How to connect a DECprinter 1 (LA180) - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

29 Dec 2007

...

 =20
 The seasonal holidays give me time to play around a bit ...
 I wanted to connect my DECprinter I (that's an LA180) but
 I could not find any documentation here at home, neither
 on the web!  Can somebody who knows or has an LA180
 connected tell me how it is hooked to a serial line? 
It's not!. The interface is a TTL-level parallel one, somewhat similar to 
Centronics, but IIRC some of the control lines are inverted, etc. 

IIRC, it connects to an LP11 or LPV11 card. The cable is straight-through 
wired, I think, but you probalby flip one of the connectors over, as is 
usual with DEC cabling.

...
  Or point me to an LA180 user's manual on the web?
 =20
 From my guess, the BERG header is
"standard" as on M7800  DL11's or M7856 DL11-W, SLU's (with the
appropriate lugs
 either RS-232 or 20 mA current loop), but I would rather be
 assured than destroying a very nice printer! 
I suspect applying RS232 levesl to the connector will cook a few ICs. I 
do have the printset somewhere, so it would be repairable...

-tony