MiSTer FPGA Forum

A tiny question if I may, the Next in real hardware terms has an option to add another SD card and thus appears as Drive D. So my question being is there a way to have 2 SD cards (or images) running as separate drives? (Within the MiSTer core that is) NB: I do have a Real Hardware Rev.1 Next (Inside a 48K modified case), and use this 2 card method meaning I can update the Main C drive with any updates while keeping my software collections on the D. Anyway just asking as I couldn't see a mention in the docs.

Absolutely loving this core, amazing work.
For those scratching their heads with all things ZXNext, the original site may prove helpful, as well as the forums.
https://www.specnext.com/
https://www.specnext.com/forum/

On a different note, for those looking for games here is something NEXT specific:
https://gitlab.com/strandgames/brahman/ ... ompilation
Remember the Magnetic Scrolls games, well here are the updated versions complete with graphics: Yes Spectrum owners missed out on pictures with these games. There is even a compilation version you can make into an image and use that inside the emulator without upsetting the boot.vhd image.

I also strongly advise checking out Lords of Midnight within the Games>Next folder already part of the NextOS.
A fine upgrade on the original and worth a little of your time.

Yes, it's possible to add a second VHD.
I just need more info about it. There is a signal to select a secondary SD card but i don't know for example how to select SD card. In main Specrtum menu i see on bottom "CM" but how to switch from C to M?

Btw today's release has much higher performance on 28MHz. Pogie demo (second version) doesn't hicup for me now even with VHD.

Sorgelig wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:26 am Yes, it's possible to add a second VHD.
I just need more info about it. There is a signal to select a secondary SD card but i don't know for example how to select SD card. In main Specrtum menu i see on bottom "CM" but how to switch from C to M?

Yes it is within this menu, when looking at the Browser listing you simply press 'D' (Drive) and it switches. However, if you have physically added a second SD card into the hardware of the ZXNext, you'll see this list shows as "CDM" and as such switch between both SDcards and Memory using the D key...

Sprites seem to be missing from the Warhawk Demo on latest release. Anyone else see this?

Fallon wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:56 pm Sprites seem to be missing from the Warhawk Demo on latest release. Anyone else see this?

it's fine for me. May be your VHD is broken by 0404 release write.

How do I make the screen scale propperly - on my actual next it fills my DELL nicely but I cant seem to make the Mister next core do the same and its the only thing stopping me from enjoying it right now.

Sorgelig wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:11 pm

Fallon wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:56 pm Sprites seem to be missing from the Warhawk Demo on latest release. Anyone else see this?

it's fine for me. May be your VHD is broken by 0404 release write.

Still not working for me with latest core - I downloaded the boot.vhd again from MiSTer ZXNext Github and replaced my old boot.vhd

I reverted the core to ZXNext_20210404.rbf, enemy sprites return.

Going round in circles with this core atm. I mount the VHD, It boots I get a resolution selection screen (Mode 0/50Hz/scan*1) press Enter then Y - Then Nadda, Nothing - Black screen

/media/fat/_Computer/ZXNext_20210407.rbf - (Internal SD)
/media/usb0/Games/ZXNext/boot.vhd - (External USB HDD)

I have tried having all the files on just the SD but don't get anywhere with either.

Downloaded both the rbf and the boot.zip multiple times from the Github page but I cannot get this thing going - can anyone point me in the right direction?

How difficult would it be to integrate a Pi Zero in this core?

If that's out of the equation, how difficult would it be to emulate enough of the communication, as to get TZX support working?

Why you need tzx support in this core? ZX Spectrum core is much more advanced and has tzx support.

I agree with @sorgelig's sentiment. I own both a MiSTer and ZX Spectrum Next (Accelerated with Pi). Even on the physical hardware I really don't have a need for tzx support since I use the ZXNext for ZXNext apps.

Sorgelig wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 4:39 am Why you need tzx support in this core? ZX Spectrum core is much more advanced and has tzx support.

I have a directory of games in a variety of formats. I would need to seek all TZX files in that directory and convert them to TAP or take snapshots, and that's an arduous task.

The ZX Next core is kind of a "one-stop shop" for me. I plan on buying a Next sometime, and I'd like to get used to it. Compatibility is good, and I can also run Next-only software. Yes, I know I still have the ZX Spectrum core as a fallback; but its TZX support is not great, and I have to switch to another core. I know that if TZX support is added with a hack, rather than with an emulated Pi, it will probably be the same not-so-good one as in the Spectrum core.

Almost all games are already converted to TRD/SCL format, so none of conversion and none of waiting time is required.
Btw, if specific TZX can be converted to TAP, then this TZX should be well supported in ZX Spectrum core. TZX compatibility is quite high in current implementation.

pgimeno wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 2:28 pm

Sorgelig wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 4:39 am Why you need tzx support in this core? ZX Spectrum core is much more advanced and has tzx support.

I have a directory of games in a variety of formats. I would need to seek all TZX files in that directory and convert them to TAP or take snapshots, and that's an arduous task.

The ZX Next core is kind of a "one-stop shop" for me. I plan on buying a Next sometime, and I'd like to get used to it. Compatibility is good, and I can also run Next-only software. Yes, I know I still have the ZX Spectrum core as a fallback; but its TZX support is not great, and I have to switch to another core. I know that if TZX support is added with a hack, rather than with an emulated Pi, it will probably be the same not-so-good one as in the Spectrum core.

The TZX support on the Next is not good, it doesn't allow you to stop the Playback, which necessary for many games that load the levels individually.
Right now I tend to use the Next (I have a N-Go board) for Next only stuff as the ZX Spectrum part is not as refined as on the MiST or MiSTer. E.g. I just tried Uridium Plus on the Next and over HDMI certain effects don't work in the Next because the HDMI output is not cycle exact.

I am sure this can be changed in the future but I think the team has more interest in getting bugs in the actual Next mode ironed out first (understandable), so the 48/128 modes will not be as exact as on the MiSTer or MiST for a while.

The Next team do say that HDMI shouldnt be used for exact timming stuff - this is why on my next I have VGA connected instead other than that the Spectrum part of the Next is brilliant, other than like you say the TZX issue.

TZX files are now supported in the core, as per Sorgelig's latest update.

lordoftime79 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 11:01 am The Next team do say that HDMI shouldnt be used for exact timming stuff - this is why on my next I have VGA connected instead other than that the Spectrum part of the Next is brilliant, other than like you say the TZX issue.

I find this a bummer, I don't see why HDMI isn't cycle exact, it works flawless on the MiSTer.

There seems to have some kind of scrolling jerkiness/ judder on MiSTer's ZX Next during some games. This problem seems to be present in both Scramble, and Warhawk Demo. This is not present running Scramble via the ZX Spectrum Next CSPECT emulator. I haven't had the chance to test Warhawk in CSPECT.

It'd be interesting to see how these games perform on a real ZX Next compared to MiSTer.

Scramble:
https://www.rustypixels.uk/?page_id=34

Fallon wrote: ↑Sun Apr 11, 2021 3:44 pm There seems to have some kind of scrolling jerkiness/ judder on MiSTer's ZX Next during some games. This problem seems to be present in both Scramble, and Warhawk Demo. This is not present running Scramble via the ZX Spectrum Next CSPECT emulator. I haven't had the chance to test Warhawk in CSPECT.

It'd be interesting to see how these games perform on a real ZX Next compared to MiSTer.

Scramble:
https://www.rustypixels.uk/?page_id=34

Recorded from my ZX Next real hardware.
Scramble - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAu5jsKOhZc
Warhawk v101 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvU7fCUkBkI Skip to 2:58 for gameplay.
Warhawk demo - https://youtu.be/2HhGNNP3JMY

NML32 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 11, 2021 4:07 pm
Recorded from my ZX Next real hardware.
Scramble - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAu5jsKOhZc
Warhawk v101 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvU7fCUkBkI Skip to 2:58 for gameplay.
Warhawk demo - https://youtu.be/2HhGNNP3JMY

Thanks - it's hard to tell from the videos, but I think it looks like the scrolling is more consistent than MiSTer ZX Next.

I guess you have MiSTer Next, do you think there is a visible difference?

lordoftime79 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:55 pm How do I make the screen scale propperly - on my actual next it fills my DELL nicely but I cant seem to make the Mister next core do the same and its the only thing stopping me from enjoying it right now.

Did you manage to sort this out? Sounds like you're also using VGA monitor. Full Screen fills the screen, but the scaling is a bit off. I'm using Direct Video with a PC CRT monitor.

Also, when I first booted, there was a TV test pattern with some 50/60Hz options to choose. Anybody knows how to get back to it?

akeley wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:23 pm

lordoftime79 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:55 pm How do I make the screen scale propperly - on my actual next it fills my DELL nicely but I cant seem to make the Mister next core do the same and its the only thing stopping me from enjoying it right now.

Did you manage to sort this out? Sounds like you're also using VGA monitor. Full Screen fills the screen, but the scaling is a bit off. I'm using Direct Video with a PC CRT monitor.

Also, when I first booted, there was a TV test pattern with some 50/60Hz options to choose. Anybody knows how to get back to it?

While doing a cold reset of the machine hold down the following button:

D for Digital
V for VGA
R for RGB
or
A to cycle all video modes.

The manual for the Next is freely available here:
https://www.specnext.com/zx-spectrum-ne ... t-edition/

It is a fantastic manual. It has lots of background info about the development of the machine, it has a chapter about Rick Dickinson, it covers the hardware and it even includes a programming course. It is on par with the computer manuals of the old days.

Okay, first all I do NOT have a secondary SDCard on my MISTer. If that's the issue, I figure get that out the way so you can go "Yep, you're screwed".

Been fiddling for a week. I try the boot.vhd from the github and I just get a black screen for a while then "error saving configuration".

What's weird is the prior 04/04 build, I had a VHD I grabbed from elsewhere, and THAT booted just fine. The problem was I can't mount it in anything to add files to it. (Said VHD no longer works with the new build.)

I'm at a total loss and tearing my hair out, and I don't have much to start with...

TheBonePony wrote: ↑Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:06 am Been fiddling for a week. I try the boot.vhd from the github and I just get a black screen for a while then "error saving configuration".

There was a problem with one of the releases, that caused write errors. It was solved in a new release. Maybe you have not updated to the latest?

pgimeno wrote: ↑Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:15 am

TheBonePony wrote: ↑Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:06 am Been fiddling for a week. I try the boot.vhd from the github and I just get a black screen for a while then "error saving configuration".

There was a problem with one of the releases, that caused write errors. It was solved in a new release. Maybe you have not updated to the latest?

Definitely on the latest one available at the time I posted. Have the latest VHD too.

Edit: I fixed it. Occurred to me that maybe deleting the config file that was saved would fix it... Yep. Deleted that, loaded the exact same thing I did yesterday, works fine now. YES! I am very happy.

Chris23235 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:37 pm While doing a cold reset of the machine hold down the following button:

D for Digital
V for VGA
R for RGB
or
A to cycle all video modes.

It didn't work for me at the time of posting, but does now, not sure why... In any case, the scaling is actually fine (on my CRT TV), in both 50/60Hz modes. I suggested myself it might be flawed by the oddly-looking fonts in the Next's initial screens, but after comparing with the real thing I can see they're the same, so it's all good.

I've been testing it a bit for the last few days and it all seems to be working fine. The extra vhd slot adds flexibility and it's easy to make little vhd's now and transfer stuff from PC this way. Big thanks to Sorgelig for sorting this core out, so we can use it on MiSTer without the need for extra add-ons, or buying other boards.

Here are a few more free games (they were paid-for before)

https://softamuse.itch.io/montanamike
https://softamuse.itch.io/bubblegumbros
https://softamuse.itch.io/dweebsdrop
https://softamuse.itch.io/dungeonette

Since revision 20210409 I've had no success booting from .vhd (Secondary SD works fine) just get "Error mounting SD card"
I decided on a clean install of Mister and to download a fresh RBF and boot.vhd on a different SD card but now I get "Error saving configuration"
I don't get it!

Are you sure the fresh RBF is the 20210409 and not the 20210407? I got that error with the 07 version.

Yes it's definitely 09. This latest iteration is the only one I've encountered a problem with