#Communicating w/PCs
10 messages in this thread
I have recently been exposed to the Amiga experience through my work as a
videotape editor. In addition to using the Video Toaster and other related
applications, I have been very impressed with the multi-tasking
capabilities of the Amiga. My problem is that myself and many of my
clients still use IBM clones as our primary computers. There are many
programs out there that will allow serial transmission of data between two
similar computers, but I have yet to see anything that will allow file
xfer's between the Amiga and PCs. I do have a program on the Amiga that
allows me to write to a DOS (vs. AmigaDOS) disk, but very often I want to
xfer files that are bigger than the disk will hold. Even using an archiver
(BTW, I could use recommendations on which of the archivers/crunchers in
lib 16 are particularly good, and can be read by their DOS counterparts) I
sometimes cannot all the info of a graphic file onto a disk. So, I am
looking for either a serial xfer program, or since I have a spare modem
sitting around, a simple communications program, so that I can dial into a
PC and do the xfer that way. The emphasis is on simple, and inexpensive
(shareware?) as I need to keep costs down until I can demonstrate to my
colleagues the values of transferring the info. Thanks.
Duncan:
The easiest way to transfer those files is to run terminal software on
both computers and hook the Amiga up to the PC via serial ports with a
NULL MODEM cable.
You don't need a modem. A modem is a MODULATOR-DEMODULATROR… that is,
the modem on the sending end takes the digital signals from a computer,
MODULATES them for transmission over phone lines and the modem on the
receiving end DEMODULATES the signal back in to the digital form that the
computer needs. SInce you aren't using a telephone line to connect the two
computers, you can leave out the MODEM!
The NULL MODEM cable carries the same information from one serial port to
another, but reconfigures the wire #'s so that it is as if the computers
were connected via a modem. You should be able to get a NULL MODEM cable
at any computer store or radio shack. Make sure you get one that has the
proper connectors on each end to match the serial connectors of the PC and
the Amiga (maybe DB9-DB25?).
I can't help you with terminal software for the PC side of things, but you
can download BackTalk from library 5 of AmigaUser… it's freely
distributable, and supports XPR (external) Protocols, so you can emulate
just about anything thatthe PC side software might throw at it. ZModem
protocol is probably a good choice.
With the NULL MODEM cable installed, and both computers running terminal
software with the same protocol and baud rate (BackTalk supports up to
38,400 K/baud)… just SEND the file from the Amiga and RECEIVE it on the
PC. It's really pretty much that easy.
Maybe some other folks reading this will have a better suggestion for
which terminal programs to use on each machine.
Hope this helps.
Hi Duncan,
I regularly swap data between my Amiga and my portable PC. I use Procomm
on the PC and JR-Comm on the Amiga. I use a Radio Shack null modem adapter
and standard serial leads at each computer. I transfer data at 19200bps
with no trouble at all.
Best of luck,
John.
Michael-Thanks for your informative note on using null modem cables. I've
done it a hundred times PC to PC, but I guess I still have a block when it
comes to the Amiga. Please, no jokes about which system has smarter users
<g>. Backtalk seems like the way to go, but I do want to thank all the
others who responded (Bill, Jonathan, John, & Chris). Since no one likes
downloading a thread that is nothing but thank you notes, I'm not thanking
each individually but hope they will see this and know their time was
appreciated. While I'm at it, do you have any suggestions on hard-disk
defragging programs for the Amiga. I'm also looking for an Amiga
equivalent to SpinRite and will post a message in a more appropriate
section, but since everybody scanning this one was so helpful, I figured
I'd give it a shot-thanks again!
Duncan…
I'm afraid I can't help you with Defrag programs, other than to point you
to the DISK UTILITIES library here in AmigaUser. I defrag my hard drives
backing them up to tape, and restoring. IMO, it's the safest way to do it.
Of course, if you don' have a tape drive, it may not be worth the time to
swap a zillion floppy's.
Duncan,
A good terminal program for your DOS machine that is shareware and
supports the Zmodem protocol and is a small download size from CIS is
called LYNC.EXE and I found it in the Communications library for MS-DOS
computers. I see Michael has already commented about Backtalk for the
Amiga and the null-modem. Radio Shack is the place to get one quickly. The
one I bought looks like a gender-changer and you just plug the two serial
cables together using it. Works fine. Also, try and use the highest bps
rate you can set that is compatible with both machines to achieve the
fastest data transfer.
Chris
Also check out a program here in the Amiga libraries as well as a program
in the PC libraries – both go by the name of "Twin Express". Using a null
modem cable, it will transfer files in either direction at rather fast
rates (about 115K baud, depending on the horsepower on both ends). Or, look
into networking software, using an Ethernet card. There's cheap Novell and
TCP/IP software for the Amiga side. Are you running the PCs on a network of
any kind?
Duncan,
Try looking for a program in the Amigaforums called TwinComm…it is an
Amiga <—> IBM Laplink clone that works via serial connection. Probably
not as fast as Laplink, tho…
Jonathan, via AutoPilot // Only Amiga makes
\\// it possible…
Duncan;
Lharc is probably one of the better archivers to use. Just about all of
them will work with the only problem being that of an occassional
"incompatible version" problem.
My personal experience is that I have had more imcompatibility problems
with the PKZip type archivers than any other. They all seem to work
however and some of the compression that you will see when using something
like Lha will probably surprise you. Of course the amount of compression
is highly data dependent but sometime over 90% compression is possible.
-bill
All you should need are two RS-232 (25 Pin) cables and a Null Modem
adapter (Radio Shack knows what they are and sells them for $4.95 –
catalog number 26-1496). Then set one of the Terminal programs for
Full-duplex and the other for half duplex. Make sure that they both are
set for the same (8-N-1 or 7-E-1) and select the same file transfer
protocol (X-modem or [preferably] Z-modem). Then initiate the transfer
from one end and the receive from the other.
Good Luck!