Strange and Possibly Wonderful Cable

From: Tothwolf <tothwolf_at_concentric.net>
Date: Sat Jan 5 14:52:34 2002

On Sat, 5 Jan 2002, Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) wrote:

> > > Model 2 and 100 used a dual row header, and of course, the PC clones used
> > > an "RS-232 connector" :-)
> > Right, the model 2 typically used a ribbon cable with IDC connectors. I
> > have one of these with its DWP printer out in storage :)
>
> Not to be picky (well, OK, I do tend to be :-), "IDC" stands/stood for
> "Insulation Displacement Conector", which meant virtually ANY crimp-on
> connector, INCLUDING the card edge connector on drive cables for 5.25, and
> the computer end of model 1,3,4 printer cables when they used ribbon
> cable.

I know that ;)
Both connectors on that cable are IDC connectors.

> Since the "centronics" connector (Amphenol Blue Ribbon 36
> pin) wasn't very available in IDC, those cables were kinda hoky, with
> either a non ribbon "centronics" soldered to ribbon cable, or a card edge
> crimped onto spread out non-ribbon cable.

Well, my model 2 printer cable uses one of these, as does quite a number
of my Apple II machines. I have tons of brand new 36 pin connectors in a
box somewhere that I got as part of a bulk deal. They seem to be very
common for printer cables for Tandy and Apply computers made around
1983-1988. (I don't remember if the box I have is full of male or female
36 pin connectors, however.)

> The one model 2 cable that I remember using (20 yrs ago) did NOT have IDC
> connector. It was a round cable (I don't know whether it was shielded),
> with a 20 pin dual row header sloppily put onto the end.

Well, I'm speaking based on the one I currently own, which certainly does
have IDC connectors on each end of the ribbon cable.

-Toth
Received on Sat Jan 05 2002 - 14:52:34 GMT