[comp.sys.atari.st] Help with LaserWriter

rjd@nancy (Rob Demillo) (10/13/87)

We recently received an Apple LaserWriter at our lab. It
just so happens that our lab also has several STs. I have
failed in my attempt to connect the STs up with the 
LaserWriter. Can someone out there give me the correct
pinouts and serial port settings to insure a proper
connection?

Thanks.



                     - Rob DeMillo
		       Brown University - Planetary Science Group
		       
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paulm@nikhefk.UUCP (Paul Molenaar) (10/15/87)

In article <19311@brunix.UUCP> rjd@brunix.UUCP (Rob Demillo) writes:
>
>We recently received an Apple LaserWriter at our lab. It
>just so happens that our lab also has several STs. I have
>failed in my attempt to connect the STs up with the 
>LaserWriter. Can someone out there give me the correct
>pinouts and serial port settings to insure a proper
>connection?
>
>                     - Rob DeMillo
As far as I know you just set the LaserWriter to 9600 (switching
off AppleTalk) and using a terminal emulator on the ST, capable
of transmitting at 9600 (8 databits, no parity, 1 stopbit). It's
possible also to transmit at lower speeds when the LaserWriter
knob is set to a lower speed (masochists can go down to 1200 baud,
I believe ;)

If u wanna use Diablo 630 emulation, you set the knob to 'Special'.

BTW, the LaserWriter accepts any RS-232 cable. 3 wires (Transmit, Receive
and Ground) are plenty as it uses XON/XOFF as protocol.

Hope this helps.


PS Don't forget using the DB-25 connector on the back, the other one
is for AppleTalk. You might blow up the AppleTalk interface if used
incorrectly.




        Paul Molenaar

	"Just checking the walls"
		- Basil Fawlty -
-- 
        Paul Molenaar

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		- Basil Fawlty -

weaver@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Andrew Weaver) (10/16/87)

Rob:

	Ahh, a question that I can answer (I am a cable-geek for the Business
school here at OSU.)

	Here is how to attach the Apple LaserWriter (or LaserWriter Plus, I
assume) to your ST (via the serial port):

	Basically what one needs is a "null modem cable"; a phrase that
derives from when you hook two computers together directly bypassing telephone
modems.  ANYWAY, here is the cable pinout:

	ST						     LaserWriter
 ================			        	===================
      2 (TxD) ------------------------------------------------ 3 (RxD)
      3 (RxD) ------------------------------------------------ 2 (TxD)
      7 (Gnd) ------------------------------------------------ 7 (Gnd)

	You might connect 8 to 20 and 20 to 8, but I didn't need to.  Also,
this (obviously) is attached to the 25 pin port of the LaserWriter.  Make
sure as well you turn the knob labelled "Special--9600--1200--Appletalk"
to the "9600" position. (Unless, of course, you want to run it at 1200 :-)

	Worked with Publishing Partner for me; and should work with anything
that pumps out PostScript output.

	This is well and good if you have cable-making tools; a retailer 
might charge ~$15-~$25 for such a thing (a real joke; parts cost around $2!)

	Here is a question for you hardware hacks out there:  has anyone
thought about implementing AppleTalk on the STs?

						Cheers, Andy...

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fyl@ssc.UUCP (Phil Hughes) (10/17/87)

In article <19311@brunix.UUCP>, rjd@nancy (Rob Demillo) writes:
> We recently received an Apple LaserWriter at our lab. It
> just so happens that our lab also has several STs. I have
> failed in my attempt to connect the STs up with the 
> LaserWriter. Can someone out there give me the correct
> pinouts and serial port settings to insure a proper
> connection?

The only thing the LaserWriter cares about is pins 2, 3 and 7.
I think the Atari doesn't care as well but I have the standard
4-5-6 and 8-20 jumpers on the connector.

Actually, I don't have the Atari hooked to the LaserWriter.  I run
the Atari as a terminal on our UNIX system and have the LaserWriter
on the UNIX system (thus, I can stick Atari generated PostScript
in with troff/devps generated PostScript but I know that only 2, 3 and
7 are connected on the LaserWriter.
-- 
Phil Hughes, SSC, Inc. P.O. Box 55549,
Seattle, WA 98155  (206)FOR-UNIX or 527-3385
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