[continued from previous message]

where each player uses a separate computer (each with separate TV/monitor). (GameLink and GameLink-II descriptions by Andreas Koch)
a) GameLink: This hardware was developed in 1989/90. It links two
computers together via the joystick ports. It is limited to a maximum
of 2 computers and thus 2 or 6 players, meaning one free port per
XL/XE computer and 3 free ports per 400/800 computer. However, the
few existing games for this hardware merely support 2 players.
b) GameLink-II: This hardware was developed in 1991/92. It links 2 to 8
computers together via the SIO ports. One computer will then act as
the master and has to boot up the software (from tape, disk, hard disk,
etc.) first. Then all other "slave" computers connect to it and boot
off of this master computer (one after another of course). In Europe
we call this device "Multilink", mostly because of the games written
by Bewesoft (Jiri Bernasek) called Multi-Dash, Multi-Race, Multi-Worms.
A two computer network can easily be done with one SIO cable, just
open the end of the SIO cable and exchange cables number 3 and 5. You
now have an easy two computer (2-4 players) network cable.
For some available software for hardware such as GameLink and GameLink-II please another section of this FAQ list, "What programs support Atari computer networking?"

AT-Link (Alphasys)

Arianne Slaager writes:
I was actually surprised to read about the GameLink, as I made a similar
cable myself, called the AT-Link. This cable could also be used to
communicate with Commodore 64 computers, and I made driver software for both systems at the time. There were 2 drivers. One as relocatable machine code, and another as device driver. Also in the package was a 2 player Battleships type game where Side A had the Atari version, and Side B the Commodore 64 version.
...wasn't more than two old joystick cables in a crosslink configuration,
(Pin 1 and 2 linked to pin 3 and 4 of the other cable respectively)

EightLink (Alphasys)

Arianne Slaager writes:
I also made a special high speed Atari to Atari cable, called the EightLink. This one was cartridge based system, with a PIA inside, which boasted a 8 bit bidirectional, parallel databus, and a 4 bit crosslinked control bus.
Transfer speeds were such that two Ataris on opposite ends of a large hall could transfer disk data faster than it could be read or written. The actual cable connecting the two was a ribbon cable with 33 leads, alternating ground and a dataline across the width to minimize crossover disruption of data.
Also for this link system, I made drivers both in relocatable code, as well as a device driver.

Automatisches 2-Rechnerinterface = Automatic 2-Computer Interface (A2RI)

(c) 1994 by Thomas Grasel for the ABBUC Regionalgruppe Frankfurt / Main (RAF) Share one SIO chain of peripherals (printers, disk drives, modems) between two computers. When one computer accesses a peripheral device, the entire bus is occupied so that the other computer must wait. The bus is freed about one second after a computer finishes interacting with the peripheral. http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/2r_bauan.PDF

------------------------------

Subject: 5.6) How can I connect my Atari to a high speed/Ethernet network?

Two options are presented here:
- Option #1 is a generic LAN/RS-232 interface from Lantronix
- Option #2 is a native ethernet interface for the Atari

Option #1
=-=-=-=-=
Marius Diepenhorst pioneered the use of Lantronix devices. He writes (2004):

"Try to get a Lantronix UDS-10 device. It acts like a modem but it is a LAN
-> RS-232 converter. So with that device you can have incoming and outgoing
'calls' like modem ones via the Internet.

I ran my Atari 8-bit BBS with such a thing. The Lantronix UDS-10 or MSS100
will do too. But in that case you have to make a custom RS-232 cable (easy
job)."

Lantronix UDS-10 official: http://www.lantronix.com/device-networking/external-device-servers/uds-10.html

Other, similar serial-to-Ethernet interfaces from Lantronix have been successfully utilized, including the discontinued MSS100 (http://www.lantronix.com/support/discontinued/mss100.html) and MSS1-T.

Lantronix UDS1100, successor to the earlier UDS-10 and MSS100: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yo3qmz

Option #2
=-=-=-=-=
The Atari 8-Bit Ethernet Project is developing a hardware/software solution that will be able to connect to the internet via an Atari 8-bit Ethernet Cartridge.

The hardware and software was originally developed by Chris Martin and tested by Mark Dusko. The software is based on the work already done in the
Commodore 64 community, this adapter will allow you to take advantage of telnet, e-mail, web browsing and a web server via the Contiki Operating System and a Ciris Logic CS8900A ethernet controller chip.

