›              o=o=o=o=o=››   Atari 8-Bit Emulators -- Part III›            By Alan Sharkis›       Editor, OHAUG Newsletter›› I'm trying  to  concentrate  on  this› article.  It isn't easy.  My son just› went out and bucked a musical trend. › He's been playing acoustic guitar for› several  years  (largely  self-taught› but not bad) and he just brought home› a  Fender  solid  body  with a rather› powerful   amplifier.   He's  getting› sounds out of it that  make  me  very› proud,   but   occasionally   there's› something he tries to  do  that  just› doesn't  have  the  desired  effect. › It's  unnerving,  to  say  the least,› when   that   happens,  but  I  won't› discourage him because most  of  what› he's doing is so nice.  It reminds me› of one of the products I'm  going  to› describe in this article.›› First, let me catch you up on an item› I missed in the last installment.   I› hadn't  had  time  to see the Rainbow› for the Macintosh, and  between  then› and  now  I  did  see  it.   I have a› friend with a Mac who  was  only  too› willing  to  let  me   download   the› emulator  to his machine, get the rom› images   from   mine,  and  put  them› together on his Mac.   I  did  that. › Rainbow  for  the  Mac can do most of› what Rainbow for Windows 95  promised› to  do.   The demos ran smartly, if a› little slow,  but  they  ran.   Sound› wasn't  really  as good as I imagined› it could be, but  it  was  there.   I› didn't  try  the   5200   roms   with› anything,  but I'm assuming that they› work.   BASIC  also  seemed  to  work› normally.  Depending on the  Mac  you› have  (my  friends  was a Quadra) you› can easilly emulate  8-bit  speed  or› faster.  Since "faster" bothers a lot› of us, there is a facility to cap the› speed at 100% of 8-bit speed.›› Now,  on  to  what  this  article  is› really  about  --    the   peripheral› emulators that made all of the second› installment   possible.    These  are› SIO2PC  and  A.P.E.,  both  shareware› products.  They both  run  under  MS-› DOS.   Do  not  attempt  to  use them› under Windows 3.x or Windows 95.   A.› P.  E.  can  be  used under Unix with› some modification,  as  described  in› the docs.  Peripheral emulators don't› put an Atari on the  screen  of  your› PC.  They do allow the PC to act as a› ramdisk,   emulating   Atari   floppy› drives  and  creating  ramdisk images› that can  be  stored  as  PC  files. › These  files,  in  turn,   are   more› convenient  to store on the PC's hard› drive or even  on  PC  floppies  than› they  are on Atari drives, and can be› loaded back into your Atari to be run› at any time, perhaps even faster than› the Atari's floppy drives can do it. › Disk images can be created in several› different  sizes  and  densities,  as› described for each of the  products. › They are also the images that can run› under PC Xformer, or Pokey, or XL-It,› or Rainbow '95, and they usually have› the  extender  .ATR  on  them.   Both› SIO2PC and A.P.E. allow the Atari  to› "print  through" to the PC's printer,› a great  convenience  when  you  only› have  one  printer  or  wish  to take› advantage of a higher-quality printer› than  can  be  attached to your Atari› directly.  The  feature  also  allows› printing  through to disk files or to› the   screen.    Several  translation› features are built in.   A.P.E.  also› allows  the  PC's  modem to interface› with   your  Atari.   If  you  get  a› registered version of A.P.E., you can› do  this at fairly high speeds.  Both› SIO2PC and A.P.E. transfer  files  to› and  from  the Atari at higher speeds› than those normally  associated  with› Atari  floppy  drives,  but there are› caveats to this, and descriptions  of› the   products   will   carry   those› caveats.  Several utilities have also› been  developed  for these peripheral› emulators that allow such  things  as› converting  .DCM  (Discomm)  files to› .ATR files, and converting .ATR files› to .XFD files and vice-versa.›› SIO2PC  and  I are no strangers.  You› may remember (or wish to forget) that› I  wrote  an article on SIO2PC for AC› Magazine a few years back.   In  that› article,  I  compared software of the› 2.xx series with software of the 3.xx› series.  Also in that article, I used› an interface built  for  me  by  Nick› Kennedy,  the  creator  of SIO2PC.  I› still have  that  interface  and  I'm› using  it  to   test   the   software› packages  for   this   article.   