Re: A2 Exp FAQ v.01 (2/2)

[dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <446ot6$mur@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu>,
Deven D. Atkinson <technoid@prairienet.org> wrote:
> 
> APPLE II EXPANSION, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
> Version 0.1  (Part 2 of 2); September 21, 1995
> 
> CATEGORY LIST
> 
> I.   STORAGE MEDIA
>   A.  Floppy Disk Controllers
>     1.  5.25 inch disks
>     2.  3.5 inch disks

What about compatibility?  I think this should be divided into cards
that work with standard Apple II drives and cards that work with drives
from other computer platforms.

> II.  RAM EXPANSION
>    A. II+ 16k
>    B. Slinky
>    C. Bank Switched
>    D. Chip Based
>      ( each category will be further identified by slot, 
> etc., i.e., //e auxiliary, IIgs RAM slot, standard slot, //c 
> chip piggyback)

Doesn't quite make sense - a IIgs memory expansion card doesn't fit
into any of the above categories, and some cards fit into two
categories (bank-switched language cards).  I think the categories
should firstly be the type of slot (or other connection type, as with the
IIc), then subdivided by type of memory card, i.e.

     A. Standard slot
        1. Language Card (possibly subdivide into 16k and multi-bank)
        2. Slinky
     B. IIe Auxiliary Slot
        1. 80-column card
        2. 64k card
        3. Bank-switched card
     C. IIgs Memory Expansion Slot
     D. IIc Memory Expansion Slot
     E. IIc chip-connected

> III. ROM cards
>     1. Integer Basic
>     2. Applesoft

No need to have two categories here - they are the same card with
different ROMs installed.

> IV.  VIDEO
>     1. standard slot 80-column card
>     2. //e auxiliary (cross referenced to above) 80-column
>     3. other (i.e. Second Sight, Sprite

IIe auxiliary slot cards are not video cards.  They just provide extra
memory for the motherboard video circuitry.  There are IIe auxiliary
slot cards with video support, particularly RGB.

Don't forget the Video Overlay Card.

> V.   INPUT/OUTPUT
>   A. Serial Interface Cards
>     1. Apple SSC

Other possible categories include 6850-based cards and non-UART cards
such as the original Apple Serial Card.

>   B. Parallel Interface Cards
>     1. Grappler

Apple II Parallel Interface is another general type.  I don't know how
you would classify parallel cards, as they all tend to be different.

>   C. Modem Cards
>     1. AE DataLink 2400

There is also a 1200 version.  The Apple Cat goes here as well (I
don't know anything about it).

>   E. Sound Cards
>     1. GS Stereo
>     2. Mockingboard
>     (cross reference to speech cards)

Applied Engineering Phasor.  Does this emulate something?

>   H. Switches (like the cards for X10, and the various cards with just a lot
> of toggles on them, etc.)

General I/O cards (e.g. the AE analog I/O cards) might come under this
category, but it isn't clear from the descriptoin.

> VII. Network Cards
>     1. //e Workstation card

Corvus Omninet, Nestar.

> VIII. Accelerator Cards/Chips
>     1. AE Transwarp
>     2. ZIP Chip

ZIP GS should be categorised separately from the ZIP Chip.  I think
this should be subdivided into two: 8-bit and IIgs accelerators, then
broken down by general type of card.

> IX.  Coprocessor Boards
>   A. Z-80
>     1. Microsoft SoftCard
>   B. PC compatible
>     1. AE PC Transporter
> 
> X.  Clock cards/chips
>     1. AE Timemaster HO
>     2. No Slot Clock

AppleWatch (connects via the game port), ThunderClock.

> XI. Controller cards
>     1. EPROM Programmer/burner
>     2. IEEE488
> 
> XII. AD/DA converters
>      Gotta admit.  I'm drawing a blank here.  What are these?

If there are general purpose digital I/O cards, they should probably
be grouped together with analog I/O cards.  Some cards might do both.

They are intended for arbitrary interfacing, where the card provides
simple digital and/or analog inputs and outputs.  The analog I/O might
support current or voltage interfaces, with a variety of resolutions (8
bits to 12 bits usually).  Any kind of analog transducer could be
connected to the card, allowing measurements of practically any
physical quantity.

Examples: temperature, pressure, water level, light intensity,
humidity, power consumption, speed, ...

Analog outputs might be used to control the speed of a motor, among
other functions.

Digital inputs could also be used for pulse counting or pulse rate
measurements.

[This is the general area my company is involved in - we interface to
arbitrary I/O and provide communication to and from a central site.]

> XIV. Specific Use (i.e.: hardware)
>   I'd like this to be a cross reference list only, that 
> directs reader to other parts of the document.  For example, the card for
> SilentWriter ... bound to exactly one piece of hardware, can't be used for
> anything but driving a SilentWriter.  This would refer the reader to the
> appropriate place in the I/O section.

Many of the previously mentioned cards could go here.  The ProFile
card, for exmaple, and most of the cards for user interface peripherals.

> CONTENT FORMAT
> 
> I. BASIC INFORMATION
> Name: [Full Name including revision numbers
> Manufacturer:
> Apple ][ model(s): [List all models it works on]
> Placement: [slot, chip, (m)other card]
> Physical Description:  [What should be listed here?

Size, shape, connectors/cables, large and/or obvious components and
their position, how to identify which version (card and/or firmware).

> Functionality Narrative:  [What it does]

Is it worth having a category for add-on options and/or variations in
configuration?  For example, the PC Transporter has a lot of things
that can be connected to it.  Memory cards can have additional RAM
added.

Jumper settings!

Connector pinouts (at least for cards that do not use standard cables).

Features of different firmware and/or card versions.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand