Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!sun!amdcad!amdahl!JUTS!news From: rzv30@cccvm.ccc.amdahl.com (Rene' A. Vega) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Subject: Re: printer cable on 1000 Keywords: A1000 parallel Message-ID: Date: 17 Apr 91 03:49:13 GMT References: <26131@hydra.gatech.EDU> Sender: netnews@ccc.amdahl.com Reply-To: rzv30@cccvm.ccc.amdahl.com (Rene' A. Vega) Organization: Amdahl Corporation Lines: 47 The Amiga 1000 parallel port is NOT PC compatible. You'll discover this if you try to plug in an off the shelf Centronics to db25 cable. First off, the Amiga parallel port is a male connector instead of female. Secondly, if you interpose a female to female gender changer then plug in a standard printer cable, you'll short out the +5v that's on pin 23, plunging your A1000 into a power supply screaming abyss. You see, the A1000 parallel port isn't quite centronics compatible. Pins 1-13 map properly, but 14-25 do not. Here's the map: Amiga side Real world ------------ -------------- 14 GND 14 AutoFormFeed* (to ptr) 15 GND 15 Error* (to cpu) 16 GND 16 Initialize* (to ptr) 17 GND 17 Select in (to ptr) 18 - 22 GND 18-22 GND 23 +5V 23 GND 24 n/c 24 GND 25 Reset* 25 GND I recently had to remake an A1000 cable since my old one kinda fell apart. Turns out my cat thought it was a great teething toy for the last few months. Anyway, I bought a short female to male DB25 cable (they seem to be the least expensive of the bunch), cut off the male end, bought a female DB25 connector and housing then soldered the wires thus: Amiga side Printer side ------------- -------------- 1 - 13 1 - 13 14 (n/c) 14 (n/c) 15 (n/c) 15 (n/c) 16 (n/c) 16 (n/c) 17 17 18 - 22 18 - 22 23 (n/c)!! 23 (connect to 22) 24 (n/c) 24 (connect to 22) 25 (n/c) 25 (connect to 22) This arangement works with my HP LaserJet directly as well as a two-way electronic switch (it's called laser access). Have fun! Rene' A. Vega Computer & Systems Architecture