12 Dec
2008
12 Dec
'08
9:13 p.m.
On Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 3:36 PM, Mr Ian Primus <ian_primus at yahoo.com> wrote:
What options are there for adding an RS-232 port to a
Commodore PET? The computer's user port has a different pinout from the C64 (although
it uses the same connector), and the port doesn't have the serial output signals the
64 does. Therefore, the quick and dirty hacks that worked great on the 64 to provide
serial won't work on the PET.
What communications options exist/existed for the PET, aside from Commodore-produced
IEEE-488 modems? Does the ROM include routines to handle such communication, like the C64,
or would software need to be created for a particular interface? Is there a teminal
emulation software available for the PET?
I have an 8032, and an 8050 disk drive - but of course, the 8050 is completely
incompatible with nearly everything else - serial communication would be a big help.
This is new territory for me - the C64, I know. The PET... I'm learning :)
-Ian
The SuperPET is basically a 8032 with additional board containing a
6809, RAM and a 6551. ISTR it was mapped somewhere around $E000.
However, I don't know if it ever saw widespread use other than from
the 6809 side (where I think the Waterloo software wanted it to talk
to a `real' computer).
Still, I think it would be an (historically) appropriate expansion to
a stock 8032. You should have a big two-row header on the right side
of the PET motherboard where you could add such a project.
I do have a Commodore IEEE-488 acoustic coupler hanging about, but I
don't have the power supply and have never used it.
Long ago, I did hook a modem up to my SuperPET using the (internal)
DB-25 connector, and even looked into writing a terminal emulator -
but I was otherwise busy at the time and abandoned that project.
Joe.
PS. Ian, there are still the Apple II's for you to pick up, you can
have a look at the PET stuff as well when you're here (but I'm keeping
it!) - unfortunately, the weather has gotten somewhat messy :-)
--
Joachim Thiemann :: http://www.tsp.ece.mcgill.ca/~jthiem