Re: Imagewriter cables vs. switch box cables

[Cyrus Roton <croton@ridgecrest.ca.us>]

On 14 Aug 1996, Krinibar wrote:

> I keep buying Imagewriter cables (minidin8 I think their called) to use
> with a switch box.  The trouble is they work with an individual printer,
> but not on the switchbox.  Do I have the wrong cable?  If so, where do I
> get the right one?
> 

The problem is that the printer cable swaps "transmit" and "receive" 
between the two ends. That is necessary because "transmit" at the 
computer end must go to "receive" at the printer. When you connect the 
second printer cable (in series) it swaps the two leads back again. So, 
xmit from the computer ends up at xmit at the printer, and the printer 
never "receives" data. You can replace the cable to the "common" 
connector of the box with a "modem" cable, which does not swap those two 
leads. That is the simplest solution.

Cyrus Roton   croton@ridgecrest.ca.us
Ridgecrest Apple User Group