Re: [ql-users] QL Network link QL -- PC possible?
Hi Dilwyn, I made a cable and connect up QPC2, Q60, QXL, QL, Atari ST QL All worked very well, except the serial network speed is limited to the slowest machine, in the the above chage the QL. But QPC2 to Q60 Sernets very easily at 115600 baud giving 11.56K transfer. The only failure I had was on Superhermes, but that is down to the ser3 port not having a Sernet compatible serial device driver. But I think it could be rewritten. I was going to make a little Sernet hub box, but never got around to it, maybe when I have a spare moment, I could do this. Derek On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 22:44:51 +0100 Dilwyn Jones [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Darren Branagh wrote: There is the QXL - a hardware QL emulator - Which has QL network ports on the back. I often used mine between my QXL/PC and black box QL, mind you that was before QPC and SERNET :-)) Yes, and IIRC it depended on the QXL's speed, if a faster processor was fitted it upset the network timing, a bit like running TK2 ROM image network from fats RAM systems! The Aurora card has a QL network socket too. It comes in handy networking my MinisQL to my backup QL when that gets used occasionally. Michael Berger wrote: does any of the existing QL emulators support a QL network link between PC and QL? - I do not mean by Serial port (as I know QPC2 can do this) but by the QL network connection - probably to a pair of data/ground pins on the PC's parallel port? Marcel Kilgus wrote: No, I was experimenting with this 10 years ago, but IIRC the timing was much too critical. And using SERNET you can have all features of the QL net with the serial port, too (except probably connecting multiple machines, I'm not sure about this point). Sernet can connect several serial ports, but special cabling is needed to form a circular handshaking loop, I never really got that to work (not that I spent much time on it!). Bernd Reinhardt told me that not all versions of Sernet supported the multiple computer approach, advising me to contact him direct if I needed a version that supported that facility at the time, I don't know if it's since been put into all versions. It would be nice to get a three station sernet working, to network my Minis-QL, PC and my wife's laptop together. A little bit of spare time to source some plugs and cables and I might try it sometime.Anyone already tried it? -- Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL Network link QL -- PC possible?
Hello out there, is sernet for the QL free or does it cost money? As far as I understand the matter it is already built into the OS of QPC2, but I would need a software counterpart for the Sinclair black box? So far I only found webpages containing discussions on sernet but not a download page :-( File transfer via floppy disk is my current alternative, but looks like that is not too reliable - maybe due to the fact that I do not have 'real' 3.5 DD disks but rather HD disks formatted as DD. The QL's disk drive apparently does not have problems with them but QPC2 doesn't recognize DD formatted HD disks unless I close the HD hole with adhesive tape. Marcel, I guess the program has a good reason to primarily look for the disk's hardware marker (hole) rather than its actual formatting? When I close the HD hole on the disk then the QL sometimes reports read errors with files written on the PC's disk drive. I assume my QL's disk drive is not sick, because it never has problems with disks that are only in use on that drive all the time. Is it possible that data exchange between DD and HD drives is in principle unsafe beacuse of something like different magnetic ... whatever ... behavior? Greetings! Michael ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL Network link QL -- PC possible?
I made a cable and connect up QPC2, Q60, QXL, QL, Atari ST QL All worked very well, except the serial network speed is limited to the slowest machine, in the the above chage the QL. I expected that. Which version of Sernet did you use to get the 'circular' system working. That's one reason why I never spent much time on it, not being sure if I had a workable version or not. I got a good transfer speed between my old PC and my wife's laptop, both of which had fast serial ports. I was going to make a little Sernet hub box, but never got around to it, maybe when I have a spare moment, I could do this. That sounds like a good idea actually. Then all you need is simple cabling to the individual computers and the box takes care of looping the handshaking round presumably. If you ever get time, I think a short article in Quanta or Toady to explain the wiring might be handy, for posterity! -- Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL Network link QL -- PC possible?
Michael Berger wrote: is sernet for the QL free or does it cost money? As far as I understand the matter it is already built into the OS of QPC2, but I would need a software counterpart for the Sinclair black box? No, it's supplied separately on the SMSQ/E (or QPC) disc. And normally it does need the extended SER drivers of SMSQ/E anyway, you can however try Simser to extend the standard QL drivers: http://thgodef.nerim.net/smsq/Area11/SIMSER.zip Marcel, I guess the program has a good reason to primarily look for the disk's hardware marker (hole) rather than its actual formatting? This mechanism is at work deep below the application level. It's probably even the doing of the controller chip. Is it possible that data exchange between DD and HD drives is in principle unsafe beacuse of something like different magnetic ... whatever ... behavior? Well, the magnetic surface is different, of course, the extra hole is not the only difference between DD and HD discs ;-) Usually it works, but there can be problems. Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL Network link QL -- PC possible?
File transfer via floppy disk is my current alternative, but looks like that is not too reliable - maybe due to the fact that I do not have 'real' 3.5 DD disks but rather HD disks formatted as DD. The QL's disk drive apparently does not have problems with them but QPC2 doesn't recognize DD formatted HD disks unless I close the HD hole with adhesive tape. Marcel, I guess the program has a good reason to primarily look for the disk's hardware marker (hole) rather than its actual formatting? Some drives recognize the hole by light-sensor some other by a switch... so your adhesive tape may be opac an closing the hole on both sides ! When I close the HD hole on the disk then the QL sometimes reports read errors with files written on the PC's disk drive. I assume my QL's disk drive is not sick, because it never has problems with disks that are only in use on that drive all the time. I had a lot of good running but not compatible drives :-( Another point : always format HD-disks in DD-format onely with the DD-drive !!! Use onely fresh formatted-disks to make transfer and do not use files on them for long time... Is it possible that data exchange between DD and HD drives is in principle unsafe beacuse of something like different magnetic ... whatever ... behavior? HD-heads are smaller than DD-heads : that's the source of most of problems. Greetings! Michael So long Gerhard ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
