🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <799@ethz.UUCP>, zeller@ethz.UUCP (Lukas Zeller) writes:
> I just got a laser printer for my MAC-II. Because it is my only AppleTalk
> device (except the MAC itself, of course), I asked my dealer for a simple
> cable to connect the Mac with the printer. He told me that this was not
> possible and that I had to use two "Appletalk Connectors" (one for the MAC
> and one for the printer) plus an "Appletalk Cable". I was slightly surprised
> about that, but he insisted even as I pointed out that the "net" would
> consist of two nodes only. The suggested connection would cost me about $200,
> so I dug out IM Vol 4 and tried to find out how to make such a two-node
> net. It turned out to be no problem at all; a simple 3 wire cable and two
> Mini-8 plugs do the job very well. I used the same wiring as for modem
> cables (no differential signal transmission): pins 8 and 4 of both connectors
> shorted (and connected through the cable), pin 3 of the Mini-8 on one end
> connected to pin 5 of the other end and vice versa.  

Actually, any standard din-8 to din-8 (like a Mac to ImageWriter) cable will
work.  Most people aren't aware of this; I found out by accident when I was
preparing a purchase order to add a Mac to one of these "two-node" nets.  Then
I had to explain that to add one more station, they had to buy three LocalTalk
or PhoneNET connectors.  They weren't happy campers (campuser's, actually).

> I wonder if such a cable is available commercially and/or if it is common to
> sell a $200 appletalk where a $15 cable would do it as well. Or is anything
> wrong with my solution (except that no additional nodes can be connected
> to this "net", of course !) ?

Such cables are available from Apple (of course), MacCables, mail order houses,
etc.  It is a pretty standard cable.

> Lukas Zeller                     +---------------------------+

-Michael "I don't speak for anyone" Niehaus

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-- 
Michael Niehaus        UUCP: <backbones>!{iuvax,pur-ee}!bsu-cs!mithomas
Apple Student Rep      ARPA:  mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu
Ball State University  AppleLink: ST0374 (from UUCP: st0374@applelink.apple.com)