The main component is called the IP Dragon II; the official cartridge name is the Dragon Cart.

Project website: http://www.atari8ethernet.com/

------------------------------

Subject: 6.1.1) What is the Atari 850 Interface Module?

While the Atari's SIO and controller ports did not conform to established industry standards, Atari produced the 850 Interface Module to provide access to devices complying with two important interface standards of the time, RS-232-C serial and Centronics parallel.

RS-232-C Serial Interface
-------------------------
The Electronic Industries Association (EIA) introduced the RS-232 standard, entitled "Interface Between Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) and Data Circuit- Terminating Equipment (DCE) Employing Serial Binary Data Interchange," in 1960 in an effort to standardize the interface between DTE (usually a terminal or a computer emulating a terminal) and DCE (usually a modem). Although emphasis then was placed on interfacing between a modem unit and DTE, other
applications for the standard gained popularity. Early versions of the EIA
232 standard included RS-232 (1960), RS-232-A (1963), and RS-232-B (1965).
From 1969-1987, including most of the time of the 8-bit Atari, the standard was formally known as EIA RS-232-C. Revisions since then have included EIA- 232-D (1987), EIA/TIA-232-E (1991), and the current version from the Telecommunications Industry Association, EIA/TIA-232-F (1997), known as of
2011 as TIA-232-F. Especially in the 1980s, 232 was widely adopted for low- cost serial connections between the DTE and peripherals such as an external modem, mouse, plotter, printer, scanner, digitizer, track ball, and myriad others. In more recent years TIA-232-F has essentially been supplanted by
USB. In keeping with the context of the time period, this FAQ will normally refer to the 232 standard as RS-232-C.

The Atari 850 interface provides the system with:
- Four serial interface ports (RS-232-C)
- One 8-bit parallel output interface port (Centronics)

Serial interface port key features:
- The 850 functions as RS-232-C Data Terminal Equipment (DTE).
- RS-232-C Circuits (signaling lines):
(Send / Out) | (Receive / In)
Port 1: XMT, DTR, RTS | RCV, DSR, CTS, CRX
Port 2: XMT, DTR | RCV, DSR
Port 3: XMT, DTR | RCV, DSR
Port 4: XMT | RCV
- Port 4 primarily serves as a 20 mA current loop interface, supporting
20 mA current loop peripherals such as a teletype machine.
- Baud rates:
45.5 bit/s*, 50 bit/s*, 56.875 bit/s*, 75 bit/s**, 110 bit/s, 134.5 bit/s,
150 bit/s, 300 bit/s, 600 bit/s, 1200 bit/s, 1800 bit/s, 2400 bit/s,
4800 bit/s, 9600 bit/s
* These baud rates are useful for communications with Baudot teletypes, for
RTTY (radioteletype) applications. They are more commonly referred to as
60, 67, and 75 words per minute.
** This baud rate is sometimes used for ASCII communications, and may also
be used for 5-bit Baudot RTTY. The latter is commonly referred to as
100 words per minute.

The Atari Operating System does not include a resident device handler for the serial ports of the 850, but the 850 contains an R: handler, supporting
devices R1: through R4:, in its ROM.
- Bootstrap without disk drive-- With no powered disk drive #1 present, the
R: handler loads from the ROM of a powered 850 into computer RAM on
system startup. (The 850 masquerades as disk drive #1, responding to the
Atari OS attempt to boot from disk.) An extended beep is emitted through
the computer's audio signal as the handler is loaded.
- Bootstrap with disk drive-- The R: handler can be loaded from the
850 ROM as part of a Disk Boot. (Atari DOS 2.0S, DOS 3, DOS 2.5, and
DOS XE include provisions for this.)
- The R: handler can be loaded from the 850 ROM by software after system
boot.
Many alternatives to the 850 ROM R: handler have been developed. Please see a separate section of this FAQ list regarding R: and T: device handlers for the 850 for more details.

