How easy is it for you to transfer files to your vic-20?

Boray · Post by **Boray** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:25 am

How easy do you think it is for you to transfer internet files from and to your real vic-20?

/Anders

Boray · Post by **Boray** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:32 am

I checked the first choice. An XE cable, 64HDD and Star Commander.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:35 am

At the moment, I own only the base unit with a +3K RAM expansion, but without Datasette or disc drive.

Your poll missed one point: "My VIC actually is connected to the Internet."

Greetings,

Michael

vic user · Post by **vic user** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:38 am

i am under "ok"

i transfer files from the internet to the vic via a C64 bridge.

the C64 and pc are connected using a phone cord, and i disable carrier detect and all that, as i am not dialing in or anything, and transfer files via xmodem.

chris

Boray · Post by **Boray** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:41 am

Mike wrote: Your poll missed one point: "My VIC actually is connected to the Internet."

Point 1 could include that I think...

Centallica · Post by **Centallica** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:46 am

Easy, with the Leif's gui4cbm4win and CBM4Win program, a XM 1541 cable, a great idea from Leif to use a switchbox from my printer to 1541 drive all I have to do is switch to "B" on the switchbox and load my CBM4WIN GUI.

Brian

Schlowski · Post by **Schlowski** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:11 am

I have a lot of possibilities:

a) XM1541 cable, CBM4Win and gui4cbm4win, writing to real 1541
b) same as above, using VICE to save to (and load from) real 1541 - I think that is very cool

c) write to floppy, copy file to my notebook and use 64HDD to load this into VIC. Unfortunately I am not able to get my network running under DOS with the notebook...

Compared to a few years ago it is sooo easy to get files from and to the VIC from internet!

Schlowski

Schema · Post by **Schema** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:04 pm

I also picked option 1, although it's sometimes closer to 2 mostly because my PC is on the top floor of the house and the VIC is in the basement

Eventually, I'd like to eliminate using floppies entirely. 64HDD would work I guess, but the uIEC (compact flash card) would be the ultimate solution for me. Unfortunately it sounds like the uIEC is delayed for a while

Has anyone used a 1581 with the VIC? One 720K floppy would hold a lot of VIC games

Mayhem · Post by **Mayhem** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:41 pm

I actually have two PCs connected to the same flat screen monitor; the main one via digital output I'm typing on the moment. The other is a 486 I use for all my transfers. So all I have to do is turn it on and then press a button on the monitor to change the input

Post by **Jeff-20** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:24 pm

You are all probably aware of my issues. I am in the market now for an old 386/486 notebook computer to transfer files. I wish I had never sold my 386 Satelite with working StarCommander.

carlsson · Post by **carlsson** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:29 pm

For me, it used to be "okey" as I only had a cable to connect the 1541 to Amiga, and any files up- or downloading would have to be stored on a PC floppy, loaded via CrossDOS onto the Amiga and then transferred further. After building myself a XM cable, I only need to swap a few cables* and exit to DOS - I'm using Win98SE, so cbm4win is not an option.

(*) PC parallel port: printer/disk drive. I should get a manual switch. Disk drive: make sure nothing in the other end of the bus is plugged in. Some day I'll either fix the broken extra floppy PSU or get a makeshift one from a cable and power from the PC.

carlsson · Post by **carlsson** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:38 pm

Jeff, too bad your laptop is one of the ones with a incompatible parallel port. Are you sure there are no BIOS upgrades or likewise you could apply?

I've seen some kind of USB to parallel adapter, but I don't know how it is supposed to work and whether it would function together with a X-cable:

http://www.deltaco.se/showarticle.asp?ITEMID=UC1284A

That one costs 370 SEK incl. VAT on Dustin (Sweden), which should be well below $40 considering lower sales taxes and stuff. No idea if it would make any difference though. It says these cables require Windows to work, so either you have 2000/XP and would run cbm4win, or you would exit to DOS from within 95/98.

Another manufacturer, a bit more information (but Centronics interface rather than DB25): http://www.sunsway.com.hk/products/usbepp.html

Similar cables area available starting at $10 ($15 for DB25):
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... ?CatId=471

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/usb_ ... _cable.htm

Please Note: USB to parallel port converters are for printers only! All-in-one units (printer/fax/scanner) or scanners, zip drives, etc. will not work with any USB to parallel port converter currently available.

Yet it says it is bi-directional and so on. I suppose one should believe the reseller if they warn you, but still an interesting idea if it would work. The other resort would to get a parallel port PCMCIA card, but it may cost as much as a 2nd hand 386 laptop:

$90: http://sewelldirect.com/ParallelPCMCIACard.asp
$70: http://www.cooldrives.com/software-dong ... cmcia.html

Leeeeee · Post by **Leeeeee** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:14 pm

Hmmm, a bit of the first and second, mostly the second but then I nearly always have to move stuff and have a network of computers all over the house. Even the Vic can be on the ethernet network though without an FTP client file transfer isn't that easy. Guess I'll have to write one eventually. 8^)=

I've an XA1541 cable somewhere but for cart images I just copy them into a BBRAM chip and plug 'n' go on a naked cart.

I rarely use an emulated Vic as you can't plug real hardware in which is where my main interest lies.

Lee.