MSXDISK 0.95: How to load CAS files over JOYSTICK2 at 12X speed

By ocitygate

Expert (72)

12-03-2021, 16:48

Download MSXDISK.ZIP

System Requirements

1. Real 64K MSX Z80 at 3.58MHz

2. Connection cable between audio output (PC) and cassette recorder port (MSX).

3. Connection cable between RS232 (PC) and JOYSTICK2 (MSX). Refer to JOY232.PNG

Alternatively you can use a USB to TTL RS232 Adapter. Connect:
JOYSTICK2 PIN1 to TTL TX (green)
JOYSTICK2 PIN6 to TTL RX (white)
JOYSTICK2 PIN9 to TTL GND (black)

Instructions

1. Open MSXDISK.EXE and choose RS232 port.

2. Power up MSX and type BLOAD"CAS:",R then click CASLDR and click Play button.
When complete "Ok" should appear on MSX. Click Close button.

3. Click the Eject button on CAS: to mount a CAS image

4. On MSX, type the usual command eg. BLOAD"CAS:",R or RUN"CAS:"
The cassette should load over JOYSTICK2 at 12X speed

By larsthe18th

Master (187)

12-03-2021, 21:58

Thanks again for this great project.
After loading CASLDR i dont get the "OK" prompt on screen,i do see some communication over the RS232 port after loading.
The log shows Date/Time/TAPE BIOS.

By ocitygate

Expert (72)

12-03-2021, 22:23

You should get the usual "Ok" message on MSX.
The TAPE BIOS log entry indicates a request to patch the BIOS TAPEIO routines.
The communication is the MSX sending the BIOS to PC, then PC sending it back patched.
Still experimental... some cassettes revert back to original BIOS.
I'm working on patches to prevent this but there is no simple solution.
Tested working: Pacman, Arkanoid, The Goonies
Not working: World Cup Soccer, Afterburner, Tetris

By larsthe18th

Master (187)

13-03-2021, 00:30

I think something went wrong in CASLDR, after reading the SUBslot register #FFFF.

Reading returns the inverse of the current subslot selection. so it has to be Inverted ... (XOR FF) or (CPL)
@F993 LD A,(#FFFF)
CPL
AND #C0
………..

On a Toshiba HX-10 MSX, you will not notice this because the memory is located in a primary (slot 2),
In a Philips 8020 the memory is in slot 3-2 and will crash.

Another pitfall is a Sony 500p where the Upper 32k memory is in Slot 0-0, the Lower 32k memory in Slot 0-2

I hope this information helps you ...

By ocitygate

Expert (72)

13-03-2021, 17:09

@larsthe18th
Try MSXDISK.ZIP v0.95.1
Hope this fixes it for Philips. Still have to work out a solution for Sony.
Let me know.

By larsthe18th

Master (187)

13-03-2021, 21:59

Well done, it works great now.
Tested it with the game H.E.R.O. Nice.

By ocitygate

Expert (72)

14-03-2021, 14:05

Did you try again with the DIY dongle?

By st1mpy

Paladin (904)

14-03-2021, 16:55

Just tried the new cas loading feature. Because I don't have a cassette tape cable, I had to do the following (is it possible to have this casldr program loadable from disk please).
I'm using yamaha cx5mii/128, with the disk.rom burnt in eeprom and inserted in cartridge slot.

In the msxdos dsk I also placed loadcas and loadcasx obtained from msxhub.com/LOADCAS
Also I copied the casldr.cas to the dsk file.

In msxdisk insert the disk prepared above. Go to disk basic. Type:
Copy"loadcas"to"casldr"
Bload"casldr",r

Mount a cas image in msxdisk.

On msx type bload"CAS:",R or run"cas:"

Then the cas game should load and run very quickly!

By larsthe18th

Master (187)

15-03-2021, 23:44

Yes i will indeed try the DIY dongle, but I used the DB9 plug with the new adapter so I first have to buy a new DB9 plug.
Test results will follow.

By ocitygate

Expert (72)

18-03-2021, 14:35

@larsthe18th
Contact me privately here

By larsthe18th

Master (187)

20-03-2021, 19:00

Sorry for the delay, have created a 2.0 version of the DIY adapter, Now with Leds.

This adapter works perfectly with version v0.95.1
Sorry i'm not using WhatsApp, you can find my e-mail adress in my profile.