[comp.sys.atari.8bit] Modem directly connected to Atari

normanl@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu (Norman Lin) (02/07/90)

I am fairly new to the world of modeming.  I currently have an IBM here at
school and an Atari at home.  I just got a modem for the IBM, a Hayes-
compatible 2400bps external modem.  Does anyone know -- can this modem be
directly connected to the Atari 800XL, without using the 850 interface
or other such inteface?  "Directly" includes hand-wiring an Atari SIO cable
to the modem RS232 cable.

If this is indeed possible, I would assume that I would need some sort
of device handler to get the operating system to recognize the new device.
Is there any software available for ftp that would perform this fuction?
(of course, I would be able to ftp it, but not to the Atari since the Atari
doesn't have the handler software yet.  I'd even get a printout of the
object code and type it in manually if necessary...)  Or would I need to
write my own device handler?  (I have written rudimentary handlers before
such as miniature ram-drives and such, but I have no idea what hardware
registers would be used to access a direct-wired modem.)

Thanks in advance.
-- 
Norman Lin / normanl@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu

ain1496e@merrimack.edu (02/07/90)

In article <1990Feb7.060203.24025@uokmax.uucp>, normanl@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu (Norman Lin) writes:
> I am fairly new to the world of modeming.  I currently have an IBM here at
> school and an Atari at home.  I just got a modem for the IBM, a Hayes-
> compatible 2400bps external modem.  Does anyone know -- can this modem be
> directly connected to the Atari 800XL, without using the 850 interface
> or other such inteface?  "Directly" includes hand-wiring an Atari SIO cable
> to the modem RS232 cable.
> 
           Yes, this is possible.  I have a Packard Bell 2400BPS running on my
  130xe without any type of interface.  Once you make your cable ( I purchased
  a Supra 1200At MOdem a while ago that came with a cable that was rs232 on one
  end and ATari sio on the other) any programs that have been written for the
  Atari SX212 modem will work perfectly with it (even though the SX212 is only
  1200 baud most programs written for it support up to 9600 baud).  There are
  also a couple of pd drivers available that you can append on to most 
  telecommunicaton programs to make them work)  The one that works the best
  is SX.COM by J. Dillow

weaver@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Andrew Weaver) (02/08/90)

In article <1990Feb7.060203.24025@uokmax.uucp> Norman Lin writes:
>Does anyone know -- can this modem be
>directly connected to the Atari 800XL, without using the 850 interface
>or other such inteface?  "Directly" includes hand-wiring an Atari SIO cable
>to the modem RS232 cable.
I doubt it; but there are published plans on how to use the 
joystick ports to interface to the modem (RS232-wise).  The
XM301 and 1030 modems are SIO connectable; but designed that way.

Either way, however, you would have to write a custom device driver
so that the Atari would correctly talk to the RS232 modem.  And
getting stock programs to talk to your interface might be a bit
tricky as well, but possible.

If you are interested in the plans, I can dig into my old Antic
and Analog magazines for them.

andy..


-- 
Andrew Weaver             |  weaver@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu        
West Side Leader          |  Spring '90:  v30188@vax1.cc.uakron.edu
Fairlawn, OH		  |               bs0401@file01.ecgf.uakron.edu
                          |               c17246@akronvm.BITNET

usenet@cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner) (02/09/90)

Connecting a standard RS-232 device is not as simple as making a cable.
The Atari SIO (Serial I/O) port CAN work as an RS-232 port, but it needs
a little help.

Further, some of the lines coming off the modem are tough or impossible
to replicate so what you normally want is a subset.

The cable that most likely came with the Supra is an R-Verter, a
commercial product. The R-Verter was a slick device that looked 
like a cable, but hidden inside the RS232 end of the cale, inside 
the hood, was a weel made tiny little board with a single IC.

The Atari SX212 "direct connected" to the SIO port by putting the
equivalent of this chip inside the modem. The chip isn't anything
special, just a little glue logto get the signals right.

Terry Conklin
conklin@egr.msu.edu
uunet!frith!conklin
The Club  (517) 372-3131
The Club II (313) 334-8877  w/8 bit files! Hot new files just recently.

ain1496e@merrimack.edu (03/07/90)

In article <6371@cps3xx.UUCP>, usenet@cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner) writes:
> Connecting a standard RS-232 device is not as simple as making a cable.
> The Atari SIO (Serial I/O) port CAN work as an RS-232 port, but it needs
> a little help.
> 
> Further, some of the lines coming off the modem are tough or impossible
> to replicate so what you normally want is a subset.
> 
> The cable that most likely came with the Supra is an R-Verter, a
> commercial product. The R-Verter was a slick device that looked 
> like a cable, but hidden inside the RS232 end of the cale, inside 
> the hood, was a weel made tiny little board with a single IC.
> 

     I have a supra 1200AT modem, I know the cable isn't an RVerter, and I have
never opened the cable but I do believe it is a straight cable without any IC's
  If I have a chance I'll open it and check.  Any software that was designed
for the SX works fine with the cable and in fact I now use the a Packard Bell
2400 baud modem with the cable.