PC-186 RS422 Communication With Windows PC

 

RM Nimbus Terminal Emulator (VT100/TEK4014) - Connections and Cables
Page 2.1	Page 2.2	Page 2.3

While my Research Machines Nimbus ideas just keeps on coming out of nowhere and discussing with Matt about RM piconet PARALLEL INTERFACE 01 and Iomega Z100P2 Zip drive via WhatsApp, I've realised this is what I need for FastLynx - customised made RJ11 to 25 pin cable from top of Page D.3, referring to my RM Nimbus PC-186 Serial Communication with Windows PC blog. But I got a bit confused with the RM Nimbus pinouts from Page D.3 and not sure about +12v especially with pages 2.3 & E.6 at first, thinking both Piconet / Aux pinouts & Page TD 3.7 is correct while we got mixed up with the other links:

• How do I do the 6 pin RJ11 to RS232 female serial adapter wiring? - Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange

• RS232 port (DB-25 pin). Pinout and signals for full RS232 connector

RM Nimbus Terminal Emulator (VT100/TEK4014) - Making Cables
Page D.1	Page D.2	Page D.3	Page D.4

Until Matt has come up with a diagram of his own as well sending me a marked page and mentioning it to me "I guess Pin 4 just ties the CTS, DSR and DCD pins high so that any device that expects a handshake will recieve a signal to send data without an actual handshake." In the end, it makes perfect sense and understanding more completely and realizing that there is no point of trying Iomega Z100P2 Zip drive on RM Nimbus X10 anymore, as the Parallel port on the RM piconet PARALLEL INTERFACE 01 is RM 480Z port, not the standard IBM Parallel port at the same time. But the funny thing is IBM Mode still works without the IBM Mode Utility Board Card installed, as long you've got 1MB or more of RAM. I've found out while trying out with my Slimline PC-186, even it works on MESSUI 0.157 with my IBM Mode software v2.90 + FastLynx v2.01 - PC 186 file, it loads up automatically.

Since, I've got MESSUI 0.157: RM Nimbus PC-186 Emulator with the shortcut for Window's desktop working perfectly on my Dell XPS 8940 PC with Windows 10 Pro (64-bit) installed, Matt wanted to give that a go and eventually got it working on his PC with Slimline PC-186 version, having so many memories as a kid with playing trains while reliving the RM Nimbus again, through MESSUI 0.157 - blaming me for that, lol! Even, he admit that it was so good to see that RM Nimbus welcome screen again, so nostalgic!!

 

RM Nimbus Terminal Emulator (VT100/TEK4014) - Communications Explained
Page E.1	Page E.2	Page E.3
Page E.4	Page E.5	Page E.6

 

RM Nimbus PC Owners Handbook
TD 3.7 (Page 348)	TD 3.8 (Page 349)	TD 3.9 (Page 350)

Update on 23/3/2021:

 

While I've got a good feeling about 2m customised made RJ-11 to DB25 cables and more hidden information is about to discover soon. Matt thought that will be great to see the piconet interface working. But I said Na, that won't be needed, it just connect directly to the back of Aux socket and change the settings to DX or IO for Serial communication. I think that RM piconet Parallel Interface has no use except connecting RM 480Z compatible Parallel printers, BBC compatible or expanding Piconet Parallel devices on the network. That Piconet Parallel Interface module How to use it manual has not much useful information, even pages 2.2 & 2.3 is blank, when it should be showing 480Z Parallel port pinouts. Very peculiar, that pages 2.2 and 2.3 are blank?? as Matt says. I say Definitely, very strange! There is something fishy going on there, I've got a feeling that RM is trying to hide something out there just in case of disappointment like the ROMPAC - short lived cartridge slots at the front.

 

Update on 24/3/2021:

 

While the parts for RJ11 to DB25 cables has not arrived yet at Matt's house, I've decided to have RJ-11 to DB25 Serial cable with 25 way Female D-sub connector at the end for each cable, as this makes so much easier especially with Amstrad PC Series & RM Nimbus PC-386 has Serial 25-pin Male Connector at the back and I've got a few DB9 Female to DB25 Male RS232 Serial Port Adapters to use for connecting the cable to Windows based PC.

