Re: Accelerating the PCT

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

<pubpc17@library.ucla.edu> wrote:

> I finally had to try it.  I replaced the 16MHz oscillator on the PCT
> board with a socket and experimented.  The bad news is that this clock
> does not seem to regulate the processor speed.  It is tied into the
> PCT's video.

According to the manual, the PCT's processor runs at 7.14 MHz.  This is
suspiciously close to the frequency of the 7M signal which is available
on the slot connector (in the IIgs or US version of the IIe, 7M is half
of 14.31818 MHz, i.e. 7.15909 MHz).

> I have one last question to the PCT gurus out there.  Will the PCT
> recognize a parallel port Zip Drive?

Only if the PC Transporter provides a "portware" emulation of the real
PC parallel port, which ends up on an Apple II card with an identical
pinout.  As far as I know, no Apple II card has the same pinout as the
PC's parallel port, so this is a moot point.

> What about a IIGS serial port piped through a (bidirectional)
> serial<->parallel converter?

Nope.  The ZIP drive relies on being able to control the parallel I/O
signals directly - it would not work through a serial-to-parallel
converter.

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