Hi,
What viable information on the Apple iic here! I thought I would try this forum for assistance with my Apple iic. I have an Androbot TOPO robot made in the early eighties that used an Applesoft fourth software program for use with the Apple iie. The program makes use of a wireless infrared transmitter to send commands to the robot from the computer to move and talk. I tried loading it in my iic, but the program hangs after providing a “Welcome to Toposoft . . .” headliner. It appears to load but does not seem to be picking up the serial card/modem signal on the iic. I know slot 2 on the iie and iic were both compatible for the serial card/modem. Is there a way to configure the iic to emulate the iie for the program to work?
Thanks
Patrick
Sent from my iPhone
The Androbot TOPO sounds really kewl.
The Apple IIc and Apple IIe are pretty much the same computer. Early serial communication software and hardware is very finicky: the wrong DIP switch setting, the wrong software settings, bad connections, bad wiring.
Have you successfully run the "Applesoft fourth" software program on an Apple IIe? Is it an Applesoft program? What slot is the software using for the serial card? If it's the wrong slot, I can see the software hanging like you describe. If it's an Applesoft program you may be able to manually change the slot: look for IN# and PR# in the program. From Applesoft, type LIST to list the program. Post the program here if you want. Does the serial hardware on the Apple IIc work with other serial communications software, like ADTPro?
Typically, aye, it does, but depending on the ROM revision you may need to fiddle with the baud rate.
I have not tried with ADT pro, but I am unable to get a cursor block to type once the program hangs up. If I press control, open Apple and reset it just goes to restarting the disk and then hangs up again. I am unable to access the disk content because I cannot type CAT or LIST because of this . I know the program works on a iic, due to previous compatibility. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
First, the //c has two serial ports. It would help to know which one you are using, and likewise, what Super Serial Card settings the //e version intends to use. The serial ports on the //c are wired to emulate two major settings of the Apple II Super Serial Card. One of those is usually used for printers, the other, for modems. Note: The SSC also allowed the user to emulate the original Apple Serial card with two different PROMs. I do not recall if the //c can do that, in some event that it would be required.
What port are you using, and how did you wire it?
Second, it could be a baud issue:
Baud rate, nB
You can use the nB command to select the baud rate for the serial-port firmware.
For example, to change the baud rate to 9600, send Control-I 14B CR to the serial-port firmware (see Table 5-1).
Table 5-1 Baud-rate selections n Baud rate n Baud rate:
0 Default*
1 50
2 75
3 110
4 134.5
5 150
6 300
7 600
8 1200
9 1800
10 2400
11 3600
12 4800
13 7200
14 9600
15 19,200
More Settings
Do you have any docs for the robot itself?
I am using the modem port on the iic and the baud rate for the IR wireless transmitter according to the robot’s documents is set at 1200.
Here is a link to the manual i found with a quick Google search:
https://www.smallrobot.com/topoii.pdf
The modem port would be correct on the //c, as the manual says it wants the serial card in slot 2. Which is the slot assigned to the //c modem port. I didn't have time to look much further into the manual than that. Other than appendix A appears to be troubleshooting. Not sure if your issue is covered thre or not.
Hahahaha (quote from 1987's Robocop!)
Sounds like fun!
Is there a disk image you can link us to, so we can fiddle with it, too?
I have both an Apple //c and I use the Virtual ][ emulator on my Mac with //e ROMs.
Do you have a Mac?
Every few years, I adjust the internal programming of my X-10 CP-210 PowerHouse module. Instead of using the Apple //c with serial connection, I use the Virtual ][ on my Mac to make the adjustments.