The Atari Operating System's resident P: Printer device handler supports the parallel output interface port of the 850.
- 400/800 OS: Responds to P: and ignores any device number
XL OS: Responds to P:, P1:, and P2:

PINOUTS
=======
Serial Interface Port 1 (DE-9 Socket - female):
1. DTR Data Terminal Ready (Out)
2. CRX Carrier Detect (In)
5 1 3. XMT Send Data (Out)
o o o o o 4. RCV Receive Data (In)
o o o o 5. Signal Ground
9 6 6. DSR Data Set Ready (In)
7. RTS Request to Send (Out)
8. CTS Clear to Send (In)

Serial Interface Port 2 (DE-9 Socket - female):
5 1 1. DTR Data Terminal Ready (Out)
o o o o o 3. XMT Send Data (Out)
o o o o 4. RCV Receive Data (In)
9 6 5. Signal Ground
6. DSR Data Set Ready (In)

Serial Interface Port 3 (DE-9 Socket - female):
5 1 1. DTR Data Terminal Ready (Out)
o o o o o 3. XMT Send Data (Out)
o o o o 4. RCV Receive Data (In)
9 6 5. Signal Ground
6. DSR Data Set Ready (In)

Serial Interface Port 4 (DE-9 Socket - female):
/ 20 mA Current Loop Operation
1. +10V / TXD+ Send Data +
5 1 3. XMT / TXD- Send Data - (Out)
o o o o o 4. RCV Receive Data (In) --+ A 20 mA current loop
o o o o 5. Ground | device must tie together
9 6 7. +10V / RXD+ Receive Data + --+ pins 4 and 7.
9. -8V / RXD- Receive Data -

Parallel Interface Port (DA-15 Socket - female):
1. /Data Strobe
2. Data bit 0
3. Data bit 1
8 1 4. Data bit 2
o o o o o o o o 5. Data bit 3
o o o o o o o 6. Data bit 4
15 9 7. Data bit 5
8. Data bit 6
9. Data Pins Pull-Up (+5V)--+ A device that cannot hold
11. Signal Ground | /Fault high may instead tie
12. /Fault (high required)--+ together pins 12 and 9.
13. Busy
15. Data bit 7

Early 850 units are housed in a black anodized aluminum case, but most units are in a beige plastic case matching the 400/800 computers and peripherals.

- Connectivity: 2 Atari SIO ports for direct connection to Atari computers
- Shipped with SIO cable CA014122 (3-foot)

Front of unit (left-to-right):
- Power In jack
- On power indicator light
- Power Off / On switch
- Two I/O Connectors (Atari SIO)
Right side of unit:
- Parallel Interface port
Rear of unit (left-to-right):
- Four Serial Interface ports, 4 - 3 - 2 - 1

850 internals:
- 6507 microprocessor (MOS Technology MCS6507 or equivalent), C010745
- 6532 PIA. Two of:
- MOS Technology 6532 RAM-I/O-Timer (RIOT) or equivalent, C010750
- 4KiB X 8 Bit ROM, C012099

Power: Used with an external 9 volt AC transformer power supply rated for at least 17 watts: Atari CA014748 or equivalent (including the Atari CA017964).

Manuals:
- Atari 850 Interface Module Operator's Manual C015953 Rev. 1 1980
(preliminary version shipped with earlier/most 850 units; 102 pages)
- Atari 850 Interface Module Operator's Manual C017651 REV. B 1982 (15 pages)
- Atari 850 Interface Module Technical Manual C017652 REV. B 1982 (106 pages)

Technical Manual: Atari 850 Interface Module Field Service Manual
CS 400/800-S004-B 4/81 / FD100036 April, 1981

The 850 was designed by R. Scott Scheiman at Atari, according to: http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8bits/400800/atari850.html

The 850 was manufactured by Atari in the USA.

------------------------------

Subject: 6.1.2) What is the Atari XEP80 Interface Module?

The Atari XEP80 interface connects to joystick port 1 or 2 on the Atari computer and provides the system with:

- An 80-column Video Display Controller with phono output jack, carrying a
monochrome composite video signal which can be either 60Hz (NTSC compatible)
or 50Hz (PAL/SECAM compatible), selectable in software.
- A Parallel Printer Port (Centronics output interface)

Note that the XEP80 does not include provision for audio.

VIDEO DISPLAY CONTROLLER
The XEP80 video hardware generates an 80 column by 25 line text display
through a video connector/cable plugged into a separately purchased monitor. The monitor can be any Composite Video input type, although for the best display a monochrome is strongly advised.

Internally, the XEP80 is a 256 character wide by 25 line high storage device with an 80 column wide display window. Characters may be placed anywhere within the device independent of the window location. The window may be scrolled across the 256 column wide field.

