Rio444 wrote:

Could you change Serial port1 in the BIOS from 3F8 to 3E8?

Unfortunately, I already moved HOT-433 v4 board off the test bed in order to test HOT-433 v1. The v1 board has a different layout from v4. Version 1 of this board has an older AWARD BIOS option and a newer WINBIOS option.

a) AWARD BIOS - 433AUS23
b) AMI WINBIOS - 433AUS2C

When COM1 is disabled with the AWARD BIOS, it stays disabled in Windows 95 Device Manager. When COM1 is disabled with the WINBIOS, COM1 is NOT disabled in the Device Manager. And in the case of the WinBIOS on the HOT-433 v1 (contrary to the HOT-433 v4), I cannot have the emulator card enabled on COM1 without first disabling COM1 in Windows Device Manager, otherwise, the system hangs on boot (same case with NexGen system).

However, and contrary to the NexGen system, I was allowed to change COM1 in BIOS from 3F8 to 3E8, and Windows Device Manager now shows COM1, COM2, and COM3 - and the emulator card still is working on COM1. Again, this didn't happen on the NexGen board, which for the same conditions, crashed shortly after loading the desktop.

This shows HOT433-v1 with WINBIOS COM1 set to 3E8. All 3 COM ports how up - COM1 has the emulator, COM2 has a standard Logitech Serial Mouse. I can use both mice at the same time and did not observe any lag with the emulated mouse compared to the real serial mouse.

This concludes my testing of the RIO444 PS/2-to-serial port emulator card. I'm packing it all away now. Depending on your system with WINBIOS, you may have some extra steps to fix - be it switching the MB's COM1 to 3E8 to turn it into COM3, or if that does not work, like with my NexGen board, then you may have to disable the motherboard's second COM1 port in the Device Mananger prior to using the emulator card. You could also get lucky as with HOT-433 v4, who's BIOS allowed the emulator card to take over the motherboard's COM1, even though COM1 will shows up in Device Manager when it is disabled in BIOS and without the emulator card plugged in.

Good work! Thanks!
Now it’s clear that there may be difficulties with WinBios.

I've always hated WinBIOS, good to know

Working in EDIT.COM on Alaris Cougar BL3

After reading the thread I'm a bit confused; are these cards for sale at the moment? I have an AT MMX machine that has no PS/2 sockets and it annoys me to no end to keep a third mouse in my desk just for this computer, since my KVM doesn't do PS/2 to serial (although, I assume no KVM does).

If they are for sale, I'd be willing to get one. However, I still seem unable to send PMs :[

I thought you could PM at 10 posts? Perhaps this is not static. PM Rio444.

If I navigate to "Compose message" I get this:

We are sorry, but you are not authorised to use this feature. You may have just registered here and may need to participate more to be able to use this feature.

And when I go through Rio444's profile under contact I can see nothing to click. Maybe it's because I deleted one or two posts in the past, or maybe it's not instant. 😕

It is possible that the threshold to send PM's has been increased. I don't follow this stuff very closely I'm afraid. Rio444 will come around. As of 2 weeks ago, I think he had a few remaining.

I certianly hope so. Thank you 😀

vorvek wrote:

After reading the thread I'm a bit confused; are these cards for sale at the moment?

Dear vorvek!
From time to time I make batches of adapters. Now all ready-made adapters are sold or in reserve. Also I have components for assembling one adapter. Parts ordered to assemble another batch of adapters. They almost all are received. But the supplier was mistaken and forgot to put one kind of chips into the package. Therefore, I ordered it again. I look forward to receiving it later this month.
I also understand that users need detailed manual for the adapter. It is ready only in Russian. Now I'm busy with another project, but try to make English translation in the next 2 weeks.
If you are satisfied with one adapter, I will assemble it at the beginning of next week and write to you. The next 3 days I will be absent.

You can contact me by email

Manual and drivers --> http://64hdb.mine.nu/mIRROR/PS2SPE/

Contains the following..:

Received two of the cards today.

Looking good, thank you Roman!

There's a manual now; thanks Rio444!

Many thanks to Kai (aka jaZz_KCS) for helping me translate the manual!
Without his help, you could hardly understand my clumsy English.
I'm sorry for not meeting deadlines. I was too optimistic.
However, a new batch of adapters is ready (10+ pcs).
Today I will email everyone who was interested in earlier.
If someone else wants to buy an adapter, please write me in private messages or e-mail
The prices are the same. The price of one adapter is $ 25. Shipping one adapter is $ 7, shipping 2-3 adapters is $ 9.

Roman, I was wondering, what is the difference between rev1.0 and rev1.1? The only difference I could spot was the missing resistors below XS1, something to do with the program-ability of the Altera chip?

I thought it was he added a com3 option. thats the difference.

Warlord wrote:

I thought it was he added a com3 option. thats the difference.

No, the COM3 usage was already an "undocumented feature", which was implemented (and documented 😁 ) in rev1.0 and the Guide/Manual. My cards can do it, and they are rev1.0

Revision 1.0 Mustard race (everything soldered) 😎

I probably have the only pre-rev1.0 cards.