EACA Genie I User manual

This manual is a guide that helps you to get familiar with the VideoGenie System in
the quickest manner. It helps you to set up the system and to operate it efficiently. An
PREFACE
overview of the Video Genie System is provided so that you will find no difficulty in
.understanding and expanding your system. Moreover, higher level computer users will
find the technical information in the APPENDIX very useful. In case you have any problem
or any suggestion, don’t hesitate to contact your local dealers. Welcome to the exciting
world of personal computing.
*You are ‘welcome ! c
1

CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Introduction .............................. .......................
Power On Preparation ......................................... - ....
Video Display format ...............................................
Keyboard and Cassette.. ............................................
Programloading.. .................................................
Program Saving. ...................................................
Second Cassette Recorder. .................. .........................
System Reset .....................................................
Sofnnrare .........................................................
PageTRBLE OF
3
5
6
7
6
10
11
12
12
APPENDIX
A. Technical specifications
8. Memory map and l/O map
C. ASCII table
SOUND OUTPUT
Now, you can enjoy programs with music and star war sound effect. Your GENIE already
has a speaker connected to the cassette interface output. During cassette saving, you can
also hear digital signals of the program.
2

The design philosophy of the Video Genie System is like that of most other general
purpose computer systems, and has great expansion capability. The main unit (EG3003/4)
InTROoUCTlOn
&mains a Central Processing Unit, l/O devices and a mass storage device. These are the 280
CPU, a keyboard, a video interface and a resident cassette recorder. The EG3603 has
resident 16 Kilobytes of RAM (Random Access Memory) for user’s program storage, while
the EG3064 has only 4K. The system has a video interface and an RF modulator to
display the information on a VDU or a TV.
1
Flg. 1.1
3

Beside the hardware configuration described, the Video Genie System has a powerful
resident EXTENDED BASIC Interpreter which is compatible with that of TRS-80 Level II
BASIC.
An optional S-100 bus expansion box is designed to be connected to
the main unit. More peripherals can then be linked to the system by plugging their standard
interface cards into the S-100 bus mother-board. S-100 bus is now a standard in the micro-
computer industry, especially’for computers using 8080 br Z-80 CPUs.
m
I \
DISK DRlVl
ADDITIONAL
CASSETTE RECORDER
TELEPHONE MODEM I I I 1
4

The Video Genie System is ready to operate immediately after unpacking from the
carton box. However, the user should adhere tc the following procedures.
a
b
C
d
e
i
k
Ensure that the power switch is in the ‘off’ position.
Check whether the AC voltage labelled on the power supply unit is the same as that of
your country.
Connect the power plug to a power line socket.
Connect a Video Display Unit to the system. The Unit can either be an ordinary TV
set or a video monitor.
Ensure that the ‘Video Cut’ switch at the back panel is at the ‘out’ position. The
display format will be 64 characters/line.
Turn on the power of the display unit first, then the Video Genie System.
A message ‘READY?’ will be displayed on the top left corner of the display.
If no ‘READY’ message is displayed, go to step (a) and check again.
After the ‘READY?’ message appears, the user should hit the NEWLINE key, then
another ‘READY’ message should appear on the bottom left corner of the display.
NOW, the System is at the Active Command level. You can type in commands to get
the computer to work for you. Please refer to the Programming Manual for all the
Active Commands available.
If you want to have another display format, please read the next section.
NOTE: If the power switch is turned off for any reason, the user should wait at least 15
seconds before turning the power switch on again.
DOWER on
‘f?EfW?ATIOfl
OFF
TV MONITOR
-- .~- ___---.-
+p==iEg-i/
I ----.
I I

3.1 FORMAT SELECTION
The Video Genie System allows two kinds of display formats, that is, ( 1). 64 characters
per line; (2) 32 characters per line. The purpose of the latter is to permit an enlarged
and clear character display when a tek?ViSion Set iS used.
3.2 64 CHARACTERS/LINE FORMAT
The 64 characters per line format is selected whenever the computer is turned on and
the VIDEO CUT button is off. The user may select 32 characters per line by pressing
the VIDEO CUT button.
3.3
3.4
32 CHARACTERS/LINE FORMAT
a) Press the VIDEO CUT button on the back panel.
b) Press the PAGE button on the front panel to read either the left half or the right
half of the text on the display.
SPACE INSERTION
A space can be inserted automatically between characters by typing in
PRINT CHR$(23) This mode will be reset by NEW or CLS command.
‘That’s better !’
VIOEO OVPLAY
FORrnAT 3
b
PAGE

The keyboard acts as a man-machine interface, while the cassette is used for mass
storage of programs and data.
KEYBOARO G
4.1 Special Function Keys
CAUETTE
PAGE - select page for display (refer to previous section).
FI - isolate the cassette from the control of the computer during winding and rewind-
ing and allow manual cassette motor control.
BREAK - break a running program and return to the Active Command Level.
NEWLIN E - enter a line of command or data into the computer.
BACKSPACE - cancel the character previously typed.
ESC - the display echoes a [ sign which is an exponent sign used by the System.
CTL - move the cursor to the beginning of the next line.
SHlFT/CTL/I - tab function; move the cursor 8 spaces to the right.
SHIFT/CTL/Y - same as print CHR$(23). See section 3.4
SHIFT/BACKSPACE - delete line.
4.2 Cassette Recorder
The cassette recorder is a high fidelity audio recorder. It has six piano keys and a
3-digit counter. The keys function the same as those of a normal recorder. The user should
take the advantage of the counter for fast program locating.
Program loading and saving will be discussed in detail in next section.
PAGE Fl CASSETTERECOROER
COUNTER
’ COVER 7

Programs are stored on the cassette tapes in the form of magnetic signals. If the user
wants his Computer to do a certain job, he should write the program, save it onto a cassette
tape and then reload the program into the system at any time he wants. He may also buy
any TRS80 Level I I Basic compatible tapes from the computer market, then load and run
them. The cassette interface is designed to accept a wide range of input signal levels,
therefore, no volume adjustment is required.
Now, please follow the procedures below and try to load the demonstration programs
supplied with your System.
5.1 Loading a program from the resident cassette (cassette no. 1)
a. Insert a cassette into the recorder.
b. Close the cover of the recorder.
c. Rewind the tape if necessary. (see section 5.2)
d. If you know where is the program located, wind the tape until the counter
indicates the position of the program’s beginning.
e. Type in CLOAD# -1, “N” (where N represents the name of the program) or, type
in CLOAD. The former command tells the computer to search for the suitably
named file, while the second command will only load the first file encountered.
f. Press the PLAY key on the cassette drive.
g. Hit the NEWLINE key.
At this point, the computer starts searching for the program mentioned in the CLOAD
command; once it is found, two asterisks will appear at the top right corner of the display,
the one on the right will be flashing from time to time indicating the program is loading. A
READY message will appear once the loading has been completed.
5.2 Rewinding Procedure
a) Check if the power switch of the computer is turned ON.
b) Press the Fl key (the red light labelled CASSETTE RECORDER should beonalso).
c) Press the REWIND button on the cassette drive.
d) Wait till rewinding stops.
e) Press the STOP/EJECT button to stop all operations physically.
f) Reset the cassette counter to 000.
g) Turn off the Fl button.
PROGRArn
LoRanG
ON
I
m
Fl
RGI
m-
REWINDINO
**

5.3 Checking a Program
a) Read the CLOAD command (section 1.5 in the BASIC Manual.)
b) Rewind the cassette tape to the starting point of the program.
c) Press the PLAY button on the cassette drive.
d) Type in the command CLOAD? from the keyboard.
e) Hit the NEW LINE key.
Once the computer finds the program, two asterisks will appear on the top right corner
of the display, the one on the right will be flashing if comparison is successful. A READY
message will appear if the comparison has been completed. Otherwise, the word BAD will be
displayed.
5.4 Listing and Executing a Program
al
b)
cl
Read the LIST and RUN commands (sections 1.9 and 1.11 in the BASIC
Manual).
Type in LIST and hit the NEW LINE key (The entire program will be listed on the
display).
Type in RUN and hit the NEW LINE key (The computer starts executing the
program).
WARNING : CASSETTE LOADING
Although the cassette interface circuit can tolerate wide range of
input signal level, sometimes, loading error may occur. The reason is that
so many software houses produce TRS-80 compatible tapes and their
quality may differ a lot. The only solution is to do a backup for yourself
and use the backup copy for future loading.
The backup procedure should be :-‘
(1) Put the TRS-80 compatible tape into a second cassette.
(2) Connect the second cassette to the computer.
(3) Use CLOAD # -2, ‘F’ command to load the program into memory.
(4) Try to adjust the second cassette volume if loading fails.
(5) If the program is successfully loaded, save it onto a blank tape with
cassette # 1.
**
OP
BAD
9

6.1 Winding the Tape to the Proper Location
a)
b)
cl
d)
e)
f)
Press the Fl key (the red light labelled CASSETTE RECORDER should be on as
well).
Press the REWIND or FAST FORWARD key and set the tape to the location
where program saving starts.
Press the STOP/EJECT key to physically stop tape winding operations.
Press the RECORD and PLAY keys simultaneously, to clear a part of the tape
before actual saving.
Rewind the tape a little to ensure the entry point for program saving is clear.
Release the Fl key (the red light labelled CASSETTE RECORDER should be off).
6.2 Program Saving
a) Type in CSAVE #-1, “N” (where N represents a file name).
b) Press the RECORD and PLAY key simultaneously.
c) Hit the NEW LINE key.
The red light labelled CASSETTE RECORDER should be turned on automatically, and
the cassette should be recording the signal from the computer. However, no asterisk will
appear on the display. A ready message will be displayed after the saving has completed.
6.3 Program Checking
After the program has been saved on tape, it is necessary to check whether the program
on tape is a true copy of the one in the computer. Program checking is provided in the
Video Genie System. Please read section 5.3, “CHECKING A PROGRAM”
PROGRArn
/AVHlG
ml
Fl
iZlf
-m-
STOF&T
m-
R;C _ PLXY
a
Y
OFF
REC PLAY
mm-
6
10

Two cassette recorders are required in some applications such as payroll and account- /ECOfN3
ing. In these applications, old data have to be read into the computer sequentially from one
file and output to another file after processing or updating. The main unit already has the
CA//ETTE
interface for one more cassette recorder. Signal input/output is through the DIN jack at the
7
back panel. A cassette recorder cable is packed with the System. RECOROER
Active Commands and instructions are provided to handle this extra cassette. These
are :-
(i) CLOAD # -2, “M” - load a program called M from cassette ‘2’.
(ii) CSAVE #-2, “M” - save a program onto cassette ‘2’.
(iii) PRlNT#-2,A,B,C$ -store the variables A, B and character string C$ onto cassette ‘2’.
(iv) INPUT#-2,A,B,C$ - input the variables A, B and character string C$ from cassette’2’.
For further programming details, please refer to the -BASIC Manual. The operating
procedure of the cassette ‘2’ for playing (reading in data) or recording (outputting data onto
the tape) is same as that described in 4.1
Note: - The user may have to adjust output volume of his cassette until no error occurs
during cassette loading. The Video Genie System may have to be reset if invalid
data is read and causes a dead loop.
TO MIC
TO REMOTE
TO EAR
min VOLUME mast
*That-r my heart-beat !!
11

