Path: news.uiowa.edu!news.physics.uiowa.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.erols.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!prairienet.org!technoid From: technoid@prairienet.org (Deven D. Atkinson) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: CFC: A2Xpansion FAQ v0.2.1 (1 of 2) Date: 11 Oct 1996 01:44:45 GMT Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana Lines: 328 Message-ID: <53k8qd$7qa@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu> Reply-To: technoid@prairienet.org (Deven D. Atkinson) NNTP-Posting-Host: bluestem.prairienet.org APPLE II EXPANSION, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Version 0.2.1 **DRAFT** 10 October 1996 Part 1 of 2 - General Information and Descriptions Compiled by: Deven D. Atkinson (technoid@prairienet.org) AUTHOR'S NOTES: It has been almost a year since my last post of the A2Xpansion FAQ. I'm back. Those who want to know where I have been or who want to hear a rant about the "shutdown" of parts of the US Government last December (and how they are both related) e-mail me. For those that have joined comp.sys.apple2 in the last year, let be give a brief overview of this project. It is in answer to variations of two basic questions: "What is this card I have? How do I get it to work in my Apple ][?" To answer these questions I started this project in an attempt to compile a list of all the cards, chips, drives, etc. that we can use to expand our Apple ][s. It is a very large list. This document has two major sections. An information and description section, and a detailed data section. Thanks for the wonderful responses to the posts for the A2Xpansion FAQ last fall. I have included in some form all suggestions that were posted in the comp.sys.apple2 newsgroup, and those sent to me via e-mail. I was not able to respond to everyone who provided comments, but I am making a list of all who help and will include it in the first non-draft version. This has been a most rewarding experience to date and I hope my time away has not killed the enthusiasm. I would like to expand the circulation of this document. Anyone who is willing to post this to the commercial online services that still have Apple II forums (ie. Genie), and to the appropriate feeds on the major BBS networks (ie. Future Vision, Proline), please email me. Please DO NOT cross post on your own. These documents are large enough that we don't want to waste space or annoy anyone with multiple posts. I would like to coordinate the volunteers. I will be making an HTML version for general distribution when the document is ready. When it is ready I will make the source files available to everyone. Until it is ready, please be patient. Please continue the comments. I have thick skin, please don't worry about upsetting me. If sentence, phrase, or word choice is confusing or wrong, please let me know. I have no preconceived notion that I "know it all". Actually, I am a little in shock at the diversity of expansion options I have encountered this far, and I know I have only started to scratch the surface. I thought that I knew Apple ][ computers! I have marked some sections with *** in the first three character positions to identify items that I need additional expert comment on. These are areas where my knowledge is very thin. Enough chat. Here is the A2Xpansion FAQ. *** Objectives for the next draft: 1. To finalize the detailed data Content Format for specialized information needed for some categories. [i.e.- RAM Expansion: Chip specifics: speed (ns), type (4164, 41256, SIMM), etc] 2. Enhance the information descriptions for the Categories and Sub-categories. The included descriptions are draft, and some are very weak. I have little experience with some of the categories (like sound cards,) and I need some specialized help. 3. To get volunteers for specialized CONTENT FORMAT data. (see Part 2) I don't have access to most of these items or their documentation. Later I will ask for the actual data. (see item 5 below) At that time I will need to have detailed content data. If you have a card you are familiar with, or have the documentation for, I would appreciate the help. 4. To get volunteers for specialized PRESENTATION data. Several people have suggested that we gather as many digitized images of as many cards as possible in GIF format (initially). Also, it has been suggested that ASCII art representations be made to aid those without the means of viewing images. Both would be valuable for an HTML version of this document, as they would allow both GUI and ASCII browser support. If anyone can digitize images, or has a talent for ASCII art, let me know. Later in this project I plan on asking for photos of cards (on white backgrounds) that I can send on to get digitized or ASCIIed. That is unless you can do this yourself for the cards you own. The creators of images and ASCII art will retain the copyright for those images and artwork, and will be cited within the document as being copyright holders. 