Subject: Periodic FAQ post - Kyocera Nec M100/102/200 Olivetti portables From: ronhl@juno.com (Ron Hopkins-Lutz) Date: 1997/08/03 Message-ID: <5s2d80$5qp$1@news.megsinet.net> Newsgroups: comp.sys.tandy The Kyocera FAQ Updated - 97/07 Introduction: Q. What is a Kyocera? (All) Kyocera KC85 NEC PC8201a NEC PC8300 Olivetti M10(US) and M10(Euro) Tandy Model 100 Tandy Model 102 Tandy Model 200 Q. What are the STAT settings? (N82 N83) Q. Can I get online support for a Kyocera? (All) Q. Can I get a manual anywhere? (N82 N83 M100 M102 M200) Q. Are there any magazines currently covering Kyocera? (All) Q. Is anyone still selling stuff for these machines? (N82 N83 M100 M102 M200) Q. How do I keep my text file from running over the perforations when I print using the LIST on the main menu? (All) Q. My Kyocera used to remember files when I turned it off. Now it doesn't. What can I do? (All) Q. How can I run my Kyocera for six weeks in the desert without all those AA batteries? (All) Q. What's the good of a print formatter if I can't hook up a printer? (All) Q. How do I get more than just ASCII text in my documents? (All) ------------------------------------------------- The Kyocera FAQ (June, 1997) by Ron Hopkins-Lutz -- ronhl@juno.com Introduction: This FAQ is provided to help owners or users of the Kyocera pre-MSDOS portable computers. While much of it is specific to the NEC models PC8201a and PC8300 computers most is applicable to all the Kyocera based machines. All information is as accurate as I could make it. However no guarantee is made that this information is 100% accurate. It is based on 9 years experience with the NEC model PC8201a, old magazines, and notes taken through the years. Please send me any corrections, updates, or technical information at my E-mail address above. In this FAQ different manufacturer's models will be referenced by the abbreviations listed with the description of each. For example N82 stands for the NEC PC-8201a. Q. What is a Kyocera? A. In 1983 Kyoto Ceramics, Kyocera, started manufacture of a series of light weight battery powered computers based on Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) microprocessor called the 80c85. There were eight variations produced under four brand names. All were available in the United States and other parts of the world at various times. All eight variants shared certain features: Powered by 4 AA batteries or optionally by a 6 volt AC adapter Screen display 40 characters wide on an LCD screen Size of a three ring notebook Text editor (TEXT), Microsoft BASIC programming language (BASIC), and telecommunications (TELCOM) software permanently in ROM Ability to take programs on an optional ROM socket Memory could be expanded Full size keyboard Minimum of 8k RAM installed for programs and files. (Most had more) Weight under 5 pounds with batteries Could save and load programs and data from a cassette recorder with a special cable Simple text based point and shoot interface (Sort of a text Macintosh) Function keys that automated various functions in each built in program The models are listed below with their individual variations. Kyocera KC-85 (KC85) 16k RAM installed expandable to 32k 8 line display Simple database & scheduler included NEC PC8201a (N82) 16k RAM installed, expandable to 2 banks of 32k each 8 line display Redefinable screen character set Could take memory cartridges of up to 128k in special slot Video monitor interface available Portable disk drive available Portable printer available Slanted keyboard and screen for easier typing NEC PC8300 (N83) Built by NEC under license from Kyocera 32k RAM installed, expandable to 2 banks of 32k each or 1 bank of 64k. 8 line display Redefinable screen character set Could take memory cartridges of up to 128k in special slot Video monitor interface available Portable disk drive available Portable printer available Able to emulate PC8201 Internal modem optional with Bell standard Berg connectors Advanced TEXT with printer formatting Advanced TELCOM with X-Modem file transfer Olivetti M10 US version and M10 European version (O10) (These machines differed internally as to memory addresses and in software for conventions for the two markets. Otherwise they are identical in operation and features.) 16k RAM installed expandable to 32k 8 line display Simple database & scheduler included Tilt up 8 line display 300 baud Modem built in, connection method to line unknown Tandy Model 100 (M100) Originally 8k and later 24k of RAM installed expandable to 32k 8 line display Simple database & scheduler included 300 baud Modem built in Modem required special adapter to connect to a phone line or acoustic cups Tandy Model 102 (M102) Lighter weight than M100 24k of RAM installed expandable to 32k. 8 line display Simple database & scheduler included 300 baud Modem built in Modem required special adapter to connect to a phone line or acoustic cups Minor bugs from Model 100 fixed Slimmer and lighter than M100 Tandy Model 200 (M200) 24k of RAM installed expandable to 3 banks of 24k each 16 line clam shell type display Simple database & scheduler included Expanded Tandy BASIC. Modem included. Heaviest and largest of all the machines. Q. What are the STAT settings? (N82 N83) A. The STAT settings are the way you configure the COM or communications port on an N82 or N83. This is doen by typing a six character code. An example would be as follows. 