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Post by Lisa2dotcom on Jan 10, 2005 18:02:55 GMT -5
Just ordered my C64 DTV and I can't wait to get hacking! But I am new to the C64 world and I have a few questions.
1. I have no 1541 disk drive or C64 software, but I am concidering buying or building a drive emualtor. Is a drive connected to the DTV fully functional? (does the DTV firmware support saving and loading to disks) If I write a progam on the DTV, can I use a disk to save it?
2. It was my understanding (20 years ago) that the C64 serial port was realy a some type of GPIB port (IEEE 488?). Is this true?
3. What other devices out there connect to the serial port? Has anyone used this port for a modem or some sort of RS232 adapter.
I think a DTV would make a great web server, I just need some sort of connection. I have a web server now running on a nearly stock 1983 Apple Lisa.
Thanks, Rick
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Post by David Murray on Jan 10, 2005 19:24:33 GMT -5
I would probably go for buying a drive. The drive emulators are very buggy and extreemly picky about parallel ports. Besides, building the appropriate cable can be a pain. Considering you can pick up a used commodore disk drive on ebay for $5 plus shipping, why not?
Your information on the IEEE488 serial port is somewhat inaccurate. Some of the early commodore computers did have an IEEE488 port, but the Commodore 64 never did. The serial port isn't quite like an RS232 and there aren't that many devices that can connect to it. For the most part, Commodore printers and disk drives is about all that is practical.
What software did you have in mind for a web server. The only thing I know of that will run on a C64 and serve web pages is Contiki. However, with no RS232 port available on the DTV, that wouldn't work. Eventualaly, I suspect some clever person out there will grind the epoxy blob down and connect an ethernet chip to the main databus (as is possible on a real C64 through the cartridge port) and then Contiki would be able to run with ethernet support.
Just one more note.. it doesn't have to be a 1541 disk drive. You can use any commodore disk drive like the 1571 and 1581, and the clones. I've had no trouble with any of my commodore drives on the DTV, but I've had very poor success using any of server64 on my PC to emulate a drive. (even though star commander works great on that same PC) --DavidM
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Post by 87C751 on Jan 10, 2005 20:15:02 GMT -5
Your information on the IEEE488 serial port is somewhat inaccurate. Some of the early commodore computers did have an IEEE488 port, but the Commodore 64 never did. The serial port isn't quite like an RS232 and there aren't that many devices that can connect to it. FWIW, I've been looking into the disk drive interface the last week or so, and as near as I can determine, it looks like a serial interpretation of IEEE488/GPIB. At least, the command set looks very similar. Not that you could strap a 64 up to any random GPIB, but the heritage is noticeable.
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