Hi All,
I have a few hardware projects that I designed over the years, that have never been put on the interwebs. I joined the CPCWiki not only to add my general knowledge of all things CPC, but also to possibly release my designs into the WWW. The only problem I have is that there isn't really a place for DIY projects on the Wiki, although there are some DIY projects scattered throughout the Wiki. My question is, should I/we/somebody create a Hardware DIY section where all DIY projects can be found, or where should one sort these items?
Bryce.
Just in case anyones interested, the first (easiest to document) projects are 'Converting an MP1 to an MP2' and 'Getting Scart quality on an LCD/Plasma TV' (Which I built this week after discovering that my Scart cable doesn't work on my new TV), which I will post as soon as I know where I should put them.
It would be great to see more DIY projects in the CPC Wiki. Currently some of the DIY articles are linked in the peripherals article (http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Peripherals), but if the number of DIY hardware will increase in the future it would make sense to add an own DIY article. However, we should create a DIY category to mark the current articles.
In the Peripherals section alone, there are already 7 or so DIY projects which could be moved to a DIY Page. My suggestion would be to add a menu link in the Hardware menu on the main page, maybe grouped together with Reapir, ie: a "Repair and DIY" section. I have a good few projects I could add to the section and we could start a Do-it-yourself repair section with fault finding tips and step-by-step guides... Just a suggestion.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 20:55, 28 October 09
In the Peripherals section alone, there are already 7 or so DIY projects which could be moved to a DIY Page. My suggestion would be to add a menu link in the Hardware menu on the main page, maybe grouped together with Reapir, ie: a "Repair and DIY" section. I have a good few projects I could add to the section and we could start a Do-it-yourself repair section with fault finding tips and step-by-step guides... Just a suggestion.
Bryce.
Run with it. Your suggestion is good and I think you should continue.
Quote from: arnoldemu on 15:37, 29 October 09
Run with it. Your suggestion is good and I think you should continue.
Yes! Great idea! I only can encourage to do it that way! Ride on ;-)
I'd love to, but I have no idea how to edit the menu on the left side of the main page? Can someone tell me how to, or if I don't have the authority to do so, can someone add the menu items "DIY Projects" and "Hardware Repair" to this menu. Between Peripherals and Gallery would probably be the best place. I have been working on the first article (Getting a CPC working on an LCD/Plasma TV) whic I will probably upload at the weekend.
Bryce.
Hmmm...
I uploaded the first DIY project to peripherals/monitors/LCD And Plasma Solutions, when a suitable DIY section is available, I'll move it over there.
Bryce.
Heya guys, Bryce, so sorry to haven't replied yet.
To begin with, such knowledge as yours is really, really welcome and extremely valuable. So I could really see such a section, and I could add it in a sec if we all feel one should be added. The LCD guide, btw, is really wonderful and I wish I could do it to hook up my CPC directly to my Bravia...
On the other hand, there's always the "Technical docs-tutorials" link at the sidebar, which leads to the Technical Documentation (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Technical_documentation) page*. I have a feeling this is maybe enough, especially given the relatively small number of articles there... Or is it?
In any case, it's really easy to modify the sidebar and start a new section, just let me know what you think about the existing page, people! :)
Cheers
Gryzor
*Bt, I have added the LCD tutorial to that page too
Hi All,
just added my latest DIY Project. "How to convert an MP1 into an MP2"
Bryce
Nice article :)
Thanks. Glad I got that one finished, now I can finish some other hardware tricks I've been working on. The next project to come is a stand-alone mouse interface for modern PS/2 and USB Mouses/mices/ mees? It will be fully AMX compatible for those who want to use any AMX compatible software and maybe even scroll-wheel compatibility, if I can get it working. I should have it finished and documented before christmas, if I have the time.
Bryce
The link is here (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Convert_an_MP1_into_an_MP2) and, from a quick look, it's really how HowTo's should look like - great stuff!
Bryce, does this mean you won't need my photos? I had arranged to go by my mothers' tomorrow to unearth it...
The mouse guide would bre really sweet to have. I wonder how you would implement the wheel's functions though...?
