hsu_wh@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (William H Hsu) (09/10/90)
I am trying to solder up a cable to connect my IBM 286 AT
clone (a CompuAdd 286-12, purchased in December of 1988) to a
Macintosh SE. By "connect" I mean that I would like to transfer
text and other files modem-style between the computers (I have
modems on both ends, but one is a 1200 baud and one a 2400, so
I'd prefer to bypass them both) using only the telecom software
on each machine. I surmise that this requires a male mini DIN-8
connector on the Mac end, but am not certain whether I have the
I/O hardware on the AT end to support a "null modem" connection.
In one of the expansion slots is an I/O card which came with the
machine, containing one female DB-25 port (apparently a parallel
port - a dot matrix printer is currently connected to it) and one
male 9-pin port which the CompuAdd salespeople insist is NOT a
serial port. I see no other place where, say, a serial mouse
could be plugged in (which I am also planning to purchase this
month), and believe that a female DB-9 connector is the correct
one for the IBM end.
Is this correct? I have no experience soldering cables, so
despite the tempting scenario depicted in the February '89 issue
of MacUser, I am a little leery of trying to make the connector
myself. On the other hand, the fifty-odd-dollars that I have
seen "custom-made-cables" advertised for seemed a little steep -
I had thought this would be a pretty popular connection! Perhaps
there's a mail-order place that I haven't heard of. I would
appreciate all advice and especially the phone numbers of good
(cheap) cable suppliers. Please mail responses to:
hsu_wh@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (BITNET) OR
hsu_wh@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu OR
hsu@cs.jhu.edu (ARPAnet)umcarls9@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Charles Carlson) (09/10/90)
In article <6368@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU> hsu_wh@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (William H Hsu) writes: > > I am trying to solder up a cable to connect my IBM 286 AT >clone (a CompuAdd 286-12, purchased in December of 1988) to a >Macintosh SE. By "connect" I mean that I would like to transfer >text and other files modem-style between the computers (I have >modems on both ends, but one is a 1200 baud and one a 2400, so >I'd prefer to bypass them both) using only the telecom software >on each machine. I surmise that this requires a male mini DIN-8 >connector on the Mac end, but am not certain whether I have the Save yourself some frustration. If you're not very good at soldering, you'll never be able to solder wires to a mini din-8 connector. The best thing to do, which is what I did, is to just buy a standard Macintosh modem cable, and a null modem adapter. Plug it all together all you'll be up and running in 10 seconds. >..but am not certain whether I have the >I/O hardware on the AT end to support a "null modem" connection. >In one of the expansion slots is an I/O card which came with the >machine, containing one female DB-25 port (apparently a parallel >port - a dot matrix printer is currently connected to it) and one >male 9-pin port which the CompuAdd salespeople insist is NOT a >serial port. I see no other place where, say, a serial mouse If its on this i/o board as you say, then it is a serial port. Serial ports either use a 9 pin male or 25 pin male. CGA, EGA, and TTL video use a 9 pin female. Parrallel uses a 25 pin female, and game ports use a 15 pin female. Ask your CompuAdd saleman what HE thinks it is, just out of curiousity :) If you want to add a mouse as well, I recommend getting a second serial port. Most every i/o card made in the last several years has an option to put a 2nd port on it. All you need is 3 chips and a cable, and these are usually sold as a set for $15 or so. You may even have this option already. If you're really unsure, call the CompuAdd tech people in Auston and make sure. >of MacUser, I am a little leery of trying to make the connector >myself. On the other hand, the fifty-odd-dollars that I have >seen "custom-made-cables" advertised for seemed a little steep - You won't have to pay over $25 for the cable and adapter, none of this is custom and can be bought off of the shelf. Check your local university computer supplier. This university sells Mac cables for about half as much as the regular Apple dealers sell them for, and they are the exact same thing. >I had thought this would be a pretty popular connection! Perhaps It is! Give a shout if you need more help. Charles
robin@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Robin Amano) (09/11/90)
In article <6368@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU> hsu_wh@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (William H Hsu) writes: > I am trying to solder up a cable to connect my IBM 286 AT >clone (a CompuAdd 286-12, purchased in December of 1988) to a >Macintosh SE. By "connect" I mean that I would like to transfer >text and other files modem-style between the computers (I have >modems on both ends, but one is a 1200 baud and one a 2400, so >I'd prefer to bypass them both) using only the telecom software >on each machine. I surmise that this requires a male mini DIN-8 >connector on the Mac end, but am not certain whether I have the >I/O hardware on the AT end to support a "null modem" connection. The pins you need to use for the mac are: 1 = DTR 3 = TXD 4 = GND 5 = RXD The male DB-9 on the AT clone is most likely a serial port and the pinout is: 1 = DCD 2 = RXD 3 = TXD 4 = DTR 5 = GND 6 = DSR 7 = RTS 8 = CTS 9 = RI The cable should look like this: AT Clone MAC 2 RXD ---------------------- 3 TXD 3 TXD ---------------------- 5 RXD 5 GND ---------------------- 4 GND |- 1 DCD ---------------------- 1 DTR |- 4 DTR |- 6 DSR |- 7 RTS |- 8 CTS note pins 1,4, & 6 are jumpered together then connected to pin 1 of the mac. also pins 7 & 8 are jumpered together but not connected to the mac. Jameco sells Mac cables, but I'm not sure if they sell the kind you want. You can check at: Jameco Electronics 1355 Shoreway Road Belmont, CA 94002 (415) 592-8097