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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:	AMIGA NOTES
Notice:	Join us in the NEW conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:	HYDRA::MOORE

Created:	Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:	Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5378
Total number of notes:	38326

3585.0. "Parallel to Serial Converter" by HYEND::JWARNER () Wed Mar 14 1990 14:15

Has anyone used a parallel to serial converter to interface to a LJ250
printer?

I have an Amiga 2000 and would like to use the parallel port with a
LJ250 printer and leave my modem connected to the serial port.  This
would allow me to eliminate the A/B switch box which I currently use
to share the serial port between the printer and the modem.

I you are using a converter could you tell me what brand, what switch
settings you are using on the converter, the LJ250 (if you have), and
cable you are using.

Thanks in advance ... jim

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
3585.1		WJG::GUINEAU		`Wed Mar 14 1990 15:45`	10
	There is a company called Black Box that makes all kinds of things like that. Black Box Corporation P.O. Box 12800 Pittsburg, PA 15241-9912 Orders: (412) 746-5530 Tech Sup: (412) 746-5565
3585.2		PEEVAX::GIFFORD	My dunny was kicked down by chooks!	`Wed Mar 14 1990 18:26`	14
	In Australia try Black Box Australia LTD PO Box 248 Croydon. Victoria. 3136 To Order: (03) 725-2422 or (008) 33 55 15 Tech Assist: (03) 725 2499 or (008) 33 55 25 FAX (03) 725 1825 Be prepared for near heart failure when you find out how much a Par to serial converter costs! Stan
3585.3	Be careful about flow control	LODGE::LEN	David M. Len	`Wed Mar 14 1990 18:37`	6
	I tried to use a parallel to serial converter with an LA75, but I couldn't resolve the flow control. The LA75 only supports XON XOFF, and that did not seem to be used by the parallel port driver. I assumed that flow control on the parallel port is supported by Clear-to-send Request-to-send but I don't know if the converter I used passed it along.
3585.4		ENOVAX::BARRETT	Of Optical Mice and Men...	`Wed Mar 14 1990 19:06`	6
	It might have been your cable. You may have to tie clear-to-send to request-to-send (so requests are always granted), and dtr on one end to dsr-and-cd on the other (and vice versa) to eliminate hardware handshaking. This is not a risk if XON is being used to control flow. On the parallel end, I'd do something similar as well.
3585.5	parallel versus serial	SAUTER::SAUTER	John Sauter	`Thu Mar 15 1990 08:48`	14
	Parallel parts don't use clear to send/request to send/data set ready/ data terminal ready. These are RS232 signals which are defined for serial ports. Instead, parallel ports use some "ready" signals whose names I don't remember. The protocol involves the transmitter waiting for the receiver to acknowledge receipt of a byte before the next byte can be sent. A parallel to serial convertor doesn't need options on the parallel side for flow control, because there's only one. (There used to be a second, in which one of the signals was inverted. It's safely buried now.) On the serial side it needs at most three: XON/XOFF, CTS/RTS, and DTR/DSR. Only XON/XOFF works with data-leads-only devices and through full-duplex modems. John Sauter
3585.6	SERIELL/PARALLEL/SERIELL CONVERTER	MUCTEC::HIERL	The beautiful MUCTEC Cluster	`Thu Mar 15 1990 11:18`	11
	Hello, I have used a seriell====>> parallel =====>>> seriell converter without any problems on a LA50. If you are interested in a copy of the article that was published in a German Electronic Newspaper send a message to MUNICH::HIERL. The material price is not higher than 50,- German Marks. Regards Hans (a ATARI ST 1040 user)