Optionally, the XEP80 may be placed into Pixel Graphics mode. This mode supports a bit mapped (pixel) screen of 320 dots (40 bytes) horizontal by 200 dots (lines) vertical. The output window displayed is approximately half the size of the text window.

The XEP80's composite video signal contains more horizontal scan lines per field than are used in NTSC or PAL/SECAM color broadcast, composite video, or Y/C video (S-video) signals. The XEP80 outputs 250 scan lines of video per field for the 60Hz signal compared to the NTSC standard of 243, or 300 scan lines of video for the 50Hz signal compared to the PAL standard of 288. Thus the XEP80's output was ideal for high-resolution CRT-based monochrome
composite video monitors of the time, but settings on color televisions and monitors must typically be adjusted, if possible, in order for the entire
video output signal to be viewable on the screen.

PARALLEL PORT
The XEP80 supports a functional subset of the Centronics or PC parallel
printer interface (standards introduced elsewhere in this FAQ list), using the IBM PC standard (1981) connector. Note that the Atari Operating System resident P: device handler does not support a printer attached via joystick port, so a substitute P: handler must be installed in RAM in order for Atari software to recognize the XEP80 parallel port for printing.
13 1
o o o o o o o o o o o o o DB-25 Socket - female
o o o o o o o o o o o o
25 14
1. /Strobe 11. Busy
2-9. Parallel Data 12-17. Not Used
10. Not Used 18-25. Ground

SOFTWARE
The XEP80 Handler and Relocator is provided on diskette in the form of a DOS binary file named AUTORUN.SYS. This file is automatically loaded into memory and initialized by the DOS at boot (power on) time.
Contents of the XEP80 Boot Disk: (DX5087)
DOS.SYS DOS 2.5 File Management Subsystem (FMS)
DUP.SYS DOS 2.5 Disk Utility Package (DUP)
AUTORUN.SYS XEP80 Handler and Relocator.
Substitute versions for three OS-resident device handlers:
- S: Display Handler
- E: Screen Editor
Designed to be compatible with the standard E: device but
for the XEP80 80-column screen display.
- P: Printer.
Default configuration supports 8 different printer devices:
P1: XEP80 parallel port
P2: 850 Interface Module parallel port (e.g., Atari 825)
P3: 1025 Printer
P4: 1020 Color Plotter
P5: 1027 Printer
P6: 1029 Printer
P7: XMM801 Printer
P8: XDM121 Printer
The handler interprets P: (no device number) to mean, P1:
RELOC.SRC Relocater in assembly source
XEP80HAN.SRC Handler in assembly source
DEMO80.BAS Demonstrates overall XEP80 features
MAKER.BAS Program to generate an AUTORUN.SYS from a custom-made Handler
ATRIBUTE.BAS Demonstrates special text features
WINDOW.BAS Demonstrates the 256-character wide window
EIGHTY.BAS Displays a spreadsheet-like grid using the full XEP80 display
GRAPHICS.BAS Demonstrates graphics capability by drawing a sphere on screen
PRINTER.BAS Program to revise the default printer port configuration
XEP80.DOC Product Specification For XEP80 hardware and software

Hold down [Shift] while loading the XEP80 Handler and Relocator (AUTORUN.SYS) to load the P: handler but not the S: and E: handlers (use the XEP80 for its parallel printer port only).

The key engineer/designer of the XEP80 was Jose Valdes at Atari.
Lane Winner was software developer for the XEP80 at Atari.
The XEP80 was made in Taiwan.

The XEP80 draws 400mA of current from an external power supply. Use a power supply that delivers 500mA 9V DC (center positive). Shipped with Atari
C016353 or C018084.

Manual:
- Atari XEP80 Interface Module Owner's Manual C100542-001 C026416-0B1 (1987)

------------------------------

Subject: 6.1.3) What were the Atari CP/M Module and 1090 XL Expansion System?

