HARDWARE SETUP
HARDWARE SETUP
HARDWARE SETUP MANUAL
CONTENTS
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
1 UNPACKING....... ...............H S-1
Save Your Packing Instructions!
........
HS-1
Unpacking Instructions
.............
HS-2
2 HARDWARE ASSEMBLY
..................
HS-5
Before You Start
................
HS-5
MAX-80 Back Panel
...............
HS-7
3
DRIVE INSTALLATION
.................
HS-9
Minifloppy (5-1/4 Inch) Disk Drives
......
HS-9
8
Inch Floppy Disk Drives
...........
HS-13
Winchester Hard Drives
.............
HS-17
Boot Drive Selection Switch
..........
HS-18
4 OTHER INTERFACES
..................
HS-21
Serial Ports
..................
HS-21
Printers With Parallel Interfaces
.......
HS-23
Video Hookup
..................
HS-24
5
PLUGGING IN
.....................
HS-25
6
DISKETTE CARE
a*..................
HS-29
LOB0 SYSTEMS HS-
i
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
LOB0
SYSTEMS
CONTENTS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE
SETUP
UNPACKING
SAVE YOUR PACKING MATERIALS!
UNPACKING
In order to remain covered under Lobo's full year warranty, you
must save all original packing materials
--
and use them if your
equipment is being transported for ANY reason. If the original
packaging is lost or
damaged, replacement materials can be
purchased from Lobo Systems at cost.
The major components of your system are packaged together with
the appropriate
manuals, cables and software. The major
components are:
MAX-80 with CP/M and manuals
LDOS with manual
Monitor
Dual 5-1/4 inch floppy system (with either 40 or 80
track drives)
Dual 8 inch floppy system
5-1/4 inch hard drive
Printer
Modem.
If you have ordered more than one of these components and it does
not arrive within two days of the other equipment that you have
ordered (and we have not sent you a notification of delay), then
contact us immediately. Call Lobo Systems' Sales Department. In
the Continental
U.S., except for California, the toll free phone
number is
(800) 235-1245; in California the number is (800) 322-
6103.
LOB0
SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE
SETUP
UNPACKING
UNPACKING INSTRUCTIONS
First, and most important, do not throw out either the shipping
list or the packing instructions from ANY of the boxes that
contain your system.
The list tells you not only what has been packed, but also what
our shipping department was told should be included in your
order. If there is any
discrepency, notify us immediately.
Again, call Lobo Systems' Sales Office: in the Continental U.S.,
except for California,
(800)
235-1245; in California,
(800)
322-
6103.
The packing instructions tell you how to repack the components,
should you ever move or (perish the thought) have to return
a
component for repair. As with any complex machinery# the
components of a computer system must be carefully packed (and
well insured) before shipping.
BEFORE you remove your system from its shipping container,
inspect it for shipping damage or mishandling (bent corners,
scarred sides, etc.).
If
there is damage, immediately file a
report with the carrier. Do not remove the component if there is
agy
evidence of damage.
Next remove the equipment from the carton and check it
thoroughly.
Again, if any damage is evident, contact Lobo and
the carrier immediately. When you remove each
component, shake
it lightly. If it rattles, it probably has been damaged in
shipment.
If the system appears to be in good condition, carefully place it
in an area large enough to hold all the components of your
system. CAUTION: because they are ruggedly
constructed, Lobo
systems are quite heavy. Be careful.
VERSION 1.1
HARDWARE
SETUP UNPACKING
PACKING REMINDER
FILLER. STYROFOAM PELLETS
-
DOCUMENTATION I SOFTWARE
MAILING ADDRESS
w
CARDBOARD BRACE
AC POWER CORD
END BLOCKS
PLASTIC BAG
MAX-80
CARTON
F
PACKING LIST
RETURN ADDRESS-
I
RMA NUMBER
(NOTE:
The
RMA
number is necessary
if
any
component is
to
be returned to Lobo systems.)
LOR0 SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
LOB0
SYSTEMS
UNPACKING
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP HARDWARE ASSEMBLY
BEFORE YOU
START
ASSEMBLY
Be sure you have enough AC power outlets to run the components
(the MAX-80, floppy disk
drive(s)t hard disk drive, monitor,
printer, and any other peripherals in your system). Since all of
these units require 115 Volt
AC power, we recommend purchasing
a
switched power distribution box (usually a six outlet box will
do). A switched connector eliminates (or at least lessens) the
chore of remembering to turn on all of the separate units. (The
power distribution box can be used because the MAX-80 does not
require the peripherals to
be
turned on in any particular order
--
so they might as well all be turned on at once.)
