ciaraldi@rochester.UUCP (10/08/85)
From: Mike Ciaraldi <ciaraldi> Due to the great success I had with my TSX question, I thought I'd try again with another slight probelm. Has anyone tried hooking a LA180 Decprinter to a machine with a Centronics interface? The 180 has a 40-pin header connector as its parallel input, while the Centronics has a 36-pin "ribbon" connector. (actually the output is coming from a Technologic serial-to-parallel convertor box, but it is supposed to drive a standard Centronics printer, and works fine with the Okidata 92 I tried). Anyway, I have two questions: Are signal levels compatible? Poring over the data sheets seems to indicate they are, but I am not sure about the polarity of the Acknowledge signal coming back from the printer. I think it may be inverted from what a Centronics interface expects. Does anyone know a good source for the 40-pin connector the printer uses? DEC wants $3 for one, which seems reasonable until you realize that the contact pins are extra, and cost $1 each. Also, you have to order at least 10 connectors of the same type at a time. Some of the computer supply companies like Inmac and Misco sell them for about $15 with 10 to 20 pins. It was unclear (even after talking to them) what kind of tool is needed to load and remove the contacts, and what kind of crimping tool. I think I am going to use a ribbon cable and mass-terminate it at the printer end, then solder the other end to the Centronics connectr, which I can get in a solder-tail version from a local dealer. But, I would like to know for the future. Thanks for the help. Mike Ciaraldi seismo!rochester!ciaraldi