Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    OK, I'll take a crack.  Some similar questions were asked and answered
    within the last 100 notes or so.
    
    1. Adding the RD53 and A2090 -- I think some people have done this.
    The A2090 can be used with an expansion card cage (see your Q6.)
    
    2. Adding a 5-1/4" floppy drive -- you can do this, but must do
    a hardware hack to the drive.  Details in note ??? in this notesfile.
    The Amiga comes with utilities that can format, read and write regular
    360K MS-DOS diskettes.  If your MicroVAX can do the same you're
    all set.  (I carry files between my VAXmate and Amiga all the time.)
    
    3.  VT241 monitor -- don't know.
    
    4.  How much memory expansion -- 512K internally, up to 8 megabytes
    in an expansion chassis.  You can buy most brands of memory cards
    unpopulated.
    
    5.  Workbench -- one of the three parts of the Amiga OS.  The others
    are the Command Line Interface and AmigaDOS.  Now, I expect to get
    criticized for this, because the OS is actually somewhat more
    complicated.  It has several pieces depending on how you look at
    it, and no real name for the whole package.  Another answer is that
    Workbench is the graphical part of the operating system that you
    work with.  The CLI is the more traditional command interface, and
    AmigaDOS handles mass storage.  Most of the operating system is
    in ROM, but all the user commands (directory, type, copy, etc.)
    are on disk.
    
    6. Adding peripherals -- you can buy expansion chassis units from
    a few manufacturers which take standard A2000/A500 peripheral cards.
    The expansion bus connector is under a cover on the left side of
    the A500.  The number of slots in the expansion box determines the
    limit to add-ons.
    
    7.  Sound chip -- basically a 4-channel D/A converter in one of
    the graphics chips.  Has no hardware synthesis capability.  The
    speech synthesizer is all in software.  It is implemented as a
    peripheral device, just like a serial port, so nearly any program
    can use it.
    
    8.  Standard software -- The operating system, a good selection
    of printer drivers, several utilities and demo programs, and
    AmigaBASIC.
    
    An added comment:  other people have recommended buying a second
    disk drive and the internal 512K RAM expansion as part of the original
    purchase.  If you can afford it, I recommend you do this.  The machine
    is much more useable with these two things installed.
    
    Wes Plouff

�    1.  I was hoping to be able to add an RD53 drive to the A500 ,is
�    	this possible , would I use an A2090 controller or is this just
�    	for the A2000 ? If so is there an equivalent for the A500 .

    A2090 is just for the 2000 unless you get some external expansion
    capability for the 500 e.g. Pacific Peripherals SubSystem500. An
    alternative is a thing called the WEDGE which effectively gives
    you a single PC type slot, allowing you to use PC controllers,
    hardcards (but watch the power usage) etc.
    
�    2.	Also is it possible to add an RX50 to the Amiga and copy software 
�    	from the net onto a microvax ,do the file conversion stuff 
�    	(uudecode , shar)etc and use the RX50 floppy on the amiga.

    Dunno about an RX50 but a popular method of downloading involves
    "sneakernet" via a VAXmate and a PC compatible 5�" drive on the Amiga.
    
�    3.  When using a VT241 monitor , how does it compare to the standard
�    	commadore monitor (I forget the type no.).Is there any significant
�        difference .

    Dunno about this one either. (isn't VR241 RGBi - therefore only
    16 colours ?)
    
�    4.  How much memory can you expand the A500 with ? Is it physical
�        limitation of how much you can fit inside the case , can you
�        use the full 68000 addressing range ? Do the commercially available
�    	memory expansion cards (populated) include refresh circuitry
�    	or is it just a matter of adding the extra memory and
�    	decoder/drivers? I have loads 256k chips ,will I be able to
�    	make up my own memory expansion with these ?

    The A500 can address up to 9Mb of ram just the same as the other
    Amigas. You can expand to 1Mb internally using the slot on the bottom
    of the A500, there is also a Spirit internal 1.5 Mb expansion giving
    2.5Mb total. Rumours have it that Spirit are changing to 1Mbit DRAMS
    giving 3Mb on their internal expansion. The current Spirit board
    can be bought unpopulated for around �160 in the UK.
    
�    5.	What does Workbench do ? how does it relate to an operating
�    	system ? I presume the operating system is Dos and is held in
�    	Rom ?
    
