[{"element_type":"alert","content":"\u003cp\u003eWork in progress - follow along as I kick the tires\u003c/p\u003e","metadata":{"class":"element row-fluid alert-element build-alert alert-primary","markdown":"Work in progress - follow along as I kick the tires","alert_type":"primary"}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eVintage computers often lack the capability to connect to other computers to include networking. Even if networking hardware and software is available, such connections are difficult and take up resources. Often it's \"impossible.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany vintage computers do have RS-232 serial ports. They are most often DB-9 male connectors on the back, although IBM PC and PC/XT used 25 pin male connectors. Vintage operating systems such as MS-DOS were configured to handle various functions using serial ports.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUSB to serial cables have existed for years. They seem like an excellent way to connect a modern computer with a vintage computer. And true, it's possible to make such a connection, although getting the software on each side talking is very hit and miss.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Note will document exploring using IBM PC serial ports under MS-DOS, connected to a modern Windows machine using an RS-232 to USB cable.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003ch2\u003eThe USB/RS232 Cable\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI wanted to check things out quickly so I went to Amazon US. My vintage computer is an IBM PC/AT running MS-DOS 6.22 with a 9 pin DB-9 male serial port at COM1.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cable I chose is a \u003ca href=\"https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0769CTG14?th=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCableCreation USB to RS232 Serial Adapter with PL2303 Chipset, 10 FT USB to DB9 Pin Female Converter Cable\u003c/a\u003e as it already had a female DB-9. The 10 foot (3 meter) length helped to reach between computers. The PL2303 USB chipset worked fine with Windows 10, the driver installed automatically. They sell a version with an FTDI chipset but it is $8 more.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/000/929/original/Screenshot_2024-01-22_111822.jpg?1719360809","metadata":{"caption":""}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eI did get a DB-9 male to DB-9 female null modem mini-adapter just in case the RS-232 end needed transmit and receive crossed but this so far has been unnecessary.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003ch2\u003eConnections\u003c/h2\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/000/930/original/Untitled.png?1719361380","metadata":{"caption":""}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eLeft is the IBM PC/AT 5170. There are two serial DB-9 ports on two RAM expansion cards. You might have to experiment if you have more than one port which is which. On the right I just used a USB3 port but USB2 or even USB1 is plenty fast.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003ch2\u003eSoftware for the Modern Computer Side\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor experimenting, you'll want a terminal emulation program. I happened to have a version of PuTTY available but there are many others.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGo to the Windows Settings and go to Devices. Scroll down and find the entry for your cable. Mine is shown below and says it identifies on my modern computer as COM5.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/000/931/original/Screenshot_2024-01-22_111822.png?1719362295","metadata":{"caption":""}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eOpen your terminal emulator. Set the communications for your communications port (COM5 for me) with 9600 baud, 8 bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou may need to set the software to echo CR for LF and LF for CR.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003ch2\u003eSoftware for the Vintage Computer Side\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have issues using COM1 on the vintage computer, try COM2 if it's evident you have two serial ports. An MS-DOS machine can have up to four COM ports, although that's rare.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn MS-DOS you'll need to set the port up using the following command at the DOS prompt:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ccode\u003eMODE COM1:96,N,8,1,R\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWork in progress, playing with various MS-DOS commands and options.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ccode\u003eDIR \u0026gt;COM1:\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShould show a directory listing of the vintage computer on the terminal emulator on the modern PC.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/000/932/original/Screenshot_2024-01-22_111822.jpg?1719363054","metadata":{"caption":""}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eThis is a good demonstration that the serial connection is working at least one way.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n        \u003ch2\u003eFile Transfer Between Computers\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee \u003ca href=\"https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/laplink/laplink.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMinusZeroDegrees.net\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/transfer/laplink3/laplink3.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLapLink 3\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/transfer/fastlynx33/fastlynx33.htm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFastLynx\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=61\u0026amp;t=99308\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePCAnywhere\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eINTERSVR/INTERLNK (tbd)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n      ","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"faq","content":" If you get strange characters \n","metadata":{"markdown":"If you get strange characters"}},{"element_type":"faq","content":" I'm not getting anything on the modern computer no matter what I do on the vintage computer \n","metadata":{"markdown":"I'm not getting anything on the modern computer no matter what I do on the vintage computer"}},{"element_type":"faq","content":" Can I go higher than 9600 baud? \n","metadata":{"markdown":"Can I go higher than 9600 baud?"}}]