&#'
TYPICAL
POPNEW
DISTRIBUTION
BOX:
LOB0 SYSTEMS
HS-5
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP HARDWARE ASSEMBLY
There should be no problems with current loading of the AC
electrical system, as the requirements of each of these
components should be quite low. The Max-80 draws about
1/4 Amp,
the video monitor slightly more, a pair of 8 inch floppy disk
drives draw about 1
Amp, a hard disk is usually in the same
ballpark (check the specifications of the particular drive you're
using), and the only serious drain is associated with the printer
(again* check the specs). Consequently, the total current
required by the system should only be critical on already heavily
loaded circuits. If you are having
problems, the only solution
is to take some of the other equipment off the line.
You might also have problems with power surges and brownouts
(power dropouts) on your AC lines. Power surges can damage any
electronic
equipment, so if you have found such problems in the
past, make sure that you have a surge suppressor (available at
most electronics stores) on the line. Brownouts on the line will
not damage the
equipment, but can cause your MAX-80 system to
_
reset
--
i.e., you. lose everything you have been working on since
the last time you stored your work on disk! If such brownouts
are a problem with that power line, you should either try to find
a
cleaner line (perhaps without your electric dryer, refrigeratort etc. on it), or should invest in an "uninterruptable power
supply" (UPS). The chief advantage of an UPS, by the
way, is
that the power can go out altogether and it still allows you
enough time to save what you are doing before the system shuts
down.
CAUTION: FOR SAFETY, WHILE YOU ARE CONNECTING ANY PART OF YOUR
SYSTEM, MAKE SURE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF AND EVERYTHING
IS UNPLUGGED FROM THE AC POWER LINE. DO NOT PLUG IN ANY OF THE
COMPONENTS UNTIL THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS ASSEMBLED AND YOU HAVE
ASSURED (see the instructions below) THAT IT IS ASSEMBLED
CORRECTLY.
Before you set up your hardware, note that the MAX-80 requires at
least one floppy disk drive and a video monitor. The drive is
necessary because the MAX-80's operating system must be loaded
from floppy disk (which is included with your MAX-80)
--
that is,
.
the operating system is not already implanted in the hardware of
the machine. If you bought a complete package from
Lobo, then
you purchased drives that have been configured for use with the
MAX-80.
LOB0 SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
MAX-80 BACK PANEL
HARDWARE ASSEMBLY
I
PlRALLEL
PRINTER
WC WWCHESTER INTERFACE
1
8
0
.obo
Systems
Fusl
SELECT~ON
UAOE
W U J
h
I
k6PC
0
0
I-IUCH
FLOPVY
(-UGH
FLOPPY
110
EXPANSOW BUS
8BI
BACK
PANEL
The connections on the back panel are all clearly labeled, as are
the Number 1 pins of each connector. The connections are
*
Power In: connector for the MAX-80's 115 VAC cord
*
Parallel Printer: parallel connector for a Centronicstype printer
*
Winchester Interface: parallel connector for a Lobocompatible hard disk drive that has a controller
*
Video Out: RCA/phono jack for a video monitor
*
Serial A and Serial
B:
RS-232C connector for a serial
printer, modem, etc.
*
8 Inch Floppy: 50 pin parallel connector for one to
four Lobo compatible 8 inch floppy disk drives (controller is in the MAX-80)
*
5-1/4 Inch Floppy: 34 pin parallel connector for one to
four Lobo compatible 5-1/4 inch floppy disk drives
(controller is in the MAX-80)
The equipment can be connected in any order, as long as the power
is off. For safety's sake, do not plug in the power cord until
all of your peripherals have been connected.
You may connect up to four 5-1/4 inch drives, four 8 inch drives,
and a hard disk drive at any one time. The CP/M software
adjustments necessary for the various configurations are
described in the manual
CP/M Startup.
LOB0 SYSTEMS HS-7
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
HARDWARE ASSEMBLY
LOB0 SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP DRIVE INSTALLATION
DRIVE
INSTALLATION
MINIFLOPPY (5-1/4 INCH) DISK DRIVES
One or Two Lobo Dual Minifloppy Systems
The MAX-80 directly supports Lobo's single and dual minifloppy
drive systems.
The first dual drive unit plugs directly into the MAX-80's 5 inch
floppy connector. A (polarizing) key i-n the connector prevent-s
the cable from being connected upside down. This dual drive
includes a cable terminator resistor.
