Epson FX-80, "Dots-Perfect", #4148 Serial Card

[Ralf Folkerts]

Hi,

I recently obtained a vintage Epson FX-80 as a Printer for my TRS-80s
and a Genie III.

That FX-80 is equipped with some alternate Firmware, "Dots-Perfect" from
Dresselhaus Computer Products. However, there is no Documentation for
it, and I also didn't find any Docs on the Web.

Does anyone have some Info on this Firmware or a URL to a Site that has
Docs?

I also got a Serial-Card with that printer, a Epson 8148. I put it into
the printer (of course using ESD-Precautions), but the printer "refuses"
to print thru that Card.

I found some Info on that Card on the Web at "UKT Support" and so was
able to check the Jumpers/DIP-Switches on that Board. They look OK, i.e.
9600/8/N/1 and "RS232 Comunications" and I used the same settings on the
Genie III. I also checked with a Line-Tester that on the Genie TxD will
indeed "flicker" when Data is being sent.

Will I have to set any Jumper in the FX-80, too, to allow it for serial
Communication? Or does anyone know if the "Dots Perfect" Firmware might
cause Problems with the 8148 Serial Board?

Would really be cool to solve these issues to get the vintage computers
talk to "their" vintage Printer ;-)

Many thanks in advance,
cheers,
_ralf_

 

[Flasherly]

Hi,

I recently obtained a vintage Epson FX-80 as a Printer for my TRS-80s
and a Genie III.

That FX-80 is equipped with some alternate Firmware, "Dots-Perfect" from
Dresselhaus Computer Products. However, there is no Documentation for
it, and I also didn't find any Docs on the Web.

Does anyone have some Info on this Firmware or a URL to a Site that has
Docs?

I also got a Serial-Card with that printer, a Epson 8148. I put it into
the printer (of course using ESD-Precautions), but the printer "refuses"
to print thru that Card.

I found some Info on that Card on the Web at "UKT Support" and so was
able to check the Jumpers/DIP-Switches on that Board. They look OK, i.e.
9600/8/N/1 and "RS232 Comunications" and I used the same settings on the
Genie III. I also checked with a Line-Tester that on the Genie TxD will
indeed "flicker" when Data is being sent.

Will I have to set any Jumper in the FX-80, too, to allow it for serial
Communication? Or does anyone know if the "Dots Perfect" Firmware might
cause Problems with the 8148 Serial Board?

Would really be cool to solve these issues to get the vintage computers
talk to "their" vintage Printer ;-)

Many thanks in advance,
cheers,
_ralf_

Dunno anything about "dots perfect" - though if you can remove it and
get a clean connect, definitely. First step in troubleshooting
computers is simplify. My old ASUS 756 Athlon is still ticking, and
comes w/ a ser port, though imagine there'd be variants - cards,
parr>serial, usb>serial. Pricey for what they are -- ebay or
dealextreme.com.

Have a wide carrage 132 column Panasonic and Epson Action Printer.
Remember in the pawnshop heydays seeing them go for $5. Guess nobody
likes fun like writing in printer codes into a document with WordStar
no more. Have fun with those 4K registers on ratshack's Motorola (my
first computer was a CoCo).

 

[Fred McKenzie]

Dunno anything about "dots perfect" - though if you can remove it and
get a clean connect, definitely.

The Dots Perfect mod in my old Epson MX-80, consisted of a new ROM that
replaced the original. If it were to be removed, the printer might not
work at all.

Fred

 

[Flasherly]

The Dots Perfect mod in my old Epson MX-80, consisted of a new ROM that
replaced the original. If it were to be removed, the printer might not
work at all.

Fred

Ah..sort of like early USRobitics modems and the firmware update
thingy. I used to save my ROM chips. I'd want to reconfig it back
for a parallel port (if equipped) -- keep it simple at defaults for
the switch block, and w/out expansion boards for dedicated serial
communications. Not a problem that way with "vintage" motherboards
equipped w/ parallel ports and "vintage" XP. Besides tons of adapter
flavors these days. Writing port programs for a TSR80, though, would
be carrying it just a little far. I might start bleeding from the
ears.

 

[Ralf Folkerts]

Ah..sort of like early USRobitics modems and the firmware update
thingy. I used to save my ROM chips. I'd want to reconfig it back
for a parallel port (if equipped) -- keep it simple at defaults for
the switch block, and w/out expansion boards for dedicated serial
communications. Not a problem that way with "vintage" motherboards
equipped w/ parallel ports and "vintage" XP. Besides tons of adapter
flavors these days. Writing port programs for a TSR80, though, would
be carrying it just a little far. I might start bleeding from the
ears.

Hi,

well, meanwhile I got the (Installation-) Instructions for Dots-Perfect
and I have the Genuine Epson Chips. It's three Chips in my case (two
ROM, one RAM) plus a Jumper (a cut trace) I have to set again. So I'm
able to "reset" it to it's Original State and then check again!

Cheers and thanks for the replies!

Cheers,
_ralf_