@purdue.arpa:mjs@purdue-ecn-ee.arpa (mjs) (11/23/85)
Does anyone out there know about the Bell and Howell P100 printer also know as the MPI printmate 99 being sold by COMB? Does it have a "standard" centronics input port such that it is able to be driven by any computer with a centronics output, or do the so-called interfaces sold with it for the IBM && Apple contain electronics in addition to cables and connectors? Are ribbons available anywhere? Thanks. mjs@purdue-ecn pur-ee!mjs
kdale@vaihingen-emh.arpa (Keith Dale) (11/23/85)
Your question was whether the MPI PrintMate 99 had a "standard" Centronics interface. Quoting from page 22 of the user manual, "For maximum flexiblility, the MPI PrintMate 99 Printer has been designed to communicate with a host using industry standard interfaces. The PrintMate 99 can operate with either Serial (RS232C, TTL, or Current Loop) or Parallel (TTL) communications interfaces. The communications mode is switch selectable (SW2-1) and by the connection of the interface cable to one of two connectors located on the printed circuit board assembly." It goes on to give a blow by blow of what a serial interface is and then gives the pinouts. It appears to be "standard" - all you need to do is get a cable with the right size connectors and compare pinouts. The pinouts for the MPI 99 are given below: SIGNAL NAME PIN NUMBER SOURCE Std RS232 Connections Receive Data Pin J5-5 Host Pin 3 Request to Snd Pin J5-7 Printer Pin 4 Data Term Ready Pin J5-14 Printer Pin 20 Protective Grnd Pin J5-1 Printer Pin 1 Signal Ground Pin J5-13 Printer Pin 7 Current Loop + Pin J5-10 Host Pin 19 Current Loop - Pin J5-6 Host Pin 16 Busy Pin J5-21 Printer Pin 11 Key Pin J5-17 Pin removed to key connector Hope this helps...good luck! Keith <kdale@vaihingen-e-emh.arpa>