. 

	more, soft instal.              169        136          130

     

     HPD 500 FolioDrive 3,5" FDD Unit

	to read and write 1,44 MB 

	diskettes from Portfolio

	Par. inferf., NiCd battery 

	pack, cable, soft and 32 KB 

	RAM Card incl. in the price 

					349        280          260

     

     HPD 600 PortWalk tape recorder 

	     interface mono/stereo 2MB

	     on 60 minutes tape          59         35           30

     

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

     LITERATURE

     

     HPD 202 Portfolio Technical Guide

	     in English 120 pgs,+ disk   29         18           17

     

     HPD 203 Portfolio Programmier Praxis, 

	in Deutsch 345pgs,+ disk         29         18           17

     

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

     FOLIOLINK

     

     FL FULL FolioLink 95 full version

	     new high-speed communication

	software                         39         25           20

     

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

     ORIGINAL ATARI PRODUCTS

     

     HPC 402    AC adapter 220 V                  24        14           14

     

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

     OTHER SUPPORT

     

     HPD 700 Upgrade your PF RAM

	     to 512 KB                    195        150        call

     HPD 801    60 pin BUS connector               14         10          9

     HPD 802 128KB SRAM chip                       20         16         15

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

     

     NOTES:

     

     END PRICE  - suggested end-user price, we sell to individuals

		 at this price

     DEALER 1   - dealer pricing

     DEALER 2   - special pricing for long term customers

     call               - get current information personally

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

     

     contact person:    Jan Sedlak      sedlakj@dec59.ruk.cuni.cz

     

			Portfolio

			Sarajevska 29

			120 00 Praha 2

			the Czech Republic

     

			tel:            + 42 2 99 61 894

			fax no:         + 42 2 691 11 63

					+ 42 2 29 51 86



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

     This is slightly out of date, I haven't had a chance to convert

     Stefans current price list so please contact him if you don't see

     anything listed that you want.



     Stefan_kaechele@eisbaer.bb.bawue.de 

     Teningen, im Januar `96                                 Computerhandel

							      Stefan Kchele

							      Mozartstr. 10

						           D-79331 Teningen

	                                           Telefon: 0049/7641/47649

				       Internet: Stefan_Kaechele@FR.Maus.DE

  

  

	   Here's a list of ATARI-Portfolio/Pocket PC items I sell:

      (Prices include VAT, additional s+h charges mentioned in brackets)

  

     1 Upgrade-Manual (english version)

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

       Consists of 23pages, DIN A 4, 7 schematics, 2 colour photos

       of the main pcb. This manual gives detailled description 

       how to upgrade the PF to 224KB, 320KB or 512KB, 

       how to increase the clock speed to 6.5MHz, how to increase 

       internal backup power (without batteries) to more than 48hrs., 

       how to use the par. interface and PBASIC as an I/O interface: 

					   Cost: 30.-DM(s+h: 5.-DM)

  

    2  PoFo-Vermchtnis, (not available in English !)

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

       more than 40p. DIN A 4, 20 schematics. This is vol.2 of the 

       upgrade-manual describing how to increase the volume of the speaker, 

       how to increase the clock speed up to 10/12MHz, how to access the 

       serial interface, how to get an internal drive B: with 128K, how to 

       create an internal backlight for the display, how to use an 

       A/D-controller for measurements and hardwarecontrol, how to 

       connect a stepper-motor, a simple speech- and soundsampler 

       with soft- and hardwaredescription, schematic of a 

       PCMCIA-adaptor for PCMCIA-memory-cards to a max of 1MB, how 

       to fix a broken display cable, including the mentioned 

       software and more.

      

       If there is enough interest in this manual I'd ask 

       Chris Thompson to find some technical inclined studends 

       with good knowledge of the German language to write a 

       translation of the most important passages. (Vol. 2 of 

       this manual is currently updated, reworked and enhanced).

					     Cost: 35.-DM(s+h: 5.-DM)

    

    3  The 384K-Memory-Card With English Manual 

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

       This card is an IMPROVED version of the one which has been 

       discussed in he PF-connection's last issue. 3 onboard 128KB 

       chips are selected manually by a small dil-switch. Including 

       write protect. Same size as the original cards but no 

       additional cover, pcb covered with polyurethan enamel. VERY RELIABLE.

					     Cost: 180.-DM(s+h: 5.-DM) 

    

     4  384K Do-It-Yourself-Kit Includes board 

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

        Build your own RAM card at an unbeatable low price ! German Manual

        schematics included, but does not include RAM chips or SMD parts

					     Cost: 30.-DM(s+h: 3.-DM) 

  

       4.1  128K-SRAM chip for internal memory upgrade(224K needs 1 chip, 

	    512K needs 4 chips) and to fit onto the 384K-card-board: 

	    23.-DM(s+h: 1.-DM) 

  

       4.2  Battery for 384K-card(CR 1216 or CR 1220): 3.-DM(s+h: 2.-DM)

    

     5  RECONDITIONED display cable 

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

        Fully tested, 100% O.K.

					     Cost: 12.-DM(s+h: 1.-DM)

    

     6  Portfolio leather case 

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

        Currently available only in brown (black cases available soon). 

        Genuine leather, especially designed for the PF, takes up the Portfolio, 

        RAM cards, documents. Separate small pocket for batteries

					     Cost: 42.-DM(s+h: 8.-DM)

    

     7  PortWalk

        --------

        Is an interface which is used together with a Parralell Interface 

        (not included) and a tape recorder (not included). You can save up 

        to 2 MBytes on one 60 min. tape !! Data is transmitted with max. 