    Workbench is really just an interface (WIMP - Window, Icon, Mouse,
    Pointer). AmigaDos is held on disk rather than ROM. The ROM holds
    various system libraries and low level Exec routines. You can't
    do anything with an Amiga without a disk in the drive (or an equivalent
    in RAM: etc.)
    
�    6.  How do you add several peripherals/expansion units to an A500.
�    	do they plu into the parallel port and pass the signals on to
�    	the next option ? If so is there and limit to the number of
�    	things you add on in this way ?

    As mentioned above, some expansion can be internal to the A500 (but
    not much) other expansion such as the WEDGE or other memory expansion
    is plugged into the buss on the side of the A500. Again some
    peripherals "pass the buss" and can therefore be further expanded
    but come others don't and have to be put at the end of the expansion
    row. (tough if you want two peripherals that both want to be at
    the end!!). If the expansion units are externally powered then
    theoretically there should be no limit to the number of expansion
    units fitted (in practise I'm sure that there would be some conflicts
    along the way.)
    
�    7.  I am confused about the amigas sound chip , I know this can
�     	play back samples but  does it have any synthesis capabilities
�    	of it's own ? I read some place about a speech synth is this
�    	built in standard ? 

    Dunno about the synthesis capabilities on the sound chip I've only
    ever used it by defining my own wave forms. The speech synthesis
    is via a library and is just a special case of samples. The clever
    part is the translator.library which will translate ASCII files
    direclty into the Phonemes requires by the narrator.device (which
    does the actual talking.)
    
�    8.  What software comes with the system as standard ? 

    Ah ! now that's a hard one. The MINIMUM you'll get with an A500
    is two disks, Workbench and Extras (make sure you get V1.3) but
    I've never seen an Amiga for sale without some other S/W flung in
    as part of the deal. Usual things would be either Deluxe Paint or
    a pack of 10 games or something else of that ilk. Pays to shop around.
    
�    Thanx for any help
�    Steve...

    You're welcome,
    
    			Alan T.
    

Be aware that an AMIGA 2000 is more than just an AMIGA 500 plus an expnasion
box. There is some options that just cannot be added (at least today) to the
AMIGA 500. There is a way to add memory, harddrives, extra floppies, printers,
modems, joysticks etc. which satisfy most of our needs. The AMIGA 500 does not 
have the special slots for video and MSDOS co-processors etc. that the AMIGA 
200 has.  Don't assume that you can always add it later. 

<    1.  I was hoping to be able to add an RD53 drive to the A500 ,is
<    	this possible , would I use an A2090 controller or is this just
<    	for the A2000 ? If so is there an equivalent for the A500 .
People have done this. You should be able to find the answers or the people 
who know from other notes.
    
<    3.  When using a VT241 monitor , how does it compare to the standard
<    	commadore monitor (I forget the type no.).Is there any significant
<        difference .
I believe that John Bernard has done this. It requires a nonstandard cable and
the picture is smaller(does not fill the screen) "MoreRows" will let you use
the extra space on the screen.
    
>    5.	What does Workbench do ? how does it relate to an operating
>    	system ? I presume the operating system is Dos and is held in
>    	Rom ?
Try to think of this as part of the system software. The Workbench is a icon 
access to software. You use the mouse to point to object (program) you want to
run, copy, delete, etc. and click (push the left button) once or twice
to get the action you want. One of two ways to give command to the system.

<    6.  How do you add several peripherals/expansion units to an A500.
<    	do they plu into the parallel port and pass the signals on to
<    	the next option ? If so is there and limit to the number of
<    	things you add on in this way ?

The connections for the AMIGA 500 are:
	parellel port - printer etc.
	serial port - RS232 - modem etc.
	joystick - second port like the mouse port. Joystick in either.
	External floppy drive - second drive slot. May be daisy chained to 3.
	monitor - RGB monitor connector
	power - Included supply connects here. Has limited power for options.
	Memory expander - Under keyboard is a compartment for 512k mem and clock
	Bus expansion - On left edge connector to add certain options such as
	memory and hard disks.

Hope this helps. You will find a lot more if you do a dir/title="new"
-Tom-

    RE: VR241,
    
    I've been using one for over a year now and compared to the standard
    Commodore monitors it has much better resolution and clarity. But
    as the previous note points out, you don't get the picture filling
    the whole screen, i.e. there is a black border around the display.
    However this doesn't worry me because I'm not into video production.
    
    regards
    	Mike

    
    
    More questions ...
    
