
    THE FOLLOWI WAS DOWNLOADED FROM THE MICRO INNOVATIONS BBS, (703) 264-3908 
24 Hrs. weekends, Week days 6:30 PM - 6:30 AM. We appreciate their making this 
information available to us.

    ZENITH Z-29 TERMINAL INSTALLATION OR 80 COLUMNS THE EASY WAY.
    BY........EARL KIESLER.  I recently had the need to communicate with a 
local timeshare computer via modem from my Adam computer. The problem, however 

was that the Adam suppoorts nly 30 columns onits screen and the business 

computer expects you to have an 80 column screen. Also, it is extremely slow to 
communicate at 300 baud using the internal Adam modem. So I started looking 

around for an 80 column solution and a high speed modem. Isoon discovered that 
my options were verylimited. The RS-232 and 80 column boards that were once 

available for the Adam are no longer produced and are in such limited supply 

that the purchase price for a used unit is very high (if you can even find a 

used unit). About this time I spotted a writeup about Micro Innvation's MIB2 
serial/parallel interface  board in the NIAD newsletter. I called Micro 

Innovations and  talked to the owner, Mark Gordon, about how to locate the 

parts  needed to satisfy my needs. He verified that the MIB2 would al- low me 

to run an external modem off of one of its serial ports  and told me how I 

could connect an 80 column CRT terminal to its  other serial port. It turns out 
that Mark designed the MIB2  specifically for theseurposes. He also provides 
TDScom- munication software with the MIB2 to accomplish this.
     I then purchased an MIB2 from NIAD, who delivered the MIB2  from stock. 
Mark recommended that I purchase a Zenith Z-19 or  Z-29 CRT terminal to plug in 

to the MIB2. The Adam uses the  Zenith Z-19 command set for it's display. All 
of the Adam CP/M  and TDOS programs are set up for the -19. The Zenith Z-29 is 

a  newer, fancier Z-19 compatible terminal and is recmmended if you  can get 
one. If not, a Z-19 will work fine. Mark gave me the  name and number for the 

Coputer Surplus Store of Milpitas,  California, who he knew carried used 

terminals. I called them  and ordered a Z-29 for $79.00 plus $20.00 shipping. 
It arrivedin about 10 days. I found a used 2400 baud external modem lo- cally 

and purchased it.
     The installation of the MIB2 is very easy (as long as you  read the 

instructions). Just make sure that the connector pins  point to the left of the 
computer (when looking at the computer  from the front) when you install it in 
the middle expansion slot  (slot #2). Themodem connecs to J4 (the bottom 

connector); the  terminal connects to J3 (the top connector); and the printer 
con- nects to J2. The MIB2 can also supply the bank-switching signal  (via J5) 

to a memory expander board, if you have one. The MIB2  gets its serial port 
power from the power supply connector on the  side of the Adam. Just unplug the 

printer, plug e dual 9-pin  adapter in to the computer, and plug the printer 

in to the  adapter. A transformer version of the MIB i also availble for  
those installations where you are already powering additional  items from the 
Adam supply and are worried about overloading it.
     To get your modem running on the Adam's internal display,  plug the cable 

into the modem connector and install the 40 column  version of TDOS and use the 

telecommunication program of your  choice. Mark provides the 40 and 80 column 
versions of TDOS and  the IMP and MEX communications programs with the MIB2. 

Addi- tional programs ar available on the Micro Innovations Bulletin  Board 
(including all of the TDOS utility prgrams and the ZMP  communictions program 

for 80 column displays). I started out  using the IMP proram but found that I 

preferred the convenience  of the MEX program. The MEX program works well and 

allows you to  save a re-configured copy of itself to another disk ortape.  
This allows you to set up your baud rate, parity, and so on for  your own 
unique requiements.

     To install the 40 column version of TDOS, insert the MIB2  distributin 

diskette or tape, pull the Reset switch and wait for  the "TDOS 4.5" signon 

message and the "A0>" prompt. You then  type in "40MIB458" and hit the retun 

key. The 40 column TDOS  installation program will load in from disk or tape 
and sign on.  The installation program will tell you what Adam storage dices  
it finds - up to 2 disk drives, 2 tape drives and a memory ex- pander. It also 
tells you what letters it will assign the  devices when the installation is 

complete. By the way, if you  have a memory expander, it will also ask you 
whether you want to  place it before or after the other devices in the list. I 
nor- mally place my memory expander board after the disk and tape  drives.
     The TDOS installation program will then ask you questions  about the sizes 
of any disk drives it fids and about the set- tings for the serial ports and 
the I/O device assignments (which  port to use for the display, the keyboard, 

and the printer).  Answer all the questions you know the answer for. In the 

MIB2  installatioinstructions, Micro Innovations tells you which set- tings 
to use to get the configuration you want. Study that part  of the installation 

instructions carefully before you change any  of them. Mark has the default 
configurations set for 19.2  Kilobaud on the terminal port, 2400 baud on the 

modem port, and  the Adam dislay, keyboard, and printer. 
     I have a 720K Orphanware disk drive as my #1 disk and a 160K  Coleco disk 

drive as my #2 disk. I select the 702K format  (option #5) for the Orphanware 

drive because I want to be able to  put the TDOS operating system on every disk.
 I select the 145K  format for the Coleco drive because it's the only one the 
drive  supports. I just pass by the serial port 1 (mode parameters by  

entering a zero on that screen. The communication programs set  up the modem 
port he way they need to so any configuration done  by the installtion 
program will get overwritten anyway. Be sure  to set up the serial port 2 

parameters to match the configuration  you set the Z-29 for.

     When you come to the IOBYTE assignments, leave them as they  are for now. 
When you determine that your terminal works  proprly, you can go back and re-
install TDOS permanently fr  what works for you. After you've answered all of 

the questions,  save the newly configured TDOS on a blank formatted diskette or 

 tape. Boot the new version by pulling the RESET switch and watch  it boot up. 
Remember, it will use the rmal Adam display for  now. 

     The Z-29 terminal is easy to install. First make sure it's  working by 

plugging it in and turning it on. You should get a  blinking cursor. Hit the 

"SETUP" key and the configuration menu  will be displayed on the screen. Set 
the configuration  parameters to utilize the fastest baud rate available 

(usually  19.2 Kilobaud), and set the rest of the RS-232 port parameters  for 8 
data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit.

     Now locate your serial cable if ou purchased one with the  MIB2 or if you 

didn't, call Micro Innovations or one of their  dealers to purchase one, or go 
purchase the parts you need to  make your own. I chose to make my own terminal 

cable. I crimped  a 20 pin socke connector on one end of a piece of 20 
conductor  ribbon cale and a 25 pin female RS-232 connector on the the  other 
end. Make sure that both connectors are attached to the  cable so that the red 
stripe goes to the pin 1 end of each con- ector, as shown below:

      Pin ------ Red Stripe ------ Pin 1 | |------------------------------------

--------| | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20 pin ribbon cable | | | | | | | | | 
| | | | | Pin | |--------------------------------------------| | 20 ------ | | 
| | | | Pin ------ 25

     20 pin 25 pin socket RS-232 Connector Connector

     Connect the RS232 connector to the DTE port (the male con- nector) on the 
Z-29 and the 20 pin socket connector to J3 (the  front top connect) on the 
MIB2. The RS232 connector can only  be 
     Next you must install install TDOS to use the terminal. I  recommend that 
you use the 40 column version until you know that  you've got the terminal 

connected (and configured) correctly.  Put in a copy of your MIB2 distribution 
distte or tape and run  the IOBYTE program. Select "1" to change the display 
device.  Answer "3" to send he display output to the terminal (on port  SR2:), 

and then "0" to get out of the IOBYTE program. If you  have everything 

configured and connected correctly, the "A0>"  prompt will appear on the Z-29 
display. You are still entering  commands to TDOS from the Adam keyboard so you 

can experiment  with severl programs such as a communications program, to  

verify proper operation of the Z-29.
     You may or may not want to use the Z-29's keyboard instead of the Adam 

keyboard. However, you should make sure it's working  properly. Run the IOBYT 
ogram again and change the Keyboard  assignment to SR2:. Now, after youet 

out of the IOBYTE  program, the ADAM keyoard no longer functions. The Z-29  

keyboard should be operating.
     The reason to go through this process of checking out proper  operation of 

the terminal before saving a permanent configuration  using the Z-29 is that 
you have control of the computer from the  Adam keyboard while checking out the 
Z-29 display. When you try  out the Z-29 keyboard, and it doesn't wok, all you 
have to do to  regain control is to pull the RESET switch to reboot TDOS con- 
figured for the Adam disply and keyboard from the disk or tape.  Once you're 

satisfied that the terminal is working properly, you  can re-install TDOS to 

use to terminal when it boots up. By the  way, I keep my Adamisplay still 

connected so I can use it for  EOS programs. I use the Z-29 for TDOS programs. 
I have my TDOS  boot disks set up to use the Z-29 and it is up and running 
within  a minute.
     My printer, a Pansonic KX-P1080i, works perfectly with the  MIB2 and the 

supplied TDOS software.
     All in all, the connection of the -29 was very easy and well worth the 

effort. When I connect to the timeshare computer,  I can see all 80 columns of 
my mail (rather than having to scroll  back and forth trying to read each line).

 I certainly waited too  long getting the MIB2 with an 80 column display and a 

faster ex- ternal modem and am glad I did finally get it. It reatly  enhances 

my working speed when connected to an uriendly BBS and  is quite a money 

saver.

     Earl Kiesler 3310 Milford Indianapolis, Indiana 46236
    
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