Versaterm

[Christer Karlsson]

Have anyone had any luck getting this one (https://github.com/dhansel/VersaTerm) to work with RC2014. I can get Versaterm to recognize the keyboard and screen, but not to connect with my RC2014.

[rla...@gmail.com]

No.  Thank you for reminding me about this.  I had purchased one a while ago, but I didn't have the time to mess with it then and forgot.

But I seem to be having no luck either.

1. I verified that the RC1024 is working by using a USB to TTL cable.

2. The Versaterm also seems to work since I can get see and use the menu.

Now, I do know that the TTL pin out of the RC1024 and Versaterm are not the same.

The Versaterm is GND, VCC, RTS, CTS, TX, RX - according to the silk screen on the board.

Now, the RC2014 is a little more frustrating since I can locate no official pinout of the header.

But it seems to be:

GND, CTS, VCC, RX, TX, RTS

There is no documentation on the RC2014 side for using RTS/CTS flow control.

I've tried both on and off on the Versaterm with no changes.

I've also tried hooking RTS-CTS, but nothing either.

I thought that maybe I needed to hook TX-RX and vice versa, but no go there either.

It's almost as if the TTL port doesn't work on the Versaterm.

[rla...@gmail.com]

As a control, I did hook something up to the RS-232 port and the Versaterm worked just fine.

I did find some AI guidance that said that the Versaterm RX should go to RC2014 TX and vice versa.  But that didn't fix anything.

There was a good idea to loop the Versaterm's RX/TX to see if the Versaterm could echo the keystrokes.

So I tested that and the Versaterm did echo the keystrokes.

I also changed my TTL cable that I was using - just in case.

So I think the problem is with the RC2014 header pinout.  Other than ground, there's nothing marked and I've seen at least 3 different pinouts.

On Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 10:02:13 PM UTC-5 Christer Karlsson wrote:

[Spencer]

Hi Ron,

All* RC2014 SBCs and serial modules use the FTDI standard. This is referenced in many places on the RC2014 website.

It looks like the VersaTerm uses a MAX2332 module. This will keep the RX line high, even if a TTL serial tries to pull this low to send data. Try removing that module and I expect it will work.

Spencer 

* there are a handful of 16C2552 serial modules that don't. 

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[Christer Karlsson]

Thanks Spencer,

That explains it! I got mine already built so I never looked at the schematics!

/C

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rc2014-z80/HglmZK8vGm2POuXYGlNJmF6c33yT1Oo1FmZZwCk6vXS9RzTCZw5BlywzI5MLtBjgxTd6kzxwevd0tLSa8-fMgF4_YZNoBg0W7LC8wwOUhjQ%3D%40z80kits.com.

[rla...@gmail.com]

Ahhh...  OK.  Sadly, my Versaterm has the MAC2332 chip surface mounted on the back of the board, so removal is not something I want to do.

This isn't a big stopper for me.  So I'm going to go the route of seeing what the maker can do.

I wonder if there's a way to change the behavior via software.

[Wayne Hortensius]

Looking at the lower right hand corner of the schematic, it appears
that the RxD and CTS pins from the TTL connector and MAX3232 are diode
or'd together. So you shouldn't have to remove the MAX3232 for it to
work.

https://github.com/dhansel/VersaTerm/blob/main/hardware/PCB/VersaTermSchematic.pdf

Wayne

[rla...@gmail.com]

I'll keep that in mind.  Reading (well, accurately reading) a schematic is a bit outside of my knowledge level right now.

But I do have another question related to this:

If the MAX3232 doesn't work for the RC2014, what would I use if I wanted to hook up a real RS-232 device to the RC2014?

