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Model II Graphics Card 26-4104

Excellent! Mine (like the rest of the recent batch of eBay ones, I think) came without cables, so those pictures show what we'll need to know to fabricate them and install them. Thanks!
 
TRS-Ian said:
Pictures from my mate up north who has his HRG working on his Model 16:

Discuss.

Ian.
Click to expand...


Hi Ian.

Thank you for these pictures.
It shows the right way to mount the cables.
I'll never understood why the small one was longer.

As I always thought the small cable needs a twist and should be inserted 180 degrees turned in the video board.
I'll check if it works now.
 
Yes,

It is working, but it is a little disappointing.

On a white background some screen activity is annoying visible.
Clumsy way of working. (no usefull tools for easy programming)
Only one demo (GPICTURE), the cover of the manual.
Rather slow.
Low graphic resolution.
I think that it is not worth the money, but it is funny to have it.

To give it a better try, do someone have some usefull software ?
 
At this stage I can only speak for the Model III and 4 HRGs (though I suspect the Model II HRG would not be much different), but yes its performance, under BASIC in particular, is pretty slow.

When we think of add-on graphics boards for modern computer we think about the enormous speed improvement and vibrancy these give the computer display but in 1982 they are anything but high-performance. Since they are restricted by the same performance restrictions of the computer .... 8 bits, Z80, 4MHz etc. they don't really transform the computer as much as highlight that a lot of time can be spent with even a 4MHz CPU to draw graphics if they are sufficiently detailed.

That said, quite reasonable performance can be achieved writing in assembly language and it seems that most of the good software written for the Model 4 is in assembly and works rather well. I'm talking here about MagicDraw, Post Master, xT.CAD, and Tournament Chess. Since the Model II and 4 have around the same performance, I would expect that well written software for the HRG board in the Model II would work quite well, there's just not much of it around...

Anyway that's my 2c worth.

Cheers,

Ian.
 
TRS-Ian said:
That said, quite reasonable performance can be achieved writing in assembly language and it seems that most of the good software written for the Model 4 is in assembly and works rather well. I'm talking here about MagicDraw, Post Master, xT.CAD, and Tournament Chess. Since the Model II and 4 have around the same performance, I would expect that well written software for the HRG board in the Model II would work quite well, there's just not much of it around...

Ian.
Click to expand...

I don't think there was any published software for the Model II Computer Graphics board at all, at least not by Tandy. I remember someone on this board mentioned they had an old Model II based CAD system so maybe they have some custom industrial software.

However, addressing this issue is on my vintage computing bucket list. I have the card but need the cables and the software disk. I may have a lead on a set of the cables but not sure if I will get them. Otherwise, I will have to make them. I'm hesitant to do so unless I know I can get the software because the card is useless without the driver. If anyone has an image of the Computer Graphics diskette I would be most grateful. If not, then just the Graphics Subroutine Library (GRPLIB/REL) is all I think I really need since I would only consider assembly due to the performance issues mentioned.
 
I have the diskette. I will make sure you get an image of it. I'm slow, but I do get things done. I'll also try to find the CAD software and provide an image of that.
 
kb2syd said:
I have the diskette. I will make sure you get an image of it. I'm slow, but I do get things done. I'll also try to find the CAD software and provide an image of that.
Click to expand...

Oh, sorry, I guess if I took the time to read a few more posts back then I would have remembered it was you with the CAD system! I usually only scroll back to the top of the current page to reallocate mental context with an ongoing thread.
 
pski said:
Oh, sorry, I guess if I took the time to read a few more posts back then I would have remembered it was you with the CAD system! I usually only scroll back to the top of the current page to reallocate mental context with an ongoing thread.
Click to expand...

No need to apologize, I do the same. Took it as a reminder. I have about 2000 8" disks in my basement to go through. I'm a bit overwhelmed.
 
Can someone show me the sort of crimping tool needed to make the DIL ends of the cable? I've found a place that still sells the socket headers for 24 and 40 pins.

Will a HT-214D 9 1/2" IDC crimping tool from H-Tools work?

Ian.
 
TRS-Ian said:
Can someone show me the sort of crimping tool needed to make the DIL ends of the cable? I've found a place that still sells the socket headers for 24 and 40 pins.

Will a HT-214D 9 1/2" IDC crimping tool from H-Tools work?

Ian.
Click to expand...

Hi Ian.

I'am not sure if this tool is usable.
But I use for many years a small vise for making all kind of connectors on cables.
In all these years I have never damaged a connector.

In this case I should use a peace of wood with the length of the connector and the width of the space between the two rows of pins.
The thickness is 2 mm more then the lenght of the pins.

You can take some tape to protect the connector and lock all the parts on their places.
Some help from a second person makes the job easier.

If you slowly close the vise the connector is fixed in a moment.

If you don't like this methode, you can use an IC-socket with thin round pins and solder all the wires on
the topside of the socket. You can fixate the wires and isolate them with some epoxy.
 
What Hans said. I keep some old sockets for these jobs. Insert header into the old socket, a couple of strips of aluminium on the jaws of the vice to protect the header and crank it up. Been doing it this way for over 30 years, never had a prob - yet.
 
What is the "official" name for those IC socket connectors that allow you to crimp on a ribbon cable? I have not had much luck searching for them.
 
Hi pski

I don't know, but Ian has found them an a crimping tool too.

He will building the cables and sell them, contact him for more information.
 
Thanks guys. If Ian is building and selling then I'll get it from him. I trust his handiwork way more than mine in these matters.

Put me on the list, Ian!
 
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Just a heads-up that 3 of the 4 parts needed to make these cables have arrived and when the last part arrives I'll make a set and test it out.

Should not be too far away now.

Cheers,

Ian.
 
Made a set of cables and they work. They are fiddly to get right in the special hand crimper I use.

DSCF1001.jpgDSCF1002.jpgDSCF1004.jpg


Stand by for the video.

Ian.
 
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