gpg@edison.UUCP (01/06/87)
I am interested in using Apple's Imagewriter (first version) with both a Mac and a PC clone. I want to leave the dip switches alone and reset the printer for the PC with ESC sequences. I need information on wiring the 9 pin IBM serial port to the Imagewriter and info on the ESC sequences needed to allow the PC access to the printer. Gerry Gorman gpg@edison.GE.COM
oster@lapis.berkeley.edu (David Phillip Oster) (01/19/87)
The imagewriter I is basically a re-packaged C. Itoh printer (proprinter,
I think it is.) It defaults to 9600baud DTR-handshaking (It handshakes for
data on pin 20.) RS232-C standard Data Terminal (as opposed to data-modem)
device. To interface it to an IBM PC, you need a null modem cable, since
the PC's serial ports are also RS232-C Data Terminal devices. The
Imagewriter II is electrically and electronically almost the same, but has a
different cable end. I say _almost_ because it accepts a superset of the
control codes of the imagewriter I and because it was designed to be
compatible both with RS232-C and with Apple's Appletalk network.
To get this network compatibility Apple sacrificed power in the RS232-C
line-drivers in the Imagewriter II. Therefore I recommend using a cable
shorter than 12 feet long.
Here are the pinouts of the various plugs:
Apple's standard DB-9 9-pin connector as found on the back of Macs:
Pin Name Notes
1 Ground
2 +5v absent on a MacPlus
3 Ground
4 TxD+ Transmit data plus (rs422-balanced line)
5 TxD- Transmit data
6 +12v you are strictly limited in the dat you can draw on this
7 HSK Handskake - CTS or TRxC depending on Zilog 8530 mode
8 RxD+ Recieve data line (ground to emulate rs232)
9 RxD- Recieve data minus
Imagewriter 1 DB-25 connector
Pin Name Notes
1 Frame Ground
2 SD Output from Imagewriter
3 RD Recieve data - input to Imagewriter
4 RTS Ready To Send - output handshaking line from imagewriter
7 Ground signals are referenced to this
14 FAULT- False when deselected, output from Imagewriter
20 DTR Data terminal Ready - output from Imagewriter
The important ones are 3 7 and 20.
The Mac to Imagewriter cable uses
Mac Pin Name Imagewriter Pin Notes
1 Ground 1
3 Sig.Ground 7 Mac pins 3,8 are jumpered together
5 TxD- --> RD 3 Data to Imagewriter
7 HSK <-- DTR 20 Handshake from Imagewriter
8 RxD+ (MacPin3) Not connected on Imagewriter side
9 RxD- <-- SD 2 Data from imagewriter
The mac queries the imagewriter for an id code, so it can adjust itself to
what model of imagewriter it is talking to. Ordinarily, you should not
need to worry about this.
My guess on the cable you'll need to connect an imagewriter I to an IBM
is:
IBM Pin Name Imagewriter Pin Notes
2 SD --> RD 3 Main printer data
3 RD <-- SD 2
4,5 RTS <-- DTR 20 IBM pins 4,5 are jumpered together
7 signal ground 7
6,8,20 DTR IBM pins 6,8,20 are jumpered together
If you have an imagewriter II, you'll need the following conversion
between the Mac DB-9 connector and the Mac DIN-8 connector.
looking at the pins of a male cable, the DIN-8 pins are numbered:
6 7 8
3 4 5
1 2
The adapter cable, Apple Part # M0187, cable assembly part #590-0341-A
available at an apple dealer for about $15.00 is wired
DIN-8 pin Name DB-9
1 +12v 6
2 HSK 7
3 TxD- 5
4 Ground 3
5 RxD- 9
6 TxD+ 4
7 not connected
8 RxD+ 8
This information is my interpretation of Apple Tech Notes 10 and 65.
--- David Phillip Oster -- "The goal of Computer Science is to
Arpa: oster@lapis.berkeley.edu -- build something that will last at
Uucp: ucbvax!ucblapis!oster -- least until we've finished building it."weber@brand.UUCP (01/24/87)
> I am interested in using Apple's Imagewriter (first version) with both a > Mac and a PC clone. I want to leave the dip switches alone and reset the > printer for the PC with ESC sequences. I need information on wiring > the 9 pin IBM serial port to the Imagewriter and info on the ESC sequences > needed to allow the PC access to the printer. > > Gerry Gorman I have been using my Imagewriter I printer from my PC for some time now with no problems. I made a three-conductor cable with the following connections. Apple end (Male DB-25) IBM end (Female DB-25) pin 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - pin 2 pin 7 - - - - - - - - - - - - - pin 7 pin 20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - pins 5 and 6 My PC has the 25 pin serial port so I don't know how to handle your 9 pin connector but it should be easy to translate the connections to match yours. In my AUTOEXEC.BAT file on the PC, I have the following two lines: MODE COM2:9600,N,8,1,P MODE LPT1:=COM2 Your should change COM2 to whatever port you are using. As far I can tell that's all you need. I don't send any escape sequences to the printer or change any of the switches from how they came from Apple. It works with Wordstar, etc. Good luck. Allan Weber ARPA: Weber%Brand@usc-oberon.usc.edu UUCP: ...sdcrdcf!usc-oberon!brand!weber