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It's been a long time since I worked with serial hardware, but isn't there
an alternative pair of pins to RTS/CTS? DTR/DTS or something like that?
If the Mac sets the other pins you might be able to short them to the
RTS/CTS pins. I know I've done this on special cables built to connect the
2 types of equipment.
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Osborn [SMTP:fozztexx@fozztexx.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 1998 5:00 PM
To: Rob Visscher
Cc: Bob Stern
Subject: Re: NQC software for Mac? (Robolab back ordered)
On Dec. 16 98, 13:57 PST, "Rob Visscher" <ffrob@knoware.nl> wrote:
> I'm also wrestling with the Mac problem. I'm looking for someone
> who tried getting it working with Virtual PC 2.0. The software
> runs perfectly, but i've got some trouble to communicate with the
> IR unit. I'm using a ordinary modem-cable to connect to the IR
> unit.
It will *never* work. The PC software fiddles with the RTS and CTS
pins, which the Mac *does not have*.
---
Chris Osborn FozzTexx Enterprises
707 226 7629 - Voice 2136 Coronado Ave.
707 253 3063 - Fax Napa, CA 94559
<fozztexx@fozztexx.com> <http://www.fozztexx.com/>
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On Dec. 16 98, 15:10 PST, "Eric Hodges" <eric.hodges@platinum.com>
wrote:
> It's been a long time since I worked with serial hardware, but
> isn't there an alternative pair of pins to RTS/CTS? DTR/DTS or
> something like that? If the Mac sets the other pins you might be
> able to short them to the RTS/CTS pins. I know I've done this on
> special cables built to connect the 2 types of equipment.
DTR/CD aren't alternatives, they serve an entirely different purpose.
The PC software toggles the CTS signal, which the tower shorts to
RTS, so that it can tell if the tower is connected.
Since the Mac serial port doesn't have those pins, there's no way
to use the PC software under emulation.
---
Chris Osborn FozzTexx Enterprises
707 226 7629 - Voice 2136 Coronado Ave.
707 253 3063 - Fax Napa, CA 94559
<fozztexx@fozztexx.com> <http://www.fozztexx.com/>
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I seem to remember seeing an add-in board which would add PC style serial
ports to Macs. Now this was several years ago; it was for the NuBus; and
it was rather expensive. I believe it was done so you could interface lab
equipment to Macs. It may have even been sold as a Labview add-on. I'll
check with my local Mac guru. He's done all sorts of wacky (sort
of) things with his Mac (controlling servo motors, real-time data
collection, etc).
Now theoretically, it should be possible to pop a PCI serial port card
into a Mac, hack out or buy a driver, and then use the interface on the
new card. Doesn't really help the people who have iMacs though. Another
possible avenue is a USB to serial convertor (if they exist). I know that
USB -> parallel adapters exist for the PC side, but as I'm using Windows
NT (doesn't yet support USB), I haven't really looked into exploiting the
capabilities of USB.
Matt
Matt Sailors
medinfo@aros.net
On Wed, 16 Dec 1998, Chris Osborn wrote:
> On Dec. 16 98, 15:10 PST, "Eric Hodges" <eric.hodges@platinum.com>
> wrote:
>
> > It's been a long time since I worked with serial hardware, but
> > isn't there an alternative pair of pins to RTS/CTS? DTR/DTS or
> > something like that? If the Mac sets the other pins you might be
> > able to short them to the RTS/CTS pins. I know I've done this on
> > special cables built to connect the 2 types of equipment.
>
> DTR/CD aren't alternatives, they serve an entirely different purpose.
>
> The PC software toggles the CTS signal, which the tower shorts to
> RTS, so that it can tell if the tower is connected.
>
> Since the Mac serial port doesn't have those pins, there's no way
> to use the PC software under emulation.
>
> ---
> Chris Osborn FozzTexx Enterprises
> 707 226 7629 - Voice 2136 Coronado Ave.
> 707 253 3063 - Fax Napa, CA 94559
> <fozztexx@fozztexx.com> <http://www.fozztexx.com/>
>
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There are USB to Serial port adapters. Don't know if they work with a
MAC or IMAC, but they are real.
John A. Donaldson
Medical Informatics Consulting wrote:
>
> I seem to remember seeing an add-in board which would add PC style serial
> ports to Macs. Now this was several years ago; it was for the NuBus; and
> it was rather expensive. I believe it was done so you could interface lab
> equipment to Macs. It may have even been sold as a Labview add-on. I'll
> check with my local Mac guru. He's done all sorts of wacky (sort
> of) things with his Mac (controlling servo motors, real-time data
> collection, etc).
>
> Now theoretically, it should be possible to pop a PCI serial port card
> into a Mac, hack out or buy a driver, and then use the interface on the
> new card. Doesn't really help the people who have iMacs though. Another
> possible avenue is a USB to serial convertor (if they exist). I know that
> USB -> parallel adapters exist for the PC side, but as I'm using Windows
> NT (doesn't yet support USB), I haven't really looked into exploiting the
> capabilities of USB.
>
> Matt
>
> Matt Sailors
> medinfo@aros.net
>
> On Wed, 16 Dec 1998, Chris Osborn wrote:
>
> > On Dec. 16 98, 15:10 PST, "Eric Hodges" <eric.hodges@platinum.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > It's been a long time since I worked with serial hardware, but
> > > isn't there an alternative pair of pins to RTS/CTS? DTR/DTS or
> > > something like that? If the Mac sets the other pins you might be
> > > able to short them to the RTS/CTS pins. I know I've done this on
> > > special cables built to connect the 2 types of equipment.
> >
> > DTR/CD aren't alternatives, they serve an entirely different purpose.
> >
> > The PC software toggles the CTS signal, which the tower shorts to
> > RTS, so that it can tell if the tower is connected.
> >
> > Since the Mac serial port doesn't have those pins, there's no way
> > to use the PC software under emulation.
> >
> > ---
> > Chris Osborn FozzTexx Enterprises
> > 707 226 7629 - Voice 2136 Coronado Ave.
> > 707 253 3063 - Fax Napa, CA 94559
> > <fozztexx@fozztexx.com> <http://www.fozztexx.com/>
> >
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Chris Osborn wrote:
>
> On Dec. 16 98, 15:10 PST, "Eric Hodges" <eric.hodges@platinum.com>
> wrote:
>
> > It's been a long time since I worked with serial hardware, but
> > isn't there an alternative pair of pins to RTS/CTS? DTR/DTS or
> > something like that? If the Mac sets the other pins you might be
> > able to short them to the RTS/CTS pins. I know I've done this on
> > special cables built to connect the 2 types of equipment.
>
> DTR/CD aren't alternatives, they serve an entirely different purpose.
>
> The PC software toggles the CTS signal, which the tower shorts to
> RTS, so that it can tell if the tower is connected.
Err, right. And if there's DTR/DCD printed on the wires it just won't
play. Naughty people messing about with the assigned meanings of the
pins. Whatever next?
Cheers,
Ben.
--
Ben Laurie |Phone: +44 (181) 735 0686| Apache Group member
Freelance Consultant |Fax: +44 (181) 735 0689|http://www.apache.org/
and Technical Director|Email: ben@algroup.co.uk |
A.L. Digital Ltd, |Apache-SSL author http://www.apache-ssl.org/
London, England. |"Apache: TDG" http://www.ora.com/catalog/apache/
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In article <367852CA.1EFBB7C2@algroup.co.uk>, Ben Laurie
<ben@algroup.co.uk> writes
> Chris Osborn wrote:
> >
> > On Dec. 16 98, 15:10 PST, "Eric Hodges" <eric.hodges@platinum.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > It's been a long time since I worked with serial hardware, but
> > > isn't there an alternative pair of pins to RTS/CTS? DTR/DTS or
> > > something like that? If the Mac sets the other pins you might be
> > > able to short them to the RTS/CTS pins. I know I've done this on
> > > special cables built to connect the 2 types of equipment.
> >
> > DTR/CD aren't alternatives, they serve an entirely different purpose.
> >
> > The PC software toggles the CTS signal, which the tower shorts to
> > RTS, so that it can tell if the tower is connected.
>
> Err, right. And if there's DTR/DCD printed on the wires
This is all getting very misleading - _not_ DCD or DTS or CD.
The pairs are :
RTS/CTS - normal hardware data handshaking. Careful here - I have come
across 9D to 25D convertors where RTS (signal from computer to external)
is not connected, on the assumption that IBM PCs are so fast they never
need this. Often too, modems disable RTS by default (eg Miracom
Courier). Don't you hate the way the industry assumes there is only
_one_ computer.
Mine (other than the workhorse writing this) is the Sinclair QL.
DTR/DSR - not handshaking as such. Just simply each end staing 'I am
here' Normally once set, these signals stay constant during session.
Cannot be used as such for handshaking.
XON/XOF - software handshaking (two data characters) , but not in common
use
DCD - a stand alone signal, and is activated by the modem on Carrier
Detect
> it just won't
> play. Naughty people messing about with the assigned meanings of the
> pins. Whatever next?
Inventing new acronyms like DTS (8-)#
--
QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) (+44)1442-828255
mailto:tony@firshman.demon.co.uk http://www.firshman.demon.co.uk
Voice: (+44)1442-828254 Fax: (+44)1442-828255
TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
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On Thu, 17 Dec 1998 00:02:29 GMT, lego-robotics@crynwr.com (Chris
Osborn) wrote:
> Since the Mac serial port doesn't have those pins, there's no way
> to use the PC software under emulation.
Don't be so negative. All you need to do is hack the emujlator so that
continuously reports those two pins shorted.
Jasper
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Chris,
If it is just having RTS=CTS, a software solution may be possible. E.g.:
patch the SPIRIT.OCX so that it always returns RTS=CTS, patch the Mindstorm
so that it doesn't care if the tower is connected, or patch windows or DOS
so that RTS=CTS.
Garry
> On Dec. 16 98, 15:10 PST, "Eric Hodges" <eric.hodges@platinum.com>
> wrote:
>
> > It's been a long time since I worked with serial hardware, but
> > isn't there an alternative pair of pins to RTS/CTS? DTR/DTS or
> > something like that? If the Mac sets the other pins you might be
> > able to short them to the RTS/CTS pins. I know I've done this on
> > special cables built to connect the 2 types of equipment.
>
> DTR/CD aren't alternatives, they serve an entirely different purpose.
>
> The PC software toggles the CTS signal, which the tower shorts to
> RTS, so that it can tell if the tower is connected.
>
> Since the Mac serial port doesn't have those pins, there's no way
> to use the PC software under emulation.
>
> ---
> Chris Osborn FozzTexx Enterprises
> 707 226 7629 - Voice 2136 Coronado Ave.
> 707 253 3063 - Fax Napa, CA 94559
> <fozztexx@fozztexx.com> <http://www.fozztexx.com/>
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> Garry Paine <garry4@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> If it is just having RTS=CTS, a software solution may be possible. E.g.:
> patch the SPIRIT.OCX so that it always returns RTS=CTS, patch the Mindstorm
> so that it doesn't care if the tower is connected, or patch windows or DOS
> so that RTS=CTS.
Exactly! Someone would have to disassemble spirit.ocx or the Windows
serial port driver to figure out how to do this. (It makes much more
sense to work on spirit.ocx, because various versions of Windows will
have different drivers.)
Bob Stern
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