----- Original Message -----

From: John R. Hogerhuis

To: kminternals@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 9:25 PM

Subject: Re: [kminternals] Hello, I'm a new member of this group

On Mon, 2005-01-31 at 12:09, Holger.Schefczik@... wrote:
> Hello John, thanks for the welcome.
> 
> Here some facts of me and my experience about knitting, kh930 and so
> on....
> 
> I have a kh930, a fb100 disk drive and a ppd. Since November last year
> I am looking for a possibility to connect my km with my pc. I found
> several Information in the internet and so I began to work.
> 
> But the solutions doesn't works (I don't know why) and so I begann to
> built my own cable to connect the pc with the fb100. The cable had a
> TTL to CMOS-converter and a nor-gatter to convert rx and tx from +5V
> to ground an back. It's expensive, but it works good.

Other serial cables:

You can use the serial cable from a Tandy Portable Disk Drive 1 or 2
(this is what I use). Anyway this cable proves that a unpowered cable is
possible, though I understand there is some electronics in these cables.

You might be able to use a DAK serial cable.

>  Then I found a software, based on basic, in the internet for the
> communication between pc and fb100. The software is called sector2.

I haven't found that! Could you send me a copy or upload to the files
section? Thanks! Was this code perhaps for the TRS-80 Model 100?

>  I had to adapt the software for my system and it also works for 80%.
> So, now I am able to give instructions to the fb100 and get back the
> (error) level/codes.

I have some minimal Forth code that does this too.

>  At next I will save a simple pattern from km to the disk and then I
> will try to read the data from the disk into the pc for analyse. I
> think your analyse will help me. If someone wants the layout and the
> software, I can put them here into the group.

That's what we're here for! To collect as much info and code as we can
to make future projects possible.

> 
> In the next time I will directly connect the pc to the kh930, because
> I want to save the pattern directly on the pc. Perhaps I will have the
> possibility to send pattern by eMail to friends and so an.

I'd also like someone to figure out the DAK format so that we can do
conversions to/from .PAT. Unfortunately I don't own a copy, so if
someone else wants to do that work, or donate their unused copy, I would
be grateful.


> To connect a palm or pocketpc with the km is a very good Idea. I hope
> I can help in next time, although I am not a professional.


No matter, it sounds like you're capable anyway.

Welcome on board Holger! It will be nice to have someone to share the
load with!

-- John.

On Mon, 2005-01-31 at 13:06, Holger.Schefczik@... wrote:
> Hi John,
>
> Software: I have forgotten to say, that I have got the software
> intoshape for kh930/940. I've got this software for little money.
>  The software needs a "normal" PC with Dos, no windows. The software
> works with no problems: you can create pattern, scan pictures to
> convert them into pattern, save and print and transfer them to the km
> or ppd. I couldn't testthe transfer, because at this time I had no
> cable. in the next time i will try it.
>
> Is this software helpful for the projects?

Yes I think it is extremely helpful. I could port this to the Palm or
Windows for people who don't use plain DOS. Also, it's just good as a
reference implementation for future work. Code is never ambiguous :-)

-- John.

Hi John,

I want to upload the software sector2.zip to the folder "files" (I
told you yesterday). I think it's good to create a new
folder "software" in the folder "files". So I can put sector2.zip in
this new folder?

Ok? Is this the job of the moderator or can I also create the new
folder? Sorry about this question, but these group is my first one
and therefor I have many quesitions....

-Holger

On Tue, 2005-02-01 at 16:13 +0000, hollimaus wrote:
>
> Hi John,
>
> I want to upload the software sector2.zip to the folder "files" (I
> told you yesterday). I think it's good to create a new
> folder "software" in the folder "files". So I can put sector2.zip in
> this new folder?
>
> Ok? Is this the job of the moderator or can I also create the new
> folder? Sorry about this question, but these group is my first one
> and therefor I have many quesitions....
>
> -Holger
>
>

Not sure myself.

Anyway, I created a Software directory. Go ahead and put sector2.zip
there. You can create a files directory for it if you want.


If you find it won't let you create folders, let me know and I'll fix
it.

Later,

-- John.

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the kminternals
group.

