TRS-80 Model 4 Hi-Res Graphics Upgrade

Рет қаралды 3,771

Күн бұрын

My TRS-80 Model 4 gets even better with high-resolution graphics! I install Ian Mavric's "Improved Grafyx 4.2(.1)" HRG board, which is his reproduction of the MicroLabs Grafyx board from the 1980s. After installation, I test some high-resolution software including Post Master, a Slot machine program, and some Graphics BASIC programs. I swear a little more than usual in this video...
Links:
Ian Mavric's Grafyx board site (includes software): members.iinet.net.au/~ianmav/h...
Catalog images from RadioShack Catalogs: www.radioshackcatalogs.com/fl...
Music/SFX (in order):
D A T Recorder Fast Forward (Digital Juice)
Corky Dodges Traffic by Richard Ames (Digital Juice)
Video clip:
Rain Main (Four-second Slot Machines clip at 16:10), [official MGM link not found], MGM/UA Communications Co., 1988
Chapters:
Intro / Background (0:00)
Machine Apart / VGA Connector / Gate-Array vs. Non-Gate-Array (1:53)
Installing the Grafyx Card (4:14)
Smoke Test / GBASIC with GTEST/BAS / Spare Parts? (5:19)
Software - GBASIC - Missile (7:22)
Software - Post Master (9:12)
Software - Tournament Chess (13:40)
Software - Slot Machine (15:17)
Software - GBASIC - Tunnel (17:01)
Bonus - Comprehensive HRGTEST/CMD (17:54)
Outro (20:05)
I do these videos unscripted, so I apologize if the in-the-moment descriptions of things are a bit scattered. If you have any questions/comments about this video, you can find me in any of these fine locations:
The Tandy Discord Server
The CoCo Nation Discord Server
The TRS-80 Color Computer (CoCo) group on Facebook
The CoCo Crew Podcast group on Facebook
On the Vintage Computer Forums (vcfed.org)
The TRS-80 Models I-4/4P Group on Facebook
Tandy / Radio Shack Model II /12 / 16 / 16B / 6000 Owner's Group on Facebook
Twitter (I'm TJBChris there...)
The Level29 BBS (I'm TJBChris there, too.)
Particles BBS (Guess who I am here? Yeah, TJBChris.)
Thanks for watching!

Пікірлер: 39

@ohioterran7374 Жыл бұрын

That is a very nice Model 4! Love the Hi-Res graphics upgrade!

@TJBChris Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I’m a sucker for the Model III/4 form factor. It epitomizes early-80’s micros in my mind.

@edgeeffect 4 ай бұрын

The Model 4 is my absolutely fave computer ever... i remember seeing it in my local Tandy shop when it came out and it looked like it had fallen off a passing spaceship.

@TJBChris 3 ай бұрын

It’s one of my favorites - that form factor is what interested me most about them as a kid (well that and the fact that it said Radio Shack on it). Of all of my machines, the Model III/4 do the best at “looking the part” in my mind.

@FlatEarthMath Жыл бұрын

Awesome. I spent more time on my TRS-80 Model I in my childhood than I did just about anything else. What fond memories. 🙂

@LarryRobinsonintothefog 5 ай бұрын

Was more interested in the funky drive 0, but figure out it was a small HD. Saw a Model-3 with a high resolution graphics board installed. I think it did a test pattern with a Native American. Love the "ludicrous speed" and "going plaid" comments to that Mel Brooks Parody of Star Wars.

@TJBChris 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and the comments! I loved the movie Spaceballs, and I reference it a lot.

@cathrynm 2 ай бұрын

Looks like an upgrade that Tandy should have made themselves.

@TJBChris 27 күн бұрын

There was a hi-res upgrade from Radio Shack as well. It’s a little different from the reproduction I installed from what I’m told. Both have similar capabilities, though. Thanks for waiting!

@TTM1895 Жыл бұрын

I legitimately have owned models 1 through 4. The 8 inch floppies were Dynamite at the time. LOL

@ricardog2165 Жыл бұрын

Next: Let's play Doom!

@francishuddy9462 5 ай бұрын

This looks more advanced than the Apple Macintosh, yet is 7 years earlier ...

@timwoodland3664 10 ай бұрын

Hey Chris, I for one would care to see how you created the custom logo. Great video and thanks for sharing!

@TJBChris 10 ай бұрын

Good to know, thanks! I had one video about TRSDOS logos filmed…it even included a little demo showing the making of that logo…. That video was ”in the can”, as they say, but when I re-watched it, it felt pretty terrible. Maybe now I’d do a better job presenting. There’s a store behind my interest in LS-DOS/TRSDOS 6 logos that plays into this, so I’d want to include that. Thanks again for watching!

@LarryRobinsonintothefog 5 ай бұрын

I wanted to do the Apple logo with a worm coming out on the Model-1. Nothing against them then or now, but I thought it would be funny. But never got around to it. @@TJBChris

@Daveyk021 9 ай бұрын

So you have to have a Gate Array PCB for the HiRes board to work? Well, shucks. I haven't started to restore my GateArray model 4. I am do a VERY early 1982, LOW SN, non-gatearray MB. I ordered the hires card and games from Australia. Also, question, where did you get the FreHD mounting plate? Yours has a display? The one I paid $210 for from Australia does not.

@TJBChris 9 ай бұрын

You can use the hi-res card with the older non-gate-array systems, there is just a slightly different procedure for installing it. I forget the details, other than the card slot being in a different spot on the board. As to the mounting plate, it’s custom-made. I took an old full-height sled from a ST-506 hard drive and broke out my Dremel. 😁 Sadly, that means there’s only one…. Thanks for watching!

@Daveyk021 9 ай бұрын

@@TJBChris Oh, I didn't think it had a plug to mount it to; I'll have to look again and do some research. Thanks.

@TJBChris 9 ай бұрын

@@Daveyk021 Facing the back of the motherboard, look at the lower left side of the motherboard. I think it’s there.

@moondoggie1968 9 ай бұрын

I modified the LDOS 5.3.1 Logo to my own custom back in the day on my M3

@TJBChris 9 ай бұрын

Nice! It’s a fun customization for sure. Thanks for watching!

@bennetfox Жыл бұрын

You don't have the game "global thermonuclear war"??

@TJBChris Жыл бұрын

It’s “a strange game. The only winning move is not to play.” :D

@jackilynpyzocha662 5 ай бұрын

How about "Tic Tac Toe"?!

@user-ys8kk7nu1d 11 ай бұрын

Im just starting out in the TRS-80 world with a Model 4. it is a non gate array version. How do you get the FreHD, network share, etc. onto the machine? I cant really find any information on it and its kinda all over the place.

@TJBChris 10 ай бұрын

Congrats on the Model 4, it’s really the perfect TRS-80! The non-networked version (SD card) FreHD can be found on eBay - a man named Ian Mavric sells kits that make it pretty easy to set up and use (www.ebay.com/itm/166267691060?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=XFGpSjjLRjK&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=jPvk4OsSQTC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY ). For networked FreHD functionally, you’d want a TRS-IO. Sadly, nobody makes those, so it’s a build-it-yourself project. You can find info on the project’s GitHub page (github.com/apuder/TRS-IO ). For most uses, the standard FreHD with SD cards is more than enough and really makes the Model 4 shine. Thanks for watching!

@offensivejerk 9 ай бұрын

I just got a model 4 no. Gate array. So the model 4 has no graphics modes, not even the block graphics? TRSDOS 6 basics SET command doesn't work

@TJBChris 9 ай бұрын

The Model 4 does have block graphics, but TRSDOS 6 BASIC doesn’t support them with SET. That said, you can use Model III BASIC (either on a TRSDOS 1.3 or LDOS 5.X disk, or cassette BASIC). To try out Model III BASIC in cassette only mode, hold BREAK while you turn on the machine or reset it. What the hi res card adds is dot graphics above the blocky TRS-80 graphics. Thanks for watching and enjoy your 4!

@offensivejerk 9 ай бұрын

@@TJBChris ok thanks, I wasn't sure if the graphics were only supported in model III mode or something. I guess it's time to open my machine and fix the shift key that's not woeking

@user-ys8kk7nu1d 11 ай бұрын

so is this a TJB-80 then :)

@user-ys8kk7nu1d 11 ай бұрын

Another Retro movie, where they use SD card.

@ArneRagnarsson Жыл бұрын

Another Retro movie, where they use SD card.😒😒

@user-ys8kk7nu1d 11 ай бұрын

Next: Let's play Doom!

@THEtechknight 11 ай бұрын

@TJBChris 11 ай бұрын

Welcome to the TRS-80 family! They’re addicting. I’d recommend joining the TRS-80 Model 1-4/4P group on Facebook or visiting the forums at vcfed.org, as there’s a great community of users like me who can help you get started. The device I’m using to give FreHD functionality over a network is called TRS-IO. At this point, I think it’s a build-it-yourself operation. You can find information on GitHub at github.com/apuder/TRS-IO But there is a FreHD pre-made that stores hard disk images on a SD card. Ian Mavric sells them on his website: members.iinet.net.au/~ianmav/trs80/clearlysuperior.htm Thanks for watching and good luck with that Model 4!

@THEtechknight 11 ай бұрын

@@TJBChris thanks for the info I appreciate it. I'm not on Facebook I don't use it, they want way too much personal information to sign up now including a state ID. (Might just be for marketplace though). I also got a high-res graphics card but I need to figure out how to install it on a non-Gate array machine. But also I want to get into programming on these machines and figure out how to make the high-res graphics card work from C