Re: Re: [ql-users] SERNET revisited
Is sernet itself free? Reason I ask is that QPC2 users for example when upgrading get only the executable, smsqe.bin and a text detailing the updates if we download the password protected updates. Could any 'free' bits with QPC2 or SMSQ/E go on Roy or Jochen's website for download by those users like me who generally do not return disks for full updates very often? Dilwyn Jones From: Roy wood [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2005/02/24 Thu AM 12:03:59 GMT To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] SERNET revisited In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], François Van Emelen [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes Wolfgang Lenerz schreef: snip No, SERNET has nothing to do with SMSQE. Wolfgang Yes, I know, but as a free Sernet comes with SMSQE I thought we would get the latest version of Sernet with each new version of SMSQE. It seems I was wrong about that. This would be a good idea but I never get any updates of it. -- Roy Wood Q Branch. 20 Locks Hill, Portslade, Sussex.BN41 2LB Tel: +44 (0) 1273 386030fax: +44 (0) 1273 430501 sktpe : royqbranch web : www.qbranch.demon.co.uk ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] SERNET
Me, it would (dead in the tracks), but SOME laplink cables are actually extension cables, which means that they are pini-to-pin D-25 female to female, so others (and that would be users) it may not ;-) (Meaning stop them from using these cables) In any case, I have seen many weird things happening such as 5 1/4 disks stuffed in 3 1/2 drives, keyboards plugged in tape recorders' sockets etc... When I used to run the computer shop in Greece we would get really weird requests for cables among other things... so nothing really surprises me. Many people would try to extend, an already extended cable; hence the weird genders etc... Yes, I for one couldn't have said with any degree of certainty if the gender of connectors on all computers were the same, and probably could not recall from memory even for my own PC either. It used to be fairly simple with both computers and audio equipment - if there were volts present, it would be the version you couldn't touch (usually a socket, or a plug with well shrouded pins), but it's never quite that simple these days. -- Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] SERNET
Malcolm Cadman wrote: A useful device for this is a LED indicator, so that you can see which lines are active or not when actually in use. I bought one from Maplins for a 25 way connection. Good fun to watch too ... I don't know if there is a similar one for other connectors. Good idea. In the last wcouple of weeks, a new large Maplin's store has opened in Llandudno, less than half an hour's drive from here, so at long last we can buy such things around here without having to go to Wrexham, Chester or further afield. The more labour intensive way is use a test meter to check that the individual pin outs are connected as expected. Time always seems to be the issue! Saving these suggestions, why not meet up with Tony with your cable that doesn't work ( and associated computer equipment ) and his cable that does ? He he, I can see half the next Quanta workshop spent discussing Dilwyn's Aurora serial ports ;-) Sernet does seem to be one of those subjects that goes along the lines of it either works brilliantly or not at all. Now I've got the info on Aurora serial ports wiring and the potential pitfalls such as IDC connectors could be wrong way round, it's just a case of getting the time to sit down, take it all apart and test step by step until the missing defective ingredient is found. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] SERNET
All that is required is a standard Null Modem Lead, they work perfectly. Laplink cables do not work as you have stated. In fact all that is required is 5 lines. RX --- TX TX RX CTS--- RTS RTS -- CTS GND - GND I was going to build a little box that could connect up 4 Sernet computers, but never got around to it. Might make and bring it to the next show. Derek Just be a little bit careful with this, since I remember Bernd Reinhardt telling me that many versions of Sernet only allow a 2-computer connection due to some performance issues or something which they ran into, at the time - he said if ever I needed to do a multi-computer link to ask him for the special sernet. I can't remember which versions where affected, it would have been around v2.25 (give or take a few versions, I think about 2 years ago), and I don't know at what point multi-computer support was reintroduced. So if anyone is brave enough like Derek to try the multi-computer sernetting with the circular serial cables wiring, and can't get it to work, this may be one possible reason. Now that a QL with network is a bit of a rarity (only Auroras, QLs and QXLs have network ports) such a box might well prove popular. I'd certainly be interested to see one in action. I'd even like to suggest Sernet as a topic for a session at a workshop soon, given the amount of correspondence here about it. -- Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] SERNET
Laplink cables do not work as you have stated. In fact all that is required is 5 lines. RX --- TX TX RX CTS--- RTS RTS -- CTS GND - GND Seems so simple, yet people keep having problems with it. I guess mine can't be a laplink cable as it only has those connections, so it must be a null modem lead of some kind, as it's not hand made (certainly far too tidy to be one of my efforts and it's not the original one which TF made at a Byfleet workshop a few years ago which I still have somewhere). ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] SERNET
If even the experts couldn't agree on the wiring of an Aurora port and cable, I see it as a pointless time wasting exercice even trying. Dilwyn Jones From: Tony Firshman [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2005/02/07 Mon AM 01:01:00 GMT To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] SERNET On Sun, 6 Feb 2005 at 16:09:04, Dilwyn Jones wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) I thought that this should be the case. As the cable works fine between PCs with sernet it ought to work fine with the Aurora. Definitely time to take a longer look at the serial port connectors and make more of an effort. Did you ever use more than two machines at a time, were the so- called circular cables easy to make up (in theory they should be but you never know with serial ports!) They are, in my experience, easy in practise too. The serial cabling that works is the same that was published with QuaLsoft file transfer in about 1988. Ie for SER2, the connecting cable should cross over RX/TX and CTS/RTS and have a common ground. The -only- confusion is the misnamed DTR on the QL, but this is not an issue with Aurora. To my mind the foolproof solution is to wire a D connector to the Aurora serial port identical to a PC (bearing in mind not all signals are on the Aurora of course) and use a standard laplink cable. IDC each end with ribbon cable gives the correct pinout. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] SERNET
If even the experts couldn't agree on the wiring of an Aurora port and cable, I see it as a pointless time wasting exercice even trying. They are std PC style ports and if a ribbon cable (10 way DIL IDC one end and 9D IDC plug the other) is plugged onto Aurora the right way round (easy to do wrongly on Qubbesoft boards), then an off the shelf laplink cable can be used. This is how I thought it OUGHT to work. If this doesn't work then either the hardware is faulty - Aurora motherboard or PC, or there is a software issue. There are so many variables involved. It's definitely an Aurora where the cable can be inserted two ways around, but unless I get a good clear day with nothing much else to do and no wife around to distract, I simply won't bother. This hardware 'wiring' is as described by Nasta, and this is confirmed by looking at the Aurora manual. I have never actually done the link using SER1 or SER2 myself, so I am relying on what Nasta (and his manual) say. I -know- Nasta is right. The fact that Phoebus is using his link successfully with such a 'wiring' confirms this (8-)# What are the wiring disagreements? I am genuinely puzzled. No wiring disagreements as such. It looks like it should work. Except it doesn't. It has to be something with the serial ports or link cables from the board to the back of the case because the cable works between PCs, and it's the same version of Sernet. It should work, it doesn't and apart from miswired serial ports or faulty serial ports I can't see any reason why it shouldn't. All I can do is wait until I get a day when I can get enough uninterrupted time to go trough everything step by step until I can pin down what's gone wrong. When it comes to computers, it seems nothing works first time, I spend more time tackling problems than actually doing anything productive. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: Re: [ql-users] SERNET
Thu, 3 Feb 2005 15:36:03 +,() [EMAIL PROTECTED] /wrote: Unfortunatley not in mine. You can run a SBASIC job across a network by: EX n1_*ram1_myjob_bas Oh, does this also work across a normal network? I thought this was peculiar to Sernet (hence s1_win1) The description is also given in the QPC2 manual. I forgot to say that it seems to be only SBASIC programs that can be run on the remote machine in this way. The n1 is an exact quote from the manual(s). In fact I have set up my SERNET so that the network letter is n. This is so that I can use my pogram NET_PEEK to access the remote computer. NET_PEEK needs the letter n. The manual indicates that this facility is confined to MIDINET and SERNET. George What machines do you connect with Sernet? I can get it to work between two PCs have never been able to get that same version working between PC and Aurora. It must be down to either serial port or cabling issues as I know that the version of Sernet I use works great between QPC2 on 2 PCs. When I last tried it on Aurora, it was with SMSQE, so the issue of SRX and STX serial ports should not be an issue. The MinisQL-Aurora was fitted with 9-pin D serial port connectors which in theory conform to equivalent 9-pin PC serial port connections unless anyone can advise me differently. Sernet has worked between everything I have. My Aurora however couldn't cope with speeds greater than 9600 and unfortunately superHermes' SER3 is not supported by Sernet (at least I've tried but no cigar :-( ) My take is that you probably tried at max speed (19200) on SER1 2 and it won't connect for the love of God there ;-) (even with sH) Ffibys ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
