Re: AE PC Transporter Questions...

["Charlie" <charlied@NOSPAMbboard.com>]

"David Empson" <dempson@actrix.gen.nz> wrote in message
1ff4rxr.1ndyiotkn6fteN%dempson@actrix.gen.nz">news:1ff4rxr.1ndyiotkn6fteN%dempson@actrix.gen.nz...
> Willie Yeo <willie@singapore.com> wrote:
>
> > In article <3D2B7B9C.F3129EF5@usa.net>, a2forever@usa.net wrote:
> >
> > > What exactly is it, an AT (80286) or XT (8088) emulator?
> >
> >    It is an XT 8088 emulator, utilising the accelerated NEC 8088
processor.
>
> It is an NEC V30 running at about 7 MHz.  It is more accurately
> described as an enhanced 8086, as it has a 16-bit data bus (the 8088 is
> only 8 bits).  The enhancements consist of faster instruction execution
> and some additional instructions (equivalent to an 80186).
>
> > > 2Mhz clockspeed, Hard disk support, colour, graphics mode: CGA,
Hercules,
> > > etc?
> >
> >    I think it is 10Mhz (if memory serves me right), I don't remember it
> > supporting an external harddisk. I vaguely remembers it is either CGA or
> > Hercules graphics ... though I think it is CGA (haven't touch my card
for
> > THAT long !).
>
> CGA.  No hard disk support, except through the emulation scheme (file or
> files on a ProDOS volume hosted by the Apple II).
>
> > > How do I get it going and revert back to the
> > > standard Apple IIGS mode?
> >
> >    You start the emulator using a ProDOS application.
>
> Aptly called STARTAEPC (which launches AEPC.SYSTEM).
>
> You exit from the PC Transporter either via its control panel (accessed
> by holding down the shift key and pressing Caps Lock twice, if I
> remember right) or with recent enough PC Transporter software there is
> an MS-DOS program called BYE.COM included (or it might have been called
> something else and I renamed it to BYE for consistency).
>
> > > Do I need an IBM 5.25 inch disk drive/keyboard/monitor/etc attached to
> > > use it?
> >
> >    You need the PC-Transdrive if you want to access 5.25" PC formatted
> > floppies (360k), or a SuperDrive if you want to access the 3.5" PC
> > formatted floppies.
>
> I would not recommend trying to connect a SuperDrive to a PC
> Transporter.  The PCT doesn't support high density disks anyway (it can
> access them if you have a SuperDrive connected to a SuperDrive
> controller, and map that as the A: drive).
>
> Applied Engineering had both 5.25" and 3.5" TransDrives available, and
> you can also connect an Apple 3.5 Drive, which will support 720K
> floppies (not 100% reliably) while the PC Transporter is acting as a PC,
> but only 800K (and possibly 400K) while the PC Transporter is acting as
> a disk controller for the Apple II.

I have found that my Apple 3.5" drive does support 720K floppies 100%
reliably provided that I format the disks (double density - one hole not
two)on a regular PC first.  If I format them on the PC Transporter they work
fine on some PCs and flakey on others.  This set up is great for transfering
files and disk images to and from the PC world. The vast majority of Apple
files are smaller than 720K and even most 800K disk images shrink to less
than 720K when using Shrinkit GS.  When acting as a disk controller for the
Apple II the PC Transporter supports 800K reliably (at least on my Apple
IIgs ROM 1).  The only difference is that it is slower than if it was
attached directly to the Apple.

One important warning: Do NOT attach a 3.5" UniDisk drive to the PC
Transporter.

>
> The TransDrives are standard PC floppy drives with a specially modified
> interface.  You cannot connect a standard PC floppy drive directly to
> the PC Transporter.
>
> You can connect a genuine PC keyboard to the PC Transporter, if you have
> the right adaptor cable (DIN-5 to molex).  It is usually more convenient
> (for reasons of space) to use the Apple II keyboard, as long as you are
> running on a IIgs and have an extended keyboard.  A real PC keyboard
> might be more attractive when using the PCT on a IIe, and it is almost a
> requirement when using the PCT on a II+.
>
> --
> David Empson
> dempson@actrix.gen.nz