Morning Gryzor,
I'd still like the photo, just to see what's inside, if that's ok. Yes, the scroll wheel is what's holding up the project at the moment. I have built a working version for a non-scrolling normal mouse, but it uses an expensive processor, so my first goal is to convert the project to a processor (PIC) that is affordable. The problem is just trying to cram the mouse type auto-detection and all the other bits into a cheap PIC. Depending how long that takes, I may release Version 1 without the scrolling feature. The AMX mouse doesn't use all the joystick inputs, so I could link the scroll wheel to the other unused pins. Obviously the old AMX programs won't be able to make use of the scroll wheel, but newer CPC Operating systems, that are AMX compatible could take advantage of this feature. We'll see, depends how much free time I have over the next weeks.
Bryce
Heya. About the "Technical docs-tutorials" link (in the frame menu). Do you know how that sounds like? It's like fire and ice. Like good and evil. Like asm and hll. I mean if you are looking for serious info, and see "Technical docs" then you think: "Great". But then you see "tutorials" and your smile freezes and you try thinking of something else.
Tutorials is if you tell people which end of the screw-driver must point towards the screw. I think the webpage would look a lot smarter if you remove the "tutorial" word, at least it should not be used for referring to the tech docs.
NB. something else: The http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/I/O_Port_Summary is now complete with links to the corresponding webpages for all known ports. Even the mysterious "Hard Disc" ports are resolved - turned out to the dobbertin xddos ones.
Heya mate, sorry for the late reply.
I do see your point, but on the other hand: aren't there tutorials for advanced users? And, in any case, there are some simple things thrown in with more serious stuff in there.
I don't disagree with your point; it's just that I don't feel there's enough material there yet to warrant a second category. If we manage to augment the material/articles in that category, then it'd be nice to split them. But for not, wouldn't it be a bit too much? Dunno, I'm asking! Keep the opinions coming :)
This isn't something I'm likely to say very often, but..... I agree with nocash :)
The section for DIY Hardware / Electronics is something I feel is lost under "Technical docs / Tutorials", or at least I'd never go looking for it there, if I didn't know it was there in the first place and it definitely doesn't describe what you find there. There are currently 33 DIY projects, and when I get some time, there are more to come. Along with all the detailed hardware breakdowns being done by Gerald, nocash, myself and others, it would be nice to have an Electronics section where this all comes together, rather than having to search out each device seperately. I would suggest it should be a seperate "Electronics" Link, with sections for CPC Schematics, Chip details, peripheral schematics, DIY projects and Repair tips and information. And this section should be under hardware and not literature.
But that's just my opinion as a hardware person.
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 10:42, 19 January 10
This isn't something I'm likely to say very often, but..... I agree with nocash :)
The section for DIY Hardware / Electronics is something I feel is lost under "Technical docs / Tutorials", or at least I'd never go looking for it there, if I didn't know it was there in the first place and it definitely doesn't describe what you find there. There are currently 33 DIY projects, and when I get some time, there are more to come. Along with all the detailed hardware breakdowns being done by Gerald, nocash, myself and others, it would be nice to have an Electronics section where this all comes together, rather than having to search out each device seperately. I would suggest it should be a seperate "Electronics" Link, with sections for CPC Schematics, Chip details, peripheral schematics, DIY projects and Repair tips and information. And this section should be under hardware and not literature.
But that's just my opinion as a hardware person.
Bryce.
Gryzor!!!!!!!!! sort this out.
By gods, mates, I've had this topic open since morning, but didn't have the time to give it the attention it deserves. Wait a bit :D
Ok, so yesterday I had a day-long meeting and I started thinking about the organization of things...
First of all, I'm not too sure 'Electronics' would be correct: after all, there is a "Hardware" section with significant overlapping, no? Also, how about a simple DIY like a belt changing - does it go under Electronics or under Tutorials?
You see it's not that simple...
Anyhow, what I propose to do is split the subject in two indeed:
-Documentation/Guides/How To's (but need to shorten this down for the sake of the sidebar) and
-DIY/Electronics.
But:
-What about the Schematics section? Should it be incorporated?
-Service manuals - where do they go? They're as much 'documentation' as they are 'electronics'...
-User manuals: should they be incorporated to the Documentation section?
Cheers
Gry
Ok, so how about this....
There's already a "Hardware" heading in the left frame, under this heading there could be a "DIY / Repair" link which would contain all DIY electronics projects AND instructions on connecting Floppies cables / printer cable / pcpara cables / changing belt instructions etc. The Documentation Section could be renamed to "Amstrad Documention" or "Original Documention" or even "Official Documentation" where the schematics / service manuals and handbooks could be found (ie: all documentation that was released by Amstrad or other commercial companies).