   File        : /Software/SECTOR2.zip
   Uploaded by : hollimaus <Holger.Schefczik@...>
   Description : A software to communicate between PC and PDD1/PDD2/FB100, based
an GW-Basic or BASIC-A

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kminternals/files/Software/SECTOR2.zip

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

hollimaus <Holger.Schefczik@...>

On Wed, 2005-02-02 at 08:37 +0000, kminternals@yahoogroups.com wrote:
>
>
> Hello,
>
> This email message is a notification to let you know that
> a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the kminternals
> group.
>
>   File        : /Software/SECTOR2.zip
>   Uploaded by : hollimaus <Holger.Schefczik@...>
>   Description : A software to communicate between PC and PDD1/PDD2/FB100,
based an GW-Basic or BASIC-A
>
> You can access this file at the URL:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kminternals/files/Software/SECTOR2.zip
>
> To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
> http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files
>
> Regards,
>
> hollimaus <Holger.Schefczik@...>
>
>

Interesting, thanks for uploading this! This looks like it was written
by the same author who produced SECTOR.BA for the Tandy 102/TRS-80 Model
100 laptops.

It looks like this app targets the TPDD2, which was the successor to the
TPDD-1, which is the unit the Brother FB-100 is practically identical
to. They are both very similar, but the firmware in the TPDD-2 is
different than the TPDD-1.

Have you been able to try this software yet?

You've made me realize I may not have to start from scratch though on
the software... need to dig through the Model 100 archives. We can at
least use it for inspiration.


Any idea where to find a compatible BASIC to run this?

-- John.

--- In kminternals@yahoogroups.com, "John R. Hogerhuis"
<jhoger@p...> wrote:
> On Wed, 2005-02-02 at 08:37 +0000, kminternals@yahoogroups.com
wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > This email message is a notification to let you know that
> > a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the kminternals
> > group.
> >
> >   File        : /Software/SECTOR2.zip
> >   Uploaded by : hollimaus <Holger.Schefczik@t...>
> >   Description : A software to communicate between PC and
PDD1/PDD2/FB100, based an GW-Basic or BASIC-A
> >
> > You can access this file at the URL:
> >
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kminternals/files/Software/SECTOR2.zip
> >
> > To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
> > http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > hollimaus <Holger.Schefczik@t...>
> >
> >
>
> Interesting, thanks for uploading this! This looks like it was
written
> by the same author who produced SECTOR.BA for the Tandy 102/TRS-80
Model
> 100 laptops.
>
> It looks like this app targets the TPDD2, which was the successor
to the
> TPDD-1, which is the unit the Brother FB-100 is practically
identical
> to. They are both very similar, but the firmware in the TPDD-2 is
> different than the TPDD-1.
>
> Have you been able to try this software yet?
>
> You've made me realize I may not have to start from scratch though
on
> the software... need to dig through the Model 100 archives. We can
at
> least use it for inspiration.
>
>
> Any idea where to find a compatible BASIC to run this?

In internet I've found this side:

http://www.geocities.com/KindlyRat/GWBASIC.html

where you can download a gwbasic-Version, then I hope the program
must be run. I have modified the SECTOR2.BAS-Software for my
PowerBasic-Version. It was not easy to do that, but now, sector2.bas
will work for about 80% with my FB100.

Greetings Holger


>
> -- John.

Hi John,

do you exactly know the software-handshaking-protocol between the KM
an the fb100?

I have connected my KM with the fb100. With this/my 'handmade'-cable
I have also the posibility to read (monitor) the transmit and
receive data.

If I start the code 550 on KM (format) the following Hex-Code will
be send to the FB100:

5A 5A 08 00 F7 0D 46 35 0D

Then the FB100 will send the following code back as a response to
the KM:

43 31 30 30 30 30 30 30

At the end of the formatting the FB100 will send:

30 30 34 46 30 34 30 30

If I compare these codes with the 'normal' codes for the fb100/pdd1,
I couldn't find them. So I was searching in the internet for a
service manual for the diskdrive. I've found it :-)

In this book is written, that this code is called FDC-Emulation?!
A posibility to write directly the data in the sectors of the disk.
I think this is difficult and dangerous!?.

But if I will connect the KM directly to my pc, I must know and
practice this protocol. Are my reflections correct?

Greetings Holger

--- hollimaus <Holger.Schefczik@...> wrote:

>
>
> Hi John,
>
> do you exactly know the
> software-handshaking-protocol between the KM
> an the fb100?
>

Yes, there is a PDF in the Files section that covers
the protocol.

> I have connected my KM with the fb100. With this/my
> 'handmade'-cable
> I have also the posibility to read (monitor) the
> transmit and
> receive data.
>
> If I start the code 550 on KM (format) the following
> Hex-Code will
> be send to the FB100:
>
> 5A 5A 08 00 F7 0D 46 35 0D
>

That's two commands. The first is a File-Mode escape
to get into FDC-Emulation mode. The next 4 bytes is
the first FDC-Emulation mode command.


