MiniSport Laptop Hacker (TM) - Vol #28. July 1995 To discourage pecuniary interests, Copyright (c) 1995 Brian Mork >>> ADMIN A compendium of all issues are available from ftp.cs.buffalo.edu (198.17.249.2) as mlhackXX.zip in the ~\pub\ham-radio directory. Login with the name "anonymous" and use your email address as the password. The compendium is also available on SimTel archives (eg. oak.oakland.edu) as \SimTel\msdos\packet\mlhackXX.zip. The XX in the filename indicates the last issue number, and replaces the previous convention of using mlhacker.zip for all compendiums. >>> INDEX The issues add up! Once I passed 24 issues, I knew I'd have to spend the time to go back and index them. Here it is. --- Index for MLHacker #1-#28 --- AUTOEXEC.BAT 2,26 Automated setup of your environment 27 Back issue sources 6ff Batteries, Lithium, part# 6 Battery cell replacement 27 Battery charger schematic 25 Battery pack construction 22,23,24 Battery pack internals 21,27 Battery pack internals, breaking into 27 Battery pack replacement card 22,23 Battery pack/Computer connector 21 Battery power, conserving 11 Battery source, Makita drills 22 Battery, Lithium, replacing 25 Baycom vs Poor Man's Packet 21 Boot CMOS options 2 Boot keystrokes 6 Boot options 2 Boot sector 20 Bootstrapping the RAMdisk 27 Charger relay schematic 14 CHKDSK operation 20 COM2: modem header pinout 8 Comm port bit diddle 19 Comm port data discard 19 COMMO (comm program) 4 COMx: I/O registers 7,8,10,13 CONFIG.SYS 2,26 DEBUG scripts 19 Disassembly instructions 5 Disk (2") source 1,4,6 Disk clusters 20 Disk drive external connector pinout 22 Disk drive stacking 26 Disk file allocation tables 20 Display cable pinout 18 DSZ file transfers 4 Durability during trips 6 Editing disk sectors 20 External drive pinout 10 Fastwire Link cable 3-3wire 3 Fastwire Link cable, improved 4 Frequency counter adapter 16 Frequency counter script 16 GDU highlight 20 Index 28 Initializing everything from power dead state 27 Memory, adding 2nd meg 19 Memory, soldering more 4 Minisport pricing 6 Minisport specs 1 Modem port RS-232 mod 15 Monitor, 12VDC external CGA source 24 MSDOS Zenith additions 3 MSDOS Zenith deletions 3 Null modem cable 3-wire 3 Null modem cable, improved 4 Packet radio mobile 6 Parallel port bidirec I/O 19 Parallel port, bidirectional 7 Poor Man's Packet board 9 Poor Man's Packet TX problem 15 Poor Man's Packet vs Baycom 21 Power (non-battery) options 12 Power connector pinout 12 Power supply autoshutdown mode 18 Power supply board revisions 14 Power supply failure clues 5 Power supply FET failure 18 Power supply pinout, internal 18 Power supply pinout, internal 5 Power supply, automobile 21 Power-on failure mode 17 PROCOMM (comm program) 4 Procomm script for OE freq counter 16 (See the Minisport and OptoElectronic's hardware in action: "RF Counter Data Collection and Visualization," July 1994 QEX.) Review article refs 15 Root directory 20 Schematic, battery charger 25 Schematic, Poor Man's Packet 9 Schematic, power supply guess 17 Schematic, Power supply relay 9 Schematic, RS-232 modem adapter 15 Serial port addition 15 SHELL 2 Stacking the RAMdisk 26 --- end of index for MLHacker #1-#28 --- >>> AN ERA PASSING The first issue of MLH was distributed in January of 1993. Two and a half years later, I expect this to be the last MLHacker. I still use my minisports regularly, but the seasons change, time moves on, and other facets of life become dominant. I also picked up two broken laptops (a '386 and a '486), and, by mixing and matching parts, I have a '386 that is capable of taking over much of the Minisport functions. Prices are falling such that it's become reasonable for me to begin using a more modern laptop. The two minisports are getting attention from the kids. They have favorite CGA games, and they're beginning to call the Minisports "their" computers. MLH has been coincident with me learning a lot about the Internet and Amateur Radio networks. After swelling my activities to the point where net surfing was all I was doing, I've shrunk back to a level where net access is a tool rather than a teacher. I need to get some work done in other areas! Since making the MLH compendium available on Internet archives, I receive queries from around the world. Nonetheless, most of the questions are discussed in previous issues, giving further impetus to wrap up this project while it's alive and well, rather than fill more issues of MLH with fluff just to keep it going. If anybody has questions about the minisport, by all means contact me. Just because I'm not sourcing more newsletters doesn't mean I don't want to talk about them any more. I'm sure my contact information will change over the next 6 months, so you'll have to be creative tracking me down. The most reliable method will probably be to contact a local Amateur Radio operator and ask them to find QSL information or a packet address for KA9SNF. I'll continue to publish in the electronics/radio magazines. I'll be moving to Colorado in August to attend a "prestigious" Space Tactics School put on by Headquarters Space Command. After that, I'll probably be permanently moving to Colorado Springs to teach at the Air Force Academy. God willing, I'll begin training as an astronaut sometime in 1996. Selection will be this Fall. Please provide feedback! * Internet bmork@comtch.iea.com * ARO Net KA9SNF@ka7fvv.#ewa.wa.usa 73, Brian * 6006-B Eaker, Fairchild, WA 99011