History

When the Z88 came out there was no internet or standard for communicating between different computers.

Making a good computer link for the Z88 need to address the following:-

Faster Serial Port - OZ v3.0 slow implementation of the Serial Port - this is limited to 1200 baud.
Protocol - it needs to be able to send binary and ascii files.
File conversion software - PipeDream file structure is unique.

Protocols

The simplest way to get data across to different computers was to develop a known protocol for the Z88 and use it with another computer using the same file protocol.

Z-Modem

Wordmongers produced Z-Term which was designed to work with Hayes MODEMs. Z-Modem allowed files to be sent and received to Bulletin Boards.

XY-Modem

Dennis Gröning wrote this application. It runs the Serial Port at the fastest speed possible.

XY-Modem popdown application for the Z88. Version 1.1, 26 December 1999.

PC

Wordmongers wrote Tx, - File Transfer System for over 100 different micros which included the Z88. It included PipeDream to WordStar conversion.

Cambridge Computer bought out 2 versions for the PC. PC Link used the Imp-Exp protocol. PC Link II ran as an application supplied on a 32K EPROM card and as a DOS program on the PC. It introduced new commands that enabled all commands to be controlled from the PC. PipeDream to WordStar and PipeDream to Lotus 1-2-3 file conversion was supplied.

Ranger came up with a different approach. They had already produced Ranger Disk and had written the software to run on the Z88. Just a few tweaks were needed on the Z88 and a small DOS program to make the PC look like a Ranger disk and they were off. As their program ran outside of OZ, they controlled the serial port directly, enabling faster transfer speeds to be realised.

There was no reason why this small program was not developed for other computers i.e. Apple Mac, but this was not to be.

Gunther Strube wrote Eazylink, improved the protocol, speeded up the serial port and added new commands which moved the software from DOS to Windows.

Rastersoft Z88Transfer can use IMP/EXP, PCLINK or EAZYLINK protocols. When the author tried this last, it would not transfer binary files. This has been documented as fixed. I need to test it again.

Eazylink 2 is in beta and will support three O/S. For further information Click Here.

How do they all stack up?

Manufacturer	Program	O/S	Faster S-Port	Protocol	File Conversion
Protocols
	Z-Modem	OZ
	XY-Modem	OZ

Desktops
Manufacturer	Program	O/S	Faster S-Port	Protocol	File Conversion
	Tx - File Transfer System
	PC Link
	PC Link II
	MAC Link
	Ranger Link
	Eazylink	16 bit
	Z88Transfer
	Eazylink 2
	Eazylink 2
	Eazylink 2