BBS terminal to Amiga 500

[Dr. Chef]

Hello. I would like to try BBS for the first time, but I'm having issues installing NComm to my Amiga 500.

Specs:

A500 NTSC model
WB 1.3
512k chip + 512k slow trapdoor ram A501.
Floppy Drives: 1
I have a amiga explorer setup, where I have usb to rs232, and rs232 connected to null modem (serial port)

I would like to run a terminal program such as NComm. On the Windows side of things, I'm running BoycoT. I saw a youtube video of someone being able to boot from start up, but I'm having issues installing to floppy. I'll explain.

I have one working floppy drive. My external drive wont work, so I have to use the stock, built in floppy drive. When I run the software, I get an error stating: 'Cant open req tools library'. Is there an easier way to install? I've tried installing via the installer, but that doesn't work, or I'm unable to get it to work. I don't know what to do. How did you get NComm to work on a stock A500?

Thanks,

Dr. Chef.

Edited for clarity.

[Dr. Chef]

Could you explain the RS232 serial to USB? Is this what you are using instead of a null modem cable?

Otherwise you need a full WorkBench disk with all the libraries and devices and the Ncom program; I never tried this off floppies as a hard drive was the easiest method for me with a complete WorkBench installation.

Also, the reqtool.library and installation program are from OS3.1, I believe.

Thanks for the replies.

I'm using a null modem cable. That's what I meant. I'm using nullmodem to rs232 and rs232 to usb. There are versions of reqtool.library that could work with wb1.3 via NComm version 3.0 on Aminet. I cant install to my workbench floppy because its full, and I cant copy to libs for that same reason. I have amigaexplorer, so I can try any suggestions you guys have.

Is there a way to install ncomm to a seperate floppy and have it bootup at start up? I saw a youtube video where someone has a working NComm setup under wb1.2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOreJxIZMpw

Is there a way to have a lightweight workbench, where I can boot directly into NComm?

Also, does NComm work under 1.3?  You're  going to be pretty limited with that kind of setup.

There is a older version that works for 1.3 and 2.0. Also, I'm unsure if this is true, but I read messages stating that the later version can run on 1.3.

[Dr. Chef]

Cool, I'll have to try that. So, if I do this all from WB 3.x from Amiga Forever, I'd be able to run with out a problem? Should I stick with version 3.0 or should 3.6 work with the earlier version of NComm?

[Dr. Chef]

There are 2 versions on Aminet. 3.0 and 3.6. 3.6 is free and comes with a keyfile so you can use the full version.

You can make this work!  I have vague  memories of going online 20-something years ago using a similar setup,  only I had two floppy drives, and of course was using a dial-up modem at  the time to connect to real BBS's.  

Yeah, I'm using a modem emulator on my PC, but for my first time to play on a BBS will be a treat.

Or you can do that ; )

Eventually, when I get the money, I might upgrade my Amiga so I can have a Gotek and a hard drive. Using a single floppy drive and swapping floppies is defiantly not fun.

[Dr. Chef]

Okay, I'm lost. I was able to delete the different applications that came bundled with Workbench that I didn't need, to free up to a little more than 100KB's, but how do I install directly to wb1.3?

I have reqtools in libs. Now what? I tried copying ncomm to ram: and then running the installer. Basically, I typed in install df0:, but nothing happens, or nothing I'm aware of. If I try to install with version 3.0, the earlier version, I get errors while the installer attempts to install. If I run version 3.6 in ram, with out installing, it loads, but I cant connect to serial.device.

Edit: If I try to copy Ncomm, installer and all, then I don't believe I'll have enough space to copy everything.

If you add FAST ram (upto 8 Megs. See Kipper2K's offerings), a system  like yours really starts to feel more spacious after booting (easily the  slowest part of using the system).  With a spacious Ram Disk:, you can  de-archive there, execute them there, and only if you like them - commit  them to permanent floppy.

That seems like a nice option, plus the price very reasonable.

[Dr. Chef]

If you add FAST ram (upto 8 Megs. See Kipper2K's offerings), a system like yours really starts to feel more spacious after booting (easily the slowest part of using the system).  With a spacious Ram Disk:, you can de-archive there, execute them there, and only if you like them - commit them to permanent floppy.

That seems like a nice option, plus the price very reasonable.

[Dr. Chef]

I can install the fonts my self. Right now, I'm attempting to delete as much as I can to get over 200KB, but I'm finding that a little difficult, because I don't know what is required by the system or not. I could probably delete shell commands that I know that I wont be using. I've deleted all the utilities besides Cmd.

[Dr. Chef]

Correct.    Also fonts are a good target.  And the Workbench preferences program itself, if you won't be changing any preferences (I think that's about 50K).  You can always run that off a separate disk later, if you need to.

