Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!crdgw1!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hpfcso!hpfcdj!myers
From: myers@hpfcdj.HP.COM (Bob Myers)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: HP 9872A plotter - looking for cable pinouts
Message-ID: <17330020@hpfcdj.HP.COM>
Date: 29 Oct 90 20:11:53 GMT
References: <2151@kralizec.fido.oz.au>
Organization: Hewlett Packard -- Fort Collins, CO
Lines: 32

/ hpfcdj:comp.sys.hp / myers@hpfcdj.HP.COM (Bob Myers) /  1:09 pm  Oct 29, 1990 /
>	A friend has just bought a Hewlett-Packard 9872A plotter from
>auction. The beast has 2 Centronics sockets on the back, for which
>we need pinouts before we can get it going.

Actually, NEITHER of these is a "Centronics" socket!

>Some details ... there are 2 centronics sockets. The first is labelled
>HPIB and is a 14-pin; the second is labelled 9815a and is 24 pins wide.

The one labelled "HPIB" is the one you want to use; the other is for
connecting to the 9815A calculator/computer (whichever name you prefer
for that model).

The HPIB (Hewlett-Packard Interface Bus) is HP's implementation of the
IEE-488 standard for instrumemt control/communications.  (It was actually
developed by HP first, and then adopted, with very slight modifications,
as a standard.)  You might also know IEEE-488 as the "GPIB".  By any name,
it's not exactly the Centronics interface, although both are 8-bit parallel
busses with similar handshaking.  HPIB/GPIB to Centronics convertors are
available (or easily constructed), at least for devices such as printers
and plotters.  For further details, I'd suggest looking at this IEEE standard,
or guides on this interface from HP or any of a number of HPIB/GPIB instrument
or controller suppliers. (HP's is _Tutorial_Description_of_the_Hewlett-Packard
_Interface_Bus_, HP p/n 5952-0156, available from your nearest HP office.)



Bob Myers  KC0EW   HP Graphics Tech. Div.|  Opinions expressed here are not
                   Ft. Collins, Colorado |  those of my employer or any other
myers@fc.hp.com                          |  sentient life-form on this planet.
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