lightman Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 (edited) So, I finally got my Atari hooked up to my computer via SIO. I don't have any serial ports, so the old SIO2PC was out. I ended up using USB (virtual COM port) by wiring up an inexpensive breakout board. The cost for the parts was about $20 + shipping and I'm quite happy with the result. For anyone interested, I've documented the process in a kind of 'how-to' here: http://www.stephens-home.com/sio2usb/ Cheers Edited March 27, 2009 by lightman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Nice. I'd just build it into the Atari though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightman Posted March 27, 2009 Author Share Posted March 27, 2009 Nice. I'd just build it into the Atari though. Thanks. Yeah, I did consider that. It would be pretty easy to pop it under the casing and solder it to the port, itself. However, I wanted to try the non-destructive route, first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Larry Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Very impressive! Have you considered how you might add Transmit and Receive LED's? Certainly not necessary, but would be nice additions, IMO. -Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danwinslow Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Nice! You mention APE. As far as I remember from my own project, APE wants to see CTS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorgle Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 How is this different from Atarimax SIO2PC usb version? Can you do more with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightman Posted March 27, 2009 Author Share Posted March 27, 2009 Thanks for the replies! Larry: The breakout board already has headers for LEDs. All you'd have to do is solder them in. I originally intended this to be mounted internally in the Atari (in fact, as Rybags suggested) so I wasn't much interested in the LED connections, but they are there. danwinslow: Possibly, but as I said, APE detects the device on RI. I really didn't do any extensive testing, but I might try and get it to work. The board has all the serial control lines, so I can easily connect it to another one, if necessary. When testing with my own disk drive emulator (written in C#), DSR, CTS or RI worked without any problems. yorgle: I don't have their USB edition, so I don't know if it is any different or not, technically. The Atari SIO is the same, either way, so I expect they would have similar capabilities. For me, the main goal was disk drive emulation. That works fine. I also enjoy building things, so it was fun for me to put this together. There is a difference in that this is a do-it-yourself project, where Atarimax provides built and tested hardware that is ready to go and (if I am not mistaken) comes with a guarantee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 My version of APE (2.3.5) lets you config for DSR, RI or CTS. Might want to check what you're using. Another thing to consider - does this interface work OK with the faster SIO modes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightman Posted March 28, 2009 Author Share Posted March 28, 2009 My version of APE (2.3.5) lets you config for DSR, RI or CTS. Might want to check what you're using. Another thing to consider - does this interface work OK with the faster SIO modes? Thanks. Yeah, I know you can select the line to use in APE. I only tried it briefly (with RI) because I was satisfied with Atari810. I'm not sure what's required for the faster modes, but I'll try and investigate both topics if I have time. Otherwise, if anyone can provide input, let me know. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightman Posted May 5, 2009 Author Share Posted May 5, 2009 Updated the page with the new FT232 board. I tried installing the board in a 1050 drive. It was a pain, but it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodCastler Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 (edited) Hi, Yes, I got inspiration from Kinnon, and documented the same thing using an arduino duemilanove (http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php?topic=19177.0). Just like Kinnon, I ended up hooking up the same FT232RL breakout board inside the atari, which turned out to be very convenient. Now, running the Atari 810 emulator under Windows 7, I have found an issue: The Atari-PC transfers freeze randomly. I am forced to hit the "break" key in the Atari to resume the transfers but it ends up failing most of the time. It doesn't happen with every ATR Rom image but most of them, and it doesn't happen at the same sector when reading, which makes me think this is a Windows issue or a laptop issue. I remember having this exact same configuration working perfectly in the past. Any ideas on how to fix this? Thanks Rod Edited August 16, 2011 by RodCastler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russg Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Hi, Yes, I got inspiration from Kinnon, and documented the same thing using an arduino duemilanove (http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php?topic=19177.0). Just like Kinnon, I ended up hooking up the same FT232RL breakout board inside the atari, which turned out to be very convenient. Now, running the Atari 810 emulator under Windows 7, I have found an issue: The Atari-PC transfers freeze randomly. I am forced to hit the "break" key in the Atari to resume the transfers but it ends up failing most of the time. It doesn't happen with every ATR Rom image but most of them, and it doesn't happen at the same sector when reading, which makes me think this is a Windows issue or a laptop issue. I remember having this exact same configuration working perfectly in the past. Any ideas on how to fix this? Thanks Rod Slow APE down to 1x or 2x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodCastler Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Slow APE down to 1x or 2x. Thanks Russg, but that doesn't fix the problem. I've always used it at 1X. I'm using 810 emulator, not APE. APE doesn't seem to work at all with this hardware. Any other thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russg Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 (edited) Slow APE down to 1x or 2x. Thanks Russg, but that doesn't fix the problem. I've always used it at 1X. I'm using 810 emulator, not APE. APE doesn't seem to work at all with this hardware. Any other thoughts? Not familiar with 810 emulator. There's aspeqt. It works with a USB to serial cable you can get for about $7, shipping and all. What I did, so I could continue to use APE 3.0.6 and APE SIO2PC/PRO interface was put a PCI serial port in my new Win 7 64 bit computer. I got one that didn't have the 64 bit driver, and then I got one that had a Vista 64 bit driver that worked. Think I paid about $15 for the PCI serial port that worked. I think the USB to serial cable required a driver also, but it wouldn't work with APE, only aspeqt. I really appreciate aspeqt, it does mostly what I want and it is open source/freeware. If you get a PCI serial port, be certain it has a Win 7 64 bit driver if that's what you have. Got all that stuff from eBay. Edited August 17, 2011 by russg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodCastler Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 (edited) I'm adding some pictures of the setup for anyone's reference in case you want to build this project: Edited August 21, 2011 by RodCastler 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemiel Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 If I would use this breakout board to use as 1050-2-PC it will be enough to switch TX/RX lines and change RI/RTS/DSR lines using like in Nick Kennedy or Atarimax schemas? Nick Kennedy SIO2PC, Nick Kennedy 1050-2-PC, Atariki SIO2PC, Atariki 1050-2-PC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodCastler Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Yes, that should do the trick. I have successfully done it by switching TX/RX lines and using DTR instead of RI for the 1050-2-PC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subby Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Hi, Yes, I got inspiration from Kinnon, and documented the same thing using an arduino duemilanove (http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php?topic=19177.0). Just like Kinnon, I ended up hooking up the same FT232RL breakout board inside the atari, which turned out to be very convenient. Now, running the Atari 810 emulator under Windows 7, I have found an issue: The Atari-PC transfers freeze randomly. I am forced to hit the "break" key in the Atari to resume the transfers but it ends up failing most of the time. It doesn't happen with every ATR Rom image but most of them, and it doesn't happen at the same sector when reading, which makes me think this is a Windows issue or a laptop issue. I remember having this exact same configuration working perfectly in the past. Any ideas on how to fix this? Thanks Rod Rod, did you ever get any resolution to this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodByteXL Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Hi, Yes, I got inspiration from Kinnon, and documented the same thing using an arduino duemilanove (http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php?topic=19177.0). Just like Kinnon, I ended up hooking up the same FT232RL breakout board inside the atari, which turned out to be very convenient. Now, running the Atari 810 emulator under Windows 7, I have found an issue: The Atari-PC transfers freeze randomly. I am forced to hit the "break" key in the Atari to resume the transfers but it ends up failing most of the time. It doesn't happen with every ATR Rom image but most of them, and it doesn't happen at the same sector when reading, which makes me think