This way the link names would fit the content? Or maybe others see it differently?
Bryce.
Quote from: Bryce on 15:11, 21 January 10
Ok, so how about this....
There's already a "Hardware" heading in the left frame, under this heading there could be a "DIY / Repair" link which would contain all DIY electronics projects AND instructions on connecting Floppies cables / printer cable / pcpara cables / changing belt instructions etc. The Documentation Section could be renamed to "Amstrad Documention" or "Original Documention" or even "Official Documentation" where the schematics / service manuals and handbooks could be found (ie: all documentation that was released by Amstrad or other commercial companies).
This way the link names would fit the content? Or maybe others see it differently?
Bryce.
Gryzor. Please sort this out. ;)
Quote from: arnoldemu on 10:45, 22 January 10
Gryzor. Please sort this out. ;)
I'm munching my hat right now.
Ok, so munching your hat..... The hat is Hardware AND you are doing it yourself, so this would come under "Hardware - DIY". Unless of course you have chewed it long enough that it could be considered software, but is it then commercial (you probably bought the hat) or was it just a demo?.... A difficult one that.... ;D
Bryce.
Ok:
-Created "DIY&Repair" link.
-Keeping "tech docs/documentation" for the time being, until the stuff has been moved
-Where to put the Service Manuals?
-We should also have a Regular Manuals page...
How's that for starters, mateys?
I'm speechless ! Off to sort the projects now.....
Just being fussy, but can you add spaces to the DIY&Repair - ie: DIY & Repair.
The Tech docs/documentation shouldn't ever be deleted, that's where the service manuals and handbooks should stay.
Bryce.
> add spaces to the DIY&Repair - ie: DIY & Repair.
Yes! Please! That'd look much better.
Hey, -who- moved the "Internal Components" section to the DIY page? (already moved it back)
The frame menu still says "Technical docs-tutorials" although there are now REALLY no tutorials in that place. Please remove the tutorial word!
The DIY page contains a few things labeled "tutorials" but they are rather offtopic (like the willem eprom burner which is PC hardware), not worth to be mentioned in the frame menu.
----
For peripheral manuals, schematics, tech info: I think they are perfectly located where they are right now: in the "Peripherals" section. It'd make things much more confusing if you split the peripherals into technical and non-technical sections.
The thing that is a bit lost is technical info on the Internal Components. I'd suggest to move "Technical Docs" from literature to hardware. To me, literature sounds more like printed media.
Morning nocash,
I moved the internal components over for the exact reason you mentioned above. They're kind of in the wrong place no matter where you put them. The question is, where would you look for them if you were new to the site? So I thought Hardware, not Literature. But there's no other section in Hardware that really fits either, so I thought the people looking for this info would most likely be repairng a CPC or designing a hardware expansion. That's why I put them there. But as I said, they seem to be in the wrong place no matter where you put them.
Bryce.
Quote from: Gryzor on 18:04, 22 January 10
Ok:
-Created "DIY&Repair" link.
-Keeping "tech docs/documentation" for the time being, until the stuff has been moved
-Where to put the Service Manuals?
-We should also have a Regular Manuals page...
How's that for starters, mateys?
Thankyou!!!!!! :)
Ok:
-added space (tsk!)
-Technical docs-tutorials became Technical Docs.
...but technical manuals, I think belong to Technical Docs, not to Peripherals. Sure, there could be links to them uner the Peripherals section, but....
Oh, as for "literature". Perhaps not the best term, however the distinction is this:
If you have written an article detailing the workings of the 8128 CoffeeMaker Adapter (TM), then this will go under Peripherals, probably. If you have uploaded the manual for it, then it'd be literature. You see the distinction here?
Of course it's not been upkept, so maybe it's time we did away with it...
Also, nocash, you failed to see that there are actually printed media under the category :D
Ok, how about this:
Hardware
In Short
CPC464 etc
CPC+ etc
Peripherals (NO docs in here, only the actual hardware; maybe link to manuals etc)
Gallery (kind of dead?)
Software
Stays as it is, Gamebase will go here
Print (instead of Literature)
Books
Fanzines
Magazines
User Manuals
Technical
Tech docs
Schematics
Service Manuals
DIY & Repair (could also go to Hardware... still undecided)
Nooooo!!! Leave the DIY & Repair in Hardware! It was hard enough getting it here! Don't go and move it back out!!!!! That's where it belongs. Everything else is fine by me.
As you said, gallery is dead, maybe it's time to delete it.
Bryce.
> I moved the internal components over for the exact reason you mentioned
> above... So I thought Hardware, not Literature.
Yes, move the whole Tech Docs to hardware. But don't make it a sub-category of DIY. I mean things like the Gate Array are essential internal components, not exotic do-it-yourself add-ons!
Programmers would never look at the DIY stuff if they search for info on the internal hardware. And people who want to make DIY hardware wouldn't need the internal component info in that place either.
> ...but technical manuals, I think belong to Technical Docs, not to Peripherals.
Technical Docs --> Hardware Extensions --> already has a link to Peripherals.
So people should find it easily if they look under Tech Docs.
Listing ALL peripherals in the Tech Docs sections would be too much, ie. the more important internal component stuff would get lost among them.
And personally, I'd say the peripherals are described just fine: Containing everything known about them on one page. If you'd split to, say, "scanned-manuals" and "html-manuals", then it'd become much more difficult if you are just looking for "manuals" in general.
And "literature", I think that fits only for novels, or magazines, and maybe books likes "peeks and pokes for the cpc".
Guys - really, I'm confused now. If you want, please produce a tree like the one I made, because it's very hard to keep track of all the possibilities in one's head.
As for the DIY going to Hardware - I'm leaning towards No. The reasoning behind the Hardware section is to document official hardware, not mods or fixes and whatnot. That's why I don't want docs under peripherals, as you can see. But if you feel so strongly about it... oh well.
As for the link to Peripherals, links don't count. If it was like that, then let's just put a link for the DIY project under some other page :D
About your point about manuals: you're right about that, I don't disagree, but the point it to have a section devoted to ALL manuals... In this case, I think a link to manuals would suffice. Noone talked about scanned/html manuals anyway, what I was saying was that, one thing is manuals, another articles written by us. A manual could be in pdf, jpg or even HTML form, it would be all the same. But it'd be different than a guide or article that one of us wrote...
Once again, may I say "Nooooooooooo!!!!!!" DIY & Repair definitely has to stay in Hardware. It's NOT software and it's NOT a document it's hardware that you build yourself and it's the obvious place to find it.
Just as "Programming" is under "Software" (ie: DIY Software). Or should Programming also be moved to Documentation????
Bryce.
*Documentation* on programming should move to Documentation. :p
Ok, it stays under Hardware, I can't argue with you. But you'll build me a floppy emulator using SDs :D
Ok guys...
I spent the day working and perhaps messing with the wiki.
From what i did and learnt :
Categories is also a way to navigate through the Wiki.
Many Pages and Categories do have the exact same name.
When this happens, of course the page has to be pout in said category, but when doing this, Add " | " + "space" at the end of it so the page with the category name is put right on top of the Alphabetical list.
Other important pages may be put at "*" with the same technique so they appear before others in the Alphabetical list.
Sub categories :
Theres a special page of "uncathegorized cathegories".
Those should be the major ones, matching the search sidebar on the left of the screen or not ?
Well, those are different stuff.
The uncategorized categories (lol) are to be a mean to target at specific stuffs.
But sometimes also to display a full list of pages.
So they include a full alphabetical list of pages
but there's also the sub-categories list.
This one is also very important.
If some sub categories are especially specific, then pages may get just this on, plus de big big category
and not the medium category.
this target more specifical stuff then.
in smaller categories (sub sub categories) it is then easier to navigate, so the Sub categories may be just semi related stuff too.
Categories can be Sub-ed to each other when we come in certain concepts.
Examples :
Scene Members and scene group are sub-categories of each others, but both are also subpart of CPC history.
Examples :
Category:Applications
and
Category:Music and sound
Because some Applications are Music and sound related, music and sound category is put into Applications category too.
Hardware would be a broad category with a shitton of page, but a proper list of subcategories may help us to go too smaller lists, and so on.
And also the Page called Hardware is too a mean to get more conceptual (not alphabetical) lists too.
A proper way may also to "porte-menteau" stuffs.
Music and sound :
Music and sound Hardwares
Music and sound Application
Music and sound DIY
...and so on.
As a result the Music and sound category may simply be a way to put all those related topics (sub categories) while each one would also be put into the relevant other category.
But probably not the best example as the music and sound category does not feature that much number of pages.
This would be done only when we get too much pages in said category.
