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
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