User`s guide

If you can not use a separate PC or Mac port for your connection to the
Apple II, you can move the PC modem cable connection from your net modem to the
NULL modem for doing transfers or use a switch box.
For a GS, the recommended modem cable is a "high speed" type which allows
hardware handshaking and, if present, this option should be set in the GS
telecom software. The same is true for other Apple II's with serial ports or
boards (like the Super Serial Card) which can do hardware handshaking.
However, a "plain" modem cable-- one supposedly without lines for hardware
flow control-- usually works fine. (Often, the main limiting factor will be your
serial card or serial port hardware and the speed of your Apple II. Apple II's
with accelerator cards or chips can usually achieve better transfer rates than
unaccelerated machines.)
Set the same format (8-N-1), baud rate, and protocol (e.g. Z-modem) on
each telecom program.
Note: "8-N-1" means 8 data bits, No parity, 1 Stop bit. Today, most ports and
cables will support hardware handshaking; so, this should be the usual flow
control setting. (If it does not work, check your cable to see that connections
match those suggested for your Apple II and interface. If you can not get
hardware handshaking to work, then you may need to specify a non- hardware flow
control option for one or both of the connected computers .)
A good first-try speed setting seems to be 9600 baud. If you get errors,
try moving down to 2400 baud (or, in at least one reported instance, moving up
to 19,200). An accelerated GS running Spectrum can connect with modern PC's
running HyperTerm at 57.6k baud or better. An unaccelerated GS will top out
around 38.4k baud.
Note: Spectrum, ProTerm 3.1, Modem MGR, and some other newer Apple II telecom
programs do not require that you modify IIgs Control Panel settings for speed
and handshaking. Since Spectrum directly accesses the GS serial port, speed,
etc. settings are done in the program. (By the way, this frees-up Slot 2 -- the
GS modem firmware Slot-- for any peripheral card which needs to have its Slot
set to "Your Card" in the Control Panel.)
Note: On the PC, HyperTerm allows setting the Port Configuration-- i.e. Format,
Baud Rate, and Flow Control for COM1 or COM2-- for a particular setup which you
can save under a name, like "GSxfers.ht". Whenever you start HyperTerm to do
transfers to/from the GS, you need to Open GSxfers.ht (or whatever you name it)
in order have your setup in place.
Place each program in terminal mode-- often, this is the default mode. Or,
the particular telecom program may have menu items or buttons you select for
specific kinds of transfers.
Next, you will usually select the function (send or receive) on each
machine and the protocol. The protocol should be the same on both machines. Z-
modem is the best choice for most single or multiple file transfers. (Text files
can be an exception-- see the next question. A plain ASCII transfer will
circumvent most problems but is slower; and, you may need to send and
receive/capture files one-by-one instead of in batches.)