The› interface  is  of  a very early, two-› chip design, using  the  Harris  ICL-› 232.   It doesn't even have the diode› that eliminates the need to  run  the› ACOMINIT  file which isolates the two› machines when the SIO2PC software  is› not  running.   I  bought  and  use a› switched   CSS  Quintopus  connector,› since   the  older  SIO2PC  interface› without the diode makes it impossible› to  use  floppies beyond D1: when the› interface  is  switched  on.   Today,› Nick is advocating a one-chip  design› (his  own) based on the same chip, or› on   the  MAX-232.   There  are  also› designs out there that are  based  on› the  7400  series  of  chips,  but  I› haven't  used  them.   I've been told› that the 7400 series  doesn't  really› create  the  same voltages as the ICL› and MAX chips and may not  work  well› with some setups.  For me, a one-chip› design may eliminate that switch, and› if I have time to test it before this› installment is  complete,  I'll  give› you the results of that test.›› The  SIO2PC  software  that  is  most› current  at  the time of writing this› article is version 4.16.  It came  to› me  directly  from  Nick  Kennedy.  I› know   that   4.10,   at   least,  is› available from  the  UMICH  archives,› and  the  zip includes the sio2pc.com› (one-chip,  version  4.10i)  and  the› sio2pc2.com  (2-chip,  version  4.10)› program files.  The 4.16 improves  on› the  4.10  in  several  ways, and the› entire   4.xx   series   is   a  VAST› improvement over the 3.19 I had  used› for  so many years and had to re-time› when I switched from a '286 clone  to› a  Pentium-100.   The   4.xx   series› should  work  with today's faster PCS› without re-timing, but Nick  explains› how    to    re-time    it   in   the› documentation.    What   he   doesn't› explain   fully,    but   which   Jon› Mordosky   (Ol'  Hackers  member  and› vice-president of LVAUG) did  explain› in  great  detail, is how to switch a› one-chip   version   to   a  two-chip› version  (or  vice-versa)  using  MS-› DOS's debug command.  I had the  one-› chip  version,  which,  of  course, I› couldn't   use   with   my   two-chip› interface.  The only major difference› between the two versions seems to  be› the  sense of the command line.  This› can be changed via the "M" command in› the  diagnostic  submenu  of the 4.16› software.  You  can  run  and  change› 4.16i  in  a  debug session, changing› the sense of the command  line,  then› quitting    the   program   normally,› writing the changes to disk and  then› quitting  debug.  After doing so, the› program will run without the "I" next› to  the  version  number  in the main› screen.   The  byte  checksum,  which› Nick includes for  virus  protection,› will also be changed and will have to› be readjusted so that you won't get a› virus  warning.   When  you  exit the› software for  the  first  time  after› changing  the  sense  of  the command› line,   you'll   be   prompted    and› instructed how to do this.  I renamed› my   converted  version  sio2pc2.com,› following a  pattern  that  Nick  had› begun  back  in  the  3.xx   series. › Thanks,  Jon,  for adding this little› trick to my arsenal and  allowing  me› to review and use 4.16!›› SIO2PC  presents  the  user  with   a› screen  that  includes  the  title, a› list   of   commands,  and  space  to› represent   four   bays  for  ramdisk› images.    These   ramdisks   may  be› assigned numbers from  1  to  8,  but› only  four  of  them will show on the› screen.      Additionally,     you're› restricted  somewhat  by  the size of› the ramdisks you create and the  size› of  your PC's conventional memory but› the program will automatically go  to› disk  access   if   that   limit   is› exceeded.  There's also a status line› at the bottom of the page that may be› useful  for  trouble-shooting.    The› first thing you are presented with is› a request for  the  COM  port  you're› using on the PC.  Although responding› with 1, 2, 3, or 4 will  work,  there› is further flexibility built into the› menu.  You can actually designate the› IRQ  associated with your port if you› need to do that. Most people find  it› easier  to  include the COM port in a› command-line  tag  when  loading  the› program.  This  can,  of  course,  be› done  in a batch file.  In this batch› file, you can also ask the program to› load  specific  ramdisk  images  into› specific  disk  drive  numbers,  thus› making it possible to boot your Atari› directly  from  the  SIO2PC.   