Date   : Mon, 19 Dec 2005 12:12:51 +0000
From   : "Kris Adcock" <kris@...>
Subject: Re: Connecting a BBC Micro to a PC

--- Jules Richardson <julesrichardsonuk@...> wrote:
>
> Hmmm, perhaps a bit more complex than I expected! I was thinking along the 
> lines of something like Xfer, that could transfer single files or disk
> images 
> to/from a disk in the BBC's drive (or a BBC hard drive).
> 
> Any idea whether the necessary cable is purely a cable - or does it involve

> extra logic? It'd be nice if it was no more complex than having to wire up
> a 
> serial cable as for Xfer.
> 

I have found 65Link to be astoundingly useful. Yes, it is just a cable with
no extra logic. To be able to use a separate computer with a HD, and then
just drag-and-drop SSD images onto the "server" program and then boot the
Beeb is very useful.

Two problems: you need enough desk space for an A5000 or RiscPC to be running
next to it, and that this ties up the user port of the Beeb - so you can't
use a mouse at the same time.

To make the cable I bought a cheap parallel printer cable, cut one end off,
used a multimeter to find out which colours were which pins, and then used a
fine screwdriver to poke each wire through the pins of the IDC connector.

I have some spare A4000s and A5000s, if anyone wants one cheap. I'd better
check that they actually work with 65Link though - I've always used a RiscPC.

> 
> 
> cheers
> 
> Jules
>