TRS-80 printer cable length?

From: Tothwolf <tothwolf_at_concentric.net>
Date: Fri Sep 26 19:12:09 2003

On Fri, 26 Sep 2003, Tony Duell wrote:
> Tothwolf wrote:
>
> > > From memory, 6 feet / 1.8m. But I might be wrong.
> >
> > That sounds about right. I have a couple packed away somewhere, but I
> > think they were made up by the computer's owner and not bought ready
> > made.
>
> That's why I don't know the length either. I made my own cables back
> then (still do, of course). And I made them to be a convenient length
> for me...

Of course. Thats what I tend to do too, but not everyone has the patience
or tools to put them together.

> > So far I've been able to come up with these catalog numbers, though
> > there are probably a few others:
>
> All from memory....
>
> > Model I 26-1411, 26-1416 [LP2]
>
> cable, 36 pin Blue Ribbon on one end (Centronics connector), 40 pin edge
> connector (no, I don't mean 34 pin) on the other. The other part is
> short, and has a little box of electronics with a 40 pin card edge on
> one end and a ribbon cabel with a 40 pin edge connector (M1 bus) on the
> other. The circuitry is an address decoder, data latch and buffers --
> basically the printer port bit of the EI. It lets you connect a
> Centronics printer to an M1 without an EI, but it needs a printer that
> supplies +5V on the the Centronics connector.

Ok, thanks for reminding me of that. I'd long forgotten about those little
black/gray boxes attached to those cables.

> > Model I+EI/III/4 26-1401, 26-1415 [LP2]
>
> 36 pin Blue Ribbon to 34 pin edge connector.

Thats what I thought...

> > Model II 26-4401, 26-4402 [LP2]
>
> 34 pin (? maybe 40 pin) 2 row header socket to 36 pin Blue Ribbon.

I believe it is 34 pins. I'll check my Model 2 to be sure though.

> > Color Computer 26-3020
>
> 4 pin DIN to 4 pin DIN (this is a serial interface cable!)
>
> > Tandy 1000 Series (Not RL or TL/3) 26-225/26-222 (6'/12')
>
> I think this is a shielded version of the 36 pin Blue Ribbon to 34 pin
> Edge connector.

The strange thing is, I think I have two versions of this cable somewhere.
They look identical, but have different part numbers. Time to pull them
out of storage...

> > All Others PC-Compatibles 26-227/26-223 (6'/12')
>
> What you think. 36 pin Blue Ribbon to DB25 plug.

Of course, just on the list for semi-completeness ;)

> > I'm unsure as to why the LP2 has different cables. Does it not use the
> > centronics-style 36 pin connector?
>
> I have an idea it didn't. I think it used a 34 pin (or was it 40 pin)
> card edge (!).

That sounds about right, but I don't think I have an LP2, so I can't
verify for sure what connector it used. Does someone out there have one
that they can check?

Looking at the different cables, it would appear the most commonly needed
cables would be the Model I+EI/III/4 (26-1401), Model II (26-4401), and
Color Computer (26-3020). Does that seem about right? Is there much in the
way of demand for shielded cables for the Tandy 1000 line? Are there many
LP2s out there that need cables?

-Toth
Received on Fri Sep 26 2003 - 19:12:09 BST