Apple LocalTalk PC Card
| Apple LocalTalk PC Card | |
|---|---|
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|
| The LocalTalk PC Card on the cover of Apple's 1989 installation guide | |
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer |
| Type | LocalTalk network interface card for IBM PC compatibles |
| Release date | 1987 |
| Discontinued | May 1991 |
| Interface | 8-bit PC (ISA) bus; DB-9 LocalTalk port |
| Compatible | IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2 Models 25 and 30, and most PC-bus compatibles running MS-DOS |
| Model | B0040LL/A (bundled with AppleShare PC 1.2) |
| Power | 4 W typical at 5 V |
The Apple LocalTalk PC Card, at first called the AppleTalk PC Card, is a half-size expansion card that connects an IBM PC or compatible running MS-DOS to a LocalTalk network.[1][2] With the PC LaserWriter Program supplied with it, a PC can print to a LaserWriter on the network; AppleShare PC adds file service and DOS printer redirection.[2][3] Apple's owner's guide is dated 1987. From 15 May 1989 the card was sold only with AppleShare PC 1.2, as bundle B0040LL/A. Apple discontinued it in May 1991 and sold the product line to Farallon, which marketed an updated card as the PhoneNET PC Card.[4][5][3]
Specifications
[edit | edit source]| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | 65C02 at 1.8 MHz |
| Memory | 8K RAM, 8K ROM |
| Communications controller | Zilog 8530 SCC |
| Network port | RS-422 serial, 230.4 kbit/s, DB-9 connector |
| Host interface | DMA to the PC; selectable IRQ, DMA channel and I/O address |
| Power consumption | 4 W typical at 5 V |
| Host requirements | 256K of RAM; two floppy drives or a floppy drive and hard disk; PC-DOS or MS-DOS 3.1 or later |
Specifications from Apple's description and owner's guide.[5][2] The AppleTalk driver takes 55K of memory, leaving 161K free on a 256K machine.[2] The card connects to the network through a LocalTalk Locking Connector Kit with a DB-9 plug (M2065).[2]
DIP switches
[edit | edit source]An eight-way DIP switch block, SW-1, on the lower-left corner of the card sets the interrupt, DMA channel and I/O address.[2]
| Switch | Function | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IRQ4 (shared with COM1) | Exactly one of switches 1 to 3 on |
| 2 | IRQ3 (shared with COM2) | Exactly one of switches 1 to 3 on |
| 3 | IRQ2 | Do not use on an IBM PC-AT |
| 4 and 6 | DRQ3 and DACK3 (DMA channel 3) | Both on, with 5 and 7 off |
| 5 and 7 | DRQ1 and DACK1 (DMA channel 1) | Both on, with 4 and 6 off |
| 8 | I/O address range | On: $240-$247; off: $220-$227 |
As shipped, switches 2, 5, 7 and 8 are on and 1, 3, 4 and 6 off: IRQ 3, DMA channel 1 and addresses $240-$247. Those defaults clash with a COM2 serial port. The card also uses timer vector $1C, and the driver is called through interrupt $60.[2][5] Apple's 1989 installation guide, written for AppleShare PC, recommends DMA channel 1 and $24x with all interrupts off, because the AppleShare PC driver polls the card, and gives a secondary setting for machines with conflicts.[6]
Whenever a switch is changed, tell the driver in AUTOEXEC.BAT: add /cardint=2 or /cardint=4 for a new interrupt, /dma=3 for DMA channel 3 and /address=220 for the lower address range, after ATALK.[2]
Compatibility
[edit | edit source]- The card works in the IBM PC, XT and AT, the PS/2 Models 25 and 30, and most PC-bus compatibles. It does not work in Micro Channel machines, under OS/2, or alongside the IBM 3270 Communication card.[7]
- In the AT&T 6300, fit it in one of the 8-bit slots, with IRQ 2, 3 or 4 free.[8] In an IBM PC/XT, do not use slot 8.[2]
- Apple tested the card in machines from the original IBM PC to 25 MHz 386 systems. Machines whose expansion bus runs at 8 MHz caused problems with it, as with many other cards.[9]
Troubleshooting
[edit | edit source]| Symptom | Probable cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Printing to "*" hangs the LaserWriter, "Looking for AppleTalk Zones" blinks forever, AppleShare hangs, network tools see nothing; new cards and software make no difference | IRQ changed on the card but not in the driver | Add /cardint=x to the ATALK line in AUTOEXEC.BAT[1] |
| No free interrupt in an IBM PC-AT with COM1 and COM2 both in use | IRQ 3 and 4 taken; the manual forbids IRQ 2 on the AT | Use the version 2.0 driver from AppleShare PC, which does not use the card's interrupt[1][10] |
| Card clashes with a serial port | Default IRQ 3 and $24x match COM2 | Change the switches and the driver parameters, or reconfigure the serial port[2] |
| "CAN'T OPEN PRINT FILE" from LWPRINT, then printer errors | File not in the directory given; the PostScript initialisation file was not sent | Give the full path and resend the initialisation file with LWPRINT -A[3] |
