ADB/Serial PCI card?

[protocol7]

I'm on a bit of a high now since I got my "new" G4 up and running. Amongst other things it's the first Mac I've got with any decent expansion options. So as it's missing serial and ADB ports I was wondering what expansion cards exist. I know Keyspan and a couple of other companies made PCI serial cards and on the USB side there's the iMate for ADB, but did anyone ever make a combined ADB and Serial card? That would be just perfect for legacy connections. I'd like ADB for my gamepads and the only printer I have is a SW1500 and that's tied to the 5400, which is a little slow. Then again I don't print all that much. But it's nice to know what options are out there.

 

[Bunsen]

Not that I've heard of. If someone did, they apparently didn't become a popular or well-known solution. IMHO, you're best off looking for an iMate and a USB-serial, and maybe a second USB card to support them.

 

[protocol7]

Yeah I'm thinking an iMate would be best for the ADB side of things. Just have to find one at a decent price. There's a couple on ebay but neither seller replied to my query about international shipping.

 

[LCGuy]

If you don't want to use a PCI slot, there's also the Griffin gPort and Stealth Serial Port, both of which go into your modem slot. Combine that with an iMate as Bunsen said, and you have your ADB/serial solution I've never heard of anyone making an ADB/serial card - serial only yes, but not ADB and serial.

 

[protocol7]

Cool. I hadn't heard of those two serial options. The gPort isn't compatible with AGP G4s but the Stealth Serial Port is. It's no longer available though and the only one I can find on ebay is selling for more than the original price. For that kinda price I'd be as well off getting a Keyspan USB adapter.

 

[Scott Baret]

I remember a device that had both serial and ADB on it designed for iMacs. The name escapes me, but I think it was USB. It used to sit under the iMac and provided a bunch of legacy ports. As long as you could accommodate its awkward (for a G4 tower) shape, it may be an option. I seem to recall these being advertised in Mac Warehouse and similar catalogs around 1998-1999 when the iMac first came out. Not sure if it had SCSI.

If you're open to purchasing another machine, the blue and white G3 towers actually have on-board ADB, so all you'd need is the serial card.

 

[Bunsen]

It used to sit under the iMac and provided a bunch of legacy ports.

The one I recall was called the iDock - course, searching for that name now shows up mostly iPod accessories. There were a few different versions, with a mix of floppy drive, serial, ADB, SCSI, PC serial and parallel printer ports. IIRC, they had driver stability problems. Yes, USB to the iMac, and they also functioned as a swivel/tilt base.

Griffin gPort and Stealth Serial Port

IIRC, these (and possibly the Keyspan) are the only solutions that work with Localtalk and MIDI.

 

[protocol7]

I remember a device that had both serial and ADB on it designed for iMacs. The name escapes me, but I think it was USB. It used to sit under the iMac and provided a bunch of legacy ports. As long as you could accommodate its awkward (for a G4 tower) shape, it may be an option. I seem to recall these being advertised in Mac Warehouse and similar catalogs around 1998-1999 when the iMac first came out. Not sure if it had SCSI.

Sounds like the iDock that Bunsen mentioned. I found some reviews of them. They seemed to be hit-and-miss in the reliability stakes.

If you're open to purchasing another machine, the blue and white G3 towers actually have on-board ADB, so all you'd need is the serial card.

Funny thing is, I saw an ad for one of these but was in two minds as to whether I should pick it up. But seeing as it has ADB I'm gonna go and get it. I'd probably pay almost as much for a used iMate with shipping and I'm getting a full machine with keyboard, mouse and monitor. Plus I'll be able to install OS X Server 1.x onto it (the 1.2v3 disc needed for the Gigabit Ethernet is impossible to find).

IIRC, these (and possibly the Keyspan) are the only solutions that work with Localtalk and MIDI.

I know the Keyspan definitely works with MIDI. It was one of their main selling points. Not sure about Localtalk as I've never used it.

 

[Bunsen]

AFAIK, if it does MIDI, it does Localtalk. Something to do with external clocking or handshaking IIRC.

 

[Gil]

AFAIK, if it does MIDI, it does Localtalk. Something to do with external clocking or handshaking IIRC.

Not true. I remember reading over and over again that the Keyspan device absolutely, positively does not do LocalTalk. I thought it also didn't do MIDI...