M4 Setup "things aint workin!"

[SyntaxError]

Hi,

I received the mighty M4 2.5C board from Duke (thanks Duke, build quality is awesome!).
However, I can't actually get anything to "work".  It lights up, and the CPC can clearly detect it as you will see from the attached pics i linked too, but that is about it. 
I'm totally convinced that I've missed a step somewhere BUT for the life of me, upon reading various posts, I cannot fathom what it might be. 

Here is what I have done so far:

   
• Formatted a SanDisc 2GB MicroSD card to FAT32 (on as PC) as per Spinpoint.org instructions
• Created a m4 folder in the root of the MicroSD (on as PC)
• Put good 'ol HarrierAttack.dsk into both the root and inside the m4 folder (just to test folder structure visibility/accessibility)
• Put MicroSD back into M4 Board, power cycle the CPC6128, type cat and this happens...

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsxahRJAP-6L3wPnUyaCG66k0jiu?e=0EwGiO

As you can see from the pics however I cannot access the sd card at all...
What am I missing? and don't get me started on trying to access WiFi.
Should this card be as simple as Drag & Drop ROMS then type cat and see a list of files in the root?

Any help/guidance would be greatly appreciated

[Duke]

@SyntaxError
The problem is it cannot see/read your microSD card.
If you have any other microSD you could try it, just in case it for some reason wont read your current one.
But it could be a bad connection on the microSD slot (hardware error!) and then I would need to have it back to resolder/replace it.

[robcfg]

I'd make sure first that your cpc connector is clean, specially if it's an edge connector.

[SyntaxError]

@SyntaxError
The problem is it cannot see/read your microSD card.
If you have any other microSD you could try it, just in case it for some reason wont read your current one.
But it could be a bad connection on the microSD slot (hardware error!) and then I would need to have it back to resolder/replace it.

I'll try another Sdcrd tonight, thanks Duke. Here's hoping!

[SyntaxError]

I'd make sure first that your cpc connector is clean, specially if it's an edge connector.

It's an OG 6128 but with Centronics connectors. It seems to "see" the M4 OK.

[robcfg]

Sure, but dirty connectors can cause a wide range of malfunctions, many of them not obvious.

[SyntaxError]

Thanks for all the feedback folks, I appreciate it.

So I've had a little more success by changing MicroSD Cards. If you view the link below it shows 2 SanDisk cards:
8GB SDHC Class 2 card (which works) AND the original 2GB SD Class 2 card (that didn't) - both formatted to FAT32. 
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsxahRJAP-6L3wQuaPnTtCgX0ndr?e=1zxLrr

I wonder if my M4 Board simply prefers SDHC (High Capacity) type cards - up to a max of 32GB (due to FAT32 req)

Still not had any luck launching roms as yet OR getting the WiFi setup (but that is a job for the weekend).
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsxahRJAP-6L3weOfYSFU-cfxH2H?e=WY5xqi


Do you think I've just got a set of bad ROMs?

[Duke]

Still not had any luck launching roms as yet OR getting the WiFi setup (but that is a job for the weekend).
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsxahRJAP-6L3weOfYSFU-cfxH2H?e=WY5xqi

To run files within a .dsk image you will need to mount it first, so in your case:
|cd,"OhMummy.dsk"
cat
run"somefile  (the correct file for starting the game, probably something like "mummy.bas")

If you watch the original M4 video, it shows you how to run games from a .dsk image:

https://youtu.be/YqouZCVMMwg?t=168     (notice the ø symbol is because of danish keyboard, on a English cpc it is | symbol)

[francouai]

2G for a CPC, that's tooooo much..my SD is 512mo and I have plenty of space left.Did you buy this M4 to read only DSK files?

[TotO]

My 1992 Amiga an 1995 PC Hard Drive was 80/120MB and I never filled them. 

[SyntaxError]

2G for a CPC, that's tooooo much ... Did you buy this M4 to read only DSK files?

No, I'm simply working with what I have right now.  That is why I started with the 2GB Sandisc MicroSD card as opposed to the 8GB Sandisc MicroSDHC (Class 2) card.  However it would seem that my M4 board does not like the 2GB at all, but thankfully the 8GB MicroSDHC, while also WAAY too large, is working fine and I can now load ROMS and other bits and pieces. - Thanks Duke, didn't know about have to use the |CD command on the ROM filename first before using the RUN" command - its a bit like mounting ISO files on PC before being able to use them!

[SyntaxError]

Hi gang, thanks for all the info and feedback regards my splendid new M4 board.  I'm learning a new piece of the puzzle each day.

So here is the obligatory WiFi Question.

I've read over the large text file on Spinpoint.org and combed through various forums regards engaging the WiFi but still no joy as yet.  Perhaps I'm being too literal in my approach but here is my situation and what I have done so far.

According to the Spinpoint website, because I am running BASIC 1.1 (via a 6128) I should be able to pass RSX parameters directly with my M4, using the following codeline:

|netset,"name=CPC6128, ssid=myssidName, pw=myWiFiPassword, dhcp=1, dns1=8.8.8.8, dns2=8.8.4.4"
BUT, when I type: |netstat All I receive is the msg: No AP found
However, when I use the BASIC 1.0 codeline:
a$="name=CPC6128, ssid=myssidName, pw=myWiFiPassword, dhcp=1, dns1=8.8.8.8, dns2=8.8.4.4"THEN |netset,@a$ THEN |netstat I get the message: connecting

It never does actually connect and I never get an IP address returned.

So here are my questions:
1. Is there a more involved post regards someone going through this step-by-step that I;ve missed on the forum?
2. I've watched Am Strad and his excellent YT video [size=78%]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wsrk-30uKbw[/size] and while I'm insanely jealous of how easy he made it look.  Is it really that simple?  Am I typing in the correct info as stated above or am I missing some vital info in that codeline?
3. Why do I only seem to get semi-success using BASIC 1.0 commands using a variable?
4. When I do finally resolve this, do I have to type this entire line each time I want to access content via WiFi?


All feedback and advice is welcome.


Thanks

[Duke]

|netset,"name=CPC6128, ssid=myssidName, pw=myWiFiPassword, dhcp=1, dns1=8.8.8.8, dns2=8.8.4.4"
BUT, when I type: |netstat All I receive is the msg: No AP found

This is all that is needed. Check you have entered the SSID with same case.
You can also open the file m4/config.txt on the microSD on your PC and check the line SSID=  has the right characters and symbols.

Also make sure that M4/Amstrad is within the wifi range, if the strength is too low it cannot pick up the AP.

Is it really that simple?  Am I typing in the correct info as stated above or am I missing some vital info in that codeline?

Yes, it is that simple and once you have entered it, everything is saved into m4/config.txt and automatically reloaded on each power-on.

Why do I only seem to get semi-success using BASIC 1.0 commands using a variable?

No idea, the end result seems to be the same, though.

[SyntaxError]

Check you have entered the SSID with same case.

Sorted! I totally forgot that I am broadcasting two WiFi zones a 2.4G and 5G.   


FYI - the M4 likes the 2.4G.


Thanks Duke - now to start testing some network goodies!