miller@uiucdcs.UUCP (01/19/84)
#N:uiucdcs:36100028:000:1191 uiucdcs!miller Jan 18 15:14:00 1984 I've placed half a dozen articles on the net recently that I hope you've enjoyed. Here's another one that I'm sure you'll like if you are in the market for a RS232 connector. If you've ever tried to connect your c64 to a device requiring RS232 (such as a non-Vic modem, printer, another c64, ...) then you've no doubt noticed that the User Port is NOT standard RS232. This means that you must buy an interface board before you can talk to other devices. Now, most of the boards I've seen advertised in the magazines go for anywhere from $100 to $200. That, of course, is absurd. Well, frugal Commodore owners, fear no more! There is a company that makes such a device for about 20 bucks. I've been using mine for several months now with a Lexicon modem and it works great (in fact, I'm using it right now to type this in). It also gives you another joystick port (if you care about that). The company is O.E.M. Inc., 2729 S. U.S. #1, Suite 12, Fort Pierce, Florida, 33450, (305) 464-7549. You also get some documentation with the board. I am not in any way connected with this company - this is just a product review. But I do recommend them highly. A. Ray Miller Univ Illinois
porter@inuxd.UUCP (01/20/84)
Why spend even 20 bucks for an RS232 adapter when you can build one yourself. Compute! had an article about a year and a half ago (back before the days of 64, but just after the introduction of the VIC), about how to make one yourself. If you only require 3 wire RS232 it is even easier. Two transistors, one 7400, a couple of resistors, diodes and capacitors - parts in any good junk box at home. If you need full RS232, then use the RS232 driver chips with the diodes and capacitors. The junk box version works fine for me. Jeff Porter (inuxd!porter) AT&T Consumer Products Indianapolis
blk@sytek.UUCP (Brian L. Kahn) (01/23/84)
Wasn't the homebrew RS232 for 20 ma loop only? And isn't this old teletypes and Burroughs machines, nothing modern? B<
porter@inuxd.UUCP (J Porter) (01/27/84)
No.....the homebrew interface in COMPUTE! last year was for a three wire RS232, not current loop or anything strange like that. My junkbox interface works just fine with my direct connect (and I mean direct - none of this handset cord stuff) radio shack modem. Jeff Porter (inuxd!porter) AT&T Consumer Products Indianapolis