DGT board + Apple OSX, is it possible?

I'd love to get a bluetooth DGT board, but as far as I can tell, they're only compatible with PCs. I have various computers running OSX, but not Windows.

I understand that I could run Windows on my Mac, and use a DGT board that way, but I'd really rather not (too many emotional scars from when I last worked in an office)!

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to use a DGT board with OSX natively?

Cheers!
Kieron

Hi there

It seems over the years, a few others have asked the same. I don't have my OSX up and running since moving house not long ago, so can't pre-test to see if reply 2 on this thread below is still around or operational.

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/getting-started-with-chess-engines-gui

The other few threads I've found on here don't mention any operating system, so it's not easy to tell if where the OP has asked about OSX, if the 2-4 pages of replies have all stayed on topic, or wandered off and starting referring to Win OS.

Hopefully someone else may have more info on here that'll help you.

I'm using the DGT board with bluetooth connectoin on my max os 10.14.2. So yes it can work natively.

Hi BuCHD, many thanks for jumping in to help Kieron. I didn't really get time or chance to use my (then new) Mac box to its full potential while I was working here. I would have loved to try the DGT board on it.

Can I ask what type of bluetooth connection do you have/use?  I rarely got to test anything a decade ago on my mac laptop as I was always working, plus it was rare that any mac users on here had issues, and if they did, it was mostly browser related. Nothing that switching from Opera to Safari didn't fix. So I'd use it to pre-test new features before members had them, but that was about it. Then after my laptop died and I got the mac box, I had so many health issues, I ended up having to stop work, so as I said, I haven't really had a good chance to see just how much its capable of, what it'll run and what it'll have its own issues with.

Hi @retired_workaholic, it is and will always be a pleasure for me when helping people with their issues specially when it's a challenge for me

For your question - what "kind" of bluetooth connection I use? I don't really understand the question. It is actually the regular bluetooth connection between DGT and Mac that I'm using. After the connection is established, I'm using a modified (and updated) dgtunix driver to communicate with the board. From their I'm having a kind of Posix driver that can be used by other software such as ScidcsMac.

Is this a little bit what you was asking? I hope, otherwise please contact me.

Further I hope that everything in your live if now back on track and you can enjoy of it ;-)

Nice "high IQ statement"  

I think with my bluetooth question, the confusion was on my part. I've never used a DGT board, so wasn't totally clear on the 'bluetooth conection you meant. So rather than doing my homework on it and researching the connection you meant, I wrongly assumed ( rule * 1, Never Assume) that  you meant internet connectivity, as both my mac laptop and mac box have those installed within their osx.

It was my misunderstanding of the 'bluetooth connection'. Now I've read your reply, it makes sense what you actually meant by it. So your answer above did actually help me get a better understanding of the DGT board and how it runs, and the bluetooth connection you were referring too.

Sorry about that

With regards my health, thank you for your nice comment. Like you, I also love anything that really gives my brain a challenge and makes me think. I found that I got bored, and  distracted by the things that I find too easy.

As for my health, it causes my joints and spine to hurt but its supposed to settle down after a while.

Can't say for sure WRT to Mac, but I remember my DGT Bluetooth e-board came with mac software (but that was over 2 years ago).

WRT the Bluetooth connection, it uses classic Bluetooth.

Hi @TaylorCHall, hereby the requested Posix Driver. The link will be valid for 1 week.

@BuChD Hello sir.  I have been searching for a way to connect my Mac to my DGT USB E-board.  Would you mind making the driver available again and a little more detail on how you got this all to work?  My sincerest Thanks for your time, efforts and help.

off course.. I saw that there is today a new version (4.21) - I will try if it works on that version an I will share details on how to make it work.. is there a way we can talk/chat so I can help you easier to make it work.

@BuChd. Thanks very much

I just tried the combination of the 4.21 (64 bit version) with the DGT board and it still works fine. So I can confirm that it is still functional well on my Mac.

Hey @buchd I need the link again for posix.

have send you an IM @TaylorCHall

Any clarifications on exactly what software and drivers are used?  Will this work with Hiarcs?

Hi @BrainErdelyi, I uses the default dgtnix driver from the open source community and a modified version of the dgtdrv. The original one was out dated and didn't work anymore on 64 bit hardware.

If it will work with Hiarcs - I can't say as I don't use Hiarcs 

Hi @BuChD in Belgium, I am very interested in DGT USB drivers usable on a Mac with SCIDvsMac. Is it possible for you to send those to me? Thank you very much in advance for your trouble and stay safe! Claude

Hi again. I tried to compile the dgtnix library and dgtdrv2 on my MacBook. I managed to get dgtnix working and tests seem to be ok. But I've got big problems with the dgtdrv2 driver. It compiles but I get always:

make: *** [run] Segmentation fault: 11

Somehow this happens in the WriteStr and WritInfoStr routines, probably with vfprintf calls. If I remove some of those calls, even all, it works better but the driver still quits in SCIDvsMac after initialising.

Does somebody know what is wrong here?

Greetings Claude

Hi @chwelsch, I've send you an IM with my compiled file (by retransfer) and procedure I use to get it working on my Mac