[Coco] Different versions of the RS-232 Pak?

[K. Pruitt]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Gault"
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 4:53 PM
Subject: Re: [Coco] Different versions of the RS-232 Pak?


> K. Pruitt wrote:
>> We're there two different versions of the RS-232 Pak made?
>>
>> I have my original pak and none of the chips are socketed. I just picked 
>> up
>> another pak which has never been opened, and when I look down in to it I 
>> can see
>> what appears to be a socketed chip. Is this the ROM chip perhaps? If so, 
>> can I
>> remove that chip completely and put a clock chip in to it? I currently 
>> have my
>> clock chip in my Disto SC-II, but it's a real tight fit as it is stacked 
>> with
>> the ROM.
>>
>> The difference in these two RS-232 Paks are slight. The printing is 
>> larger on
>> the one with the suspected socketed chip and the label on the back is in 
>> the
>> middle of the Pak rather than down near the cartridge connector as on the 
>> 100%
>> non-socketed version.
>>
>> Any input is appreciated. Thanks.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> I have the Deluxe RS-232 PAK # 26-2226 with all ICs in sockets. I have 
> removed the ROM chip and replaced it with a SmartWatch (c) containing a 
> Dalas DS-1216E clock. It works quite well with NitrOS-9 and my own 
> Basic/ml program that adds the ability to read the clock from Basic.
> Any software that needs to read the RTC when not in the disk controller 
> needs to either know which MPI slot is being used or must search through 
> them.
>
> Keep in mind that the number of pins on this (28) and similar RTCs likely 
> are greater than those on a ROM chip (24). That means may you need to use 
> an adapter to get required connections. In my case, the RS-232 cover does 
> not quite close completely but there is no problem fitting the case into 
> an MPI.
>
> Robert
>
>

I went ahead and popped it open. The socketed chip is a 28-pin G65SC51P1-1.

My other RS232 Pak has a different 28-pin 6551 and it is not socketed.

All the same model number, of course.