If you order a second dual drive with your MAX-80, or specify
that the drives you order will be your third and forth
drives,
then your second drive configuration will have a special tongue
connector. This connector taps into the middle of the first
drive's cable. The tongue connector may not have a polarizing
key, so be sure that the cable's dark colored edges are situated
close together. This dual drive does not have a cable terminator
resistor.
A two-position switch sits just above the MAX-80 minifloppy
connector (inside the MAX-80 itself). Make sure this switch is
switched AWAY from the numeric keypad.
LOB0 SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
DRIVE INSTALLATION
Lobo Minifloppy Drives Originally Installed on TRS-80s
-
In these drives the selection request depends only on which cable
connector the drive is plugged into. The fourth drive responds
to Pin
32
of the cable for drive selection. Unfortunately, Pin
32
goes to the standard side selection line
--
so double sided
drives are not supported under this scheme. If you now have
double sided Lobo drives, be sure to follow the instructions in
the next subsection.
One and only one of the drives must have an internal electrical
terminator resistor. TRS-80 compatible drives
from Lobo Systems
have a sticker saying "NO T.R." if they are NOT terminated. If
you need to
check, some typical terminator locations are shown in
the figure on the next page.
A TRS-80 compatible cable also is unique. It has specific pins
removed from each of the connectors. Plug the computer end of
this cable (the connector furthest from the other four) into the
MAX-80. The edge with the dark stripe goes closest
to the Pin 1
label on the back panel of the MAX-80. The next connector on the
cable plugs into Drive 1 (which may or not be Drive A: in MAX-80
CP/M).
The dark stripe on the cable must be closest to the slot
in the drive connector. The following connectors are for Drives
2,
3
and
4,
in succession. The last drive on the cable should be
the one with the terminator resistor.
If you are not installing four drives, leave the unused
connectors at the end
of
the cable free.
If
you are installing
four drives, make sure that the two position selector switch that
sits just above the MAX-80 connector (inside the MAX-80 itself)
is moved TOWARD the numeric keypad, or the fourth drive won't
work.
LOB0
SYSTEMS
VERSION 1.1
HARDWARE SETUP DRIVE INSTALLATION
LOB0 SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP DRIVE INSTALLATION
Lobo Minifloppy Drives OQqinally Intended for Other Systems
Use a straight through cable (a cable with all its pins intact)
and configure each drive as a different drive number. To comply
with this
scheme, Drive 1 on the cable must respond to Pin 10 for
drive selection. Drives
2,
3 and 4 must respond to Pins 12, 14,
and 06 (NOT 16, as they would for a TRS-801, respectively. If
a
drive is double sided, it must respond to Pin 32 for side select.
Each drive must be opened up and checked to be sure that it has
a
unique drive select number. Locate the DIP SHUNT (which looks
like an integrated
circuit, but which has several metal strips
across its top) and verify either that one and only one of the
drive selection strips is intact or that the rest of the lines
are somehow disconnected. (Perhaps the legs are bent up or
broken off.) Adjust (break the strips or bend the legs) each
drive's dip shunt so that it has a unique drive select number.
Also check the dip shunt to be sure that MH (or
HM) is intact,
and that the other head load request pins (MX, MS, HS, HL, etc.)
are broken away. Typical.dip shunt locations are shown above.
If a Lobo drive was originally intended for a TRS-80, it has a
piece of wire attaching Pin 32 of the drive's connector to some
other place in the drive. Remove this wire.
Again, one and only one of the drives must have a terminator
resistor, and Lobo attaches the label "NO T.R." to its
unterminated drives. You must locate the terminator (a
14
or 16
pin chip plugged into a socket near the dip shunt) within each
drive and remove any extras you may have.
A
straight through cable (i.e., no pins removed) can be obtained
from Lobo. You can also use a TRS-80 compatible cable by simply
reversing (plugging in upside down) all five (or however many you
are using) of the connectors. The connector furthest from the
others still goes to the MAX-80. Unless you are reversing a
TRS80 compatible cable, plug the computer end of the cable in so
that the dark stripe goes nearest the Pin 1 label on the back
panel of the MAX-80.
The figure on the next page shows the connections for the 5 inch
floppy, 8 inch floppy, and expansion bus. Note the locations of
the dark stripes on each cable. Plug the drives into the other
connectors; order does not
matter, but make sure that the terminated drive is furthest out on the cable. Orient each connector
so that the dark stripe is closest to the slot in the drive
connector, UNLESS you are reversing a TRS-80 compatible cable.