    9.  What is kickstart ? Does it have to match the rev of workbench ?
    
    10. What is a "Guru" ?
    
    11. Is it possible to get hardware schematics , or do Commadore
        not publish this kind of stuff .
    
    12. Would an Amiga 500 purchased in the states work in Ireland .
        I presume that the TV standard is different but if you were
        to use a VT241 and not a modulator , would this matter .
        I pressume the power supply would be different also , but if
        I took this out a used a Juicy external supply would I be OK
        The only other thing I can think of is the difference in mains
        frequency , would this affect me ? 
    
    13. How is copy protection of commercial disks achieved ? I can't
        figure how this is done . Surely if you can read a disk you
        can copy it ?
    
    
    Thanx agin
    Steve ..
    

>< Note 2289.5 by KLO::COLLINS "STEVE" >
>                           -< The mist is clearing >-
>
>    
>    
>    More questions ...

        	I see from your node that you are in Clonmel. I have an AMIGA
    1000, but I left it in Puerto Rico, though I might be able to help
    with some of your questions.
    
     I'm on temporary relocation in Clonmel, working with the Design
    Assurance group. Call me at 2557.          
    
    Miguel A. Alvarez

    	I forgot to mention that I have a few copies of AmigaWorld and
    Amazing Computing, including (I think), AmigaWorld's Hardware and
    Software Guide, if you want to take a look at them.
    
    Miguel A. Alvarez

>    9.  What is kickstart ?
	The lowest level of the operating system, stored on disk for
	the 1000, but ROM for the 500 and 2000.

> Does it have to match the rev of workbench ?
	No.
    
>    10. What is a "Guru" ?
	System error. Name comes from the message box (called an "alert")
	which appears on the screen, which says "guru meditation number"
	and some number, which is actually an error number and a memory
	location where the exception occurred.
    
>    11. Is it possible to get hardware schematics , or do Commadore
        not publish this kind of stuff .
	They're in the back of the users manual that comes with the machine.
	
>    12. Would an Amiga 500 purchased in the states work in Ireland.
	I THINK you would have to replace the video driver chip for PAL
	standard, and provide correct power. Other notes on this in the
	file.
    
>    13. How is copy protection of commercial disks achieved ? I can't
        figure how this is done . Surely if you can read a disk you
        can copy it ?
	Nope, not if it's a "booted" disk. The program that reads the disk
	is actually ON the disk. The kickstart routines load this special
	"DOS", and then this "DOS" reads in the rest of the disk. The special
	DOS has no provisions for copying the disk. If you use AmigaDOS and
	a program like DiskCopy to read the disk, it looks "BAD", because
	it does not have the same disk format as a regular AmigaDOS disk.
    
John O.

>    13. How is copy protection of commercial disks achieved ? I can't
>       figure how this is done . Surely if you can read a disk you
>       can copy it ?

In some sense this is presumably true, but things are done to the disks
which aren't managed by "normal" reading and writing routines.  Apparently
perversions are done to the formatting, including timing dependent hacks.

There are commercial programs which can copy most things.  However this by
itself isn't enough to make protected programs work from different media
(like a hard disk).  Sometimes the protection code itself can be patched
out.  Then some of the better behaved programs can be installed on hard
disk.

Luckily, copy protection is slowly falling out of favor.  The increasing
popularity of hard disks will hopefully speed this transition.

	Paul

    re: kickstart
    
    the version does matter normally, as in KS1.1 goes with WB1.1
    Workbench 1.3 is the exception to the rule since it was designed
    to run on KS1.2 or KS1.3 (which is KS1.2 plus autoboot and minimal
    bug fixes)
    
    -Dave
    p.s. it Commodore, not Commadore

Re: VR241 monitor

I recently got one working for a friend who was buying an Amiga 500....

The cable that is required is a DB23 to 4-RGB cable.  I got it from
Redmond Cable for $30.00 (phoned in the order, had it in two days!)

When comparing the picture of the "standard" Amiga 1084(s) monitor to the
VR241, there were two obvious differences:

           o the clarity and resolution were much better

           o the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the screen
             were slightly smaller.  (I assume that the resolution
             difference is at least partly due to the different screen
             sizes.

Even though the VR241 can be adjusted to increase the overall screen size,
we elected not to since the "as is" picture is excellent.

The other potentially major difference is that the Amiga monitor comes with
a built-in amplified speaker sub-system.....the VR241 does not.  This allows
you to connect the stereo audio output of the Amiga directly to the monitor.
In the case of the VR241.....some other alternative would be required.

       -Jeff