💾 Archived View for uscoffings.net › retro-computing › systems › Tandy › t › tl2info.txt captured on 2023-03-20 at 20:35:55.
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Wayne:
Here is some more info on the 1000 TL/2 for you.
Keyboard cable pin discription:
1 - Clock
2 - Data
3 - No connection
4 - Logic Ground
5 - +5 vdc
I put a switch in the pin 2 line to disable my keyboard because my cat
likes to walk on it. If I walked away while something was running, I came
back to find whimsical results. The switch solved that problem (I imagine
the same "cure" could also prevent children from doing any damage if they
play around with the keyboard).
I also have another problem. The battery holder on the motherboard
broke when I replaced the battery. BE CAREFULL, those things are fragile.
I never got any satisfaction from Tandy on getting a replacement, so I
ordered one from a electronics supply house catalog. It is a standard part
so finding it is no problem. (Tandy won't tell you that !!)
There is a problem with the disk drive cable installation, too.
I have the 'stock' 3�" drive and the Teac 5�" drive, and a 20M HD. The
way that the power cable to the 5�" drive is routed, it rests against the
data cable to the HD, and the wire tie on the power cable pinches the HD
data cable against the power supply case. This causes some of the wires
to rip inside the data cable. I went through two data cables before I
cut off the wire tie. Now the problem is gone.
One note about the printer. If you have a DMP133 (since that is the one
that TL/2 purchasers usually get)Take note of these:
1 - Don't buy the replacement ribbon cartridge, they're junk.
Get part #26-1238A. This is a kit with 3 replacement
ribbons for the DMP 130/132. They fit the 130 cartridge
perfectly. The kit costs about $15.00, where the cartridge
costs about $12.00.
2 - The DMP133 doesn't emulate an IBM Graphics printer as well
as it emulates an IBM ProPrinter. Here are a few easy steps
toward better printing:
A - Put the line "GRAPHICS PCMODE" in your autoexec.
B - Tell all of your applications that they are
printing to an IBM ProPrinter or ProPrinter II.
C - Set the printer DIP switches to:
1-on 6-off
2-on 7-on
3-on 8-on
4-off 9-off
5-off 10-off
This will work beautifully in 99% of all situations. If you need graphic
output and these settings don't work very well, try printing to an
Epson LQ. This works great for me.
About the serial port. It CAN be set up for a modem IF you have no mouse.
Use the DOS 'Mode' command to set it up, or (easier) The Norton Utilities
'NCC' to set the parameters you want. I know this works because I did it
for a few months before I got a mouse and an internal modem (a Hayes).
If I come across any more information/fixes/oddities, I'll drop
you a line. Incedentally, DON'T buy the Tandy 1000 Tech. Reference
Manual (Cat # 25-1504), it does NOT cover the 1000 TL/2. I made that
$35.00 mistake, but I kept the book for reference purposes.
I hope that you can use this information as much as I could use yours.
My name is Greg Hvazda, I'm in Brooklyn, NY, and I can be reached on
PC-Link as Red Baron8.