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Re: Problem with Z-LINK on an Apple IIe- Help!
Bill Rauch writes ...
>
> Recently I purchased an Apple Super Serial Card (SSC) and
> an external Practical Peripherals modem (up to 9600 baud) to use
> with my Apple IIe (enhanced). The hardware came with a copy of
> a terminal program called Z-LINK. So far I have been unsuccessful
> getting the parts to work together. The main symptom which I just
> cannot get arround is that when I issue an "AT" to Z-LINK, there
> is no tracked response back such as "OK". I have tried the
> following things tom solve and/or to localize the problem.
>
> 1. I connected the Practical Peripherals modem to an IBM-type
> machine's serial port. Everything went fine. The modem responded
> back "ok" to the sane "AT" issued through Qmodem and I was able
> to get onto a local bulletin board system with it.
>
> 2. When I removed the ssc from the Apple IIe, Z-LINK complained
> just as it is supposed to thatr there wasn't a serial interface
> present.
>
> 3. I made sure that the SSC DIP d switches were according to the
> document file which cane with Z-LINK, namely Switches 1-5, 1-6,
> 1-7, 2-6 & 2-7 are all ON. I have experimented with the others
> but, there was no change in performance.
>
> 4. I checked Z-LINK's communications parameters via the
> Open Apple-W key selection. The software indicates the Supper
> Serial Card in slot 2, just as it is, and the other selections
> look OK, too.
>
> 5. I toggled Z-LINK's selections for local echo, insert linefeed
> and have tried the 3 different terminal emulations (native,
> heath h19 and VT100). All of this does not help.
>
> 6. I have tested the cable which was supplied with the new parts.
> It ios a straight through DB-25M to DB-25M cable. I don't have
> any information to confirm that this is correct. It seems like
> the logical cable but, I'm not sure.
>
At 9600 baud, you should, probably, be using hardware hardshaking.
According to a diagram in the "Modem Works" manual (page 9), there
is a special modem cable recommended for connecting to a Super Serial
Card to get hardware handshaking flow control:
SSC side Modem side
25-pin 25-pin
2 -------> 2
3 <------- 3
4 -------> 4
5 & 8 <--- 5
6 <------- 8
7 <------> 7
20 ------> 20
(For NULL modem transfers, the Modem side plugs into the NULL modem
connector.)
Below is some info on Super Serial Card settings from our FAQs ...
>>
From: Tom Kelly
013- What are the settings for the Apple Super Serial Card?
SUPER SERIAL CARD (SSC) SETUP SETTINGS
Recomended slots:
slot 1 for terminal use (e.g. printer)
slot 2 for communication use (e.g. modem)
Jumper Block:
for communication use label is upside down (arrow points up)
for terminal use label is right side up (arrow points down)
Note that RS-232-C signals on the SSC use negative-true logic; that is,
they are true at 0v and false at +5 volts.
SW1 Dip Switch Settings:
Baud SW1-1 SW1-2 SW1-3 SW1-4 SW1-8
50 on on on off not used
75 on on off on "
110 on on off off "
135 on off on on "
150 on off on off "
300 on off off on "
600 on off off off "
1200 off on on on "
1800 off on on off "
2400 off on off on "
3600 off on off off "
4800 off off on on "
7200 off off on off "
9600 off off off on "
19200 off off off off "
Switch Settings For Communication mode:
SW1-5; SW1-6; SW1-7 are all set on
Data Parity Stop SW2-1 SW2-2 SW2-3 SW2-4
Bits Bits
7 none 1 on off off on
7 odd 1 on off on off
7 even 1 on off off off
7 none 2 off off off on
7 odd 2 off off on off
7 even 2 off off off off
8 none 1 on on off on
8 odd 1 on on on off
8 even 1 on on off off
8 none 2 off on off on
8 odd 2 off on on off
8 even 2 off on off off
Note: SW2-1 thru SW2-4 settings can be overridden by software.
SW2-5:
ON for linefeed out
OFF for no linefeed out
SW2-6:
ON for baud rates greater than 1199 baud
SW2-7:
OFF in communication mode
SW2-8:
Not used
Connector Pin Assignments
10-Pin DB-25
Header Connector Signal Name
______________________________________________________
1 1 Frame Ground
2 2 Transmit Data (TXD)
3 3 Receive Data (RXD)
4 4 Request To Send (RTS)
5 5 Clear To Send (CTS)
6 6 Data Set Ready (DSR)
7 19 Secondary Clear To Send (SCTS)
8 7 Signal Ground
9 20 Data Terminal Ready (DTR)
10 8 Data Carrier Detect (DCD)
Pins 1-7 and 2-7 are set together to determine the SSC pin to be read
for the Hardware Handshaking signal. Generally set to monitor Pin #20.
Common Configurations: [Don't Forget The JUMPER Block]
Hi Speed Modem ImageWriter I/II
1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567
ON XXXXXX XXXXXX X XX X XX
OFF X X XXX X XX XX
<<
> Anything which you could suggest would be greatly
> appreciated. I am much more familiar with IBM-type machines so,
> there likely is something which I just overlooking with this
> Apple II set-up.
> One last question: Is there a different communications
> software which I should be using? At present the only input I
> have to the Apple IIe is via floppy disks.
....
Z-Link is compact, free, and, as far as I know, should work fine
for X-modem transfers. You can get larger commercial programs which
support Z-modem, are more user-friendly, and come with large manuals.
Modem MGR ($49.50) is very good; but, I'm not sure it is still
being sold. The last number I have for MGR Software is 714-993-0294.
There is general agreement that your best choice is likely to be
InTrec's ProTERM Apple II v3.1 ($59.95). Intrec Software's number for
orders is 888-PROTERM ( http://www.intrec.com ).
Rubywand