> Then the FB100 will send the following code back as
> a response to
> the KM:
>
> 43 31 30 30 30 30 30 30
>
> At the end of the formatting the FB100 will send:
>
> 30 30 34 46 30 34 30 30
>
> If I compare these codes with the 'normal' codes for
> the fb100/pdd1,
> I couldn't find them. So I was searching in the
> internet for a
> service manual for the diskdrive. I've found it :-)
>

If it's different from what I uploaded, please add it
to the file section.

> In this book is written, that this code is called
> FDC-Emulation?!

Yes. The KM's talk to the disk drive in FDC-Emulation
mode exclusively. The file-mode is only used on
certain Tandy and TRS-80 laptops.

> A posibility to write directly the data in the
> sectors of the disk.
> I think this is difficult and dangerous!?.
>

Neither difficult nor dangerous. It's just the way it
works. I have some GForth code that does it but I want
to rewrite it in C.

> But if I will connect the KM directly to my pc, I
> must know and
> practice this protocol. Are my reflections correct?
>

Yes.



__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do?
http://my.yahoo.com

--- In kminternals@yahoogroups.com, "John R. Hogerhuis"
<jhoger@p...> wrote:
> On Wed, 2005-02-02 at 08:37 +0000, kminternals@yahoogroups.com
wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > This email message is a notification to let you know that
> > a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the kminternals
> > group.
> >
> >   File        : /Software/SECTOR2.zip
> >   Uploaded by : hollimaus <Holger.Schefczik@t...>
> >   Description : A software to communicate between PC and
PDD1/PDD2/FB100, based an GW-Basic or BASIC-A
> >
> > You can access this file at the URL:
> >
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kminternals/files/Software/SECTOR2.zip
> >
> > To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
> > http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > hollimaus <Holger.Schefczik@t...>
> > 
> >
>
> Interesting, thanks for uploading this! This looks like it was
written
> by the same author who produced SECTOR.BA for the Tandy 102/TRS-80
Model
> 100 laptops.
>
> It looks like this app targets the TPDD2, which was the successor
to the
> TPDD-1, which is the unit the Brother FB-100 is practically
identical
> to. They are both very similar, but the firmware in the TPDD-2 is
> different than the TPDD-1.
>
> Have you been able to try this software yet?
>
> You've made me realize I may not have to start from scratch though
on
> the software... need to dig through the Model 100 archives. We can
at
> least use it for inspiration.
>
>
> Any idea where to find a compatible BASIC to run this?

In internet I've found this side:

http://www.geocities.com/KindlyRat/GWBASIC.html

where you can download a gwbasic-Version, then I hope the program
must be run. I have modified the SECTOR2.BAS-Software for my
PowerBasic-Version. It was not easy to do that, but now, sector2.bas
will work for about 80% with my FB100.

Greetings Holger


>
> -- John.

Hi together,

I have a question about the cable between the KM an the PC:

Is it possible to build a cable with a ttl-to-RS232-level-converter
without an external powersupply?

The pegel on KM an FB100 is like TTL, the level on RS232 is CMOS. So
I need a conveter! I have build a converter with a MAX232-Chip and a
Inverter. This cable needs an external powersupply (+5V) for the
max232 and Inverter. This is costly and expensive.

So I am searching for a possibility to build this without external
powersupply. Has anyone a idea or layout for it?

Greetings Holger

Take a look at tpdd.txt in the Files section.


However, I have never built one of these cables, and I've been told that
the design isn't completely correct.

But perhaps in the hands of the right engineer it can give some ideas.

In general the idea is to steal power from the signalling lines.

-- John.

Hi, I am new here.  I have been given the above machine with, I
think is the ribber (a very narrow bed) without any instruction
manual.  I would like to set it up but do not have a clue.  It looks
more complicated than the modern knitting machines,  Can someone
please help me out?  Thanks.  Jeanne.

Hi Folks,

I'm a new kid on the list and I was really excited to learn that
there are other people around trying to get their knitting machines
to do what they want .

~~~

Concerning the lost knowledge of the ancient folks, I'd like to know
if anyone heard about 'pro-fashion 2000' for Atari?
It is supposed to be a precursor to Designaknit, back from the old
days when °2000° sounded like science fiction and you would buy your
Brother Knitking in your nextdoor knittingstore, rather than on
ebay.

The only reference I found is a German Designaknit reseller.
http://cds-designsoftware.de/DesignaKnit_Prospekt/AtariKonvertierungsprogramm/bo\
dy_atarikonvertierungsprogramm.html

I'm sure the guys at Designaknit got the proggy, but they most
probably won't give it away ;) But maybe we could dig up the
Atari-Hero that wrote the legendary program...

