Background

New Macs with Intel processors can run the ILEC SN10 PC utilities without Microsoft Windows. This tells you how to do it.

Detailed Steps

1. Buy a Keyspan USA-19QW USB-to-serial adapter (also sold as a "PDA adapter")

USB-to-Serial converters are manufactured by a few different vendors, then typically packaged and marketed by others. The drivers for these devices are often poorly tested, and many do not support the Mac. Buy a Keyspan USA-19QW USB-to-serial adapter (also sold as a "PDA adapter"). Do not buy a Belkin unit (no Mac drivers), or a no-name unit because your mileage will vary. Other Keyspan units may be OK, but we tested the USA-19QW.

2. Install Mac drivers for the Keyspan USB-to-serial adapter

Download the correct driver from Keyspan If this page moved, use google to find the drivers... After you install the drivers, plug the Keyspan adapter into your Mac.

4. Create a folder for all your SN10 files

You will put all your SN10 files in a single folder. This includes the utilities, your NDB database files, and flight logs you download from your SN10. HELP - don't know how to do this so it is easy for Mac users

3. Download and install the ILEC SN10 utilities

Get the latest SN10 files and put them in the folder created above. Download ILEC SN10 utilities.

4. Download and install DOSBox

DOSbox is an emulator for good-old DOS. Download the latest version for the Mac (0.72 DMG tested) and install it from DOSbox for Mac Do not be alarmed by the scary-looking critter on this page, he's harmless...

5. Download and install the Dapplegrey wrapper for DOSBox

DOSbox is, um, a bit challenging to use. Dapplegrey is a wrapper program that makes it quite easy. Download Dapplegrey ZIP and install it Is this instruction adequate for Mac users ?

6. Configure Dapplegrey for DOSBox and ILEC SN10 utilities

Run Dapplegrey. You'll need to show it where DOSBox is installed. HELP - Better explanation for this ?
Click on the plus icon to add a new application. Name it SN10 PC Link.
1. Under the Game Files Tab:
1.1 Set the Path to Game EXE to point to the SN10 PC Link utility (HL) HL.EXE
1.2 Set the Game Parameters to -z -1
2. Under the Network tab:
2.1 Un-check serial ports 2,3 and 4.
2.2 Check "Serial 1", and select the "Direct Serial" option for Serial 1. Click "Edit Settings" and select the Keyspan device.
Go back to the Games List tab. Double-click on "SN10 PCLink". You should now see HL "Searching" for the ILEC SN10. You should not see errors about "cannot open serial port" if the Keyspan unit is correctly installed and plugged in.
Help - How to create a shortcut on the Mac desktop that will launch SN10 PClink directly

Please contact me with any questions or reports at drn@nadler.com !