Apple ][c language and communications?

[lytle@noao.edu (Dyer Lytle)]

Greetings Apple-2 people,

I have recently purchased, used, my first Apple ][ computer and because
this type of computer is new to me I am looking for various information.

The computer in question is an Apple ][c with monitor, mouse, external
5.25" floppy drive and printer.  I was given approximately 80-90 floppy
disks filled with various software, mostly educational, but very little
documentation for the computer and software remained.  I did get the
startup disks that describe how to use AppleWorks and I have done some
work with that.

I realize that I should wait for the FAQ to get posted to this newsgroup
but I want to get going with some of this stuff as soon as possible.
(Could someone please send me a copy of whatever FAQ there is for this
group?)

I would like to do two things with this computer.  First, I would like
to use it as a communications terminal from my home to my office.  For
this I have a 9600 baud modem that speaks Hayes protocol (I think).
I have a few disks with various terminal/communications programs on them.
Is there a terminal emulator for this computer that speaks ANSII standard?
I have heard that I will need to have the internal electronics of the
computer upgraded by Apple in order to use the modem port at any speed
other than 300 baud, is this true?  If so, is the upgrade free?

The other thing I would like to do with this computer is use it as
a front end for running a couple of microprocessor based controllers.
One of these controllers plus A/D converters will be used to take data
from some temperature sensors.  The other microcontroller will be in
a vehicle and will monitor the electrical system and engine parameters.
I have a copy of Apple 2 Pascal 1.1 (based on UCSD Pascal II.1) and
am wondering if this package allows me to access the serial ports and
to do graphics.  Is there anyone out there familiar with Apple Pascal?
(I just wrote my first "hello world" program in Pascal last night.)
Could someone please point me to some documentation on this system.

If the Pascal I have is not appropriate for the applications, I will
have to try using BASIC and perhaps a BASIC compiler.  What is the
best reference book for using Apple BASIC and where is it available?

Thanks ahead of time for any answers to my questions, I appreciate your
time and knowledge.

 -Dyer

-- 
Dyer Lytle, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, Tucson, AZ, 602-323-4136
Internet: lytle@noao.edu        SPAN: NOAO::LYTLE (NOAO=5355)