Q68 on QL Network

[dilwyn]

So long since I used the Q68 network driver, I think I must be doing something wrong and need help to figure it out. I'm pretty sure I've had it all working OK in the past.

As Martyn's NET driver for Q68 has no instructions, I'm a bit stuck.

I have a QL/Gold Card (NET1) networked with Q68 (NET2) and an Aurora (NET3). The network cables go from QL to Q68, and the second cable from Q68 to Aurora.

I LRESPRed ndq68_dvr_v305 on Q68. I can use NET and FSERVE commands and PRINT NET_VER$ returns the v3.05 version number as expected to confirm the driver is installed on Q68.

The QL and Aurora can see each other and read each other's drives with DIR n3_win1_ and DIR n1_win1_ respectively, so the Q68 network sockets work (in the sense that the network signals get from n1_ to n3_ OK). The Q68 is totally ignored by the other two and any attempts to access its devices on N2_ just fail and time out.

Suggestions as to where I go next please!

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi Dilwyn,

I usually test each Q68 network, from a Trump Card QL to Q68 with the Q68 as a server.

I have not setup a multi-node network like yours, which I will do today.

Can you try, only 2 nodes on the network.

[dilwyn]

Thanks Derek, I have just tried the three combinations of two of the machines. As they were two station networks, I just left everything as NET 1 with FSERVE running.

QL/Gold Card + Q68 : same results - no communication, times out after usual period.

Q68 + Aurora/SGC : same results - no communication, times out after usual period.

QL/Gold Card + Aurora SGC : works OK.

Just wondering, the Q68 network driver v3.05 goes back to 2019, is there a more recent version, perhaps?

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi Dilwyn

Looks like a problem with the Q68 network circuitry or driver.

But you said the Q68 acting as a server allowed network pass through.

This could indicate a software driver problem but also could hardware.

If you want to return the Q68 I will have a look at the internal Q68 circuitry.

[Martin_Head]

Hi Dilwyn,
A couple of idea's

Have you been inside the Q68 lately? Is the cable from the network sockets plugged in to the main board (and the right way round).

Do you have my IP network driver running on the Q68? If so it needs to be configured to use different network names, otherwise it will clash with Martyn's driver.

[dilwyn]

Hi Dilwyn,
A couple of idea's

Have you been inside the Q68 lately? Is the cable from the network sockets plugged in to the main board (and the right way round).

Do you have my IP network driver running on the Q68? If so it needs to be configured to use different network names, otherwise it will clash with Martyn's driver.

Will need to find a security screwdriver to do that (not normal screws). Will try when I get home. Assumed that wouldn't be necessary as network pass-through works, net 1 can communicate with net 3. Maybe that just works passively.

No, IP network driver not installed.

[Martin_Head]

If you have a multimeter, you might want to check that the termination resistors are being switched in and out correctly.

I had a problem with my Q68 that the resistors were not being switched in correctly as the switching contacts on the jack sockets were not engaging correctly when the plug was in or out. And I needed to gently bend the the sockets contacts to make them work correctly.

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi,

The Q68 Case screws are Trox T20 screws, ost socket screwdriver kit have this screwdriver bit.

The Network circuitry is on the form of a inline cable, which secured to the top case section. All the terminating resistor are shrink wrapped. Maybe the Network connector is not terminating the network connector.

If you can remove the top 4 screws from and back, the top case section can be removed, but be careful to not damage the Network connector connecting to the Expansion port.

This can be returned to me for investigation. The Q68 will operate without the top cover on

The connector connecting to the Q68 expansion connector is a 4 way plug with 3 connections fitted.

I have put a Black paint edge which should align with the bottom of the expansion connector nearest to the front of the Q68.

Maybe a guide should be fitted, to avoid incorrect connection.

[martyn_hill]

Hiya Dilwyn!

Great to hear that you're exploring the Network again!

I'm sure between us we can get you running across all your networked deices

You are right that there are no real documents provided with the ND-Q68 driver, aside from the description I added to the original post on this Forum when I first published the driver. It was designed to be 'plug and play', with only that LRESPR being required in addition to making reference to any of the existing documents on the QL Network - but of course, that only covers the scenario 'when things work'!

'When things don't work' (TM), we must start down a check-list of the more obvious towards the more subtle - and the document also published on the Forum "Networking the QL and Spectrum" includes a fairly comprehensive section on troubleshooting - but I bet you're long past that already. None the less, if you haven't reviewed it recently, re-reading it might jog some ideas of your own.

Aside from some emerging issue with the NW hardware 'adapter' - which you say did work previously - there is one potential software issue, for which I can in any case provide a more updated driver. When I originally developed ND-Q68, I only had access to vanilla QLs, a QXL and a QL with SuperGoldCard - and only later did I acquire a GoldCard for testing. By that time, I had already rev'ved the driver version several times, so I've never explicitly tested ND-Q68 v3.05 with a GoldCard peer QL - only later driver versions. For the QLUB project, for example, I had to make special provision for communicating with GC equipped QLs that wasn't necessary for the other peer systems. It was a simple 'timing-constant' change in the QLUB firmware and that has long since been incorporated into later ND-Q68 driver versions (currently at v3.18b)

So, once you've eliminated some new hardware issue with the simple NW adapter (does the Q68 rattle at all?) and feel satisfied that you've covered the troubleshooting ideas in the above referenced document (again, re-attached here), feel free to download ND-Q68 v3.18b - hereby attached - LRESPR as usual, then let us know the result.

Good luck!

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi

I have downloaded the new ND driver.

I do not have a Gold card or Super Gold, I assumed that they would work.

The QL NET from Q68 to QLUB using QPC2, sQLux, uQLx, SMSQmulator, Q-EMulator all connect together and with a Tetroid TDI Trump Card.

I have not tried GC, SGC, QXL, maybe something I will have to try, once I get the hardware.

Does the Tetroid SGC/GC work the same as the Miracle original?