From: 832root@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.datacomm
Subject: Re: multiple serial ports on A500
Date: 16 Oct 92 12:42:20 EST
Distribution: usa
Organization: Western Michigan University

In article <1992Oct14.221035.15827@rtsg.mot.com>, king@rtsg.mot.com (Steven King, Software Archaeologist) writes:
> ggibeau@ucqais.cba.uc.edu (George G. Gibeau) publicly declared:
>>Does anyone know of any way to get multiple serial ports on either
>>the A600 or the A500?  I am trying to set up a kiosk system
>>with both a touch screen monitor and a controllable laser disc
>>player.  Both devices are a serial interface.  The laser player and
>>the touch screen are already in place and I am running out of ideas.
>>
>>Is it possible to retro-bastardize the parallel port into a serial
>>port?  I think the touch screen only uses a few signals.  Of course,
>>a new serial.device of some sort would have to bee written...
>>
>>Any help greatly appreciated...
> 
> There exist parallel-to-serial adaptors.  Check the local computer
> stores or catalogs like Black Box.  (Though Black Box will soak you for
> big-time dollars.)
> 
> I think I saw one of these at CompUSA, a kind of computer K-Mart.  Ask
> around.  Hopefully you'll find an employee who knows what they're
> talking about.
> 
> (Ah, for the good old days when computer store employees were geeks and
> knew how to kludge together anything you needed.  Not like today when
> 90% of them couldn't hold a job 3rd shift at Dairy Queen.)
> 
> -- 
> -------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------
> All power corrupts, but we need electricity.           |      Steven King
>                                                        |   Motorola Cellular
>                                         (D. W. Jones)  |   king@rtsg.mot.com

I also am looking for a multi-serial port of some kind for my Amiga 500.
I'm running a BBS (soon to be using AXsh if I can get it completely
operational with the UUCP and Usenet News), and I'd like to go multi-line.

(I also think it'd be really neat if I could call myself for testing
purposes. :)

Anyway, I called my local dealer and he claimed that the only way to get
extra serial ports for an A500 would be to get some sort of box that
allows me to use A2000 style boards (something like the Bodega Bay).  I
mentioned that I heard something on Usenet about parallel-serial
adapters.  He said I should check with that source.

So - if they do exists, where I can I get them, (give me phone numbers
and addresses if you can!), how much would they costs (if you know)
etc..

OTHERWISE - would it be possible for me to buildd a little add-on to go
in the A500 expansion port that would allow me to use one A2000 style
board with a pass-thru.  Right now I have my hard-drive and memory
(Dataflyer IDE with 8 megs) on the expansion slot.  Power is not a problem
as I can convert this 150 watt XT power supply to work with my Amiga.

----
Rick Root ..  99root@lab.cc.wmich.edu  root!reality@plex-1.ann-arbor.mi.us
                                       (I dunno if this one works or not :)
Amiga!!!  Just say no to single tasking!  Just say no to 40 meg windowing
                                          software!
----


Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.datacomm