Some Altair-dunio Pro DB9 serial port cheat sheets

[Mark Lawler]

First of all thanks for all of the 411 and help I've received on the web site, assembly/software documentation, this forum, sister machine's forum, some e-mails from many of you!  My goal was to be able to connect my Altair-duino 8800 to my IMSAI-esp 8080 via a serial cable and reliably send files back and forth.  I'm there.  However, I decided that I needed to created (at least for myself) a set of cheat sheets such that I wouldn't forget all the documented and tribal knowledge I've absorbed from so many sources.  I started with the the simplest of tests/tasks of setting up and validating comms on the ports, to file transfers between each and my PC, to using one machine as a terminal to another, and ending with file transfers between the two machine.  I've attached each of these cheat sheets to this message incase anybody finds them helpful or useful.  The only caveat is what could possibly change in either machine, their CP/M versions, software, etc. after today's date:

• Altair 8800 Pro DB9 Serial Port.docx
• Altair 8800 As A Terminal To IMSAI 8080.docx
• IMSAI 8080 DB9 Serial Port 2.docx
• IMSAI 8080 As A Terminal to Altair 8800.docx
• Altai 8800 -- IMSAI 8080 File Transfers.docx

Hope they are useful.

Best,

-Mark

[Boris Bosnjak]

Much, much appreciated!

- Boris

[John Kennedy]

Excellent. This is the kind of information that I spend days working out - use it. And then completely forget. 

If it's ok with you, I might add them to this?

https://grantmestrength.github.io/RetroComputerInstructionManual/

https://github.com/GrantMeStrength/RetroComputerInstructionManual

It's where I try to keep stuff like this, although I've not updated it in a while.

On Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 12:29:55 PM UTC-7 bbosn...@gmail.com wrote:

Much, much appreciated!

- Boris

[Mark Lawler]

John,

Go for it!   Exactly why I created them as after this upcoming Memorial Day weekend I'd be all "How did I do that again?!?"  Then I'd be trying to decipher notes I cannot read from my chicken scratch handwriting.  https://grantmestrength.github.io/RetroComputerInstructionManual/ was actually one of my sources as I was working through things, so thanks for that!  Permission indeed granted!

Only caveat is those steps worked with the kits and software as available as of that date...  Who knows what'll work (or not) in the future?  <grin>  Also, if anybody wants to make mods, additions, corrections, updates, etc. please do.

Best,

-Mark