Re: PC TransPorter: What are its non-IBM uses?

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

stephen e buggie <buggie@ben09.unm.edu> wrote:

> I have absolutely no interest in using PC TransPorter to run old IBM
> software.   BUT, I heard somewhere, long ago, that this card has other
> uses, such as a RAM card 640K.  Is this true???

Yes.  It is similar in function to the Apple II Memory Expansion Card
("Slinky") or the AE RamFactor.  It is actually about 708K if the card
is fully populated.

The big catch: there is no ROM on the card, so you have to download
firmware into it by booting from a patched copy of PRODOS.  In
particular this means there is no way to boot from the RAM disk.

> Can it also be used as a db-19 disk drive controller?

Yes, but with serious limitations:

- You have to use the same patched ProDOS file mechanism to load the
driver into the card

- You cannot boot from floppies connected to the PCT.

- It doesn't support Apple II 5.25" drives (not a big problem), or the
UniDisk 3.5.

- It is _very_ slow with Apple 3.5 Drives.  You are much better off with
a Universal Disk Controller or a SuperDrive card.

On the other hand it does support TransDrives (PC-compatible 360K 5.25"
drive, and 720K 3.5" drive).

> Can it run one or two platinum 3.5 800K drives on a IIe???

Given the above limitations, yes.

> Any other ordinary uses for it?

Nothing else comes to mind, if you don't want to use it as a PC.

> The CPU appears to be dead --- not even a self-test.  What is the simplest
> test I can do to PC-TransPorter to check whether it works???

Do you have the software for it?  You have to run the PC Transporter
software (AEPC.SYSTEM or STARTAEPC) before you can do anything with it
as a PC.  It might also need video hardware connected correctly and may
have incorrect control panel settings (the PCT has its own control
panel, independent of the IIgs one).

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