[Coco] Introduction, cartridge slot proto boards, J&M controllers, and EDTASM pak.

[John W. Linville]

On Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 07:58:27AM -0700, Mark J. Blair wrote:
> 
> On Aug 22, 2013, at 07:40 , "John W. Linville" <linville at tuxdriver.com> wrote:
> > There are CLOADM'able WAV files of HDB-DOS that can be loaded to get
> > DriveWire access.  It is not as "clean" as ADTpro, and requires both
> > a cassette interface cable and the serial (aka "DriveWire" cable).
> > The idea of adding this "bootstrap over the cassette cable" mode
> > to the DriveWire server has been suggested, but no one has yet been
> > motivated enough to do that.
> 
> Cool, I'll look into that. I just checked the Radio Shack web site, and they don't appear to carry 4-pin DIN plugs any more. :( I could order one from Digi-Key, but I'm impatient NOW! :)
> 
> Once I boot up HDB-DOS and run a DriveWire server on my Mac, can I use that to transfer disk images to floppies on the CoCo?

That seems to be an ongoing topic of discussion.  I've never used it
to do that, so I'll leave that topic for others to address.

> > I _think_ it is possible to invoke some magic POKEs on the CoCo to
> > do the equivalent of the "IN #2" on the Apple, but I never manage to
> > keep track of them.  Anyway, if those POKEs are real (and not just my
> > imagination), then adding a "bootstrap over the serial cable" mode
> > to the DriveWire server then becomes a simple matter of programming
> > as well... ;-)
> 
> Hmm, I haven't heard of a function like that on the CoCo before. The Deluxe RS232 Pak appears to have a way to transfer BASIC and binary programs, but I haven't played with it yet. Last night was my first experience with the Deluxe RS232 pack, and all I did with it was look at its config menus after I cleaned its very tarnished edge fingers. Incidentally, I've been polishing grungy edge fingers with an old electric drafting eraser, then coating them with some Deoxit. That seems to work well.

I've used the RS232 Pak to do that.  It is workable, if not overly
great.  I don't recall the details, but I don't think it was too hard
to figure out.

John
-- 
John W. Linville		Someday the world will need a hero, and you
linville at tuxdriver.com			might be all we have.  Be ready.