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From: bp@nyit.UUCP (Bruce Perens)
Newsgroups: net.micro.6809
Subject: Plug-N'-Power
Message-ID: <149@nyit.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 27-Oct-85 20:16:38 EST
Article-I.D.: nyit.149
Posted: Sun Oct 27 20:16:38 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 28-Oct-85 23:43:28 EST
Distribution: na
Organization: NYIT Computer Graphics Lab., Old Westbury, N.Y.
Lines: 42

I've bought a `Plug-N'-Power' controller from the local Radio Shack Computer
Center. The Plug-N'-Power controller is a CoCo peripheral that controls
remote-control switches similar to (or identical to?) the popular BSR units.

The Plug-N'-Power is connected to the cassette port of the CoCo, and
is programmed via cartrige software that runs in the CoCo.
A weekly schedule of events is programmed into the controller, and it
can then be disconnected from the CoCo, and will operate remote-control
switches following the programmed schedule, without the CoCo's assistance.
The Plug-N'-Power also contains a battery-backed-up clock that is accessible
to the CoCo. There is a copyright notice from `Pico Electronics' in the
instruction book, I guess that's who designed the controller. 

Unfortunately, Radio Shack has not included any information on how to
use the Plug-N'-Power without the canned ROM application. This is unfortunate,
as many potential uses of the hardware are not addressed by the canned
software.

I can disassemble the ROM software and document how to program
the controller if none of you have already done so.
I can even ask Radio Shack for assistance, but I don't know if I'd get it.
I'll write an OS-9 driver for the controller once I know what to send it.

I could use some assistance in the following areas:

	1. Has anyone documented how to program the Plug-N'-Power
	   controller without the canned ROM application?

	2. Does anyone have a program that copies memory from a
	   ROM cartrige in a Multi-Pak slot to disk? It would
	   probably have to run under RS-DOS. I can write
	   one of these or buy the commercial `Multi-Pak-Crak'
	   if none of you have freeware to do this.


Bob Larson has already helped by posting his disassembler. Thanks, Bob!

					Bruce Perens
					NYIT Computer Graphics Laboratory
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