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From: bb@wjh12.UUCP (byer)
Newsgroups: net.periphs
Subject: Re: RS232-to-Centronics converter?
Message-ID: <608@wjh12.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 23-Jun-85 08:27:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: wjh12.608
Posted: Sun Jun 23 08:27:32 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Jun-85 02:56:35 EDT
References: <4420@allegra.UUCP>
Organization: Psychology & Social Relations Dept., Harvard Univ.
Lines: 22

> 	Mark Plotnick (	allegra!mp ) writes:
> We have an inkjet printer that only has a Centronics interface,
> but we'd like to feed it serial data from our VAX.  ....
>  The Black Box gadgets do a bit more than what we really need, too.

The problem here is not just wires & connectors, but Flow-Control.
If you are using a non-DEC serial line controller, you might be
equipped with DTR or CTS control.  In this case, a simple adapter
can be obtained which will `tie' the Centronics'  line
to the DTR/CTS.  I have seen this adapter advertised in Byte (in
the back among the flock of 1" x 2" ads) for < $100.

If you have to use x-on/x-off flow control, you had better dig deeper
into your pocket.  One possibility is a `printer buffer' as is common
among mono-tasking devotees.  If you can find one that does what you
need (and/or vice-versa), pls report back to the Net.

If that fails, it's either hack-it-yourself (from a single-chip computer?)
or call Black Box ($450, I think).

Brent Byer (harvard!wjh12!bb)
			``Hey, Paro, I think he broke the President.''