Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!wuarchive!uunet!rosie!NeXT.COM From: amm@NeXT.COM (Alan M. Marcum) Newsgroups: comp.sys.next Subject: Re: How to make a cable for the NeXT serial port. Message-ID: <419@rosie.NeXT.COM> Date: 27 Mar 91 20:19:47 GMT References: Sender: news@NeXT.COM Reply-To: amm@NeXT.COM (Alan M. Marcum) Lines: 36 Nntp-Posting-Host: nescorna.next.com Hardy writes, in response to Gerben Wierda's question about cables: > Macintosh modem cable works fine; the printer cable has some > connections missing, but works most of the time; I made one, > accoding to the manual (null-modem) and it works with a LaserjetIIP Please, if you don't REALLY understand what you're doing, do NOT use a Macintosh modem cable. Some Mac-Modem cables might work fine with some modems and some models of NeXT computers, but there is far too much variability in Mac-Modem cables for me to recommend them. I've seen SIX different configurations of cables all called "Mac-Modem" cables; all but one of these simply did not work for dial-in and dial-out on the same port, and the other one worked only with some modems. In some instances some Mac-Modem cables will work for dial-out. But it's really easier to buy or build a cable to our wiring specifications than it is to diagnose why your modem set-up isn't working the way it should. As Kent Shephard noted, the cable wiring specs are documented in the zs(4) UNIX Manual Page. Please note that the hard-copy version of the zs man page is INCORRECT in the printed NeXT Network and System Administration manual for 2.0: it's the 1.0 version of zs(4), not the 2.0 version, and so doesn't cover the 68040's serial ports. In addition, no Mac-Modem cable I've ever seen is wired correctly for an 040-based NeXT's hardware flow control. I understand that serial cables built to our specs are available from NeXTconnection [800-800-NeXT]. -- Alan M. Marcum NeXT Technical Support amm@NeXT.COM