BeebMaster - What's New

What's New 2022

Please see below for 2022 updates to BeebMaster

1st December 2022

For my final update of 2022, we begin with more BeebSCSI:

BeebSCSI testing.

More BeebSCSI testing, this time with version 2.5 firmware.

Adding an NFS share to my Level 4 file server. Incidentally, this picture set is the first one in the normal run of updates which already had an HTMLGEN captions file made for it, so I just had to put the file through HTMLGEN to make all the pages. It wasn't quite as straightforward as that though, because the captions file was written using an HTMLGEN version 3 template and using HTMLGEN 3.0 didn't work properly - so I had to manually convert the captions file to a version 4 template and then use the latest version of HTMLGEN!

My two Raspberry Pi 4B boards, which arrived in August 2019, and which are by now both invaluable to my whole computing setup. This set is another one with the HTMLGEN captions file written at the time, instead of the night before the update, but in this case it did work in HTMLGEN version 3.0 with a couple of modifications I put in from later versions. The only thing here is that HTMLGEN at that time didn't have the scaling option in it, so for this set, and any others generated with HTMLGEN 3, you won't be able to click the top-left of the pictures to see them full-sized. Not to worry, HTMLGEN 4 came along not very long after, so there won't be many like this and we should be onto the version 4 templates early in the new year!

I thought I would end the year on a cheery note, with a picture set of my 50th anniversary "Wizard of Oz" laserdisc, which I took in August 2019 on the 80th anniversary of the film.

1st November 2022

November is upon us, and this month's update begins with more Pi Tube Direct:

My first use of Pi Tube Direct with a BBC Model B.

After a fix to the Pi Tube Direct firmware, a workout wih ANFS.

Now a bit more MDFS, with a look at using the file server from a user station, including its management and online facilities.

My Philips PM3210 Oscillosope.

1st October 2022

After an unexpectedly eventful and tearful September, I begin October with more PiTubeDirect:

PiTubeDirect Co-Processors.

Using PiTubeDirect with ANFS.

Now a look at two of my MDFSes:

Testing my MDFS 2300 in November 2018.

Testing MDFS 1.03 in December 2018.

22nd September 2022

My journey to London, to see The Queen, for the very last time.

15th September 2022

8th September 2022

HER MOST NOBLE GRACIOUS AND BRITANNIC MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND
21st April 1926 - 8th September 2022

1st September 2022

September's update continues with my BeebSCSI:

Initialising BeebSCSI for use with the Level 3 file server.

Testing BeebSCSI read speeds.

Using the BeebSCSI Utility ROM.

BeebSCSI with the Level 3 File Server.

And more on Pi Tube Direct:

First use of my Raspberry Pi Tube Direct.

A look at the different speeds Pi Tube's 6502 co-processor can run at.

1st August 2022

The Beebs survived the heatwave; after all, thirty-odd degrees is pretty cool for a computer, so I'm back with more:

Yes, the much-anticipated final episode of L3 File Server Survey - and now you can binge-watch the whole series from episode 0.90 to 1.25 in one go!

Some Econet layouts, illustrated with pictures showing the contents of my former "Econet Starter Packs".

A new Econet module for 2018, the Red Econet Module made by Ian S!

Using my BeebSCSI boards for the first time in October 2018.

Formatting BeebSCSI using UltraForm.

And ending this month with a lead-in to next month, with a look at the essential component to the PiTubeDirect second processor - a Raspberry Pi!

1st July 2022

This month's updates begin with more on the Level 3 file server:

Level 3 file server version 1.07.

And a big jump to version 1.24.

Followed by some 32-bit things:

A look at my RISC PC 600 from August 2018.

Acorn Winchester Disc podule.

And some new hardware projects in two of my favourite subjects:

BeebSCSI, the 1MHz Bus hard drive replacement.

PiTubeDirect, the Raspberry-Pi based second processor!

By popular demand, you can now buy triple-length Econet leads and Econet extension leads from the Beebshop!

6th June 2022

Four new picture sets from my trip to London for the Platinum Jubilee weekend:

Pre-Birthday Parade recce.

The world's greatest military parade, all in honour of our Platinum Queen.

