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Hardware connection
You may need to ask your supplier for an adaptor
cable to connect a modem or other standard
RS232 DCE device. Here is the wiring guide for
connecting to a standard RS232 25-way D-type
connector:
In practice you may leave out RI and DSR. They
are not often used. If the modem doesn't provide a
CTS signal, leave it out and instead connect CTS
to RTS at the computer end.
If you are connecting a different type of modem from the one illustrated, the
differences will be in which signals the modem looks at and can supply. You can
configure some modems to use or ignore the various control signals, by means of DIP
switch settings or by sending commands.
Software connection
For information on how to set up the software, it's best if you check with your supplier,
who will be able to tell you the communications package to use that best suits your
modem.
Parallel port
The parallel port is commonly used to connect a printer, or to send/receive data
to/from a device using eight data pins in parallel, making a byte of character data.
There is a diagram of the parallel port pinout in Appendix D: Hardware components
and connectors on page 83.
Printers on the parallel port
Hardware connection
You need a 25-way D-type connector to connect a parallel printer to the computer.
Often, the cable supplied with your printer will be suitable. If not, the table overleaf
gives an example of how the pins on the computer's parallel port map onto a 36-way
Centronics-type Delta 57 connector.
The mapping is not one to one. The signals you need will depend on the type of
printer, and the settings of any switches on the printer. As a general guide, most
printers will work without the signals marked Optional.
In the first instance, ask your supplier to make sure they give you the correct cable.
Check the printer's documentation for more information.
Appendix C: Attaching peripheral devices
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