Null modem and networking

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

powerpc <prodos8@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:
>
>> renderer writes ...
>>
>>      Your Mac does not need to be able to create disk images or A2 ProDOS
>> disks. It just needs to be able to download files and transfer them via NULL
>> modem to your Apple II.
>
>is there a faq or something like that that will teach me how to NULL
>modem transfer files?  thanks.

Hello.  Null modeming between a IIGS and a Mac is easy.
You take a Mac printer cable (has to be a printer cable
because printer cables are NULL modem cables whereas
modem cables are REAL modem cables...two lines are
switched which is the difference) and run it between the
IIGS and Mac modem ports.  Then run terminal software
on the IIGS and the Mac.  Send files via zmodem,
ymodem, or xmodem.

However, if you have System 6.0.1 on the IIGS or 6.0
for that matter, you can set up a LocalTalk network
between the Mac and the IIGS.  That way, you can
actually mount the Mac hard drive on the IIGS Finder,
double click on it, and drag files from the Mac to a
IIGS floppy disk.

If you want to set up a LocalTalk network, please start
a new thread about it on csa2 and the experts will
help you.  I've never done it before, sorry.  However,
I have seen such networks work and they work well.
LocalTalk is 230k versus 57.6k (or 19.2k depending
on your terminal software) for null modem.

As for Merlin, I personally feel that it should not be
downloaded because Mike Westerfield still sells it
and he is one of the few remaining active developers
for the Apple II and Apple IIGS.  However, if you
need a language for your computer free, Mike does
offer a free advanced BASIC on his web site
http://www.byteworks.org/ Byte Works.  There is
also a free C compiler for the Apple II, for example.

If you want to purchase a used copy, try the
comp.sys.apple2.marketplace newsgroup.  Besides,
I'm pretty sure the manuals are essential for a
program of this type.