Re: Trouble with A/B switch box on Printer Port

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

On 31 Dec 1995, FermiLevel wrote:

> I am trying to have both my IW2 and DeskJet 550C wired to my GS's printer
> port through an A/B/C/D switch box.  I have carefully checked the box out
> with my multimeter, but I cannot get any printing through it!  Does anyone
> know if these switch boxes load the signals, possibly causing my problems?
>  
> 
> 
The ones I have used have simple mechanical switches, no loading, and 
have had no problems except an ocassional bad contact or broken lead.

Assuming that either printer works fine without the box, I would quess a 
cable problem. Remember that a "printer" cable reverses "transmit" and 
"receive" between the computer and the printer. If you connect to the box 
and then use another "printer" cable to the printer, those leads will be 
double-swapped back to a "straight through" config, which will not work.

Try using a printer cable to the box and modem cables to the printers. 
Or, use a modem cable to the box and printer cables to the printers.


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