Basic Stamps and Macintosh

* Using Stamp software with SoftPC
* About SoftPC
* Stamp download cables for MAC
* Compatibility test results

For any questions, problems and comments send mail to: sis@rasi.lr.ttu.ee or
alukats@parallaxinc.com
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Using Basic Stamp software with SoftPC

The Stamp editors (supplied with the Stamp programming package) will not work
from SoftPC. Special versions are required.

STAMPX.EXE Special edition of STAMP.EXE
STAMP2X.EXE Special edition of STAMP2.EXE
Basic Stamp downloader for MAC/SoftPC works with both BS1 and BS2 - not
available

STAMPX and STAMP2X support currently only COM1. To use the Printer port you
must specify Printer for COM1 from SoftPC settings.
Important: Disable Flow control for the port you are using to communicate with
stamps.
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About SoftPC

Insignia Solutions has several versions of MS-DOS emulators for Macintosh:
SoftPC, SoftPC Professional, SoftPC with Windows and SoftWindows. To work with
Basic Stamp software the lowest cost solution - SoftPC is sufficent. Insignia
products are available from many Apple resellers. Minimum requirements for MAC
are: 68020 CPU, 4MB RAM and MacOS 6.0 SoftPC Pro requires 8MB RAM.

Insignia Solutions Inc.
1-800-848-7677
1300 Charleston Road
Mountain View, CA94043
1-415-694-7600 Voice
1-415-964-5434 Fax
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Stamp download cables for MAC

Stamp I There is no standard cable to use. Make your own.

Stamp II Use Mac to Hayes cable and DB25F to DB9M adapter (make sure there is a
link between pin 6&7 on the carrier board) or make your own cable.

Making Stamp download cable(s).

To make your cable you need first a Mini Din 8M connector. The the best deal is
to buy a cable and cut it to half. The best value suitable cable is:

10' Mac to Image Writer II Mini din 8M/M
manufactured by PC Concepts Item #52210
List price 7.95, price in "Staples" 5.99+VAT

6' din 8M/M cable Item# ACC 0595 Price 11.00
10' din 8M/M cable Item# ACC 0610 Price 15.00
6' Mac to Hayes cable Item ACC 0596 Price 9.95
available from MacWAREHOUSE

Other required parts like DB9M connector, 4.7kohms resistor and pin header are
available from from Radio Shack, and thats all you need to make the cables.

Mac Serial connector pins (8 pin mini din)

    *8 *7 *6

   *5    *4 *3

      *2 *1

Download Cable for Stamp II

MAC Mini din 8   Carrier board DB9  BS2 Pin

4 Common         5 GND              4 GND
1 HSKo           4 ATN              3 ATN
3 TxD-           3 RX               2 SIN
5 RxD-           2 TX               1 SOUT

Download Cable for Stamp I

MAC Mini din 8   Stamp I Rev D      BS1-IC

4 Common         1<< GND            2 GND/Vss
8 RxD+           2                  3 PCO
6 TxD+  -/\/\/\- 3                  4 PCI

        R1 = 4.7kohm required

Future Stamp development software for Macintosh will support the cables
described above.
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Compatibility testing

Basic Stamp (MAC/SoftPC Special Release) tools have been tested with:
* Macintosh LC III, 8MB RAM, MacOS 7.1, SoftPC Pro 3.1
* Macintosh Performa 476, 4MB RAM, MacOS 7.5, SoftPC 3.0.1
* Macintosh Quadra 800, 20MB RAM, MacOS 7.5.1, SoftPC Pro 3.1
* PPC 7500, 32MB RAM, MacOS 7.5.2, SoftWindows 2.0

Problems reported with:
* none
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Basic Stamp is registered trademark of Parallax Inc. SoftPC and Insignia are
registered trademarks of Insigina Solutions Inc.
