Re: IIc or IIc+ networking?

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

Mike Ford <mikeford@socal.rr.com> wrote:

> Can the IIc or IIc+ be convinced to talk to a network? I have this vague
> memory of someone telling me it could be done, that the serial port just
> needs a little coaxing to function on a phonenet/localtalk network.

Sorry, no.

LocalTalk requires a serial port which can transfer data using SDLC
framing (bit synchronous) at 230,400 bps.  The IIc and IIc+ only support
asynchronous framing, and the maximum rate is 19,200 bps (twelve times
too slow).

Apple were planning to release an external box that would allow a IIc to
be connected to a LocalTalk network.  This box would have had its own
serial port, processor and memory.  It would probably communicate with
the IIc via the disk port (or perhaps the serial port).  The firmware to
support this box was introduced in the "UniDisk" revision of the IIc
firmware.

The box never saw the light of day, and all the rudimentary AppleTalk
support was removed from the firmware in the next revision (memory
expansion card).

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P O Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand