Description
What is it?
A USB-ified version of the popular TashTalk device by Tashtari.
This adapter allows a modern computer to talk directly to a LocalTalk network without the need for dongles like PhoneNET. It can be used to talk to any device that speaks LocalTalk, such as Macintoshes, StyleWriters (with the LocalTalk add-on), LaserWriters, and other devices that speak LocalTalk.
This device and software should work with any LocalTalk equipped Mac running System 3.3 or later out-of-the-box with no additional software needed on the Classic Mac side.
With the software stack “TailTalk” developed by Feral Firmware, it can be used to transfer files easily to and from vintage Macs from your modern Mac or Linux computer. This stack also provides APIs to develop your own applications as well.
This adapter should work with any software that supports TashTalk.
This device is also fully open source, including the board files and firmware! The KiCAD files can be found here: https://github.com/FeralFirmware/TailTalk/tree/main/TashTalkUSB, and it uses firmware 2.1.3 from TashTalk here: https://github.com/lampmerchant/tashtalk/releases/tag/v2.1.3.
What else is needed
This device requires a standard Mac serial cable or LocalTalk dongle (i.e PhoneNET or Apple’s LocalTalk adapters) to connect to your devices. If using a serial cable ensure that it is a cross-over cable, and not a straight through one. Almost all official Mac cables were crossovers, but some “new” ones for sale are straight through which will not work.
How to use it
Please read the Setup document at the official GitHub here: https://github.com/FeralFirmware/TailTalk/blob/main/Setup.md
Attributions