SIO2PC› reads, writes and transfers with  any› mix  of  conventional  Atari floppies› and ramdisk images, as  long  as  you› don't  have a conflict between floppy› D2: and ramdisk  D2:,  for  example. › You can switch ramdisk numbers at any› time.  You  can  unload  any  ramdisk› image,  but if you've just created or› modified it, you're prompted  to  see› if  you  wish  to save it first.  The› latest versions of SIO2PC bring up  a› menu that can be used to load or save› ramdisks from anywhere on  your  PC's› drives,  sparing you the earlier task› of figuring  out  where  those  image› files  were located and how they were› named.  A  sub-menu  allows  using  a› 1050  disk  drive  through  the  PC's› parallel port, but a special hardware› interface must be built to do this.›› You  can  create  ramdisk  images  in› single-   or  double-densities  in  a› variety    of    side    and    track› arrangements as follows:››  64K (small, for experiments)        ›  92K (like an 810 single-side disk)  › 133K (like a 1050, enhanced disk)    › 184K (like an SSDD disk)              ›› or the following special sizes:›››                     SECS/        TOT.› CHOICE SIDES TRACKS TRACK KBYTES SECS›› ------ ----- ------ ----- ------ ----›   1      1     35    18      79   630›   2      1     35    26     114   910›   3      2     35    18     157  1260›   4      2     35    26     227  1820›   5      1     40    18      90   720›   6      1     40    26     130  1040›   7      1     77    26     250  2002›   8      2     77    26     500  4004›   9      1     80    18     180  1440›   A      1     80    26     260  2080›   B      2     80    16     360  2880›   C      2     80    26     520  8200›› You can also specify a decimal number› of sectors up to  65,536  for  really› large ramdisk images.  If you wish to› back up a BBS, for example,  you  can› back  up  16  Megabyte  partitions in› this way.  There is a DOS shell.  You› can  lock the data line, but for most› setups, it should remain  automatic. › You  can  get  directories  of you PC› files, or of  Atari  files  within  a› particular  ramdisk  image.   You can› install a PC file as a ramdisk  image› or  write  a  ramdisk  image  to a PC› file.  You can toggle the status line› at  the  bottom  of the screen on and› off if it bothers you.  You can  jump› to  Ultraspeed I/O and back to normal› speed.    There   are   also   hidden› commands,  which are not on the menu,› and allow you to  redraw  the  screen› (handy  if you have just printed from› the Atari to the screen) or blank the› screen.  Another hidden command turns› off the beep that comes  when  a  bad› sector is found reading from the 1050› in the parallel port  (versions  4.10› on), and the clicks that are found on› floppy access in version 4.16.›› The status line shows  the  following› entries:›› HDL   - file handle number -- useful ›         in checking if file is open  ›         or closed                    ›› CMND  - current command to drive     ›› LAST  - previous command to drive    ›› DEV   - device number being accessed ›         (explained in docs for this  ›         program)                     ›› COM   - High/low status of Atari     ›         command line                 ›› ERR   - error codes Nick Kennedy uses›         in debugging (symbol doesn't ›         always mean error)           ›› SEC#  - sector number being accessed ›         (decimal -- 4 digits)        ›› RAM   - number of kbytes of PC       ›         conventional RAM left        ›› SPEED - N for normal; H for          ›         UltraSpeed                   ›› Hitting  "A"  from  the  main  screen› takes you to the timing submenu, from› which re-timing can  be  done.   Also› available  at  this  submenu  are   a› choice to change the configuration of› a disk, to change the  sense  of  the› command line, or to bring up two more› submenus -- the 1050-2-PC submenu and› the hardware diagnostics submenu.›› The  1050-20-PC  submenu is used only› with that special interface  I  spoke› about  before.   It will allow a 1050› drive, connected through that special› interface, to read 720 or 1040 sector› files  from  the  1050  into  ramdisk› images, to write from a ramdisk image› to  the  1050,  to  read  a  block of› sectors to a file, to format an Atari› disk in the 1050, to scan sectors for› status   and   errors   and  to  edit› sectors, and, of course to go back to› SIO2PC.