Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!usc!apple!rutgers!njin!uupsi!bse.com From: eberard@bse.com (Edward V. Berard) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.comm Subject: Re: Multiple serial port cards for Mac II? Summary: most Mac applications do not take advantage of extra serial ports Keywords: serial ports Message-ID: Date: 9 Jul 90 09:46:07 GMT Organization: Berard Software Engineering, Inc. Lines: 43 Approved: eberard@bse.com (Edward V. Berard) In article <42786@apple.Apple.COM> austing@Apple.COM (Glenn L. Austin) writes: > > mha@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Mark H. Anbinder) writes: > > >When you install a card to provide multiple serial ports, how does > >the computer handle the extra ports? Does it need to convince the > >software that it's talking to the modem or printer port? Is there > >software available that knows how to handle extra ports? Am I > >babbling? :-) > > It depends on the card. If you want compatibility with future software, > look for cards that support the Macintosh Communications Toolbox (both Taniwha > and Creative Solutions support the CTB), and also provide driver-level support > for software that is easily extended, such as MicroPhone II 3.0. > Any software and hardware that supports the CTB will be the best over the long > run, although the software developers are still working on CTB support... > (as far as I know) > I have been using Taniwha's CommCard with a good deal of success. However, there is a major problem with most Mac applications. Specifically: Most Mac applications currently think that there are _only_ _two_ _serial_ _ports_. Thus, these applications only allow you to pick from either the printer port or the modem port, i.e., they will completely ignore _any_ serial cards you might place in _any_ Mac. Some Mac applications (e.g., the latest version of Versaterm) allow you to select serial ports which are on serial card, but most do not. This is a plea to Mac software vendors: Please consider the fact that some Macs can have more than just the two "standard" serial ports. At least give me the _option_ of choosing a serial port other than the printer port and the modem port. -- Ed ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edward V. Berard | Phone: (301) 353-9652 Berard Software Engineering, Inc. | FAX: (301) 353-9272 18620 Mateney Road | E-Mail: eberard@bse.com Germantown, Maryland 20874 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------