zielinsk@nadc.ARPA (09/03/85)
Radio Shack has an inexpensive box now which can contol BSR units, but the software is meant for a Color Computer. It attached via a RS-232 port and runs independant of the computer except for the setup commands. It also has backup power.
rickb@tekig4.UUCP (Rick Bensene) (09/06/85)
> Radio Shack has an inexpensive box now which can contol BSR units, but the > software is meant for a Color Computer. It attached via a RS-232 port and ^^^^^^ > runs independant of the computer except for the setup commands. It also > has backup power. INCORRECT! The unit from Radio Shack is *NOT* controlled by an RS232 port! The unit connects to the Color Computer's CASSETTE TAPE interface, and there is *NO* documentation on how the CoCo communicates with the box. Th link is bi-directional, meaning the controller box can download it's contents to the CoCo for updating, and once finished, the CoCo uploads the updated information back into the controller. Once the controller has been programmed with events it may be disconncted from the CoCo and runs by itself. I recently purchased one of these, and while the software supplied with it (in CoCo ROMPack form) is cute (graphic oriented), it's tedious and slow to use. If anyone out there has **ANY** information on how this beastie communicates with the CoCo, I'd really appreciate hearing from you. ----------- Rick Bensene {ihnp4, decvax, allegra, cbosg, ucbvax}!tektronix!tekig4!rickb Phone: Weekdays (503) 627-3559 BBS: (503) 254-0458 300/1200 baud, 24 hours a day US Mail: Tektronix, Inc. - P.O. Box 500, Mail Stop 39-170 - Beaverton, Oregon 97077
psfales@ihlpl.UUCP (Peter Fales) (09/06/85)
> Radio Shack has an inexpensive box now which can contol BSR units, but the > software is meant for a Color Computer. It attached via a RS-232 port and > runs independant of the computer except for the setup commands. It also > has backup power. Sorry, I checked this out this weekend when the Radio-Shack box went on sale. It interfaces to the Color computer through the cassette interface. It undoubtably could be made to work with other computers, but it would not be a trivial task. Peter Fales ...ihnp4!ihlpl!psfales
bobh@pedsgd.UUCP (Bob Halloran) (09/09/85)
In article <330@ihlpl.UUCP> psfales@ihlpl.UUCP (Peter Fales) writes: >> Radio Shack has an inexpensive box now which can contol BSR units, but the >> software is meant for a Color Computer. It attached via a RS-232 port and >> runs independant of the computer except for the setup commands. It also >> has backup power. > >Sorry, I checked this out this weekend when the Radio-Shack box went on >sale. It interfaces to the Color computer through the cassette >interface. It undoubtably could be made to work with other computers, but >it would not be a trivial task. > >Peter Fales >...ihnp4!ihlpl!psfales Heathkit sells the 'official' RS-232 BSR controller (feed at 110-2400 baud) for $99.95. They apparently include driver software for CP/M. Bob Halloran Sr MTS, Perkin-Elmer DSG ============================================================================= UUCP: {decvax, ucbvax, most Action Central}!vax135\ {topaz, pesnta, princeton}!petsd!pedsgd!bobh ARPA: petsd!pedsgd!bobh@topaz USPS: 106 Apple St M/S 305, Tinton Falls NJ 07724 DDD: (201) 758-7000 Disclaimer: My opinions are my own. Quote: "History is made at night. Character is what you are in the Dark."
rb@ccivax.UUCP (rex ballard) (09/13/85)
> INCORRECT! The unit from Radio Shack is *NOT* controlled by an RS232 > port! The unit connects to the Color Computer's CASSETTE TAPE interface, > and there is *NO* documentation on how the CoCo communicates with > the box. Th link is bi-directional, meaning the controller box > can download it's contents to the CoCo for updating, and once > finished, the CoCo uploads the updated information back into the > controller. Once the controller has been programmed with events > it may be disconncted from the CoCo and runs by itself. I recently > purchased one of these, and while the software supplied with it > (in CoCo ROMPack form) is cute (graphic oriented), it's tedious and > slow to use. If anyone out there has **ANY** information on how > this beastie communicates with the CoCo, I'd really appreciate > hearing from you. > > The exact details are available from the CoCo "Service Manual" (the little green book) at most RS stores. Unfortunately, the Cassete port is just an "analogue switch", The usual format is KC-1200 format. |<1>|<-0->| _ __ ___| | | | | (the logical 1,0 may be opposite) |_| |__| If regular BASIC cassette I/O commands work or there examples of it in the owners manual, then this will work. A line reciever can be built using an op-amp. They may have used the Cassette Port because of certain hardware advantages. (Basic can't write to the RS-232 port,only "Dload") If they wrote their own interface in ML, it's anybody's guess.