Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2.programmer Path: news.uiowa.edu!chi-news.cic.net!news.gryffin.com!news.ece.uc.edu!babbage.ece.uc.edu!news.kei.com!news.mathworks.com!tank.news.pipex.net!pipex!news.sprintlink.net!in2.uu.net!news1.digital.com!decwrl!waikato!comp.vuw.ac.nz!actrix.gen.nz!dempson From: dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) Subject: Re: Apple Super Serial Cards Message-ID: Sender: news@actrix.gen.nz (News Administrator) Organization: Actrix - Internet Services Date: Sun, 1 Oct 1995 12:33:48 GMT References: <447dhe$a33@server05.icaen.uiowa.edu> X-Nntp-Posting-Host: atlantis.actrix.gen.nz Lines: 203 In article <447dhe$a33@server05.icaen.uiowa.edu>, 2230 wrote: > I have 2 apple IIe's that I'm trying to get to communicate with each other... > And I need doc's on the card, or some info... > Specificaly, What should I set the dips to... Modem or Terminal, and > finnally.. what about the Software.... Below is an extract from a mail message I sent to someone a while ago which should contain enough information to get you started. To connect two super serial cards together for communications, your best option is to set both of them for a MODEM connection in Communications mode, and use a null-modem cable wired as follows: 2 -------------------------- 3 3 -------------------------- 2 4,5 -------------------------- 8 8 -------------------------- 4,5 7 -------------------------- 7 6 -------------------------- 20 20 -------------------------- 6 Note that the cable is symmetrical. You can probably get away with a few less flow control signals, but this will guarantee that everything works properly. If you only have a straight through ribbon cable available, change one of the jumper blocks to the TERMINAL position, which reverses all of the data and flow control pins (see below for details). Software: any IIe-based communications software should do the trick. There are some freeware and shareware programs around, e.g. Z-Link (shareware) and Kermit (freeware). --- Begin extract --- The plug on the card can be in either of two configurations. If you look near the back of the card, you will see a large black block with an arrow on it, and the words MODEM above and TERMINAL below it. The arrow will be pointing to either of these words. You can remove the block (it is socketed) and reverse it. With the arrow pointing to TERMINAL, the card is configured to plug directly into a terminal or printer with a straight-through serial cable. With the arrow pointing to MODEM, the card is configured to plug directly into a modem with a straight-through serial cable. In the MODEM position, the connector is wired as a DTE. It uses the following pins: 1 Frame Ground 2 Transmit Data 3 Receive Data 4 RTS 5 CTS 6 DSR 7 Signal Ground 8 DCD 20 DTR In the TERMINAL position, the connector is wired as a DCE. It uses the following pins: 1 Frame Ground 2 Receive Data 3 Transmit Data 4 (incoming flow control, goes to DCD input of 6551 if switch enabled) 5 (looped back from pin 4) 6 (outgoing flow control, comes from DTR output of 6551) 7 Signal Ground 8 (outgoing flow control, comes from RTS output of 6551, also goes to CTS input of 6551) 20 (incoming flow control, goes to DSR input of 6551) A switch can also be used to connect the SCTS pin (19) to the DCD input of the 6551, instead of the RTS/CTS pins. Here are the switch settings. Switch SW1-1 through 1-4: Set the default bit rate 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4 Default bit rate ON ON ON ON undefined ON ON ON OFF 50 ON ON OFF ON 75 ON ON OFF OFF 109.92 (110) ON OFF ON ON 134.48 (134.5) ON OFF ON OFF 150 ON OFF OFF ON 300 ON OFF OFF OFF 600 OFF ON ON ON 1200 OFF ON ON OFF 1800 OFF ON OFF ON 2400 OFF ON OFF OFF 3600 OFF OFF ON ON 4800 OFF OFF ON OFF 7200 OFF OFF OFF ON 9600 OFF OFF OFF OFF 19200 Switch SW1-5 and 1-6 set the operation mode of the card. 1-5 1-6 mode ON ON Communications OFF ON Printer ON OFF Emulate Apple Serial Interface Card with P8 PROM OFF OFF Emulate Apple Serial Interface Card with P8A PROM Switches SW1-7 and SW2-7 select between the standard and secondary Clear To Send signals when the jumper block is set to TERMINAL. 1-7 2-7 pin ON OFF CTS OFF ON SCTS If the jumper block is set to MODEM, SW1-7 should always be ON and SW2-7 should always be OFF. Switches SW2-1 through SW2-4 have different functions if "Printer" or "Communications" mode is enabled. In "Printer" mode, the functions are as follows: SW2-1 Default data format ON 8 data, 1 stop OFF 8 data, 2 stop SW2-2 Delay after sending out a RETURN character OFF None ON 32 milliseconds SW2-3 and SW2-4 set line width and video output 2-3 2-4 Function ON ON 40 column output, video on ON OFF 72 column output, video off OFF ON 80 column output, video off OFF OFF 132 column output, video off In "Communications" mode, the functions are as follows: SW2-1 Default number of stop bits ON 1 stop bit OFF 2 stop bits SW2-2 Default number of data bits ON 8 data bits OFF 7 data bits SW2-3 Default parity mode (if parity is enabled) ON odd parity OFF even parity SW2-4 Default parity enable ON parity disabled OFF parity enabled Switch SW2-5 enables automatic line feed generation after sending a carriage return (both modes). SW2-5 Automatic line feed ON Yes OFF No Switch SW2-6 enables interrupts. SW2-6 Interrupts ON Yes OFF No Switch SW2-7 was described above (SCTS enable). Communications software will usually override most of the switch settings. The important settings are: SW1-5 ON SW1-6 ON SW1-7 ON SW2-6 ON (assuming the software supports interrupts) SW2-7 OFF Note: if the software does not support interrupts, you must set SW2-6 OFF, or the computer will crash as soon as the serial card is enabled. If you are using the card to connect to a printer, all of the switches should be set correctly - most software will use the card's settings and will not override them. Note that "Communications" and "Printer" mode is a switch selection. It is independent of the MODEM or TERMINAL setting of the jumper block. In "Communications" mode, the card expects commands starting with a Control-A character (by default). In "Printer" mode, the card expects commands starting with with a Control-I character (by default). -- David Empson dempson@actrix.gen.nz Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand