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Apple II Csa2 FAQs: Telecom Hardware & Transfers, Part 20/25 (2/2)



[continued from previous message]

     Original IIc releases use a cheap method of generating the clock 
frequency
for the serial ports. Most implementations based on the 6551 chip use a 
1.8432
MHz crystal, which gives exact baud rates; but, these IIc's take the 
master
system clock (14.
31818 MHz in an American IIc) and divide it by eight to produce 1.7898 
MHz. The
3% decrease in clock frequency produces a 3% drop in the baud rate, 
which is
enough to prevent operation with some serial devices, particularly 
intelligent
modems running at 
1200
bps or faster.

     This is not always a problem, and I have successfully used one of 
these
IIc's with a ZyXEL U-1496E modem and a direct connection to a IIgs at 
9600 bps.
I have had problems in other cases.

     Later motherboards use a crystal, (and, some original motherboards 
may
have a crystal installed) resulting in much better behaviour. You can 
make a
reasonable guess at whether you have the original motherboard by 
checking which
firmware version is 
installed. From the BASIC prompt enter PRINT PEEK(64447) and check the
displayed value against this list:

 255       Original firmware- probably original motherboard
 0         UniDisk 3.5 support- may be original or revised motherboard
 3 or 4    Memory expansion card- revised motherboard


     In theory, the IIc's maximum baud rate is 19,200. Whether it can 
actually
keep up with that rate is another question. 9600 should be fine. IIc+ 
baud rate
generation is reliable and max speed is 19,200 baud.

     IIgs: Although the firmware IIgs Control Panel allows a top 
setting of
19,200, maximum speed for the built-in IIgs serial ports is about 230k 
baud.
Spectrum and a few other telecom products directly control the ports 
and allow
57.6k transfers.

____________________________



From: Gareth Jones

011- What telecom programs run on Apple II computers?

KERMIT: Available in DOS 3.3 and ProDOS versions, this freeware runs on 
any
Apple II. (On a GS, you need to turn the "DCD Detect" option OFF in the 
modem
control panel.)  KERMIT is little harder to set up and use than some 
other
telecom software; but, 
works fine for Kermit and X-Modem transfers. It supports VT52, VT100, 
and dumb
terminal emulations.

ZLink: a ProDOS system program that requires a IIe, IIc, or IIgs. It 
supports
X-modem and Y-modem file transfers; VT100 and  partial VT220 
emulations. The
"macro" program that comes with it is simple, but fine for some things, 
like
auto-entering your 
password. A nice feature is that ALL the options are shown and set in a 
single
screen display, reached by pressing Open-Apple-?. I used this program 
quite
happily for a number of years, so it is probably worth a download to 
see if it
meets your needs.

Talk is Cheap 4.0: An excellent program for the IIe, IIc, or IIgs. It 
requires
an accelerator chip (e.g. a Zip Chip) in a IIe or IIc to communicate 
over 4800
baud. With the accelerator chip, you're fine up to 19,200 baud. It has 
an
excellent scripting 
language, which was used as the basis for Spectrum's scripting 
language. File
transfer protocols are X-modem (various types, such as 4K X-modem and 
1K
X-modem) and Y-modem (for downloads). The manual is a good tutorial for
telecommunications. You may be 
able
to find an early shareware version on the net.

ProTerm 3.1: This has been the most popular commercial telecom program
available for the Apple II. The program supports many emulations, every 
file
transfer protocol I know (including Kermit), and if you have a mouse, 
it'll
give a mouse and pull-down- 
menus environment.

Telcom: Similar to ZLink in features (except no macros), this is a free
never-finished commercial product by Jawaid Bazyar for IIgs only. 
Featuring a
mouse-and-menus interface implemented on the text screen, Telcom offers 
X-modem
uploads and downloads, Y-
modem downloads, and VT100 or ProTerm Special Extended terminal 
emulations.

Spectrum: This is the ONLY GS/OS telecom desktop program (i.e., 
standard menus,
the system clipboard for cutting and pasting, etc.). VERY strong 
scripting
language that even supports sounds, icons, fonts, colours, clickable 
buttons
(like HyperCard). It 
supports most terminal emulations, many file transfer protocols (e.g. 
Z-modem,
though not Kermit. Yet). The author and publisher have released version 
2.0 and
are committed to developing it further.

ANSITerm: from Parkhurst Micro Products. Paul Parkhurst's program is 
supposedly
the best colour ANSI graphics available on a GS. It supports macros, 
many file
transfer protocols, and there is a demo version to try out. GS users 
only.

----------------------------


From: Rubywand

     Another very good program is Modem MGR from MGR Software. It runs 
on any
Apple II and works with a wide range of modems, 80-column boards, and 
clock
cards. MM supports popular protocols from X-modem through Z-modem and 
many
terminal emulations.

----------------------------


From: Supertimer

     Agate offers Z-modem. Z-modem is a much better protocol, with a 
resume
function (web browsers should take note) and powerful CRC-32 error 
checking.
Agate was shareware, but the user decided he couldn't accept money for 
an
unfinished product. None of 
the shareware checks were cashed. I think it is freeware now.

