Msg: 214 *Conference*
07-12-91 09:06:06
From: DREW BLANCHAR
To : JAMES FIELDS
Subj: REPLY TO MSG #187 (RS232/MODEM)
#1, the UART as used in the MDL100 is an old fashioned beast but very sturdy in its limited way. They're a little difficult to come by but very easy to use since the UART conditions (word length, parity, etc) are set up externally rather than by commands to the chip. #2, Disk Power does allow you to be in Telcom mode and pop over to TEXT (to edit a file before sending it or just to check your file directory) or to BASIC (the reason for this I never did understand). But even DISK-POWER will not allow you to access the RS-232 port for disk transfer while you're using the UART for TELCOM interfacing. A 2nd UART tying through the bar code port? I don't think that port has the bandwidth and it definitely is serial (already) with only one line (no out-band handshaking). Novel idea but I still wonder if making the parallel port bi-directional is impossible. -dB