LC575 Networking : PDS or Comm Slot?

[omidimo]

I finally got my grubby hands on a LC575 mobo that I stuck in my Edu-CD-Rom-less LC550 and it such a nice upgrade. Super thanks to AichEss for the board.

 

I want to get the old gal networked so that I can pull files off my local ftp server. Now there are two options, going with the LC-PDS card or the Comm Slot card. I am familiar with the Com Slot II cards (via 6400/6500/TAM ownership) but would appreciate some feedback on using the first version in the 575 or is it better to stick to the PDS cards. 

 

Edited May 24, 2016 by omidimo

[Macdrone]

the comm slot cards I have seen are all Apple branded, not the PDS network cards.  So for ease of use with no extra software I would say comm slot over pds, unless you get a presto plus.

[omidimo]

There are cheap Farallon Comm Slot 1's on eBay, but I am not sure if they fit as well in the 68k Macs based with the small-ish mobo area since I have read that they did not follow Apple's spec precicisely. I was just not sure if there is a benefit one over the other outside of the driver issue. 

 

In the 6x00 series/CSII, it was worth it to free up a PCI slot, well back when it was current and 10BaseT was more than enough for that blazing DSL 768k DSL and then super awesome Linksys BEFSR41, oh the memeroies of early broadband days. 

[Cory5412]

There's not really a big benefit, unless you have alternate plans for the LCPDS slot. A 575 with comm slot Ethernet might run a IIe PDS card (PDF), for example. (the 580/630, however, will not.)

 

Otherwise, it's not like you're going to notice a performance difference or anything. I've never personally had problems with drivers for LCPDS networking equipment, they either just work when you install the OS, or they use drivers that are pretty easy to find online.

[olePigeon]

*The 68040 versions of the Macintosh LC 5xx and Performa 5xx series do not recognize the Apple IIe Card when there is a communication card occupying the Communication Slot.

[omidimo]

I was not planning on using the IIe card on the 575, but from the sounds of it there is really no beneficial difference between PDS or CS. I do have an Apple branded card somewhere so that will do.

 

If i ever get around to getting a cheap IIe card, I might use it in another Color Classic.

[olePigeon]

I think the advantage is if you use the CS slot for an ethernet card, you can use the PDS slot for an accelerator or video card.  Otherwise, no, there's no benefit.

[omidimo]

If I could ever find a PowerPC Upgrade then it would be worthwhile keeping the PDS slot empty, but they seem to be pretty rare these days.

[just.in.time]

I have one of the PDS based Farallon cards that have been selling on ebay for ~$12 on my LC575 mobo.  It works pretty well for moving files to and from an FTP server hosted by the system with that board in place (currently a Color Classic).  I did use the floppy disk that came with the card to install drivers for the card.  No idea if it would work without.  Works great with the driver though!  No experience with a Comm slot ethernet card.

[vilasaliv]

I have a comm slot Ethernet Card to sell

[Bunsen]

 

There are cheap Farallon Comm Slot 1's on eBay

 

Are there?  I've never been able to find them, let alone a CS-II.

 

*The 68040 versions of the Macintosh LC 5xx and Performa 5xx series do not recognize the Apple IIe Card when there is a communication card occupying the Communication Slot.

 

Well that's disappointing.

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Always keep slots open when possible.

[BlueBoy]

I bought a Comm Slot 1 farallon card off eBay a couple months back after getting a Performa 636CD. The seller has 2 more:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151635295689?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

The trick to finding it was searching for the part number. I found the software for it on the internet archive page for the ok'd farallon website. Let me know if you need it and I can send you a download link.

[BlueBoy]

Let me also add that I agree with Trash80toHP_Mini. The comm slot can only take a modem or network card as far as I can tell. The pds slot can take lots of cards, graphics, apple ii card (not with a comm slot card installed, apparently), accelerators, etc. (I wish my 636 could take a IIe card, sigh...)

 

 

[mrpippy]

This guy is also selling Farallon Comm Slot cards and seems to have a lot. (don't be shy to make an offer, I offered $12 and was accepted)

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Farallon-EtherMac-YPN598-TP-YPN598-Comm-Slot-Network-Card-NIB-LAST-ONES-/371762935087?hash=item568ecc352f:g:G~cAAOxycD9TVoab

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

The comm slot can only take a modem or network card as far as I can tell. The pds slot can take lots of cards, graphics  .  .  .

