can no longer link 2 amigas?

trydowave · 01 August 2014, 02:03

Hi. I used to link my A500 to my A600 via a serial lead when playing Lotus 2. It worked great. The A500 would be on the CRT and the A600 on the 1084s.
Unfortunately my 1084s died recently so 2 player has not been possible.

So. I decided to try it using my A500 (crt) to A1200 (lcd) through an Indi MK2. Lotus on the A1200 side is running through WHDload instead of floppy. My A1200 drive doesn't want to read it for some reason?

I start both games and choose link computers and I get the waiting screen. They never find each other and im forced to quit by pressing esc.

Does anyone know what's happening hear? Is it an A1200 to A500 issue... Whdload issue?

Cheers
Tony

davideo · 01 August 2014, 13:28

It could be a baud rate problem.

I believe they would have both have to have the same serial set up within preferences.

Jope · 01 August 2014, 13:36

Lotus 2 doesn't care about what you set in preferences. Try starting some terminal software on both ends, configuring them to the same speed + data bits and then see if you can send text both ways.

jbenam · 01 August 2014, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jope

Try starting some terminal software on both ends

I recommend NComm for that. Excellent piece of software

Jope · 01 August 2014, 14:11

Anything will do, just match up all the comm parameters incl. handshaking on both ends. :-)

I'm a JR-Comm/Terminus man myself.

Hewitson · 02 August 2014, 16:45

I used to use JR-Comm back in the BBS days, but I've been using NComm for the last few years. I Tried JR-Comm again recently and found it to be terrible in comparison.

trydowave · 02 August 2014, 22:00

I didn't need this before? Btw? How do I install it and use it? Especially on the A500 with no hdd? I found 2 versions on aminet. one that needs a key (I think the keys on aminet)

emufan · 02 August 2014, 22:21

maybe too simple, to be a solution, but using some simple amigados commands to check a transfer:
create small text file with some lines (sample.txt)

on amiga 1) type sample.txt to SER:
on amiga 2) type SER: to ram:sample.txt

then check the text file on "amiga 2" with:
more ram:sample.txt

does that work, at least with asci text this could work?

trydowave · 10 August 2014, 23:58

sorry emufan I don't understand the above . is there an easier way to check if the two amgias are communicating?

btw. I use my A1200 to get online (wireless). Took a lot of configuring to get it working with MiamiDX. It wont mess with all that stuff will it?

jPV · 11 August 2014, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by trydowave

I didn't need this before?

It's just one way to check if your serial ports do work physically on both Amigas. Serial ports are easy to break especially if you plug cable in by mistake while Amiga is powered.

Quote:

Originally Posted by trydowave

btw. I use my A1200 to get online (wireless). Took a lot of configuring to get it working with MiamiDX. It wont mess with all that stuff will it?

No, MiamiDX isn't needed in these tests. Just some other programs which talk directly to serial device. If you use AmigaDOS options, be sure that you have same settings on both Amigas in serial prefs.

BTW. WHDLoad shouldn't be the problem. We have played Lotus2 and other WHDLoaded games with two A1200s in link a lot.

trydowave · 11 August 2014, 13:08

Update: Just thought id perform a quick test to see what was at fault, the cable or the amigas...

The A500 and A1200 weren't connecting so I tried connecting the A600 to the A1200. That didn't link either.

I then connected the serial from my A500 to the A600 (the way I used to do it when I had my 1084s) and selecting one screen at a time via a scart selector.

The A600 and the A500 connected immediately no problems.

Does this mean my A1200s serial port is damaged?

I did buy it NOS but I've never tried the serial port before. Maybe I blew it when plugging it in.

I've got to remember that a lot of this old computer equipment is not hot swappable. I killed the pcb in my 1541 floppy drive a while back.

Predseda · 11 August 2014, 14:25

OMG, almost nothing with old computers is how swappable! The only hot-swap ports on A1200 is PCMCIA and joyports and it is absolutelly needed to turn the computer off when you are plugging anything to other ports! So yes, it is really possible you blown up your serial port.

trydowave · 11 August 2014, 16:37

I do remember plugging it when it was off though.

