I love this device. I have a Portable Disk Drive 2 that needs a new belt again. This would be a much better option. This is the first time I am commenting on a video. I came across your channel learning about the Epson HX-20 I recently added to my Portable Collection.
Are these still available for purchase? I aquired a WP-2 recently and I intend on using it as an offline journal for distraction free writing. I would love to use one of these!
Very cool device - do you know if it is compatible with UK version model 100? I think there are some differences in the rom but not sure. I’d be interested to get one if it is compatible (I’m a model 100 newb in 2022 😂) Great channel BTW!!! 👍
Yes, it is compatible with all M100s. There are some very early models which have the wrong transistors in the serial out line, Tandy released a service bulletin about it. The only potential problem I am aware of. We will have another batch of them soon. Check video description and/or the 'About' for the channel for contact information.
Hi Birt, Do you have any of these in stock now ? First I contacted you production had been halted because of COVID related supply chain issues. If production has resumed I definitely want one and also really like the idea of the pre-formatted SD card.. Looking forward to learning if and hoping thatthese cool devices are currently available
Hey there. Love the video and product. I just received my backpack today and have been playing around with it. I noticed that a "# Check Battery/Card" prompt keeps coming up, even though the card has been formatted and the GitHub files are all correctly in place on the root. I also have new batteries (tried multiple). Also, sometimes when typing something like "ls", the text will be doubled like "llss". Are these known issues and do they have work around? Thanks!
You need to have a good 1.5V battery in the Backpack. You cannot use a 1.2V rechargeable cell. If you issue the INFO command what is the battery voltage shown? It will show you battery voltage and level of the 5V rail. Also make sure that you copied the folders to the card too, i.e. SECTOR0. The double characters problem is caused from having the full/half duplex mode set wrong in TELCOM.
@@HeyBirtGreat, the double text is gone. Just working on the "battery/card check" issue. The main is at 3.34v, battery is at 1.57, card type SDHC & Size 7.7GB. I formatted the card to fat32 and dragged the entire sector0 folder into the root of the card.
@@inranglhood60 On GITHUB did you use the BPD or BPD+ files? The new one you just got is the BPD+ version. Also, it would probably be easier to use the GitHub ticket system for support. TH-cam is not well suited to it.
you mentioned the Rex module, I am curious do you know where I can get one of them? sadly it is two years after the video so they are hard to find, as if the modern internet search engines could find actual useful stuff and not just TH-cam vids, Facebook posts and paid ads. lol.
Aloha Birt! I'm looking for the documentation on your link/site and can't find it. I'd like to print out a copy. I'd like to know how to configure the GTS/RTG and DTR/DSR switches. Thanks mahalo!
If you click on the documentation tab on the products page you will find the link. For some reason the website quit coloring links properly, so it blends in. Direct link below. github.com/Jeff-Birt/Backpack
I always wanted a model 100... there was a portable terminal in a similar case. wanted that more. Terminals can be very useful. Can the 100 be used as a terminal?
Hi, yes it has a serial port (what the Backpack uses) and a built in modem. The 'TELCOM' program I was using is a terminal program. I picked up a M100 system from the original owner a few months ago that used it in his work to remotely connect to early Linux desktop computers to to demos to customers.
I ordered mine today, now I just cannot wait to get it, I cannot wait to make the heads of the retro heads locally swim when I trump their iBooks and late 90’s laptops. Lol
Most folks use TS-DOS. The 'Quick Start' section at the beginning of the manual describe how to bootstrap TS_DOS into RAM if you don't already have a version on ROM (or a REX). I also wrote a TS-DOS reference guide which I just realized had not gotten added to the BPD+ documentation folder. I just added it. That will help show you how TS-DOS works.
@@HeyBirt ah so TSDOS recognizes the backpack as a drive. Didn't realize that. I've been using TSDos with my laptop via mcomm and it works pretty well but having it tethered is annoying.
heya. just wanted to say that i enjoyed the video. this item you have is really interesting. i would love to know more about getting one of these for a tandy 100 or even the files so i can build one of my own. any help would be great. look forward to talking about this further. thanks
If you use the Version of the TRS_80 M100 ROM which was modified to work on the Olivetti M10 then it will work. There was never a version of TS-DOS written for the M10 itself.
I came for the video, but fell in love with your shirt! Best movie ever!
All the t-shirts I wear are gifts from my daughter. She has a knack for finding ones I will like, :)
Finally got it to run. Will be reading up on your manuals to learn how to move files to it.
I like the way the case comes apart. Pretty slick!
It was an interesting challenge to wrap a case around it and there is always some new technique to learn when making 3D models.
Mine arrived today, as others have said a fantastic design and very nicely made, big thanks to Jeff👍
Oh, I like it! Count me in!
Great, shoot me an email if you would birt_j at soigeneris dot com
Pretty cool, great alternative to the disk drives and tape decks. I ordered one!
Thanks for the info Jeff. I just ordered one and can't wait to get it and program it for all sorts of tasks.
Really nice unit: compact, well designed and lots of features!
Just got mine a little bit ago. Absolutely amazing and a brilliant design!!!
Ordered, and received! Thanks, Jeff!
I love this device. I have a Portable Disk Drive 2 that needs a new belt again. This would be a much better option.
This is the first time I am commenting on a video. I came across your channel learning about the Epson HX-20 I recently added to my Portable Collection.
It really is an awesome device and I'm glad my friend decided to make it available. We hope to have more soon.
Absolutely brilliant! I definitely want one too.
Incredibly impressive!
It is a cool little device.
Are these still available for purchase? I aquired a WP-2 recently and I intend on using it as an offline journal for distraction free writing. I would love to use one of these!
Awesome!
