Apple II Telecom Manual I: Hardware and Transfers Csa2 FAQs-on-Ground file: F004T1TCOM.TXT The Csa2 (comp.sys.apple2) usenet newsgroup Frequently Asked Questions files are compiled by the Ground Apple II site, 1997, 1998. ftp://ground.isca.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/Faqs http://ground.isca.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/Faqs The Csa2 FAQs may be freely distributed. Note: To correctly view tables and diagrams on a super-res display, use a mono-spaced Font such as CoPilot or PCMononspaced. ____________________________ 001- How do I transfer files between my Apple and a PC or Mac? 002- How do I transfer/convert my A2 word processor files to a PC? 003- How do I transfer Apple II disks between Apple2 and PC? 004- How do I transfer files between computers using NULL modem? 005- How do I NULL-modem Text files without getting garbage? 006- How do I make a "NULL Modem" cable? 007- What is the maximum length for a NULL modem connection? 008- I have a Super Serial Card. What cable should I use? 009- How do I make a GS hardware handshake High-Speed modem cable? 010- What is the fastest modem I can use on an Apple IIe? 011- Does what applies to the IIe also apply to the //c and IIgs? 012- What telecom programs run on Apple II computers? 013- What are the settings for the Apple Super Serial Card? 014- What are the Serial Pro card's dip switch settings? 015- What are the settings for an Apple Serial Interface Card? 016- How do I make an Apple 5-pin serial interface-to-DB9 cable? 017- What cable do I need to connect a modem to my IIc? 018- How can I connect a modem with a DB-9 socket to my IIgs? 019- What is the maximum modemming speed I can get from my IIgs? 020- How can I transfer files from PC to GS using Zip disks? 021- How do I get an Applesoft program into a PC-DOS computer? From: Rubywand 001- How do I transfer files between my Apple and a PC or Mac? The best, most flak-free way to move stuff between Apple II and PC or Mac is via a NULL modem connection. This is a direct machine-to-machine transfer between serial ports with a NULL modem connector joining modem cables from each computer. Other ways of doing a direct PC-Apple II transfer include ADT and Ap2222. These software packages include A2 and PC programs which let the user do transfers via serial ports (ADT) or game port and printer port (Ap2222). They are, mainly, intended for moving whole A2 5.25" disks. Another option is to use a BBS-- perhaps your own company BBS-- or a website, etc.. You upload from one machine and download with the other. A completly different approach is to move files on diskette. For PC transfers, this requires that either the Apple II or the PC have a plug-in card and/or special diskette drive which lets it read diskettes from the other machine. The mechanics of each machine's diskette interface are too different to permit Apple II to read a PC diskette on an A2 drive or PC to read an A2 diskette on a PC drive. Depending upon model, installed OS, and available utilities, Macs can exchange files with Apple II computers via ProDOS and HFS 3.5" diskettes. Macs with the A2 plug-in board can handle standard 5.25" A2 diskettes. ---------------------------- From:SuperTimer If your other computer is a Mac, you can format a Mac HFS (standard) DS/DD 3.5" disk and the GS can read and write it if you have the HFS FST installed. That's how I exchange files with a Mac... ____________________________ From: Rubywand 002- How can I transfer and convert word processor files from an Apple IIe to a PC Microsoft format (DOS, Word)? There is a Sequential Systems package named "CrossWorks" which is supposed to be pretty good for such transfers. Sequential is at http://www.sequential.com . Their number for orders is 800-759-4549. ____________________________ From: Bill Mackin 003- Is there a way to transfer Apple II disks between a an Apple II and a PC? Sure. Yesterday I downloaded ap2222pc.zip. It was written by some guy in Hong Kong. You buy a 25-pin male parallel port connector and two 8-pin DIP sockets from Radio Shack. He gives the wiring diagram for connecting 9 wires between them. You type in a 6502 assembly program on your apple at address 300. Save the program, shut things off, hook up the wire from your PC printer port to the Apple Game Controller socket, turn them on, and run his programs. It copies whole Apple disk images over to the PC, or PC to Apple, or individual files back and forth! It works great! I've already