[Coco] An X-10 usage for the Direct Connect Modem Pak

[Richard E. Crislip]

On Mon, 17 Aug 2015 22:27:27 -0500
George Ramsower <georgera at gvtc.com> wrote:

>   Phone lines are unbalanced. The means there is no ground. The tip
> is + and the ring is - . This protects the phone company and the same
> is true on all broadcasting audio lines and a heckuvalotta of other
> electronics. If one device has a different ground potential than the
> other, a balanced circuit is necessary.
>   You can't win this scenario. Play it safe, ground both phone lines
> to be safe or use another connector where the phone jack was/is.
>   Never assume no one will plug it into a phone jack. However, since
> it most likely will be used by the person who can modify it for your 
> purpose, it's not likely they would connect it to a phone line. But
> in time... memory fades or the ownership can change. I expect anyone
> that buys this setup, would not know.
>   My guess is that if someone was lucky enough to get MY coco stuff, 
> they would not even know what to do with all the mods I've made to
> the "system". The coco itself is basically stock but all the plug-ins
> are not. If I pass away, all this would end up in a recycling center.
> Even my brother wouldn't want it and wouldn't know where to sell it,
> if he had the time.>>> recycle bin.
>   I only personally know of a couple people that even vaguely
> remember a Coco.
> 
>   Consider all this dumb stuff. I don't, because I know after I'm 
> gone... >>> recycle bin is where it's going.
> 
> George R.
> 
> On 8/17/2015 10:00 PM, K. Pruitt wrote:
> > I think the Tip line functions as a ground. Well at least in
> > regular phone systems. I'll take it slow. I'd hate to fry a CoCo.
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "George Ramsower"
> > <georgera at gvtc.com> To: <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> > Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 7:49 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Coco] An X-10 usage for the Direct Connect Modem Pak
> >
> >
> >>  You will have to cut the phone line pair and use one or both of 
> >> those wires for a ground. The DTR and CTS lines do need a ground. 
> >> Then, the phone jack is totally useless for anything else.
> >> However, using the two center pins as a ground will eliminate the
> >> possibility of destroying the pak and the possibility of killing a
> >> coco. George R.
> >>
> >> On 8/17/2015 9:42 PM, K. Pruitt wrote:
> >>> I used my zap utility and just changed the addresses to look at
> >>> the DC modem pak. I just didn't change it everywhere.
> >>> Honestly I'm surprised it worked at all.
> >>>
> >>> Only two of the 4 wires in that 4 wire connector are even used. 
> >>> Yellow and blue are unused. So they are wide open for use and can
> >>> be easily jumpered to the DTR and RTS pins on the 6551. I'm
> >>> fairly certain even I can pull this one off. Not quite mod-free,
> >>> but a really easy mod.
> 
> 

8-) When you graduate, just let us know that you are out of the
building and we'll come get your stuff 8-).