8N81XS Each character represents a specific parameter for the COM (RS-232 COMmunications port on the back of the N82 and N83. The N83 added parameters for the optional internal modem that I do not have. Character position 1 is Baud Rate (speed in bits per second) Baud rate: 1=75 2=110 3=300 4=600 5=1200 6=2400 7=4800 8=9600 Character position 2 is Parity Parity: N=None E=Equal O=Odd I=Ignore Character position 3 is Word Length Word Length: 8=8 bits 7=7 bits 6=6bits 5=5 bits Character position 4 is number of Stop Bits Character position 5 is SI/SO flow control SI/SO flow control: S=On N=Off Character position 5 is Xon/Xoff flow control Xon/Xoff flow control: X=On N=Off Q. Can I get online support for a Kyocera? (All) A. Yes. On the Internet: Newsgroups There are two newsgroups where you can post questions. The first is comp.sys.laptops and the second is comp.sys.tandy. Comp.sys.tandy has many participants who have old magazines, etc. and who sometimes answer posted questions. You are more likely to get at least some help on comp.sys.tandy. Many things are applicable to all Kyocera machines so even if something doesn't work exactly the same often things are similar. World Wide Web ) are your best bets. Web 100 has software. Club 100 often has hardware and software for sale. In addition Hopkins-Lutz Publishing will be posting software and other information on The Personal Office Pages starting in September, 1997. T FTP There are FTP sites that have some M100 and other Kyocera software. Unfortunately I do not currently have addresses. Online Services: If you are on America Online there is a support area run by NEC. It has a message board that has a topic area for older and no longer supported portable NEC computers. If you are on Compuserve there are archives in the Tandy area that include text files and programs for all the Kyoceras. Most of the software is for the Tandy machines. Software in BASIC that does not use machine language calls (EXEC command) or the PEEK or POKE commands usually can be converted between machines without too much trouble. There are also files on how to use these on an different machines. If you are on GEnie there were archives in the Tandy Roundtable that include text files and programs for various machines. Now that IDT has taken over GEnie I do not know if these archives have been preserved. I do not know what the status is on Delphi or Prodigy, but if you are members there it won't hurt to look. Bulletin Boards (BBS): The Daily Planet BBS used to offer files for these machines and was a contact for Daniel Cohen, a dealer who supported the N82 and N83 machines. You can still use it to contact Daniel. No files were listed for the N82 or N83 when I phoned in June of 1997. However it is worth contacting TDP or Daniel to inquire. Not to mention it's a very nice BBS. How To Contact The Daily Planet BBS (TDP) Modem: 808-572-4857 or 808-572-4856 Fidonet: 1:345/111 Internet: sysop@tdp.org Mail: Daniel Cohen, The Daily Planet BBS, Box 237, Plymouth, NH 03264 (USA) Voice: 603-536-8218 (Support), 800-338-1839 (Sales) Q. Can I get a manual anywhere? (N82 N83 M100 M102 M200) A. Hmmm... NEC parts used to have manuals. They ran about $35 with shipping. Last person I know of who ordered one, was still able to get one in early 1993. Please let me know if you get one. If you you can't find a manual, about 90% of the operations of the 82 and 75% of the 83 were identical with the same areas on a Tandy Model 100/102. Old books on those machines should help. Pinouts of the cassette port is available by E-mail from me at my address above. Pinouts of the printer port are in this FAQ, The serial (RS-232) port was pretty much standard. Also Marvin Malloy wrote a book called "Exploring the Nec PC-8201a." It is out of print, but sometimes Club 100 or others have copies. This was nice because it summarized the NEC manual and was small enough to slip inside the case. It included port pinouts, among other things. Tandy has had manuals at central parts for the M100, M102, and M200, including technical manuals. Which are still available can be determined by contacting them through the number provided by your local Radio Shack. Malloy also wrote a book about the Tandy machines that is as useful as the one he did on the NEC machines. There were numerous books on the Tandy machines, and many can be gotten through larger libraries. For the O10 and KC85 machines you appear to be out of luck. I recommend getting an M100 book and starting from there. Club 100 is a good place to start for old copies of books. Q. Are there any magazines currently covering Kyocera? (All) A. No. However the following magazines did cover the machine in the past. Back issues may be available through libraries, etc. PICO - Wayne Green Publications - Included programs, technical articles on most