Category : Word Processors
Archive   : FMACSEGA.ZIP
Filename : README.EGA

This archive is part of Freemacs.

Files in EMACSEGA.ARC:
120COLS.COM Uses the 24 Mhz crystal (detailed below) to give 120 cols.
25L.COM Sets your ega to 25 lines.
43L.COM Sets your ega to 43 lines.
58L.COM Sets the font to 8 wide by 6 high, giving 58 lines.
HOWTOGET.IT Where to get Freemacs.
README.EGA This file.



These drivers and the 24mhz adapter card will work with any EGA card that
has 256K memory. They do not require one of the new "enhanced" EGA's.
(The 24mhz adapter makes your EGA an "enhanced" EGA equivalent to the VEGA
Deluxe card from Video-7.)

HOW TO BUILD THE 24MHZ FEATURE CARD
-----------------------------------

To use any of these drivers except the 720x350 Monochrome, you will need to
build a 24mhz "feature card" and install it on your EGA. This is a very
simple card, with only one main component, a crystal oscillator. If you
would like step-by-step instructions for building this card, I recommend
getting the September 16, 1986 issue of PC Magazine, and following the
instructions on page 298. Here are brief instructions for those who are
familiar with building electronic hardware.

You will need these parts, available from a number of suppliers, including
JDR Microdevices, 1224 S. Bascom Av., San Jose, CA 95128; (800) 538-5000
or (800) 662-6279 in California. The total cost for parts will be around
ten dollars plus shipping.

JDR Item # Description
---------- ----------------------------------
OSC24.0 24.0 MHZ crystal oscillator
HDR-80 2x40 breakable header strip
P25x45 Bare 2.5 x 4.5 " prototyping board
14 PIN ST 14-pin low profile IC socket

Cut the header strip so you have two rows of 16 pins each. Cut the
prototyping board to about 1.5 x 2 inches. Push the short pins of the
header strip through the holes along one edge of the board and glue it in
place. (But keep the glue off the pins - you will be soldering on them.)
In the middle of the board, push the IC socket through from the other side
and glue it in place.

Cut three short pieces of hookup wire, and connect the IC socket to the
2x16 header strip as follows (you will need to pass the wires through some
holes in the board):

IC socket Header strip Function
--------- ------------ --------
7 31 Ground
14 32 +5 volts
8 28 Signal

To identify the pins of the IC socket, note that one end of the socket has a
little notch in it. If you are looking at the bottom of the socket (where
the pins are), and you have the notch at the top, pin 14 is at the top left.
Pin 8 is at the bottom left. Pin 7 is at the bottom right.

To identify the pins of the header strip, observe how it will plug in to the
EGA card. On the EGA card, the topmost pin farthest from the metal bracket
is pin 31. Pin 32 is right below that, and pin 28 is two over from pin 32.
Most EGA cards have pins 31 and 32 marked (and pins 1 and 2).

Finally, push the crystal oscillator into the IC socket. There will be a
little dot at one corner of the oscillator. This end of the oscillator goes
into the notched end of the socket. You may need to trim the oscillator
pins a little bit to get it to seat fully in the socket.

Finally, double check all your connections, and cut off excess length on the
IC socket and header pins. (Don't cut off the header pins where they will
plug in to the EGA! It's the pins that pass through the card that should be
trimmed.)

Plug the card into the EGA. Check that nothing looks like it is going to
short out - you may want to cut a little piece of cardboard and put between
the adapter card and the EGA, and tape or glue it in place. Finally,
install the EGA back into your PC. To test it, first make sure that your
normal display operations still work!

Next, try running 120COLS.COM. Just run 120COLS, and then give the
command MODE BW40, and you should have a 120 column text display on your
ECD or Multisync display (it won't work on a Monochrome display). if
120COLS doesn't work, but the EGA operates normally otherwise, there is a
problem with your feature card, and you should remove it and double check
everything. If in doubt, check the PC Magazine article mentioned above.