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Obtaining a null modem cable for my 2GS [message #278166] Tue, 06 January 2015 23:48 Go to next message
ajross.nz is currently offline  ajross.nz
Messages: 29
Registered: August 2013
Karma: 0
Junior Member
Hi CSA2,

I have a 2e which is great with it's SSC comms card, but my 2GS is lacking ability to talk to the outside world in the same respect. I'd rather not have to buy a whole new SSC and a whole new set of cables, when there's a perfectly good communications adapter built right into the machine, but I cannot for the life of me find a 2GS (is that DIN-8) to DB9 connector.

The following website was no luck, mainly dead links. The ones which were live seem to not stock such a cable.
http://apple2.org.za/gswv/a2zine/faqs/Csa2T1TCOM.html#025

I also tried retrofloppy, but at a whopping $75 USD to ship to New Zealand, for a $19 cable, the words daylight and robbery seem appropriate here.

So does anyone know where I can purchase said cable at a reasonable rate, preferably in NZ/AUS?

Cheers,

Alistair
Re: Obtaining a null modem cable for my 2GS [message #278190 is a reply to message #278166] Wed, 07 January 2015 12:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
scott is currently offline  scott
Messages: 4239
Registered: February 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
In article <c96242d4-d277-46aa-8d92-a737cdb9ed8b@googlegroups.com>,
Alistair Ross <ajross.nz@gmail.com> wrote:
> I have a 2e which is great with it's SSC comms card, but my 2GS is
> lacking ability to talk to the outside world in the same respect. I'd
> rather not have to buy a whole new SSC and a whole new set of cables,
> when there's a perfectly good communications adapter built right into
> the machine, but I cannot for the life of me find a 2GS (is that DIN-8)
> to DB9 connector.

Way back when, I made my own cable according to the diagram in the ProTERM
manual. Go to page 284 here:

http://lostclassics.apple2.info/wp-content/files/InTrec/InTr ec_A2-PT31.pdf

To connect to another computer, you'd only need to add in a null-modem
adapter and maybe a gender changer and/or 25-to-9-pin adapter, both of which
I'd think are still available off-the-shelf.

For an off-the-shelf cable option, try finding a Mac modem cable (though
there might've been some minor differences between this and what the ProTERM
manual recommends). Hardware handshaking is preferred. Combine with the
aforementioned gender changer and/or 25-to-9-pin adapter and you should be
good to go.

_/_
/ v \ Scott Alfter (remove the obvious to send mail)
(IIGS( https://alfter.us/ Top-posting!
\_^_/ >What's the most annoying thing on Usenet?
Re: Obtaining a null modem cable for my 2GS [message #278198 is a reply to message #278166] Wed, 07 January 2015 14:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Alistair Ross

Hi CSA,

I just wanted to add to this that after I sent this to CSA2, I sent an email to
David at Retrofloppy.

He was able to bring down the cost of shipping from $75 to $46.50 which is a
good effort, unfortunately still a bit to much for my personal budget, however I
was impressed with his customer service and willingness to try to assist, so I'd
recommend retrofloppy, especially if you are in the USA as postage inland US was
only $5 when I tried a Boston ZIP code.

Regards,

Alistair J. Ross
Sent from an Apple ][

On Tue, 6 Jan 2015, Alistair Ross wrote:

> Hi CSA2,
>
> I have a 2e which is great with it's SSC comms card, but my 2GS is lacking ability to talk to the outside world in the same respect. I'd rather not have to buy a whole new SSC and a whole new set of cables, when there's a perfectly good communications adapter built right into the machine, but I cannot for the life of me find a 2GS (is that DIN-8) to DB9 connector.
>
> The following website was no luck, mainly dead links. The ones which were live seem to not stock such a cable.
> http://apple2.org.za/gswv/a2zine/faqs/Csa2T1TCOM.html#025
>
> I also tried retrofloppy, but at a whopping $75 USD to ship to New Zealand, for a $19 cable, the words daylight and robbery seem appropriate here.
>
> So does anyone know where I can purchase said cable at a reasonable rate, preferably in NZ/AUS?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Alistair
>
Re: Obtaining a null modem cable for my 2GS [message #278204 is a reply to message #278198] Wed, 07 January 2015 14:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
D Finnigan is currently offline  D Finnigan
Messages: 1159
Registered: October 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Alistair Ross wrote:
> Hi CSA,
>
> I just wanted to add to this that after I sent this to CSA2, I sent an
> email to
> David at Retrofloppy.
>
> He was able to bring down the cost of shipping from $75 to $46.50 which is
> a
> good effort, unfortunately still a bit to much for my personal budget,
> however I

I've sent some stuff overseas from America and IMO, a $19 computer cable
shouldn't cost too much more than $19 to ship. I wouldn't even use a rigid
box, since I'd imagine you could wrap it up really nicely in an envelope.


--
]DF$
Apple II Book: http://macgui.com/newa2guide/
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Apple II Web & Blog hosting: http://a2hq.com/
Re: Obtaining a null modem cable for my 2GS [message #278207 is a reply to message #278204] Wed, 07 January 2015 16:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
David Schmidt is currently offline  David Schmidt
Messages: 994
Registered: October 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 1/7/2015 2:33 PM, D Finnigan wrote:
> Alistair Ross wrote:
>> Hi CSA,
>>
>> I just wanted to add to this that after I sent this to CSA2, I sent an
>> email to
>> David at Retrofloppy.
>>
>> He was able to bring down the cost of shipping from $75 to $46.50 which is
>> a
>> good effort, unfortunately still a bit to much for my personal budget,
>> however I
>
> I've sent some stuff overseas from America and IMO, a $19 computer cable
> shouldn't cost too much more than $19 to ship. I wouldn't even use a rigid
> box, since I'd imagine you could wrap it up really nicely in an envelope.

It does fit nicely in an envelope. A padded one, even. Take a look at
pricing for Priority Mail Express International envelope from US to NZ -
it's $46.50 at the post office. ($42.75 online.) Priority Mail
International is cheaper - $24.75/$23.50. But the problem with Priority
Mail International is that it's not trackable, and there's no proof of
delivery. So if/when the package gets lost, sender loses the cable, the
money for the cable, _and_ the money for the postage - since PayPal
won't/can't verify it ever went anywhere. Trust me, it's happened so
enough times to me I won't ship anything without proof of delivery. I
feel bad that everyone not on my continent has to suffer, but I am not
left with a lot of choices.

So, yes, you can send a first-class international envelope for
$9.15/$8.60. At least that way sender loses less in postage cost when
they go missing...
Re: Obtaining a null modem cable for my 2GS [message #278233 is a reply to message #278166] Wed, 07 January 2015 22:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Lukazi is currently offline  Lukazi
Messages: 51
Registered: September 2013
Karma: 0
Member
I was able to purchase the 8 pin DIN and 9 pin serial plugs from Jaycar Electronics for a few bucks.

Here is how I wired it up:-
http://lukazi.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/waltr-introduction.htm l

However the pins on the 8 pin DIN are very close together so it was a bitch to wire up. If I was to do it again I would just purchase a cable (go to ebay and search for 'mac 8 din'), cut it to the required length and then just wire in the 9 pin serial to it.

Hope that helps.


Alex.
Re: Obtaining a null modem cable for my 2GS [message #278245 is a reply to message #278233] Thu, 08 January 2015 07:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Steven Hirsch is currently offline  Steven Hirsch
Messages: 799
Registered: October 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 01/07/2015 10:28 PM, Lukazi wrote:

> However the pins on the 8 pin DIN are very close together so it was a bitch
> to wire up. If I was to do it again I would just purchase a cable (go to
> ebay and search for 'mac 8 din'), cut it to the required length and then
> just wire in the 9 pin serial to it.

