Re: ][GS Questions

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

Frank Carney <frankc@cyberhighway.net> wrote:

> I have two RAM cards that I need to populate:
> 
> 1) Apple ][GS Memory Expansion  by Apple
> 2) RamPak 4GS by Orange Micro
> 
> Can you tell me what each of these take?

The Apple card uses 41256 chips (or equivalent): 256Kx1, installed in
sets of eight.  Maximum capacity is 1 MB (32 chips installed).

I'm not familiar with the Orange Micro card.

> How do you use Appletalk on the GS?
> Needed are cable descriptions, actual ports that I hook up to, and
> software that can use it.

This is not a question that can answered in a few lines.  I've posted
extensively on this subject before.

> What kind of devices can hook to the smart port?

SmartPort devices.  :-)

Seriously, there are three classes of disk drive that can be connected
to the IIgs disk port:

1. The Apple 3.5 Drive (a 'dumb' 3.5" drive made by Apple).  This is the
standard 3.5" drive for the IIgs.

2. Intelligent drives (with their own CPU) that implement the SmartPort
protocol.  The main examples of this are the UniDisk 3.5 (also made by
Apple), and the Chinook/Sequential SmartPort hard drives.

3. Apple II 5.25" drives.  The Apple 5.25 Drive is the best match for
the IIgs aesthetically, and it is functionally identical to the UniDisk
5.25.  The Disk //c will also work (though it must be the last drive on
the chain), as will the DuoDisk (may need a hardware mod) and even the
old Disk ][ (with an adaptor cable).

If connecting mixed device types, they must be connected in the order
I've listed them (Apple 3.5, then SmartPort, then 5.25").

You cannot connect more than four drives in total (due to signal loading
and power supply considerations).  There is a limit of two Apple 3.5
Drives, and two 5.25" drives, but you could connect up to four SmartPort
drives.

> Why does the GS have a drive interface on port 6 when the smartport
> talks to the drives already?
> Where is the connection for this port?

The actual hardware for the disk port is associated with slot 6.  The
firmware provides access to it via two slots, mainly for software
compatibility reasons.

The so-called "Disk Port" (slot 6) is for accessing 5.25" drives only.

The so-called "Smart Port" (slot 5) is for accessing Apple 3.5 Drives
and actual SmartPort drives connected to the disk port, plus the
internal RAM disk and ROM disk (if enabled).

The Apple 3.5 Drive, RAM disk and ROM disk are treated as if they were
SmartPort devices.  The only difference is that the driver is in the
computer's ROM instead of being inside the drive itself.

5.25" drives aren't supported by the SmartPort firmware, for a variety
of reasons.  The main one is compatibility with software that expects
something which looks like a Disk ][ controller card (and the SmartPort
firmware cannot do this).

> Where does a mouse hook to?

The IIgs uses an Apple Desktop Bus mouse and keyboard, as used on every
Mac model starting with the SE and prior to the iMac.

Assuming you have the original IIgs (256K RAM, ROM version 0 or 01), you
also have the option of installing a IIe mouse card.  It can go in any
slot, and you must set slot 4 to "Your Card" (to disable the built-in
mouse fimrware).

For the 1MB IIgs (ROM version 3), you can use a mouse card for 8-bit
software, but native IIgs software always uses the Apple Desktop Bus
mouse (and doesn't need the "Mouse Port" enabled in slot 4).

> Can I connect a ][e keyboard to the internal connector on the GS?  I
> notices all that this connection is missing is the actual pins.  The
> solder mask actually says keybord along with a numeric keypad too.

On the original (256K) motherboard which has these positions, yes.  The
1MB motherboard does not support a IIe keyboard.

You would have to solder the connectors in place.  Some early
motherboards came with them installed, on the off-chance the board was
going to be used in a IIe upgrade.

You are also going to run into mechanical problems if you are trying to
roll-your-own IIe-to-IIgs upgrade.  The upgrade required replacing the
motherboard and the base panel of the case.

> What kind of monitors can connect to the GS?  Can I hook up a standard
> RGB?

Define "standard RGB".  There are lots of standards.

The IIgs uses analog RGB at television frequencies (15.75 kHz horizontal
scan rate, 50 Hz or 60 Hz vertical scan rate, not interlaced, maximum
resolution 640x200).

This is not compatible with any of the PC-compatible RGB standards: CGA
and EGA are digital, and VGA is too high frequency.  The IIgs also does
not work with Mac RGB monitors, which are functionally similar to VGA
(or derivatives).

I'm aware of four RGB monitors that can be used with the IIgs:

- The original AppleColor RGB monitor sold by Apple at the same time as
the IIgs.   (Not to be confused with almost identically named Macintosh
monitors.)

- An Amiga 1040(?) monitor.

- Whatever monitor came with the 68K-based Atari model that came out
shortly before the IIgs (my memory is starting to fail...)

- One model of Magnavox monitor.

> Why can't I see color when I hook up standard monitor that takes
> an NTSC signal from the RCA style jack?  It is a color monitor.

There is a setting in the Display section of the Control Panel which
selects between monochrome and colour output for composite video.  Text
is always displayed in monochrome, but graphics modes will switch to
colour, if enabled.

> Does anyone have a schematic for a ][c?

There is one in the IIc technical reference manual.  Byte Works should
be able to sell you the second edition of this.

> Is this newsgroup archived somewhere?

Not to my knowledge.  There is Deja News, of course.

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