The system must, in some cases be reset. When, for example, the machine is running in
a dead loop. The Reset Switch is located at the right side of the back panel. Pressing the
/Y/TEfll RUET
reset switch causes the computer to return to the ‘READY’ mode without changing the
memory contents.
8
The system runs in a dead loop in the following cases:
(1) loading a program from the cassette which contains an invalid file, or when the
volume of the recorder is poorly adjusted.
(2) executing LPRINT or LLIST instructions without hooking up a printer. to the
system or having not turned on the printer.
(3) executing an inappropriate POKE instruction.
The CPU is reset everytime when the power is on. Turning the system off and on
immediately is not a good practice; because it may cause improper initialization of the CPU.
Therefore, the user should wait for about 15 seconds before turning on the system again.
*Help!-
The Video Genie System operates on a high level language called BASIC. The system’s
Extended BASIC is compatible with that of TRS-80 Level II BASIC. Therefore, TRS8O’s
/OFTWARE
tapes can be loaded into the system and run. Further details of the BASIC language are
explained in the BASIC Manual.
The System can also load binary tapes that contain 280 machine codes. For loading
such tapes, please refer to the SYSTEM command discussed in the BASIC MANUAL.
9

Cl3 ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTIC8
POWER CONSUMPTION - 25W (MAX.)
TECHfllCAL
CASSETTE INPUT LEVEL - 1 V peak to peak
/PECIF ICRTIOflJ
COMPUTER OUTPUT RECORDING LEVEL - 0.3 V peak to peak
REMOTE SWITCHING CAPACITY - 0.5 A maxat V DC :
VIDEO OUTPUT - 2V peak to peak
(21 CbNNECTORS PIN ASSIGNMENTS
(Negative sync pulse)
DIN JACK PIN CONNECTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL CASSETTE
1 - REMOTE
2 - SIGNAL GROUND
3 - REMOTE
4 - INPUT
5 - OUTPUT
DIN JACK PIN CONNECTIONS FOR VIDEO INTERFACE
1 -+5v
4- VIDEO OUTPUT
5 - GROUND
DIN JACK VIEWED FROM REAR SIDE OF THE SYSTEM.
EXPANSION PIN EDGE VIEWED FRQM REAR SIDE 2 50
1 4
1 49
13

PIN CONNECTIONS FOR EXPANSION INTERFACE
PIN SIaNAL DESCRIPTION PIN SIaNAL DESCRIPTION
1 GND
2 GND
3 A7
4 A6
5 A5
6 A4
7 Al
8 A3
9 A2
10 A0
11 D5
12 D2
13 NC
14 Dl
15 DO
16 D3
17 D7
18 D6
19 vcc
20 D4
21 Al5
22 A8
23 Al4
24 A9
25 NC
GROUND 26
GROUND 27
28
77
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
+5v SUPPLY
NO CONNECTION
A10
Al3
All
Al2 ’
PHI
PlNt
NC
NC
PHLDA
PHANTOM
HALT
PWAIT
IORQ
PHOLD
iii%
RD
CCDBSBTADBS
MREQ
m/mm
Lii
RESET
RFSH
NMI
GND
GND
1.79 MHz clock
INTERRUPT
NO CONNECTION
NO CONNECTION
PROCESSOR HOLD ACKNOWLEDGE
PHANTOM
HALT ACKNOWLEDGE
PROCESSOR WAIT
INPUT/OUTPUT REQUEST
PROCESSOR HOLD
PROCESSOR WRITE
PROCESSOR READ
CONTROL AND-STATUS BUS DISABLE
MEMORY REQUEST
DATA AND ADDRESS BUS DISABLE
FIRST STATE OF INSTRUCTION CYCLE
CPU RESET
DYNAMIC MEMORY REFRESH
NON-MASKABLE INTERRUPT

MEMORY MAP
FFFF
7FFF
3COO-3FFF
3800-37 F F
2FFF
0000
100 PORT AS810NMENT
FOR EXPANSION
16K RAM
VIDEO DISPLAY MEMORY
RESERVED FOR KEYBOARD
ROM
CASSETTE INTERFACE - FF, FE
PRINTER INTERFACE - FD
16