 

I can feel and seeing it now about the good news with customised made RJ-11 to DB25 Female cables especially with running FastLynx on both computers very smoothly. Oh, by the way, dBaseIII+ works on PC-186 after loading IBM Mode first, just need to copy all the files from floppy to new created folder on the HDD or run directly from floppy disk

 

Update on 27/3/2021:

 

Parts for the RJ11 and DB25 cables has finally arrived at Matt's house, but he hasn't make any progress on the cable.

 

Update on 16/5/2021:

 

Matt has finally made 1 x customised 2m 6-way bell RS422 connector (RJ-11) to 25-way RS232C 'D' Female DB25 connector Serial Null Modem cables for testing RM Nimbus PC-186 RS422 Communication with Windows PC (postponed) without using Serial Data Communications Controller (DCC) on RM Nimbus PC - see below pic that Matt has send me via WhatsApp.

 

2m RJ11 to DB25 Female Serial null-modem cable

Update on 10/6/2021:

Matt has finally finished making 3 x RJ11 to DB25 RS232C 'D' Female cables. unfortunately, Matt didn't get the wiring correctly from the plastic catch on the top as shown in Page D.1 while showing Matt Page TD 3.7 as this'll look like at the back of RM Nimbus PC-186 using Aux socket for RS232 (TTL) duplex - IO/DX mode. He used the numbering spec losted online which was all sequential in a row, so he has to remake these again.

In order to avoid Matt making the same mistake, I've created and send him step by step instructions in a separate htm document. 

I've a thought of something... Since I've successfully transferring data from RM Nimbus X10 using DCC to Amstrad PC 1512 HD10 and visa versa without any problems previously. I'm guessing that the Serial port on Data Communications Controller (DCC) board is the same Serial port on the back of Amstrad PC 1512  as shown in RS232C Asynchronous Serial Port.

 

Update on 15/7/2021 14:52:

 

Since Matt still didn't rejoin / remake 3 x RJ11 to DB25 RS232C 'D' Female cables, I've decided to contact and sending my custom wiring requirements to Andy from cool-novelties, as he has made me customised 2m RM Nimbus to Philips CM8833-II monitor cable back in 2014. Unfortunately, I've received no reply from him, so I tried sending my custom wiring requirements again but this time, I've contact seller york-av. Fortunately, I've received a reply and asking for clarification before proceeding to go ahead with my custom wiring requirements. As for my clarification: I say it's best to use wiring from the book. I'll send you the same page out of the book without the red circle (picture 3) marked on it - top of the page: DTE (25-way RS232C 'D' Female required). It's very important to get the wiring done correctly (picture 2). I'll send you the pictures 1 & 4 to use as reference.

And then york-av has send me another eBay message reply with the good news: RJ-11 to DB25 Female RS232 Serial null-modem lead / cable for RM Nimbus computer listing is now up on eBay and available to order. I've purchased 3 x 2m cables immediately and paid via PayPal while receiving 49 Nectar points at the same time - sweet! Finally, RJ-11 to DB25 Female cables will be dispatched around 3-5 working days!! Oh, boy I can't really wait to try them out on my RM Nimbus now!!!

 

Update on 16/7/2021:

 

I've received a reply from Andy (cool-novelties), he was able to make up these cables for me around 12:37 while I was at work, but I already got someone to make up these cables for me and it's on eBay. I let him know in my reply when I got home from work and offered him another job instead, if he wants to.

 

In order to double check that I was making sure that it's the right RJ-11 connector I needed to connect to the back of my RM Nimbus PC. I've done a small research on the Internet and find RJ11 6P6C Modular Jack Network Male Plugs, 6 Pin, Telephone Connector, sending the link to york-av to check for confirmation that is the exact RJ-11 (6-way Bell connector) plug for customised 2m RJ-11 to DB25 RS232C Female Serial Null Modem cable.

 

An idea has come up in my mind: Make up a RM 480Z Parallel port to Centronics Standard PC Parallel port [SPP] converter cable using DB25 Female plug for connecting the back of Iomega Z100P2 Zip drive (PC Parallel port pins) and DB25 Male plug for connecting to PARALLEL INTERFACE 01 (RM 480Z Parallel port pins), that might work but will wait and see when the right time will come - who knows. Centronics Standard PC Parallel port [SPP] is the same Parallel printer port on the back of Amstrad PC 1512  as shown in Parallel Printer Interface.