›› The  diagnostics  submenu  allows the› Atari, running software  provided  by› Nick  Kennedy, to enter an "intercom"› mode with the PC, or  to  toggle  the› status  of  the  input,  output   and› command  lines with some restrictions› elaborated in the docs,  or  to  send› sectors  from the Atari to the PC and› vice-versa, and, of course,  to  exit› back to SIO2PC. ›› I  haven't  assembled  or  used   the› special  interface  for  the 1050.  I› don't think I'm  going  to  do  that,› since  I'd  need  another  one for PC› Xformer, and a third for A. P. E.   I› know  that  some people have reported› good results with the 1050 in SIO2PC.› I  also  see  that  Nick  Kennedy has› included some features in SIO2PC that› allow  working  with   copy-protected› software. I don't know if he did this› because of competition from A.P.E. or› because  other users asked for it.  I› do know that I haven't  had  time  to› try it, and it's unlikely that I will› in the next little while.›› SIO2PC  has  worked  reliably  on  my› system.  Although I  had  to  re-time› 3.19,  as stated above, I haven't had› to do that with 4.10 or 4.16.  I  can› mix  physical  floppies  and ramdisks› and   copy  from  one  to  the  other› without   any   problem.     Printing› through  the  IBM   hasn't   been   a› problem.  Above all, Nick Kennedy has› been   very   cooperative   with  the› community.    He   has   developed  a› product that he states  is  a  hobby,› but  his approach to it has been most› professional.  Nick will get you  the› software and construction plans for a› shareware fee.  He also sells kits of› parts  for  his  interface  and  will› assemble  an interface for you for an› additional fee.  He  can  be  reached› at:›› Nick Kennedy› 300 South Vancouver Street› Russellville, Arkansas 72801› (501) 967-3483› E-Mail: nkennedy@cswnet.com›› A.  P. E. (Atari Peripheral Emulator)› is a system  by  Steven  Tucker  that› relies    on   an   SIO2PC   hardware› interface to work.  I  am  describing› version  1.10   here.    The   actual› screens  are much more elaborate than› those  of  SIO2PC  software.   Steven› distinguishes  between   distribution› versions (which are sometimes  betas)› and   registered    versions.     The› registered  versions  of  A. P. E. do› come with advanced features.   Steven› maintains  a  Web page from which you› can   download  any  or  all  of  his› products, register them, etc.›› Most of the SIO2PC functions are also› included  in A. P. E., sometimes with› more bells and whistles.   A.  P.  E.› includes  a  "Pro"  system (for which› you also have to build an  additional› interface)  which  connects a 1050 to› the PC through the parallel port, and› allows  making  disk  images of copy-› protected software  which  will  then› run only in that Pro system.  This is› for   personal   archival  use  only,› although Steven did include some  Pro› image  files  in some versions of the› A.P.  E.  software.   I  didn't  test› them.  There are a couple of features› in A. P. E. that SIO2PC doesn't have.› What is disturbing to me about A.  P.› E.  is  that its performance tends to› vary more from system to system  than› does  SIO2PC.   But,  I  don't really› wish to rate A. P. E.  down,  because› many  people  have  reported  greater› success  with  it  in the newsgroup. › So,  let  me  describe  its  intended› features for you, and if you wish  to› try, please do and please let me know› how it worked.›› The main screen will  come  up  right› after the title screen, if you have a› registered version of A.  P.  E.   If› you  don't,  there will be a delay of› some seconds while you  are  reminded› to  register your copy.  The A. P. E.› main  screen has a  two-part  layout.› The  top  of  the  screen  shows  the› status of all eight ramdisk bays, and› it is  possible  to  have  all  eight› ramdisks  in memory or disk access at› the same time.  For each ramdisk  you› will  see  the   SIO   command   most› recently  associated  with  it,   the› sector being accessed in decimal, the› total number of  sectors,  the  bytes› per sector (Dns), the Pro status (P),› whether the file  is  protected  from› writes from the Atari or not, and the› image   filename,   which   might  be› truncated.  