Re: CP/M HAm radio contest logger (database)

On Fri, 07 Jul 2006 16:18:57 GMT, Lee Hart <leeahart@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Why? Because I'm tired to running AC power in the field to keep a
dosbox (laptop) running because they eat batteries.

20 years ago, my laptop was a Radio Shack TRS-80 model 100. Full size
keyboard, large display characters, small, light, reliable, etc. It ran
on four AA cells for 20+hours. I also had a Kodak Diconix battery
operated inkjet printer. I even had a 10"x6" solar panel that would run
the computer indefinitely, as long as there was sunlight, or recharge
the computer and printer when not in use. I had a memory expansion
module that basically creates a RAMdisk for mass storage.

I still have it, and it still works (though the printer has died and
gone to heaven). I still use it occasionally as a data logger, notepad,
test fixture controller, etc.

It strikes me as strange that there is no modern system that can "beat
it" for low power and ease of use. All modern laptops are vastly more
powerful, but also consume vastly more power. There are lots of
low-power "toy" computers, but they have tiny keyboards and displays.


therein lies the problem. Smallest useful screen is 40x8. Even then
it's a bit cramped. However for the radio contract logging I have
in mind that would work very well.

What we really need is a micropower computer with full-size keyboard and
display! I don't know of one available new. Does anyone?

I've been working on exactly that. I have the CPU core and mass
storage worked out and operational but the display is a nut to be
cracked. Right now I use the T100 or the PX8 as the terminal for it.

The display can take two paths. Copy one of the 16x64 displays and
use a video monitor like those used in cars/vans for DVD players.
I don't know if these displays will do 80x24.

The alternate is older mono 640x480 laptop displays. The timing to
drive them is simple enough but the logic for memory and display is
rather strange. They drive as two "parallel" 640x240 displays so the
upper half and lower half share the drive timing but seperate data.
Makes for a lot of duplicate logic and higher power needs. The color
displays are hard to find data on.

Allison

--
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget the perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in -- Leonard Cohen

.

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