HEX DEClMAL CHARACTER
OD 13
20 32
21 33
22 34
23 35
24 36
25 37
26 38
27 39
28 40
29 41
2A 42
28 43
2c 44
2D 45
2E 46
2F 47
30 48
31 49
32 50
33 51
34 52
35 53
36 54
37 55
38 56
39 57
3A 58
38 59
3c 60
3D 61
3E 62
3F 63
CR (AUTO LF)
SPACE
II
z
$
%
&
;
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
.
.
1=
2X
>
?
HEX DECIMAL CHARACTER
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
4A
4B
4c
4D
4E
4F
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
5A
58
5c
5D
5E
5F
64 @
64 A
AKll TABLE
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
8
C
D
E ’
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
0
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
:
-

VOLUME ADJUSTMENT FOR IMPRO\IEMENT OF CASSETTELOADING
In order to rectify the cassette loading problem caused by differences in output level and quality of different cassette tapes,
your system now has a volume and a level meter added on the cassette recorder.
The volume adjustment procedure is:-
(1) Press ‘F l’, power is applied to the cassette recorder.
(2) Put in your cassette tape.
(3) Wind or rewind the tape until the counter indicates the program’s start.
(4) Press the PLAY key.
(5) Turn the volume towards the ‘HIGH’ side.
(6) When the program signal comes, the meter deflects, and the volume should be adjusted to an adequate level.
(7) Rewind the tape to the program’s start and load the cassette into the computer.
Volume should not be adjusted during cassette loading.
The recommended level for better loading is at middle range (around 2-3 on the meter). However if the loading is
unsuccessful, you should try with higher or lower level. If it still can’t be loaded, your program may be damaged.
VOLUME

USER’S MANUAL
(Attach to Video Genie System user’s manual )
Introduction
GENIE I is an enhanced versionof Video Genie System. An 1.5K ROM is added to provide new keyboard and display
functions, statement renumber command, and a machine language monitor.
New keyboard and display functions, and the monitor will be discussed in the following pages. The Renumber command is
described in the Active Command section of the BASIC manual. For power up procedure, cassette operations and other system
features, please refer to the V.G.S. user’s manual.
Enable the 1.5K ROM routines
The computer is fitted with an exclusive 1.5K extension to the Microsoft 12K BASIC, featuring upper and lower case,
flashing cursor, auto repeat keyboard, screen print, machine language monitor, and renumber functions.
To use these functions, the BASIC extension should be initialised immediately after the machine entering BASIC Active
Command level:
The initialisation procedure is
i) type SYSTEM 1-q
ii) reply *?
iii) type/l2288\EW]
iv) A flashing cursor will show on the screen.
The entry address 12288 used in step (iii) will enable all the ROM facilities. If you just want part of them, there are two other
choices. Enter address 12299 will retain all the facilities except flashing cursor. Enter address 12294 will have lower case facility
only.

New Keyboard functions
Input lower case characters
Lower case characters can be input by hitting the character key with the SHIFT key
depressed.
Repeat Key
After pressing a key longer than one second, the computer automatically repeats entering
that character until the key is released.
Print Screen
By hitting SHIFT -a- P, the computer will transfer the information displayed on the
screen to the printer. If no printer is connected or the printer is turned off, the computer
will skip the printing process instead of locking up itself in waiting. Once the SCREEN
PRINT function is activated, both alphanumeric and graphic characters on the screen will
transfer to the printer. Only those printers that can recognise GENIE or TRS-80 graphic
characters are able to print the graphics. Otherwise, only alphanumeric characters can be
printed.
Disabled flashing cursor
A flashing cursor can attract the operations attention, however, somebody may feel it
frustrating.
In order to disable the flashing cursor, hit SHIFT-BREAK. To enable it, hit
SHIFT-BREAK again. If you don’t want a flashing cursor at the start, please enter 12299
instead of 12288 during ROM initialization.