ZXpand primer

[mrtinb]

There is also a new CPLD update, so you don't have to switch memory configuration with M=L / M=H. This CPLD update enables the RAM both at address 8-16k and 40-48k. The same physical RAM will be present in both places.

[1024MAK]

By the way, what is the "firmware" on the ZXpand? Is it the GAL/CPLD programming or is it the PIC software?

As far as I am aware, It’s the flash ROM code for the PIC microcontroller. In the PIC it’s in two parts, the “normal” code and a more primitive code that can be used to re-flash the ROM if the “normal” code is corrupted.

Mark

[David G]

I see that EightyOne has a ZXpand+ checkbox, but it doesn't show a ZXPAND boot message nor do commands like CONFIG (shift-G) work, as in CONFIG "V". Is there some additional steps to make it work (other than tick the box)?


ZXpand+ works with special version of SZ81 emulator: SZ81P from https://weggetjes.nl/sz81

I tested it on Windows 11:
Prebuilt Minimalist GNU for Windows Version
sz81-win32.zip (version 2.3.10 except shared memory feature)

ZX81 after booting displays this message

SZ81P.png (10.39 KiB) Viewed 4640 times

The SourceForge page (first link on google for SZ81) only has old versions, up to 2.1

The SZ81 emulator can emulate the ZXpand+ (use the sz81 version "sz81p.exe"). To run a ZXpand-compatible program, put the P file and its .wad file in the ZXpand_SD_Card folder of the emulator

I have forgotten what a wad file is and how you obtain one ...

[Moggy]

Seems to work for everyone else. What version of Eighty One are you using?

SZ-81 has been used for a long time now and whilst it is spand compatible it's emulation is using an older firmware (one that bears my forum name), the latest being the TOMTE firmware as used in Eighty One. TOMTE improves the serial communication functions of the spand, although I don't know of anyone who as done anything with it, apart from Sir Morris and myself for MIDI and text to speech use, and certainly not in an emulator.

[David G]

I was using eightyone v1.40 ... hmmm, have to try it again

[David G]

OK, got it working

It works if:

• choose a ROM image from the \ROMs folder. I was using one from a custom folder "C:\ROM"

• run EightyOne from the full directory structure e.g. "EightyOne V1.40"

Both are required. Sometimes I run a copy of EightyOne.exe from my development folder -- which usually works fine. However, that doesn't work for Lambda and (now I realise) for ZXpand+ emulation

[mrtinb]

I tried to make a custom rom for ZXpand to work with Lambda 8300. The timings to show the screen are different, and check for 50/60Hz is also different. I got a stable picture, but there was too much noise, so everything was not readable. I dropped the idea again. It was best to load with the "program;X", so the ZXpand ROM was disabled, and then the software would run.