Re: TI-H: 4-Way Doodad
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Re: TI-H: 4-Way Doodad
quite possible...
>I WANT IT!!!! I think it's a GREAT idea!!! Imagine this, buy a small
>palmtop computer w/ 2 PCMCIA card slots. Get one of those wireless
>cell-phone-like thingies that connects via PCMCIA to connect to the internet
>w/out a hard wired outlet or cellular (built in cellular, can't get
>suspended for having it). Use the other port on the palmtop for a network
>card. Sell intenet access in math class to all of those who have a graphing
>calc!!!
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Grant Stockly <gussie@alaska.net>
>To: ti-hardware@lists.ticalc.org <ti-hardware@lists.ticalc.org>
>Date: Sunday, February 22, 1998 11:51 AM
>Subject: Re: TI-H: 4-Way Doodad
>
>
>>
>>Don't decide that mine is not good...it isn't that expensive, at 5$ I
>>barely pay for shipping...
>>
>>Btw, that 4 port hub is a pos... I'm almost done with a new version taht
>>incorporates some better IO parts to allow upwards of 128 nodes operating
>>with the same protocall. There is no source to port since the network
>>routines are built into the hub, and the communication routines are built
>>into the calc.
>>
>>I've almost got drivers made for the C64, C128, VIC (maybe), Apple II
>>series, IBM (8086 and up), and Mac. This means that HPs, TIs, IBMs,
>>Apples, Oranges :) can all share modems, printers, and a centralized server
>>can be made anywhere.
>>
>>I might need some help with the commodore, but I've got an Apple II
>>bootstraping from the network.
>>
>>Its so far 64 nodes per chip, with a max of 4 chips together. Then you can
>>zone the segments together. The hub operates with TI protocall when
>>talking to calcs, and it uses its own protocall with computers. It
>>basically has its own handshaking form that allows anywhere from 1bps to
>>400,000bps based on the speed of the computer/device.
>>
>>I personally have it connected to all of my computers which is connected to
>>a parallel printer.
>>
>>So, I've ditched the $10 4 port hub and came out with the 64 port hub. I
>>don't know how much it would be since the electronics distributor doesn't
>>have any of the chips in stock, but the 64 port firmware should cost about
>>$5, with all the supporting parts another $5. You can have a
>>multi-computer network with 64 ports for only $10! IMO, better than the
>>calcnet thing.
>>
>>The centralized server consists of a 68HC11 (upgradable firmware), a LCD,
>>and 1MB of flash, and 512k of static RAM. The Apple or Commodore sends a 1
>>byte message to the server, and the server dumps the startup instructions
>>to the computer, so the comouter doesn't need disks! After the computer
>>starts up, it can send more detailed instructions to the 68HC11 which is
>>connected to a HD.
>>
>>Every peripheral's, except the hub its self, ROM can be downloaded off the
>>net so you can build it yourself.
>>
>>If there is any interest in this network, I will continue it. I've already
>>made a chat program that makes an 83 talk to an 8086 (about the best
>>computer I have working right now). The calcs driver is arround 500 bytes,
>>and the PCs is about 1.5k. Both are very crude.
>>
>>If I continue this, by june I can releasee the ROM freely for a
>>Ethernet<->(I havn't named it yet) converter. The ethernet routines will
>>convert the network stuff and all you have to do is start a telenet
>>connection with it, then use the hubs protocall. I think the 68HC11 has
>>enough rescources to handle 10 connections at a time.
>>
>>Oh well, if someone likes this, I will finish it... ;)
>>
>>PS, with a test 2 port version, I was able to get .8MB burst over it before
>>the paper clips fell out of the computer. That was on 2 PIIMMX we had at
>>school. Boy did the CL teacher freak when she saw 8 paper clips and a
>>breadboard hanging out! (It was at school)
>>
>>I don't expect 800K per sec, but maybe 400k with 10 computers, and 200k
>>with a bunch of calcs and a few computers. Thats pretty good since
>>10Base-T gets ~230k per sec burst...
>>
>>Grant
>>
>>
>>>> I am interested in building a piece of hardware that allows 4
>calculators to
>>>> plug in and:
>>>> a. Chat
>>>> b. Play Specially Designed Games (Compatible with the 4-Way Linkport)
>>>> c. Host a "server" in which other calcs could download files.
>>>>
>>>> I think that the Gameboy 4-way connector would be a good
>reference/possible
>>>> conversion. I will need someone to write drivers, preferredly in ASM
>for
>>>> Usgard, and possibly someone who is a little more knowledgible about
>this
>>>> stuff than I am. I'll try to have a schematic of the gameboy 4-way
>>>>connector,
>>>> and a possible schematic of my 4-way connector soon.
>>>
>>>MBus already allows this, and MChat shows that it really works. MBus uses
>>>I2C and a higher-level protocol to interface between calcs, and works with
>>>straight wire and up to about a hundred calcs (I've never tried it out
>with
>>>that many, though...). I admit that CalcNet is slightly faster and, at
>present,
>>>more compatible with other calcs than the TI-85, but it is also a lot more
>>>expensive and at least a bit harder to make. I see no need for a third,
>>>competing design, and instead I'd like to see more development on the MBus
>>>and why not CalcNet too. Some people have shown interest in porting the
>>>MBus routines to other calcs than the 85, but I haven't heard of any
>>>complete ports yet. A MBus multiplayer game by me is on the way. The
>>>current MBus drivers were made for ZShell, but I'll probably make an
>Usgard
>>>version soon because the game should be easier to make with Usgard. The
>>>differences won't be big, though.
>>>
>>>Your idea seems to be to connect calcs together in the same way as
>Gameboys
>>>are connected together. Although I don't know how Gameboys link together,
>I
>>>can assure you that you have to either do some pretty advanced electronics
>>>if you want to use the TI internal protocol (use a microcontroller as
>CalcNet
>>>does) or use a custom protocol with simple hardware (use I2C as MBus
>does).
>>>Both approaches have their good and bad sides, and I think both CalcNet
>and
>>>MBus are about as good as they can be, so we don't need a third system
>unless
>>>it relies on some really new and great idea.
>>>
>>>This blurb probably seems confusing, check out my MBus page at
>>>http://www.clinet.fi/~ozone/mbus/
>>>and Grant's CalcNet page for more info.
>>>
>>>-Ozone
>>>
>>>--
>>>*** Osma Suominen *** ozone@clinet.fi *** http://www.clinet.fi/~ozone ***
>>
>>
>>