Xref: utzoo comp.protocols.appletalk:5007 comp.sys.mac.comm:2109 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!sunic!sics.se!sics.se!boortz From: boortz@sics.se (Kent Boortz) Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk,comp.sys.mac.comm Subject: Re: do I need phone net connectors? Message-ID: <1991Jan8.090043.25113@sics.se> Date: 8 Jan 91 09:00:43 GMT References: <1991Jan7.165900.1538@ccu.umanitoba.ca> Sender: news@sics.se Organization: Swedish Institute of Computer Science, Kista Lines: 32 In-Reply-To: umcarls9@ccu.umanitoba.ca's message of 7 Jan 91 16:59:00 GMT > One person said he had successfully used an IW II cable to run Appletalk from > one Mac to another, but the general concensus was "Don't bother trying". > One person from TOPS wrote and said I would void my warranty with TOPS if > I tried that, and may even damage my Appletalk ports. So I guess I'll be > ordering a couple phone net connectors! This is very strange in my opinion. An ImageWriter cable is a standard serial cable for mac and is intended for connection of two RS-422 ports. There should be no difference electrically connecting a mac to mac, mac to modem, mac to LaserWriter or mac to ImageWriter. AppleTalk is software and I don't think software could feel the difference how you electrically connect the devices in this case. The intention of the LocalTalk box is to let you mix output signal from different ports and is needed if more than two LocalTalk equipment are connected. There is no magic in these boxes. The only problem I can think of is WHEN an equipment do some magic. This is from what I have heard the case with the DeskWriter printer. It will test the electrical condition of the serial port to determine if you are using a LocalTalk box or a straight cable and switch between AppleTalk and serial mode from this information (that would mean that you can't use the standard print spooler with an ImageWriter cable I suppose). Well, I can't promise anything. I don't use this setup myself but I can't think of any reason why a straight ImageWriter cable could damage anything. Kent Boortz boortz@sics.se