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Post by Leif Bloomquist on Feb 4, 2004 21:30:52 GMT -5
I'm working on getting Jeff H running on Novaterm BBS with my BBS Server software, with the ultimate goal of getting him onto Centipede 128.
I built a proper null modem cable, about 8 feet long. Here is the pinout, let me know if you want photos.
PC - VIC1011A
2 - 2 rx/tx 3 - 3 tx/rx 5 - 7 gnd 7 - 8 rts/dcd 6 - 20 dsr/dtr *
_No_ jumpers or loopbacks. Going direct from COM port to VIC1011A.
It works perfectly with Novaterm BBS mode, including answering and hanging up. It's up now, call it at my usual IP (telnet to 209.151.141.59) and see.
*The dsr/dtr connection above is new. I found out that Novaterm drops DTR (connected to DSR) when the caller hangs up, which is different from EBBS (it dropped RTS, which was connected to DCD).
So I modified my software to detect either of these conditions. The new version is 0.8b which JeffH is testing.
If you want to see my Novaterm modem settings, I can post a d64 of the Novaterm disk.
Regards Leif
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Post by Dr. Video/ADDiXiON on Feb 6, 2004 1:10:44 GMT -5
Ok, I did the following tonight.
1. Wired a cable as Leif described above. The components used: Cat 5 cable, RJ-45 -> DB9F/DB25M connectors. The only pins used are the ones specified by Leif. No other pins are physically accessible (there are only 5 pins sticking out of the DB25M shell). I verified that no shorts exist among these pins, and good signals are verified with my ohm meter.
2. COM1 is set to 2400,8,N,1, Software Flow Control
3. Novaterm is set to Hayes 2400, Userport serial driver, software flow control, inverted carrier type.
4. The VIC-1011A interface is being used on my C64C.
Observation #1
I can type characters in hyperterminal and bray terminal, as well as cgterm, but I am not receiving any bytes from the 64.
Observation #2
Changing carrier type from inverted to normal doesn't affect anything.
Observation #3
Using Bray term, I can set RTS (causing BBS to answer) and clear it (causing it to hang up).
Observation #4
Using CGterm through BBS server results in lower case characters appearing as upper case on the 64 side (nothing is echoed in cgterm as nothing is being sent back).
It's late, perhaps a bonehead wiring issue still exists, but I have to head to bed...maybe I'll call in sick tomorrow...
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Post by Jeff Ledger on Feb 6, 2004 4:54:27 GMT -5
Ok, I did the following tonight. Observation #1 I can type characters in hyperterminal and bray terminal, as well as cgterm, but I am not receiving any bytes from the 64. Ok, The first thing that appears to be at issue is the Send/Recieve. You must be able to transmit characters from either side and see them appear on the other. Sounds like one of the following isn't up to speed. Pins 2 and 3 Jeff
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Post by Dr. Video/ADDiXiON on Feb 6, 2004 13:38:04 GMT -5
Sounds like one of the following isn't up to speed. Pins 2 and 3 Jeff Yeah, not sure what's going on, I've had the same results with another adapter I made, but it had loose connections and I could toggle the BBS answering just by wiggling the cable, which is why I build another using the RJ45 connectors.
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Post by Leif Bloomquist on Feb 6, 2004 20:03:45 GMT -5
Yeah, not sure what's going on, I've had the same results with another adapter I made, but it had loose connections and I could toggle the BBS answering just by wiggling the cable, which is why I build another using the RJ45 connectors. Hi Jeff, If you like, I could send you this second cable I made. It's nothing fancy but it did test OK, at least with EBBS and Novaterm BBS. It's all spare parts so all I would ask for is shipping. However, I'm hoping to get a 128 this weekend, and can then test the cable with Centipede as well. Have you tested your setup with a different C= computer and/or RS-232 interface? Does everything look like it should on your RS-232 breakout box?
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Post by Dr. Video/ADDiXiON on Feb 9, 2004 13:38:19 GMT -5
Leif,
please check your email if you haven't received my message, I'll take you up on the offer.