Below this table you will› see  an  indicator for the Ultraspeed› status, and whether the emulation  of› the  drives  is "smart" or "stupid." › At the bottom  of  the  screen  is  a› scrolling    display   of   all   SIO› commands, only a few lines long,  but› potentially  valuable,  since   every› sector's commands come up.›› Pressing "!" from your keyboard takes› you to a DOS shell.  You exit back to› A.P.E. by typing "EXIT <ENTER>," just› as in most DOS shells found in  other› PC programs.›› Pressing "|" from the keyboard resets› the file system in A. P. E.  That  is› to  say,  it closes all files, resets› all pointers, and remounts  all  .ATR› images.›› Pressing  "@"   from   the   keyboard› toggles  the  concurrent  I/O.   This› mode activates automatically when you› are using the PC's modem, but it  may› have  to  be  reset after disk access› takes   place  during  an  upload  or› download.›› Pressing "H" from the keyboard brings› up  a  Help Screen full of commands. › The one you should try FIRST is  "Z",› which  brings  up  the  configuration› submenus.   Of  these five, the first› is  the  most  important.   The  very› first choice you have to make on this› one  is  the  SIO2PC type.  Here, you› choose whether you have a one-chip or› two-chip    interface.    The   wrong› setting just won't work.  The  second› choice  tells  A.  P.  E. in which of› your COM ports the  SIO2PC  interface› is located. The third, fourth, fifth,› and sixth choices tell A.  P.  E.  in› which  of  your  COM  ports your PC's› modem is located,  what  its  maximum› baud rate is, and how to set the PC's› DTR and RTS  lines  (these  are  most› probably high - the default setting.)›› The   seventh   choice   is  somewhat› critical,   and   may    need    some› experimenting.  It lets A. P. E. know› how fast hardware flow control  takes› place with your modem.  Steven Tucker› suggests that  the  number  start  at› setting  1000  for  19.2  Kbps.     I› found  modem use with this program to› present many problems.   There  is  a› paragraph    later    on    in   this› installment   that   describes    the› difficulty  I  was  having.    Steven› seemed  to  have  no solution for the› problem.›› Choice 8 is also  somewhat  critical,› and  needs  some experimentation, and› it   has   led  to  a  good  deal  of› frustration   on   my    part.     It› designates  a  framing  threshold for› Ultraspeed on the SIO bus, and Steven› suggest  that  your  initial  setting› should  be  8.  I have run it as high› as its maximum  and  as  low  as  its› minimum  and still can't get ramdisks› and   physical   floppy   drives   to› cooperate in my system.  Again, there› is  a  paragraph  later  on  in  this› installment   that    describes    my› difficulties in more detail, but here› I can rationalize and say that A.  P.› E.  was  meant  to  ELIMINATE  writes› to physical  Atari drives and  that I› shouldn't mix  them into  the system.›› Choice  9  takes  the   SIO   command› monitor  off  the  screen.   This  is› vital  if your PC is very slow, since› leaving  the  command  monitor  there› would  slow down  reads  and  writes.› Choice 0 toggles the verbosity of the› SIO command  monitor,  and  choice  %› serves  to  filter  out  some  of the› commands   shown   so  that  you  can› concentrate on the more  common  ones› during  trouble-shooting.    To   use› these  filters,  you must provide the› hex numbers of the commands you  wish› to  filter.   Registered  users   may› assign  macros to the letters A-Z for› use   in   the  A.  P.  E.  program. › Configurations   can  be  saved  with› CTRL-S,   loaded   with  CTRL-L,  and› defaults restored with CTRL-D.›› The   second   configuration  submenu› deals  with  printer  configuration. › The choices here are similar  to  the› ones described for SIO2PC, and pretty› much self-explanatory.›› The third configuration submenu deals› with  default  paths   and   filename› extensions and can be quite useful in› automating A. P. E.  The program has › a feature called block configuration,› which makes it possible  to  hit  one› key    (thus   running   one   "block› configuration"       file)        and› automatically   load   several   pre-› specified ramdisk images into several› pre-specified bays.›› The  fourth   configuration   submenu› allows you to adjust the IRQ and base› addresses of your PC's COM ports  for› those    very    unusual   situations› occasionally encountered.›› The fifth configuration submenu  sets› Ultraspeed  for  US  Doubler drives. › Choice 1 locks the  speed  at  normal› SIO  speed.  Choice 2 sets Ultraspeed› as the default.  Choice  3  sets  the› "APE+  Ultraspeed,"  which  is  about› three  times  as fast as normal SIO. › This is only useful  for  US  Doubler› drives.   I  don't  have  one,  so  I› couldn't  test  it.   Sparta Dos 3.2G› automatically   switches   to    APE+› Ultraspeed when it boots up.  You are› advised, if  you  use  this  DOS,  to› include  the command, KEY OFF in your› startup.bat file.›› Let's go back  to  the  main  screen,› assuming  configurations  are  set as› you wish  and  saved.   Here,  again,› pressing "H" will give you all of the› commands you can use  from  the  main› screen.  I'll lay them out for you so› that you can understand the  features› of  A.  P.  E.   Perhaps   the   most› important  command  is   "C."    This› command  allows  you  to create a new› .ATR image.  This is always  a  MyDos› image,  and  about  the  same  sizes,› side,   density   and   sector/track › configurations of ramdisk image  that› are found in SIO2PC can be created in› A.P.E.  (Steven Tucker, by the  way, › gives  a great illustration of how to› make up a 16 megabyte hard drive disk› image in MyDos in his documentation.)› However, the procedure  is  different› from  SIO2PC  in  a   few   important› respects.   In  SIO2PC,  you   select› density,  and  the  bay  in which the› image will reside, create  the  image› by  selecting  its  size,  format it,› write to it, and only get to name  it› when  it  is actually written to your› hard drive or a floppy.  In A. P. E.,› you  must  calculate  some  of  these› sizes  on  screen.  In  addition, you› must name the image first.   You  are› cautioned  to  be  careful  naming an› image, since it  will  overwrite  one› with the same name on the same drive.› Before the disk is created,  you  are› given  a summary of the size choices,› name,   and   destination   you  have› selected before you  give  the  final› command to create the ramdisk.  After› creation, you are prompted to  format› the  ramdisk.  Once this is done, the› created ramdisk is shown on the  main› screen,   in   the   bay   you   have› designated.  You  can  write  to  it,› read from it, copy it, etc.›› Suppose  you  have an already-created› ramdisk image.  You  simply  use  the› "L"  command  to  load  it into a bay› that you  designate.   If  you  don't› specify  a  filename,  a  file-finder› comes  up  and you can use it to find› the file you want.  Later versions of› SIO2PC do this, as well.  If you have› designated   a   bay  that's  already› occupied, the program will ask you if› you wish to replace the image that is› in that bay.  When the  file  appears› on  the  main  screen,  it's name and› statistics   are   also   there.   In› addition, if  the  ramdisk  has  come› from  a "PC Mirror drive" (more about› that  later)  its  name  will  be  in› inverse  red.   If  the  file  is  in› A.P.E.'s Pro system, its name will be› in  inverse purple.  Now, suppose you› want to switch the images you have to› different  bays.   You  press the bay› number for an image, followed by  the› bay  number  to  which  you  wish  to› switch it, and the switch is done.›› The  "R" command releases, or removes› a disk image from a designated bay.›› The "A" command will convert  a  .DCM› or  .XFD  image to an .ATR so that it› can be  used  with  A.  P.  E.   This› feature is very handy.  Before it was› included, you'd have  to  go  out  to› another  utility  to  do  the job.  I› have some of those  utilities.   They› are  very  nice,  but  they   involve› switching  programs.  In fact, one of› them, Imagic,  which  operates  under› Windows  95,  was  written  by Steven› Tucker.  ›› The "B" command  sets  up  the  block› configurations described above.›› The  "P"  command  changes to the Pro› Emulation mode, and is available  for› registered  users  only.   Again,   I› didn't  test  this  mode  because  it› would  have   me   building   another› interface.›› The "S" command sets up the PC Mirror› drive.  PC Mirror is a  feature  that› allows you to get directories of your› PC's files, with proper  subdirectory› listings,  from  your  Atari.  It can› become   very  convenient.   You  may› write to your PC Mirror drive only if› you're a registered user of A. P. E.›› The  "T"  command toggles "smart" and› "stupid"     emulation.       "Smart"› recognizes  all  disk configurations,› skews  and  speeds,  etc.   "Stupid,"› according to Steven Tucker, makes  A.