 

Update on 22/7/2021:

I've received another reply from Andy (cool-novelties) on 19th July, turning down my PCB work offer, but he has got some good news instead: RM Nimbus AUX Serial Port to PC 25 Way D-Sub RS232 Cable - 2 Metres is now listed available to order on eBay. Since his cable looks very impressive - see 1st pic as shown below, I've purchased one of his cables immediately, just in case on 21/7/2021 around 6:53pm and he posted the cable out today by 1st Class for me. 

While I'm waiting for both Andy's (cool-novelties) & york-av's cables to arrived but I'll be working on Friday when it arrives and won't be home until 11pm, so I'm getting my upgraded Slimline PC-186 with maximum 1536K RAM, SCSI2SD & Gotek Floppy Emulator installed ready for testing - see both 2nd & 3rd pics as shown below:

 

Update on 23/7/2021:

york-av's RJ-11 to DB25 Female RS232 Serial null-modem lead / cable has arrived today through the letter box around 11am while I was about to take my shower after finished eating breakfast before going to work, so I just take my parcel and put it on my small table in my bedroom for me to open it and try it after finished taking my shower, brushing my teeth and getting changed. Afterwards, I've opened the parcel and started testing with my RM Nimbus Slimline PC-186  using IBM Mode software v2.90 + FastLynx v2.01 - PC 186 to e-Machines 320 PC with running FastLynx on both computers, but my Slimline PC-186 won't connect to my e-Machines 320 PC, coming up as "Remote System Not Connected" message - see 1st pic as shown below, even making a few changes of CONFIG settings as shown in 2nd pic, but still makes no difference with same "Remote System Not Connected" message.  

Damn! It's time for me to go work - to be continued...

After I got home a bit late around 11:20pm, due to bus route diversion, I start again, trying to figure out why any Serial COM ports doesn't comes up on FastLynx screen, checking the cables, then I realized Aux port is not exactly the same way as having Data Communications Controller (DCC) fitted, which is why FastLynx requires a real 25-way RS232C Serial port for it to work very successfully with ease, even when using IBM Mode with Data Communications Controller (DCC) installed, it supports full RS232C asynchronous communications for between computers. Unless there is a way of re-programming AUX (RS422) port to work with FastLyx, definitely will need another communications software that supports Nimbus Aux (RS422) port such as Research Machines Kermit for 480Z & Nimbus (see 3rd pic above), Terminal Emulator (VT100/TEK4014), etc. Then this means, my RM Nimbus X10 has now two ways of transferring files back & forth between from various computers like either Amstrad PCW Serial communication / CPC, BBC Micro / Master Serial Communication with RM Nimbus PC-186 via Kermit - available from Kermit Software Source Code Archive (slower & hard way) or Amstrad PC series Serial communication, Mega PC, RM Nimbus PC-186 Serial Communication with Windows PC and so on via FastLynx (faster & easy way) methods.

Update on 24/7/2021:

After having a few hours sleep, I continue on with Kermit experimenting using york-av's RJ-11 to DB25 Female RS232 Serial null-modem lead / cable with DB9 Female to DB25 Male RS232 Serial Port Adapters while loading up MS-KERMIT v3.00 on e-Machines 320 PC running on Windows 98 SE using NOTEPAD to edit the following settings:

 

set port com1

set speed 9600

 

saved in MSKERMIT.INI file, as COM2 was not available, only COM1 on my e-Machines 320 PC, I let my Slimline PC-186 to boot up from HDD, then put my flash drive containing Kermit v1.25 into Gotek drive and type AKMIT25 to load up KERMIT MAIN MENU, setting the speed to 9600 baud by selecting Set/Show Parameters, pressing the right arrow key until it reaches 9600 and press RETURN to accept the new change and back to KERMIT MAIN MENU - see 3rd pic as shown above. Next step was to select Connect to Mainframe, pressing F4 and then press "K" to go back to KERMIT MAIN MENU and select Sending Files. As a small test, I decided to try by sending READ.ME file first and typing receive on e-Machines 320 PC side but not getting any much luck, so I stopped for having a big breakfast, thanks to my 2nd older brother while catching up with my family. Then Andy's (cool-novelties) RM Nimbus AUX Serial Port to PC 25 Way D-Sub RS232 Cable has finally arrived after 2pm. So I've opened the parcel and started again with testing immediately following the same steps except this time removing york-av's cable, plugging in Andy's (cool-novelties) cable for testing and guess what? It works perfectly without any problems - see 1st pic as shown below.