        4480 bauds. BEST BUY ! VERY RELIABLE ! ENGLISH MANUAL ! 

					     Cost: 60.-DM (s+h: 8.-DM)

    

     8  Do-It-Yourself-Kit for display backlight

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

        Comes with custom foil and transformer to fit into the Portfolio, 

        consuming about 50mA max. (Currently updated, with GERMAN manual)

					     Cost: : 125.-DM(s+h: 5.-DM)

  

        8.1  Build-in service for backlight: 100.-DM/each.

    

     9  Custom parallel interface 

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

        This inferface is fully compatible and comes complete with a cable 

        to link the Portfolio with a PC using FT.COM.  Manual in english: 

					     Cost: 89.-DM(s+h: 8.-DM)

    

    10  Custom Serial Interface (fully compatible)

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

        Includes english manual and PC software (without cable). 

        The PD-software enables you to transfer a terminal program 

        (e.e. XTERM, ACOM) to the Portfolio to connect it with your PC, 

        C64/128, AMIGA, MAC, etc.: 

					     Cost: 119.-DM(s+h: 8.-DM)

    

    11  Universal interface

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

        This will combine both the serial and parallel interface it is

        currently under development, available in about 3 months. 

        Price is not yet fixed.

    

    12  FolioDrive

        ----------

        The ONLY floppy drive to fit in the PF's system-bus. Run 1.4MB/720K 

        directly from the PF ! Small and FAST ! Parallel port INCLUDED ! 

        Comes complete with 32K RAM card (incuding all necessary software) 

        and English manual: 

					     Cost: 349.-DM(s+h: 16.-DM)

    

    13  Original ATARI 64K Memory Card: 50.-DM(s+h: 3.-DM).

   

        13.1 Take 3 and SAVE 30 -DM, 120.-DM(s+h: 8.-DM)

    

    14  Original ATARI 128K-card Only A Few Left!  Cost: 95.-DM(s+h: 3.-DM)

    

    15  PF-PCMCIA-adaptor 

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

        for PCMCIA-memory-cards ! (1MB max.) NOT YET READY ! (ask for details)

    

    16  PF-diet-kit 

        -----------

        Exchange several parts on your PF against custom parts to loose

        between 55g and 75g of weigth. German description: 

					     Cost: 25.-DM(s+h: 3.-DM)

    

    17  PC-card-drive (limited): 200.-DM(s+h: 20.-DM)

    

    18  Upgrade-service

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

        We will upgrade your PF between 224K and 512K,including an increase 

        of the clock speed to 6.5MHz. 

		      Upgrade to 224K / 130.-DM, 

		      Upgrade to 320K / 160.-DM, 

		      Upgrade to 512K / 200.-DM(s+h:16.-DM). 

  

        Please allow about 14 days for an upgrade.

  

        18.1 Repair service(e.g. broken displaycable)

			  Cost: 37.-DM including new cable (s+h: 16.-DM)

    

    19  CD-ROM 

        ------

        Contains most of the Portfolio free-/shareware-soft and a lots of demos 

        of new products. Let yourself be surprised ! Including fotos of most of 

        the above mentioned accessories and some schemes for additional 

        Portfolio-upgrades. (In preparation, available soon): 

					     Cost: Price 40.-DM(ask) (s+h:5.-DM)

  

        19.1  File-list of the CD-ROM on disk for PC with demo of Foliolink `95:

					     Cost: 2.-DM(s+h: 3.-DM)

    

    20  PFAX 

        ----

        Is a FAX-software(send+receive), works together with most FAX-modems.

        Turn your Portfolio into a complete FAX-station(German manual+ soft, but

        software in english, too)

					     Cost: 49.-DM(s+h: 5.-DM)

    

    21  If you are searching for anything special

        Such as software, hardware, replacement bits etc then feel free to ask, 

        because there is lots of unmentioned goods and goodies such as 

        midi-interface, packetradio, Foliolink`95 etc ...

    

     Payment terms:

     I accept Eurocheques and cash (german or swiss currency ONLY, please 

     remember to put your signature and a valid EC-card number on the cheque). 

     Additional fee for handling the EC cheque: 3.-DM.

     If you prefer C.O.D. please add another 10.-DM for postal taxes.

  

     Portfolio Products Available

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



     Here is a listing of places, where NEW Portfolio products are sold.

     There may be other places in the world. If you know any other

     place, let us know.



				

     Name            Person          Contact/Details

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

     Portfolio       Jan Sedlak      sedlakj@dec59.ruk.cuni.cz

     Czech Republic                  +42 2 691 11 63 phone/modem/manual.fax

				     +42 2 29 51 86  fax

				     all products on stock

     

     	

     Permadata       Wolf-Th. Holl   100113.2626@compuserve.com

     Germany                         +49 203 299 880 phone/fax

				     all products on stock

     

     Stefan Kaechele                 Stefan_Kaechele@FR.Maus.de

     Germany                         +49 7641 47649 phone only

				     all products, RAM cards

     

     ACN             Marc Drost      no Inet address

     Holland                         +31 23 536 1444 fax

     (wholesalers)                   RAM cards, other products on order

				     reconditioned Portfolios

				     original spare parts

     

     OXO           Mathieu Petrovic  oxo@@iprolink.ch

     Switzerland                     all products on order

     

     OPTROL Inc.                     no Inet address

     USA                             +1 919 779-3377

				     1MB, 2MB, 4MB RAM cards 

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



     Epilogue

     ========



     Well thats it for this month, there was not much material for this 

     issue so if you want to write something then please let me know.



     - Paul

     paulj@jollyp.demon.co.uk

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