~~~

John asked if anyone was willing to find out about
the DK .pat file format... I just had a look at a file I found on
the  web with a hex editor and it looks fairly streight forward.
I will do some more systematic research in that direction on the
weekend :)
A plugin for the gimp would be a nice thing to target.
There is a Photoshop plugin on the Market but I haven't had the
opportunity to try it...
Right now I'm planning to synthesize .pat files, and check the
Results in the Demoversion of DK7. But at some stage I might need to
systematically convert bitmaps into .pat files
Is there anyone with a DK license who'd like to help?

~~~

Okay that's it for today...
I'm looking forward to rock'n'knit with you !

Cheers,
Martin

I have an old program called Bitknitter, I think for Amiga and DOS
machines. I think I only have the Amiga disks, but not sure.

Some point I'll have to get this Catweasel 4 PCI card set up and try to
read the Amiga disks. Theoretically, this card should be able to
read/write TPDD/FB100 diskettes directly using a standard floppy drive.

-- John.

This is another software system for programming brother knitting
machines.  They went out of business many years ago (90s).  I was
tempted to buy one a while back but was told it only worked on DOS
machines on virutal (??) memory.  Sounds like someone on this list
is working with it already but I just want to see if anyone else
knows about it.  Alice

Haven't heard of it.

Might be worth looking at to see if you can find the original authors.
Maybe they still have the source code, and would be willing to share it.

-- John.

On Sun, 2005-03-06 at 18:04 +0000, mapmsmith2 wrote:
>
> This is another software system for programming brother knitting
> machines.  They went out of business many years ago (90s).  I was
> tempted to buy one a while back but was told it only worked on DOS
> machines on virutal (??) memory.  Sounds like someone on this list
> is working with it already but I just want to see if anyone else
> knows about it.  Alice

----- Original Message -----

From: mapmsmith2

To: kminternals@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 7:04 PM

Subject: [kminternals] Brother system 90

This is another software system for programming brother knitting
machines.  They went out of business many years ago (90s).  I was
tempted to buy one a while back but was told it only worked on DOS
machines on virutal (??) memory.  Sounds like someone on this list
is working with it already but I just want to see if anyone else
knows about it.  Alice

On Sun, 2005-03-06 at 19:21 +0100, Holger Schefczik wrote:
> Hi Alice,
>
> it's true, the software is from 1991, built by Noth East Wales
> Institute Software unit and is called "brother system90 Into-Shape".
> I have bought this SW years ago, but I couldn't work with it, because
> I have no linkcable between KM und my PC.
>
> I have tested the sw without connecting my pc to the KM. The sw based
> on DOS. It works on a normal PC with windows, there in the DOS-Window.
> The sw has a lot of modules to create pattern, save und print the
> pattern, transmit the pattern to the KM and so on. More experience I
> do not have and I hope, I could help.
>
> Greetings from germany
>
> Holger

Do you think there is any possibility of getting in touch with the
authors?

-- John.

----- Original Message -----

From: John R. Hogerhuis

To: kminternals@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 7:29 PM

Subject: Re: [kminternals] Brother system 90

On Sun, 2005-03-06 at 19:21 +0100, Holger Schefczik wrote:
> Hi Alice,
> 
> it's true, the software is from 1991, built by Noth East Wales
> Institute Software unit and is called "brother system90 Into-Shape".
> I have bought this SW years ago, but I couldn't work with it, because
> I have no linkcable between KM und my PC.
> 
> I have tested the sw without connecting my pc to the KM. The sw based
> on DOS. It works on a normal PC with windows, there in the DOS-Window.
> The sw has a lot of modules to create pattern, save und print the
> pattern, transmit the pattern to the KM and so on. More experience I
> do not have and I hope, I could help.
> 
> Greetings from germany
> 
> Holger

Do you think there is any possibility of getting in touch with the
authors?

-- John.

Two questions:

Is there an difference in communication between the FB100 and
KH930/940/950/965/970?

Are the parameters between the FB100 and the KM's the same?

Greetings Holger

There is 1 message in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. communication between PC and KH...
From: "hollimaus"


________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 08 Mar 2005 19:03:16 -0000
From: "hollimaus"
Subject: communication between PC and KH...


Two questions:

Is there an difference in communication between the FB100 and
KH930/940/950/965/970?

Are the parameters between the FB100 and the KM's the same?

Greetings Holger





 

The protocol is the same for all. I would imagine the same protocol is
also in effect for the PPD.

The amount of space taken up per "save" would have to be different,
since the machines have different amounts of RAM, and pattern "saves"
are just RAM dumps to as many sectors as it takes.

