X10 and Commodore 64/128
jpw...@my-deja.com
Most the s/w that does what I want it to do with X10 requires that I
leave my pc on all the time, which I don't want to do.
I've got a C64 and 128 sitting in my attic.
I presume it would need an interface to match it's ports to a regular
PC serial port format (I have a CM11).
Anybody ever tried using them to send X10 instructions?
Jeff
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Mark Lloyd
able to connect a CM11a if you have or can make a RS232 interface for the
Commodore. It shouldn't be too difficult if you have the pinout for the
Commodore user port, I know I have built a 3-wire interface for a modem.
jpw...@my-deja.com
Yes, I still have all the manuals. I just need the info on making an
interface for it. Is that an RS232 connection to the CP290?
Jeff
In article <leqbgs8qms86vbne4...@4ax.com>,
Dave Houston
Here's what it says...
<quote>
2. Serial Parameters.
The serial parameters for communications between the interface and PC are as
follows:
Baud Rate: 4,800bps
Parity: None
Data Bits: 8
Stop Bits: 1
Cable connections:
Signal DB9 Connector RJ11 Connector
SIN Pin 2 RD Pin 1
SOUT Pin 3 TD Pin 3
GND Pin 5 SG Pin 4
RI Pin 9 RI Pin 2
where: SIN Serial input to PC (output from the interface)
SOUT Serial output from PC (input to the interface)
GND Signal ground
RI Ring signal (input to PC)
</quote>
The p[rotocol documentation is on the ActiveHome CD and is also available
at...
ftp://ftp.x10-beta.com/pub/manuals/protocol.txt
ftp://ftp.x10-beta.com/pub/manuals/protocol.doc
jpw...@my-deja.com wrote:
---
Dave Houston
http://Commander-X.com
RReadRPT
>Hi all!
>Most the s/w that does what I want it to do with X10 requires that I
>leave my pc on all the time, which I don't want to do.
>I've got a C64 and 128 sitting in my attic.
>I presume it would need an interface to match it's ports to a regular
>PC serial port format (I have a CM11).
>Anybody ever tried using them to send X10 instructions?
>
>Jeff
Jeff,
Even if you get the port wired correctly, remember that you are changing
computer platforms and software for DOS/Windows machines will not run on the
old Commodores. There are still programs available for the C-64/C-128's that
interface with X-10, but for the most part they make use of the CP-290 which
once programmed does not require the computer to be "On". Almost all of the
commercial X-10 programs for Commodores were written over 12 years ago and
quite unsophisticated by today's standards.There is a very limited amount of
Commodore Shareware/Freeware out there, but most of it makes use of the TW523,
not the CM11.
Unless you are an experienced Commodore programmer yourself, and have lots of
spare time, I'd forget the idea. A better bet would be to find a used 386/486
machine. They can found for next to nothing, and most but not all of the newer
software will run on them if configured properly.
If it is any comfort, I also have an old SX-64, untold boxes of 5-1/4"
floppies, and miscellaneous peripherals collecting dust (Aging gracefully) in
my basement. You can never tell, they might become priceless collector's items
someday. Right? ;-)
R. E. Read
Fringe Ryder
top-notch entertainment AV system, and regularly run a C64 emulator on my
home PC, but I have to agree here. The C64 was/is an ultracool system, but
current software is much faster to use.
That doesn't mean you couldn't use a C64; I used to write programs for it
(even in assembly), so it's certainly capable. But that's where you'd have
to start, or you'd have to adapt to a different program... rather than
using the familiar GUI that real programmers love to hate.
- EMail must delete "delete" embedded in domain
Larry Lovering
-Larry
"Shell" <sheldon...@yuck.net> wrote in message
news:gHuN4.1576$wJ1....@ptah.visi.com...
> jpw...@my-deja.com writes:
>
> >Mark,
> >Yes, I still have all the manuals. I just need the info on making an
> >interface for it. Is that an RS232 connection to the CP290?
>
> The user port on the VIC-20/C-64/C-128 is similar to a RS232C port except
> it uses a different voltage scheme. It's TTL and the signals are
reversed.
>
> It's been, sheesh, 15 years since I made RS232 interface for my VIC-20.
>
> I might still have the schematics. I recall it being relatively simple, a
> couple of IC's (1488/1489?) and a couple 9V batteries. I built it so I
> could use a 1200 baud modem on my VIC-20 and later my C-128.
> --
> Steve Sheldon email: she...@yuck.net
> BSCS/MCSE url: http://www.sheldon.visi.com
> BEEF! - Cause the west wasn't won on salad.
Mark Lloyd
C128 can handle 2400 if in fast mode. I used to have a board that had a 6551
ACIA chip and would allow up to 19200bps on a Commodore 64 or 128.
