So I do have two Super Serial Cards (1 Apple, 1 Clone), but I also have these and I was curious what I can do with them?
I've managed to get both to bootstrap ADTPro, so I know that they're some sort of communications cards. (One even says as much) But that's about all I know. Once loaded, the Apple II side of the program won't access any files from the hoast. So communication seems to be one way? Or more likely, I haven't figured out the proper communications setting (either in ADTPro, or the cards themselves).
Anyway, as I said, I'd like to know just what I can use these for? Is it possible to use them with ADTPro, or similar software? Can I use them to network with other 8-bit computers? (Apple or otherwise) If I built a cable, could I get it to interface with a Commodore 1541 or Atari 1050? (Don't really have a reason to do that, but it sounds like something fun to try.) Finally, if these cards are capable of any of this, how exactly should they be configured?
Side note: I think I found the manual for the lower card, but it wasn't that informative. So, any help is appreciated!
Interesting! I wonder if that part that says "Terminal" on the first card can be swapped out with a different block to create a null modem link--similar to how you can flip the Terminal/Modem block around on the SSC? (Is that the card that currently only communicates one-way?)
Neither of those are very "Super". Serial cards yes... But they both use the 6850 chip which has no buffering at all. The Super Serial Card uses the 6551 which has a 1 byte buffer for send and receive. So these are great for low speed devices like printers or modems up to about 1200bps.
I've heard of the MPC AP-SIO, but never had one. I have a CCS 7710 around here somewhere. I am pretty sure you can find the manual for the CCS card on the Asimov Archive, probably the MPC card also.
OK, here's the CCS 7710 manual...
https://www.apple.asimov.net/documentation/hardware/io/CCS%20ASI-7710%20Manual_alt.pdf
I didn't see the MPC manual there, but I suspect the terminal block probably flips like a Super Serial card maybe or you need a different one for modem or maybe just a null modem cable. The main thing you'd need to figure out would be the dip switch settings. Some of that would be possible to do by tracing down on the board.
Check out the ad on page 0008...
http://www.callapple.org/Members/magazine/1982/Call%20APPLE%20magazine%201982-05.pdf
The block is socketed, so I would imagine that it could be switched with another block. Unfortunately, I have yet to find the right manual for it. As such, I have no idea what turning it around would do.
As for the other question, both cards currently communicate in "one way". The thing is that, so far I've only figured out how to communicate through ADTPro on an old iMac running OS 10.6. So it's possible that they are sending signals as well as receiving, but the connection to the iMac isn't configured to understand them.
Maybe I should try to install them into two different Apple IIs and see if they can talk to each other?
At least one of them seems to be my card!
Thanks for this! I did find this manual a while back, but forgot where so now it's on my HardDrive! Hopefully, I won't lose it again.
As for the MPC Card, without the manual, I'm honestly not sure what swapping the block will do. Also, I'm not sure if the block is the issue or the dip switch configuration? Maybe both? I'll try tracing the switches as suggested.