Make sure that the MAX-80 selector switch (located immediately
above the
5
inch connector) is moved AWAY from the numeric keypad
LOB0 SYSTEMS- HS-12 VERSION 1.1
HARDWARE
SETUP
5-114 INCH
FLOPPY
DISK
DRI
FLOPPY
DRlVE AND
EXPANSlObl
BUS
CONNECTIONS
WARNING: IF THE CABLE TO A DRIVE UNIT IS UPSIDE DOWN, ITS DRIVES
WILL TURN ON AND ERASE ITS DISKETTES. TEST FOR THIS CONDITION BEFORE INSERTING DISKETTES CONTAINING VALUABLE DATA. INSERT BLANK
DISKETTES AND TURN ON THE DRIVES, BUT LEAVE THE MAX-80 OFF. IF
BOTH LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY
ON, YOU'VE MISCONNECTED THE CABLE.
8 INCH FLOPPY DISK DRIVES
Drives Purchased with the MAX-80
The MAX-80 directly supports one or two Lobo dual 8 inch floppy
drives.
The first dual drive system connects to the MAX-80's 8 inch
floppy connector through its
50
line ribbon cable. The edge with
the dark stripe goes closest to the Pin
1
label on the back panel
of the MAX-80. (See the figure above.)
A (polarizing) key in
the connector should prevent the cable from being connected
upside down. This first dual drive unit will include a terminat-
ing resistor.
If you order a second dual drive with your MAX-80, or specify
that the drives you order will be your third and forth drives,
then your second drive configuration will have a special tongue
connector. This connector taps into the middle of the first
drive's cable. The tongue connector may not have
a
polarizing
key, so be sure that the cable's dark colored edges are situated
close together. This dual drive does not have a cable terminator
resistor.
LOB0 SYSTEMS HS-13 VERSION 1.1
HARDWARE SETUP DRIVE INSTALLATION
Lob0 Drives That Were Not lntended for the MAX-80
-----
If you have purchased Lobo 8 inch floppy drives that were not
packaged specifically for the MAX-80, you probably will have to
jumper these drives before the setup instructions above can be
followed. This jumpering involves disassembling the drive
cabinet and moving pin jumper plugs on the drive's printed
circuit board.
BEFORE PROCEEDING, MAKE SURE YOU DISCONNECT ALL AC POWER TO THE
DRIVES.
Reconfiguring Single Sided 8 Inch Lobo Drives
Do the following to all single sided 8 inch Lobo drives:
--
Install jumpers AIBCX~Z~HL~~OO and T1.
--
Place the L jumper (if your drive has one) to the -5
position, parallel to the drive's side. To avoid
confusion,
REMOVE
ALL OTHER JUMPERS!
If you have a single 8 inch drive:
--
Add jumpers DSltT3,T4,T5 and T6.
If you have a dual 8 inch drive system:
--
On Drive 1, add DS1. Remove T3, T4, T5 and T6.
--
On Drive 2, add DS2t T3, T4r T5 and T6.
If you have a three drive system:
--
On Drive 1, add DS1. Remove T3, T4, T5 and T6.
--
On Drive 2, add DS2. Remove T3, T4, T5 and T6.
--
On Drive 3, add DS3, T3r T4r T5 and T6.
If you have a four drive system:
--
On Drive 1, add DSl. Remove T3r T4t T5 and T6.
--
On Drive 2, add DS2. Remove T3, T4, T5 and T6.
--
On Drive 3, add DS3. Remove T3r T4, T5 and T6.
--
On Drive 4, add DS4, T3, T4r T5 and T6.
LOB0
SYSTEMS HS-14
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP DRIVE INSTALLATION
Reconfiguring Double Sided 8 Inch Lobo Drives
The 150 Ohm resistor network mentioned below is a device that
looks like an integrated circuit, is installed into a socket, and
probably reads "Beckman" on top.
.
Do the following to all double sided 8 inch Lobo drives:
--
Install jumpers RS, FS, IT, 850, S2, 2St -5, M and AF.
Some drives do not have some of these jumpers. To
avoid confusionr REMOVE
ALL
OTHER JUMPERS.
--
Add jumper IW. If your IW position has three pins,
position the jumper so it connects to the large, heavy
circuit foil (ground).
--
Install a new Dual Inline Package (DIP) shunt, so all
eight jumpers are intact
(21
HL, A, B,
XI
I, R and S).
If you have a single 8 inch drive:
--
Add DSl and the 150 Ohm resistor network.
If you have a dual 8 inch drive system:
--
On Drive 1, install DSl. Remove the 150 Ohm resistor
network.
--
On Drive 21 install DS2 and a 150 Ohm resistor network.
If you have a three drive system:
--
On Drive 1, install DS1. Remove the 150 Ohm resistor
network.