this is a Windows issue or a laptop issue. I remember having this exact same configuration working perfectly in the past. Any ideas on how to fix this? Thanks Rod The most common cause to me depends on the DOS used on the ATR. Many DOSses are not capable of driving high speed SIO very well. E.g. SD 2.x, 3.x up to version 3.2f and SDX 4.1x and 4.2x. These need the setting 2xSIO in the drive emulator. There are several other reasons depending on hardware setup, drivers, etc. Additionally, it might help to put a diode into the TX connection as to be seen in the original layout from Nick Kennedy, when using other SIO drives at the same time. Using the "USpeed" on the KMK/JZ IDE V 2.0 Plus interface allows to boot even DOS with buggy SIO routines (as above) at POKEY divisor 0, which is not that fast comparing to PBI speed, but impressive for SIO only users. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodCastler Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 (edited) Rod, did you ever get any resolution to this? I actually haven't. I'm curious why some ROMs do work OK. I'll try the diode thing to see what happens. Windows 7 has lots of settings for serial ports I don't understand under "advanced properties". For the not-so-advanced properties, I have slowed down the baud rate, changed the COM port in case there's any IRQ conflict and several other things but no success so far. I can't get APE to recognize and work with this setup so I'm only down to test with the 810 emulator. I have homework, still some tests and comparisons to be performed, I'll let you know if I ever succeed fixing this issue. Edited August 24, 2011 by RodCastler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodByteXL Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Rod, did you ever get any resolution to this? I actually haven't. I'm curious why some ROMs do work OK. I'll try the diode thing to see what happens. Windows 7 has lots of settings for serial ports I don't understand under "advanced properties". For the not-so-advanced properties, I have slowed down the baud rate, changed the COM port in case there's any IRQ conflict and several other things but no success so far. I can't get APE to recognize and work with this setup so I'm only down to test with the 810 emulator. I have homework, still some tests and comparisons to be performed, I'll let you know if I ever succeed fixing this issue. Recommend to switch to AspeQt. Helped me to overcome similar problems with APE 2.0 and 3.0. SDX and FTDI module run at POKEY divisor 3, SDX on IDEV2 at divisor 0. Booting other software with own SIO highspeed often requires standard 1x, 2x or 3x SIO to function. Everything tested under ATARI OS, no custom OS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodCastler Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Recommend to switch to AspeQt. Helped me to overcome similar problems with APE 2.0 and 3.0. SDX and FTDI module run at POKEY divisor 3, SDX on IDEV2 at divisor 0. Well that really made a difference. Thanks GoodByte! It does seem to me that both AspeQt and 810 Emulator run at 1X (19.200baud), however AspeQT narrowed my issue down to only 1 or 2 seldom occurrences during a full session of multiple loads of different ATR files. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodByteXL Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Recommend to switch to AspeQt. Helped me to overcome similar problems with APE 2.0 and 3.0. SDX and FTDI module run at POKEY divisor 3, SDX on IDEV2 at divisor 0. Well that really made a difference. Thanks GoodByte! It does seem to me that both AspeQt and 810 Emulator run at 1X (19.200baud), however AspeQT narrowed my issue down to only 1 or 2 seldom occurrences during a full session of multiple loads of different ATR files. you're welcome AspeQt and Atari810 shouldba able to use SIO 1x - 3x, depending on the A8 hardware and the atr. If you cannot get it running at SIO 3x using e.g. RealDOS, I guess there's s.th. wrong with the hardware. Any upgrades in it? just being curious: what atr is causing problems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodByteXL Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 if working appropriate it should look like this in AspeQt ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 So, I finally got my Atari hooked up to my computer via SIO. I don't have any serial ports, so the old SIO2PC was out. I ended up using USB (virtual COM port) by wiring up an inexpensive breakout board. The cost for the parts was about $20 + shipping and I'm quite happy with the result. For anyone interested, I've documented the process in a kind of 'how-to' here: http://www.stephens-home.com/sio2usb/ Cheers Hello, I know there are a lot of sio2pc circuits floating around, but does anyone have a copy of what was at this link? TIA. redman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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