What kind of cable do I need for the plotter?
What kind of cable do I need for the plotter?
Models: 5700/57000, 5800/58000
All of the above CalComp plotters fully support the RS-232C standard for
serial communications.
THE 57000 AND 58000 FULLY SUPPORT THE CENTRONICS STANDARD FOR
PARALLEL DATA TRANSFER.
THE 5700/5800 SERIES PLOTTERS ARE NOT 100% CENTRONICS COMPATIBLE
UNLESS THEIR CONTROLLERS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED (PER THE FOLLOWING
NOTE).
SPECIAL NOTE ON 5700/5800 SERIES CENTRONICS COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS:
The 5700/5800 series plotters using the standard CalComp 908K controller
do not have 100% reliable centronics interfaces. In order to work
reliably in centronics mode, the 908K controller must be upgraded to either
an XK controller, revision 1.02 or greater, or an XP (the XP controller
is recommended). The XP Controller Mod kit may be ordered with P/N 701460-8.
A. CENTRONICS PARALLEL CABLE
1. FOR IBM PC'S & COMPATIBLES, MACINTOSH, SUN, HP, AND ALL UNIX
WORKSTATIONS WHICH SUPPORT THE CENTRONICS STANDARD:
a. The maximum length for a standard Centronics parallel
cable is 12'. This limit is the current industry-wide
standard. CalComp cannot guarantee that the integrity of
the plot data being transferred will be reliable beyond
12'. In addition, a heavy duty parallel cable is always
recommended. The 12' limit CAN be exceeded if you
purchase a specially designed cable (see Notes #1b and
#C below).
b. CalComp manufactures high quality, double-shielded
Centronics parallel cables INCLUDING a 25' cable. To
order a parallel cable from CalComp, call (1-800) 225-2667
and use the following order part numbers:
For a 12 foot Centronics cable: 18735-0129
For a 25 foot Centronics cable: 717960-9
B. RS-232 PORT SERIAL CABLES (for plot data ports and the terminal
port):
SPECIAL NOTE ON 5700/57000 AND 5800/58000 INTERNAL SERIAL
CONFIGURATION: The 5700/57000 series electrostatic plotters were
manufactured to be custom configured to meet any host computer's
connectivity specifications. These plotters were not user-installable
devices. Unit installation by a trained field engineer was included in
the original purchase price. Because of this, although most units were
configured as DCE devices, some were configured to be DTE. All of
the information in the following notes are for the most commonly used
device configuration, which is DCE. CalComp does not keep records as to
exactly how each unit was configured for a customer site. That
information should be available from the original operator or system
administrstor. (The baud rate on these plotters is fixed and was also
set during the original installation. Changing the baud rate requires
an onsite service call with CalComp UNLESS the optional 4-to-1 MUX was
installed. The 4:1 MUX gives your plotter 4 serial ports, one Terminal
port, and NO parallel ports.)
1. FOR IBM PC'S/COMPATIBLES WITH A 25-PIN (DB25) RS-232 SERIAL
PORT:
The 5700/ 57000 and 5800/58000 series plotters normally
require a straight-through cable, female-to-male, also known
as a MODEM cable (see special note above regarding possible
exceptions). This cable must be wired to use at least pins 2
through 8 and 20. CalComp offers the following cables to be
used with our plotters:
a. 25 foot straight MODEM cable (25pin-to-25pin, female-to-male):
CalComp order #11772-0250 (heavy duty double-shieled 25'
cable)
b. 10 foot straight MODEM cable (25pin-to-25pin, female-to-male):
CalComp order #11772-0102 (heavy duty double-shieled 10'
cable).
Please call 1-800-225-2667 to order either of these cables.
c. If you wish to build your own cable, here is the wiring
diagram for a 25-to-25 pin, female-to male 'straight'
serial cable (any pin connections not shown are not
required):
PC Port: Plotter Port:
female cable male cable
connector connect as connector
Pin # shown below Pin #
==============================================
1 ------------------------------ 1
2 ------------------------------ 2
3 ------------------------------ 3
4 ------------------------------ 4
5 ------------------------------ 5
6 ------------------------------ 6
7 ------------------------------ 7
8 ------------------------------ 8
20 ------------------------------ 20
2. FOR IBM PC'S & COMPATIBLES WITH A 9-PIN (DB9) RS-232 SERIAL
PORT:
a. The DB9 to 25-pin required (for the IBM standard 9-pin
port, female-to-male cable) is not available from
CalComp. This type of cable is widely available from
most computer retailers. Here is the Radio Shack P/N for
a 6 foot cable (DB9 to DB25, female-to-male):
Radio Shack Catalog # 26-269
If you wish to lengthen this cable, attach a 25pin-to-25pin
(female-to-male), straight-through cable, such as CalComp's
P/N 11772-0250 (25' cable) or 11772-0102 (10' cable).
b. If you wish to build your own cable, here is the wiring
diagram for the IBM standard 9-to-25 pin, female-to male
serial cable (pin connections not shown are not required):
PC Port: Plotter Port:
female cable male cable
connector connect as connector
Pin # shown below Pin #
===============================================
1 ------------------------------ 8
2 ------------------------------ 3
3 ------------------------------ 2
5 ------------------------------ 7
6 ------------------------------ 6
7 ------------------------------ 4
8 ------------------------------ 5
3. FOR THE MACINTOSH:
Note: CalComp provides specially designed cables to be
used with the Mac. These cables connect directly to
the Mac's MODEM (Mini DIN-8) port and one of the
plotter's serial ports.
a. 12' heavy duty Mac serial cable; CalComp order # 16623-0029
b. 6' heavy duty Mac serial cable; CalComp order # 16623-0011
Note: The 50' cable limit also applies to the Mac.
To extend the length of either of the above
listed cables, add one of CalComp's straight-through
cables (P/N 11772-0250 for a 25'cable and 11772-0102
for a 10' cable. See Note #A-1-c for the appropriate
wiring diagram for these cables).
c. If you wish to build your own Mac cable; here is the
wiring diagram for the Mac serial cables offered by
CalComp (p/n's 16623-0029 and 16623-0011)
Note: Pin connections not shown are not required.
MAC Port: Plotter Port:
8-pin male male cable
cable connector connect as connector
Pin # shown below Pin #
================================================
1 ---------------------------- 20
2 ---------------------------- 5 & 8
3 ---------------------------- 2
4 ---------------------------- 1 & 7
5 ---------------------------- 3
8 ---------------------------- 1 & 7
4. UNIX WORKSTATIONS:
a. SUN SPARC/IPC WORKSTATIONS:
Connect a straight-through (female-to-male) MODEM cable
AND a 25-to-25pin, male-to male adapter, to a standard
SUN Mini DIN-8 to 25 pin (male-to-female) serial cable.
The standard SUN Min-DIN-8 serial cable may be purchased
directly from SUN MICROSYSTEMS. Another source which can
be recommended as a supplier of SUN cable and
connectivity products is NewData Inc. Call NewData at
(908) 842-5757 and request information on their cable
P/N 6642 (or equivalent).
SUN SERIAL CONNECTION SUMMARY:
i. Use a standard SUN Mini DIN-8 male-to-female serial
cable (the female end is a 25-pin connector).
ii. Use a standard 25-pin, male-to-male adapter.
Connect this adapter directly to the female end of
the SUN cable. A 25-pin male-to-male adapter is
available from CalComp. The P/N is 14450-0253.
iii. Use a standard straight-through MODEM cable with at
least wires 2-through-8 and 20 being connected.
This cable is available from CalComp. The CalComp
order P/N is 11772-0250 for a 25' cable and 11772-0102
for a 10' cable.
iv. To order the CalComp cable and adapter, call
1-800-225-2667.
b. HP 9000 WORKSTATIONS
NOTE: CalComp does not provide a serial cable for HP
workstations.
The following is a known working pin-out for CalComp
plotters and the HP 9000. This cable pin-out is a
reference only. For further information, please consult
with your HP Workstation documentation and technical
support services.
HP Plotter Port:
9000 male cable
connector connect as connector
Pin # shown below Pin #
============================================
1 ---------------------------- 8
2 ---------------------------- 3
3 ---------------------------- 2
4 ---------------------------- 20
5 ---------------------------- 7
6 ---------------------------- 6
7 ---------------------------- 4
8 ---------------------------- 5
9 ---------------------------- 22
c. SILICON GRAPHICS WORKSTATIONS:
NOTE: CalComp does not provide a serial cable for
Silicon workstations.
The following is a known working pin-out for CalComp
plotters and Silicon Graphics Workstations.This cable
pin-out is a reference only. For further information,
please consult with your Silicon Graphics Workstation
documentation and technical support services.
Silicon Plotter Port:
Graphics male cable
connector connect as connector
Pin # shown below Pin #
===========================================
2 ---------------------------- 2
3 ---------------------------- 3
4 ---------------------------- 4
5 ---------------------------- 5
7 ---------------------------- 7
8 ---------------------------- 8
9 ---------------------------- 20
d. IBM RS-6000 (RISC) WORKSTATION:
Use CalComp cable P/N 754050-3 for the IBM RS-6000.
Order from CalComp by calling, 1-800-225-2667.
The following is a known working pin-out for CalComp
plotters and IBM RS-6000 workstations. This cable pin-out
is a reference only. For further information, please
consult your Silicon IBM RS-6000 documentation and
technical support services.
IBM Plotter Port:
RS-6000 male cable
connector connect as connector
Pin # shown below Pin #
============================================
1 ---------------------------- 1
2 ---------------------------- 3
3 ---------------------------- 2
4 ---------------------------- 6 & 8
5 ---------------------------- 20
6 ---------------------------- 4
7 ---------------------------- 7
8 ---------------------------- 4
20 ---------------------------- 5
e. DEC VAX 4000 WORKSTATIONS:
NOTE: CalComp does not provide a serial cable for the
DEC VAX.
The following is a known working pin-out for CalComp
plotters and the DEC VAX. This cable pin-out is a
reference only. For further information, please consult
with your DEC VAX documentation and technical support
services.
DEC Plotter Port:
VAX male cable
connector connect as connector
Pin # shown below Pin #
==========================================
1 ---------------------------- 8
2 --------------------------- 3
3 --------------------------- 2
5 --------------------------- 7
6 --------------------------- 6
7 --------------------------- 4
8 --------------------------- 5
f. DATA GENERAL WORKSTATIONS:
NOTE: CalComp does not provide a serial cable for Data
General.
The following is a known working pin-out for CalComp
plotters and some Data General computers. This cable
pin-out is a reference only. For further information,
please consult with your Data General documentation and
technical support services.
Data Plotter Port:
General male cable
connector connect as connector
Pin # shown below Pin #
============================================
1 ---------------------------- 1
2 ---------------------------- 3
3 ---------------------------- 2
4 ---------------------------- 20
5 ---------------------------- 8
6 ---------------------------- 6
7 ---------------------------- 7
8 ---------------------------- 4
C. CUSTOM CABLE INFORMATION:
Specially designed cables are available which enable you to
reliably exceed the industry-standard limits in cable length for
both Centronics parallel and RS-232 serial cables.
These limits are: 12 feet for Centronics parallel
50 feet for RS-232 serial
Special serial and parallel cables with lengths up to 300 feet (or
more) are available from the following vendors:
1. Buffalo Products Inc. (800) 345-2356
2. The Black Box Corp. (412) 746-0746
3. INMAC Corp. (800) 547-5444
4. NewData Inc. (908) 842-5757