Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cherokee.cis.ohio-state.edu!sutton
From: sutton@cherokee.cis.ohio-state.edu (roy a sutton)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech
Subject: A Cost Effective MULTI-SERIAL Device Proposition
Summary: All Amiga Models Are Equiped With Extra Potential Serial Po
Keywords: Multi-Serial Input Ouput Hardware Options Expansion
Message-ID: <76649@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 5 Feb 90 16:15:31 GMT
Sender: news@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
Distribution: usa, world
Organization: Ohio State University Computer and Information Science
Lines: 43


   A  while  ago  someone  brought  up  an  idea  that is old to many 8 bit
   machines, but still unimplemented on the  Amiga.    It's  a  very simple
   solution the  need for  multiple serial ports for all Amiga models. This
   solutions is so simple, that it makes me wonder why no one has developed
   it.  The only extra hardware would be a plain cable, which would make it
   the most cost effective solution around. And heck,  if the  software was
   written  right,  it  could  allow  for  the addition of two extra serial
   ports. It  even seems  to me  that if  an existing  serial device driver
   could be  found, its modification for this project would be a relatively
   simple task.

   What I re-propose is that a serial device driver be  implemented for the
   software configurable use with either of the existing joystick ports.

   This solution would allow any existing Amiga to have three serial ports.
   Ok some people wouldn't want to loose there  mouse input,  and that fine
   because that  software allow  us to  use either  port we choose. However
   there are many situation where the Amiga can  be set  up to  run, taking
   advantage of  its new  serial I/O,  and not  even need  mouse input.  An
   obvious example for its use is a multiple line BBS. What about all of us
   who  have  a  terminal,  a  modem, and/or another Amiga connected to our
   system and hate not being able to use them simultaneously. 

   Another idea for its use is in the  creation of  linear networking path.
   Let  say  we  have  more  that  two Amigas that we would like to connect
   together. With our new joystick serial  ports,  we  could  have  as many
   machine as  we like connected in an alternating fashion... joystick port
   to joystick port , serial port to serial port, etc.

   This  project  could  be  potentially  beneficial  to  all,  and  to  an
   experienced Amiga  programmer, it  shouldn't be  that long of a project.
   Let's here what people think of this ideal. Am I  the only  one who need
   something like this or are there others who share my feelings? Does this
   should  like  a  hard  project?  Is  there  anyone   interested  in  its
   development?

   If someone has any source code for serial drivers, please mail it to me.
   I am just learning 'C', but if someone wiser than  I does  not take this
   project, I guess that I will be forced to attempt it!


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