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 
