My father-inlaw gave me an old OLD 286 laptop. I have downloaded Craig Moates software and I am wondering if I can use the laptop to interface with my ALDL? The laptop does have a serial port onthe back.

 

Hmm .. i don't know that a 286 will work. lots of this software requires a 386 or higher.

 

I checked the perforance onthe system and it is a xt 286 by IBM. The performance states that the systems runs as an SL 386. Also, i did put the ecm845 program on the machine and it loaded up ok. However, I do not have a cable to plug into my ALDL. I guess I need to figure out how to make one. Does anyone know where I can get an actual pic of a cable? Also, do you think my laptop will be able to run this program??? Thank you alll!!!!

 

Give it a try, you have nothing to loose. The really limiting factor is the "baud speed" of the ALDL, which is only 8192, and then the internal processing of the information for display purposes. While a 286 seems exceedinly slow by today's standards, it was actually quite quick for pure DOS applications.

 

And correct me if i am wrong, but is craig moates software a Dos application?

 

Craig Moates' software is DOS-based, and the 286 should be fine. 10 frames/sec at 8Kbaud isn't going to overwhelm the little 286 processor.

You'll have trouble doing anything useful with capturing ALDL data, really need Excel or other spreadsheet program to display it legibly and be able to sort. No big deal, just dump the captured data to floppy and view it on your regular desktop PC later.