Re: Super Serial cd: for IIe slot #3??

[jdb8042@blkbox.COM (John D. Baker)]

jwa@sunset.cse.nau.edu (James W Abendschan) writes:

[slot3 discussion deleted]

The restriction on peripheral cards in Slot 3 only apply to cards with on-board
firmware in them as the firmware will not be activated by a PR#3 command or
a jump into the SLOTC3ROM space.

HOWEVER, you can use the SSC if your software DOES NOT call the firmware but
instead accesses the SSC's I/O ports directly in the $C080+n0 space.  In fact,
any card which makes I/O ports available in the $C080+n0 space without the need
for active firmware can be used in slot three.

It is exactly this behavior that permits the PCPI AppliCard and SLS CardZ180
to run in Slot 3 of a //e or IIgs (no firmware, just I/O ports).  This is
where my AppliCard and now my CardZ180 have resided in my platinum //e for
the last 4 years.

I'm not sure if there are any other peripheral cards which can be used
in Slot 3 that don't duplicate functions your present equipment already
performs.  Other than the above mentioned cards, I can only think of
AE's TimeMaster H.O., but then Steven already has an NSC in his machine.


>PS: Should I get a No-Slot clock for my //e [unenhanced] ??  Is it inherently
>ProDOS compatible or do I need some driver?  I ask because I see JDR 
>Microdevices selling them for $30.  Are they worth it?

I've been using an NSC in my platinum //e for just over a year now and I recommend
it whole-heartedly.  Yes, it requires a driver for ProDOS to access it, but the
latest distribution software has moved the driver code/installation code into
a '.SYSTEM' file so you don't have to patch ProDOS (as in earlier distributions)
Just make sure that the driver file is the first one on your boot volume and
you'll never know the difference.  (I should point out that the NSC driver
software will hang if there isn't another '.SYSTEM' file for it to chain to,
but that's easily worked around...)

Enjoy!


John D. Baker  ->An '802-powered Apple //e CardZ180 Z-System nut //
Internet:  jdb8042@blkbox.com            jdbaker@taronga.com
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