01 August 2014, 02:03	#1
trydowave Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: N/A Posts: 873	can no longer link 2 amigas? Hi. I used to link my A500 to my A600 via a serial lead when playing Lotus 2. It worked great. The A500 would be on the CRT and the A600 on the 1084s. Unfortunately my 1084s died recently so 2 player has not been possible. So. I decided to try it using my A500 (crt) to A1200 (lcd) through an Indi MK2. Lotus on the A1200 side is running through WHDload instead of floppy. My A1200 drive doesn't want to read it for some reason? I start both games and choose link computers and I get the waiting screen. They never find each other and im forced to quit by pressing esc. Does anyone know what's happening hear? Is it an A1200 to A500 issue... Whdload issue? Cheers Tony

10 August 2014, 23:58	#9
trydowave Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: N/A Posts: 873	sorry emufan I don't understand the above . is there an easier way to check if the two amgias are communicating? btw. I use my A1200 to get online (wireless). Took a lot of configuring to get it working with MiamiDX. It wont mess with all that stuff will it? Last edited by trydowave; 11 August 2014 at 00:08.

11 August 2014, 13:08	#11
trydowave Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: N/A Posts: 873	Update: Just thought id perform a quick test to see what was at fault, the cable or the amigas... The A500 and A1200 weren't connecting so I tried connecting the A600 to the A1200. That didn't link either. I then connected the serial from my A500 to the A600 (the way I used to do it when I had my 1084s) and selecting one screen at a time via a scart selector. The A600 and the A500 connected immediately no problems. Does this mean my A1200s serial port is damaged? I did buy it NOS but I've never tried the serial port before. Maybe I blew it when plugging it in. I've got to remember that a lot of this old computer equipment is not hot swappable. I killed the pcb in my 1541 floppy drive a while back. Last edited by trydowave; 11 August 2014 at 17:17.

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01 August 2014, 13:28	#2
davideo Amiga Tomcat Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Lincs Posts: 1,502	It could be a baud rate problem. I believe they would have both have to have the same serial set up within preferences.

01 August 2014, 13:36	#3
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,918	Lotus 2 doesn't care about what you set in preferences. Try starting some terminal software on both ends, configuring them to the same speed + data bits and then see if you can send text both ways.

01 August 2014, 14:11	#5
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,918	Anything will do, just match up all the comm parameters incl. handshaking on both ends. :-) I'm a JR-Comm/Terminus man myself.

02 August 2014, 16:45	#6
Hewitson Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 41 Posts: 3,773	I used to use JR-Comm back in the BBS days, but I've been using NComm for the last few years. I Tried JR-Comm again recently and found it to be terrible in comparison.

02 August 2014, 22:00	#7
trydowave Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: N/A Posts: 873	I didn't need this before? Btw? How do I install it and use it? Especially on the A500 with no hdd? I found 2 versions on aminet. one that needs a key (I think the keys on aminet)

02 August 2014, 22:21	#8
emufan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: #DrainTheSwamp Posts: 4,545	maybe too simple, to be a solution, but using some simple amigados commands to check a transfer: create small text file with some lines (sample.txt) on amiga 1) type sample.txt to SER: on amiga 2) type SER: to ram:sample.txt then check the text file on "amiga 2" with: more ram:sample.txt does that work, at least with asci text this could work?

11 August 2014, 14:25	#12
Predseda Puttymoon inhabitant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tromaville Age: 46 Posts: 7,582	OMG, almost nothing with old computers is how swappable! The only hot-swap ports on A1200 is PCMCIA and joyports and it is absolutelly needed to turn the computer off when you are plugging anything to other ports! So yes, it is really possible you blown up your serial port.

11 August 2014, 16:37	#13
trydowave Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: N/A Posts: 873	I do remember plugging it when it was off though.

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