I put Music and sound in other categories as few pages were put into it.
Yet if there are more pages, instead of this we would create subcategories in common with other major categories.
Example :
http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Ultra_Son
This page should get :
--(Category:Music and sound)(Category:Applications)(Category:Music and sound Applications)
In built Hardware :
I put the (category : in built harware) to life.
It was intended to be the opposition of peripheral indeed.
Give me a more proper name.
Is "in built" expression meant to be spelled "inbuilt" or "in-built" ?
"CPC Internal parts" may be more suitable of course.
Assuming you are talking about a category which would contain hardware details of all the chips (Z80/8255/AY-8912) and possibly the same for the disc-drive and tape mechanism, then as a native speaker, I would be more inclined to name it "Internal Components". The word "In-Built" like the German word "Eingebaut" or Frenches "Incorporé" doesn't really exist in English (Not sure where you're from, but they are the only Foreign Languages I know).
Bryce.
Edit: Just saw the Link under your mail, so I assume you're French. (And Homeless apparently :D Glad to see you've still managed to find a power socket for your CPC, I do hope your luck picks up :D )
Damn.
You britons. never any kind words for frenchs.
Don't you play pennergame in Britania ?
OK, so i'll put those in the "Category : CPC Internal Components ".
So I have some work to repair what I have done (won't be that hard indeed...)
No not a Briton..... Born in Ireland, live in Germany, French wife. So I obviously have neither a problem with Germans or French.
Bryce.
Oops, you said "native"...forgot Ireland got screwed up by English crown in the past.
:o
French Wife ? Living in Germany ?
Those are indeed a lot of reason to actually have problem with frenchs and Germans. ;D
Mes amitiés à votre épouse.
Fight! Fight! Fight! World war III happening now - AND IT'S HERE ON THE WIKI!!! :D
Ok, concerning category name, indeed internal components is a valid term, however I'm not sure MacDeath's use for it would be 100% appropriate... for instance, an external PSU or a monitor is not, of course an "internal component", so why not give us some more examples? As I said elsewhere, I don't think we've got enough items to need a separate category name...
As for the major categories matching the sidebar, hm, never thought of it, could be either way actually...
Most of simple CPC users like me have almost no peripherals...
All I have is a display and power supply (screen, MP2...) because they are needed to use the computer.
The Romboxes, Ramboxes or any Symbybox4000synthetiser are optionnal.
As a result, all that is in the original box when you bought your amstrad is suitable for this category.
Just look at it and tell me.
The Hardware page is some kind of...big.
Lot of stuff of course as it is the complete list.
Yet there's also the peripheral list, big too as a lot of manufacturers...
Amstrad Products is more "CPC history oriented"
Internal components is not the most suitable vocable as of course screen is external, yet it was sold With the CPC most of time.
Cartridge are included too because you simply can't run a Plus without.
Disc drive too because most 6128 include one.
and so on.
I added the cracktro category too, but some more examples would be great.
Also a Plus categories concerning Demos as Plus productions, less numerous, need a way to be sorted from the main demo categories.
All this just add thematic layout.
Just putting in PLUS category and Demo category is not exactly the same as if you also add a PLUS DEMO category too.
This means more way to access to this page.
I was tempted to put passed away peoples into Vaporware too, but such humor was well...you know... :-[
Instead, i put them on top of list in History and Demoscene.
I find it quite fitting, that someone calling themselves "MacDeath" should sort the Category for the Deceased :) But that just my tasteless humour. Grim (reaper) would be another obvious choice.
I've never really got the idea of Categories, but someone was kind enough to add them to the pages I had created. I will add them from now on.
Oh, and just in case I haven't mentioned it enough..... DIY & Repair should stay in Hardware :D
Bryce.
Don't worry, Categories and the side bar of the screen are 2 different thing.
To be honnest, the category is a good way to surf in a wiki.
But some peoples don't know how to do it, simply.
It's like a theme navigator, but at the bottom of the screen.
MacDeath pseudo comes from the time a was an addict Counter strike gamer.
MaxDeath = max frag...
or the fact I am really bad so I got killed and awfull lot.
And also because it sounds Heavy Metal !!!
Fair enough. Bryce is taken from a Character in the legendary "Max Headroom" Series of the 80's. Don't think it ever got to France, but a "must see", if you are an 8-Bit fan (and you can manage seeing dreadful haircuts, badly tailored stone-washed jeans AND white sports socks all at the same time).
Bryce.
Yeah, Max Headroom.
that's so 80's early 90's...
Cyberpunk and all...
We had it in france.
Also some kind of Max headroom show too.
Seriously, those 80's were so...crazy. 8)
Well, still, no reason for a "built-in" category. Way too few items. The way I see it, the main items (CPC, monitor) would go directly under hardware, while others could fall under other categories as well. It's getting way too much to create a category for a couple of items... but this discussion belongs to the other thread.
So, where do we stand on the sidebar issue?
I see no reason to change anything on the Side-bar at the moment, it covers everything it needs to and the order/grouping is fine too. The only change to consider would be to retire the "Gallery" link.
Bryce.
Hi Gryzor,
> The reasoning behind the Hardware section is to document
> official hardware, not mods or fixes and whatnot.
Mods/fixes/whatnot are hardware, too. Keep the DIY in hardware. Some DIY projects are rather exotic, but still, they are hardware. And other DIY projects are standard equipment. For example, DIY joystick Y-cables, are sorts of more official than official hardware.
And yes, having the official hardware documented in hardware would be great! That's why it is so very-very confusing that it is NOT there.
All the most-important info about Internal Components (Gate Array etc), and Built-in connectors (joystick pin-outs, etc.) is MISSING in the hardware section, don't you see that?
Instead, that info is in the Technical Docs. So why don't you move that page from Literature to Hardware? The Technical Docs mainly contain info in internal hardware (plus info on the BIOS/BASIC firmware, which is, sorts-of, hardware, too).
If you want a page for official manuals (in scanned, OCRed, typed-up or whatever else form), okay. At the moment no such page exists, but if you create such a page, it should go to Literature.
Oh, yeah. And the two galleries are confusing. Would be better to link to the new gallery directly. Though some pictures (eg. GX4000) from the old gallery would still to be moved to the new one.
NB. the section labeled "Is this true?" on http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Digital_Joysticks says that GX4000 joysticks would have been "Exclusive Hardware" can somebody confirm (and explain) that? Did the GX4000 use different joystick pin-outs? Judging from the Arnold V Specs, the pin-outs should be excactly the same as on normal CPCs.
Ok, modified the thing in "Amstrad Joysticks"...(digital joystick page)
(would "Game controllers" or "controllers peripherals" be more suitable..?)
By exclusive Joystick, I meant :
--Atari Standard wasn't really standard.
--As sega almost used it.
yet because Sega consoles were the most sold (in the world) the majority of games controllers in "Atari Standard" featuring 2 buttons (usefull with Amstrad Plus...but sometimes with CPC old) are in fact Sega standards, not Atari.
The same with mouses :
PC mouse with 9 pin serial (they used too...), Atari ST mouses, Amiga Mouses...all use the 9 pin joystick like connector, but need a proper power supply, so some manufacturers prefered using the Extension port on Amstrad, thus we have so many different solutions and the few softwares using those may not work with the same solution.
Idem with light guns !
On CPC old...we never got the 2 button as a standard feature (few games actually allows its use.)
And lightGuns, well...
most models allows to run... let'"s say...from 1 to 6 games each ?
(West phaser...how many games run with it) ?
And there are... well, perhaps 3 to 5 different standards (including the Plus light gun) ?
On the other Hand, Sega got a lot of third party company to build compatible solution, yet all were 100% compatible in Sega World.
And amstrads joy ports didn't included +5V power (or thing like this) while Atari ST, Amiga or Sega did...
THIS was the "exclusive" aspect.
DIY :
there is a page and a category for it.
The category, it's a "category:*****" type page, and it is automatised.
While the "page" is simply a mundane page covering the same concept, so the lists are done differently (manually indeed).
The "category:DIY" is now put in the "Category:hardware".
The link in the side bar is a links to the page, not the category...
But you can check the categories at the bottom of the page...(the things in blue)
Also each DIY pages may be put into Hardware And documentation "categories" individually (and would...unless it feature no documentation...are there any ?).
I even put the "replace your Disc Driver belt" in "category:Amstrad history" because we all know it's part of Amstrad history/culture.
*"WTF, my CPC doesn't work ?"
*"change that fucking Belt !!!!"
*"Oh yeah, that was it..."
Often heard...
90% causes of a non-functionning 6128-664 comes from this.
3 components were faulty in Amstrad 8 bit world :
*Drive belt : always to change after some times..
*3" discs : on day there won't be no more.
*ACID chip (as we need them to run the basic/Plus range or to build new cartridges...).
When you buy/find a CPC/Plus, you know you'll had to change the driver belt until it was allready done recently.
Perhaps the only advantage of 464/464+...
The "internal components" are often put into a lot of categories :
Internal component, hardware, sometime softwares (were dealing with features, such as locomotive Basic, which is some kind or internal component...), Amstrad product (screens, disc drives...) or even CPC history... and so on.
Yet the side bar is not the same as the categories system.
It's an additionnal way to search and navigate.
Both may be put at the same time, it depends the way you navigate inside a wiki.
Personnally I use the category system a lot...
Others don't.
Category is a way to find pages that may not be well linked otherwise.
To find a game, this may be hard if you don't use the categories...or even if you don't spell the games name properly in the search engine : this one seems to have problems with bold-letters sometimes...or even if you screw up the eventual plurial(s)...
Post Edition :
After a check, I found out DIY category was uncategorised...
I put it into [[Category:Hardware]][[Category:CPC History]][[Category:Peripherals]]...
so it will be easier to find/navigate through...
I put it into CPC history (as a subcategory then) because it's part of the CPC "culture"...is it not ?
And as it is just a subcategory, the main list is not spammed with every DIY pages as may be the case of the more exhaustive "Category:Hardware"...because we don't put them individually into this category, despite often in "category:hardware" on the other hand.
That's the point with the "Category" system.
You may put a category into another, but each pages from this category won't appear as labelled into this one individually, onbly the "Category:*******" type page..
Pehaps we should add a bit of text to tell peoples to check for the categories too to find more informations on related topics...As the "direct links" and "links chapters" may miss some points too...
...
(plus info on the BIOS/BASIC firmware, which is, sorts-of, hardware, too).
[/quote]
Well, BIOS/BASIC/Firmware is clearly software.
Quote from: MacDeath on 02:55, 30 January 10
3 components were faulty in Amstrad 8 bit world :
*Drive belt : always to change after some times..
*3" discs : on day there won't be no more.
*ACID chip (as we need them to run the basic/Plus range or to build new cartridges...).
* If you use your drive often, then the belt is good for 20 years
* It's the same for every kind of media. Doesn't matter if it is a 3" disc or a CD, one day they will be not any longer being produced.
* ACID - the name has been choosen wise! It let taste the Plus a bit acid!
Hi MacDeath. The atari standard is the standard, because Atari has invented the 9pin joystick ports. And with the C64 using it too, it's really the standard. If amstrad or sega decided to brew up non-standard variants is a different thing.
I've moved your info about sega controllers to the "Digital Joystick Related" page (okay?) since it does directly refer to CPC joysticks. Still it may be of some use in case somebody wants to use sega controllers on the cpc. I didn't knew that sega consoles were popular (I've never seen one in my life).
Not sure if I see the relation between joysticks and mice/lightguns though. Well, okay, some of them do connect to the joystick port. Adding a list with links to that hardware -would- be a good thing.
And the point about "exclusive gx4000" - you want to say that many gx4000 games require 2-button joysticks, or what? If so, say that! It'd even would make sense, since the gx4000 was shipped with 2-button gamepads.
Ok...
I've read somewhere that the GX4000/plus joypads were specifical.
Perhaps they are not.
The fact is : Atari Standard joysticks were mostly 1 button on personnal computers.
So as the GX4000/+ included 2 buttons, well...
I also remember having some interesting issues with joystick including autofires...
On some models activating it would disable the fire.
Yet I wonder if on some other models, it would act as a Fire2...
http://www.thosewerethedays.de/joystick_galerie.htm
In this site, there are shitton of Joysticks from those times.
The ones I remember well having :
Konix Speedking :
1 button, but existed in 2 button for sega or nintendo 8 bit...
Perhaps the best joystick on the marquet unlet you were left handed.
Quickjoy V Superboard SV-125
I had on of those, I don't remember well concerning autofire, but I do remember it did actually feature 2 buttons working on a CPC.
And in my memory I think autofire could work... (this joy could use power battery)
Spectravideo Quick Shot 318-102 /Joystick Quickshot
This on I had with autofire, which didn't worked of course (this disabled the fire button)
Also despite featuring 2 button, they were all Fire1...perhaps, or only one worked (long time passed since).
