68kMLA Classic Interface
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| TashTalk USB | |
| Posted by: Bolacore on 2026-04-19 12:58:34 Based on Tashtari's Pi Hat I've put together a USB-to-TashTalk board based on a CP2102N and a full-duplex transceiver so it works with or without a LocalTalk dongle. The goal of this is to make it trivial to plug in and transfer files between any classic Mac with a LocalTalk port and a modern Mac/Linux/Windows machine via the software stack I've been developing here: https://68kmla.org/bb/threads/fun-with-userspace-appletalk.51616/. It should also work with any existing TashTalk software as well since it uses an unmodified TashTalk firmware.  The schematics and board files are available on GitHub here: https://github.com/FeralFirmware/TailTalk/tree/main/TashTalkUSB, along with the software I am making for it. I have a little GUI for controlling the server now that is just about ready for trials for Linux and Mac users too. Windows will come a bit later as well. It can serve up an AFP 1.0 - 2.1 compatible file share via EtherTalk or LocalTalk via TashTalk based on a chosen folder of your machine.  I have one more board run I need to do for the final version as I had a silly mistake on this first run (It works, but required some trace cutting and bodges since I failed to check the DIN-8 pinout properly), but the first 10 I will be fixing up and handing out for people to try. Let me know if you are interested! | |
| Posted by: akator70 on 2026-04-19 21:57:11 Count me in, please. | |
| Posted by: Iesca on 2026-04-20 01:03:38 Yes please! | |
| Posted by: slomacuser on 2026-04-20 06:07:23 I am interested too | |
| Posted by: admkenshin on 2026-04-24 07:40:00 I am also interested! | |
| Posted by: GondolinOnMyMind on 2026-04-24 08:09:45 And my axe! Well not, but I’m interested. This is very neat idea and I wonder why it has not been thought before. | |
| Posted by: CptnCodon on 2026-04-24 11:17:03 Neat! I'd be interested too. | |
| Posted by: Bolacore on 2026-04-24 21:07:41 Perfect then! I should have most of the boards modded this weekend and ready for the post next week, for those who dont mind a bit of bodge wire and hot glue on their Rev 0 boards 🙂 And will be doing another run here after these ones run out. | |
| Posted by: Bolacore on 2026-04-26 16:54:27 First 3 modded ones are tested and ready to go in the post. Shoot me a DM if you’re up for the prototype ones! Will be ordering the next (bodge free) round this week as well. | |
| Posted by: fatbits on 2026-04-26 18:48:13 I saw your post for the USB-AppleTalk board over on Reddit and I am soooo interested! | |
| Posted by: jdabney on 2026-04-26 23:32:29 I also saw your post of Reddit and I am also very interested! | |
| Posted by: Durosity on 2026-04-27 00:57:17 Very cool! Definitely something of interest! | |
| Posted by: Dijital on 2026-04-27 07:48:25 Count me in! | |
| Posted by: canuckclassicii on 2026-04-27 12:41:04 I’d happy purchase 10 units… I’ve been looking for something like this… | |
| Posted by: Bolacore on 2026-04-27 12:51:27 Whoa, glad to see the interest! The first run was ~$36 per board at cost, so I’m hoping with a bigger run of 20-30 and some better component choices I can get it closer to $25. Probably 2-ish weeks for them to come in. | |
| Posted by: NJRoadfan on 2026-04-27 13:28:07 I don't need another TashTalk per se, but I could use one for development purposes for A2SERVER. Any dev info, like the type of device it appears as helps. | |
| Posted by: Bolacore on 2026-04-27 14:33:49 The full schematics are available here if you were curious: https://github.com/FeralFirmware/TailTalk/tree/main/TashTalkUSB But it uses a CP2102N so should appear like a regular serial port on every OS (I think all the major ones have support for it OOTB). Only note is it needs CTS enabled just like a regular TashTalk. | |
| Posted by: RetroViator on 2026-04-29 04:26:02 This is a great idea. I’d love one when you’re ready. | |
| Posted by: Bolacore on 2026-04-30 20:56:55 Sorry for the delay to all who messaged me - Lost a well loved pet at the start of the week so haven't come back to this til now. Fixed revision should be going off to fab tomorrow and is looking to be closer to $14 at cost for a run of 30 which is quite a nice drop in price. Will be getting the prototype ones shipped off tomorrow/Saturday. | |
| Posted by: Bolacore on 2026-05-02 15:42:58 Slowly getting through the list of people and patching a few more up this weekend. Got the stack tested and working on a MacBook Neo as well - still need to package it as an app and get it approved/signed, but for the first few people I can give developer builds. Kinda fun seeing the brand new machine talking to my 512K too 😄 | |
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