Terminal Emulator II

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Terminal Emulator II is a communications and text-to-speech computer program published and distributed by Texas Instruments (TI) for the TI-99/4A home computer system. It was distributed as part number PHM 3035 during the first quarter of 1981. It sold on Solid State SoftwareTM Command Module cartridge originally for $49.94 (USD)

Terminal Emulator II
Terminal Emulator Modern-Style Manual Cover
Terminal Emulator Modern-Style Manual (Front Cover) [1]
Publisher(s) Texas Instruments (TI)
Original Retail Price $49.95 (USD)
Part# PHM 3035
Format(s) Solid State SoftwareTM Command Module
Release 1981 (1st Quarter)
Genre(s) Communications, Text-to-Speech

Advertising Blurbs

Front Cover of Manual

Enables your Home Computer to telecommunicate with other computer systems. Features include color graphics, speech, sound, and file transfer capabilities, if the subscription data-base service uses the Terminal Emulator II protocols. Check with your data-base service to find out if it supports these features.

This module requires use of a Texas Instruments RS232 Interface (Model PHP1700) - not included (details inside). If you are contacting a remote computer via telephone, a TI Telephone Coupler (Modem) or other RS232C-compatible modem is also required.

Back Cover of Manual

The world of telecommunications offers something for everyone . . . stock market quotes, tax advice, computer games, program swapping. The Terminal Emulator II Command Module lets you link your Home Computer to this world with new dimensions in graphics and sound, including text-to-speech capabilities! Note: Although the module can exchange textual data with a subscription database service, not all data-base services are capable of utilizing the module's graphics, sound, speech, and file transfer features. Before attempting to access these features, check with the data-base service.

Terminal Emulator II module features provide:

■ Text and Graphics Modes - You can receive text or color graphics.
■ Text-to-Speech Capability - You can instruct the computer to read any displayed text aloud. This feature can also be accessed in TI BASIC! (Note: The Texas Instruments Solid State Speech TM Synthesizer (Model PHP 1500)* must be connected to the computer to utilize the speech capability.)
■ And much more - A wide variety of functions makes it easy for you to work with your data.

Note: To activate the Terminal Emulator II module, a TI RS232 Interface (Model PHP1700) must be attached to the computer. If you are contacting a remote computer via telephone, a TI Telephone Coupler (Modem)* is required in addition to the TI RS232 Interface. The RS232 Interface is not required for utilizing text-to-speech in TI BASIC.

Triton Catalog Spring 1984

Access subscription data services and time-shared computer systems. Features file transfers, improved keyboard interface, and text-to-speech from user-written programs. (Requires Modem, RS-232 for telecommunications. Requires Speech Synthesizer for text-to-speech.)

Manual

Introduction

Few developments are changing the world today as rapidly as the "information explosion." As a part of this explosion, data-base services are giving people quick access to information ranging from French lessons to the latest price of gold. For the first time, electronic mail, airline scheduling, and other valuable services are available at low cost to home computer users.

The Terminal Emulator II Solid State Software™ Command Module enables you to explore these and many other benefits of telecommunications. In addition, if the Solid State SpeechTM Synthesizer is connected to your computer, any data that you receive can be spoken. The module also allows you to access the text-to-speech capabilities with a TI BASIC program. With this text-to-speech feature, you can add speech to games, educational programs, and many other applications. However, the Terminal Emulator II module's text-to-speech cannot be used with the TI Extended BASIC module.

Note: To activate the telecommunications capabilities of the Terminal Emulator II module, a TI RS232 Interface (Model PHP1700) must be attached to your computer. If you are contacting a remote computer via telephone, a TI Telephone Coupler (Modem) is required in addition to the TI RS232 Interface.

The Terminal Emulator II module brings new dimensions to telecommunications. The module allows you to send and receive color graphics and music, as well as text. It also includes a wide variety of special functions that help you access and work with your data.

With the Terminal Emulator II module, your Home Computer functions like a standard RS232 terminal, enabling you to communicate with any data base or large remote system operating under the standard RS232 protocols. However, since the data base you are communicating with must be equipped to take advantage of the module's special features, such as color graphics, sound, speech, and file transfer, we recommend that you check with the subscription service before attempting to access these features.

With the Terminal Emulator II module, you can:

■ Select the parameters that enable your Home Computer to communicate with other systems.
■ Transmit control characters that signal the remote computer to perform predefined functions.
■ Receive data in the most appropriate display mode - text mode for alphanumeric data, or graphics mode for games, simulations, and other transmissions that involve color graphics.
■ Send and receive upper- and lower-case characters.
■ Vary the column width of your display to prevent the loss of characters off either end of the display.
■ Scroll displayed information by line or by page, vertically or horizontally.

In addition, if the TI Disk Memory System (Disk Drive Controller and Disk Memory Drive)* is connected to your Home Computer, you may set up a file on diskette so that you can automatically log on to the remote system. You can also transfer files to and from a disk system or cassette recorder. During file transfer, the module even checks for data that may have been dropped or garbled during transmission and asks for a retransmission, if necessary.

If two Home Computer systems have a Terminal Emulator II module, files can be transferred easily. However, sending graphics, sound, and speech requires a complex and time-consuming procedure, including special coding before entering the data one character at a time. In addition, special handling is required to make selective use of speech, not to speak all of the text on a display. For more information, see Transmission of Graphics and Sound.

Note: The Terminal Emulator II module cannot access the Memory Expansion Unit.

Suggested Methods of Access

You have access to a variety of computer systems depending on the accessories used with the Home Computer and Terminal Emulator II Command Module. The following diagrams illustrate two typical arrangements.

Accessing Subscription Data Services or a Remote Computer System

Terminal Emulator II - Home Computer & Terminal Emulator.png


Generally, your Home Computer will communicate with a subscription data-base service or other remote system over the telephone lines, as shown here. In this situation, your Home Computer system needs the TI RS232 Interface and the TI Telephone coupler (Modem) - or other RS232C-compatible modem - to communicate with the other system. If your computer is located near the other system, you may be able to communicate with the other system by direct cable. The direct cable eliminates the need for modems and telephone calls, but the RS232 Interface is still required. (See the TI RS232 Interface owner's manual for information on linking your computer to the other system by direct cable.)

Note: To access a data-base service, you must subscribe to the appropriate service and pay any required fees. Most computer-related magazines include information on available data-base services.

Communicating with a Remote Home Computer

Terminal Emulator II - Home Computer & Terminal Emulator2.png


Communication between two Home Computers usually takes place over telephone lines, as shown here. In order to communicate by telephone, both computers need an RS232 Interface and a TI Telephone Coupler (Modem). With two modems in use, one must be set to Originate and the other one to Answer. If the two Home Computers are in the same location, however, they can be connected by direct cable, without modems. In either case, each Home Computer needs a TI RS232 Interface and Terminal Emulator II (or Terminal Emulator I) module. Note: To transmit features, such as sound, color, and graphics, which are unique to Terminal Emulator II, both systems must have a Terminal Emulator II module.

IMPORTANT: To utilize the module's speech capabilities, the TI Speech Synthesizer must be connected to the console first, with other accessories connected to the right of the speech unit. See the Speech Synthesizer owner's manual for full set-up instructions.



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