[Coco] rs232/bitbanger in MESS?

[Robert Gault]

Aaron Wolfe wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Looking through the MESS source, I find some interesting files in the
> src/mess/devices directory:  coco_232.c and bitbngr.c.   The head of
> the coco_232 file says "Code for emulating the CoCo RS-232 PAK".
> bitbngr.c says "TRS style "bitbanger" serial port".  There is also a
> file called orch90.c with description "Code for emulating the CoCo
> Orch-90 (Orchestra 90) sound cartridge".
>
> I am having no luck figuring out how I would use these, or finding any
> reference to them.  Anybody have any info?
>
> -Aaron
>

If you read the text file coco.hsi, you will find
<hashfile>
	<!-- This MESS HASH file was auto-generated from Cowering's GoodCoCo 
database (V3.13)  -->
	<!-- for the exclusive use of MESS.  Keep this notice intact if editing 
this file  -->

   <!--
       Supported <pcb> types:

       banked_16k    - CoCo "super" cartridges
       coco_fdc      - CoCo FDC
       dragon_fdc    - Dragon FDC
       orch90        - Orch-90
       ssc           - Speech/Sound cartridge
   -->

That means you need a ROM image for orch90 to be mounted in the MESS 
cart slot.
   <hash crc32="15fb39af" 
sha1="6a20fee9c70b36a6435ac8378f31d5b626017df0" name="Orchestra 90-CC 
(26-3143)">
     <year>1984</year>
     <manufacturer>Tandy</manufacturer>
     <pcb>orch90</pcb>
   </hash>

There is also an entry in the hash file for the RS232 pak
   <hash crc32="d990e1f9" name="RS-232 Pak">
     <pcb>rs232</pcb>
   </hash>

Toggling the RS-232 port at $FF20 does not seem to do anything for me 
under MESS. Perhaps you need to have the ROM image for the pak mounted 
for the port to work. I've not made any tests.