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Old 5th Dec 2022, 6:40 pm   #12
SiriusHardware
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Posts: 11,485
Default Re: How do I convert hex files to binary for use in the MK14 mame VDU emulator?

We have a couple of methods circulating at the moment - the first uses this project (or one of the various subsequent spins of it) to read an Intel Hex file and convert it to the same keypresses which a human operator would use to enter the code. It types the code in slightly faster than a human could do it.

https://vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=151851

Shortcut to a video about it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AXgyeH0F2E

Intel Hex was chosen for three reasons:-

1) Not necessary for the user to inform the MK14 what the load address should be, as the destination addresses are contained within the Intel Hex file

2) The ability to upload code to all areas of the MK14's non-continuous code memory areas from a single file, so if you have a program which resides in Normal RAM, Optional RAM, I/O RAM and extra-extra RAM at 0200-07FF, all of that code can be contained in one Intel Hex file and uploaded from it in a single load operation.

3) There is a 'trick feature' in the uploader which looks for two bytes in the file at FFFE and FFFF, which are not real addresses on an MK14. If the uploader finds bytes at those addresses in the file it uses them as the execution address and automatically runs the program after uploading.

More recently there was another uploading method introduced by Coolsnaz2 which involves using an offboard micro board to first load a speedloader using the inbuilt cassette loading routines (the offboard micro generates a signal which mimics the digital signal output by the cassette interface).

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=186247

The Speedloader then uses synchronous serial data transfer (clock + data) to transfer even large programs to the MK14 near-instantly, an example video of it working here:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BemPyaoNqb4

..You can not fail to be impressed by how fast that loads.

However, I don't know whether Coolsnaz2's project works with Intel Hex, specifically whether it works with code split across more than one memory area.

Last edited by SiriusHardware; 5th Dec 2022 at 6:56 pm.
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