Adding PC Connectivity to the MTS-88 Microcomputer Teaching System

The MTS-88.c trainer is a training system targeting students in the microprocessors course. It has a built in single-line assembler allowing the users to enter programs in assembly. It has the problem that long programs cannot be traced and tested efficiently. A simple error may cause all the code to be erased and the system to stop responding. Also, this system lacks the ability to be connected to the PC. The aim of this work is to modify the system to make it possible to be connected to the PC through the parallel port. This gives the capability to download long programs to the system after being developed in the PC. The 8255 Programmable Peripheral Interface available in the teaching system is interfaced to the parallel port and used as communication channel between the PC and the system. Software on both parties is developed to handle the communication protocol.