made 26 disk images from my old Apple disks (great for backup, too!) and have been playing the games from them, moving games around, etc. I only had one problem with the ap2222pc program; the first time I ran it, my PC was already in Windows and I had printed something to a HP LaserJet IV from it; when I turned the Apple on after hooking up the cable, the Apple locked up, giving me several different hi-res graphics screens in series, no beep, and no cursor. The problem went away when I turned the Apple on first, then the PC. ____________________________ From: Rubywand 004- How do I transfer files between computers using NULL modem? You will need a NULL modem connector and each computer needs a modem cable and telecom program. A IIe or II+ will also need a serial card. ____________ ____________ | PC or Mac | | Apple II | | running a | | running a | | telecom | <--modem--> [NULL modem] <--modem--> | telecom | | program | cable [connector ] cable | program | |____________| |____________| "NULL modem" means "no modem". A NULL modem connector is just a pair of connectors wired 'back to back' with a few lines switched so that each computer views the other pretty much as though it were a modem. NULL modem connectors can be found at Radio Shack for a few dollars or you can make your own. On the Apple II side, you can choose from several good telecom programs. Since you would like to be able to do z-modem transfers, good choices include Intrec's ProTerm-A2 3.1 (Enhanced IIe -- IIgs), MGR Software's Modem MGR (II+ -- IIgs), AnsiTerm (IIgs), and Spectrum (IIgs). You can also choose from many freeware and shareware programs. Generally, these support x-modem but do not support z-modem. If you're running under a current version of Windows, HyperTerm works very nicely on the PC side. (For sending Text files from PC to Apple under HT, be sure to uncheck "send line enders" in the ASCII settings.) If there is a choice of terminal emulations, it seems best to stick with something simple, such as "TTY". A good NULL modemming program for running under DOS is Telemate, commonly available as shareware. Many other telecom programs are available and work fine under current Windows, old Windows, and DOS. Similarly, there is a good selection of Mac telecom wares. To do transfers, you just connect the modem cable from each machine to the NULL modem connector. If your PC or Mac has a spare COM port, the connection can remain in place without disrupting normal net connections through the other COM port. For a GS, the modem cable should be a "high speed" type which allows hardware handshaking and this option should be set in the GS telecom software. The same is true for other Apple II's running at 9600 baud or above. Set the same format (8-N-1) and baud rate on each telecom program. (The format will, almost always, already be set to 8 bits-No parity-1 Stop bit.) A good first-try speed setting is 9600 baud. If errors indicate this is too fast for either machine, you can move down to 2400 baud. An accelerated GS running Spectrum can connect with modern PC's running HyperTerm at 56k baud or better. Note: Spectrum (and most other newer Apple II telecom programs) do not require that you modify Control Panel settings for speed and handshaking. Since Spectrum directly accesses the GS serial port, speed, etc. settings are done in the program. (By the way, this frees-up Slot 2 -- the GS modem firmware Slot-- for any peripheral card which needs to have its Slot set to "Your Card" in the Control Panel.) Place each program in terminal mode-- often, this is the default mode. Or, the particular telecom program may have menu items or buttons you select for specific kinds of transfers. Next, you will usually select the function (send or receive) on each machine and the protocol. The protocol should be the same on both machines. Z-modem is the best choice for most single or multiple file transfers. Text files can be an exception (see the next question). Finally, you will select the file or files to send or "Open". Usually, it is best to start Receive on the target machine before starting Send on the source machine. If you find that one telecom program or the other does not give you enough time to start Send-- i.e. it keeps "timing out"-- change the program's "Time Out", "Inactivity Delay", etc. setting. ---------------------------- From: Jeff Blakeney You don't need to manually tell Spectrum or other modern telecom programs to receive a file each time you do a Z-modem