Yeah, I have multiple workbench floppies, so I can copy if I require anything.

Thanks for your help. You guys have been very helpful.

[Dr. Chef]

Good news. I was able to delete the larger fonts and now I have 244KB available. Now, I'll attempt to install, and whatnot, via click and drag.

Looking at NCommToChipPatch, it looks like a patch for A4000's or something, so I'll hold off on using that.



Now we are getting somewhere. I 'installed' everything, except the NCommToChopPatch, but I'm getting a new error: 'load ncomm: file is not an object module.

[Dr. Chef]

Now we are getting somewhere. I 'installed' everything, except the NCommToChopPatch, but I'm getting a new error: 'load ncomm: file is not an object module.

Found the problem, the file wasn't fully copied, so I deleted the news file since there is no need for it.

[Dr. Chef]

The software is running, but I cant connect. If I try dialing to a BBS such as 'bbs.at2k.org', it will attempt to connect, but I get an error stating 'modem not responding'. Its a issue on the windows side of things.

I decided to give tcpser a go because the other thing I was using didn't work.

I have a batch file created, but when I load it, it attempts to connect, but it then disconnects.

This is the command I used. I followed a youtube video and copied their commands, but switched with my own com port to 5(S4).
tcpser -d /dev/ttyS4 -s 19200 -p 23 -l 4

If I try using Boycott with Handshake XonXoff, it doesn't actually connect. If I change it to RTS like on my Amiga side, it wont work, but actually gives me an error stating 'RtsEnable cannot be accessed if Handshake is set to RequestToSend or RequestToSendXOnXOff.'.

[Dr. Chef]

I can ran the software, but when I attempt to connect to a server, I get errors on BoycoT

Code: [Select]

2/14/2015 11:02 AM - Loading Character Code Translations
2/14/2015 11:02 AM - Opening COM5,19200,8,None,1,XOnXOff
2/14/2015 11:04 AM - ModemCommandString = ? ? ??? ????? ATDTBBS.AT2K.ORG
2/14/2015 11:04 AM - Modem Error Code = 4
2/14/2015 11:04 AM - ModemCommandString =  CSDADAXZAZCZXV
2/14/2015 11:04 AM - Modem Error Code = 4
Sometimes I can connect, then I get an error code 1.

[Dr. Chef]

Sorry for the late replies. Thanks for being patient and helpful.

Would you confirm your signal path again. Amiga to Null-modem to serial2USB converter to Windows laptop running BoycoT?  Did you construct the Null-modem cable youself?

I can confirm the cable works. I use it with Amiga Forever (Software to connect an Amiga to Windows for copying files to floppy or Ram, etc.). I didn't make the cables, but I bought them off the internet. When I use BoycoT, I adjust the settings so they match the same on my Amiga. On NComm, you can adjust baud rate, handshake, etc. When I change the handshake settings on both software to none, I can attempt to connect, but I get Modem Error 1 on BoycoT

It's been a very long time since I've used Ncomm or a null-modem cable.  Shooting from the hip, I'm guessing that BoycoT (Terminal program on the other platform?) is expecting a real modem at the end of your USB2serial converter.  Isn't there a Null Modem option in BoycoT when connecting?  It seems that there was one in Ncomm.

Have you successfully used this USB-to-serial converter in the past?

BoycoT is a modem emulator, it is supposed to work in a way where your retro computer will think its a modem. For example: Connecting a C64 to your PC running BoycoT instead of a real modem. My setup is this: Amiga side: NComm terminal emulator. Windows: BoycoT modem emulator.

The modem commands are not needed.  Unsure of  your BoycoT program though, as i just open the terminal in Windows  (using a Win98 laptop from 2000) to communicate with my X1000's serial  port over a Laplink serial (null) cable.

How were you able to achieve this with Command Prompt? I don't want to communicate back in forth like Amiga Explorer, I just want to connect to my PC where my Amiga think its a modem, with using modem emulation, so I can play with BBS servers on my Amiga. If there is another way to achieve this, then that would be great, but I don't know what to do.

[Dr. Chef]

Hurray. I was able to connect via TCPSER and following a guide already on Amiga.org. I changed my settings to 'tcpser.exe -d /dev/ttyS4 -s 19200 -l5'

I'm on At2k. Thanks for your help guys.


Edit: I'm getting a tiny bit of graphical problems such as some possibl ascii characters not displaying properly, but I might be wrong. For example when I was creating a account it showed "Your nickname zz yournamehere. Also, the main menu name looks a bit different, but it could just we the BBS, but I'm not sure.

[Dr. Chef]

A image of it working. Sorry, I was using a garbage camera on my tablet.

http://i.imgur.com/DEcs2Xq.jpg