LEGO Interface A (9750/9771) – LEGO Technic Control 1 (TC1) reference/ideas thread

[alexGS]

I think the C64 LEGO Lines works similarly - it has a ‘loader’ written in BASIC that displays the title screen, but the main part is written in assembly language for speed. I’d never gone further with working out how the code worked but there are similar registers in the C64 for user port data direction and bit values. Well done for figuring it out, Thorsten :)

[Toastie]

Hi Alex,

thank you for the flowers!

5 hours ago, alexGS said:

 it has a ‘loader’ written in BASIC that displays the title screen, but the main part is written in assembly language for speed.

Yes, that was the same in Sinclair world - and the reason I could crack copy protection of video games, which made my fellow chemistry students happy in the 1980s. I guess they can't cancel my SOE on that ... I never played video games. A nerd I am.

However, the strange thing here is, that only a few lines of code are in assembly. Most of the program (featuring quite a number of CHAIN statements for switching between (sub) BASIC programs. I also believe BBC Lines does not have the power setting 0-7 or did it? That would need assembly for sure, doesn't it?

But once again: I love the way Beep's BASIC allowed to code assembly: "[" and off you go, with line numbers and assembly mnemonics(!), no CHR$ poking ... nice!

All the best,
Thorsten

[evank]

@alexGS you're correct. Commodore BASIC requires you to tell it which user port bits are outputs before proceeding.

@Toastie I never use Lines so I don't know if it has power control. I could RTFM but you seem to enjoy that so much! :) I do know TC Logo has the 0-7 power control. I wish there was an easy easy to enable this in Applesoft BASIC, which as you guys know is my favorite. (Toastie that can be your next project, after which I'd have to rename my website ... it's nearly more your work than mine!)

[maehw]

Hi everyone.

I don't think that any variant of LEGO Lines offers power levels. The UI also only allows zeros and ones (and "don't care" for inputs). So only binary — on or off. Also, I don't think there was a hidden option — for Block Lines I reverse engineered the file formats and the encoding also would not support that.

Edited January 17 by maehw

[Toastie]

@maehw

I am sorry for not responding earlier!

For one: Thank you very much for optimizing the serial-to-parallel code!!! I was so tied-up with 9751 and then the CodePilot controlled/programmed with QBasic.

As said before: I do "program"  in C++ as if it were BASIC ;)

I just downloaded your version, looks much more elegant - it will work as my crappy version did with 9750, right? And an IBM XT would also function, correct? I am about ordering a couple of Nano's from Eckstein and flash them with your code and then use these with HC5's for wireless access to one of my 9750's, as well as my modified 8485. Reason: Too many cables in my path when walking over to the TI99, Atari ST, and the Sinclair's ... 

With regard to your LEGO Lines version: Totally cool - I love it!

With very best regards
Thorsten

[maehw]

Hi Thorsten,

no worries.

I've just re-read the code and slightly modified it: https://github.com/maehw/BrickLines/blob/main/hardware/serial2parallel_converter/arduino_sketch/arduino_sketch.ino

Should work the same - just added another bitmask for the status bits. However, I haven't tried this version yet.. so if it turns out not to work as you'd expect, please let me know. The previous version worked fine for me™.

And thanks for your original code contribution. Mine is just heavily based on yours, I only remember to have cleaned it up a bit. I do not have an IBM XT here, so I cannot test that but I haven't touched baud rate settings from your code, IIRC.

Still having a visit at the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek in my mind to acquire the data from that book diskette... even if it will not give us the LEGO Lines code for IBM PC. I'll ask Daniel if he was successful with the precious disks from LEGO.

 

On 2/13/2025 at 10:45 PM, Toastie said:

@maehw

I am sorry for not responding earlier!

For one: Thank you very much for optimizing the serial-to-parallel code!!! I was so tied-up with 9751 and then the CodePilot controlled/programmed with QBasic.

As said before: I do "program"  in C++ as if it were BASIC ;)

I just downloaded your version, looks much more elegant - it will work as my crappy version did with 9750, right? And an IBM XT would also function, correct? I am about ordering a couple of Nano's from Eckstein and flash them with your code and then use these with HC5's for wireless access to one of my 9750's, as well as my modified 8485. Reason: Too many cables in my path when walking over to the TI99, Atari ST, and the Sinclair's ... 

With regard to your LEGO Lines version: Totally cool - I love it!

With very best regards
Thorsten

[Toastie]

On 2/15/2025 at 2:38 PM, maehw said:

Still having a visit at the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek in my mind to acquire the data from that book diskette... even if it will not give us the LEGO Lines code for IBM PC. I'll ask Daniel if he was successful with the precious disks from LEGO.

That will be very nice visit!!! Please let us know when you go there.

Also, nice to read that you'll be in touch with Daniel.

I shall try your code soon. Thank you very much for polishing it up!

All the best
Thorsten

 

[Philipp_83]

On 12/2/2024 at 4:05 PM, evank said:

I would be happy to put the Lego Lines for DOS disk image into the Archive.org Vintage Lego Robotics folder, if someone sends me a fresh copy of the disk.

Hi, is there any update regarding the disk image files for Lego Lines for DOS?

Edited April 5 by Philipp_83

[evank]

Sorry, no. @Toastie wasn't there someone you knew who acquired it recently? Or am I thinking of someone else?

[Toastie]

On 4/5/2025 at 3:26 PM, Philipp_83 said:

Hi, is there any update regarding the disk image files for Lego Lines for DOS?

Unfortunately no. We are still at this point in time: 2024-12-1 (two pages back in this thread, post from @maehw I am too dumb to quote from a post two pages away ... )

Daniel Schmatz from Austria may have the DOS disks. But I am not sure if he is willing to copy or lend them for copying. I am happy to do so, as certainly others as well.

That is all I know.

All the best
Thorsten

 

[maehw]

Yes, unfortunately not really any progress. 

I've been in touch with Daniel recently. He's expecting some kind of expense allowance to compensate the invested time to save the data from the disks. So maybe we could start throwing together a pile of money. What do yous think?

[Toastie]

56 minutes ago, maehw said:

What do yous think?

First, thank you very much for your lead on this!!!

Second: I am 100% in.

Best
Thorsten

[Gunners TekZone]

1 hour ago, maehw said:

He's expecting some kind of expense allowance to compensate the invested time to save the data from the disks

I decided to zip my lip  ... But don't have option to delete my own post???

Edited April 8 by Gunners TekZone

[Toastie]

15 minutes ago, Gunners TekZone said:

Hmmm... Perhaps I should just keep my opinion to self... but ... That is definitely not an altruistic approach to retaining and sharing historic software for others.   The "value" of collecting original vintage disks aside, how much "time and effort " does one think is involved in zipping up and uploading a few files to archive.org   I probably spent more time typing this out than it would take 

Well, +40 years old 5 1/4" disks are sort of delicate, not necessarily common anymore - and Daniel may have paid some money for getting his hands on some unobtanium. Maybe not - who cares. Plus he is running a >very< nice place oriented at kids/families ... that me be not in the focus of governmental support - times change as you certainly know better than me. Chipping in some money for all what he is doing seems to be - for me - a natural thing to do. I'll certainly volunteer to cover the entire "cost" - knowing it goes into his operation. I wish I had the time to do such things. 4 more years and I am retiring. Maybe then ...

Best
Thorsten

[Gunners TekZone]

Ya, I belatedly tried to delete my nonsense post... I haven't a clue who this Daniel is, or the circumstances at hand.  But alas, I was caught out  

And far be it for me to judge others... Sorry for my initial post 

39 minutes ago, Toastie said:

Well, +40 years old 5 1/4" disks are sort of delicate, not necessarily common anymore

I have seen TC-Logo for MS-DOS, but was there even such a thing as an OG LEGO Lines for MS-DOS??  I have only seen a few references, but nothing conclusive.  Oh well, I have no old DOS computers in my possession (despite starting my whole computer tech work history with ye old PC/XT), thus haven't really looked deeply into that side of things.

BTW, I do have the english converted LEGO Lines for the Commodore-64 that is on archive.org.  And I do appreciate the volunteered effort that was put into doing that.

Edited April 8 by Gunners TekZone
speelcheckin :P

[maehw]

5 hours ago, Gunners TekZone said:

I have seen TC-Logo for MS-DOS, but was there even such a thing as an OG LEGO Lines for MS-DOS??  I have only seen a few references, but nothing conclusive.  Oh well, I have no old DOS computers in my possession (despite starting my whole computer tech work history with ye old PC/XT), thus haven't really looked deeply into that side of things.

Hi @Gunners TekZone,

that was indeed also not very clear to me in the beginning, but I found some convincing hints around the interwebs: websites, a book and finally the auction with the mentioned unobtanium @Toastiementioned above. 

 

😅

[Gunners TekZone]

@maehw  Thanks for that!!  

Again, I regret my initial post... Turns out I have never actually read through this particular topic, otherwise I might have had more insight .  In fact, I am not entirely sure why I even got an email notice about the prior posts I responded to .  Perhaps because I recall following @Toastie ?

Oh well... regardless of my opinions I am in no position to contribute, nor benefit from a copy anyhow (No old PC/XT, etc. with adapter).  So I will just sit back and watch from the peanut gallery (and run LEGO Lines from my Commodore 128 ).

I have taken down my YT page from public view (for reasons) so here is here is the links to a couple showing my Interface-A in action:  

https://youtu.be/BERrGylAogo

https://youtube.com/shorts/EZK9pQUmsoI

Edited April 12 by Gunners TekZone

[evank]

On 4/8/2025 at 4:51 PM, maehw said:

Yes, unfortunately not really any progress. 

I've been in touch with Daniel recently. He's expecting some kind of expense allowance to compensate the invested time to save the data from the disks. So maybe we could start throwing together a pile of money. What do yous think?

Thanks for posting again. I'd forgotten who it was that worked with this person.

Didn't we already fund him last year? Or am I still thinking of someone/something else?

On 4/9/2025 at 1:18 AM, Gunners TekZone said:

here is the link to my YouTube video of my Interface-A https://youtu.be/BERrGylAogo

Thanks for sharing the link.

I recently made a similar video, showing how to program 9750 for the Apple II, BBC Micro, C-64, and IBM-PC, all using raw BASIC: 

 

[Toastie]

On 4/3/2023 at 8:59 PM, evank said:

Update: I watched the video, and that's definitely what I need! I emailed him just now. Thanks again for the tip.

This is what you wrote on April 3, 2023, in this thread, @evank - but I don't know whether you paid him anything? As far as I remember, you got copies of manuals from Daniel Schmatz that you put onto the Internet Archive, didn't you?

Man, time goes so fast.

For those of you interested, here is a link to his "museum's" website: https://kinderkram.eitle.at/?zeige=detailsaus&sprache=englisch

All the best,
Thorsten

On 4/9/2025 at 12:54 AM, Gunners TekZone said:

I haven't a clue who this Daniel is, or the circumstances at hand.

@Gunners TekZone - hey, no reason to apologize! Simply too much information at a time, plus all this insider talk ... it is tough to recall all the stuff discussed in a thread. I just do because I created this thread!

Link to Daniel Schmatz' museum is above - again, I am too stupid to insert a quote into a post I am editing ... 

EDIT #2: Ha!!! The auto merged function of the forum software does what I wanted ...

Edited April 10 by Toastie

[Gunners TekZone]

2 hours ago, evank said:

I recently made a similar video, showing how to program 9750 for the Apple II, BBC Micro, C-64, and IBM-PC, all using raw BASIC: 

Ah Yes... I watched all your videos way back when, while awaiting for my 1st (and only) Interface-A to arrive.  You have an amazing collection!!  I too originally played around with coding some stuff in Commodore 64 BASIC  before finding the English version of LEGO Lines.

I recently acquired original 1090 "box/book" of instruction cards, and I think I have assembled all the needed parts from within my collection... One day, when feeling well enough, I will build one of the arms.

[Gunners TekZone]

1 hour ago, Toastie said:

Link to Daniel Schmatz' museum is above

Ah... Thanks.  Now I know why I was unaware, between German language videos and museum location, I was totally unaware.  Might as well be on the moon... well, the far side, as I can at least see the near side from here 

[evank]

@Toastie -- My post from April 2023 was about manuals. I thought now we're talking about DOS software?

[Toastie]

@evank Yes we do, but did Daniel charge anything back then?

Best
Thorsten

On 4/10/2025 at 7:04 PM, evank said:

Didn't we already fund him last year?

Hi Evan,
well, I did not - as far as I remember you got in touch with Daniel last year - wasn't that about manuals for LEGO C64 

[evank]

5 hours ago, Toastie said:

@evank Yes we do, but did Daniel charge anything back then?

Best
Thorsten

Hi Evan,
well, I did not - as far as I remember you got in touch with Daniel last year - wasn't that about manuals for LEGO C64 

I thought it was about BBC Micro stuff. Anyway, I must have been thinking of someone else, not you. Sorry for causing confusion.

[Toastie]

I like confusion - not overboard, but a little here and there makes life much easier!

And: As I got confused myself, it is even better

All the best
Thorsten