🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <3517.269c3154@fps.mcw.edu>, brodie@fps.mcw.edu writes:
> I am looking to find the exact pinout (cabling configuration) for
> a printer cable from DEC's 9-pin printer port (VT220) to a standard serial
> printer.   The pins are indeed labelled in the manual, and I've never
> had problems wiring a TERMINAL, but serial printers are such awful
> beasts and I want to wire it correctly.

Actually, Kent, you will find that serial printers are not all that
complicated:  

	Connect terminal pin 1 to printer pin 1
	    "      "      "  2 "     "     "  3
	    "      "      "  3 "     "     "  2
	    "      "      "  7 "     "     "  7

(You may have to swap pins 2 and 3.  Check the printer
manual to be sure.  If you don't have the pin-out of the printer, 
you can try it one way.  If it doesn't work, swap those wires and
try it again.  It won't hurt the terminal or the printer.)  Your
other concern, however, is being sure to match baud rates and data
characteristics (7 bit, even parity, 2 stop bits or 8 bit, no parity,
1 stop bit, etc.)  If you have trouble getting things chatting, go
ahead and experiment.  The only thing you will lose is some paper and
some time.

I hope this works for you.  I have wired numerous terminals to printers
and had no trouble just using shielded single-pair cable.  The pin that
I don't connect is pin 1 (Protective ground).  The 2, 3, and 7 combination
always works for me, even going from a DB-9 plug, like on the VT-220, to
a DB-25 connector on the printer.  It is just more unused pins to 
ignore!

> According to the VT220 manual, DEC sells a cable (BCC05) that does
> exactly what I want to, but alas, I'm not going to shell out
> 40 bucks for a cable I can make myself for less than 2 dollars.
 
> Does ANYONE know the wiring layout of the BCC05, or, have you wired
> a printer from the VT220?  If so, I'd like to hear what layout
> for the cable you used.      Adva{Thanks}nce. 

I'm sure you would find that the BCC05 is nothing more that a standard
RS-232 connection with heavy-duty molded plugs on the end.   

Good luck.  I hope I was able to shed some light on your quandry.

> ------
> Kent C. Brodie - Systems Manager      internet:     brodie@fps.mcw.edu
> Faculty Physicians & Surgeons         uucpnet:      mcw.edu!brodie
> Medical College of Wisconsin	      voicenet:     +1 414 778 4500
> 				      faxnet:       +1 414 778 6694
> 
> "When I stand straight, I'm right as rain -- 
>   but when I bend over, there's a STABBING pain!"    -Underdog

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