transfer. Just make sure that you have Auto Receives turned ON. In Spectrum the setting is in the Settings/File Transfer/Receive Options... dialog. ____________________________ From: Rubywand 005- How do I NULL-modem Text files without getting garbage? The main problem in A2-PC Text file transfers is that Text files created by the PC use a CR _and_ an LF to end a line whereas Apple II-created Text files use just a CR. So; PC files show up on Apple II displays with annoying "#" or inverse "?" symbols; and, Apple II files show up on PC displays with long, un-terminated lines interspersed with block symbols. For PC-to-A2 Text file transfers, Z-modem, X-modem, etc. usually work fine if you have some way to deal with the extra Control characters, mainly line feeds. On the GS, Appleworks 5 does a good job of automatically cleaning out such garbage; and, Text editors like ShadowWrite and CoolWriter have options to quickly strip out offending line-feed Control characters. Some telecom programs, including Spectrum, have Text editors which can strip out Control characters and perform other manipulations to clean up a file. An alternative is to do a plain ASCII Text transfer. (The PC telecom program should be told _not_ to add line feeds or "line enders".) Depending upon your A2 telecom program, the result may be saved from your Capture Buffer, captured directly to an on-disk Text file, or selected and saved from the Scrollback buffer. Similarly, for A2-to-PC Text transfers, you can use Z-modem or some other block transfer protocol if you have a PC utility which can convert Apple II text to text PC's like. For example, one way to send several Text files is to put them in a .SHK file, z-modem them to the PC, and use Nulib to unshrink the files in PC Text format. Otherwise, you are probably better off doing a Text transfer. Set your A2 telecom program to "send LF's". If there is a "Prompting" option it should be OFF. Do an "ASCII Text", "Plain Text", etc. Send. The PC telecom program should be set to Receive Text if this option is available. If it is not, you will be able to select and save the text from the PC program's display or save the text from some capture buffer. Note: Some programs with a "Receive Text" option may expect some end-of-send signal which the sending program does not supply. Pressing CTRL-X on the Apple II or ESC on the PC often seems to work okay for terminating the Send. For example, Telemate will ask if you wish to abort the transfer-- you answer "Y"es-- but, the file will still be saved on the PC. ---------------------------- From: Edhel Iaur, Esq. Appleworks 5.x seems to do a pretty good job of cleaning up text files from the net. (e.g. it automatically clears out the annoying LF's which show up in most text file viewers.) There is, also, a standard Awks macro which will get rid of end-of-every-line CR's. ____________________________ From: Rubywand 006- Does anyone have directions for making a "NULL Modem" cable? A NULL modem is two 25-pin female sockets (call them "A" and "B") wired back-to-back as follows ... Socket-A Socket-B 1 -> 1 2 -> 3 3 -> 2 4 & 5 -> 8 6 & 22 -> 20 7 -> 7 8 -> 4 & 5 20 -> 6 & 22 If you can find a couple old-style DIN-25 plug casings, the sockets can be mounted and the casings can be glue-gunned together to make a nice compact unit. For GS-PC (or Mac, etc.) transfers, you plug the modem cable from the GS into one side of the NULL modem and the modem cable from the PC into the other side. If the PC has a 9-pin serial port connector, use a 9-to-25 adaptor cable to connect to the NULL modem. Similarly, if the Mac cable has a special connector, use a converter to a male DB-25 connector for plugging into the NULL modem. ---------------------------- 007- What is the maximum length for a computer-to-computer NULL modem hardware-handshaking connection? Most texts agree that around 50 feet is the 'safe' maximum length. ---------------------------- 008- I'm using the Super Serial Card. What cable should I use to get Hardware Handshaking? According to a diagram in the "Modem Works" manual, there is a special modem cable recommended for connecting to a Super Serial Card to get hardware handshaking flow control: SSC side Modem side 25-pin 25-pin 2 -------> 2 3 <------- 3 4 -------> 4 5 & 8 <--- 5 6 <------- 8 7 <------> 7 20 ------> 20 For NULL modem transfers, the Modem side plugs into the NULL modem connector. ____________________________ From: Tae Song (White Wolf) 009- Does anyone out there in Net.Land