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Post by Leif Bloomquist on Feb 9, 2004 19:51:36 GMT -5
Leif, please check your email if you haven't received my message, I'll take you up on the offer. Hi Jeff - I haven't received any email from you today. Try again? Also, note that the cable is 9-pin (PC side) to 25-pin (C64 side, for VIC-1011A)
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Post by Leif Bloomquist on Feb 20, 2004 10:55:22 GMT -5
Observation #1 I can type characters in hyperterminal and bray terminal, as well as cgterm, but I am not receiving any bytes from the 64. Hey Jeff, I noticed something really weird the other day. I had swapped my C64 (running the BBS) and 64C around as I needed the C64 for something else. Good thing I always give my BBS a test call after I change something. Suddently, I had this exact problem - I couldn't receive any data from the 64C! Puzzled, I swapped back to the C64 and ran the BBS again. It still didn't work! Then I realized I was running Hyperterminal (Talking to COM 2) and BBS Server at the same time - both thus trying to access COM 2, but no error messages. I closed both programs and tried them individually, but the COM port had simply stopped receiving data. Power cycling the PC cured the problem. So until I get a chance to dig further into this - Always shut down BBS Server before using Hyperterminal to access the same COM Port. Also, a reboot of the PC (and probably recycling power) is worth a try when something suddenly stops working.
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Sysop Fox-1
Newbie
Thunderdome Atari 8-Bit BBS -- http://thunderdome.fox-1.nl
Posts: 16
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Post by Sysop Fox-1 on Feb 22, 2004 9:57:34 GMT -5
Also, a reboot of the PC (and probably recycling power) is worth a try when something suddenly stops working. Just to let you know that the TelnetServer 0.8a is able to connect to my BBS Express! Professional BBS running on my Atari 130XE which uses a 7-wire nullmodem cable with CTS/RTS hardware flowcontrol to be able to run it at 19200 baud. The TelnetServer software had to be modified pretty much. It now has extra textboxes to make it more configurable, like adjustable delay after carrier-drop, connection baudrate to the BBS, etc.... The delay-routines are a bit unprofessional, since I use the Sleep (x) commands in VB. Better is to use a timer for that so that the program does not pause for a short while but haven't figured out how to do that yet. The distance between VB and 6502 assembly is way too much :-) Also need to find out how to handle strings in VB to handle the modem AT commands. I can succesfully read them as they show up in the log-window, but don't know how to deal with the MSCOMM1.Input command... btw, the nullmodemcablel I use is this one: www.mixinc.net/atari/pinouts.htm#null25_25
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Post by Leif Bloomquist on Feb 23, 2004 10:10:54 GMT -5
Just to let you know that the TelnetServer 0.8a is able to connect to my BBS Express! The delay-routines are a bit unprofessional, since I use the Sleep (x) commands in VB. the MSCOMM1.Input command... Great news! Is your BBS up now, can you tell us the IP address? As for the Sleep(), you should also use a few DoEvents in any loops etc - this command gives the rest of Windows time to do its tasks. For details on how to MSComm, note that MSDN and the VB documentation is available online, i.e. msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/comm98/html/vbobjcomm.asp - lots of examples! WTF - Proboards automatically changed the 's' in the word m i c r o s o f t to a $. Argh!
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Post by Jeff Ledger on Feb 23, 2004 10:47:25 GMT -5
Leif, $orry! That was a statement on my part when I did the configuration. I didn't think about someone using http://www.micro$oft.com in a link when I did that. Sometimes my "Pro Linux" side gets the best of me. (Maybe it's the 13 years of tech support I've done on micro$oft products. Jeff
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Post by Jeff Ledger on Feb 23, 2004 10:50:49 GMT -5
Microsoft is fixed. (offers palm for wrist slap)
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Sysop Fox-1
Newbie
Thunderdome Atari 8-Bit BBS -- http://thunderdome.fox-1.nl
Posts: 16
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Post by Sysop Fox-1 on Feb 23, 2004 15:23:13 GMT -5
Great news! Is your BBS up now, can you tell us the IP address? It's online, but is running in testdrive mode, so not public yet. The connection works, but the BBS itself is not re-configured yet. I just restarted the board in the state as I left it a few years ago, so about everything is out of date. My main-purpose was to change the TelnetServer Software to work with my BBS without having to change a single thing on the BBS side. No software modifications, no custom modemstrings, and no exotic hardware, just a standard nullmodem cable. However the modifications in the TelnetServer software are not finished yet, I think it was succesful. I'll try to find your Email address somewhere over here and will send you a mail so you can take a look at the BBS yourself.
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Sysop Fox-1
Newbie
Thunderdome Atari 8-Bit BBS -- http://thunderdome.fox-1.nl
Posts: 16
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Post by Sysop Fox-1 on Feb 23, 2004 18:36:50 GMT -5
Great source. Tried about a zillion results which Google returned at a search, but there are just too much VB topics on the net to find what you need. Now I can add real routines for "waiting for ATA" in stead of just using a Sleep() command and asume the ATA will be there in time :-)
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