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Wanted: Exidy Sorcerer BASIC Cartridge
- Thread starter tempest
- Start date
Selectric
Member
Looks great! You've prompted me to share something I prototyped about 2 years ago, but I've not done much with since. I always liked the RomPac form factor and the concept of re-purposing the cartridges. But I mainly wanted a speedier way to load Sorcerer software, but without any H/W mods. So I prototyped something I dubbed "WizPac", which is basically an Arduino, display and SD card in an 8-track cartridge. That way, you don't need any additional hardware and it keeps the side slot free. It plugs into the parallel port and loads binary files at a speed of approx 38kbaud. So 7 seconds for a 32kb image. Longer term I'm hoping to code it for R/W.
Attachments
Wow 7 secondes.... Some of wav used took 15 mins for me at 300 bauds...
Hope you'll publish it one day... I definitly go for one.
Nice. Similar to what I did using the UART:
[posted] Tape Simulator for Exidy Sorcerer
The Exidy Sorcerer (http://oldcomputers.net/sorcerer.html) is an early personal computer, arriving in 1978 on the heels of the Apple II, TRS-80, and PET. It features a 2 MHz Z80, up to 48K RAM, ROM cartridges (made from 8-track tape cases!), and a high-resolution monochrome display. Half the...
forum.pjrc.com
What command must you enter to load from the parallel port?
Selectric
Member
Hi ClausB!
From the Sorcerer monitor, the user types "SE I=P" and then presses the 'Load' button on the Pac. Then a small bootstrap file loads on the Sorcerer and the Arduino does heavy lifting in conjunction with some Z80 code on the Sorcerer. From then on, they do a digital dance.
Back story: in 2018 I designed a system using an old laptop to load Sorcerer files via the parallel port, with a VB-based GUI. The approach worked well (maxing out at 80Kbps) but ultimately I wanted to lose the laptop and get some of my desk space back. I was just getting into Arduino then, and wondered if I could swap the laptop for Arduino and turn the project into something that was still non-invasive, but portable. As an Arduino novice, it was quite a meaty project for me after 'blink' but a great incentive to climb a bit up the learning curve
I am still learning.
I also had a vague idea about helping other Sorcerer users, who maybe had little hardware experience so might like a plug-and-play solution. Hey, for old-timers, a reason to get the old beauty down from the attic!
I really like your UART approach too. There is something special about thinking outside the box and merging old and new tech to deliver something different and synergistic.
If there is any interest, I'd be happy to continue this conversation but not sure if this 'wanted' forum is the best place? Should I open a new post somewhere? I'm fine whatever - just happy to be part of the community
From the Sorcerer monitor, the user types "SE I=P" and then presses the 'Load' button on the Pac. Then a small bootstrap file loads on the Sorcerer and the Arduino does heavy lifting in conjunction with some Z80 code on the Sorcerer. From then on, they do a digital dance.
Back story: in 2018 I designed a system using an old laptop to load Sorcerer files via the parallel port, with a VB-based GUI. The approach worked well (maxing out at 80Kbps) but ultimately I wanted to lose the laptop and get some of my desk space back. I was just getting into Arduino then, and wondered if I could swap the laptop for Arduino and turn the project into something that was still non-invasive, but portable. As an Arduino novice, it was quite a meaty project for me after 'blink' but a great incentive to climb a bit up the learning curve
I am still learning.I also had a vague idea about helping other Sorcerer users, who maybe had little hardware experience so might like a plug-and-play solution. Hey, for old-timers, a reason to get the old beauty down from the attic!
I really like your UART approach too. There is something special about thinking outside the box and merging old and new tech to deliver something different and synergistic.
If there is any interest, I'd be happy to continue this conversation but not sure if this 'wanted' forum is the best place? Should I open a new post somewhere? I'm fine whatever - just happy to be part of the community
Nice work!
This long-running thread had my project history. You are welcome to post there.
Post in thread 'Exidy Sorcerer II Questions' https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/exidy-sorcerer-ii-questions.49776/post-607415
This long-running thread had my project history. You are welcome to post there.
Post in thread 'Exidy Sorcerer II Questions' https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/exidy-sorcerer-ii-questions.49776/post-607415
You might also want this port of T80-FS1:
Thread 'FS1 for Exidy Sorcerer' https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/fs1-for-exidy-sorcerer.1237688/
Thread 'FS1 for Exidy Sorcerer' https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/fs1-for-exidy-sorcerer.1237688/