cccph@jessica.cs.ucla.edu (Charles Hobbs) (05/12/91)
Some time ago, I saw an ad for a cable that allowed one to connect an RS232 device to the Atari SIO port. Are these cables still available, or can they be made (by the home user) easily? Thanks in advance. ____________________________________________________________________ |Charles P. Hobbs | BBC micro, Aquarius and Spectravideo |cccph@jessica.cad.ucla.edu | users! Please email me! Thanks! |Ham radio: N6YMK | L.A. Blue Line Freq: 471.3375 mHz
fseipel@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Frank E Seipel) (05/13/91)
>Some time ago, I saw an ad for a cable that allowed one to connect >an RS232 device to the Atari SIO port. >Are these cables still available, or can they be made (by the home >user) easily? If you are really into hardware hacking, you could make one. Several RS232 interfaces have been released commercially over the years. The most common are the 850 interface, which has 4 RS232 ports and a printer port, and the P:R: Connection, which has two RS232 ports and a printer port. The ATR8000, BlackBox, and MIO all have an RS232 port and printer port. I saw an ad for an ATR8000 for $50 on my BBS. The ATR8000 also allows you to easily interface 360K IBM style disk drives to your Atari 8-bit. Oh, yes, it also runs CPM programs (the Atari acts as a terminal to the ATR8000). About seven months ago I saw a message on Compuserve from John Demar. He is selling what are called 'R-Links' (apparently extra inventory from 1985). They come in several configurations. The base cost is $12.50 for an "R-Link NC" -- NC meaning no connector (you solder the modem cable connector to the wires coming out of the PCB). It does not have a case. It is very small and can be mounted inside your modem. You can also solder on a printer connector on and use it as a printer interface (a special handler is included for both R: and P: devices). It works just fine and the price is right. The guy's address is: John Demar (315) 451-6470 4753 Freestone Road Liverpool, NY 13090 BTW I think he sells them with a box and/or cable soldered on for a little extra (around $20). I would call and check pricing/availability before ordering.