--
On Drive 2, install DS2. Remove the 150 Ohm resistor
network.
--
On Drive
3,
install DS3 and a 150 Ohm resistor network.
If you have a four drive system:
--
On Drive 1, install DS1. Remove the 150 Ohm resistor.
--
On Drive 2, install DS2. Remove the 150 Ohm resistor.
--
On Drive 3, install DS3. Remove the 150 Ohm resistor.
--
On Drive 4, install DS4 and the 150 Ohm resistor network.
LOB0 SYSTEMS
VERSION 1.1
HARDWARE
SETUP
DRIVE INSTALLATION
Reauirements fo~ Interfacinq Other Drives
Note that, if you are installing non-Lobo drives, the interfacing
is entirely your responsibility. The precise pinout and timing
data for the
MAX-80
are given in the Technical Reference Manual.
The list below is a quick summary of these requirements. The
requirements of your drives must be obtained from your drive
supplier.
--
when Drive Select (DSn) is asserted, Drive n is selec-
ted, its activity light is on, its head is loaded, its
head positioner is energized, and its door is locked.
--
TWO-headed drives respond to the
HEAD0
signal for head
selection.
--
The drive should reduce its write current in response
to LOWI.
- -
The drive should return only one index pulse per
diskette revolution.
I
--
The drive returns two-sided status when a two sided
diskette is inserted.
--
The
-5
-15 jumper should be set to match the power
supply.
LOB0
SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
DRIVE INSTALLATION
WINCHESTER HARD DRIVES
The MAX-80 operating system software can communicate with either
a Lobo 5-1/4 inch or a Lobo 8 inch hard drive. A11 Lobo hard
drives come complete with
controllerst so they can be connected
through parallel cables (included with the systems) directly to
the Winchester Interface on the MAX-80.
)
PRINTEk (CENTRONICS
OMPATIPI-E INTERFACE)
TO CONTROLLER
OF
HARD DISK
LMIVE
P?&RALL.EL
PRINTER
AND
HARD
DRIVE
CQiia'NECTbONS
The cable connections follow the same basic guidelines as the
floppy drive cables. A 50 line, two connector cable is used for
all Lobo hard drives. Plug one end into the socket on the hard
drive so that the dark stripe on the edge of the cable is nearest
the notch in the hard drive edge connector. Plug the other end
of the cable into the MAX-80 so that its dark edge is nearest
the Pin 1 indicator on the back panel.
The controllers of Winchester disk drives have' radically varying
interfacing requirements, so we cannot possibly give you
installation instructions for all the makes and models. The
Technical Reference Manual does,
however, give complete MAX-80
interfacing requirements for a hard disk controller. Unfortunately, if you are planning to connect a non-Lobo hard drive, you
(or a computer technician) are going to have to figure out the
requirements of your hard disk drive controller and the way to
interface it to the MAX-80.
LOB0 SYSTEMS HS-17
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE
SETUP
DRIVE INSTALLATION
BOOT DRIVE SELECTION SWITCH
After the drives have all been
connected, you still have to tell
the MAX-80 which drive will be your boot drive. The location of
B
the selection switch and the possible choices are shown on the
next page.
Of the eight levers on the boot selection switch, only the three
marked
"6"
,
"7"
and "8" are related to the boot drive. (The
others are reserved for use in some of the operating systems.)
Using the figure above as a
guide, push up the appropriate
rockers with a small
screwdriver, pen tip, unbent paper clip, or
whatever
--
just be sure not to harm the switches themselves.
The MAX-80 is shipped with all of the rockers pointed down
(so,
if the MAX-80 is turned on without a boot drive being chosen, it
will beep at you repeatedly).
Obviously, at first you won't be choosing either of the hard
drive boot
options, as the operating system is supplied to you
on
a
floppy diskette. After you have copied the operating system
over to your hard drive or to another floppy, you may want to
change the boot drive selection. With the MAX-80 turned
off, you
can then change the switches to boot off any drive you choose.
LOB0 SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
DRIVE INSTALL4TION
BOOT
DRlVE
SELECTION
NO DRIVE. MAX-80 BEEPS REPEATEDLY
FIRST 5 INCH FLOPPY CONNECTED TO MAX-80
FIRST 8 INCH FLOPPY CONNECTED TO MAX-80
5lNCH HARD DRlVE CONNECTEDTHROUGH UVC
8 INCH HARD DRlVE CONNECTED THROUGH UVC
5 INCH FLOPPY CONNECTED THROUGH UVC
8lNCH FLOPPY CONNECTED THROUGH UVC
LOBO HARD DRlVE CONNECTED THROUGH
SASl
BOOT
DRlVE
SELECTION
NOTE:
This
is the
BOOT
drive selection switch.