have the pin connections to use for a GS CTS/RTS hardware handshake compatible "High-Speed" modem cable? Males have pins. View is looking into the connector at the pins. Male Mini-Din 8 RS-232 Male DB-25 6 7 8 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 3 4 5 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 1 2 DIN-8 DB-25 Signal Discription 3 2 TD (Transmit Data) 5 3 RD (Receive Data) 4,8 7 GND (Ground) 2 5 CTS (Clear to Send) 1 4,20 RTS (Ready to Send) (20 = Data Term Rdy, DTR) 7 8 DCD (Data Carrier Dectect) ____________________________ From: Richard Der 010- I have an Apple IIe and was wondering what is the fastest modem I can use on it? The Super Serial Card and compatible serial cards max out at 19200. As a result, 14.4 modems are the fastest modems that can be used on the IIe. A 28.8 modem will work; but it will automatically switch into 14.4 mode. ---------------------------- 011- Does what applies to the IIe also apply to the //c and IIgs? For the //c, mainly it does. The //c requires a different cable. If your //c is a IIc Plus, you can use a Macintosh modem cable with it. These are available in most computer stores. What is said about the IIe applies to the IIGS except: 1) The IIGS port can easily go up to 57600, so faster modems are no problem. 2) The IIGS uses Macintosh modem cables available in any computer store. 3) The IIGS can use its own modem software, such as Spectrum which is more powerful and graphical. 4) You will be able to use your normal PC style internet connection when a GS graphical web browser is ready. A GS TCP/IP already exists. ____________________________ From: Gareth Jones 012- What telecom programs run on Apple II computers? KERMIT: This runs on any Apple II. It comes in DOS 3.3 and ProDOS versions. It is free. It supports Kermit and XModem file transfer protocols; VT52, VT100, and dumb terminal emulations. It is a little harder to set up and use than some other programs, but works perfectly well once you've done that. On a GS, remember to turn the "DCD Detect" option in the modem control panel OFF, or it won't work. Z.Link: a ProDOS system program that requires a IIe, //c, or IIgs. It supports XModem and YModem 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, //c, or IIgs. It requires an accelerator chip (e.g. a Zip Chip) in a IIe or //c 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 Xmodem (various types, such as 4K xmodem and 1K xmodem) and Ymodem (for downloads). The manual is a good tutorial for telecommunications. You may be able to find an early shareware version on the nets or in your User Group's Library. ProTerm 3.1: I can't talk too much about this since I haven't used it. A demo is available for trying out. What I CAN say is that this has been the most popular commercial telecommunications 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. If you don't have one, you won't need it. Telcom: This is a recent discovery for me: a telecommunications program for the IIgs with Xmodem uploads and downloads, ymodem downloads, VT100 or ProTerm Special Extended terminal emulations. It runs only on the GS, and uses a mouse-and-menus interface implemented on the text screen. It is free, because it is a never-finished commercial product. The author, Jawaid Bazyar, would like your comments on it. This is similar to Z.Link in features (except no macros), and cheaper, but GS only. Spectrum: This is the ONLY GS/OS telecommunications 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. Zmodem, 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. The last number I have for MGR Software is 714-993-0294. ____________________________ From: Tom Kelly 013- What are the settings for the Apple Super Serial Card? SUPER SERIAL CARD (SSC) SETUP SETTINGS Recomended slots: slot 1 for terminal use (e.g. printer) slot 2 for communication use (e.g. modem) Jumper Block: for communication use label is upside down (arrow points up) for terminal use label is right side up (arrow points down) 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. SW1 Dip Switch 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 " Switch Settings For Communication mode: SW1-5; SW1-6; SW1-7 are all set on 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 Note: SW2-1 thru SW2-4 settings can be overridden by software. SW2-5: ON for linefeed out OFF for no linefeed out SW2-6: ON for baud rates greater than 1199 baud SW2-7: OFF in communication mode SW2-8: Not used Connector Pin Assignments 10-Pin