Re: IIe workstation card

["**** ****" <***@***.com>]

Dennis Jenkins wrote in message <39EDC54A.9D5197A7@usb.com>...
>A network card for the IIe sounds really cool...  If I could link my IIe
>to my Linux box, then I could send files via appletalk instead of ADT...
>
>--
>dennis@usb.com                           Universal Savings Bank.


Dennis, its a localtalk networking card... an entirely different scheme.
You'd also have to have a localtalk card for the linux box, and there are
very few of them around. At one point, www.copstalk.com sold them, but only
with NT drivers, and for $250+. WARNING: Last time I tried to go to this
site, appeared to be porn. No idea how or why. Apple and Farallon also made
some, but that was a long time ago, and the 2 of these I've managed to
purchase are both dead, near as I can tell (either that, or it's much more
difficult to get working than anything else).
    On a side note, I've been doing some research... and it would appear
that there are other platforms capable of this type of networking. The Atari
ST computers had a rs422 port, that was appletalk compatible (no pictures
though, is this db9 or mini8?) and I've even found some source code for an
appletalk stack. This one still isn't confirmed to my satisfaction though.
Then there are certain models of SGI that have db9 and db15 rs422 ports,
some of which are definitely compatible, and I've found snippets on the web
about people binding netatalk (appletalk) to these plugs... also
unconfirmed.
    Alternatively, for about $100 you could buy a small localtalk<->
ethernet bridge... even CompUSA seems to stock these, so it's not only a
mailorder/weborder kinda thing. I've found a used one, by Dayna, and if you
find any Dayna equipment, it's not worth it unless it's pocket change. I'm
sure that they made fine products, but several years back, they were bought
by Intel, and there is ZERO information about the products on the web. Mine
appears to power up, but no packets will move in either direction. On the
backside there are a few dip switches... but who knows what they are for.
Beware, though... some bridges seem to only be made for allowing a localtalk
printer on an ethernet network, and may not fully implement the entire
appletalk protocol. So if it's especially cheap...
    A third option, is to buy an ethernet card for the Apple2. SSH Systems
in Germany sells an ethernet card, but my understanding is that they'll only
promise support for the GS. Maybe this will change, who can say?

Prices:
IIe workstation card      $15+ on ebay, final prices as high as $37 I think
Localtalk PC card (isa)   $40+ on ebay (maybe lower, I did get mine for $20
afterall)
Copstalk card        $250-350 new (who can say if they came down, or lower
used?)
Ltalk-ethernet brdige    $50-120 (several varieties, maybe as low as $20
used)
LanceGS(GS ethernet card)                $155 + S&H (lower in volume)

    Talk to me in a week though. I may have the best option yet. And to
those of you that have wondered, prototype within 10 days. Sample chips are
finally on the way, and supposedly will arrive by friday. Everything else is
mundane enough that I can pick up at most radio shacks.

Thanks,
John Oyler
http://aIIethernet.tripod.com/
jojo4@va.mediaone.net