It
does
NOT
de-
termine which other drives are on your system.
.
LOB0 SYSTEMS HS-19 VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE
SETUP
LOB0 SYSTEMS
DRIVE
INSTALLATION
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
OTHER INTERFACES
SERIAL PORTS
OTHER
INTERFACES
Serial ports A and B are standard
RS-232C
ports that can be used
for
modems, serial printers and some kinds of controller boards.
The connectors are one-way, so you don't have to worry about the
location of Pin
1.
The standard connector used for the
RS-232C
interface is called the
"DB25"
connector. In order to attach to
the
MAX-80,
the device's cable must have a male
DB25
connector at
its
MAX-80
end. The
MAX-80
connectors are shown below.
SERIAL
Fun
I
u
d
LOB0 SYSTEMS
HS-21
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
OTHER INTERFACES
NOTE: printers may require either serial or parallel communica-
tions. Parallel connections are usually Centronics compatible.
If
your printer has Centronics compatible parallel interfacing,
turn to the subsection (below) "Parallel Printer Installation".
If your printer has a parallel
connection, but it is not Centron-
ics compatible, you'll have to turn to the technical description
of the parallel printer port (in the Technical Reference Manual)
and will have to figure out a lot
of the interfacing for your-
self. Obviously, life is a lot easier if your printer has one of
the two "standard" interfaces.
Unfortunately, the RS-232C "standard" is infamous for being
violated. For instance, the connectors of two serial printers
usually match, but the lines in the connectors do different
things. Your best procedure is simply to plug in the
printer,
modem, or whatever, and output something to it.
The software adjustments necessary for configuring the MAX-80 to
recognize and talk civily to your equipment are described in the
manual,
CPm
Startup.
If you have problems with your equipment, then compare the
description of the MAX-80 serial ports (in the MAX-80 Technical
Reference Manual) to the literature provided with your printer,
modem, etc. If things just don't seem to match, we suggest that
you read the excellent article "The
Input/Output Primer, Part
4"
by Steve Liebson in the May 1982 Byte Magazine. This article
should help you figure out how to make the MAX-80 talk to your
peripherals. (Or at least it will console you with the fact that
the rest of the world is as bad off as you are.)
LOB0 SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
OTHER INTERFACES
PRINTERS WITH PARALLEL INTERFACES
If your printer uses a parallel interface that is Centronics
compatible, it may be directly connected to the MAX-80. If its
parallel interface is not Centronics compatible. you'll have to
check the specifications of the MAX-80 parallel printer port
given in the Technical Reference Manual and compare them to the
requirements of your printer. In that
case, interfacing the two
can take a bit of work.
NOTE: printers can use either parallel or serial interfacing to
a computer. For serial interfacing, see the section above on
serial ports.
The parallel printer connection is shown at the end of Section
3.
To connect a Centronics compatible printer to the MAX-80, you'll
need a
34
line cable that has an edge connector on its MAX-80
end. Make sure Line 1 of this
connector is attached to Pin 1 of
the MAX-80 connector (indicated next to the connector). Most
parallel cables are flat, and so an edge connector (available
from any electronics store) can easily be attached to them (just
make sure to keep track of Line
1). still, plugging the
connector in upside down is not dangerous
--
your printer won't
work, but that should be correctible simply by turning the
connector over.
If you are fortunate enough to have a cable that has Line 1
clearly marked (usually by a dark stripe), then that line must be
connected to the end of the port nearest the "1" marker. Once
again, you can double-check the location of the Pin 1 end of the
connector by checking on the notch in the connector itself; the
notch is nearest the Pin 1 end.
LOB0
SYSTEMS VERSION 1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
OTHER INTERFACES
VIDEO
HOOKUP
The
MAX-80
requires a standard composite video monitor. Most
monitors produced these days have composite video output.
Both the
MAX-80
connector and the connector on the back of the
Lob0 monitor require a male phono plug. The appropriate cable is
included with the
Lobo monitor.
VIDEO CONNECTOR
LOB0 SYSTEMS
HS-
2
4
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE
SETUP
PLUGGING
IN
PLUGGING
Finally, after all of the hardware is connected, you can plug in
the power
cord(s) of your system, turn the power on and check to
see that all is in order.
NOTE:
Make sure that the ground prongs of the power cords of the
whole system are actually plugged in (no cheating with
2
wire
extension cords) and that all are plugged into the same ground
line (another advantage of having a single power switch box). In
many cases the
MAX-80
will not boot up if the ground is not
adequate. In older
houses, for instance, there frequently is no
ground
line, and sometimes even the "groundable" adapter plugs do
not work because the outlet box itself
is
not grounded.