› P.  E. most like a 1050 drive, and is› useful only for earlier  versions  of› Superdos.›› The "U" command toggles Ultraspeed.›› The  "V"  command  brings  up  a text› viewer   that  usually  automatically› recognizes  ATASCII,  ASCII  or  Unix› text files.  If it fails to recognize› the type of text file, you can toggle› within the viewer with the "F"  key. › If you wish to switch text files from› within the viewer, you  can  use  the› "N"  command.   ESC takes you back to› A. P. E.  If  you  are  a  registered› user  of  A.  P. E., you can use this› viewer from a command line.›› The   "W"   command   toggles   write› protection for an image on and off.›› The  "Q"  command  quits the A. P. E.› program.›› Steven Tucker has  tried  to  provide› Atari  users  with  a  way  to access› their PC's modem using the Atari  and› programs  like BobTerm.  It's a great› idea, and  I'm  quite  sure  that  it› works  for some people or it wouldn't› have been released.  Of course, as  I› mentioned earlier, you have to have a› registered copy to  go  to  the  19.2› Kbaud of which BobTerm is capable.  I› tried   it,   and   had  two  serious› difficulties.       One      involved› concurrent SIO, something  the  Atari› must be able to do when it is working› with a modem.   This  gets  suspended› during disk access, but it  would not› automatically   return   in   earlier› versions of A. P. E.  A later version› fixed that problem, but  still  would› not    allow    me     the     faster› communications  speeds I wished for. › As soon as  a  connection  was  made,› BobTerm  would switch to 1200 or 2400› baud, depending  on  the  BBS  I  had› called.   I  had  to  go to BobTerm's› main   menu,  change  the  baud  rate› manually, and often I discovered that› by    that    time    the   BBS   had› disconnected.  I tried  changing  the› modem    initialization   string   in› BobTerm.  I  tried  taking  the  init› string   out   completely.    Nothing› worked.›› On my system, I couldn't get physical› Atari  floppy  drives   and   ramdisk› images  to  work  reliably  together.› Specifically,  I couldn't get an .ATR› of DOS 2.5 to duplicate to a physical› 1050.   But  A.P.E.  is  capable   of› higher  transfer  speeds than SIO2PC,› as long as  you  stick  with  ramdisk› images or go from a physical drive to› a ramdisk image.  If I wanted to  use› only  A.  P. E., perhaps with its Pro› system, that  wouldn't  matter.   But› alas,  I  need  to  transfer reliably› from Atari disks  to  ramdisk  images› and vice-versa without the Pro drive,› and  to  my  dismay,  the  ultraspeed› keeps   switching   in    and    out,› interfering    with   transfers   and› causing errors 138, 139  or  140.   I› can  lock  it  out,  but  then  other› problems  arise.   A.  P. E. also has› locked up the PC  and  the  Atari  at› times  when  such  disk  access   was› attempted,  making  it  necessary  to› turn the equipment off, and then back› on again.›› Despite my difficulties  with  A.  P.› E., I recognize its great flexibility› and usefulness.  Like  Nick  Kennedy,› Steven  Tucker   is   continuing   to› upgrade    his    product.    He   is› accessible, and I have spoken to  him› several  times  via  E-Mail  about my› difficulties with  the  product,  but› there  seem  to be too many variables› in my specific system for him to come› to  any  conclusion.   I  am going to› continue to experiment with A. P.  E.› to  see  if  I can find the source of› the problems.  Steven can be  reached› at:›› Steven J. Tucker› 9131 Sunrise Boulevard M-33› North Royalton, Ohio 44133› (216) 237-5308› E-Mail: classics@nacs.net› Web:› http://www.nacs.net/%7Eclassics/›› Meanwhile, if you have a PC, even  if› you  consider  it inferior to your 8-› bit,   consider   using   it   as   a› peripheral  emulator for your 8-bit. › You  will  solve  disk-storage  space› problems, get faster program-loading,› and a host of other improvements.›› In  my  next and final installment, I› will  discuss  some  of  the  ethical› considerations   that  emulation  has› brought up.  I will  be  treading  on› dangerous,   if   not   controversial› ground.    I  may  make  friends  and› enemies and attract people  who  wish› to sway me to one side or the other. › You  might  consider  taking  one  of› those positions  after  reading  it. › Your  thoughts,  responses, etc., are› invited, as usual.››               o=o=o=o=o=››››