5. Begin the collection of data, starting with Floppy Drive Controllers (see Part 2). General Questions: 1. There was a slot expander for the Laser clones. Was there a slot expander for the (non-clone) Apple II line? 2clones in detail. I will provide as much support, and share any information with anyone who attempts this. Any takers? 3. Since most (all?) floppy controllers fall into the Non-SCSI device controller category, should they (floppy and non-scsi) be merged into one category? That's enough for this draft. Part 2 follows in a separate post. Apple ][ Forever! Deven D. Atkinson _,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-., 1 General Information 1.1 Publication This document has two major sections. An information and description section, and a detailed data section. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Expansion Category Information and Description This section provides a detailed table for the information contained in the data section (see A2Xpansion FAQ - Part 2). The descriptions in this section should allow the reader to quickly obtain the information that they wish to obtain. I. STORAGE MEDIA This section contains the list of any of the relatively permanent forms of medium used in storing data and programs. A. Floppy Disk Controllers Floppy disks are probably the most common forms of storage media. This section focuses on the controllers used to operate these devices. Individual drive units/mechanisms that operate with a particular card will be listed with the data for that card. Media size, physical size and storage capacity will be included with the data where appropriate. 1. Sta 2. MFM 3. IDE (are there floppy controllers for IDE?) 4. Other B. Non-SCSI Device Controllers Before the advent of the Hard Drive interface standards, several interface methods were used. These methods usually tie one brand of Hard Disk, and sometimes individual models of Hard Disks to a particular controller card. Additionally, hard drive standards normally considered foreign to the Apple II line have been developed. 1. IDE 2. SASI 3. Unique a. Profile (e.g.) 4. Hard Cards a. FOCUS (e.g.) C. SCSI Device Controllers With the creation of the SCSI interface standard, controllers were developed that would allow Apple IIs to use devices that adhered to this standard. The SCSI standard has been enhanced over time, and some newer SCSI devices will not work with some of the older SCSI controllers. 1. SCSI *** 2. Are there SCSI-2 or 3 compatible controllers??? D. Cassette Tape Storage *** Okay, here is an opportunity for someone to show their real dedication to this machine. Who remembers the cassette interfThe only time I saw a cassette being used was for the demo of a sound digitizer program that took input via the cassette port. Are there any other uses for this port other than hooking a cassette recorder up to it? II. RAM EXPANSION *** I think I have decided to break this category out by the physical connection type. The methodology used to implement the RAM (bank-switched, slinky, ?) will be listed as internal data. It is obvious need to be cross-referenced heavily to allow ease of lookup via Apple II model, etc.) A. Standard Slot 1. Language Card 2. Slinky B. //e Auxiliary Slot 1. 80-column card 2. 64k card 3. Bank-switched card C. //gs RAM Slot D. //c RAM Slot E. //c chip based III. ROM cards 1. Apple Language a. Applesoft ROM b. Integer BASIC ROM IV. VIDEO 1. RGB 2. VGA 3. Standard Slot 80 column 4. //e Aux Slot RAM/Video Firmware explained 5. Other V. INPUT/OUTPUT A. Serial Interface Cards 1. Apple SSC B. Parallel Interface Cards 1. Grappler C. Modem Cards 1. AE DataLink 2400 D. User interface peripherals {connector type will be included in the data} 1. Mouse 2. Trackball 3. Pen/Pad 4. Keypads a. Intellikeys b. Numeric 5. ABD Devices E. Sound Cards 1. GS Stereo 2. Mockingboard 3. MIDI (cross reference to speech cards) F. Speech Cards 1. Echo 2. Other G. Scanner Cards Video source and Paper source H. Switches (like the cards for X10, and the various cards with just a lot of toggles on them, etc.) I. AD/DA converters VI. Multi-function Cards (each will be cross referenced with the categories for the individual functions. 