In
such
cases you should have an electrician install a decent ground to
that line.
LOB0
SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
PLUGGING IN
To check out your system, follow these steps:
1. Make sure all drive doors are open and that there are NO
diskettes in the drives.
2.
Turn on the separate units in any order. If you have all of
them connected to one switched power connector, you only
need to throw the single switch. Make sure all of the
separate units are turned on before proceeding. The MAX-80
will beep at a regular rate.
3.
If the drives have been properly connected, then the drive
lights of Drive B:, Drive
C:,
etc. must NOT be on.
Note: Drive A: is the drive that you set up as Drive 1 on
your main drive cable. If you are using more than one size
drive, the main cable is the one for which you have a system
diskette (and also, hopefully, which you chose by setting
the appropriate boot select switch on the back of the MAX).
4.
Insert a blank diskette (or one which has no valuable
information on it) into Drive A: and snap the door or latch
shut. Whether or not the Drive A: light and motor were on
previously, they should now turn on. If the diskette has
nothing on it at all (it was last passed under a bulk
eraser), the light and motor (as well as the MAX-80 beeper)
will stay on. But if the diskette has been formatted, the
light will soon go off and the computer will stop beeping
--
though, of course, you will only get static on the monitor.
A
new diskette, by the way, may come formatted from the
factory.
So, when you insert a new diskette, don't be
suprised if the drive light goes
on, then off again, and the
MAX-80 stops beeping. Frequently the formatting is nothing
that either CP/M or LDOS can read, but the MAX-80 will still
accept it as sensible data and shut off its beeper.
Remember, the system diskette provided with your MAX-80 is
write protected,
but, for safety's sake, do NOT use it in
these tests. Cables that are upside down can cause your
drives to ERASE even a write protected diskette. AND
LOBO
SYSTEMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DESTROYED DATA, INCLUDING THE
SYSTEM DISKETTE.
DO pay careful attention to the lights on all of the other
drives. under NO
cjrcumstances should they be on before the
operating system has actually booted up.
LOB0 SYSTEMS HS-26 VERSION 1.1
HARDWARE SETUP PLUGGING IN
NOTE: the indicator lights on disk drives (either hard or
floppy) are ACCESS lights. They should be on ONLY when the
MAX-80 is attempting to access a diskette in the drive.
Thus they should be off when there is a diskette in the
drive but the MAX-80 is not attempting to communicate with
it.
All drives sharing a cable are affected by one incorrectly
connected drive; when one drive is
misconnectedr you will
usually find that most of the drive lights are on and the
motors are running. This is why the drive doors MUST be
open during first time power up. INCORRECTLY CONNECTED
DRIVES CAN COMPLETELY ERASE YOUR DISKETTES!
5.
If any of the drive lights are on or the wrong motors are
running, either one (or more) of your connectors is upside
down, or you have left an unused connector at the wrong end
of the connector cable. Turn off (or disconnect the plugs
to) your entire system and re-read the drive hook up
instructions above. After you think you have corrected the
error, turn on the system again and run the above tests.
(Remember to leave the drive doors open and to use only
write protected or blank diskettes.)
6.
If the drive lights and motors go on and off according to
the guidelines given above, you're ready to start thinking
about your diskettes. Turn your system off until you're
ready to start backing up the CP/M system diskette (after
you go through the next section).
LOB0
SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE
SETUP
LOB0 SYSTEMS
PLUGGING IN
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
DISKETTE CARE
DISKETTE
Before you insert your
MAX-80
system diskette in Drive A: (the
drive you configured to be your system boot up
drive), you should
become very familiar with the following diskette care
instructions:
1. Keep the diskette in its storage envelope (the easily
removable paper folder that covers half of the diskette)
whenever it is not in use. The end of the diskette that has
the long open slot should be inside the envelope.
2.
Never handle the unprotected parts of the diskette. Even a
fingerprint on the glossy surface can destroy data. Do not
try to wipe the diskette surface; microscratches can
destroy even more data.
3.
Keep the diskette away from magnetic fields
(TV
sets,
speakers, AC motors, transformers, magnets, etc.). Strong
magnetic fields will destroy data on the diskettes. Weaker
magnetic fields will cause the records on diskettes to
become unreliable.