____________________________



From: Penman, Supertimer, Rubywand, MDRipley37

012- Where can I get ADT, ADTgs, ADTcc, Agate, Modem MGR, Spectrum,
     ProTerm, ap2222pc, ZLink, ][2Mac, MacADT, A2fx, HfsLink?

     For links, see Csa21MAIN4: Get It- Links to popular software 
packages.

____________________________



From: Tom Kelly, David Empson, Rubywand

013- What are the settings for the Apple Super Serial Card?

     Here is some information about Super Serial Card (SSC) Settings:

Recomended Slots

    Slot 1 for printer use
    Slot 2 for modem (and most non-printer serial communications) use


Jumper Block- configures serial I/O lines. This does not set the 
operating mode
of the card. Operating mode is set via the DIP switches.

    For typical printer use, label is right side up (arrow points 
DOWN), DIPs
are set for printer operation, and a printer cable is used. This jumper 
setting
can also be used with a modem cable to make a NULL modem connection to 
another
computer. (DIPs 
would then be set for modem operation.)

    For typical modem use, the label is upside down (arrow points UP), 
DIPs are
set for modem mode, and a modem cable goes to the modem. To make a NULL 
modem
connection to another computer, use a modem cable + NULL modem adaptor.


Note that RS-232-C signals on the SSC use negative-true logic; that is, 
they
are true at 0v and false at +5 volts.


DIP Switch Settings

     These set the default operation of the SSC. The settings may be 
overridden
via commands entered from the keyboard or from software.


SW1 Dip Switch Settings

SW1 Dip Switch 1-4 Settings

    Baud      SW1-1     SW1-2     SW1-3     SW1-4     SW1-8
    50        on        on        on        off       not used
    75        on        on        off       on        "
    110       on        on        off       off       "
    135       on        off       on        on        "
    150       on        off       on        off       "
    300       on        off       off       on        "
    600       on        off       off       off       "
    1200      off       on        on        on        "
    1800      off       on        on        off       "
    2400      off       on        off       on        "
    3600      off       on        off       off       "
    4800      off       off       on        on        "
    7200      off       off       on        off       "
    9600      off       off       off       on        "
    19200     off       off       off       off       "


SW1 Dip Switch 5-7 Settings

                    SW1-5  SW1-6  SW1-7

Modem operation     on     on     on
Printer operation   off    on     on*


Note

Switch SW1-5 and SW1-6 help define the operation mode of the card.

1-5   1-6   Operation Mode
on    on    Modem
off   on    Printer
on    off   Emulate Apple Serial Interface Card with P8 PROM
off   off   Emulate Apple Serial Interface Card with P8A PROM


Switches SW1-7 and SW2-7 select between the standard and secondary 
Clear To
Send signals when the jumper block is set for printer operation.

1-7   2-7   pin
on    off   CTS
off   on    SCTS

For modem operation,
SW1-7 should always be ON and
SW2-7 should always be OFF.

*For printer operation, the setting may vary.
If using an Imagewriter II
SW1-7 should be ON and
SW2-7 should be OFF.



SW2 Dip Switch Settings

Switches SW2-1 through SW2-4 functions depend upon whether modem or 
printer
operation is enabled.


SW2 Dip Switch 1-4 Settings for Modem operation

Data          Parity    Stop      SW2-1     SW2-2     SW2-3   SW2-4
Bits                    Bits

7             none      1         on        off       off     on
7             odd       1         on        off       on      off
7             even      1         on        off       off     off
7             none      2         off       off       off     on
7             odd       2         off       off       on      off
7             even      2         off       off       off     off
8             none      1         on        on        off     on
8             odd       1         on        on        on      off
8             even      1         on        on        off     off
8             none      2         off       on        off     on
8             odd       2         off       on        on      off
8             even      2         off       on        off     off


SW2 Dip Switch 1-4 Settings for Printer operation

SW2-1    Default data format
on       8 data, 1 stop
off      8 data, 2 stop

SW2-2    Delay after sending out a RETURN character
off      None
on       32 milliseconds

SW2-3 and SW2-4 set line width and video output

2-3   2-4            Function
on    on      40 column output, video on
on    off     72 column output, video off
off   on      80 column output, video off
off   off    132 column output, video off


SW2 Dip Switch 5-7 Settings (Modem or Printer operation)

SW2-5 enables automatic line feed generation.
on   auto-send a linefeed after sending a CR
off  no linefeed auto-send

SW2-6 enables interrupts.
on   Yes (recommended for baud rates of 1200 or greater)
off  No

SW2-7 used with SW1-7 to select CTS signal
on   may have this setting for use with some printers
off  correct setting for modem operation

(SW2-8 is not used)



Connector Pin Assignments

 10-Pin    Dsub-25
 Header    Connector          Signal Name
 ______________________________________________________
    1         1               Frame Ground
    2         2               Transmit Data (TXD)
    3         3               Receive Data (RXD)
    4         4               Request To Send (RTS)
    5         5               Clear To Send (CTS)
    6         6               Data Set Ready (DSR)
    7        19               Secondary Clear To Send (SCTS)
    8         7               Signal Ground
    9        20               Data Terminal Ready (DTR)
   10         8               Data Carrier Detect (DCD)

Pins 1-7 and 2-7 are set together to determine the SSC pin to be read 
for the
Hardware Handshaking signal. Generally set to monitor Pin #20.


