Re: TI-H: Ti 81 Link? huh?

To: ti-hardware@lists.ticalc.org
Subject: Re: TI-H: Ti 81 Link? huh?
From: "Richard Piotter" <richfiles@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 13:51:11 PDT
Reply-To: ti-hardware@lists.ticalc.org
>I was just wondering if there was anything other than turboing that you
>could do to a TI 81? Such as a link or something?
>
>Matthew Andersen wrote:
>
>> I opened up a 81 tonight (just now in fact) and noticed that there 
was
>> three contacts like on the 85 for what looks like a link what is 
it... i
>> know there is n't an alpha link thing on the 81 but is this a ti plan
>> for the 82 or what... just wondering....
>>
>> MAndersen@dhvx20.csudh.edu


Hey, is this a new TI-81 or an old one, preferably what year did you buy 
it? Some new TI-81s use a different form of battery backup. I believe it 
is actualy a backup capacitor. The backup battery is replaced with a 
plastic cover. I knew there were diferent TI-81 models, so some may be 
based on the TI-85 with a TI 81 screen and ROM, plus a few 
modifications. I spend a ton of time last night trying to fix Austin 
Butlers TI-85 and it had a wierd mainboard. It had a notch about 1/2 
inch deep and 3/4 inch wide (~1x1.5 cm) and thre are 3 contacts. The 
three contacts connect to a short ribbon cable that leads to another 
tiny board with just a link connector attached. Send me a photo of your 
TI-81 and I'll scan and post it. I can see if there is a possibility of 
it being an 85 board with an 81 screen and ROM. It is possible that, 
since the 85 is a DIRECT decendant of the 81, that TI may have used 
TI-85 boards (or ones similar) for the TI-81. I won't say I'm sure, but 
it's a possibility. Comodore used to modify older model drive and 
computer boards with newr ROM to save money in production. TI may have 
done this for a very short time, probably when the 85 was new and didn't 
have a set board design. I need to ask Austin Butler what year he bought 
his calc. If they were purchased in the same year, that wpuld be a good 
indication that TI had at one time done this! Can you imagine if a TI-81 
to 85 upgrade were possible! TI-81 ASM possibly! 

Don't chew me out over this. I know that the ROM would need replacing, 
but if it were possible, you could possibly do alot more! 



Richard Piotter

e-mail: richfiles@hotmail.com

home page: <A 
HREF="http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/5081/Richfiles.html">The 
Richfiles</A>

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com