Re: Appleline device questions

[jalapeno1@mac.com (jalapeno)]

"Ernest" <ernestls@attbi.NOSPAM.com> wrote in message news:<B2Fq8.185328$uA5.150467@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net>...
> I have an Appleline device, and I wanted to know if anyone has any
> information about it. It has a 25pin female port, and a BNC type connector on
> the back. It also has a 3.5" floppy disk with 3270 software on it.
> 
> What I already know about it is that it's used to connect a Macintosh to an
> IBM AS/400, and that the 3270 software is probably a terminal emulation
> program for the Mac.
>
> The 25pin serial (?) port on the back is used to connect a modem, or a null
> modem cable used by the Mac, and the BNC connector goes to the AS/400.
> 
> Does that sound correct? Does anyone have any additional information about
> this device?

I think it is more likely a protocol converter to attach an ascii
serial device to an IBM 3174 terminal control unit for a system/370 or
system/390 mainframe.
 
Although I wouldn't rule out an AS/400, the age of the Appleline (I
think) predates the AS/400 (which replaced the System/36
minicomputer). AS/400's more commonly use the 5250 model of terminal.
Actually, I've never seen an AS/400 with any 327x device connected
(only 525x's) but that doesn't mean anyone hasn't done it.

In this case, the ascii device would be a Macintosh. The BNC port
connects a coax cable to a port on the 3174 controller. The RS-232
port can be hooked directly to a Mac (or Apple II by using VT100
emulation) or you can hook a modem up to it and dial into your
mainframe, if you'd like.

You might find this link interesting:

http://www.archaic-apples.com/files/apple2/til/A2TIL210.TXT

This link has the pinout's for the Appleline RS-232 port:

http://wired.hard.ru/data/appleline.shtml

I'd also do a google search if I were you. You may find some
interesting tid-bits.

There have been many IBM 3174 control units for sale on ebay recently
(most of them going for between $ U.S. and $25 U.S.