For my 930, it does two writes, if I recall correctly, to two sequential
sectors. It also updates some housekeeping sector "in-use" information.

-- John.


On Tue, 2005-03-08 at 19:03 +0000, hollimaus wrote:
>
> Two questions:
>
> Is there an difference in communication between the FB100 and
> KH930/940/950/965/970?
>
> Are the parameters between the FB100 and the KM's the same?
>
> Greetings Holger
>

--- In kminternals@yahoogroups.com, Rosalie J Smith <rjoan32@y...>
wrote:

Hi Joan, thank you for this information!

> I have the FB100, the PPD, and a 940 and 970, the disc drive works
the same with all the Brother electronic machines.
>
If I understand right, you can save a pattern from KH940 to the disk
in the FB100-drive, then you connect the fb100 to your KH970 and you
can load this saved pattern into the KH970?

The same you can do with a pattern from the KH970 to the KH940?

....Holger


> Joan Smith
>
> kminternals@yahoogroups.com wrote:
>
> There is 1 message in this issue.
>
> Topics in this digest:
>
> 1. communication between PC and KH...
> From: "hollimaus"
>
>
>
______________________________________________________________________
__
>
______________________________________________________________________
__
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 08 Mar 2005 19:03:16 -0000
> From: "hollimaus"
> Subject: communication between PC and KH...
>
>
> Two questions:
>
> Is there an difference in communication between the FB100 and
> KH930/940/950/965/970?
>
> Are the parameters between the FB100 and the KM's the same?
>
> Greetings Holger
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!
>  Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web

 
 >
If I understand right, you can save a pattern from KH940 to the disk
in the FB100-drive, then you connect the fb100 to your KH970 and you
can load this saved pattern into the KH970?

The same you can do with a pattern from the KH970 to the KH940?

....Holger


> Joan Smith
>
> kminternals@yahoogroups.com wrote:
>
> There is 1 message in this issue.
>
> Topics in this digest:
>
> 1. communication between PC and KH...
> From: "hollimaus"
>
>
>
______________________________________________________________________
__
>
______________________________________________________________________
__
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 08 Mar 2005 19:03:16 -0000
> From: "hollimaus"
> Subject: communication between PC and KH...
>
>
> Two questions:
>
> Is there an difference in communication between the FB100 and
> KH930/940/950/965/970?
>
> Are the parameters between the FB100 and the KM's the same?
>
> Greetings Holger
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!
> Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web





________________________________________________________________________
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I have a brother 910.  The electronics work fine.  But, the thingy, or
wheel, or disk that advances the card when I first put it in does not
advance the card.  What is that piece called?  Can I open it up and
change a piece?  Are parts available and where can I get them?  My
dealer said to bring it in but she can not gaurantee that she can fix
it.  She said it may have to be shipped somewhere.  If that is the
case, then I really do have concerns about the electronics.  Any
thought, ideas or experience?
Bonnie McCartney
Denver

On Sat, 2005-11-19 at 19:28 +0000, bonitamccartney wrote:
> I have a brother 910.  The electronics work fine.  But, the thingy, or
> wheel, or disk that advances the card when I first put it in does not
> advance the card.  What is that piece called?  Can I open it up and
> change a piece?  Are parts available and where can I get them?  My
> dealer said to bring it in but she can not gaurantee that she can fix
> it.  She said it may have to be shipped somewhere.  If that is the
> case, then I really do have concerns about the electronics.  Any
> thought, ideas or experience?
> Bonnie McCartney
> Denver
>
>
>

Hi,

Sorry, I don't have the answer to your question, maybe one of the other
users does. More focused on software... You might try on one of the
other km groups.

Later,

-- John.

Bonnie,

I've gone through my service manuals and I don't have anything earlier
than the KH930.  You may want to try and call Jerry Carrier at
Needle-Tek at 360-892-2304, or at www.northwestknittingsupplies.com   If
you feel confident to change the part yourself, he can send the part,
otherwise, he can do the repair at his shop.  They're at 11312 NE 23rd
St. Vancouver, WA 98684.

Sue H.

bonitamccartney wrote:

>I have a brother 910.  The electronics work fine.  But, the thingy, or
>wheel, or disk that advances the card when I first put it in does not
>advance the card.  What is that piece called?  Can I open it up and
>change a piece?  Are parts available and where can I get them?  My
>dealer said to bring it in but she can not gaurantee that she can fix
>it.  She said it may have to be shipped somewhere.  If that is the
>case, then I really do have concerns about the electronics.  Any
>thought, ideas or experience?
>Bonnie McCartney
>Denver
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>Yahoo! Groups Links
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