Pocketerm and Altair Clone

[Caterman]

Hi

Having issues getting the Pocketerm to communicate with the Altair.
Connect the Pocketerm to Serial Port 1 set to 2SIO 9600 baud RTS/CTS all configurations
Original Cable was just as:-
25 Pin No. - 9 Pin No.
2 - 3, 3 - 2, 7 - 5
Which I thought should be enough connection.
Cable is now wired as:-
25 Pin No. - 9 Pin No.
2 - 3, 3 - 2, 4 - 7, 5 - 8, 6 - 6, 7 - 5, 8 - 1, 20 - 4, 22 - 9
But still same results.

Problem is:-
Configuration Monitor displays on Pocketerm but the keyboard does not work.
When I try and boot into CP/M from floppy no output on Pocketerm screen.
This all works fine if just connected to PC TeraTerm.
Tried connecting to serial port 2 with every serial options SIO and SIO2 with RTS/CTS 8N1 etc. no go at all. Disabled Print support on Port 2.
Checked inside box all connections are fine.
I have a cassette interface fitted which works fine using a Sony minidisc player!

The Pocketerm has been working fine with my N8VEM Zeta v2 SBC!

I was hoping to have my PC connected into Serial Port 1 and use Altair with the Pocketerm into Serial Port 2
What is the configuration that works?

Thanks

[AltairClone]

The Pocketerm HOST port only uses TX/RX and Ground. Your "original" cable should be all you need with the jumpers in the STD position.

On the Clone, if using the 2SIO port option, choose option #1, "CTS, RTS not Used."

Serial port 2 on the 2SIO is not typically used by Altair software or Burcon (Altair) CP/M 2.2, so it's unlikely the 2nd serial port will do anything short of running software that uses the 2nd port.

Mike

[Caterman]

Sorted
After a lot of cable making, I was convinced it must be my cables, a bit of fault finding!
Tested system with a http://geoffg.net/terminal.html ASCII Video Terminal - Keyboard worked.
Altair and cables must be OK. Turned attention to Pocketerm.
Tested Pocketerm again with N8VEM Zeta SBC Keyboard worked fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally thought the next easy thing was to replace the 2 jumpers and resolder the joints on the PCB under the 8 way jumper for the NULL/STD jumpers.
This was the problem. Strange the Zeta SBC did not complain. I reckon it must have been a dry joint on the 8 way pin connector, the resistance was just enough to upset the Altair!!!!
There must be a lesson here somewhere.
But hey all happy now.

[Caterman]

It looks like if you connect a pc with terraterm to the pc serial port on the pocketerm it duplicates the screen output as expected.
But you cannot send a hex file.
Just wondering what is possible through the pc serial port on the pocketerm?
Is there a way to send a hex file whilst the pocketerm is connected or do have to resort to a serial port switcher!
Thanks

[AltairClone]

Or, for more vintage-appropriate fun, modify the checksum loader and bootstrap loader to input from the second 2SIO port (port 1 for your console, port 2 for file input).

There is also a modified version of the MBL PROM that supports the 2nd 2SIO port. See MBLe in the ROMs directory on the support page.

Under CP/M, PCGET and PCPUT can already use the 2nd 2SIO port if needed.

[Caterman]

Mike
Getting to grips and making progress.
Just reworked your PUNMSG.ASM to work via SIO2 port 2 to my DSI NC2400!!! Works a charm.
My boy is thinking, letting kids punch their names into paper tape, might work as a money making opertunity for our local School's Summer fund raising fair.
If my Altair makes it to the Fair I'll be sure to post a picture in the picture thread.

[AltairClone]

Good to hear -- and what a great idea for a fundraiser!

Mike