Overview
The HEXBUS adapter is an easy-to-use modern interface module that provides three connections from the TI Hexbus interface to a serial port, USB port and an optional SD based storage drive – Backpack Drive+ (BPD+). When used with the optional BPD+, the serial port is occupied, of course another HEXBUS adapter could be daisy chained to provide a serial port. Raw Hexbus protocol data is sent to the serial port when used for the storage device access, this data could be sent via a null serial cable to a local PC/MAC app to provide storage functions for the Hexbus device (for example no such app yet exists.)
In the 1980s a few TI computers such as the TI-74, TI-95, TI-99/4A and CC-40 came with an innovative, for the time, digital interface called the DockBus™ or Hexbus™ respectively (Hexbus will be used to refer to both the DockBus and Hexbus). The two busses use identical protocols although the physical format of the connector is different.
The Hexbus can daisy chain up to 11 devices to provide connectivity to such items as:
- HX-1000
- Printer/Plotter
- HX-1010 Printer 80
- HX-2000 Wafer tape drive
- HX-3000 RS-232 interface
- HX-3100 Modem
- HX-3200 Centronics
- Printer Interface
- HX-5102 Disk Drive/Controller
- Quick Disk
- QD-02
Most of the Hexbus peripherals were never delivered in production quantities or are now extremely rare and hard to find. Some Hexbus peripherals never left the prototype stage. There are, of course, a few more modern Hexbus peripheral solutions available for these vintage machines that can provide program/data storage or serial interfaces.
The HEXBUS adapter provides:
- A Serial interface capable of running up to 38400bps, device ID 27
- Serial port control lines (RTS, CTS, DSR, DTR), not supported directly
- A USB port capable of running up to 38400bps, device ID 26
- USB power option, selected via switch
DockBus power option, selected via switch
- Program/data storage using the optional BPD+, device ID 100
- A Command Line Interface for control and management of the adapter
- Ability to change the default serial port settings
- Device IDs can be modified as required, permits easier daisy chaining
- Command port to control/configure the adapter from the host computer, device ID 200
- Drive Command port to control/configure the BPD+ from the host computer
See PDF in Downloads tab
