Connecting Newton 130 to my mac

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Level 1

95 points

Connecting Newton 130 to my mac

Hi, I'm looking for help with connecting my Newton 130 to my mac. I have looked at a LOT of information online, but am still unable to get a connection established between my Newton and my mac... I would like to at least be able to back up my Newton and install packages, but syncing would be even better. I have a PCMCIA modem for my Newton that I used to dial up back when my Newton was my main PDA. I do not have a compatible WIFI or ethernet card, nor do I have a serial-to-USB adapter of any kind, so I'm stuck with trying to establish a TCP/IP connection. I've read in a number of places that I should be able to set up a modem-to-modem connection, but my attempts have failed. The only step-by-step instructions I have been able to find are the ones at http://tools.unna.org/wikiwikinewt/index.php/MODEMtoMODEM which are specific to a messagepad 2000 or 2100 and don't work on my 130... Can anyone give me some tips or directions on how to manage such a feat?
Thanks!

Powermac G4 Dual 867 / 1GB / 330GB, Mac OS X (10.4.9), 17" Studio Display / 20GB iPod (2nd gen) / Pismo running server duty

Posted on Sep 10, 2007 3:04 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 10, 2007 6:50 PM in response to peter weber

I think your computers are all too new for that old newton. I suggest you try to get hold of a beige G3 with serial/LocalTalk ports. They have gotten really cheap.

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Answer 2

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,235 points

Sep 10, 2007 10:27 PM in response to peter weber

To begin with, I should say that I am not really familiar with the Newton. However, the procedure described under the link in your message appears to be similar to the one in KB article # 22229 (for Mac-to-Mac transfers). Both are not TCP/IP; rather plain communications operations modem to modem.

Two randomly chosen modems, directly connected to each other (that is, a local connection), may have a problem negotiating. In such a case, a very simple line simulator (providing the necessary current) can be built from a 9 V battery, a battery connector, a 330 Ohm resistor and a slightly modified RJ-11 to RJ-11 cable. Do NOT use any line simulator when a modem is connected to the public telephone network.

The Mac would need some kind of terminal emulator with file transfer capabilities (such as the shareware program ZTerm).

Jan

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Answer 3

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,235 points

Sep 12, 2007 1:49 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

Addendum

Maybe parts of the (Mac) modem-to-modem TCP/IP information in this document, which I found through a Google search, can be transformed into ideas for your Newton.

Is dial-up and TCP/IP software already on the Newton? Alternatively, would a terminal emulation program (capable of carrying out file transfers) be installed?

BTW, I just connected two older PowerBook computers modem-to-modem (locally) via terminal emulators. One PowerBook had an external serial 56 kbps modem, the other a 33.6 kbps PCMCIA. As with others before, these modems refused to co-operate without the line simulator (post back if you need more details about how to build one) in place.

Jan

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