Re: Switchbox cables

[Bill Shuff <bill2060@cris.com>]

krinibar@aol.com wrote:
> 
> I while back I wrote about having trouble with switchboxes and Imagewriter
> cables.  Some people said connect straight through cable to the computer
> and some said to the printer.  Which is it?  I have 4 computers on one
> switch box.  (Macs now).

Some of the wires in a standard GS or Mac Imagewriter II cable are
"crossed".  That is, for example, the wire to pin #1 at one end is
connected to pin #2 at the other end.  Likewise with pins 3 and 5, and
with pins 6 and 8.  When you use a switch box you essentially put two
cables end to end and the result is that you uncross the wires so the
signal from pin #1 at the computer ends up at pin #1 at the printer
instead of to pin #2 where it is supposed to go. 

What must be done is to use one crossed wire cable (standard) and one
straight through cable in the path from the computer to any printer. 
This is best accomplished by using one standard cable at the common
connector of the switch box and straight through connectors at the
switched connections.  The reverse is, of course, okay too.  

Straight through cables are readily available, but if you have trouble
finding one, I can make up one or more for you at a modest cost.   

Bill Shuff