The Atari CP/M Module (internally: Sweetpea, Sweet Pea, 1060) was introduced
at the June 1983 Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago. Housed in a case resembling the 1050 disk drive, features were to include: Z-80 microprocessor (4.0MHz Z-80A), 64KiB RAM, CP/M 2.2 operating system (by Digital Research; supplied on diskettes for Atari disk drive), 80 column display capability (composite video output port for high resolution monochrome display; unit
would also be able to use the Atari computer's display device in 40 or 80 column modes). Electrical and firmware design licensed from Add-on Computer Corp. CP/M software applications supplied on diskettes formatted for Atari disk drive (810 and 1050 formats both supported by the unit) were to be marketed separately (catalog supplied in the box with the unit) by Add-on Software, Inc., who expected to initially offer: Wordstar (MicroPro International), dBASE II (Allied Computer Services), Peachpak (Peachtree Software), Pascal/MT+ (Digital Research), CBASIC (Digital Research), SuperWriter (Sorcim), SuperCalc (Sorcim), Multiplan (Microsoft), MBASIC (Microsoft), and perhaps: MicroSort, Supersoft FORTH, Personal Pearl Database Manager. Atari confirmed the cancellation of the unshipped CP/M Module in January 1984. No more than a handful of prototype units may exist. http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/XL/xlperipherals/1060/1060.html https://archive.org/details/AddOnCPM

Atari first previewed the Expansion Box at the June 1983 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Chicago. The Expansion Box was to provide eight expansion
slots, two RS-232 ports, and a bi-directional parallel bus, and was expected
to ship by the end of that year. Atari privately showed the (revised) 1090 XL Expansion System at the June 1984 CES (also in Chicago). The 1090 would connect directly to the PBI on XL computers and would accept up to five XL Expansion Cards (each 9"x5", with 50-pin card edge connector). The 1090 was
to ship with one 1090/1 XL 64K RAM Card (would expand a 600XL to 80KiB, or would expand a 600XL with 1064, an 800XL, or a 1450XLD to 128KiB). (Up to two 1090/1 cards were to be usable at the same time, making each of the 600XL/800XL/1450XLD expandable to 192KiB.) A handful of prototypes exist, but the 1090 was never shipped. http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/XL/xlperipherals/1090xl.html

------------------------------

Subject: 6.1.4) What MIDI interfaces are there for the Atari?

From Wikipedia (10.28.2012):
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is an electronic musical
instrument industry specification that enables a wide variety of digital musical instruments, computers and other related devices to connect and communicate with one another. It is a set of standard commands that allows electronic musical instruments, performance controllers, computers and related devices to communicate, as well as a hardware standard that guarantees compatibility between them.

MIDI OUT, MIDI IN, and MIDI THRU interface connectors listed below are:
DIN-5 180 Socket - female

Several MIDI interfaces have been designed for the 8-bit Atari computers:

MIDIMATE AND COMPATIBLE
=======================
MIDIMate, by Hybrid Arts (Bob Moore)
- Has MIDI OUT, MIDI IN, SYNC OUT (phono jack), SYNC IN (phono jack) ports
- Connects to the Atari via SIO (must be at end of SIO chain)
- Uses SIO Motor Control; only one such device can be attached to the
system at a time.
- Introduced Jan. 1984 at NAMM (National Association of Music Manufacturers)
with MIDITrack sequencer program
- Also shipped with: MIDITrack II (1984), MIDITrack III (1985; 128KiB XL/XE)
- Sold separately or distributed by Hybrid Arts for the MIDIMate:
- MIDITrack III (1985; 128KiB XL/XE)
- DX-Editor (for the Yamaha DX7 and TX series)
- GenPatch (generic patch library system)
- MIDICom (MIDI Telecommunications) (1986)
- MIDIPatch for the Yamaha DX-7 & TX tone rack (1985)
- MIDIPatch for the Casio CZ-101 & CZ-1000 (1985)
- Oasis (visual editing system for the Ensoniq Mirage & 128KiB XL/XE; 1986)
- MIDI Music System (MMS) (1986)
- by Synthetic Software (Lee Actor/Gary Levenberg)
- Based on Advanced MusicSystem II
- Includes an AMS to MMS conversion program
- K3 Wave Table Editor (64KiB XL/XE) (Charles Faris for Kawai America)
- Other software:
- MIDI Maze, by Michael Park for Xanth F/X (prototype for Atari, 1989)

MIDIMax, by Wizztronics (Steve Cohen) (1988)
- Provides MIDI OUT and MIDI IN ports
- Connects to the Atari via SIO; provides SIO port for daisy chain
- Compatible with the earlier MIDIMate by Hybrid Arts
- Shipped with MIDI Music System (MMS) by Synthetic Software

