a.guillaume@trl.oz.au (andrew guillaume) (04/19/91)
G'day all ! If this is not the right place to post this, don't flame me, just tell me where to post. I'm trying to help out my dad who has one of the above mentioned beasts (the PCW8516). This thing comes with an expansion "port" at the back, which is in fact just a connector edge of the internal pcb. Now he also has a Heathkit H89, running cp/m, and would like to have the two machines talking to each other. The expansion "port" of the PCW8512 has all the signals from the Z80 (address, data, control). I figured that all I would need is something like an 8251 or a Z80-SIO, plus the required TTL<->RS232 chips. Now before I start reinventing the wheel, I'd like to know from anybody who might be familiar with the Amstrad, whether they know if this is already available from Amstrad, whether this might exist in kit form, whether this problem has already been tackled and solved, and whether my assumptions as to it being a simple h/w job are correct. BTW, I am an EE, so soldering is no problem :-), although all the programming stuff might be a little bit more challenging :-) Email me, or post, and I will send any "me too" requests a summary. Thanks in advance for any help. Andrew Guillaume Internet : a.guillaume@trl.oz.au
TESSA.HEBERT@f601.n106.z1.fidonet.org (TESSA HEBERT) (04/21/91)
Hi, I don't know if I can help with your problem, but I was glad to see someone else has an Amstrad. I have an AMSTRAD PCW8256. I can't use it for bbs-ing because it requires an interface to hook it up to the modem, which I don't have. Harley Ristad, Amstrad Users Group, U.S.A., 12741 Matteson Avenue #3, Los Angeles, CA, 9066, voice phone: 213/397-7981, runs an Amstrad users support service, which is free. You can call him or write him. He was very helpful to me once. For the modem, he recommends a CPS8256 RS232C Serial Interface (from Sinotech). By the way, I am looking for an interface for the modem, so if you hear of anyone having one to sell, please let me know (or where I can get it). PS: Harley provides a newsletter & registration service to network with other Amstrad users. Send a $1.00 & SASE for information. He accepts donations, but does not charge for his help. He has a great start-of-the-day disk, which he calls "Bitch" (beginner's introduction to cp/m hacking disc) a fully documented disk for beginners or expert, who want to do more with their PCW. He asks for $2 plus a formatted disk (feel free to send him your goodies on that disk) or $7 without the disk. For Amstrad software (commercial) write or call New Date, 3651 Woodhead Drive, Northbrook, IL 60062 (708/546-9281) & ask them to send you a catalog.