About the other CF8V2 Documentation
Your Persistor is supported by four other supplemental documents covering hardware details and PicoDOS8 programming information.
CF8V2 Data Sheet
The CF8V2 Data Sheet introduces you to the basic concepts and specifications of the Persistor hardware, its PicoDOS8 software support, and the characteristics of the flash memory cards it controls. Here you will find all of the detailed electrical, mechanical, and environmental specifications you may need to design your experiment along with the operational information you may need to ensure its success.
PicoDOS8 User’s Manual
PicoDOS8 is our DOS-like operating system for the CF8/TT8 combination that provides both a command line user interface for common card and file operations as well as the underlying DOS FAT file system. It’s this that lets your C and BASIC programs easily create and manipulate files that can later be read directly by your PC using inexpensive flash memory card readers. Here you will find descriptions of how to use the DOS-like commands and details of how PicoDOS8’s presence impacts the amount of TT8 onboard flash and ram memory usage available to your applications.
PicoDOS8 TxBASIC Guide
The PicoDOS8 TxBASIC Guide shows you how to use the Persistor and PicoDOS8 to save acquired data, stored in TxBASIC datafiles, to Windows compatible files on the flash memory card.
PicoDOS8 C Programming Guide
The PicoDOS8 C Programming Guide shows you how to adapt your C programs to take advantage of standard ANSI C file system capabilities that become possible with the addition of a Persistor and memory cards. This guide assumes that you are familiar with C programming and the ANSI C file functions, while describing the subtle differences between coding for desktop applications with unlimited processing power, memory space, and disk speed and coding for embedded applications where processing power is limited, battery power is precious, and file I/O takes considerably longer.
Installation and Setup Details
Installing the Persistor Hardware
1. Confirm that your TT8 is currently working and signs on when you apply power.
2. Remove power from the TT8.
3. Plug the Persistor onto the TT8. The CF8V2 headers are polarized with bent pins where the TT8V2 has the missing socket holes so you cannot mismount them (without extreme force). Use the asymmetrical mounting holes of the two boards as a coarse initial alignment guide. When the Persistor is properly inserted, none of the gold from its pins will be visible when viewed from any edge.
4. Insert a CompactFlash card into the Persistor’s card slot. When fully inserted, the flash memory card should be far enough into the CF8V2 to expose about 1/8” of the board’s surface and the ejector arm should protrude about 1/8” past the board’s edge.
