Re: Appletalk firmware on IIc

[nathan@visi.com (Nathan Mates)]

In article <63d4og$r3l@aplinfo.jhuapl.edu>,
Robert Jensen  <bob_jensen@jhuapl.edu> wrote:
>I am confused about Appletalk on a IIc. An Apple technical note
>makes reference to Appletalk firmware in a IIc. The FAQ says
>there is no such functionality. What is the firmware about then?

   Apple shipped partially completed firmware in one ROM version of
the //c, and that's been confusing people ever since. As noted, it's
NOT complete.  Further, the serial chips used inside the //c can NOT
speak the serial signals (230kbps that the Zilog chip in the GS and
Macs does) that Appletalk requires.

   Given this hardware incompatability (and the lack of desire to fix
the hardware to come up to spec), for that revision of the //c to
actually support Appletalk, you'd need an external box with the
correct serial chip, and probably a small processor or dedicated
buffer logic to translate the Appletalk into something the existing
serial port could handle. [Sorta like the //e workstation card on a
serial line.] This is apparently what Apple planned to do before they
axed any plans to do so.

Nathan Mates


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