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User guide
| Contents |
|---|
| Prerequisites |
| Setup |
| Additional setup |
| Usage |
Software
- SerialDisk PC binaries
- SERDISK1.TOS Atari ST binary (included with SerialDisk binaries)
- .NET Core 3.0+ runtime (optional but recommended)
Hardware
- An Atari computer running TOS with an available serial port
- A PC running a supported operating system
- A PC RS232 serial port. If using a USB-serial adapter I strongly suggest avoiding anything with a CH340 chipset
- A null modem RS232 cable
- A PC floppy disk drive and disk for the file transfer. This disk must be Double Sided Double Density (720KB when formatted in DOS) and not Double Sided High Density (1.44MiB when formatted in DOS).
Connect the PC to the Atari using the null modem cable.
Prepare a double density (720KiB) disk on a PC, then copy SERDISK1.TOS to it from the atari/bin folder.
In GEM desktop, click on any drive icon to highlight it, then in the Options top menu select "Install Disk Drive". Choose "M" as the drive identifier. Optionally name it "SERIAL DISK" and click "Install". If you save your desktop using the Options menu, you won't have to do this again next time you start your Atari ST.
Run SERDISK1.TOS from the floppy disk. It will return to the desktop when it has loaded.
By default, the Atari ST will be configured to use:
- Baud rate: 9600bps
- Data bits: 8
- Stop bits: 1
- Parity: None
- Handshake: None
This will be very slow, but is enough to check that everything has been set up correctly. To get more throughput and stability, additional configuration is needed on the Atari ST.
Extract the SerialDisk files from the compressed download to a folder.
It is not possible to run .TOS files automatically by placing them in the AUTO folder. To run SerialDisk when the Atari boots, do the following:
- Select (highlight) SERDISK1.TOS, then in the GEM menu select Options -> Install Application
- Ensure the Application Type is set to TOS
- Click install
SERDISK1.TOS will now automatically run after anything in the AUTO folder.
XCONTROL provides a simple way to change the configuration of the serial port on the Atari ST. The baud rate can be set as high as 19200bps (2KBps) on an ST or STe.
Copy XCONTROL.ACC (for USA) or XCONT_UK.ACC (for UK) and MODEM.CPX to the root directory of the floppy disk and restart the Atari ST.
In the GEM Desk menu there will now be a Control Panel option. This control panel has a Modem Setup option where you can configure the serial port.
Installing this driver fixes some bugs in the inbuilt serial drivers on the Atari, and makes the connection more reliable and error-free.
Put DRVIN.PRG into the AUTO folder on your disk, followed by MFP.PRG (use SCC.PRG with MegaSTe, TT, or Falcon), then SETTER.TTP. The order in which the files are copied is very important!
DRVIN.PRG has two user options. FASTINT should be "on", EXOPEN "off".
Drag and drop MFP.PRG (or SCC.PRG) onto SETTER.TTP to configure the driver. If that doesn't work, run SETTER.TTP and enter MFP.PRG or SCC.PRG when prompted.
My recommended settings for a standard ST (MFP.PRG):
| Option | Description | Value |
|---|---|---|
| RSVE | Only for users of RSVE hardware. | N |
| HISP | Enables high speed RSVE baud rates. Skipped if RSVE is N. | N |
| REPL | Sets RSVE baud rates. U = ungültig (not applicable). | U (six times) |
| DTR | Enable Data Terminal Ready signal | Y |
| RBL | Receive buffer length. Higher values may cause screen corruption. | 1024 |
| TBL | Transmit buffer length. | 8192 |
Atari World recommended setting for MegaSTe and Falcon (SCC.PRG):
| Option | Value |
|---|---|
| M2TT | U |
| M1EMU | U |
| LANBIT | N |
| LANEXT | N |
| LAN_S2 | U |
| DTRM2 | Y |
| DTRS2 | Y |
| RBLM2 | 16384 |
| TBLM2 | 8192 |
| RBLS2 | 16 |
| TBLS2 | 16 |
Now HS-MODEM is configured. Restart your Atari and the new drivers will be loaded.
SerialDisk must be run from a command prompt / terminal.
Run SerialDisk.exe --help to view available parameters and serial ports.
Usage:
SerialDisk.exe [Options] [virtual_disk_path]
Example usage:
SerialDisk.exe --port COM1 c:\atari
Grant SerialDisk execute permission with sudo chmod a+x ./SerialDisk
Run ./SerialDisk --help to view available parameters and serial ports.
Grant read/write access to your serial port (your device name may differ) with sudo chmod a+rw /dev/ttyUSB0
Ensure the current user has read/write permissions for the target folder.
Usage:
./SerialDisk [Options] [virtual_disk_path]
Example usage:
./SerialDisk --port /dev/ttyUSB0 /ubuntu/home/atari
For more information see Configuration
The baud rate, data bits, stop bits, parity and handshake must match the settings on the Atari ST.
While SerialDisk is running, open the M drive on the Atari ST and you should be presented with the contents of your chosen PC directory.