Re: ADT and IIgs

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Supertimer writes ...
> 
> Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:
> 
> >     Has anyone gotten the ADT transfer program to work with a IIgs using the
> >regular IIgs serial port?
> >
> >     ADT works fine for transfers to/from a IIc+ and, supposedly, it works
> >with any Apple II with a Super Serial Card. But, as far as I can tell, it
> >doesn't work at all with the IIgs serial ports.
> 
> It does not seem to like the IIGS' serial chip, which is different from the
> SSC or the IIc/IIc+'s.  Too bad.  At 56k, a 143k 5.25" floppy will fly across.


     That seems to be the problem.

     Over the weekend there was a chance to look at the dissem source of ADT
v1.21. It turns out that ADT directly accesses the SSC registers; and, the serial
controller IC on the SSC is not compatible with the one on the IIgs-- not even
close.

     The //e up through the IIc+ and IIgs all seem to include firmware support
for something called a "Pascal v1.1" format for controlling serial I/O. If ADT
had used this firmware interface, it would work on a IIgs.

     However, directly accessing the SSC hardware is easier and quicker. Using
the Pascal v1.1 firmware could slow things down enough to significantly lower max
transfer speeds on 1MHz Apple II's.

     Another possible downside of using the IIgs Pascal' software interface is
that it is associated with Slot 2. Since the best IIgs telecom programs-- like
Spectrum, ProTERM, ModemMGR, and (I think) AnsiTerm-- directly access the GS
Serial Controller, they do not need Slot 2 firmware. This lets a user set Slot 2
to "Your Card" and use it for a SCSI controller card.

     If Slot 2 is set to "Your Card" with a SCSI controller card plugged in,
then, programs which depend upon Slot 2 firmware become a bother to use.



Rubywand