Difference between revisions of "8bit Printer Port (Amstrad Action)"

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(Created page with 'External 8bit Printer Port from ''Amstrad Action Issue 38'' (November 1988). This is a rather bizarre 8bit Printer Port solution. Aside from the 8th data …')
 
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External 8bit Printer Port from ''Amstrad Action Issue 38'' (November 1988).
 
External 8bit Printer Port from ''Amstrad Action Issue 38'' (November 1988).
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== Description ==
  
 
This is a rather bizarre [[8bit Printer Ports|8bit Printer Port]] solution. Aside from the 8th data bit, it doesn't come up with any other extras: Data is only one-directional, and only Strobe and Busy control signals are implemented.
 
This is a rather bizarre [[8bit Printer Ports|8bit Printer Port]] solution. Aside from the 8th data bit, it doesn't come up with any other extras: Data is only one-directional, and only Strobe and Busy control signals are implemented.
  
Compared with the much older single-wire [[Happy Computer 8bit Printer Mod]] (1985), the Amstrad Action approach is terribly overcomplicated.
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Compared with the much older single-wire [[Happy Computer 8bit Printer Mod]] (1985), the Amstrad Action approach is terribly overcomplicated. And aside from that it isn't even backwards compatible with normal the 7bit printer software.
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== Technical ==
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Connects to the expansion port.
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  Port  Bits  Expl.
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  FBF8h N/A    Strobe (W)
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  FBF8h Bit0  Busy  (R)
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  FBF9h Bit0-7 Data  (W)
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Writing any value to port FBF8h issues a short Strobe signal (the length of the signal is same as /IORQ ORed with /WR).
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== Scanned Article ==
  
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>

Revision as of 10:02, 26 February 2010

External 8bit Printer Port from Amstrad Action Issue 38 (November 1988).

Description

This is a rather bizarre 8bit Printer Port solution. Aside from the 8th data bit, it doesn't come up with any other extras: Data is only one-directional, and only Strobe and Busy control signals are implemented.

Compared with the much older single-wire Happy Computer 8bit Printer Mod (1985), the Amstrad Action approach is terribly overcomplicated. And aside from that it isn't even backwards compatible with normal the 7bit printer software.

Technical

Connects to the expansion port.

 Port  Bits   Expl.
 FBF8h N/A    Strobe (W)
 FBF8h Bit0   Busy   (R)
 FBF9h Bit0-7 Data   (W)

Writing any value to port FBF8h issues a short Strobe signal (the length of the signal is same as /IORQ ORed with /WR).

Scanned Article