Re: More Laser 128 questions, This Time Dumber

[nparker@cie-2.uoregon.edu (Neil Parker)]

In article <3pdihi$ed8@explorer.csc.com> jruschme@csc.com (John Ruschmeyer)
writes:
>In article <sac41161-1605952303180001@u09-p18.dialin.csus.edu>,
>Ernest Alan Tufft <sac41161@saclink.csus.edu> wrote:
>>Apparently, Kermit for AppleII doesn't work on Lazer 128.  What do I do. 
>>Will Proterm work? Which version? Where can I get it real cheap?
>
>A theory (can someone confirm?)...
>
>I'm assuming you're using a fairly recent version of Apple Kermit, no?
>
>The later ones required a switch be set on the Super Serial Card to enable
>interrupts (not the default or a normal state). Otherwise it does not work.
>(This is why Kermit does not work with some/all of the emulators.)
>
>I presume that the Laser does not emulate the interrupt mode of the SSC.
> 
>Is this correct? Any workarounds? (I had hoped to try this myself as soon
>as I get a cable...)

I once spent some time trying to get Kermit to work on a friend's Laser 128.
I don't think the serial port supports interrupts--the manual was completely
silent on the subject, and there were no obvious switches on the box for
turning interrupt support on or off.

I finally learned (from someone here on the net) that the secret to getting
Kermit to work on the Laser is to configure it for the Microtek serial card
driver.  Apparently the Microtek card uses a 6551 chip just like the Laser,
and also doesn't support interrupts.

The Microtek driver makes Kermit work on the Laser, but not perfectly.
Since there are no interrupts, you have to use XON/XOFF flow control
("SET FLOW XON&XOFF"), or Kermit will drop characters, especially when
it's scrolling the screen.  It may also be necessary to use SET FLOW DELAY.
(Unfortunately, the terminal servers here at the U of O don't do XON/XOFF
flow control very well, and I never did figure out how to prevent Kermit
from dropping characters when calling the U of O.)

               - Neil Parker
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