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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : PicoMite firmware release V5.07.04

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Geoffg

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Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3163
Posted: 02:38pm 09 May 2022
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Peter has released V5.07.04 of the PicoMite firmware.

This release is an update to both the PicoMite and the PicoMiteVGA versions and fixes all currently known bugs.  It also implements a few new commands (READ SAVE, READ RESTORE and EXECUTE) in both versions and enables pins that are not exposed on the Pico to be used for reserved functions (eg, SYSTEM I2C).

The PicoMiteVGA version has a number of extra improvements:
- Selection of the foreground or background colour in 640x480 mode.
- GETSCANLINE function
- MODE command
- OPTION DEFAULT MODE
- TILE command

These new features are listed in the release notes and covered in more detail in the manuals.  Both User Manuals have been updated however the PicoMiteVGA manual has the most changes, particularly the interface to the VGA monitor which now does not require a jumper to select different video modes.

The new firmware and manuals can be downloaded from:
PicoMite: https://geoffg.net/picomite.html
PicoMiteVGA: https://geoffg.net/picomitevga.html

Geoff
Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net
 
robert.rozee
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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2282
Posted: 04:28pm 09 May 2022
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brilliant work Peter and Geoff  

i really like the form factor of 'Design #1' in the VGA construction pack - carrying over the elegance of the original monochrome maximite - and could see it becoming a very popular kit if picked up by the likes of Jaycar, Altronics, etc.

one minor point: the simplified VGA (3-bit) circuit on page 6 of the manual should probably OR together GP19 and GP20 (green 01 and green10) to ensure sane display of all 1-2-1 colour combinations.


cheers,
rob   :-)
 
al18
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Joined: 06/07/2019
Location: United States
Posts: 173
Posted: 05:33pm 09 May 2022
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Geoff, Peter,
Thanks for the updates - lots to read.
 
Pluto
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Joined: 09/06/2017
Location: Finland
Posts: 321
Posted: 05:47pm 09 May 2022
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Thanks Peter and Geoff for the updates.
As I was interested to see if there was an option for swedish keyboard, I started by testing the different OPTION KEYBOARD languages. Did not find the swedish and I could not get the DE (german) keyboard to work. syntax error. The other language alternatives were ok.
Noticed that the Italian keyboard was most closely related to swedish...fewer pen corrections on the keys than by using US keyboard settings   .

Lot of reading for the coming days!
/Fred
 
matherp
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Joined: 11/12/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8516
Posted: 05:56pm 09 May 2022
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German keyboard is code GR for historical reasons. No Swedish keyboard as this has never been supported as a PS2, Only MMB4W supports SW
 
Pluto
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Posts: 321
Posted: 06:14pm 09 May 2022
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Thanks!
manual p.51 says "GE" for german; should be "GR".
 
Amnesie
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Joined: 30/06/2020
Location: Germany
Posts: 367
Posted: 09:26pm 09 May 2022
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I just ran quickly through the new updated manual and I have to say that so much love went into this detailed pages. Great work EVERYONE!
 
Geoffg

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Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3163
Posted: 12:08am 10 May 2022
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  robert.rozee said  i really like the form factor of 'Design #1' in the VGA construction pack - carrying over the elegance of the original monochrome maximite - and could see it becoming a very popular kit if picked up by the likes of Jaycar, Altronics, etc.

This design will feature in next month's issue of Silicon Chip magazine with the theme of a simple "Boot to BASIC" computer.  Hopefully it will be popular.

  Pluto said  manual p.51 says "GE" for german; should be "GR".

Thanks, I have updated the manual.

Geoff
Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net
 
disco4now

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Joined: 18/12/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 839
Posted: 12:58am 10 May 2022
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Hi Geoff,
The PicoCfunctions.h header file still has this error in it. You may want to get Peter to confirm but I am pretty (100%) sure the correction below is required.

  disco4now said  The updated PicoCFunctions.h header file used for CSUB creation in the V5.07.03 distribution is missing one of the previous fixes that corrected an error in the uSec() function that caused it to hang.

It should be as below in red. Currently has (unsigned int) which had previously been corrected to be (unsigned long long)

//Macros to call each function.
//#define uSec(a)         ((void (*)(unsigned int )) Vector_uSec) (a)

#define uSec(a)           ((void  (*)(unsigned long long )) Vector_uSec) (a)


See post Update to PicoCfunctions.h
Gerry
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Geoffg

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Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3163
Posted: 01:39am 10 May 2022
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  Geoffg said  This design will feature in next month's issue of Silicon Chip magazine with the theme of a simple "Boot to BASIC" computer.

Sorry, I should have said that it will be in the July issue.

Geoff
Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net
 
palcal

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Joined: 12/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1755
Posted: 01:40am 10 May 2022
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Using Teraterm I have the Terminal Size set to 80x43. But when I Edit the screen changes to 54x30 and stays like that.  Can I change this. I have set it in Settings to 80x43. It didn't do it on the last version of the software.
"It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all"
 
Geoffg

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Location: Australia
Posts: 3163
Posted: 01:52am 10 May 2022
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  disco4now said  Hi Geoff,
The PicoCfunctions.h header file still has this error in it. You may want to get Peter to confirm but I am pretty (100%) sure the correction below is required.
#define uSec(a)           ((void  (*)(unsigned long long )) Vector_uSec) (a)

OK, I'm confused.  The header file downloaded from my website contains the correction:

#define Vector_CFuncInt2          *(unsigned int *)(BaseAddress+0xBC)        // CFuncInt2
#define Vector_CSubComplete  (*(unsigned int *)(BaseAddress+0xC0))       // CSubComplete
//Macros to call each function.

#define uSec(a)                         ((void  (*)(unsigned long long )) Vector_uSec) (a)
#define putConsole(a,b)                 ((void(*)(int, int)) Vector_putConsole) (a,b)
#define getConsole()                    ((int (*)(void)) Vector_getConsole) ()

Did you clear your browser cache before downloading?

Geoff
Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net
 
disco4now

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Joined: 18/12/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 839
Posted: 02:27am 10 May 2022
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Hi Geoff,
Yes its correct as downloaded, sorry for the confusion. I was looking at the
#define Vector_uSec (*(unsigned int *)(BaseAddress+0x00)) // void uSec(unsigned int us)
definition in error.

Regards
Gerry
Latest F4 Latest H7
 
disco4now

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Joined: 18/12/2014
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Posts: 839
Posted: 03:27am 10 May 2022
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  palcal said  Using Teraterm I have the Terminal Size set to 80x43. But when I Edit the screen changes to 54x30 and stays like that.  Can I change this. I have set it in Settings to 80x43. It didn't do it on the last version of the software.

What does OPTION LIST show.
You may have OPTION DISPLAY set to 30,53.
OPTION DISPLAY 43,80 should fix it.

I have noticed that the terminal width is set to the display width +1

Gerry
Latest F4 Latest H7
 
phil99

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Joined: 11/02/2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 1721
Posted: 04:50am 10 May 2022
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Excellent effort by Peter and Geoff. Many, many hours must have gone into the firmware and manuals.

VGA manual Page 10 pin diagram "VGA Blue Output" and "VGA 1/2 green Output" transposed.
 
palcal

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Location: Australia
Posts: 1755
Posted: 05:00am 10 May 2022
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OPTION LIST shows DISPLAY 30, 53 but I did not set it, it must be the default
If I use OPTION DISPLAY 43, 80 I get
ERROR:  INVALID OPTION
OPTION DISPLAY is not mentioned in the VGA manual only in the PicoMite manual.
Edited 2022-05-10 15:12 by palcal
"It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all"
 
phil99

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Joined: 11/02/2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 1721
Posted: 05:16am 10 May 2022
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Try OPTION DISPLAY OFF or OPTION DISPLAY DISABLE first. It isn't documented but I vaguely recall having to do something like it before.
For the VGA version I think there are limited sizes possible. I must reread both manuals.
 
palcal

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Posts: 1755
Posted: 06:24am 10 May 2022
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I searched the manual for the word "DISPLAY" and  didn't find anything.
"It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all"
 
matherp
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Joined: 11/12/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8516
Posted: 06:52am 10 May 2022
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You can't set option display in the VGA version for the obvious reason that the terminal must match what is seen on the screen otherwise the editor wouldn't work properly. It does add an extra column for the terminal in order that a character in the last valid position doesn't trigger a wordwrap
 
palcal

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Posted: 06:56am 10 May 2022
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OK, yes obvious when it is explained.
Thanks Peter
"It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all"
 
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