TRS-80 Model 4 - is this an RS-232 port? [pic]
Blake Patterson
screen). I did not realize, at the time, that RS-232 was optional on
these machines. I want to play with it as a dumb terminal to Mac OS
X, but need an RS-232 port, of course.
Is this an RS-232 port, on the left there?
http://flickr.com/photos/blakespot/2444263772/in/set-72157604743399188/
Thanks.
Blake
Blake Patterson
header for a ribbon cable? Or are serial cables available somewhere
for this machine? I would hack it down into a null-modem cable.
Thanks.
Blake
Doug & Lissa Thompson
cable from Radio Shack...and a null modem too. I probably still have
them both...along with a 2400 baud modem. If you can't find what you
need, let me know and we'll figure a way to get the stuff from Canada to
wherever you happen to be.
Doug
Richard VanHouten
connectors (and ribbon cable) from Radio Shack, but those days are gone;
nowadays, you're better off trying Jameco or Digikey. Radio Shack used
to sell cables just long enough to get the second connector out from
under the computer, after which shielded cables could be used to the
modem; I always used a single ribbon cable long enough to reach the
modem and didn't have a problem.
A Nother
"Blake Patterson" <blak...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:e000304d-7acb-4407...@b64g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> I just eBayed a very good condition TRS-80 Model 4 (first rev, white
> screen). I did not realize, at the time, that RS-232 was optional on
> these machines. I want to play with it as a dumb terminal to Mac OS
> X, but need an RS-232 port, of course.
>
> Is this an RS-232 port, on the left there?
It would be weird to get a Model 4 with disk drives but no serial port.
Yours seems to have everything except perhaps the Hi-Res graphics card.
Yes, that is the standard Radio Shack RS232 connector - before IBM screwed
up the standards. You also look to have the external disk connector and the
parallel printer port.
A Nother
You need a male DB25 - should still be findable.
winston...@yahoo.com
> "Blake Patterson" <blakes...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:e000304d-7acb-4407...@b64g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
>
> > I just eBayed a very good condition TRS-80 Model 4 (first rev, white
> > screen). I did not realize, at the time, that RS-232 was optional on
> > these machines. I want to play with it as a dumb terminal to Mac OS
> > X, but need an RS-232 port, of course.
>
> > Is this an RS-232 port, on the left there?
>
> It would be weird to get a Model 4 with disk drives but no serial port.
That is what I thought when I picked up a Model 4 with two drives.
Didn't even look for the serial port. But - NOT THERE! Gone!
Fortunately, I also picked up a 4p that I absolutely loved!
Knut Roll-Lund
Hi
As the others have confirmed; yes that's RS-232.
I'd just like to add that the pinning is standard (same as pc) except
the gender of the DB15 (where a 25 pin pc connector would be male, usual
until mid 90's). With a gender changer and a 25->9 pin adapter a normal
null-modem cable could be used (or a "lap-link" cable etc.).
In my experience using RS-232 is kind of a hassle because of the
software on the TRS-80 side being a lot less user friendly than later
software. That is with older software. I think you can buy something
that is much better and more recent though...
and (everybody)
It would be nice if you all could tell us about the RS-232 softwares you
use and why you like them. Back in the day I used a small utility that
came with my RS-232 card - incompatible but with a Z80SIO and Z80CTC.
(From Schmidtke electronic in Germany.)
I did try several packages I downloaded with the standard hardware but
with little success because documentation/instructions was missing or
not very good. I ended up using LCOMM inbuilt in LDOS/LS-DOS etc. Didn't
like it much either but I could make it work.
--
Knut
(delete 'nogarbage.' for email)
winston19842005
On 4/27/08 6:52 AM, in article 2fudneays-x...@telenor.com, "Knut
Roll-Lund" <kr-...@nogarbage.online.no> wrote:
>
> and (everybody)
>
> It would be nice if you all could tell us about the RS-232 softwares you
> use and why you like them. Back in the day I used a small utility that
> came with my RS-232 card - incompatible but with a Z80SIO and Z80CTC.
> (From Schmidtke electronic in Germany.)
>
> I did try several packages I downloaded with the standard hardware but
> with little success because documentation/instructions was missing or
> not very good. I ended up using LCOMM inbuilt in LDOS/LS-DOS etc. Didn't
> like it much either but I could make it work.
I liked to use the built-in driver in TRSDOS (COMM was it?) to communicate
to the university computers just to browse the library catalog. I had a
Samsung 2400 baud pocket modem. That driver rocked. Never lost a character
even on "high speed" 9600 baud direct connections, although it would
sometimes duplicate a character. I remember having it directly connected to
my PC (XT, later 486SX-25), and deluging my 4P with data, and never losing a
character. Then going the other way and watching the PC struggle to keep up,
then finally losing data! It was pretty damn funny...
For terminal use, I believe I used something called "Fast Term" which
supported ANSI pretty well. One of the better comm packages, that looked
like Telix or Procomm on the PC.
Blake Patterson
> On 4/27/08 6:52 AM, in article 2fudneays-xqx4nV4p2d...@telenor.com, "Knut
I understand there's at least one VT-100 emulator out there - I think
it is Fast Term. One of my main uses for this Model 4 is to serve as
a text terminal to my OS X machine. I've got this going at the office
using an Apple //c and my MacBook Pro...
http://flickr.com/photos/blakespot/2375402843/in/set-72157604316614196/
I want to do the same at home with the Mode 4. I hope that, in fact,
VT-100 emulation is an option for me, here. And we did confirm that I
do have an RS-232 port.
bp
winston19842005
On 4/27/08 1:53 PM, in article
dc5c4f29-7fd9-478c...@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com, "Blake
Patterson" <blak...@gmail.com> wrote:
Nice little drive from Lacie under your mini! I had to browse around until I
found a better photo to tell what it was! I have a mini myself, and thought
yours looked a little "thick"!
Mine is sporting just a MagicJack at the moment, just moved and haven't set
up my entire network of computers yet. Besides my wife's Vista, there was my
WinMe/Ubuntu desktop and a TI-99/4A on the network. Maybe if I find room, my
4P can find a home on it somewhere. I also have a //c... Need to buy some
more serial to ethernet converters...
I used to have fun with stuff connected to my Linux distro (Fedora Core at
the time) and surfing the net through my TI using stty or getty or whatever
it was, then shutting down to kick'em off...
Can't really shut down with a MagicJack attached, or the phone stops
working. Nice device, but I think I like Grandcentral better...
Trash80
> From Newsgroup: comp.sys.tandy
> I understand there's at least one VT-100 emulator out there - I think
> it is Fast Term. One of my main uses for this Model 4 is to serve as
> a text terminal to my OS X machine. I've got this going at the office
> using an Apple //c and my MacBook Pro...
> http://flickr.com/photos/blakespot/2375402843/in/set-72157604316614196/
> I want to do the same at home with the Mode 4. I hope that, in fact,
> VT-100 emulation is an option for me, here. And we did confirm that I
> do have an RS-232 port.
Blake, IMHO the comms program for the Model 4 with the best VT100 support is
Omniterm Plus. You can get it at my bbs a variety of different ways. Can't
remember, but I think I have it posted as a zip file containing disk images.
Regards,
Doug
--
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ramswell
Ahhhh, I make the cables for 8-Bit machines (under the pretense that
I can get the pinouts for them). ;)
Charles> 8-Bit Designs