how do i connect a vic 20 to a votrax type n talk?

[OneSwitch]

I'll try that. I feel that I've tried that already, but I'll give it another go. Thanks for offering some thoughts.

Here's the manual: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6edtbdoi5jcsp ... l.pdf?dl=0

I read something about sending a tilde ~ up front allows you to get to phonemes. Something about a carriage return being needed to send the string.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=DjA ... &q&f=false

Perhaps adding the carriage return after the "test" string is needed? Don't know how to do this though.

[OneSwitch]

...also noticed that line 20 must be tied to line 8. Maybe the Apple II is doing this be default and the Vic 20 through the RS232c cartridge isn't? I've tried straight through cables and Null modem with no improvement with the Null modem cable.

Just confused that some people on this thread had such an easy time relatively getting it to talk. I see in this review:

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=DjA ... &q&f=false - that for the TRS-80 the reviewer had to write his own driver and complained that it was poor of Votrax to not at least provide people with a listing. I agree! Still love the sounds it makes though.

[srowe]

PRINTs automatically send a CR so I don't think that's the problem.

I think we need to check the hardware flow control lines, here's the schematic of the VIC-1011

ftp://www.zimmers.net/pub/cbm/vic20/sch ... 011005.gif

I'm going out now, I'll take a look at the manual in detail later and suggest what to try next (unless someone beats me to it)

Simon

[srowe]

OK, from looking at the Votrax manual I think this is the cable you need

votrax pinout.png (26.13 KiB) Viewed 4620 times

Unless the manual has a typo the Votrax has CTS and RTS back-to-front. This means you need a crossover of Tx and Rx, DCD and DTR but straight through for CTS and RTS.

[OneSwitch]

Thanks. I'll try this ASAP.

[OneSwitch]

Thank you!

I thought I could get either a straight-through or a Null Modem cable working with this originally so (lazily) didn't check against the manual. I didn't think it would be some obscure tailor made DB25 cable that you can't buy. It is though, and after a bit of desoldering/resoldering a DB25 male to male null modem cable, the Votrax is chatting happily away at 2400 baud with the Scott Adam's games. It talks immediately, and you can use "V" (return) to turn it on/off.

Huge thanks to you all. I'll post some videos up soon. Love it. 1981 Blind accessible gaming.

[srowe]

Glad to hear you've got it working. This is why RS-232 was so problematic, what with different types and genders of connector, non-standard wiring etc it's always a challenge.

Hope the cart is working for you?

[OneSwitch]

Definitely a lesson for me.

The cartridge seems to be working perfectly. Wasted a bit of money I think on the chips, but they may be useful one day. Just need to get a copy of Mission Impossible to complete the Scott Adams five for the Vic 20. Really like The Count.

Wonder if there were any other games that used the Votrax on the Vic 20 or C64. I'm not aware of any.

[OneSwitch]

Here's a quick video which I showed at the GAconf (Game Accessibility conference) event: https://youtu.be/oef0-ElNpGs

Huge thanks again for all the help.