abc@smoke.BRL.MIL (Brinton Cooper) (12/10/89)
Folks, I'm about to replace my wife's Epson printer on her IIe with an Imagewriter II and have a few questions. Please answer whichever you can, via e-mail or a posting. 1. The Imagewriter II documentation calls for an Apple Super Serial Card. Is this required? Can I substitute one of the "clone" super serial that are advertissed in InCider? How about a Grappler interface card? 2. Presently, we have a "generic" serial interface card for use with either printer or modem. We've set it up for modem use. Is there any reason why the machine couldn't host two serial cards, one for the printer and one for the modem? If this will work, what should the slot assignments be? 3. Can a super serial card serve both the printer and the modem without moving cables with each use? I'll appreciate any insight. Thanks a bunch. _Brint <abc@brl.mil> -- Brinton Cooper
SEWALL@UCONNVM.BITNET (Murph Sewall) (12/11/89)
On Sun, 10 Dec 89 02:57:10 GMT Brint Cooper <abc@BRL.MIL> said: > 1. The Imagewriter II documentation calls for an Apple Super >Serial Card. Is this required? Can I substitute one of the "clone" >super serial that are advertissed in InCider? How about a Grappler >interface card? There is some software that won't know how to deal with an Imagewriter any other way. Most of the 'clone' cards should work fine (most off the clones don't have the firmware that permits access to the card from APPLESOFT, but you'll probably not miss that). > 2. Presently, we have a "generic" serial interface card for use >with either printer or modem. We've set it up for modem use. Is there >any reason why the machine couldn't host two serial cards, one for the >printer and one for the modem? If this will work, what should the slot >assignments be? Having two serial cards (for printer in slot #1 and modem in slot #2) is pretty common. > 3. Can a super serial card serve both the printer and the modem >without moving cables with each use? The pinouts for a printer aren't exactly the same as for a modem (pins 2 and 3 are flipped). Once upon a time, Apple made a COM card (serial card set up for a modem) and a serial printer interface. The Super Serial Card is a clever way to only have to stock one part suitable for either purpose. There is a 'block' on the Super Serial Card which must be flipped over to change it from a printer card to a communications card. I don't know if flipping that block does anything other than switch pins 2 and 3 (it may affect the firmware that can be called from APPLESOFT). It may be possible to use a serial card set up for a printer with a modem by wiring the modem cable with pins 2 and 3 exchanged (the same action as inserting a null modem cable between the modem and the serial card). /s Murph <Sewall%UConnVM.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.Edu> [Internet] or ...{psuvax1 or mcvax}!uconnvm.bitnet!sewall [UUCP] + Standard disclaimer applies ("The opinions expressed are my own" etc.)