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Unknown Device
Started by Marc Oberhäuser, Mar 14 2006 3:18 PM
10 replies to this topic
#1 OFFLINE
Marc Oberhäuser
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Posted Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:18 PM
Recently I picked up some Atari 8bit stuff from my neighbours. Among common items I found the here shown adapter/device. They don't remember what it was good for so I am going to ask you if you have a clue what it might be:)
#2 OFFLINE
Goochman
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Posted Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:25 PM
Looks like a parallel printer adaptor.
#3 OFFLINE
emkay
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Posted Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:44 PM
Goochman, on Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:25 PM, said:
Looks like a parallel printer adaptor.
This type of connector is commonly used with the centronics/printer interface... on the printer itself, not on the computer-interface.
#4 OFFLINE
Guitarman
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Posted Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:47 PM
Yes, but the connection is backwards. It looks like an adapter to use an Atari printer on a regular computer. It looks like the adapter plugs into the end of a standard printer cable coming from a PC since the connector is a centronics female instead of male.
Edit... Beat me to it Emkay!!! LOL
Edit... Beat me to it Emkay!!! LOL
Edited by Guitarman, Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:49 PM.
#5 ONLINE
Rybags
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Posted Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:42 PM
Can you open it up?
#6 OFFLINE
LYNXGUY
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Posted Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:45 PM
The smaller end appears to be what you would use for a disk drive.
#7 OFFLINE
Goochman
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Posted Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:57 PM
Ok - Maybe a printer buffer?
#8 OFFLINE
MEtalGuy66
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Posted Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:14 PM
The picture is a little too foggy to see the exact specs of the connector.
Look at the non-atari connector. Is it a 36 conductor (18 wide) or a 50 conductor (25 wide) ?
Centronics printer connectors are 36 conductor. The cable on the printer-end is usually "male".
The connector you show in the picture is a "female," which would typically be the connector built into the printer.
External SCSI cables, however, are a 50 conductor Centronix style connector, and have male at both ends, so if that is the case, you may have some unheard of "SIO2SCSI" type interface.
Look at the non-atari connector. Is it a 36 conductor (18 wide) or a 50 conductor (25 wide) ?
Centronics printer connectors are 36 conductor. The cable on the printer-end is usually "male".
The connector you show in the picture is a "female," which would typically be the connector built into the printer.
External SCSI cables, however, are a 50 conductor Centronix style connector, and have male at both ends, so if that is the case, you may have some unheard of "SIO2SCSI" type interface.
#9 OFFLINE
ijor
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Posted Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:40 PM
It is obviously homebrew, so it could be just anything used for testing or diagnostic purposes.
But another possibility is that it’s the Xformer to PC (or ST) cable. Instead of making it in one piece. It was done in such a way that you could hook a standard printer cable. Yeah, the box looks too big for that, yet it could be.
But another possibility is that it’s the Xformer to PC (or ST) cable. Instead of making it in one piece. It was done in such a way that you could hook a standard printer cable. Yeah, the box looks too big for that, yet it could be.
#10 ONLINE
Rybags
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Posted Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:40 PM
I say open it up. In any case, you wouldn't want to hook it up not knowing what it is supposed to be.
Either a XFormer or APE cable I'd say. But if it's an APE cable, you'd need a gender changer plug to plug into the PC.
Might have just been built that way because the owner didn't want to cannabilize a SIO cable (I built my first one in a similar fashion).
Either a XFormer or APE cable I'd say. But if it's an APE cable, you'd need a gender changer plug to plug into the PC.
Might have just been built that way because the owner didn't want to cannabilize a SIO cable (I built my first one in a similar fashion).
#11 OFFLINE
Marc Oberhäuser
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Posted Sun Mar 19, 2006 9:19 AM
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I have opened up the device but as you see it's complete isolated with some kind of plastic/glue 
On the backside of the device is an address from England, maybe the manufacturer:
D.W. Fern
265 Chester Road
Streetly
West Midlands B74 3EA
Maybe this can help to identify it.
On the backside of the device is an address from England, maybe the manufacturer:
D.W. Fern
265 Chester Road
Streetly
West Midlands B74 3EA
Maybe this can help to identify it.
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