Serial terminal emulation software, essential when working with SBC’s like the KIM-1.

I started working with computers long long ago. I loved the Digital Equipment devices, the VT100 (1982!), the excellent VT220, the VT340. All serial, the base of the ASCII control codes.

A wide selection is available of programs that work with the serial line.

• • Most implement a subset of the ASCII control codes, VT100 and more. for SBC’s a subset is sufficient
  • Some have strengths in debugging and showing what is sent or received (hex view, control characters etc).
  • Also important is flow control (off, hardware/software).
  • Sending/receving files (text or binary) is also often the only way to get data to/from the SBC. Simple character based (includes hex formats like Intel, S records Motorola, MOS papertape) or with a protocol (Xmodem, Ymodem. Zmodem etc).
  • TCP/Ip protocols like SSH are a bonus
  • And last but not least the ability to wait/delay after sending a character or Line end (Enter key) to let the slower SBC handle the incoming data. For example the KIM-1 MOS papertape format receive, but at higher baud rates needs delays

I found a page on Sparkun that has an excellent description what is essential in dealing with serial communication on a PC, be it Windows, Linux etc.

Also this page names good free terminal emulation programs, running as GUI programs, for serial I use myself.
– Coolterm (croos platform)
– Tera Term (Windows)
– Realterm (Windows)
– YAT (WIndows)

Not named in this list

– Putty (linux and Windows)
– Minicom (Linux console mode)

KIM-1 and clones

Most programs allow character and line delay for sending to slow devices. The KIM-1 with its bit banging serial routines is one of them.

For me 9600 baud, 5 msec character delay and 100 msec line delay worked for me to upload papertape format, this also applies to the clones like PAL-1, Corshams KIM Clone and the Micro KIM.
For Microsoft Basic text file uploads of program sources a line deay of 200 msec may be required.

Serial ports

Nowadays serial ports are only available with USB devices. Work fine in general.
I have here information on USB serial communication and how to write programs (Lazarus of course).

I have a 6502 system that looks a lot like the Microprofessor 1.

Have been playing with it, a new version of the monitor and using the serial I/O. So an update to the page devoted to this system.

Though this site is not about home computer systems, but about small SBC’s, it is nevertheless interesting to look at the Atari 850 system.
Atari produced the 850 Interface Module to provide access to devices complying with two important interface standards of the time, RS-232-C serial and Centronics parallel.
Four serial interfaces, one parallel interface in self contained case, with its own power supply. Connected to the Atari via the standard SIO cable.

When you look into the system you discover it is actually a simple microprocessor system. The heart is a 6507 CPU, the serial and parallel lines are built with two 6532 IC’s, a ROM with the software.Serial interfaces and the 6532? This means bit banging.So this fits well in the theme of small SBCs!