Apple SmartPort SD
The SmartPort SD is a device that emulates the hard disk for Apple II computers using an SD card.
It allows you to store up to four 32MB ProDOS partitions on an SD card and connect them to a SmartPort enabled Apple II systems, such as the Apple IIc, IIc+, or IIgs
Files Supported: .po / .hdv / .2mg
Prerequisites:
To use the SmartPort SD device you will need to use a DB19 to DB25 Duo Disk Drive cable (Not supplied)
For the Apple IIc, Smartport will not be enabled if ROM 255 is installed.
To check the ROM of your IIc, run the following program from the Basic prompt.
PRINT PEEK (64447)
If the output number is “255”, the ROM needs to be replaced. The ROM versions that Smartport can use are “3”, “4” and ROM”4x”. For these numbers, ROM replacement is not necessary.
Apple ROM versions:
- 255 – The original Apple IIc ROM, size 16K. No support for Smartport disks.
- 0 – ROM doubled in size to 32K. This ROM version eliminated the option for booting from drive #2, but added support for Smartport disks.
- 3– Version 3 accompanied a logic board change, making it possible to expand the IIc’s memory.
- 4 – Version 4 corrected some bugs present in version 3.
Apple II ROMS can be downloaded here.
Setup:
Format your SD Card to FAT32.
The SmartPort SD Card supports up to 4 images. The image files should be called PART1.po, PART2.po, PART3.po, PART4.po
The newer version also supports a config file. By creating a file called config.txt at the root of the SD card, you can reference various files without renaming them.
Example config.txt file:
TOTAL.HDV
SERV.PO
PRODOS.HDV
DISK.2MG
In addition to “.po”, “.hdv” and “.2mg” can be used as extensions.
Usage:
Insert prepared SD card into SmartPort SD
Connect Duo Disk Drive cable from Apple to SmartPort SD Device
Power on Apple.
SmartPort SD will boot from the first boot image (LED1)
To change boot image, press the button on the SmartPort SD.
Reset the Apple and it will now boot from second image (LED2)
Repeat the same procedure to change to boot from 3rd or 4th image.
