Hi - New member from Australia

[spectreman]

Hello all.

Very glad to have found this forum.
Just recently purchased an Organiser II XP model, well used, but still working ok. It came with a 32k DataPak, and the Comms Link interface.
Have been trying to get the Comms Link talking to my old 1995 vintage PC, so far without success. The PC is running DOS. Has a DB-9 serial port.
Could well be a serial cable wiring error.
I also want to take apart the Comms Link interface unit & check the wiring in it. Have removed the one screw on the case, but it does not want to come apart easily, is there a hidden screw under the Comms Link label ? Would prefer not to break the case.

So what I initially wanted to achieve is when the Organiser Comms program is running, and I activate the terminal mode, I want the organiser to talk to a Terminal program on the PC, so I can just have ASCII text going between the two. Anyone try doing this ?
But also of course I really need the DOS CL program running for transferring program files to the Organiser. Need serial comms working first though !

Look forward to using more programs on it. Already tried manually entering a small password program, it runs fine. I do have all the original handbooks.

Best Regards, Chris.
Melbourne, Australia.

[Martin]

Hi Chris... A new user... fantastic... Welcome

(1) Jaap Scherphuis a long time Organiser II enthusiast has a web site (here) and produced a must read excellent paper 'Using the Comms Link' (here).. I've updated his paper to include the latest Windows Comms Servers and other Comm related papers (here). When using the Comms Link to transfer OPL, Database or Notepad Files make sure the protocol is set to PSION in the Comms Link Setup option.

(2) Opening the Comms Link enclosure. We are fortunate to have a few 'technical' members who have managed to reproduce, repair and improve the Comms Link.. I will just say that when you first 'open' a case it doesn't 'fall open' after removing the screw just insert a thin blade near the power socket and prise gently apart (don't poke it in too far). Once you have had it apart it does then nearly 'just fall apart'.

(3) when looking for the Comms Link Software (latest version CL211) Look out for (DevPACK.ZIP) which contains all the latest PSION files along with useful files from other sources. Originally there was DevKIT.zip but some of the files in that archive have been superseded.

Sincerely and in good faith
Martin

[amenjet]

(2) Opening the Comms Link enclosure. We are fortunate to have a few 'technical' members who have managed to reproduce, repair and improve the Comms Link.. I will just say that when you first 'open' a case it doesn't 'fall open' after removing the screw just insert a thin blade near the power socket and prise gently apart (don't poke it in too far). Once you have had it apart it does then nearly 'just fall apart'.


Sincerely and in good faith
Martin

I've opened a few old cases and sometimes they open easily, and sometimes I have unfortunately broken cases. I think the plastic has become brittle due to age, and these can be difficult to open. Any bending of the case and it tends to shatter. This used to be a problem, but we do have some excellent and cheap cases available now due to the fantastic work of forum member NotFitForPurpose. You can get these made in clear resin too, which is useful for checking dimensions, or just because it looks good. The repository is here:

https://github.com/nofitnessforpurpose

I have printed quite a few of these cases using JLCPCB, and the quality is really good. They are cheap too, costing around $6 or so for a case, depending on size. So, if you do break a case, you have the option of getting a replacement.

[thesourcerer]

Trying to open the old cases can be difficult.
Hold it with the power input side downwards (not the top slot facing upwards). Put your thumbs on either side of the case (having removed the screw first). Start to prise it apart, slowly increasing the pressure.
Most of the time it starts to come apart, bit by bit, then should suddenly come apart (the top slot end acts almost like a hinge.
It helps if it is warm, as the securing lugs can be brittle when cold, and they can snap off, but usually just one if they are.
Even if they snap, it is not the end of the world, the case usually goes back together.
And the cases can be easily replaced if they break.
It can need a surprising amount of force to separate the two halves!.
There is a wiring diagram on Jaap’s site somewhere, but it is usually obvious which wire needs resoldering and where.
Regards
Peter

[thesourcerer]

I mean the power supply end facing you, i.e. you are looking down at it!

[NotFitForPurpose]

Hi,
on a classic case there is one screw and two recessed clips at the front (top slot end).


When connecting to a P.C. its always confusing which is Tx (In or Out).... same for Rx.. and so on.
Hint - connect the TX to the Rx line (pin 2 to pin 3) with a small piece of wire on the Organiser DB25 then enter the TERM program..
If the character comes back the COMMS link is good !

DOS is real old school - did you mean DOSBOX or similar?
Anyway, I use my Organiser(s) with a Windows 11 machine, various Windows terminal emulators, DOSBOX and best of all that hidden gem by lostgallifreyan 'ORG-Link.exe'

Some Pics to help..

Bottom Shell
https://github.com/nofitnessforpurpose/ ... 0Shell.png

Top Shell
https://github.com/nofitnessforpurpose/ ... 0Shell.png

PCB

[spectreman]

Thanks for the replies guys !
I did manage to get the comms link unit apart fine last night. Wiring looks to be ok inside.
Yes I will try the loopback test on it, good idea.

I am also trying to erase the 32K DataPak I have with a UV light, hopefully will have this done soon.

I do actually have a 1995 vintage PC with real DOS 6.2 on it.
It actually is an old analogue TV test set, but works very well as a DOS PC !
With a floppy drive & a very nice 2Gb hard drive in it !
Looks something like this, photo attached.....
https://organiser2.com/download/file.ph ... iew&id=545

[Martin]

Hi Chris..

That is a weird looking setup..

DOS 6.2
The Psion Developer (here) was designed to be run in DOS. The MAKE utility needs COM1 or COM2.
PSION PC-Four (here) is DOS based. as is PSION chess (here).
If you are ever creating database files for the Organiser then File Maker (here) was written for DOS.

Formatting a Datapak.
If you are using your pack as a general storage device, once you think it is formatted, you can place it in the Organiser and if it is not blank it will tell you so. BUT if you are going to MAKE a 'program' pack then it needs to be freshly UV erased (unsized) and inserted when instructed..

Sincerely
Martin

[spectreman]

Hi Martin.

Yeah not exactly Psion related really, but the DOS PC is in there...
Thanks very much for those software links, will come in very handy.

Good news, I now have full serial comms working fine between the Organiser & the PC.
Just had the RX & TX data lines reversed.
Next I will install some Psion DOS software & play around with transferring files & programs to the Organiser.
The DataPak is still not erased - I do not have a good enough UV light source to use at the moment.

Cheers, Chris.

[Martin]

The Microchip 27C512A CMOS EPROM datasheet indicates

1.0 ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
1.5 Erase Mode (UV Windowed Versions)

Windowed products offer the ability to erase the memory array. The memory matrix is erased to the all “1's” state as a result of being exposed to ultraviolet light. To ensure complete erasure, a dose of 15 watt-second/cm2 is required. This means that the device window must be placed within one inch and directly underneath an ultraviolet lamp with a wavelength of 2537 Angstroms, intensity of 12,000µW/cm2 for approximately 40 minutes.

Can it really be this simple to Improvise An EPROM Eraser (here)

Sincerely
Martin