Connector pinout

[Andi B.]

Tofro, thank you for the detailed answer.
currently the connection doesn't work - nothing happens on both sides when I try to copy a simple test file.
E.g. when I type COPY_N ser2hz to mdv2_test, drive 2 immediately starts running for a short time and then I have to abort this action. And a similar behavior on the PC side...
Probably the cable is wrong soldered (using a Serial-USB adapter), commands are not the right ones and/or the connection settings are wrong.
Is there any simple way to localise different sources of error?

[dex]

Does this mean, that the pinout in my German User Guide is wrong and the correct pins/signals are the ones on the right in Dex's diagram?

It seems, that my observation was wrong.

If the User Guide is right, and US and German QL have the same pinout, then the US serial device I have does not make use of signal GND (pin 1), but 0 V (as pin 7 is connected).

Shortly after I will receive a printer, I will test, if it will run with US serial to parallel converter and German QL.

[tofro]

Is there any simple way to localise different sources of error?

Andi,
you could try a serial port monitor on the PC to analyze what's going wrong, e.g.
http://www.heise.de/software/download/f ... itor/26030

From what you describe, I guess you got the handshake lines wrong.
Try again without handshake, i.e. ser1z. If this does not block, then it's definively the HS:

Cheers

[dex]

Comparing the RS-232 connector pinout from german User Guide, weird use of pin 7 instead of 1 and manual for RS-232 ZX Interface 1 on ZX Spectrum shows, that on ZX, GND really is NOT on pin 1, but 7.
Try to connect the pins according to the ZX Spectrum Interface 1 guide (and according the US device I have):
ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sincl ... Manual.pdf on page 49

[polka]

Hi, all !

This morning, I experimented with a serial link between My QL and my PC. I already had the "regular" serial cable for the QL (with the weird english plug on the QL side), but I had to add on the PC side an USB to (9 pins) Serial converter, as my PC no longer has a serial socket. After installing, it told me that the PC now had a COM4 port.

So on the PC side I tried to run the hyperterminal program, and on the QL side, after setting the right baud rate (with the BAUD command), I simply typed :

COPY <some file name> TO SER1r

It worked, for transfering ASCII files, with the following presets of Hyperterminal :

Name of the connection : any name
Port to use : COM4 (click OK)

Then in a new widow :

Select the same baud rate as on the QL (I kept the default : 2400)
Data bits : 8
Parity : none
Stop bits : 1
Control : Hardware

Then, just before putting the COPY command on the QL :

In the "TRANSFER" menu, select "Text capture"
Enter a path and file name
Click on "start"

The transfert of data is echoed on the Hyperterminal screen ; when finished, exit this program and the text file is closed and available in the given file (it has no CRs, only LFs).

Here, as an example, a short text file (called DEV$ & "HELP") that I use with my C68k "super"basic front-end boot file (see a screenshot and the listing in other messages in my presentation thread).

Paul

Code: Select all

When using COMPILE (F2) or LINK (F3), a setup form will replace
this HELP screen. Some  of the options will be set or disabled,
depending on what this program assumes when booting and on what
you have already done since that time. The field you would most
likely modify will be highlighted: that is the filename.

Remember that you can step through the fields using the ¾ and ¿
keys. ENTER key starts compiling or linking, ESC key exits.

The SPACE BAR has different functions depending on the fields:
- sometimes it will let you step through different options.
- sometimes it will let you activate or inhibit an option.
- sometimes it will erase a field, and let you input something.

All this was meant to be intuitive. Feel free to experiment !!!

BTW : for the moment I do not know how to transfer non-ascii-text (quill docs or binary execs). But I will find out !