[Harry Speer]

As for the RC2014, having the +5V only and not the +12V and -12V,  one of the MAX232 Family members is pretty much required.  I have been looking at using DUARTs.  I found that the Analog Devices/Maxim chip  MAX244 looks like it will match up with a DUART nicely.  RS232 can use  3x OUT - Transmit Data, RTS, and DTR - and then all the rest of the signals are incoming.  And if you want to include all of the "Modem Control" lines, I figure that 5 Incoming signals  should be plenty.   I realize that few people use all of the old modem control lines but.......    So the use of ONE  MAX244  Chip provides 8-Out and 10-in so there's enough pins for a Full Set of RS232 including the Modem Signals, enough for a DUART.  2x RS-232 Ports.  Just one MAX244 chip.   PLEASE BE AWARE - I have NOT personally used the MAX244 chip YET,  and I also have not yet hooked up a MAX244 to an RC2014 Serial Card !!   Fair Warning that this is me quoting what the spec sheets have told me.   AS ALWAYS  "Your Mileage May Vary" !!!    But keep in mind that I was planning to include ALL of the RS232 Control Lines including the Modem-Specific ones.   Most People will NEVER Use the RC2014 Serial Card with an actual Modem.   But I am a sort-of Belt And Suspenders Guy so I want  MY  Serial card able to DO the Full set of Modem Lines if I want to do so  in the future.    A little crazy maybe but there you are.   And my designs have been focused around the 68000-family DUART  -- the MC68681 DUART.  Currently, Mark Durham has the only RC2014-"like" 68681 Serial card and it is an RCBus card.   So PLEASE FORGIVE ME   for breaking the  " Intel-Only and Zilog-Only "  rule here by mentioning them.   I know that DUART and I do NOT know the DUARTs available in the  Intel-Only  and  Zilog-Only  chip families.   And keep in mind also that very few people will actually go through the trouble of using the REAL RS-232 Lines.  It Seems that the TTL Serial to USB Adapters  are now the  " NEW Standard ".   I'm a die-hard "RETRO TECH" guy and the USB Ports had NOT BEEN  INVENTED  YET when the 68000 and the Zilog Z80 and Intel 8-bit family chips were NEW designs.    I choose to limit the use of USB to as FEW cases as REQUIRED  -  USB Keyboard,   USB Mouse,  and  USB Printers.   Like I said,  I'm a die-hard "RETRO TECH" guy  and using a Terminal for the Console IO for an 8-bit or 16-bit CPU was almost always done via RS-232 Terminals.  Yes,  Sometimes one also had a video card.  So now  /end rant.   Just my 2 cents worth of where USB should be used in  "MY Personal Definition"   of what is acceptable USB in a RETRO-Computer.  Like Vanilla or Chocolate - Neither is "WRONG" it is a personal-preference thing.   All I really wanted to do was offer up the Analog-Devices / Maxim MAX244 chip.  ONE MAX Chip for ONE DUART.    HSS    Please do not tar and feather me.  I am trying to be HELPFUL here. 

[Mx Argent]

I tried with my SC126, but no such luck. I hope someone cracks this nut; I want to work one into my VCF Midwest exhibit this year.

[Paul Hunt]

Out of curiosity, I had a look through the Versaterm github  https://github.com/dhansel/VersaTerm/blob/main/hardware/PCB/ReadMe.md

The Readme suggests that some issues were resolved by changing the value of some pull-up resistors.  Maybe worth looking at?

Cheers, Paul

[Tom Pipes]



I was intrigued with this post and decided to give this a try myself.  2 Versaterms, both pre-built and one I built myself.  Tried both an FTDI with M-F jumpers to the versaterm board and a cheap overseas TTL-USB with separate wires directy to the Tx, Rx, and Gnd.  Tried crossing Tx and Rx , tried jumpering RTS to CTS to satisfy any hardware expectations, absolutely nothing.  Both dongles work directly back to my PC with minicom.  I can jumper Tx to Rx in either direction and either end works fine on a loop to the same point in the wiring.  I even pulled out the Max chip to see if that did anything since it was suggested, but absolutely nothing.