DB-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. Common Configurations: [Don't Forget The JUMPER Block] Hi Speed Modem ImageWriter I/II 1234567 1234567 1234567 1234567 ON XXXXXX XXXXXX X XX X XX OFF X X XXX X XX XX ____________________________ 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 //e 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 (DB-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 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: Tony/ JoePRO Electronic Systems 016- How do I make an Apple 5-pin serial interface-to-DB9 cable? If it's the standard 5-pin DIN connector used for Apple //c's ... Get a "straight through" DB9 cable - it's got DB9 female connector on one end, and DB9 male connector on the other - mainly used for extending length of modem cables, etc. Cut the male end off (if your serial port is female, then cut the female end off ...) and strip the jacketing so all wires are exposed. Now get out a continuity tester and a 5-pin DIN male plug, and connect the wires as follows: DB9 Connector 5-pin DIN Connector ------------- ------------------- N/C 1 3 2 5 3 2 4 4 5 That's all there is to it! The pin-outs for the plugs are as follows: 5-pin DIN - position the plug with the pins facing you, the "notch" on top to the pins are in a "U" shape. Going clockwise, the rightmost pin is 1, the leftmost pin is 5. DB9 - position the plug so it is facing you, and that the 5-pin row is on top. Pins 1-5 are on top, from right to left. Pins 6-9 are on the bottom, again from right to left. DB9 5-pin DIN ------------------ --------------- 5 4 3 2 1 5 1 9 8 7 6 4 2 3 ____________________________ 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 computer from the back, the pins are numbered: 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 wire up a IIc to a simple modem without hardware handshaking, use the following pinout: IIc Modem DIN-5 DB-25M 1 ----- 20 DTR 2 ----- 2 TxD 3 ----- 7 Gnd 4 ----- 3 RxD 5 ----- 6 DSR (you might want to use pin 8, DCD in some cases) The IIc cannot do hardware handshaking very well, but this is as close as you can get: IIc Modem DIN-5 DB-25M 1 ----- 4 RTS 2 ----- 2 TxD 3 ----- 7 Gnd 4 ----- 3 RxD 5 ----- 5 CTS The IIc's handshaking lines have annoying side effects, which cause problems with hardware handshaking: 1. The "Handshake Out" signal is implemented to mean "I want to send data" (the official and original meaning of RTS). If you turn off the output handshake line, the IIc will stop sending data. For a hardware handshaking modem, RTS is supposed to mean "You are allowed to send me data" (from the computer's point of view). If the computer tells the modem to stop transmitting, the computer will also be unable to transmit. This will reduce the rate at which data can be transferred bidirectionally, but doesn't cause any other problems. 2. The "Handshake In" signal is implemented to mean "There is receive data present" (the official meaning of DCD). If the incoming handshake line is disabled, the IIc will stop receiving data (ignore any data on RxD). For a hardware handshaking modem, CTS is supposed to mean "You are allowed to send me data" (from the modem's point of view). If the modem tells the computer to stop transmitting, the computer will also be unable to receive, and will discard any data sent by the modem while CTS is not active. This can cause screen corruption and loss of data blocks or acknowledgements during a file transfer, which will require retransmission. It is only likely to be a problem while a lot of data is being sent, so is more likely to cause problems during a file upload than a download. If the comms software is quick enough, it can drop RTS immediately when CTS is lowered, which will prevent the modem from sending any more data. The original IIc motherboard has another problem: it uses 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 the IIc takes the master system clock (14.31818 MHz in an American IIc) and divides 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 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. You cannot identify whether you have this motherboard except by opening up the computer and looking for a tell-tale component. (I don't have the details handy.) You can make a reasonable guess at whether you have the original motherboard by checking which firmware version is installed in the IIc. Get into BASIC, and type PRINT PEEK(64447). If the value displayed is 255, then you have the original ROM, and almost certainly have the original motherboard, though it might have been modified to use a crystal. If the value displayed is 0, then you might have the original motherboard or the revised one. (This ROM version supports the UniDisk 3.5 drive.) If the value displayed is 3 or 4, then you have the "memory expansion" version of the firmware, and almost certainly have the latest motherboard, which includes a memory expansion slot under the keyboard. In theory, the IIc's maximum baud rate is 19200. Whether it can actually keep up with that rate is another question. 