Re: IIgs Battery Solutions / IIe Power Supply / TurboASB

["Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com>]

Henry wrote:
> Hey Mike.
>
> I did find this from 9-22-5:
>
> > Michael J. Mahon wrote:
> >
> >
> > > A colleague in Australia has his SSC (no hardware mods) running
> > > at 115200 bits per second, like this:
> > >
> > > >It doesn't look like the SSC firmware supports this setting with DIP
> > > >switches, but all you have to do is dump $10 into $C0AB instead of the
> > > >$1F that's normally there and it runs like a champ.
>
>
> Then I read back in late November that the new version of ADT was going to 
> support 115k on an unmodified SSC.  After that I didn't read any more about 
> it - whether it works for the masses or not.

Yes, the modification was completed and the new versions distributed.
ADT now has a 115kbps option on a regular SSC.

> There is also another reason a use may want the TurboASB - To fix an issue 
> with the original 6551 IC.  Here's some text from The Lamp about it:
> SSC BUG?   "The 6551 chip in the Super Serial Card has a known bug - you
> """"""""   lose the character "about to be sent" when the CTS line goes
> low and then high. This is what's causing a couple of the PTSE screens to
> look flaky, and it also messes up Zmodem file transfers (you will usually
> lose the second packet, and never see the error.)"
>
>      The above statement was received from a Sysop of a local BBS.  Does
> anyone know about this problem with the Apple Super Serial Card?  Could you
> leave comments about this "problem"? Thanks
>                  (B.PERCIVAL, CAT24, TOP5, MSG:156/M645;1)
>
>
> > > > > >  My second hand information confirms your statement.
>
> """""
>      The flaw in the original chip design, I am told, has been fixed, and
> you can get the new improved chip to replace your original.  Try the Harris
> CDP65C51AE1.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This could be an issue for programs that use hardware handshaking, but
frankly, when running an Apple II at 115kbps, the best policy is to
forget handshaking and do everything by direct polling, since data is
coming in near the limit of the machine to handle it in software.

> Not that I expect people to fix perfectly good SSC's if they don't have an 
> issue, but the option is now once more available if they wish to do so.

More options is a good thing.  ;-)

> Henry S. Courbis
> www.GSE-Reactive.com
> Apple II Series Legacy Hardware - Come take a look at what we have to offer!
>
>
> "Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com> wrote in message 
> Dtydnf_duOGaQG7enZ2dnUVZ_s2dnZ2d@comcast.com">news:Dtydnf_duOGaQG7enZ2dnUVZ_s2dnZ2d@comcast.com...
>
> > Henry wrote:
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> > > The TurboASB will soon be available to those who want to add modern 115k 
> > > capabilities to their Super Serial Card.  Using modern 'Surface Mount 
> > > Technology' we have been able to shrink the TurboASB to a new miniature 
> > > size!  It now fits on SSC AND allows another card to be seated next to 
> > > it. Get your Slot 2 back!  Projected price is $35.  Here are some 
> > > pictures:
> > > http://reactivecomputers.gotdns.com/TurboASB%20-%20Old.jpg
> > > http://reactivecomputers.gotdns.com/TurboASB%20-%20New1.JPG
> > > http://reactivecomputers.gotdns.com/TurboASB%20-%20New2.JPG
> > > http://reactivecomputers.gotdns.com/TurboASB%20-%20New3.JPG
> >
> > Not to rain on your very impressive parade of products, but the
> > SSC card has 115kbps capability natively, with no extra hardware.
> > (See discussions here a few months back.)
> >
> > -michael
> >
> > Music synthesis for 8-bit Apple II's!
> > Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/
> >
> > "The wastebasket is our most important design
> > tool--and it is seriously underused." 


--

-michael

Music synthesis for 8-bit Apple II's!
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/

"The wastebasket is our most important design
tool--and it is seriously underused."