Since, it was working perfectly, I've quit Kermit, flicking it back to IBM Mode software v2.90 + FastLynx v2.01 - PC 186 using the rotary on Gotek drive and changed it back to the original settings in CONFIG menu, then flick it back to Kermit v1.25 and experimenting it again. Fortunately, it still works perfectly and the same with Receiving Files from e-Machines 320 PC without any problems, so I've removed Andy's (cool-novelties) cable and trying york-av's cable one more time but still having problems - see 2nd pic as shown below like before, even the same result with Receiving Files. In the end, it turns out that there is something wrong with york-av's cable, I think it's been wired incorrectly as it's failing with my Serial data transfer between my RM Nimbus Slimline PC-186 & e-Machines 320 PC, so I've removed york-av's cable and plugging in Andy's (cool-novelties) cable for the last time, continuing on for more tests - see 3rd pic as shown below while visiting eBay Return item, printing off the return label using Dell XPS 8940 PC connected to Epson WorkForce WF-7610 and putting the cables back in same condition as before with the return label on the envelope and posting the item back immediately.
 

Good thing that I've purchased Andy's (cool-novelties) cable as back-up, something was telling me to purchase his cable at the beginning. Original plan was buying 4 x cables for Slimline PC-186, RM Nimbus PC-186 PC2 (1985) & RM Nimbus 186 PC2 (1987), as these PCs don't have Data Communications Controller (DCC) installed. As for the 4th cable was for enabling 2 way Serial data transfer feature on RM Nimbus X10 between any various computers by using Kermit with 2 options to choose from either AKMIT25.EXE or DKMIT25.EXE. 

Research Machines Kermit for 480Z & Nimbus has three following versions:

1. AKMIT25.EXE - Nimbus via Auxiliary Port in RS422 mode
2. PKMIT25.EXE - Nimbus via Piconet Serial Interface Module (SIM)
3. DKMIT25.EXE - Nimbus via Data Communications Controller (DCC)

Update on 26/7/2021:

It turns out that my first message to Andy (cool-novelties) was marked as spam for some strange reason and he didn't know until he read my (this) blog as has told me in his reply back to me after I've send him the good news about his cable after testing.

Also, he told me that my clear information that I've provided helped a lot but not quite sure how york-av got it so wrong! 

Update on 28/7/2021:

My return has been delivered back to york-av and full refund has been received after I've sent the item back and eBay has declined partial refund offer on my behalf.

While the return is out of the way, I've moved onto next project: Searching for more 256KB 30-pin SIMMs 150ns especially OKI MSC2304-15YS9A for RM Nimbus PC-386/20 (92) and 3Com Network cards for both RM PC-4100 PCI Accelerator 486 DX4 100MHz which is almost identical to the RM D-Series along with RM Nimbus S-Series: RM Nimbus PC 486/66 & RM Nimbus PC-386/20's that I've been using in Paddington Green Campus but very unsure with the model versions such as PC-466 PCI Accelerator - 486 66MHz (1st base unit at the top with MPC2 sticker), PC-575 Accelerator - 5th Gen x86: Pentium 75MHz, PC-5166 - 5th Gen x86: Pentium 166MHz (2nd base unit with MPC2 sticker), etc & RM Window Box PC6400 - 6th Gen x86: Pentium II 400MHz but it didn't happened as the seller has changed his mind at the last minute while installing Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11 on both (92) & (93) RM Nimbus PC-386/20's.

Update on 15/8/2021 02:00:

DKMIT25.EXE - Nimbus via Data Communications Controller (DCC) works perfectly on RM Nimbus X10 to load up KERMIT MAIN MENU by pressing Enter for default address, even it says "Commiuncations: By Piconet SIM" on the screen, with 9600 baud as maximum speed setting, having two methods of transferring files back & forth between from various computers by using either FastLynx or Kermit without using RM Nimbus AUX Serial Port to PC 25 Way D-Sub RS232 Cable.