[comp.sys.dec.micro] PC => DECWriter IV

tm11+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU ("Thomas James Menner, Jr.") (03/27/90)

Can a DECWriter IV be wired up to a PC?  The printer has a 25-pin male
connection which would imply that it's a serial connection, but most
PC serial ports are male as well.  Do I need to find a
female-to-female cable?  Is it even a serial connection?  (I don't
have the documenation on this printer, so I'm hoping someone else has
run across this.)

**************************************************************************
Thomas Menner			||   ARPA: tm11@andrew.cmu.edu
Carnegie-Mellon University	|| BITNET: tm11%andrew.cmu.edu@cmccvb
Pittsburgh, PA			||   UUCP: psuvax1!andrew.cmu.edu!tm11
**************************************************************************
"When you're swimmin' in the creek/And an eel bites your cheek/
 That's a moray!!"   -- Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers

klett@ghill.enet.dec.com (Michael Klett) (03/27/90)

In article <4a3btCO00WB5IO45Nd@andrew.cmu.edu>, tm11+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU ("Thomas James Menner, Jr.") writes...
>Can a DECWriter IV be wired up to a PC?

yes, they can be connected together.  I don't have the DEC cable part number
in front of me at the moment.  I can get it though - mail me if you decide
that you really want to know.  You're going to have another problem though.
The printer uses a software handshake (XON/XOFF) and the PC uses a hardware
handshake (RTS/CTS).  You'll need a special driver for the printer or be
limited to the buffer length of the printer.

Michael Klett
(508) 841-2790          klett@ghill.enet.dec.com

#include <standard_disclaimer.h>