9600 should be fine. ____________________________ From: SuperTimer 018- I have a good modem that has a standard RS232 serial port and responds to standard "AT" commands; but, it has a DB-9 connector. Is there an adaptor or cable that will let me connect the modem to my IIgs? Yes; the cable to use is a Macintosh to Hayes Modem cable. This can be found in any computer store. Just ask for a Mac to modem cable. All new Mac cables are usually hardware handshake cables, so you should have no trouble with higher speeds. ---------------------------- 019- What is the maximum modemming speed I can get from my IIgs? The IIGS can use much faster modems than is indicated by the Control Panel. Using a hardware handshake cable and with the right third party driver (like the one in Spectrum), the serial port can go up to 57600 baud. ---------------------------- 020- How can I transfer files from PC to GS using Zip disks? The trick is not to use MS-DOS, but instead use...HFS. On the PC, you need to install a program called MacDrive 98. This program allows Windows 95 to read, write, and format HFS volumes. On the IIe, you need a freeware program called A2fx. A2fx will read any HFS volume, even CD-ROMs. With HFS as a link, you will be able to move files from your PC onto Mac/HFS formatted Zip disks (no need to make 32MB partition) to your IIe via A2fx. The reverse transfer needs another program, but I am pretty sure that one exists to let the PC read ProDOS volumes. ____________________________ From: Dave Althoff 021- How do I get an Applesoft program into a PC-DOS computer in text format? Both computers have modems, but I have no terminal program for the Apple. Make sure that your serial ports are connected together, and run the comm program on your PC. Now, for our purposes, lets assume you have the serial card in Slot #2. Force the PC into terminal mode. Make sure the ][ is displaying a *40-column* screen. Now, try typing "IN#2" on the ][. Type something on the PC. It should appear on the Apple. (Cool, ain't it?!) In fact, try typing "PR#2". On either computer. Now, you should get an Applesoft prompt on your terminal screen! In fact, you can use the PC comm program as a keyboard for your ][! All right, at this point, you should have data flying back and forth between the two machines. On the ][, type "POKE 33,33". Now, on the PC, tell your comm program to start a text capture. Tell it to add line feeds after carriage returns. On the ][, load the BASIC program, and type LIST. The program listing will appear on the Apple screen and be dumped into the PC comm program's capture buffer. To break communications, type "IN#0" and "PR#0" on the ][. ---------------------------- From: Jeff Blakeney The only things I might add is that you have to make sure that the PC and II's baud rates are the same. Preferably 19200 if you want a speedy transfer. Second thing is that once you have typed IN#2 and PR#2 (or 1 if the serial port is in slot 1) is that everything should be typed using the PC keyboard. This is because anything you type on the II after those two commands will NOT appear on the II's screen. It is much easier to type it on the PC as everything you type and would normally be displayed on the II will be displayed by the PC's terminal program. I have actually used this method to transfer BASIC programs from my PC to my II with 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity at 19200 bps. It sure makes things easier. ---------------------------- From: Dave Althoff Actually, if you are working in 40-columns at least, when you do IN#2, the console input is redirected through the SSC. Fortunately, the SSC is kind enough to include keyboard reads in its data input loop, so IN#2 does not disable your keyboard. Likewise, so long as you are looking at the 40-column screen, PR#2 redirects the output hook to the SSC, but the SSC does writes back to the screen. So you don't lose your monitor either!