Documentation
[edit | edit source]- Apple LocalTalk PC Card Owner's Guide (1987): installation, the PC LaserWriter Program and technical specifications.[2]
- Apple LocalTalk PC Card Installation Guide (1989), 030-2161-B: installation for AppleShare PC and the revised switch settings.[6]
Related pages
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Apple Computer, "LocalTalk PC Card: IRQ Issues", Tech Info Library article 3067 (TA38658), created 23 June 1988, updated 30 July 1992, APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TIL00001_to_TIL09432.pdf. Source for: the card formerly called the AppleTalk PC Card; IRQ 2, 3 or 4 only; IBM PC-ATs using both COM ports; the manual's warning against IRQ 2 on the PC-AT; the AppleShare PC 2.0 driver ignoring the card's interrupt; the symptoms of an IRQ change not passed to the driver and the /cardint=x fix; Farallon taking over the product.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Apple Computer, Apple LocalTalk PC Card Owner's Guide (1987), hosted as File:Apple LocalTalk PC Card Owners Guide (1987).pdf. About the card (half-size board, connector box) p. 2; equipment needed (256K, DOS 3.1, LocalTalk Locking Connector Kit DB-9, M2065) p. 6; DIP switch settings, Table 2-1, p. 7; slot choice (not slot 8 on the PC/XT) p. 8; connecting to the network p. 9; Appendix C, technical specifications and DIP switch description, pp. 109-112.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Apple Computer, "LocalTalk PC Troubleshooting", Tech Info Library article 3633 (TA39638), created 14 March 1989, revised 16 November 1993, APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TIL00001_to_TIL09432.pdf. Source for: printing only to a LaserWriter with the bundled software, AppleShare PC being needed for file service and DOS printer redirection; files printed through the bundled utilities going via disk; sending a PostScript initialisation file with LWPRINT -A; the "CAN'T OPEN PRINT FILE" message when a file is not where specified.
- ↑ Apple Computer, "LocalTalk PC Card: Only Available With AppleShare PC 1.2", Tech Info Library article 4247 (TA40213), last reviewed 17 August 1989, APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TIL00001_to_TIL09432.pdf. Source for: the card sold only with AppleShare PC 1.2 from 15 May 1989, as bundle B0040LL/A.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Apple Computer, "LocalTalk PC Card: A Description (Discontinued May 1991)", Tech Info Library article 288, created 1 September 1987, revised 10 March 1994, in the archive.org collection APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES (retrieved 2026-10-04), file TIL00001_to_TIL09432.pdf. Source for: discontinuation and sale to Farallon as the PhoneNET PC Card; requirements; AppleTalk protocols supported; RS-422 port at 230.4 kbit/s with DMA to the host; selectable IRQ, DMA and I/O address, defaulting to the PC's COM2 resources; 65C02 at 1.8 MHz; 8K RAM and 8K ROM; Zilog 8530 SCC; 4 W typical at 5 V.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Apple Computer, Apple LocalTalk PC Card Installation Guide, 030-2161-B (1989), hosted as File:Apple LocalTalk PC Card Installation Guide (1989).pdf. Appendix, "Technical Details" pp. 20-22: default, recommended (polled, for AppleShare PC) and secondary DIP switch settings; DMA channel 1 or 3, IRQ 2, 3 or 4, I/O addresses $240-$247 or $220-$227.
- ↑ Apple Computer, "LocalTalk PC Card: Compatibility With MS-DOS Systems", Tech Info Library article 2935 (TA38023), last reviewed 11 May 1988, and "LocalTalk PC Card Can't Be Used by OS/2, MicroChannel", article 2737, APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TIL00001_to_TIL09432.pdf. Source for: compatibility with the PS/2 Models 25 and 30, PC XT, PC AT and most PC-bus clones; incompatibility with the IBM 3270 Communication card, Micro Channel machines and OS/2.
- ↑ Apple Computer, "LocalTalk PC Card Must Use 8-Bit Slots In AT&T 6300", Tech Info Library article 2862 (TA37975), last reviewed 6 April 1988, APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TIL00001_to_TIL09432.pdf.
- ↑ Apple Computer, "LocalTalk PC Card: Compatibility of Third-party Devices", Tech Info Library article 3634 (TA39649), last reviewed 23 March 1989, APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TIL00001_to_TIL09432.pdf. Source for: Apple testing in machines from the original IBM PC to 25 MHz 386s; 8 MHz card buses causing problems.
- ↑ Apple Computer, "LocalTalk PC Card: Version 2.0 Changes", Tech Info Library article 2792 (TA37916), last reviewed 30 March 1988, APPLE_TIL_ARTICLES collection, file TIL00001_to_TIL09432.pdf. Source for: driver 2.0 not using the card's hardware interrupt, so the default settings no longer clash with COM2.