MiniSport Laptop Hacker (TM) - Vol #28.  July 1995
To discourage pecuniary interests, Copyright (c) 1995 Brian Mork


>>> ADMIN
A compendium of all issues are available from ftp.cs.buffalo.edu 
(198.17.249.2) as mlhackXX.zip in the ~\pub\ham-radio directory.  Login 
with the name "anonymous" and use your email address as the password.  
The compendium is also available on SimTel archives (eg. 
oak.oakland.edu) as \SimTel\msdos\packet\mlhackXX.zip.  The XX in the 
filename indicates the last issue number, and replaces the previous 
convention of using mlhacker.zip for all compendiums.


>>> INDEX
The issues add up!  Once I passed 24 issues, I knew I'd have to spend 
the time to go back and index them.  Here it is.

--- Index for MLHacker #1-#28 ---
AUTOEXEC.BAT 2,26
Automated setup of your environment 27
Back issue sources 6ff
Batteries, Lithium, part# 6
Battery cell replacement 27
Battery charger schematic 25
Battery pack construction 22,23,24
Battery pack internals 21,27
Battery pack internals, breaking into 27
Battery pack replacement card 22,23
Battery pack/Computer connector 21
Battery power, conserving 11
Battery source, Makita drills 22
Battery, Lithium, replacing 25
Baycom vs Poor Man's Packet 21
Boot CMOS options 2
Boot keystrokes 6
Boot options 2
Boot sector 20
Bootstrapping the RAMdisk 27
Charger relay schematic 14
CHKDSK operation 20
COM2: modem header pinout 8
Comm port bit diddle 19
Comm port data discard 19
COMMO (comm program) 4
COMx: I/O registers 7,8,10,13
CONFIG.SYS 2,26
DEBUG scripts 19
Disassembly instructions 5
Disk (2") source 1,4,6
Disk clusters 20
Disk drive external connector pinout 22
Disk drive stacking 26
Disk file allocation tables 20
Display cable pinout 18
DSZ file transfers 4
Durability during trips 6
Editing disk sectors 20
External drive pinout 10
Fastwire Link cable 3-3wire 3
Fastwire Link cable, improved 4
Frequency counter adapter 16
Frequency counter script 16
GDU highlight 20
Index 28
Initializing everything from power dead state 27
Memory, adding 2nd meg 19
Memory, soldering more 4
Minisport pricing 6
Minisport specs 1
Modem port RS-232 mod 15
Monitor, 12VDC external CGA source 24
MSDOS Zenith additions 3
MSDOS Zenith deletions 3
Null modem cable 3-wire 3
Null modem cable, improved 4
Packet radio mobile 6
Parallel port bidirec I/O 19
Parallel port, bidirectional 7
Poor Man's Packet board 9
Poor Man's Packet TX problem 15
Poor Man's Packet vs Baycom 21
Power (non-battery) options 12
Power connector pinout 12
Power supply autoshutdown mode 18
Power supply board revisions 14
Power supply failure clues 5
Power supply FET failure 18
Power supply pinout, internal 18
Power supply pinout, internal 5
Power supply, automobile 21
Power-on failure mode 17
PROCOMM (comm program) 4
Procomm script for OE freq counter 16
  (See the Minisport and OptoElectronic's hardware in action:
   "RF Counter Data Collection and Visualization," July 1994 QEX.)
Review article refs 15
Root directory 20
Schematic, battery charger 25
Schematic, Poor Man's Packet 9
Schematic, power supply guess 17
Schematic, Power supply relay 9
Schematic, RS-232 modem adapter 15
Serial port addition 15
SHELL 2
Stacking the RAMdisk 26
--- end of index for MLHacker #1-#28 ---


>>> AN ERA PASSING
The first issue of MLH was distributed in January of 1993.  Two and a 
half years later, I expect this to be the last MLHacker.  I still use my 
minisports regularly, but the seasons change, time moves on, and other 
facets of life become dominant.  I also picked up two broken laptops (a 
'386 and a '486), and, by mixing and matching parts, I have a '386 that 
is capable of taking over much of the Minisport functions.  Prices are 
falling such that it's become reasonable for me to begin using a more 
modern laptop.  The two minisports are getting attention from the kids.  
They have favorite CGA games, and they're beginning to call the 
Minisports "their" computers.

MLH has been coincident with me learning a lot about the Internet and 
Amateur Radio networks.  After swelling my activities to the point where 
net surfing was all I was doing, I've shrunk back to a level where net 
access is a tool rather than a teacher.  I need to get some work done in 
other areas!

Since making the MLH compendium available on Internet archives, I 
receive queries from around the world.  Nonetheless, most of the 
questions are discussed in previous issues, giving further impetus to 
wrap up this project while it's alive and well, rather than fill more 
issues of MLH with fluff just to keep it going.  If anybody has 
questions about the minisport, by all means contact me.  Just because 
I'm not sourcing more newsletters doesn't mean I don't want to talk 
about them any more.  I'm sure my contact information will change over 
the next 6 months, so you'll have to be creative tracking me down.  The 
most reliable method will probably be to contact a local Amateur Radio 
operator and ask them to find QSL information or a packet address for 
KA9SNF.

I'll continue to publish in the electronics/radio magazines.  I'll be 
moving to Colorado in August to attend a "prestigious" Space Tactics 
School put on by Headquarters Space Command.  After that, I'll probably 
be permanently moving to Colorado Springs to teach at the Air Force 
Academy.  God willing, I'll begin training as an astronaut sometime in 
1996.  Selection will be this Fall.  

Please provide feedback!      * Internet bmork@comtch.iea.com
                              * ARO Net KA9SNF@ka7fvv.#ewa.wa.usa
73, Brian                     * 6006-B Eaker, Fairchild, WA 99011