 

Thanks for fleshing out what appears to have been a rather terse response, I thought that was clear in context, but I guess not. 

 

I couldn't have said it that well, thanks again.

[Cory5412]

Always keep slots open when possible.

 

? Any specific reason for this?

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I/O expansion capability is a very precious commodity in the 68k lineup, especially in PDS only systems.

[Cory5412]

Wouldn't you want to... use that i/o capability?

 

That said, what is there realistically for a 575? LCPDS Apple IIe cards work in them, but only barely when there's nothing in the comm slot, so the dream of a system with both a IIe card and fast networking is pretty thoroughly quashed.

 

As has been noted, there are other cards they, do exists and were built at some point but they're generally not common.

 

I'd pretty much consider the standard loadout for anything that has an LCPDS slot to be an Ethernet card in either the LCPDS slot or Comm slot, and not worry about it too hard unless you happen to find something else.

 

Outside of situations where you're doing a collection of LCPDS cards, if you're looking for expansion prowess, anything that has an LCPDS slot is not the right machine to be in. That's where you really want to go toward like a Quadra 650/800.

 

I don't think there's a single universal answer to this, but I think the question is, for the money, what is the right mix of expansion options, functionality/speed, etc. I think the 575/580/475-605/630 and the like are very fine and nice machines. I think for most people, if you're looking for something to put a video card in, they're not particularly ideal, and the options aren't the most appealing. It's not like you're going to get a jackhammer or an 8*24GC in a 475.

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Wouldn't you want to... use that i/o capability?

 

As has been noted, there are other cards they, do exists and were built at some point but they're generally not common.ealing.

 

You'd want to use it wisely.

 

Dunno if it could work in a 575, but the MPEG Media Card should work in a 580. They're fairly common on eBay and playing with VideoCD/PhotoCD would be fun, it was for me in the Quadra 630. Same I/O limitations as in the 575 and using a ComSlot NIC preserved the PDS for that playtime.

 

Makes sense to me to use either ComSlot flavor wherever it's available for the I0bT NIC. Gotta take the MoDem Card out in every case anyway, they're useless today and it FUBARs the (plugged on models where it was standard equipment) serial port. Gotta conserve serial I/O limitations as well. ComSlot networking leaves the Printer Port unscathed.

[Cory5412]

Perhaps the soundest advice is that it really depends on what you're doing.

 

Yes, if you have a need for both serial ports on an old Mac, you should probably take action to make them available. If not? I wouldn't worry too hard about it. It's not like this is an Apple II or IIgs where the power supplies aren't beefy enough to actually use all the expansion, or like the system will get too hot with an unused modem sitting in it.

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Perhaps the soundest advice is that it really depends on what you're doing.

 

Couldn't agree more. That's the oft unsaid disclaimer noting the need for thoughtful consideration on which of several choices have been offered as advice for implementation in ones' own circumstances.

[just.in.time]

This guy is also selling Farallon Comm Slot cards and seems to have a lot. (don't be shy to make an offer, I offered $12 and was accepted)

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Farallon-EtherMac-YPN598-TP-YPN598-Comm-Slot-Network-Card-NIB-LAST-ONES-/371762935087?hash=item568ecc352f:g:G~cAAOxycD9TVoab

Thanks to your link, I just got mine in the mail  Already have the PDS ethernet card in place, but would like to switch it to a video card for extended desktop at some point.

 

I offered $12, and was declined.  However, I ended up getting it for $15 plus shipping, so not bad.

Edited December 16, 2016 by just.in.time

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

.  .  .  would like to switch it to a video card for extended desktop at some point.

 

Hence, my advice to hoard slots for future use!

 

I bought the Radius Color Pivot II for the LC, mostly because Radius collecting is by far the biggest gorilla on my back concerning this hobby. Dunno if it works in the LC575 or not, but the price has usually been right. Got the stick to fill the memory expansion slot for mine, so it's time to give it another spin when I can find the time.

 

Thinking about it, I should get the Quadra 630 back up and running to see if the RCPII will work in that most precious of machines.

Edited December 16, 2016 by Trash80toHP_Mini

[just.in.time]

Do the Radius Pivot cards HAVE to hook up to a Pivot capable display, or can they work with regular monitors (Mac, or VGA with the proper adapter)?  I see the Radius Pivot cards quite frequently for several machines, including the SE/30 and Mac II line.