AACE ATR SIG Newsletter #1  Jan 1984
   BY Marc Newman

The first AACE ATR8000 SIG meeting was held at the December disk
party. It was decided that the ATR8000 SIG would cover all topics
related to the ATR8000 but not related to ATARI directly. namely
ATR8000 hardware, ATR8000 environment, CPM 2.2 for the Z80,  MSDOS and
CPM86 for the 8088, COPOWER board from SWP for the ATR8000, and MYDOS
for the ATARI ATR8000 user.  These topics will be covered both here in
the newsletter and at our monthly meeting.  Currently scheduled to be
held at 3pm during the regular AACE disk party, held on the second
saturday of each month.

A mixed bag of ATR8000 users showed up at the first meeting. Some
have 16K ATR's, most had 64k, and were running CPM 2.2, and several had
COPOWER boards.  In the next few months we will progress from beginning
topics such as CPM configuration, to advanced Programming techniques,
operating system fundamentals, and communications.

The AACE ATR8000 SIG is interested in making contact with any other
ATR8000 user groups. If you know of any, please relay this information
to AACE.

MYDOS news

I have a new patch for MYDOS 3.12 and 3.08 which will finally allow
MYDOS to be used with programs such as AMODEM42 to exchange information
over a modem.  Currently AMODEM42 and AMPLUS16 work with an ATR only in
terminal modes under MYDOS using the ATR RS-232 port, and for file
XFERS only if you had an 850 interface.  These programs seemed to work
in the XMODEM protocol mode, not in the capture buffer modes.  The
problem stems from MYDOS, and caused random garbage (commonly 'D') to
be interleaved though your downloaded data. SWP now has a solution to
this, and not only does it correct the capture buffer problem under an
ATARI 850, but also allows the ATR8000 serial port to be used to upload
and download.  
Here is the fix:
 1. Turn off fast writes (MYDOS option O) and write DOS files (H)
 2. Check out your modem program.  If it works, turn fast writes back
    on, then go into BASIC and make the following pokes: POKE
    3408,67:POKE  3409,0:POKE 3465,234:POKE 3466,234:POKE 3467,234 POKE 
    3468,234:POKE 3469,234:POKE 3474,67:POKE 3475,0
 3. Then go back into DOS and write system files ('option H) to make
    the change permanent.

Many people have called me in regards to running an ATARI based BBS
system off the ATR8000.  Typically, the main question is in regards to
MYDOS 3.12 communications capabilities.  Basically, the ATR8000 under
MYDOS 3.12 supports the basic modem modes of the ATARI 850, but not the
more obscure modes used by AMIS and other ATARI BBS programs.  SWP has
told me that MYDOS 3.09 and 3.13 should correct some of the
deficiencies that the communications driver in 3.12 has, but not all. 
Specifically the DTR line will be able to be monitored by the user
under 3.13, but not automatically as is done with the 850. So you
sysop's out there will have to make some changes in your code to run
without a 850 but it should be able to be done.  MYDOS 3.09 and 3.13
should also have an enhancement to allow directory modes which will
allow double sided and 8" users to make better use of all that disk
space available with the ATR. Currently, under both MYDOS and ATARI
DOS, there is a maximum of 64 files per disk.  Under MYDOS 3.09 and
3.13, you will be able to define up to 64 directories with up to 64
files in each. SWP does not have a release date yet, but I will notifiy
you when it becomes available.  The normal $10 update charge should get
you the new MYDOS if you send in your old release diskette.

Double sided 5 1/4" drive configuration instruction addendum for the
ATR8000 CP/M supplement manual.
   For systems with two or more drives:
 1. Use DINIT option I to format a single sided single density disk
    in drive B. (Be sure to be working from a backup of your
    original CP/M distribution disk from SWP). 
 2. Use DDSYSGEN option 1 to configure your system as explained in
    the ATR8000 CP/M supplement manual. Then write(DDSYSGEN option 2) the
    new system onto the newly formatted ss/dd disk in drive A. 
 3. Use PIP to move PIP.COM and D:*.* files to drive B. 
 4. Reset the ATR8000 and reboot with the new ss/dd disk in drive A. 
 5. Use DDINIT to format a double sided disk in drive B. 
 6. Use DDSYSGEN to move (option 1 to read drive A system tracks, then     
    option 2 to write to drive B system tracks) the CP/M system over to
    drive B. 
 7. Use PIP to move all the files from drive A to drive B. 
 8. Reset the ATR8000 and reboot with the new double sided disk in drive
    A. 
 9. Insert the backup of the SWP CP/M distribution disk in drive B.
    Then run DISKDEF.COM, choosing format option 17, to configure drive B
    to read the single sided disk. 
10. Use PIP to transfer all files from drive B to drive A. Use the
    command "PIP A:=B:*.*[V]" (no quotes).

Other news

AACE should be gettinq the entire SIG/M library on 8" disks in the
near future.  These will be made available to ATR SIG members for a
nominal copying charge. The SIG/M library contains a wealth of CP/M 2.2
utilities.  We will publish a directory of the disks after we get them
in.

If you have not yet seen it, BYTE magazine had an excellent article
by David Small in the December 1983 issue on the ATR8000.  I highly
suggest any ATR8000 owner read this.

I am running an ATARI based bulletin board an my ATR8000, and have
suggested it be a meetinq point for ATR8000 users who have a modem. the
telephone ,number is:(now invalid). 

If You have anything to contribute to the ATR8000 newsletter, or
questions regardinq the ATR, give me a voice call @(now invalid).

Happy Computing,
Marc Newman