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- OSBORNE-1 MODS FOR MODEM CONTROL ON RS-232 PORT
- -----------------------------------------------
-
- The unmodified Osborne-1 lacks a usable
- handshake output on its RS-232 port. The line
- available for this has been used by Osborne to
- enable the selection of either the "Modem" port or
- the RS-232 port as the output device for the one
- 6850 serial chip. For those of us who have not
- bought the modem that uses the "Modem" port, and
- who would like to be able to put out a handshaking
- signal to a modem in the form of a DTR line, the
- following modifications are suggested.
-
- - Items needed to perform this operation:
- - Screwdriver, to open case;
- - Continuity tester;
- - Soldering Iron and solder;
- - small lengths of scrap wire.
-
- 1) Open the case. If you cannot do this without
- detailed direction, I respectfully suggest you
- find someone else to do this modification. I'm
- also too lazy to fully describe the operation. The
- proper way to open the case is documented in the
- Osborne-1 Technical Manual, also useful because it
- contains the schematics.
-
- 2) Remove the mainboard from the case. The removal
- need not be total, but just enough to allow access
- to both sides of the board. It will help to
- disconnect those cables that might be unduly
- stressed while working on the board. Also, removal
- of the metal bracket assembly that attaches the
- board to the case is more convenient than
- detaching the board from the bracket.
-
- 3) Locate the 6850 serial I/O chip: it is a 24-pin
- device. This is the area in which we will be
- playing. Also note a nearby 8-pin chip marked
- 1458: It will be the DTR line output driver. There
- may be other letters and/or numbers before and
- after the "1458" markings: do not worry about
- these.
-
- 4) Locate resistors R20 (10K) and R35 (1K). Using
- the continuity meter, determine which ends of each
- of these resistors are connected to each other
- (ie. they are connected in series: find the
- terminal on each resistor that connects directly
- with a terminal on the other resistor.). Desolder
- and lift the one end of each resistor that
- connects with the other resistor. Re-connect these
- ends off the board using wire. Avoid any shorts
- from this wire to points on the board: tape or
- tubing is recommended. This isolates the point
- where the 6850 RTS line would disable RS-232
- transmission when at logic 0.
-
- 5) Locate resistor R29 (3.3K). With the continuity
- meter, find which end is connected to +5 volts on
- the board (pin 12 of the 6850 is connected to +5
- volts, if you aren't sure where to find it). Lift
- the +5 volt end of the resistor off the board.
- Wire the lifted end of the resistor to pin 1 of
- the 1458 chip (the board markings may identify the
- 1458 as UD4). Pin 1 can be identified as the
- bottom left pin when the index marking of the
- device (usually an indentation of some sort, see
- below) faces to the left (viewing from the top).
- Once again, avoid shorts to existing circuitry.
-
- 8 7 6 5
- o o o o
- +-------+
- Indent -> |\ 1458 | <- Lettering should be
- or dot -> |/ | oriented like this
- +-------+
- * o o o
- 1 2 3 4
-
- 6) Run a short jumper wire between pins 5 and 3 of
- the 1458: this is easiest on the solder side of
- the board (as opposed to the side with the
- components on it).
-
- 7) Run another wire from one of the two holes
- vacated by the lifting of ends of resistors R20 or
- R35 (NOT R29!), to pin 2 of the 1458. If the
- instructions in step (4) were carried out right,
- the two aforementioned holes should still be
- connected to each other.
-
- 8) Pins 5, 6 and 8 of the RS-232 connector should
- now operate as the RS-232 signal controlled by the
- 6850 RTS line. This can be tested by installing
- the Osborne MEX overlay with RS232 set to NO, and
- the disconnect command should cause pins 5, 6 and
- 8 of the port to go to about -3 volts. MACHDEP.O-1
- should work properly for modem disconnect with
- this modification.
-
- - Bob Maxwell, Sysop, Turbo BBS (604) 738-7811