BTW you have done well, I must admit my original page on joystick was a bit full of approximations...
Concerning the "Digital joystick related" page, I hadin mind the idea to get it as a DIY to convert Sega Joys... and others.
And yes, Sega consoles were quite popular, yet it may depends were are you from...
The console war in 8-16bit era was between Nintendo and Sega, Nec being an awesome outsider yet with a poor marketting strategy (badly distributed...)
As a result, in france, Master systems and MegaDrives are very common, and perhaps the commonest "Atari standard" joysticks featuring more than 1 button.
I'll get my hand on my good old Megadrive and it's joypads so I would test again or even dissect one.
I'll try to take good pictures so they may be featured in the Wiki for a proper DIY project.
QuoteNot sure if I see the relation between joysticks and mice/lightguns though. Well, okay, some of them do connect to the joystick port. Adding a list with links to that hardware -would- be a good thing.
As you said, some lightgunz or mouse on CPC did actually used the Joy port, despite adding a powersupply (sometimes derivated from the +5V from the screen)
So yeah this would be a good idea.
QuoteAnd the point about "exclusive gx4000" - you want to say that many gx4000 games require 2-button joysticks, or what? If so, say that! It'd even would make sense, since the gx4000 was shipped with 2-button gamepads.
All right, not that exclusive, yet most other machines featured a +5V pin, Amstrad not...
Yet the GX/+ paddles are really a shitfest in themselves...
So getting a Sega MegaDrive paddle or a Sega Master system Arcade-like joystick may be quite sweet indeed.
To be honest, I'm planning to get my hand on a Speed king, even a NES (nintendo entertainment system) one, and simply rewire it entirely in CPC standard...
Do you think it may be possible to simply had the +5V on Joyport on the CPC ? so many stuff could be used as they are ?
Well, I don't think so indeed.
Also i planned to include montages to introduce in CPC world concepts such as double directionnal pafddles or 10-12 buttons controllers...(for one player games or even network games...)
Just re-wire a modern Playstation paddle with a y cable system...
But i'm not that much into soldering wires at the moment.
Yet i'm thinking about an "adapter box" project.
PS : I just found this site...
http://www.clive.nl/amstrad-schneider
He seems to sell some books...
While I got you there :As this topic is DIY related...
I just tried to put some old PC controller (not all analogic, yet all using a 15 pin serial...so i can insert them in the Analog joy of a plus...)
I had those result while the Plus works in basic :
(azerty setting)
==With a "thrust" cheap paddle (don't know exact reference) : it features 4 directions, 6 buttons : A, B, tA, TB, trigger left and trigger right.
But I think it allowed only 4 buttons on the PC...
A button/ tA button and right trigger button :
"31MKJFDQZ"
left trigger button :
"654ùlhgs->X"
The rest do nothing.
===Genius Power Station (AKA the monster ) :
Arcade like monster with 6 buttons and 4 directions and shitton of autofires...
Completely nothing !
Wel, even on my old PC I could not get it to work properly, drivers were inexistant....
But as it is nice and full of microswitches, and as my PC no more features a 15 pin serial, I'm certainly modd it into a CPC awesomness by the way...
==Trust Predator Lite :
analogic 4 buttons joy :
Okay, with the fire buttons i get the same sequences as on the cheap paddle :
31MKJFDQZ
654ùlhgs->X
"->" means right direction...Bold letters featured as on the screen.
I also read somewhere that Tennic cup 2 might use Analogic joystick for player 2...
I'll try it with mine just in case.
Me again.
I gave Tennis cup 2 a try with my analog joy.
Seems to work...yet not really.
I managed to get to directions up and left, yet right and down don't work.
Possible explanation : My joy is a 4 button one.
As a result, it is a bit too exotic for the Amstrad (same as with Sega Megadrive gamepads, they are 4 buttons so rely on customisation of the Atari Standard)
If someone of you could find a 2 button Analog joy and give it a try...that would be fine (i'll have a look too, pehaps my brother still own a 2 button Anal joy...pun intended...)
I edited articles related to this topic :
Tennis cup 2
Analog joys...
notably the "CPC+ Games with Analog Joystick Support" part wondering if such game actually exist... it does.
Yet a more complete research on the topic is still to be done.
Feel free to edit my contributions as I may not be the best specialist on the matter.
I opened a new topic in hardware section in this forum :
http://cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php/topic,546.new.html#new