Typical Configurations (and Don't Forget The JUMPER Block)

           Modem**           ImageWriter I/II Printer***

        SW1      SW2              SW1      SW2
      1234567  1234567          1234567  1234567
ON       XXXX  XX XXX              X XX  X  XX
OFF   XXX        X   X          XXX X     XX  XX


** Default is 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit. The 
correct
settings for SW2-5 (on= auto-send linefeed after CR) and SW2-6 (on= 
enable
interrupts) may vary.

*** This is the setting recommended in the IW-II manual.

____________________________



From: Kevin M. Carr

014- Could someone who has an Applied Engineering Serial Pro
     card please post a list of the dip switch settings for
     the 2 banks of switches?

     I use an AE Serial Pro in my  IIe to connect to my ImageWriter II. 
 All of
the DIP switches are set to OPEN (switch down).  The switch block next 
to the
printer interface connector is for hardware handshaking signals. 
(Copied
without any permission 
whatsoever from the AE Serial Pro User's Manual.)

 o Switch 1, when closed, select pin 4 (Request to send) as the flow 
control
handshaking line.  Some printers which use this line are: Data General 
TP2;
Heath H-25; Olympia ESW102/103; QUME Sprint 5; and Smith-Corona TP1

 o Switch 2, when closed, selects pin 11 which is, according to 
RS-232-C
specifications, undefined and is used by some serial printers as a 
printer-
ready signal. Some Centronics, Texas Instruments, and Epson serial 
printers may
use this pin.

 o Switch 3, when closed, selects pin 19 (Secondary Request to Send) as 
the
handshaking line.  Some of the printers that use this pin are the 
Anadex
DP8000/9000, Bell TP-1000, Lear Seigler 310, NEC 3500/7700, and Digital
Equipment (DEC) LA-series serial 
printers.

 o Switch 4, when closed, selects pin 20 (Data Terminal Ready) as not 
only the
device-available handshaking line but also as the data-flow- control 
line. Some
Diablo, C.Itoh, Okidata, QUME, Tectronics, or Xerox printers may use 
this
handshaking signal.

 o When all of the switches are open, Data Terminal Ready (Dsub-25 pin 
20) is
the only line monitored as the hardware handshaking line from your 
printer.
This supports most popular serial printers.


     The second set of DIP swithces (close to the front of the card) is 
for
generating Maskable (IRQ) and Non Maskable (NMI) interrupts from the 
6551
Asynchronous Communications Interface Adaptor (ACIA) chip and the 6818 
clock
chip.  The swithces select 
the type and source of interrupt request.  Normally all switches are in 
the
OPEN position.

      o Switch 1: IRQ from 6551

      o Switch 2: NMI from 6551

      o Switch 3: IRQ from 6818

      o Switch 4: NMI from 6818


____________________________



From: Cyrus Roton <croton@ridgecrest.ca.us>

015- What are the switch settings for the old Apple Serial Interface 
card?


The switch settings are as follows:

1    2    3      baud rate
on   on   on       110
off  on   on       134.5
on   off  on       300
off  off  on      1200
on   on   off     2400
off  on   off     4800
on   off  off     9600
off  off  off    19200

sw 4  off = enable delay after CR

5    6    line wt   video
on   on     40      enable
off  on     72      disable
on   off    80      disable
off  off   132      disable

sw 7  off = enable LF after CR


____________________________



From: Supertimer

016- I've heard that I can use some sort of printer cable to do
     NULL modem transfers with between my IIc and a PC. Which cable?

     Get an "Apple IIc to ImageWriter I" cable. It has a DIN-5 plug on 
one end
and a standard Dsub-25 plug on the other with the correct line swapping 
for
NULL modem. Depending upon whether your PC connection is to a 25-pin or 
9- pin
port and whether or 
not an extension cable is used, you may also need a Dsub-25 to Dsub-9 
cable
and/or a Dsub-25 gender changer. (The latter are standard items at many
computer stuff stores.)

____________________________



From: David Empson

017- What kind of cable should I use to connect a modem to my IIc?

Here is the pinout of the IIc serial port looking at the back of the 
computer:

  DIN-5F (female)
   socket with
Apple's numbering

   5       1
    4     2
       3

The functions are:

1  Handshake Out (nominally DTR)
2  Data Out (TxD)
3  Ground
4  Data In (RxD)
5  Handshake In (nominally DSR)


To connect a IIc to a typical modem use the following pinout for a 
non-hardware
handshaking cable:

IIc                Modem
DIN-5M             Dsub-25M      DIN-5            Dsub-25M
                                 plug          male connector
1 Handshake Out    20 DTR
2 Data Out          2 TxD      1       5   ,--------/ /---------.
3 Ground            7 Gnd       2     4    \  1   2 ... 12  13  /
4 Data In           3 RxD          3        \  14   ...   25   /
5 Handshake In --- Fruity Dog 6.2