Overview
I will add images of the adapters soon. The Backpack drive is NOT included.
If you already have a Backpack and find yoruself wanting to connect it to a different computer you may need a serial port adapter? Why would you need such an adapter? Well, some manufactuers used a DB25 connector and some used a DB9 connector iwth standard RS-232 pinout. Then to make it really interesting some used a DB9 with different wiring adn Epson went to the effort of hacing two weperate serial ports using DIN connectors.
If you wish to use the Backpack with a Tandy WP-2 you will need a DB9 to DB25 adapter, available as an option. If you wish to use the Backpack with a Sincliar Z88 you will need a DB9 to DB25 adapter, available as an option. The WP-2 and Z88 adapters look the same but are wired diffrently.
There is a new firmware that will allow the Backpack to work with the Epson PX-8 and HX-20. An adapter is required which is available as an option. Both CLI and Drive mode work on the PX-8 but as no termainal program could be found for the HX-20 only the drive mode will work. Since Espon used Mini DIN connectors on these machines you will need two Mini DIN cables for the PX-8:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/372702390151 . For the HX-20 you will need an 8-pin DIN to 8-pin Mini DIN cable. There are also pinout of the connectors in the manual if you want to build your own cables.
The documentation, SD card file set, etc. can be found from the Documentation tab below.
Documentation
All of the documentation and SD card files are on GitHub at the link below. Soon we will have a folder for user created M100 programs that leverage the Backpack's capabilities like setting the computers time/date from the Backpack's RTC.
Click
HERE for th eBackPack GitHub page.
