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Author Topic: TI-81 Linking  (Read 3584 times)

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Offline Ancient Power

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TI-81 Linking
« on: May 30, 2010, 11:19:26 pm »
This is probably very unlikely, but while looking at Datamath recently, I noticed something about the later TI-81s. 

At the bottom, just as in the 82 there are contacts for the 2.5mm jack, and it even has "JACK" printed above it.
Also in Unity's documentation, the I/O port is mentioned, but it's stated that it is just disconnected.

This made me wonder: if one was to solder in a link port, would it be possible to write an assembly program that could allow an 81 to recieve files via a link cable? It doesn't seem impossible, and it would be incredibly useful if it was done. So is it possible, and is anyone willing to try it?
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Offline DJ Omnimaga

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Re: TI-81 Linking
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2010, 11:36:26 pm »
I think they prepared those calcs for linking or used hardware similar to the 82 or 85, but I am certain it could be modified to allow linking.

Sadly it wouldn't have much use in terms of gaming, because very few people got TI-81s anymore. That said the idea might still be nice, though.
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Offline TIfanx1999

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Re: TI-81 Linking
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2010, 11:50:48 pm »
It would be super cool, but I really don't know. If I remember right, they are really limited on storage space too unfortunately.
*Edit* Post 666! >:D Oh shi-
« Last Edit: May 30, 2010, 11:54:23 pm by Art_of_camelot »
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Offline Ancient Power

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Re: TI-81 Linking
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2010, 11:56:21 pm »
They only have 2.4kb of user-accessible memory, and I figured that something like this would be more for the novelty of it rather than serious programming.
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Offline Juju

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Re: TI-81 Linking
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2010, 12:17:44 am »
I think it's worth trying, even nobody would use them, in that case it would be a proof of concept to show everyone that you can do it, maybe it would even help understanding the mechanics of this printed circuit.
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Offline DJ Omnimaga

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Re: TI-81 Linking
« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2010, 12:20:07 am »
Anicent Power, the 81 actually has 8 KB of RAM. Only 2.4 KB is avaiable for the user for program and list storage
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Offline TravisE

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Re: TI-81 Linking
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2010, 07:14:25 pm »
I think it all depends on how the circuit board is wired up. If the contacts where the link port have traces that are connected to the CPU in some way or another, then it's quite possible; otherwise, you're going to have to do some delicate electrical hacking to attach it to the CPU, if it's practical at all.
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Offline BrandonW

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Re: TI-81 Linking
« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2010, 07:20:43 pm »
It uses the TI-82 style PCB, but that's where the similarities end. Even if you managed to get this to work, there's no way to modify the ROM to work with it.

You'd have better luck trying to wire it to the keypad and writing programs oncalc that talk via the keypad port...something I've been wanting to do for a long time.
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Re: TI-81 Linking
« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2010, 05:19:01 pm »
I was thinking of making a simple robot to type programs into an 81, but I don't know if I will ever get around to it.
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Offline DJ Omnimaga

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Re: TI-81 Linking
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2010, 04:05:37 am »
that would nice, altough it might not be useful to many people since 81s are so rare these days :(
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