Re: PC Tranporter Info Wanted

[Paul Schultz <pschultz@med.wayne.edu>]

On Sat, 18 Jul 1998, Doug Cotton wrote:

> One of a batch of GS computers our company recently obtained has a 'PC
> Transporter' card installed. Attached to this via a cable is another small
> board labelled 'ColorSwitch', the latter having a cable that leads outside
> of the case and ends with a DB-type connector (video?). Can anyone shed any
> light on the operation of this card? It appears to be a 'PC-on-a-card',
> using a NEC V30 processor, and having it's own on-board RAM.
> 
> Thanks in adavance for any assistance.
> 

You've hit the nail on the head. I've never owned a PCT myself but to
get it to run you will need to connect a disk drive to the PCT. You
can either connect your IIgs 3.5 800K drive, or a Transdrive (or
equivalent). A transdrive was simple an external PC drive setup --
either 5.25 or 3.5 were available. If connecting the IIgs 3.5 800K
drive, you will be able to read and write to 720K PC formatted disks.
Unfortunately, since the PCT is performing some 'fancy footwork' in
order to get the IIgs GCR drive to operate as with MFM disks,
formatting 720KB disks with the IIgs 800K diskdrive was a little
flakey (resulting disks would not always be readable on a PC if I
recall).

The second requirement for using a PCT is the software. This was
IIgs software but since I never had a PCT you'll have to get more
specifics from someone else here. I believe one function of the
software was to establish a large file which functioned as a
hard drive for the PCT. Hence, I'm sure some sort of driver was
also involved. But, as I said, others need to pipe in here!

Finally, the color switch was so that you could connect your
analog IIgs monitor to the CGA output of the PCT. The PCT
was sold in IIe and IIgs version with the color switch being
different for each computer.

Like I said: I've never owned one but this should give you
a starting point.

Have fun!

BTW, if CMD has acquired some IIgs computers does this mean
you'll be working on some IIgs projects?

Paul.

pschultz@med.wayne.edu
Paul Schultz