On Tue, Jul 10, 2018 at 11:53 AM Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
I'm using a Compaq Portable III (286). I forgot the card brand but I vaguely recall it might also be Kraft. I'm programming in the BASICA from the correct Compaq-branded boot disk. I use the STICK command; not PEEK/POKE.
I can test the same joystick against the Apple side tomorrow.
In a test program, I was only getting a range of about 5 to 195, vs. 0-255.
To "port" the code from Apple to IBM platform, I replaced the Applesoft PDL(0) and PDL(1) commands with STICK.
The way my code works is, when I move the stick beyond a neutral range (say, within 75 of either end), then it turns on the robot motors on the correct directions.
The logic is fine: works with the Apple joystick on the Laser 128, and as I said I'll test that again with the Kraft tomorrow on the Laser.
But when I tried it on the Compaq, only two of the directions work correctly. It was something like left and forward; I forget exactly. One other direction turns on the wrong bits (1 and 4, same as its opposite direction, rather than 2 and 3 which it should be), even though I'm a million percent certain the code is right. Another direction works (bits 2 and 4) if I move the stick to its extreme edge, but while en route it turns on bit 3 for a second. That makes no sense! That's why I think the stick might be funky or somehow misadjusted even if it does work on the Apple side.
The BASICs are 100% compatible? You just had one change and it works on the IBM? b