how to connect a DECprinter I (LA180) ?

Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:47:10 +0000> From: ethan.dicks at usap.gov> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org> Subject: Re: how to connect a DECprinter I (LA180) ?> > On Fri, Dec 28, 2007 at 06:59:28PM +0100, Henk Gooijen wrote:> > > Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:44:33 +0000> From: ethan.dicks at usap.gov>> > Henk,> > Something is wrong with your mail settings - you quoted my message> on a single smashed-up line.> > > Thanks Ethan! That was very informative information!> > You are quite wlecome.> > > True, that blue BERG header is very common, but I ASSumed that> > the printer had a serial interface, which made me think that it> > *could* resemble the DL11 connector.> > The LA-120 (DECwriter/printer III) is serial, as is the LA-36, and> a bunch of other LA-xxx printers. I think the LA-180 might be> unique in its naming series to be parallel.> > > I did not know that the LP11 interface can be used to connect> > the LA180, but that is great news. I know for sure that I have at> > least two LP11 UNIBUS modules (M7258)...> > Perfect.> > > and I will check my cable> > storage in the attick. I vaguely remember that I have a cable for> > the LP11!> > If you don't have a round cable, you can use a pin-1-to-pin-1> 40-pin flat cable. That's what I did for my LPV-11 in 1986.> It was much cheaper to buy meters of bulk cable and two IDC ends> than to get a "real" cable from a DEC reseller.> > > One day, I might put the other LP11 interface in my VAX-11/750...!> > I seem to recall doing that myself in the late 1980s, under VMS 4.6,> but we also had a "real" line printer we hung off of a DMF-32 DC-37> parallel-out port (sorta like the DKC8AA trick with a PDP-8/a). I> think we had an LP25 at the end of that cable, or an LP26. Either> way, it was a DEC-badged Dataproducts printer that I wasn't able> to rescue when the company folded in the early 1990s - too large> and way too worn out (I'd been limping it along for over 4 years> at that point).> > ...but I think we did have the LA-180 on the VAX as a backup for> when the ribbon feeder or the paper tractors would freak out on our> line printer. It probably died 3 or 4 times a year, requiring> parts or extended cleaning/tweaking. We ran box after box of> paper through that thing.> > As I said previously, the LA-180 works with PDP-8s, PDP-11s> and VAXen, plus with a single-chip interface (a few inverters),> it's possible to hook that same printer up to a "modern"> machine with a parallel port (Amiga, PC...)> > -ethan> > -- > Ethan Dicks, A-333-S Current South Pole Weather at 28-Dec-2007 at 18:30 Z> South Pole Station> PSC 468 Box 400 Temp -14.1 F (-25.6 C) Windchill -36.4 F (-38.0 C)> APO AP 96598 Wind 11.8 kts Grid 33 Barometer 684.5 mb (10459 ft)> > Ethan.Dicks at usap.gov http://penguincentral.com/penguincentral.html