[Coco] NitrOS9 driver for Tandy RS232 Pak?

[Bill Barnes]

Given enough time, I or someone else, if it hasn't already happened, could have a dumb-OS9 terminal. A terminal program that would respond to OS-9 escape code sequences and position the cursor accordingly.  Graphix beyond that... well... not as easily, if at all.

-Later!   -WB-    -- BABIC Computer Consulting.


--- On Sun, 12/28/08, George Ramsower <georgeramsower at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: George Ramsower <georgeramsower at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Coco] NitrOS9 driver for Tandy RS232 Pak?
> To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Date: Sunday, December 28, 2008, 12:37 PM
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steven Hirsch"
> 
> > Title says it.  I understand that OS-9 has always
> supported user consoles on the bit-banger serial port, but
> with speed limited to 300-baud (!)
> > 
> > I have just acquired a Tandy RS232 Program Pak and am
> wondering whether such a thing as a terminal driver exists
> for it.  Grepping the sources for NitrOS9 is showing only a
> device descriptor for a serial console.  Where (if it
> exists) is the actual driver?
> > 
> > I'd like to connect a serial terminal at, e.g.
> 19200 baud to the CoCo 3 and obtain an OS-9 login.  While I
> like most everything about the CoCo as an 8-bit hobby
> machine, I find the keyboard unspeakably wretched. Ideally,
> I could use miniterm from my Linux box to log in.
> > 
> > Any advice appreciated!
> > 
> > Steve
> 
> Steve,
> 
> In OS9 and Nitros9, the Deluxe RS232 program pack is called
> /t2.
> >>>>>>>>The rom needs to be removed
> from the program pak.
> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
> 
> I've been using Hyper Terminal on this PC  for several
> years to communicate with my coco (OS-9 L2).  It works just
> like you were on the coco keyboard, only you are actually on
> the PC.
> To do this, set up both systems for whatever speed you
> want. In your case, 19200, 8,n,1.
> In MW OS9, I don't get good results with that speed.
> 9600 works fine. I betcha Nitros9 will do it at 19200.
> To make this happen, in OS9...
> First, create a new boot disk with /t2 in it. Both the
> driver(ACIAPAK) and the descriptor(T2.dd).
> Then reboot with the new disk and  set up your device
> descriptor using xmode /t2 ( may be different in Nitros9 )
> In OS9 the speeds on /t2 and settings are as follows...
> 
> type=0 >no parity
> 
> baud=
> 0=110
> 1=300
> 3=1200
> 4=2400
> 6=9600
> 7=19200
> 
> The stop bit is automatically set to 1. That's all you
> need.
> 
> Don't forget the pause....
> -pause will allow the screen to scroll on and on.
> pause will only display 32 lines of text and then wait for
> a keypress.
> 
> Of course, any of these settings can be changed on the fly
> and temporarily using xmode if you don't cobbler the
> thing.
> 
> .Once done, make sure Hyper Terminal is set up the same
> way. When done and all works, use Cobbler to save these
> settings, modify and save your startup file and have fun.
> 
> To use a login.... well, in OS9 you use(in the startup or
> command prompt) "tsmon /t2&"
> and you need to setup the login file in the SYS directory.
> Otherwise pressing enter will log you in. The details
> setting up a login file is in the manual and personally, I
> think it's not necessary since no one will hack into
> your coco.
> Use "shell i=/t2&" instead. This simply turns
> on the remote terminal to use as you wish.
> Add it to the startup file and it makes it easier.
> 
> There's more fun to be had using a remote terminal.
> Once you get yours working, I've learned to do away with
> the keyboard scanner, the video, the memory associated with
> those and a few clock cycles to deal with the keyboard
> scanning. The coco video is now a moot thing and the system
> uses that memory area for it's use and it's fun to
> see the screen show the data changes as the system uses it.
> There's a few other things the system won't need
> since the /term is just another SIO. You can do away with
> GRFDRV.
> Also, if you rename /t2 to /term, the settings to change
> will now be called tmode instead of xmode. I think(but I
> could be wrong) that the T in tmode is Terminal and X in
> xmode is eXternal. Sounds good to ME!
> 
> However, you can still do anything you want from a remote
> terminal and still use the coco as normal if you keep the
> /term as is.
> The caveat is programs that use graphics, cursor
> positioning and stuff like that won't work or won't
> even run on your PC. It's text only! Line editors is the
> only thing you will be able to do.
> 
> I use some utilites from the OS9-L2 BBS to transfer files
> back and forth using only Hyper Terminal as the command
> center.
> 
> 
> 
> Since you're using nitros9, there may be differences.
> If you experience loss of vision or ability to concentrate,
> have difficulty breathing, can't stand for more than
> fifteen minutes, pains in certain areas, please consult the
> gurus in Nitros9.
> 
> George 
> 
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