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Apple IIc RamExpress II+

User’s Guide

RamExpress II+ User’s Guide © a2heaven.com, 22 Nov 2016 Version 1.01

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Table of Contents

Description ...........................................................................................................................................................4

Contents of Package .............................................................................................................................................4

Ram Express II+ Installation ..................................................................................................................................5

Determine Logic Board Compatibility ..................................................................................................................5

Diagnostics and Troubleshoting ...........................................................................................................................7

Using Build in Clock ..............................................................................................................................................9

Boot the Disk ........................................................................................................................................................9

Set the time ..........................................................................................................................................................9

About the RamExpress II+ Battery ..................................................................................................................... 10

Frequently Asked Questions .............................................................................................................................. 12

Where to find further help ................................................................................................................................ 12

About a2heaven.com ........................................................................................................................................ 12

Warranty ............................................................................................................................................................ 13

Some other a2heaven products ........................................................................................................................ 14

RamExpress II+ User’s Guide © a2heaven.com, 22 Nov 2016 Version 1.01

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Description

The RamExpress II+ Memory Expansion Card adds extra random-access
memory (RAM) and Real time clock to your Apple

c computer. The standard

memory expansion card comes with 1024K (1Megabyte) RAM.

The RamExpress II+ Memory Expansion Card can be used with any Apple

and Apple

c+(Plus) which has a logic board containing the memory expansion

connector. The clock keeps track of the year, month, day of the month, day of
the week, and time, right down to 1/10 and 1/100. An on-board lithium
battery maintains the RAM content and current date and time even when the
computer is turned off.

Contents of Package

RamExpress II+ – Apple

c RamExpress II+ PCB

RamExpress II+ User’s Guide © a2heaven.com, 22 Nov 2016 Version 1.01

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Ram Express II+ Installation

Apple

c computers with model number A2S4100 and A2S4500 contain the

connector and circuitry necessary to install a RamExpress II+ Memory
Expansion Card.

Apple

c computers with model number A2S4000 not have memory expand

connector and

not support

RamExpress II+ board!

Determine Logic Board Compatibility

Turn off the power to the

c and disconnect the power cord and any

attached peripherals.

Open

c Plastic case.

Remove Keyboard (You cannot unplug connector only flip up keyboard)

Compare the logic board with Figures 1 and 2. If the logic board looks like
the one shown in Figure 1 then a logic board is compatible with
RamExpress II+ .

Fig 1.

Fig 2.

Expansion Connector

RamExpress II+ User’s Guide © a2heaven.com, 22 Nov 2016 Version 1.01

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Insert the pins of the RamExpress II+ connector follow the direction into
the

c RAM expansion socket and press in until the card is completely

seated.

Reassemble the Apple

Turn ON Computer and check if boot up properly.

Mounting Example

RamExpress II+ User’s Guide © a2heaven.com, 22 Nov 2016 Version 1.01

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Diagnostics and Troubleshoting

Connect a video display to the

Plug the power cord into the power socket and turn on the computer.

The words Apple

c will be displayed at the top of the screen.

Simultaneously press the <CONTROL> and <RESET> keys.

Enter

CALL -151

and press <RETURN>.

The machine language monitor prompt (*) will appear.

Enter

C40AG

and press <RETURN>.

The following display will appear. Verify that the card size which appears
is the actual size for the card installed (in our example, a 1024K Memory
Expansion Card is installed). The dots appear on the screen as the card is
tested. The test will repeat until either the <ESC> key is pressed or an
error is encountered.

MEMORY CARD TEST ESC TO EXIT

TEST WILL TAKE 180 SECONDS CARD SIZE = 1024K

…………

PASSES = 0001

CARD OK

RamExpress II+ User’s Guide © a2heaven.com, 22 Nov 2016 Version 1.01

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NOTE:  A  complete  card  failure  is  indicated  if  the  internal  diagnostics  will  not
run.  In  that  case,  remove  the  RamExpress  II+  PCB    check  if  you  mount
property  on  socket  or  not  have  bended  pins  mount  on  PCB  and  try  again  with
test.

Error Code Interpretation

If an error is found during the internal diagnostic it will be displayed in one of
the following formats:

DATA ERROR XXYYYY – ZZ

(indicates a RAM or card failure)

ADDRESS ERROR XXYYYY - ZZ

(usually indicates a card failure)

RamExpress II+ User’s Guide © a2heaven.com, 22 Nov 2016 Version 1.01

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Using Build in Clock

ProDOS  does  not  automatically  recognize  the  clock.  However,  the  ProDOS
compatible drivers  on the RamExpress II+ disk allow ProDOS to recognize and
use  the  clock  information.  When  a  ProDOS  startup  disk  is  booted,  the
operating-system  file,  PRODOS,  is  copied  from  the  disk  to  a  protected  area  of
the  computer's  memory.  The  program,

DCLOCK.SYSTEM

, will install the

required clock driver to the image of ProDOS in memory. When executed, the

DCLOCK.SYSTEM

program will first check for the presence of a clock and, if

found, install the clock driver. Then it will execute the next system program (file
type of SYS and a filename suffix of .SYSTEM) in the disk's directory.

Boot the Disk

Boot the RamExpress II+ disk. You should see the message

DClock Copyright

(c) 19— Applied Engineering

in the upper left corner of the screen,

DCLOCK.SYSTEM

installs the proper drivers to the image of ProDOS in

memory and then runs the BASIC program. The BASIC program sends the
message. Loading drivers... and brings up the Time Utilities Menu.