Hand-soldering a mini-DIN is cruel and unusual punishment. Heck, even a
regular DIN can try ones patience. Cutting a double-ended cable in half is
absolutely the way to go. D-shell connectors are easy to solder and you get
two cables out of it.
Re: Obtaining a null modem cable for my 2GS [message #278264 is a reply to message #278198] Thu, 08 January 2015 12:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Aaron Daughtry is currently offline  Aaron Daughtry
Messages: 227
Registered: July 2013
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 2015-01-07 19:13:38 +0000, Alistair Ross said:

> I just wanted to add to this that after I sent this to CSA2, I sent an email to
> David at Retrofloppy.
>
> He was able to bring down the cost of shipping from $75 to $46.50 which
> is a good effort, unfortunately still a bit to much for my personal
> budget, however I
> was impressed with his customer service and willingness to try to
> assist, so I'd
> recommend retrofloppy, especially if you are in the USA as postage
> inland US was
> only $5 when I tried a Boston ZIP code.

Seconded.

Sometimes I just don't feel like making a cable. Lazy.
Re: Obtaining a null modem cable for my 2GS [message #278308 is a reply to message #278166] Thu, 08 January 2015 19:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gbody4 is currently offline  gbody4
Messages: 47
Registered: October 2012
Karma: 0
Member
Alistair If you want to chat about it on IRC, I can possibly help.

GeoffB
Re: Obtaining a null modem cable for my 2GS [message #278316 is a reply to message #278233] Thu, 08 January 2015 22:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: Alistair Ross

Thanks Alex (et al.), I'm currently looking at the cheapest way to get one to
me, after all we don't have Ebay in New Zealand, so the chances of finding a mac
8 din here is almost zero. Then there is my near complete lack of ability to
solder, despite having a soldering iron, I am pretty awful, so even this option
sounds pretty painful for me, I'd rather just get a pre-made cable, ideally
8-din to DB9 and I think Bill Garber may be able to come to the rescue so I'm
incredibly indebted to him if he can indeed help me out.

If not, then I guess I'll try and get a 8-din from USA somewhere and try your
suggestion Alex.

Thanks all!


Alistair J. Ross
Sent from an Apple ][ - http://apple2.aliross.co.uk

On Wed, 7 Jan 2015, Lukazi wrote:

> I was able to purchase the 8 pin DIN and 9 pin serial plugs from Jaycar Electronics for a few bucks.
>
> Here is how I wired it up:-
> http://lukazi.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/waltr-introduction.htm l
>
> However the pins on the 8 pin DIN are very close together so it was a bitch to wire up. If I was to do it again I would just purchase a cable (go to ebay and search for 'mac 8 din'), cut it to the required length and then just wire in the 9 pin serial to it.
>
> Hope that helps.
>
>
> Alex.
>
Re: Obtaining a null modem cable for my 2GS [message #278321 is a reply to message #278316] Thu, 08 January 2015 22:55 Go to previous message
Christopher G. Mason is currently offline  Christopher G. Mason
Messages: 156
Registered: November 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
On 1/8/2015 10:11 PM, Alistair Ross wrote:
> Thanks Alex (et al.), I'm currently looking at the cheapest way to get
> one to
> me, after all we don't have Ebay in New Zealand, so the chances of
> finding a mac
> 8 din here is almost zero. Then there is my near complete lack of
> ability to
> solder, despite having a soldering iron, I am pretty awful, so even this
> option
> sounds pretty painful for me, I'd rather just get a pre-made cable, ideally
> 8-din to DB9 and I think Bill Garber may be able to come to the rescue
> so I'm
> incredibly indebted to him if he can indeed help me out.
>

8-pin mini din plugs with crimp-on terminals are likely available
locally, same with DB-9 plugs. Just strip the wire, crimp on the pin and
insert into the socket.
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