Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    If you have a VAXmate or other MS-DOS PC in the office then the
    easy path (much faster than modem downloads is)
    
    VAX -> PC -> 5�" floppy -> Amiga 5�" drive -> Amiga
    
    using the "PCCOPY" utility.  An external 5�" drive costs U.S. $175 or
    so from Commodore, or you can hack the interface circuit into a
    standard PC flavor drive. 

    
    RE: -1
    
�    If you have a VAXmate or other MS-DOS PC in the office then the
�    easy path (much faster than modem downloads is)
�    
�    VAX -> PC -> 5�" floppy -> Amiga 5�" drive -> Amiga
�    
�    using the "PCCOPY" utility.  An external 5�" drive costs U.S. $175 or
�    so from Commodore, or you can hack the interface circuit into a
�    standard PC flavor drive. 

    I am shortly going to have the opportunity of trying something similar
    to this (I am in the UK too :-( ) with the substitution of a PC clone
    instead of a 5� drive. I have kermit for both machines, but I'm unsure
    of the RS232 cable to use, has anyone tried this before ? Any idea of
    which (DEC) cable I should look for ? I really don't want to send 12v
    into someone else's PC. 
    
    A question on VAXmates too... Am I correct in saying that VAXmates
    can read/write to IBM 360k floppies, but is unreliable formatting
    them ? (I intended to format them on the clone, but if I don't have
    to - so much the better.)
    
    			Any help appreciated.
    
    					Alan T.
                                         

    	Before I knew about this mess of not hooking non-DEC equipment
    up, I brought my Amiga in, and plugged it straight into the network
    for use as a terminal.  Beforehand, I had a VT100 plugged in.  The
    cable (RS232 DB25) seemed to work just fine with my Amiga, although
    I think I had to do a gender change, but I'm not sure.  This should
    also work with a PC.  To transfer data from the PC to the Amiga
    (This IS what you are going to do, right?) just buy a null-modem
    ($15 US at Radio Shack.  Mail order for only $4), and use it to
    connect Ami to the IBM.  Then, get out your transfer programs, and
    crank the baud rate as high as you can get it, and let them rip.
    Good luck!
    
     - Chris
    

Re: .2

If you have an Amiga 500 or 2000, just use a null modem cable designed
for connecting two IBM pcs (a null modem cable).  If you have a 1000,
you'll need a gender cable in addition to that cable.

RS-232 cables bought from computer stores only seem to run the modem
control lines, so you don't have to worry about them passing the
power lines.  DEC cables, or at least DEC cables from a few years
back, seem to run a lot of extra lines in addition to those need
for modem control.  Those cables are more dangerous.

    re: .0 
    >"it is against regulations to connect 'non-Digital Products'
    >to Digital Products, including the network"
    
    I wonder if they have ever heard of DECnet-DOS.  It runs on 
    ibm pcs and compatibles (definitely not a Digital Products).

    
    re:.2
    >A question on VAXmates too... Am I correct in saying that VAXmates
    >can read/write to IBM 360k floppies, but is unreliable formatting
    >them ? (I intended to format them on the clone, but if I don't have
    >to - so much the better.)
    
    It isn't just VAXmates.  The VAXmate is a clone of an IBM AT.  ATs
    have 1.2Mb floppy drives.  Those drives will format a floppy to
    360K, but sometimes a 360K drive won't be able to read it.
    
    -Dave

re .2

>    Any idea of
>    which (DEC) cable I should look for ? 

You can always make up your own - I did and it worked. See 1533.1 et seq.

Nick

    Well, phase one complete!! I've got some Amiga arc files onto 5� 360k
    IBM floppies. I've also found the correct cable to use, BC03M (available
    in 5,20,25,50,100 ft etc. lengths).
    
    Onwards to phase two !! (connecting the PC & Ami together....)
    
    				Alan T.