• Please review our updated Terms and Rules here

Nec Pc-8201a

C

compaqxp

Experienced Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2008
Messages
56
Location
Nova Scotia
Ok so I've acquired a NEC PC-8201A and I have a few questions.

How can I transfer files to and from it. I've read it can be done, I'm just not sure how. It would be nice is it we're how to on mac though.
And can it connect to BBS's?
 
I used to have one of those machines. They were great!

It is made by the same manufacturer that made the Tandy Model 100, and is very similar to that model. From memory, differences are that with the 8201a there is no internal modem, you could plug ram-packs into it, there were 3 inbuilt programs rather than 5 (it didn't have the schedule program or address book included), the cursor keys were in a more logical diamond arrangement and the BASIC used the LOCATE command rather than the @ for screen character formatting.

With the built-in TELECOM program it is easy to transfer data to other computers via the RS-232. You just have to have the right null-modem cable and software on the other computer.

They are nifty little machines.
 
Don't know about the Mac, but if you have a PC running DOS, just use the COPY command along with TELCOM on the 8201A (and a null modem, of course).

First, use MODE.COM to set the PC's serial port to match the parameters of the NEC: MODE COM1: <speed>, <parity>, <stop bits> <enter> (note the commas).

After jacking in the cable, launch TELCOM and get ready to upload.

On the PC type: COPY <filename.ext> COM1: then start the upload on the NEC.

--T
 
The best thing to do, if you have an EPROM burner, is to visit club100.org (purveyor of all things NEC8201/M100/M102/M200) and download the ROM images under ROMWare in the menu. www.web8201.com also has these.

Burn the TS-DOS image onto a 27C256 EPROM, and get a null-modem cable to go between your PC and the NEC, and then re-visit club100.org for the software.

If you are not familiar with the 8201a, club100 has a good intro, including which software(s) to use.

Please bear in mind, that even though they are similar, machine language programs for the M100/M102 will *NOT* run on the NEC. There are, for the most part, equivalents though.

Especially perue the "Hot Setup" link at club100.org.

Any questions, feel free to ask - quite a few of us have the NEC.
I myself have done a little hardware hacking on mine the last couple of days ;)


T
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top