2 Jun
1999
2 Jun
'99
10:30 a.m.
This isn't exactly what you're discussing, but . . . I've got, in my hand an
S-100 board, not fully populated, silkscreened
"North Star Computers, Inc.
Z-80A Processor Board Z80-A2"
I'll send this jewel via USPS Priority mail, as is, to the first person
whose $3.20 I get in the mail to cover mailing.
Dick
-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Wednesday, June 02, 1999 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: Northstar Horizon
Except that it adds a few minor additional interfacing variables. If I
get NOTHING, would I assume that it's a problem with the N*, or could it
be configuring of HYPERTERMINAL? I think that the FIRST step, that of
getting a character or two through, would best be accomplished with the
simplest terminal available. I have a lunchbox machine; I should see if
it has a working serial port, and try something like PROCOMM.
Having recomended a complex piece of test gear in another message, here
I'll recomend something simple that I wouldn't like to be without - a
'Christmas tree' type RS232 tester. One of those little in-line adapters
with red/green LEDs on the major lines (TxD, RxD, RTS, CTS, DSR, DTR,
CD).
If I am ever bringing up an unknown machine which uses a serial terminal,
I stick that on the port in line to whatever terminal I am using. Then I
can tell if the machine is trying to send something as the TxD (or RxD,
as appropriate) LED will flicker. Of course it'll also tell me if an
unknown port is a DTE or DCE, and will help sort out handshaking problems.
Although I have a lot of other RS232 test gear (several breakout boxes, a
comms monitor, etc), I use this more than all the others put together.
If you want to make one, all it consists of are those 2-colour LEDs (red
and green diode in antiparallel) with 2 wires in series with a 3k
resistor (3k3 would also work) between the above mentioned signals and
Signal Ground. But they're pretty cheap to buy ready-made.
-tony
And I need to
bring up a terminal, or configure
something to function as a terminal.
A PC with comms software is nice as you can
use the logging feature to
save scribbling notes as you bring it up.