Very cool device - do you know if it is compatible with UK version model 100? I think there are some differences in the rom but not sure. I’d be interested to get one if it is compatible (I’m a model 100 newb in 2022 😂) Great channel BTW!!! 👍
Yes, it is compatible with all M100s. There are some very early models which have the wrong transistors in the serial out line, Tandy released a service bulletin about it. The only potential problem I am aware of.
We will have another batch of them soon. Check video description and/or the 'About' for the channel for contact information.
@@HeyBirt Subscribed - excellent channel 👍
What would be the best accessories you'd suggest for the trs-80 model 100?
Excellent solution!!!. Hope to be able to buy one of those on eBay. They are very expensive lately.
We are getting some more made. If you would send me an email to birt_j at soigeneris dot com, I will let you know when they are available again.
Hi Birt,
Do you have any of these in stock now ? First I contacted you production had been halted because of COVID related supply chain issues. If production has resumed I definitely want one and also really like the idea of the pre-formatted SD card.. Looking forward to learning if and hoping thatthese cool devices are currently available
I just ordered one this morning
Hey there. Love the video and product. I just received my backpack today and have been playing around with it. I noticed that a "# Check Battery/Card" prompt keeps coming up, even though the card has been formatted and the GitHub files are all correctly in place on the root. I also have new batteries (tried multiple). Also, sometimes when typing something like "ls", the text will be doubled like "llss". Are these known issues and do they have work around? Thanks!
You need to have a good 1.5V battery in the Backpack. You cannot use a 1.2V rechargeable cell. If you issue the INFO command what is the battery voltage shown? It will show you battery voltage and level of the 5V rail. Also make sure that you copied the folders to the card too, i.e. SECTOR0.
The double characters problem is caused from having the full/half duplex mode set wrong in TELCOM.
@@HeyBirtGreat, the double text is gone. Just working on the "battery/card check" issue.
The main is at 3.34v, battery is at 1.57, card type SDHC & Size 7.7GB.
I formatted the card to fat32 and dragged the entire sector0 folder into the root of the card.
@@inranglhood60 On GITHUB did you use the BPD or BPD+ files? The new one you just got is the BPD+ version. Also, it would probably be easier to use the GitHub ticket system for support. TH-cam is not well suited to it.
you mentioned the Rex module, I am curious do you know where I can get one of them? sadly it is two years after the video so they are hard to find, as if the modern internet search engines could find actual useful stuff and not just TH-cam vids, Facebook posts and paid ads. lol.
+1 for me! Very Cool!
We are getting some more made. If you would send me an email to birt_j at soigeneris dot com, I will let you know when they are available again.
Aloha Birt! I'm looking for the documentation on your link/site and can't find it. I'd like to print out a copy. I'd like to know how to configure the GTS/RTG and DTR/DSR switches. Thanks mahalo!
If you click on the documentation tab on the products page you will find the link. For some reason the website quit coloring links properly, so it blends in. Direct link below.
github.com/Jeff-Birt/Backpack
I bought a trs-80 model 100 recently and I'm looking for something like this. Is the backpack still being made? Were can I find one to buy?
Is there something better?
Yes, we are still making them. www.soigeneris.com/tandy-tpdd-2-backpack-drive-2
I always wanted a model 100... there was a portable terminal in a similar case. wanted that more. Terminals can be very useful. Can the 100 be used as a terminal?
Hi, yes it has a serial port (what the Backpack uses) and a built in modem. The 'TELCOM' program I was using is a terminal program.
I picked up a M100 system from the original owner a few months ago that used it in his work to remotely connect to early Linux desktop computers to to demos to customers.
Are these still available? I just got a 102 and I really love it and this would make it really more useful.
Yes, still available: www.soigeneris.com/tandy-tpdd-2-backpack-drive-2
I’ll be ordering one soon then, do I need a special program to open the text files on a modern computer?
I ordered mine today, now I just cannot wait to get it, I cannot wait to make the heads of the retro heads locally swim when I trump their iBooks and late 90’s laptops. Lol
Hey I have a stupid question (I Read The Fine Manual but don't understand how to do it) - how do I transfer files from the SD card to RAM?
Most folks use TS-DOS. The 'Quick Start' section at the beginning of the manual describe how to bootstrap TS_DOS into RAM if you don't already have a version on ROM (or a REX).
I also wrote a TS-DOS reference guide which I just realized had not gotten added to the BPD+ documentation folder. I just added it. That will help show you how TS-DOS works.
@@HeyBirt ah so TSDOS recognizes the backpack as a drive. Didn't realize that. I've been using TSDos with my laptop via mcomm and it works pretty well but having it tethered is annoying.
heya. just wanted to say that i enjoyed the video. this item you have is really interesting. i would love to know more about getting one of these for a tandy 100 or even the files so i can build one of my own. any help would be great. look forward to talking about this further. thanks
I just added a direct link to the product page in the video description. We are working on getting another batch made now.
Is it possible to use this backpack on an 8k model 100? I only have 5k to play with when it’s cold.
You would need to use a REX as you won't have enough RAM to hold TS-DOS. The REX provides TS-DOS in ROM.
Dear friend, please let me know if you still have any backpack drives. I need 2 in the event you have any. Thanks!
send email birt_j @@@ soigeneris dawt com
@@HeyBirt Gosh I keep getting the messege soigenerius domain doesn't exist!
@@HeyBirt Problem solved!!
Sorry about that, I misspelled my own email address. Just fixed it above.
Is there a alternative to it?
Work with Olivetti M10?
If you use the Version of the TRS_80 M100 ROM which was modified to work on the Olivetti M10 then it will work. There was never a version of TS-DOS written for the M10 itself.
Where can I buy one?
My email address is in the description