Cannot find clock

" Message

If you ever get the message

Cannot find clock

, it probably means that the

clock  has  been  discharged  or  is  improperly  installed.  If  the  clock  has  been
discharged  but  is  properly  installed,  the  program  will  find  it  and  set  the  time
and  date  to  zeros.  Set  the  correct  time  and  date  as  described  below,  then
choose the option install clock driver in memory.

If the program does not find the clock, check the clock's installation then try
booting the RamExpress II+ disk again.

Set the time

Select the option. Set the Time. Follow the on-screen directions to set the date
and time in the format:

Month (01 - 12)/Day (01 - 31)/Year (00 - 99)

Hour (00 - 23)/Minute (00 - 59)/Second (00 - 59)

❖

Note: To enter PM, add 12 hours to the corresponding

RamExpress II+ User’s Guide © a2heaven.com, 22 Nov 2016 Version 1.01

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Press Return to set the time or use the ESC key to return to the Clock Utilities
menu without changing the clock.

If you enter a value outside the range of a particular setting (ex: Month = 13),
you will receive an error message and be returned

Load the Driver to Your ProDOS Boot Disks

To automatically install the proper clock driver each time the computer is
booted, install

DCLOCK.SYSTEM

on your ProDOS

•

Note: DCLOCK.SYSTEM requires 4 blocks of disk space.

To patch any ProDOS boot disks to recognize the clock, insert the write-enabled
disk to be modified into any disk drive and choose the option Install clock driver
on disk. The installation program will scan the system and display a list of
volumes currently on-line and their location. Select the target volume and press
the Return key. The

DCLOCK.SYSTEM

file will be inserted as the first system

program in the patched disk's directory. Each time the modified startup disk is
booted,

DCLOCK.SYSTEM

will be executed, displaying

DClock Copyright (c)

19— Applied Engineering

in the upper left corner of the screen; then the next

system program file in the disk

Whenever  you  create  or  modify  ProDOS  files  under  the  modified  operating
system,  the  files  will  be  automatically  tagged  with  the  current  date  and  time.
Also,  any  application  programs  which  read  the  time  and  date  directly  from
ProDOS will now be .

About the RamExpress II+ Battery

What it is

The RamExpress II+ battery is a 3 volt, 20 millimeter lithium battery type

CR2032

with a life of about 1-2 years. You can order these batteries directly

from your local computer parts store or camera supplies store.

Replacing

To replace the battery, remove the memory expansion board. Remove the
battery by pushing on the top edge of the battery with a flat blade screwdriver.
Do not bend the clip up. The battery should pop out the bottom of the
connector.

Insert the new battery, positive (+) side up.

RamExpress II+ User’s Guide © a2heaven.com, 22 Nov 2016 Version 1.01

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Now reconnect the RamExpress II+ memory card (refer to the directions in this
manual). Boot the RamExpress II+ disk to set the correct time.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes the RamExpress II+?

The adapter was designed and built by Plamen Vaysilov from a2heaven.com.

This includes the software(VHDL design)/firmware, circuit design and the PCB.

Can I use RamExpress II+ on other computers?

Almost certainly no, you can use RamExpress II+ only on Apple

c and

Apple

c+ (Plus) with build RAM Expansion slot .

How much does the RamExpress II+ adapter cost?

At the time of writing this document (Late Nov 2016), the price was

US$69.99 which includes shipping to anywhere on the planet.

I Want to Add more that 1MB RAM is this is possible?

No , this card not designed to support more RAM.

Where to find further help

Phone:

+359 888 810 993

Email:

info@a2heaven.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/a2heaven/

About a2heaven.com

A2Heaven is a small company that implements new technology for use on
vintage computer hardware.

About this User Guide

This User Guide was written by Martin Crockett and Plamen Vaysilov, use
materials of RamExpress User Manual from Applied Engineering.

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Version 1.01, 22

Nov 2016, 1

public release.

Warranty

A2Heaven.com  warranties  the  RamExpress  II+  adapter  for  6  months  or  180
days,  from  the  date  of  purchase.  This  warranty  assumes  the  RamFactor8M
adapter has not been tampered with in any way.

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Some other a2heaven products

Apple SAM (Semi Automatic Mouth):

A high quality speech synthesizer.

Mockingboard-T:

A sound card for all Apple II computers, no speech chip.

ALF MC1 Clone:

A music synthesizer that allows you to program music into

your apple using standard musical notation.

Ramworks III Clone:

Comes with 64k, expandable to 1M or 3M with 2M

expander board. For apple IIe only.

Ramworks III VGA adapter:

Option board for the Ramworks III Clone.

Generates VGA compatible video, only for NTSC, 60Hz Apple IIe.

dClock:

Clock option for Ram Express or Apple

c Memory Expansion card.

Senior PROM IIe:

Add debugging commands to your Apple IIe, such as entry

to System monitor at any time, copy memory to and from auxiliary memory,
plus much more.

Trak Star II:

Gives constant digital read of any 5.25” Apple II drive, great for

seeing what that pesky protection scheme is up to. Supports full, half and
quarter track movement.

SDFloppy II:

Store up to 36 “DSK” images on an SD card, replaces 5.15”

floppy drive.

RamWorks8M :

RAM memory Add 8MB RAM to Apple IIe .

RamFactor8M :

RAM memory Add 8MB RAM to Apple II+ .

For more products check

www.a2heaven.com

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