portable machines. Many articles on the NEC machines. Portable 100 - (IDG?) - Originally for the Tandy machine, it later covered the other Kyocera machines. Many articles applied to all or were partially applicable to all. Terry Kepner's Portable News - (Portable Computing International Corporation) - This tabloid size newsletter started up in January of 1993. It took over the archives and mailing list of Portable 100. It advertised back issues of Portable 100 as available. Q. Is anyone still selling stuff for these machines? (N82 N83 M100 M102 M200) A. Yes, believe it or not. Memory is still available from: Purple Computing 2048 Southside Road Murphy, OR 97533 (800) 732-5012 8k RAM chips, Memory cartridges up to 128k Other miscellaneous stuff can be found from time to time from the following vendors: Club 100, P.O. Box 23438, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Internet: http://www.the-dock.com/club100.html Also have a classifieds area on web site with occasional things. Pacific Computer Exchange, 1031 S.E. Mill St., Suite # B, Portland, OR 97214 Phone: (503) 236-2949 Buys and sells Tandy and NEC equipment, sometimes has stuff. Daniel Cohen, see above under online support. Mr. Cohen has been supporting the NEC machines for years and had many,special products not available elsewhere. He may have stocks still remaining. Let me know if he does. He provided full support so his prices were reasonable but do not expect garage sale prices. People who have dealt with him report they are very pleased. Q. How do I keep my text file from running over the perforations when I print using the LIST command on the main menu? (All) A. You need a print formatter, the LIST option from the main screen was designed to list programs. A simple print formatting program came on a cassette with the N82. If you have the cassette you can try it. The N83 came with a print formatter built in, so just use it There were several excellent formatting programs in the archive on GEnie and Compuserve. Here is a simple formatter. It is printed in a special format to make it easy to understand how to modify it. Type it in like any other BASIC program though. For example line 21 should be typed as 21FILES:PRINT You must eliminate the comments. It is written for the N82, however it should work on any Kyocera machine, with one caution. If you have a machine that does not automatically add a linefeed (LF or ASCII character 12 also called Control-L) after sending a carriage return character return to the printer you may get lines printing on top of one another. If that happens modify line 35 if it is the header, and line 51 if it is the body of the document to send a line feed. The text of the header is changes by modifying line 35, unles ======== Program Listing Begins ======== FORM.BA ======= Print formatting program from PICO Magazine - June, 1988 Page 8 - Letters column --------------------------------------- 1 CLS :'Clear screen 21 FILES :'list files :PRINT :'extra screen line 22 W=64 :'set print width :G=8 :'left margin :J=1 :'line spacing :C=INT(49/J) :O=W :'print width temp 23 INPUT "*.DO file";C$ :'file to print :OPEN C$ FOR INPUT AS 1 :'open file 30 INPUT "Page # [Y/N]";E$ :'number pages? 34 IF E$<>"Y" AND E$<>"y" THEN GOTO 36 :'if no jump over # 35 A=A+1 :'page number count :LPRINT TAB(39);"Ron Hopkins-Lutz, Page ";A :'print page #/name 36 K=1 :'position on page 37 FOR M=1 TO O :'get line of text 38 H$=INPUT$(1,1) :IF EOF(1) THEN GOTO 51 40 I$=I$+H$ :IF H$=CHR$(10) THEN N=W :GOTO 46 41 NEXT M 42 FOR N=W TO 1 STEP -1 43 IF MID$(I$,N,1)=CHR$(32) THEN GOTO 45 44 NEXT N :N=W 45 J$=RIGHT$(I$,W-N) :I$=LEFT$(I$,N) :GOTO 47 46 I$=LEFT$(I$,LEN(I$)-2) :J$="" 47 LPRINT TAB(G);I$; :'print margin :FOR X=1 TO J :'do line spacing :LPRINT :NEXT X :K=K+1 :'line count 49 I$=J$ :O=N 50 IF K>C+1 THEN GOTO 52 ELSE GOTO 37 :'end of page? 51 LPRINT TAB(G);I$ :'print text line :K=K+1 :'line count 52 IF NOT EOF(1) THEN LPRINT CHR$(12) :'end of last page? :GOTO 34 :'if no new page 53 LPRINT CHR$(12) :'end of last page 56 CLOSE 1 :'close file :MENU :'leave program ======== Program Listing Ends ======== Q. My Kyocera used to remember files when I turned it off. Now it doesn't. What can I do? (All) A. Your Machine has a small Nickel-Cadmium battery in it. It is recharged by the AC adapter or the penlight batteries when the machine is not in use. They were designed with about a five year life before they wouldn't charge anymore. Yours just died. You can try one of these things. 1. You can keep it plugged in or AA batteries in it when not plugged in. A set of AA batteries will keep the memory for about a year if you don't run the machine itself off them. If you do, plug it in when changing batteries. 2. Open up the case and take out the little Ni-Cad. Some versions had a single wafer, others two wafers together with heat shrink around them. Go to your favorite electronics parts catalog or service man and see if you can find a match. 