For $49 you can get Power BASIC for DOS. One of the advances over QB
for hardware control is direct bit manipulation. Upward compatible
with QB code.


"Bit Operations PowerBASIC offers a full complement of bit operations
including: SHIFT, ROTATE, TEST, SET, RESET, and TOGGLE. Even implied
bit arrays of up to 512K bits are supported."


For that last little bit of speed.

"Built-in Assembler Looking for even better performance? The new
built-in Assembler may be just what you need. For the first time, you
can write Assembler code and mix it with your PowerBASIC code line by
line. Hand optimize the most critical sections for absolute
performance. PowerBASIC handles all the details automatically. You
can reference your variables, parameters, labels and functions by
name even debut at the CPU register level in the expanded
environment."

Real time serial ports.

"Communications Here's where PowerBASIC shines. Serial port
communication is available for COM1 through COM4. BAUD rates up to
115200. Any combination of non-standard IRQ lines. Explicit control
of DTR, even after program termination. Automatic error detection or
masking is available, with optional flush of erroneous data."


BCD binary coded decimal math is frequently used in single chip
application.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/**Binary-coded_decimal<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary-coded_decimal




"BCD Variables
Finally you can eliminate round-off errors, even those associated
with currency variables in other languages. You aren't forced to 4
decimal places. Instead you make your choice: from 0 to 18 digits,
and always with automatic rounding to the precise level of your
needs. In PowerBASIC, all BCD variables are implemented as scaled
integers for fast calculation."


http://www.powerbasic.com/**products/pbdos/<http://www.powerbasic.com/products/pbdos/



Paul, Now this is a step up for sure. Assemble language for the
EFI mixed with basic for display and data aquisition. I just read
an article in the latest EAA experimenter magazine (online) about
someone who built his own high end glass panel, really tricked out.
Worth a read if you have time.

                       george Grimes

I just got the new tiny 12 volt DC power supply working.
1 amp at 12 volts with a big screen shown. 500 ma with no screen.
The wires coming out of the power supply are for the hard and floppy
disk which we don't need as it boots DOS fine off the tiny USB stick.

I'll test it some more and check what the lowest battery voltage that
still makes it work. It is claimed it will work down to 7 volts or so.

I don't anticipate I will need any assembly language code. It is bloody fast with
compiled QB. More than fast enough to do batch EFI.

The new dual parallel bi directional port card should be here tomorrow.

I don't need it with this mother board as it already has one parr port.
I think I already have a PCI single parr port card some place.

I have another micro ATX mother board I 'll check out with the dual port card.

Paul Lamar

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