8-Bit BBC Micro Running IBM PC CGA software - Pi Tube Direct Co-Pro part 2

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The PiTube direct module allows almost any vintage 8bit BBC Micro computer to connect to and harness the power of the Raspberry Pi. This allows for all sorts of amazing software to be used with the veteran system
In this second follow up to our last video on the subject we take a in-depth look at some of the amazing software and even get PC -DOS games running in full CGA graphics mode!!!
Don't forget to like and subscribe!!!
Source Links:
Stardot.org.uk - Master 512 DOS+ Software
stardot.org.uk...
CowsAreNotPurple.co.uk
www.cowsarenotp...
Video Links:
Rob Coleman - KZbin:
/ @crob1974
Event Links:
Retro Computer Festival 2019
www.computinghi...
Milton Keynes Raspberry Jam
mkraspberryjam...
Music Credits - Tracks Used
Kevin MacLeod - Incompetech.com
incompetech.com/
Gocart
Laser Groove
Super Power Cool Dude
AUDIONAUTIX.COM
audionautix.com/
Metaphor
Essence

[@somethingfilms24]

Lots of interesting stuff in there unfortunately I think your background music is far too loud.

[@julianregel]

Interesting video, thanks. Did find the background music a bit loud and unnecessary though. Cheers.

[@oldtechnobodycaresabout]

I found it added extra ambiance and increased my retention

[@aitchpea6011]

The really amusing connection here is that the Beeb is using an ARM chip as a copro, and using it to emulate other, noncompatible systems. Considering that the ARM came from the Beeb's continuation, that's amazing. That such an old machine can interface with such new technology easily is also incredible.

[@LJ45Chimera]

Great video as always. Thanks. Have you managed to get the PDP-11 co-pro option working ? I'm struggling to find any good info on it. Would love to run RT11 on the Beeb :)

[@WiFiSheep]

Hi to be honest i've not explored that option as yet .. but it dose sound interesting! (if it works!)

[@Mayernator87]

Fascinating look at what the BBC Master can do in the right hands! I've only recently acquired a BBC B, (the last time I had one was in first school in the early 90s!), and I've found alot of pdfs and physical books online to peruse and learn from. I love visiting the computer fairs and seeing what can be done on all these 8bit machines. I was glued right through this video 👍

[@CoolDudeClem]

i knew the BBC micro was expandable, but dam!

[@WiFiSheep]

The BBC Micro system has done very well in the new age of 'Retro' computing! Its amazing to see what the system can be pushed to do these days!

[@greenaum]

Since there's a BBC emulator for the Raspberry Pi, and the Pi can access the BBC's screen RAM, you don't think it's worth... emulating a BBC? The advantage would be you could speed up the CPU, have save states, and cheat your arse off! All the advantages of an emulator on the real computer! And people would think you were a genius! If you haven't tried it yet, I can't believe it.

[@WiFiSheep]

Yes well thats how the co-pro Pi Tube Direct works. Ok its doesn't do 'Save States' but you can run 8bit 6502 code at something like 250Mhz or put the thing into native ARM mode and have a 1981 Micro executing 32bit BBC BASIC V or ARM assembler at 1000Mhz! which is always fun to watch!... But yes it means you can write fast based action games in BASIC with poor sloppy code and still get working results! Not to mention in 6502 mode you get 64k and in Native ARM mode ... well you get all the Pi RAM up to 1GB ...... Yeah, its a little pointless as the Pi on its own can just run all this under emulation but its still amazing and so call to do on real hardware!.... Update: On my todo list is the Pi Tube Direct now supports the Pis HDMI out so you can feed all the BBCs video out via HDMI, which means new screen modes and an increased colour palette all without needing to modify the hardware!

[@remijakobsen1848]

Great video! Any idea how I can get this PC software into image files on my Gotek with Flashfloppy? Ive already got ready made images with DOS and GEM that works from my Gotek.

[@WiFiSheep]

Hmm when I did it I made physical discs formatting as Double Density 720K MS-DOS format then click and dragging .EXEs or .COM files onto them. GEM read these fine. To do that without making disks you'll need to make disk images files for the GO-TEK I would look at something like this www.winimage.com/winimage.htm which should allow you to make virtual disks

[@daryldudey]

I think MOS is Machine Operating System?