MIDIMate-Interface V2, by ABBUC HardWareDoc (2011)
- Provides MIDI OUT, MIDI IN, and MIDI THRU ports
- Connects to the Atari via SIO
- Two versions:
1) Must be at end of SIO chain
2) Provides SIO port for daisy chain
- Compatible with the earlier MIDIMate by Hybrid Arts
- See: http://www.abbuc.de/~hardwaredoc/projekte/hardware/midi/midimate.html

MIDI Muse project, by Ivo van Poorten, 2018.
- MIDIMate compatible, except for the SIO port triggers
- Project website: https://github.com/ivop/midimuse

MIDI MASTER AND COMPATIBLE
==========================
MIDI Master, by 2 Bit Systems (1986)
- Later units produced by Gralin International
- Cable connects to the Atari via SIO and provides two 5-pin DIN sockets
(female) at the other end, for MIDI OUT and MIDI IN
(cable must be at end of SIO chain)
- Shipped with several programs on disk
- 8 track real time sequencer with tempo correction
- Casio CZ series voice editor (edit and store voices on disk/tape)
- Yamaha DX 100/21 series voice editor
- Music player program (Music Computer or Advanced MusicSystem II)
- DX7 voice editor
- CZ menu and keyboard split utility
- Extensive review: http://www.page6.org/pd_lib/page6/pd_midimaster.htm

MIDIMaster II, by Gralin International (1992)
- Provides MIDI OUT and MIDI IN ports
- Connects to the Atari via SIO (must be at end of SIO chain)
- Compatible with the earlier MIDI Master by 2 Bit Systems
- Shipped with several programs on disk - updated versions of those shipped
with the earlier MIDI Master by 2 Bit Systems

OTHER MIDI INTERFACES
=====================
Atari MIDI Interface, by Karlheinz Metscher (appeared in the German
magazine Computer Kontakt June/July 1986, pages 69-75, complete with
documentation, schematics and its first program "MIDI Receiver";
in Computer Kontakt October/November 1986 appeared the second program,
called "MIDI Disk" - a MIDI Recorder and Player program);

MIDI Interface for Atari XE / XL (public domain project)
- Project published by Ireneusz Kuczek in Elektronika Praktyczna 6/98,
p.86-88, see: http://ep.com.pl/files/6133.pdf
- Several versions:
- Provides MIDI OUT port
- Provides MIDI OUT and MIDI IN ports
- Provides two MIDI OUT ports and one MIDI IN port
- Connects to the Atari via SIO (must be at end of SIO chain)
- Software:
- MIDI Sequencer 1.15, by Maciej Sygit (1993)
- MPE v2.3 MIDI Pattern Editor, version 2.3, by Radek Sterba (1995)
- Recorder MIDI ver 1.1, by Ireneusz Kuczek (1997)
- MIDI-Play v1.3, by Ireneusz Kuczek (1998)
- Project website: http://ixkuczek.republika.pl/ixkuczek.html

MidiJoy, by Phobotron (Frederik Holst), 2014
- MidiJoy is a software/interface combination that allows you to use your
Atari as a musical instrument. The interface part emulates a USB-MIDI
(serial MIDI is optional) device that can be accessed by any kind of
instrument as well as sequencer software on a PC or Mac that can output MIDI
data. The MidiJoy software receives these data from the interface via the
joystick ports and plays them on the POKEY sound-chip. In contrast to most
SIO-based MIDI interfaces, a MidiJoy-driven Atari can be used as a live
instrument in real time with up to four sound channels simultaneously. At
the same time, all POKEY parameters (AUDCTL, AUDC1-4) can be changed on-the-
fly as well as activation of ADSR envelopes. Music input can be recorded
and saved to disk.
- Project website: http://www.phobotron.de/midijoy_en.html

------------------------------

Subject: 6.1.5) How can I use an ISA device with my Atari?

(Background derived from Wikipedia)
Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) is a computer bus standard for IBM PC compatible computers introduced with the IBM Personal Computer (1981) to support its Intel 8088 microprocessor's 8-bit external data bus, and extended to 16 bits in 1984 for the IBM Personal Computer/AT with Intel 80286. The ISA bus was further extended for use with 32-bit processors as Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) in 1988.

RoBue (Roland Buehler) of the Stuttgart ABBUC Regional Group has produced project plans for an ISA-Bus Interface for Atari 800XL/130XE Computer. https://atariwiki.strotmann.de/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=ARGS%20ISA%20PC%20Interface

Carsten Strotmann has released source code showing how to access a Hercules video card with the ISA-Bus Interface: http://preview.tinyurl.com/po6yyys

------------------------------

Subject: 6.1.6) How can I use a USB device with my Atari?

"Universal Serial Bus Specification Revision 1.0" was published January 15, 1996, with industry participation from Compaq, Digital Equipment Corporation, IBM PC Company, Intel, Microsoft, NEC, and Northern Telecom. The
specification describes the bus attributes, the protocol definition, types of transactions, bus management, and the programming interface required to design and build systems and peripherals that are compliant with this standard. The USB 1.0 full speed signaling bit rate is 12 Mbit/s; a limited capability low speed signaling mode is also defined at 1.5 Mbit/s. USB 2.0 (2000) added a
480 Mbit/s mode; USB 3.0 (2008) added a 5 Gbit/s mode.

Beginning in 1997 USB ports gradually replaced RS-232 serial and Centronics- type parallel ports on modern personal computers, becoming the primary means for connecting external devices such as a keyboard, mouse, joystick, speaker, microphone, modem, webcam, scanner, printer, or mass storage device.

The following project aims to provide USB compatibility to the Atari:

MicroUSB.org - Microprocessor USB Project, http://microusb.org/
Project USB Cartridge
* Project Name : USB Cartridge with two USB Slots
* Project Start : Summer 2002
* Project Member: Marc Brings, Thomas Grasel, Harry Reminder,
Guus Assmann, Carsten Strotmann

https://atariwiki.strotmann.de/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=MicroUSB

Atarimax(Steven Tucker)/ABBUC USB Cartridge: http://www.atarimax.com/usbcart/documentation/

------------------------------

Subject: 6.1.7) Can the Atari use my other computer's storage/printer/network?

This section lists solutions that allow the Atari computer to utilize another computer's mass storage devices (disk drives), printer, modem, and/or network through peripheral emulation.

This is accomplished by physically connecting the Atari computer to the other computer, and with software for the other computer that accesses that computer's storage devices, printer, modem and/or network while, through software emulation, making those devices appear to operate as standard devices designed for the Atari computer from the perspective of the Atari.

ATARIBUS project by Dave Warker, 1982/1983

A hardware interface design and CP/M software package that links an Atari computer to CP/M compatible computers.
- Provides up to four pseudo-drives to the ATARI. To Atari DOS they appear
as devices D1: through D4:. What they actually are is 90KiB byte CP/M disk
files. The records of these disk files are treated as sectors of the Atari
disk.
- The standard extensions for Pseudo-Disk (PD) files are ATR, AT1, AT2, AT3
or AT4. 'ATR' is used in most cases. (Pre-dates the SIO2PC ATR standard!)
- Can intercept bus commands to the ATARI 'P:' or printer device and print
them on the standard CP/M list device 'LST:'.
- Can switch the printer device to the CP/M console screen.
- Can strip off all the padded spaces after EOLs in printed data. http://www.filewatcher.com/m/ataribus.lbr.47616-0.html

The Critical Connection, by USS Enterprises (Vincent Cate), 1983/1984

A hardware interface and CP/M software package that links an Atari computer to CP/M compatible computers.
- Utilize an entire CP/M disk as an emulated 600KiB Atari disk drive
- Utilize 92KiB CP/M disk files as emulated Atari 90KiB disk drives
- This feature requires CP/M 2.0 or above, and a copy of Atari DOS
- Can only access one CP/M drive at a time
- Utilize the CP/M computer system's printer as an output device for the
Atari
Two versions:
- The Critical Connection (original) for Atari 400/800 computers, 1983
- The Critical Connection XL for Atari XL/XE computers, 1984

SIO2PC, by Nick Kennedy, 1989/1998

SIO2PC is a hardware & software package interfacing the 8-bit Atari to PC compatible computers (DOS). The hardware is known as an SIO2PC Cable.
- Emulates 1 to 4 Atari disk drives
- Store your Atari files on PC hard or floppy drives
- Boot from the PC, real drive not needed to start-up
- No software or drivers required for the Atari;
no conflicts: use your favorite DOS
- Twice as fast as an Atari 810 drive and more reliable
- Co-exists with real drives in the Atari daisy chain
- Compatible down to the hardware level: use sector copiers, etc.
- Convert Atari files to PC files and vice versa
- Supports (and originated) the .ATR Atari disk image file format on the PC

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