1. AST Multi I/O -serial, parallel, and clock VII. Network Cards 1. //e Workstation card VIII. Accelerator Cards/Chips 1. 8-Bit a. AE Transwarp b. ZIP Chip 2. 16-Bit a. AE Transwarp GS b. ZIPgs (will have appropriate reference to the existing FAQ on this accelerator. No need to duplicate effort.) IX. Coprocessor Boards A. Z-80 1. Microsoft SoftCard B. PC compatible 1. AE PC Transporter C. 6809 1. D. Math Coprocessors E. Other X. Clock cards/chips 1. AE Timemaster HO 2. No Slot Clock XI. Controller cards 1. EPROM Programmer/burner *** 2. IEEE488 (is this really just an AD/DA card?) XII. Other For the stuff that does something else entirely again :) 1. Apple //e Enhanced chipset expansion 2. //e to //gs upgrade. 3. Machines that hold Apple II's in a slot ;) a. Macintosh LC series and compatibles (Apple //e PDS card) b. PC compatibles (Trackstar?) 4. Diagnostic support 5. Development/debugging support a. Programmer Toolkit ROM 6. NMI Copy Cards. a. EDD? b. Wildcard? 7. Unique Items Reference to a section on RARE/Very Limited Distribution items, and those that have been built by our peers (ie. Buggie Power Supply). It would be great if we could reference instructions on how to build some of these useful items. (hint, hint, yet again :) XIII. Specific Use (i.e.: hardware) THIS IS BEING REPLACED BY AN INDEX The card description will be in the above categories. When the index is developed, care will be taken to include those items that have specific use, I.E. Silentwriter, Profile, etc. Deven D. Atkinson -- Kind Regards, Deven D. Atkinson technoid@prairienet.org <*> Path: news.uiowa.edu!news.physics.uiowa.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.erols.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!prairienet.org!technoid From: technoid@prairienet.org (Deven D. Atkinson) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: CFC: A2Xpansion FAQ v0.2.1 (2 of 2) Date: 11 Oct 1996 01:46:50 GMT Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana Lines: 94 Message-ID: <53k8ua$7tj@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu> Reply-To: technoid@prairienet.org (Deven D. Atkinson) NNTP-Posting-Host: bluestem.prairienet.org APPLE II EXPANSION, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Version 0.2.1 **DRAFT** 10 October 1996 Part 2 of 2 - Detailed Data Compiled by: Deven D. Atkinson (technoid@prairienet.org) 1. Definition and Layout of data content. A. BASIC INFORMATION Name: [Full Name] Manufacturer: [Them who made it] Production Date(s): [Date (range) item was produced] Apple ][ model(s): [List all models it works on] Connection: [slot, chip, (m)other card, port, ?] Compatible Hardware: [List of hardware that can be connected to this card] Power needs: [internal consumption, external source requirements] Physical Description: [includes: Printing on item, words, dates, etc Size/Space needs Prominent chips Connectors/Cables DIPs Jumpers Other distinguishing features] Included Documentation:[Manuals, etc. shipped with item] Included Software: [Software shipped with item] Other Software: [Comparable to Included Software but not shipped with item] Use Narrative: [What item is used for] Compatible Software: [Location of a list of actual or type of software that is compatible with the use provided by the item.] Graphic Location: [ASCII graphic or GIF image (name of txt and/or bin file?)] Detailed Information: [List of detailed information about the item, should include DIP, jumper setting definitions. Availability: [Manufacturer address or other retail availability and addresses, if any.] *** B. CATEGORY SPECIFIC INFORMATION What detailed, specific information is needed for each of the categories (listed in Part 1 of this FAQ)? [i.e.- RAM Expansion: Chip specifications- what chip types are compatible (4164, 41256, SIMM) what are the minimum/maximum speeds (ns) required and etc.] 2. Detailed Data *** Okay we need to start listing the actual cards. Let's start with floppy drive controllers first. In later drafts we will get to the other categories listed in part 1. To kick things off my //e's have the following cards that I will provide the detailed data for: I. STORAGE MEDIA A. Floppy Disk Controllers 1. Standard Apple and compatibles a. Disk II Interface card b. UniDisk 5.25 c. UniDisk 3.5 What other standard floppy controllers are there, and who wants to provide the detailed data for them? And how about non-Apple/compatible cards? 2. MFM 3. IDE? 4. Other That's it! Please add to the outline with floppy drive controllers you are familiar with. Thanks! Deven D. Atkinson technoid@prairienet.org -- Kind Regards, Deven D. Atkinson technoid@prairienet.org <*>