Dave Houston
options.
Mark Lloyd <mll...@godmail.com> wrote:
---
Dave Houston
http://Commander-X.com
jpw...@my-deja.com
So if the C64/128 can't match the 4800 speed of the CM11a then it can't
communicate? Does it mean that the slower speed of the C64/128 can send
OK but just at a slower rate whereas in receiving a 4800 transmission
it would might miss data?
Jeff
In article <39072757...@nntp.fuse.net>,
Dave Houston
and the Commodore won't understand anything that the CM11A sends - what you
will have is a "failure to communicate".
Mitch Matteau
350) that the C-64 can go up to 19,200 baud.
If any VIC-20 users want a RAM/6551A cartridge, I've got one in the "heap"
left over from a Braille keyboard interface I designed for the VIC years
(lord, many years) ago.
Mitch
http://www.midondesign.com
"Mark Lloyd" <mll...@godmail.com> wrote in message
news:ie7egsomk89o78h4b...@4ax.com...
jpw...@my-deja.com
nothing. I was hanging onto them for just such a project.
Some questions have been posed about the difference in comm's speeds
for the CM11A (4800) and the C64/128 (2400) which might make it all
pointless afterall (I think the CP290 is only 600). At least if I get
as far as building an RS232 interface and give it a try.
Looks like the old 486 castoff my be a better solution in the end,
though.
Jeff
In article <6eUGOYiq3uCs+j8u1KthE=zmr...@4ax.com>,
jpw...@my-deja.com
Oh well, looks like I'll just have to put the old Commodores back into
hibernation :-)
Jeff
In article <39077ffe...@nntp.fuse.net>,
dhou...@fuse.net wrote:
> It means that the CM11A will not understand anything the Commodore
sends
> and the Commodore won't understand anything that the CM11A sends -
what you
> will have is a "failure to communicate".
>
> jpw...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
> >Forgive my ignorance here guys. I don't know much about
communications.
> >So if the C64/128 can't match the 4800 speed of the CM11a then it
can't
> >communicate? Does it mean that the slower speed of the C64/128 can
send
> >OK but just at a slower rate whereas in receiving a 4800 transmission
> >it would might miss data?
> >
> >Jeff
> >
> >In article <39072757...@nntp.fuse.net>,
> > dhou...@fuse.net wrote:
> >> In that case the CP290 (600bps) or LynX-10 (1200bps) would be about
> >the only
> >> options.
> >>
> >> Mark Lloyd <mll...@godmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >It's supposed to be limited to 2400bps, but doesn't work well
above
> >1200. The
> >> >C128 can handle 2400 if in fast mode. I used to have a board that
> >had a 6551
> >> >ACIA chip and would allow up to 19200bps on a Commodore 64 or 128.
> >> >
> >Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> >Before you buy.
>
> ---
> Dave Houston
> http://Commander-X.com
>
>
Mark Lloyd
mode, twice as fast as a 64).
I don't have the 6551 cartridge (up to 19200bps C64/C128) any more, just a 6551
data sheet.
Mark Morissette
Back in the glory days of BBS's, I used my C64 (And my Sx64, my 128,
128D, and CDTV) with 2400 baud modems no problems. At one point, I
even had an Error correcting/data compression 2400 (by Supra) that
would add about 1/3 more speed then a stock 2400, and it worked
allright as well.
For anyone interested, I still have the old adapter for the
communications port that plugged into the C64/128 on the one end, and
had a standard DB25 plug on the other for connection to an external
modem.. Any use to anyone for HA use?
Mark Morissette
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada!
X-10 ICQ Activelist! Join it at #68909160
Stacy D. Coil
The commodore would be a great hack to use. There is even a unix variant
for it (I can't remember the url off hand). This unix type os actually even
had a tcpip stack!
--Stacy
<jpw...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:8e80er$9ts$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Malcolm MacLeod
> FYI,
>
> The commodore would be a great hack to use. There is even a unix variant
> for it (I can't remember the url off hand). This unix type os actually even
> had a tcpip stack!
Here's one:
http://www.6502.org/users/andre/index.html
It sounds like it might be usefull for H.A., even w/ internet connectivity.
The website says this:
* --
OS/A65 is a full-featured Multitasking/Multithreading operating system for the
6502. It is preemptive and implements some Unix-like features, like signals,
semaphores, relocatable fileformat, standard library, internet support via a
kind of simplified sockets and last but not least virtual consoles.
It is extremly scalable. Stripped down to the scheduler and interrupt handling
the kernel is only slightly above 2k. In normal embedded systems the kernel
has around 4k, with only application programs running. Full featured systems
have a 4k kernel, and several support tasks provided system services like
TCP/SLIP and (different) filesystems.
* --
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