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Valiant turtle software for risc pc? |
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thecellartroll (16:13 19/8/2012)
sinns (12:45 24/8/2012)
thecellartroll (23:30 24/8/2012)
sinns (22:07 26/8/2012)
CJE (12:32 28/8/2012)
thecellartroll (16:31 28/8/2012)
CJE (15:32 30/8/2012)
thecellartroll (19:29 30/8/2012)
thecellartroll (22:10 3/9/2012)
sinns (15:47 6/9/2012)
thecellartroll (16:14 6/9/2012)
trevj (09:51 29/8/2012)
thecellartroll (17:42 29/8/2012)
thecellartroll (18:15 29/8/2012)
MEmerton (20:39 29/8/2012)
thecellartroll (14:03 30/8/2012)
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Steven Gregory |
Message #120928, posted by thecellartroll at 16:13, 19/8/2012 |
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Posts: 134
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I just got a Valiant Turtle after a long time hunting 
Is there any software to allow it to run on Risc OS? The cable that came with it looks like an ordinary PC serial connection. |
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Simon Inns |
Message #120952, posted by sinns at 12:45, 24/8/2012, in reply to message #120928 |
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Posts: 65
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Hi, I don't believe there was ever Archimedes software for the VTurtle; I only ever came across BBC software. The cable is serial though; you can find the pin out on my website:
http://www.waitingforfriday.com/index.php/Valiant_Turtle
P.S. I think it may be possible to control it from the Arch using the BBC emulator though
[Edited by sinns at 12:49, 24/8/2012] |
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Steven Gregory |
Message #120956, posted by thecellartroll at 23:30, 24/8/2012, in reply to message #120952 |
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Posts: 134
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Thanks for the reply Simon. I had come across your wesbite, and very handy it is too!
If I get hold of the BBC disks for the turtle I'll have a go and see if the !6502 program works with it. I have a BBC Master also, but I haven't had time to build a new cable (or find one of them funky domino DIN plugs). |
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Simon Inns |
Message #120959, posted by sinns at 22:07, 26/8/2012, in reply to message #120956 |
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Posts: 65
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The funky 5 pin serial DINs are a little strange but you can source them on ebay. I while back I got a bag of them just so I didn't have that problem any more.
I have a BBC micro and managed to get my turtle working happily via the serial port. The not-so-good part was that the stepper motors in my turtle turned out to be broken and I haven't managed to source new ones. That's why the notes on my website are a little brief - I never really finished getting it all working. |
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Chris Evans |
Message #120960, posted by CJE at 12:32, 28/8/2012, in reply to message #120952 |
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Posts: 137
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Hi, I don't believe there was ever Archimedes software for the VTurtle; I only ever came across BBC software. IIRC Many years ago Valiant sent us a Turtle and Beta RISC OS software for testing. IIRC it failed to run. We provided feedback but never got a later
version.
Anyone to buy a Turtle? |
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Steven Gregory |
Message #120962, posted by thecellartroll at 16:31, 28/8/2012, in reply to message #120960 |
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Posts: 134
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Well, my turtle would love a mate, but I don't have the funds at the moment!
It is a shame that the Risc OS software didn't work. Do you still have it? I wonder if anyone is clever enough to fix it... |
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Trevor Johnson |
Message #120963, posted by trevj at 09:51, 29/8/2012, in reply to message #120960 |
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IIRC it failed to run. "TURTLE will work with Archimedes computers if they have a serial port fitted." (Go: The Valiant User Group Magazine & Teacher Resource, Issue 17, March 1993)
Edit: Roamer and Console Computer Interface.$84.95, Contains: Software disk, interface lead and instruction book. (Roamer, not Turtle)
Edit: Valiant Turtle Interfaces $79.95, Contains: Software interface disk, lead and instructions. (Shame it's an archive.) Also Almost Logo "is the only one providing support for a floor turtle."
[Edited by trevj at 10:21, 29/8/2012] |
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Steven Gregory |
Message #120964, posted by thecellartroll at 17:42, 29/8/2012, in reply to message #120963 |
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I have contacted Valiant to see if they can still dig up a copy of software for the turtle but they haven't responded, so I'm guessing they're too busy or not interested in keeping their old products alive  |
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Steven Gregory |
Message #120965, posted by thecellartroll at 18:15, 29/8/2012, in reply to message #120964 |
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Also I have contacted Kudlian Software as mentioned in the article you linked to to see if they still have the turtle program |
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Michael Emerton |
Message #120966, posted by MEmerton at 20:39, 29/8/2012, in reply to message #120928 |
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Hmm, did Dart or Logman logotron software work with these, as my Secondary School gave be a black sac full of discs years ago, with Smile and Dart. I think we owned Logman Logotron.
The school used Dart through some interesting auto !65Host setup on their A3010/20 network I seem to remember. |
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Steven Gregory |
Message #120968, posted by thecellartroll at 14:03, 30/8/2012, in reply to message #120966 |
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Logotron Logo did, although whether all versions did I am not sure. I'd like to find out if you still have the discs though |
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Chris Evans |
Message #120969, posted by CJE at 15:32, 30/8/2012, in reply to message #120962 |
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Well, my turtle would love a mate, but I don't have the funds at the moment!
It is a shame that the Risc OS software didn't work. Do you still have it? I wonder if anyone is clever enough to fix it... Steven send me an email at: chris@cjemicros.co.uk |
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Steven Gregory |
Message #120970, posted by thecellartroll at 19:29, 30/8/2012, in reply to message #120969 |
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Done |
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Steven Gregory |
Message #120984, posted by thecellartroll at 22:10, 3/9/2012, in reply to message #120970 |
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@Simon - are you sure that your stepper motors are broken? You say on your site that you powered the control box with 6V.
I tried 6v on mine and the motors looked like they were trying to move but wouldn't. In fact the PSU that comes with the control box is 19V and it seems to require a much higher voltage than 6V to work. Mine is working fine with 19V... |
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Simon Inns |
Message #120989, posted by sinns at 15:47, 6/9/2012, in reply to message #120984 |
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The control box has a LM340TS power regulator which the datasheet says handles a maximum of 35Vs. The regulator has a drop-out of 2Vs. That means, if you want 5Vs out you should give it at least 7Vs; so 6V is a little low... but it won't make any difference in reality.
I would recommend that you use (at most) 12Vs as the regulator has a small heat-sink and would get pretty hot dropping 19V to 5Vs.
The servos on my robot were smashed internally; the control box and receiver worked perfectly and responded correctly to the BBC micro's commands. |
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Steven Gregory |
Message #120990, posted by thecellartroll at 16:14, 6/9/2012, in reply to message #120989 |
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The control box does get warm at 19V but not ridiculously so. Valiant originally intended it to run on that so presumably they must have designed it to cope.
Your Turtle must have suffered some heinous abuse in its time! That is a real shame as the Turtle is a very nice thing indeed. I am impressed by its accuracy when its drawing - all the corners match up perfectly! The only problem with mine is that some tech has at some time tried to modify the pen holder and in doing so has made it a bit rough so it sticks sometimes when being raised or lowered.
Still, I guess that if you couldn't find replacement stepper motors, you could use the turtle mainboard to construct a whole new turtle with different motors and wheels |
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