Travelling on the Elizabeth line for the first time.

Not the most impressive sight ever to have been installed at HM Palace and Fortress The Tower of London.

1st June 2022

The Nation and Commonwealth is gripped by Jubilee fever but I've found a bit of time to carry on with the Beebing, so here's what there is for June:

Continuing with the survey of Level 3 file server versions, beginning with 1.01.

Version 1.03

Version 1.04.

And, finally for now, 1.06.

Still on the subject of Econet, a look at using an updated version of AFS Filer to have another go at rescuing my main Level 3 File Server.

Followed shortly afterwards by 1.8.

A June 2018 progress update to my Level 3 File Server rescue efforts.

The final assembly of the July 2018 batch of Model B Econet Upgrade Kits.

To prepare you for the enormity of the occasion starting tomorrow, please take a look here:

My most recent Royal picture set, from the State Opening in Parliament in October 2019.

The bunting is up at home, and I'm off to the Jubilee today. If I get a picture, I'll bring it to you early next week - wish me luck and God save The Queen!

1st May 2022

Happy nineteenth birthday to me! I hope you will take a look at this month's new updates:

Testing a batch of 68B54 chips for a new set of Econet upgrade kits.

Closely followed by 75159.

ARFS is a utility ROM for use with the !65Host Archimedes emulator, but here I am trying it out on a Beeb.

This is the beginning of a survey of the different versions of the Acorn Level 3 file server.

First up, FS3 Version 0.90.

Followed by 0.92.

As always on this anniversary occasion, I invite you to have a good sift through the 27,000 other pages on here, and you might like to start with an update to my Tea section:

This year's birthday tea update starts with my Crispin china.

My Fortnum & Mason china.

My Platinum Jubilee BeebShop sale is still running, so get yourself a 19.52% discount on everything until after the Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend next month, and come back in early June for more!

2nd April 2022

April's update looks like this:

A first real test of my ADFS Imager following a dry run with the Technomatic.

A look at the difference between Acorn and SJ Research's versions of *VIEW.

And now the differences between Model B and Master 128 versions of View.

An Econet security flaw exploited with *NOTIFY.

Some differences in the reset process when ANFS is loaded.

A look at the configuration settings for Ethernet on my RISC PC.

1st March 2022

March is upon us, and to start today's update, more hard drives, beginning with the little red marvel, SCSI2SD:

Setting up a new SD card for use in SCSI2SD.

Investigating *BYE with SCSI2SD.

Oops!

Multi-SCSI2SD.

Exploring SCSI2SD serial numbers.

Altering the memory-mapping of the host adapter.

To finish, so you can get back to your shroves on this Tuesday:

Using ADT to copy memory between the host and second processor.

Using ChangeFSI to batch-process multiple image files.

6th February 2022

The most auspicious day our country has ever seen, as Our Gracious Queen achieves seventy years on the throne. It's never been done before in British history, and it's hardly been done before anywhere else either! Today I am starting my Platinum Jubilee Pages beginning with the installation of my new Platinum Jubilee Flagpole which is of course today flying my new 2-yard Union Flag.

Today's update also takes us to Chester in 2018, when I had the great privilege to see Her Most Noble Majesty The Queen and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex, with a very appropriately, and entirely coincidentally, sized set of 52 pictures, and also to get some updated pictures of the State Bentley. Please come back during 2022 for more Platinum Jubilee updates!

And now on with the Beebery, starting with Econet:

NFS vs ANFS Econet library.

Level 3 FS with SCSI2SD.

Beginning a Sunfish Econet rebuild.

Using AFS Filer.

Some sets with my hard drives, beginning a process of archiving them:

Giving my Technomatic Winchester a pre-backup health check.

ADFS Imager dummy run.

Of course, it wouldn't be a national celebration without a BeebShop discount sale, now would it! So please take a look at the BeebShop 19.52% Discount Sale while you can!

1st January 2022

As with last year, I hope and pray that the hellhole of a year just gone will not recur this year, and with renewed vigour hope that I won't be proved wrong again. The last few days of 2021 were a whirlwind of Domesday at BeebMaster Towers, so that I can now present to the cosmos my second fully assembled and fully working Domesday Machine!