[@WiFiSheep]

Hi Daryl, yes you are right, slight error on my part .. oops! Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Normally I'll do corrections in a channel update video.

[@daryldudey]

Fun video, I've not managed to get the 286 co-pro working on my Pi yet - but you've inspired me to take another look.

[@WiFiSheep]

Do keep trying I used the source disc images from www.cowsarenotpurple.co.uk/bbccomputer/master512/ which do work well as mentioned in the video. If you can get it running it is worth it! I think 286 mode is my favourite at the mo!

[@TomisaburoRMizugawa]

So what's actually running on the RPi? Is it Linux with emulators or is it all bare metal code?

[@WiFiSheep]

HI good question! It is my understanding its all bare metal using some compiled libraries for the 'cores' emulation so if you try to plug the pi into a video source on its own you wont see anything.

[@TomisaburoRMizugawa]

@@WiFiSheep Well, that sounds super cool. I wonder if that code could be packaged with some simple interface to work on an stand-alone RPi as some kind of 'super-Beeb', I think I'd prefer that to RiscOS :)

[@jester6856]

Fantastic video.. I'm just dipping a toe back into the 80s and 90s..and enjoying the trip back to my teenage years. I've got a BBC B , C64 , ZX Spectrum and a Amiga 500. Looking out for a Master to play with. Loved seeing the beeb booting up as a spectrum!!! Great videos ..thanks 😊

[@WiFiSheep]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@RetroMarkyRM]

Great video. Have you tried doing this with Turbo MMC or similar? I have floppy drives but only 5.25 inch

[@WiFiSheep]

Hi many thanks ... in short yes but the Turbo MMCs hacked DFS ROM is a little temperamental meaning if you use it with a tube interface the cart menu system normally on *DBOOT0 wont work but you can load Co-Pro Elite, that will work. The other issue is the MMC's use of the User Port which the mouse also needs for using GEM, plus the MMC only supports DFS disc images and the DOS/GEM boot disc is in ADFS format then requiring FAT 16/32 onwards, so a whole heap of issues! Im only using 3.5" discs as its easier to write on PC if you can write the required disc images onto 5.25" discs then that'll work fine as well.

[@RetroMarkyRM]

@@WiFiSheep oki doke. will have to pull a 5.25 inch drive out. Keep up the good work :)

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

I love these videos and the BBC Compiter!

[@RetroMarkyRM]

still amazing what the beeb can do in 2019. be nice to see a decent BeebEm for pi too. fingers crossed on that

[@WiFiSheep]

Its really is! BeebEM for UNIX/Linux really dose require some work tbh the poor / lack of sound out is a real issue. Our free build of RISC OS for the Pi dose have !BeebIT! on it which is an alternative emulator that works much better, but can at times run a little slow. I n its current set up it can only support the Model B 32K. www.ident-online.co.uk/computer/riscos.html

[@RetroMarkyRM]

@@WiFiSheep perfect, thanks, will check that out!

[@pdjames1729]

sudo apt-get install oolite ^^ seriously xx (on a pi4 ;o) oh and stuff your gfx to 512mb, a bit of gfx overclock helps too (600mhz?) xx

[@pdjames1729]

oh, and Print on the spectrum is function P (cos i looked it up) >> raw.githubusercontent.com/makapuf/bitbox-spectrum/master/keyb.png and... um. How do i get your distro of riscos? pls pls xx

[@WiFiSheep]

Many thanks ... Im really not a Spectrum person and i think i shows LOL RISC OS build is here www.ident-online.co.uk/computer/riscos.html

[@map856]

Thanks for another fantastic video Tom. Do you know whether it's possible to get the DOS/GEM software to run on a Model B with PiTube Direct copro?

[@WiFiSheep]

Hi Thanks very much!, Yes it is possible but you'll need to run the ADFS disc filing system not the stock DFS one most model B's came with. This will mean a new EPROM and some internal jumping etc.... alternatively if you have a flash filer fitted to the 1Mhz bus such as a hard drive again with ADFS support that'll work. What you cant do is use the User Port as this is required for the mouse for GEM. As the Master supports ADFS as stock standard, its one of the reasons I use the type for the GEM / DOS demo.

[@map856]

@@WiFiSheep Thanks Tom. Interesting - I didn't realise one could run ADFS on a Model B! I'll have to look into it as a project in it's own right before moving on to trying DOS/GEM :-) - Martin