Atari ST SMSQ/E

[stephen_usher]

I did have a look at the SMSQ/E graphics driver for the ST but it was a magic incantation. I couldn't make head nor tail of it.

[tofro]

The color drivers in Atari SMSQ/E are for some very special graphics cards that were produced in Norway and, later, by Jochen Merz in Germany.

Originally there was only JS on the Atari, and there was no talk of SMSQ/E. Only the device drivers were already from the SMS area. The first graphics card from Norway also still needed a QL ULA.

The Extended Mode 4 graphics card no longer needed a QL ULA, but initially only ran with JS. As Jochen Merz later supplied "SMSQ/E" disks for Atari, I assume, that the Level-E drivers also worked with JS.

Well, the original Futura Datasenter ROMs and drivers were a rip-off of the original QL ROM and thus had significant copyright problems. And the ones I had didn't really work well, either. I don't think they're still around anywhere. My QL-Atari only ran well once I had SMSQ/E on it - But then it really ran well.
Today, the only way to run an Artari-QL is likely with SMSQ/E (or SMS2, if you can get hold of it - Although I don't see much of a reason why you would want the latter....).

[napsternds]

I would like to buy an Atari ST 1024.
If I use SMSQ/E will I be able to run QL compiled software ?

Hello,

Just about 1 year ago I spent some time trying to answer this question, and the answer is YES. With an Atari ST you can use both SMS2 and SMSQ/E but with no colour. Everyhting you need is easily available (Atari ST computer, sidecartridge, smsq/e). I published a post in a Spanish forum with the details and the full story (you can read it using the translation features in your browser).

https://retrowiki.es/viewtopic.php?t=200040228

Some pictures:
SMS2 ROM in sidecartridge

SMS2 running loading files from QDOS floppy

smsq/e running from atari harddrive

boot program from Atari harddrive

Dilwyn's launchpad & Q-trans, QLtris

https://youtu.be/X7ASsZxhny4

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi,

As seen on the Retro-wiki link, I have a SMS2 cartridge, that plugs into the ST Cartridge port and auto boots into SMS2 system, which is a precursor to SMSQ/E, , gives a QL environment, that uses a CLI instead instead of an Interpreter.

I tried the SMS2 Cartridge on a STFM, Mega ST.

Doesnot seem to work on a TT030.

[tofro]

Hi,

As seen on the Retro-wiki link, I have a SMS2 cartridge, that plugs into the ST Cartridge port and auto boots into SMS2 system, which is a precursor to SMSQ/E, , gives a QL environment, that uses a CLI instead instead of an Interpreter.

I tried the SMS2 Cartridge on a STFM, Mega ST.

Doesnot seem to work on a TT030.

Jochen also used to sell SMSQ/E on a cartridge. I had one and it was instant-on. Not sure if that worked on the TT, though.

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi,

As seen on the Retro-wiki link, I have a SMS2 cartridge, that plugs into the ST Cartridge port and auto boots into SMS2 system, which is a precursor to SMSQ/E, , gives a QL environment, that uses a CLI instead instead of an Interpreter.

I tried the SMS2 Cartridge on a STFM, Mega ST.

Doesnot seem to work on a TT030.

Jochen also used to sell SMSQ/E on a cartridge. I had one and it was instant-on. Not sure if that worked on the TT, though.

Hi,

I have some of those cartridges, they are programmed with Level E Drivers, which is not quite SMS2/ or SMSQ/E.

I guess the TT just soft loaded the QDOS system giving the mono QL screen on the TT VGA output.

[RalfR]

I guess the TT just soft loaded the QDOS system giving the mono QL screen on the TT VGA output.

That's true. At the beginning of the SMSQ/E era, you actually had to purchase the mono driver separately; otherwise, there would be no picture at all on the TT. It's now integrated into SMSQ/E, just like the QVME driver.