NOTE: the utility COPIER can be used to strengthen the
magnetic records on some diskettes that have been exposed to
weaker magnetic fields. If the diskette is COPIERED to
itself, any data that can be read will be given a stronger
impression on the surface of the diskette. But if you have
reason to doubt the reliability of the records, the only way
to check is to go through all of the files on the
diskette,
line by line.
LOB0 SYSTEMS
VERSION 1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
DISKETTE
CARE
4.
Keep the diskette away from heat and sunlight. ~oth can
warp the diskette and thus cause it to be unreadable in your
drives.
5.
Avoid contamination of the diskette by cigarette smoke, dust
or other particles.
The heads of your drive ride directly on the surface of the
diskette. It happens that the particles that make up
cigarette smoke are the ideal size to catch under the heads
and to score the diskette surface. Just smoke in the air
can be enough for you to lose random bits of data. It is
advisable not to smoke near the computer at all
--
but at
least to avoid smoking near the drives.
6.
Use only felt tip pens to write on diskette labels.
Pressing on the label with a pen or pencil will cause slight
indentations in the diskette surface. So the next time the
drive head passes over that
area, it can skip over the data
in the indentations altogether. And you've just lost your
data.
7.
Insert the diskette into the system drive carefully. Never
force the door or latch closed. If the door resists
closing, the diskette is not seated correctly; gently remove
and re-insert the diskette.
LOB0
SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
8.
You can prevent further recording on the diskette by "write
protecting" it. This is especially good for preserving data
that you definitely do not want to lose.
Unfortunately, the conventions for write protecting
diskettes are exact opposites. To write protect a 5-1/4
inch diskette,
PLACE
a silvered (or other opaque) stick-on
tab over the write protect notch. To write protect an
8
inch diskette,
REMOVE
the silvered stick-on tab. See the
fiaure on the next page for the locations of these notches.
If a diskette is write protected, the system will not be
able to write information onto the diskette. All masters
should be write protected.
8
lNCH DISKETTE
WRITE ENABLE NOTCH
5
114
INCH DISKETTE
WRITE PROTECT
NOTCH
WRITE
%NABLEIPROTECT NOTCHES
HARDWARE SETUP DISKETTE
CARE
9.
You can identify a single sided from a double sided 8 inch
diskette by the locations of their sector holes. Note the
figure below.
single and double sided 5-1/4 inch diskettes look exactly
the same. The only way to tell the difference
is
to read
their labels.
SINGLE
SIDED, 8 INCH DISKETTE
DOUBLE SIDED, 8 INCH DISKETTE
SINGLEfDOUBLE SIDED
8
lNCH
DISKETTES
LOB0 SYSTEMS
VERSION 1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
5-1/4 inch floppy drive.
See Minifloppy drive.
5-1/4 inch hard drive.
See Winchester.
8
inch floppy drive, 1,
7,
13
Jumperingr 14-16
AC
power.
See Power, electrical.
Back panel,
7,
8
Boot drive
Selection switch, 18-19
Brownouts,
6
INDEX
c
Centronics.
See Printer, parallel.
Composite video, 24
Connector, edge.
See Edge connector.
Controller
Board, 21
Winchester
drive,
7
COPIER Utility, 29
CP/M, inclusive
CRT. See Video.
D_
DB25 connector, 21
Dip shunt, 10, 11
Diskette, 29-32
Drive. See the appropriate type:
Boot, 8 inch floppy,
Minifloppy, Winchester.
LOB0
SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE
SETUP
INDEX
E
-
Edge connector, 23
Expansion bus, 12
F
-
Floppy drive.
See 8 inch, Minifloppy.
Ground line.
See Power, electrical.
Hard drive.
See Winchester.
Hardware, 5 ff
Interfacing drives.
See appropriate drive type
LOB0 SYSTEMS
Minifloppy drive, 1,
7
Jumpering, 9-12
Installation1
9
Modem 2
1
Monitor.
See Video.
Packing.
See Unpacking advice.
Panel, back, 7,
8
Parallel printer.
See Printer1 parallel.
Phono plug,
24
Power distribution box,
5
Power, electrical, 51 7, 25
Power surges,
6
Printers
Parallel, 17, 23
Serial, 21, 22
RS-232C
Port, 21
"Standard", 22
VERSION 1.1
HARDWARE SETUP
INDEX
S
-
Serial port,
7,
22
Serial printer.
See Printer, serial.
System check, 25-27
U
-
Unpacking advice, 1-3
Video
Connector, 7, 24
T
Termniator resistor, 9-12, 15
W
-
Testr system, 25-27 Winchester drive, 17
Write enable, protect notches, 31
LOB0
SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
HARDWARE
SETUP
LOB0
SYSTEMS
VERSION
1.1
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