Super Serial Card II in Apple IIgs

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k4lmp's picture
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Super Serial Card II in Apple IIgs

Will a Super Serial Card II that will work in an AIIe work OK in an AIIgs? The reason I'm asking is I bought a IIgs, and want to use ADTPro with it. I've read the manual, and it says some cards will and some won't. I hope the SSC II is one of the ones that works Smile Thanks.

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Re: Super Serial Card II in Apple IIgs

The Super Serial Card II will work fine in a IIgs, but it will be redundant. The serial port that is built-in is supported directly by ADTPro. The only tricky bit is the adapter; but you can build or buy one of those easily enough.

If you want to use the Super Serial Card after all, there are a few things to keep in mind: first, you'll have to go into the control panel of the GS and set the slot you plugged it into to "your card." Second, you won't be able to use Speediboot to bootstrap, because it will assume that you're using the MiniDIN8 connection since you're on a GS. Third, ADTPro on the GS will likewise assume you want to use the MiniDIN8 connector and will come up with that as the default device. You'll need to switch the comms device over to the slot you've plugged the SSC into instead of the GS serial port.

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Re: Super Serial Card II in Apple IIgs

Do you know of a website with pinouts for the cable, and what type of cable. I actually won't receive the gs until tomorrow. Thanks.

I see your links now. Thanks.

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Re: Super Serial Card II in Apple IIgs

Click the blue links in my message above...

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Re: Super Serial Card II in Apple IIgs

I ordered 2 of the DB9 to 8 pin mini din cables from RetroFloppy, but in the interim, I found a cable with an 8 pin mini din in my junk cable box. I made a cable, and it works great. I was able to use ADTPro to make my System 6 disks and copy them to my 3.5 drive. I submitted a post on the ADTPro forum about not being able to use my PowerMAC G4 and usb-serial adapter, but instead having to use a Windows XP machine to get ADTPro to communicate completely with the server on my enhanced AIIe. It works perfectly to my GS from my Mac to the Apple. I tried a couple of different cables on the AIIe, and it still makes it to the screen where it says 'found slot 2' and 'MTI' and hangs. I think I will double check the SS II card settings in the AIIe, as it works fine from the Mac to my AIIgs with my home made cable. I will let you know what I find out. Thanks.

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Re: Super Serial Card II in Apple IIgs

Well, I checked the DIP switches on the SS II card in my Apple IIe. They were set correctly. It makes it to the 'MLI:' prompt, then just hangs. It works fine on my XP machine. I don't think it is the usb-serial on my Mac, as it works fine with ADTPro and my AIIgs. I even removed the SS II card, and set it to 'modem' and used a null modem, but no luck. I have also tried about 5 different cables, two of which were quality Belkin cables. If I boot with an ADTPro disk, and do a 'receive', I put the filename in, and it says waiting for host, and just sits.

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Re: Super Serial Card II in Apple IIgs

I'm left a little confused based on the stream of consciousness above, but it's entirely likely the USB adapter is the trouble on the Mac. The drivers on Mac and PC are completely different, and Mac drivers tend to be worse (especially if we're talking about USB adapters based on the Prolific chipset).

When the bootstrapping stops at "Loading MLI:" does it help if you hit escape on the Apple II? If not, something's wrong with the handshaking either in the cable or in the USB adapter/driver.

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