3. Take out the old one. Install a small battery holder (the old cell was soldered in) and replace with any Ni-Cad that will fit and is the right voltage and a similar amperage. There's really quite a bit of room in the case where the battery goes. Q. How can I run my Kyocera for six weeks in the desert without all those AA batteries? (All) A. Because any 6 volt DC circuit can run the thing if it has the right plug, just make a battery pack with 4 D cells in it. Take along a set of AAs as a backup. You could also try something fancy with solar cells to recharge batteries, etc., but the size of 4 D cells is more practical. For emergencies, take along a couple of wires with alligator clips and run it off the 6 volt battery in your camp lantern. For the N82 and N83 I recommend you consider a 9 volt or 7.5 volt circuit. This will incre Q. What's the good of a print formatter if I can't hook up a printer? (All) A. Yes you can. There is a port on the back of your machine labelled "Printer" or "LPT" and that is what it's for. It uses the same type of dual inline ribbon cable connector as a floppy or hard drive, but with 26 pins. You can get them from large electronics suppliers, such as Aztec. Looking at the connector on the back of the machine you have two rows of 13 pins. 25 key slot in center ooooooooooooo 1 ooooooooooooo 2 26 The top row is all odd numbered pins with number 25 on the left and number 1 being on the right. The bottom row is all even numbered pins with number 26 being on the left and number 2 being on the right. Top row: Pin 1 STROBE Write strobe signal Output Signal LOW is active Pin 3 DATA 0 Parallel data bit 0 Out Output Pin 5 DATA 1 Parallel data bit 1 Out Output Pin 7 DATA 2 Parallel data bit 2 Out Output Pin 9 DATA 3 Parallel data bit 3 Out Output Pin 11 DATA 4 Parallel data bit 4 Out Output Pin 13 DATA 5 Parallel data bit 5 Out Output Pin 15 DATA 6 Parallel data bit 6 Out Output Pin 17 DATA 7 Parallel data bit 7 Out Output Pin 19 NOT CONNECTED Pin 21 BUSY Printer busy Output Pin 23 NOT CONNECTED NOT CONNECTED Bottom Row: Pin 2 GND Signal ground Pin 4 DATA 0 Parallel data bit 0 In Input Pin 6 DATA 1 Parallel data bit 1 In Input Pin 8 DATA 2 Parallel data bit 2 In Input Pin 10 DATA 3 Parallel data bit 3 In Input Pin 12 DATA 4 Parallel data bit 4 In Input Pin 14 DATA 5 Parallel data bit 5 In Input Pin 16 DATA 6 Parallel data bit 6 In Input Pin 18 DATA 7 Parallel data bit 7 In Input Pin 20 GND Signal ground Pin 22 GND Signal ground Pin 24 GND Signal ground Pin 26 NOT CONNECTED Q. How do I get more than just ASCII text in my documents? (All) A. There are several ways to do this. One way is to embed printer codes in your text. Write a simple BASIC program to print to a text file all the control codes. Then copy that document under a new name as the start of any new document. Copy and paste them as needed to send commands to the printer for bold, underline, printer fonts, etc. Dlete thebeginning of the file with the codes beforer you print. This should work with any print formatter you have with no trouble. A second and more exciting way is to use a mark up language in combination with your desktop computer. I recommend you use HTML, the language used for web pages. At even a very simple level it allows everything from variable sized headers to embedded graphics. And it is pure ASCII texr. Most online web browsers and offline readers can load a page that has been transferred as an ASCII file and print it with the formatting indicated. If you do this, some hints. - Create a template document that can be copied with the basic lines for a skeleton HTML page already on it. - Don't do tables on your Kyocera. They are hard to realize using the tables tags. If you must do them do them as preformatted text instead or create a template to paste in form another document. - Note the locations of graphics on your hard drive so you can include the correct address when writing. - Configure any printer fonts versus screen fonts carefully as many desktop web browsers and readers do not default to the same sizes/ - If using an offline reader such as NavRoad (http"//www.faico.net/) to view and print the pages on your desktop computer you may want ot consider gettting one that offers a way of setting custom page breaks. - Consider looking at Web Printer from ForeFront. This is a versatile printing utility that adds such thngs as the ablity to print booklets, etc. from most browsers. It sell for under $25 at most stores. ( ) or shareware editor like DiDA (http"//www.faico.net/). They will allow you to add complicated - And remember that your Kyocera isn't a bad tool to create web pages with either! END OF DOCUMENT ---------------------------------------- Sometimes you get more done on the simple machines. There's no complexity to slow you down and they're always ready to go. COPYRIGHT (c) 1997 by Ron Hopkins-Lutz -- ronhl@juno.com All rights reserved. may be distributed freely electronically as long as this file is not modified for content. -- "The peace of Allah be with you and in your heart." Ron Hopkins-Lutz -- ronhl@juno.com Ron Hopkins-Lutz - ronhl@juno.com Internet Explorrer and Netscape cost nothing and are worth what you pay for them. -----------------------------------------------------------------