 

Quite a perplexing issue! It works to just about every other computer that I have lying around.  The only thing I can think of is the suggestion of changing the pullup resistors.  The only good that came out of this was finding a couple of my cheap TTL adapters are bad while bulk testing. 😁

Thanks,

Tom Pipes

On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 2:09 PM Mx Argent <evang...@gmail.com> wrote:

I tried with my SC126, but no such luck. I hope someone cracks this nut; I want to work one into my VCF Midwest exhibit this year.

On Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 9:02:13 PM UTC-6 Christer Karlsson wrote:

Have anyone had any luck getting this one (https://github.com/dhansel/VersaTerm) to work with RC2014. I can get Versaterm to recognize the keyboard and screen, but not to connect with my RC2014.

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[Christer Karlsson]

I plan on changing the pull-up resistors this weekend, so I can give an update then.  It seems promising though, as someone in the github had reported they had got that to work with an SC131.

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rc2014-z80/8FECC3FC-4CFC-4AE1-B7A6-7D3C24EBB110%40gmail.com.

[Christer Karlsson]

Yes, changing R29 and R30 to 10k resistors solves the problem.

[Tom Pipes]

Great news, I’ll have to change mine out as well.  Appreciate the confirmation of the fix.

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 14, 2026, at 9:34 AM, Christer Karlsson <k.chr...@gmail.com> wrote:



Yes, changing R29 and R30 to 10k resistors solves the problem.

On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 12:34 PM Christer Karlsson <k.chr...@gmail.com> wrote:

I plan on changing the pull-up resistors this weekend, so I can give an update then.  It seems promising though, as someone in the github had reported they had got that to work with an SC131.

On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 11:32 AM Tom Pipes <tompi...@gmail.com> wrote:



I was intrigued with this post and decided to give this a try myself.  2 Versaterms, both pre-built and one I built myself.  Tried both an FTDI with M-F jumpers to the versaterm board and a cheap overseas TTL-USB with separate wires directy to the Tx, Rx, and Gnd.  Tried crossing Tx and Rx , tried jumpering RTS to CTS to satisfy any hardware expectations, absolutely nothing.  Both dongles work directly back to my PC with minicom.  I can jumper Tx to Rx in either direction and either end works fine on a loop to the same point in the wiring.  I even pulled out the Max chip to see if that did anything since it was suggested, but absolutely nothing.

 

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Quite a perplexing issue! It works to just about every other computer that I have lying around.  The only thing I can think of is the suggestion of changing the pullup resistors.  The only good that came out of this was finding a couple of my cheap TTL adapters are bad while bulk testing. 😁

Thanks,

Tom Pipes

On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 2:09 PM Mx Argent <evang...@gmail.com> wrote:

I tried with my SC126, but no such luck. I hope someone cracks this nut; I want to work one into my VCF Midwest exhibit this year.

On Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 9:02:13 PM UTC-6 Christer Karlsson wrote:

Have anyone had any luck getting this one (https://github.com/dhansel/VersaTerm) to work with RC2014. I can get Versaterm to recognize the keyboard and screen, but not to connect with my RC2014.

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[Mx Argent]

Far out! I'll have to get my board modded once I get my next Digikey order in.

[Tom Pipes]

It’s noted in the GitHub issues but the board and bill-of-materials still show 1k.

On Mar 16, 2026, at 3:42 AM, Mx Argent <evang...@gmail.com> wrote:

Far out! I'll have to get my board modded once I get my next Digikey order in.

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rc2014-z80/64fc7b31-f649-47ef-a8f7-d1d217b46e18n%40googlegroups.com.

[rla...@gmail.com]

In theory, then, we should be able to "fix" any MAX2332 board.

Hmm....  Thinking about hooking up my Wyse WY-55 to my RC2014.

[Tom Pipes]

Can confirm this did work for me as well!  Thanks for asking about an issue I didn’t know I had with my Versaterm boards.  😊 

On Mar 16, 2026, at 7:58 AM, Tom Pipes <tompi...@gmail.com> wrote: