JASEN BETTS wrote to KEN HRYNCHUK on 09-16-04 09:43:

 KH> Has anyone done 8-bit file transfers via the PC's parallel port?

 JB> yes.

Do you recall which cable configuration/software you used?

 KH> I'm thinking of using the following cable configuration:

 KH> DB25M            DB25M
 KH> -----            -----
 KH>   1 -------------  1
 KH>   2 ------------- 15
 KH>   3 ------------- 13
 KH>   4 ------------- 12
 KH>   5 ------------- 10
 KH>   6 ------------- 11
 KH>  10 -------------  5
 KH>  11 -------------  6
 KH>  12 -------------  4
 KH>  13 -------------  3
 KH>  14 ------------- 14
 KH>  15 -------------  2
 KH>  16 ------------- 16
 KH>  17 ------------- 17
 KH>  25 ------------- 25

 KH> Will the above be compatible with 4-bit transfer software (e.g.
 KH> Interlink), and will it be usable on EPP/ECP ports, as well as
 KH> SPP (i.e. 'Legacy') ports? Indeed, will it be usable, at all?

 JB> that's looks like a 4-bit cable.

I got the above from File Maven 3.5a's (DOS freeware) docs. It's billed
as being 8-bit, with 4-bit compatibility (just what I need). But, upon
cross-referencing the above with the legacy LPT pinouts, I realized that
it's using control registers for the second nybble, which kind of threw
me (then I realized that such techniques would be required for legacy
compatibility). I feel a little more comfortable with trying it after
reading Mike's post, though, since some of the configurations he listed
use similar techniques. I'm a little gun-shy here, after smoking the
onboard parallel, serial, and floppy (!) ports on a 486, while playing
with LPT I/O, a few years ago.

 JB> check the documentation for whatever software you're planning to use.
 JB> the documentation usually describes which sort of cable you should use.
 JB> The interlink documentation describes a 4 bit cable that seems
 JB> compatible with most software, (but I never could get PLIP working under
 JB> linux)

Like I was saying to Terry, I've read conflicting reports about
Laplink's ability to do 8-bit transfers (?). Perhaps some versions
were 4-bit, and some were 8-bit?

 JB> if you can get the machines close enough to use a parallel cable it's
 JB> often easier, and much, much, faster to plug both hard drive ribbon
 JB> cables into one machine.  :)

Thanks Jasen; that sounds good, but I'd need a 12-foot ribbon cable... :)

   Ken

 
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