Full Version: Testing Cable
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#1]
18 Feb 2006
To: ALL
I've been all over town today looking for a new cable, it's a parallel (M)to serial (F), hopefully I have that right but I can not locate one. Have searched eBay and can't find one so was wondering if anyone knows a way to test this cable with a meter? What kind of readings should it have?
Thanks,
Puck
From: Ed (EMANA) [#2]
18 Feb 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#1] 18 Feb 2006
Try www.blackbox.com. They have a bunch of resources and have free tech support.
HTH,
Ed
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#3]
18 Feb 2006
To: Ed (EMANA) [#2] 18 Feb 2006
Ed,
Thanks. Looked at their site and I will call them monday to see if they have one (coudn't locate one on there like mine).
Puck
From: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#4]
18 Feb 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#1] 18 Feb 2006
are you looking for a 25 pin serial to a 9 pin serial.
A 36 pin parallel to a 9 pin serial/25 pin parallel.
M/F, F/F, M/M ?
Printer Cable??
http://www.cablestogo.com/product_list.asp?cat%5Fid=917
EDITED: 18 Feb 2006 by PENINSULATROPHY
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#5]
18 Feb 2006
To: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#4] 18 Feb 2006
PenTrophy,
Not a printer cable that I know of.
This is my engraver cable and this is how it's figured (I think),
25 pin parallel M (that attaches to my computer) to a
9 pin serial F (that attaches to my engraver).
Hope that makes sense. I looked on that website you gave the link to but didn't see one like it but will go back and see if I can do a search for one.
Thanks,
Puck
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#6]
18 Feb 2006
To: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#4] 18 Feb 2006
PenTrophy,
OK, I think I have the M & F turned around maybe. It looks like this cable but reverse the ends on the M & F parts, mine are just the opposite of this one.
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat%5Fid=904&sku=03023
Thanks,
Puck
From: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#7]
18 Feb 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#5] 18 Feb 2006
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#8]
18 Feb 2006
To: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#7] 19 Feb 2006
The 9 pin connects to the engraver so I even tried to get a cable with the right end to connect it to the engraver (I don't want a gender changer on that end) and then use a gender changer for the 25 pin which actually gets connected to a A/B switch which is connected to my computer by another parallel cable. But they did not have the end for my engraver, I found no cable that would work in 6 computer stores. No one had the cables or the right gender changers to make a cable work.
I was also told that as many connections/gender changers that I would be using it is going to weaken the connection to the engraver. With as much trouble as I'm having with this darn engraver I'd like to get a cable just like what I have to see if it is the cause of the problem. Has been running the engraver with no problem for at least 12 years like it has been hooked up but things do wear out I'm told.
Thanks,
Puck
From: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#9]
19 Feb 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#8] 19 Feb 2006
$2.99
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=50012331&pfp=SEARCH
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#10]
19 Feb 2006
To: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#9] 19 Feb 2006
Perfect, got it ordered!!! Thank you very much for finding that.
Thats funny because they are the second store I tried and they don't carry it so they sent me to 2 different computer building stores to see if they had them. I read on their site when I ordered that it is not available in their stores just online ordering. Must not be a very used cable any more.
Once again a big Thank You for locating that!!!
Puck
From: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#11]
20 Feb 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#10] 20 Feb 2006
Puck,
Those cables are SERIAL cables usually DB25 pin female to DB9 pin Male.
You can connect via the 9 pin port as well on the computer DB9 female to DB9 pin Male.
You just have to tell the engraver what port you are printing to (Serial Com 1 or Serial Com2.
The 25 pin serial connector is getting harder to find. Also I am not sure why you are going through a switch box what other serial devices are you using?
The Controller for that engraver is with out a doubt a SERIAL Device.
If you are going through a switch box then it has to be a serial switch box. This may also be your problem Try and eliminate the switch box from the equation. Plug the engraver directly into the serial port on the computer.
See if this is the problem that you have been experiencing.
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#12]
20 Feb 2006
To: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#11] 20 Feb 2006
Laserman,
Yep, found out just how hard those cables are to find! Just doing new cable since Frans Tech suggested trying it.
I've already tried the cable straight to the computer but it made no difference on the engraver. I use a A/B switch to be also able to run a Roland vinyl cutter/plotter(2 of these). Have had it connected this way for at least 10-12 years. I did try changing A/B switches also and it ran the same so know it's not the switch. Remember that this computer is OLD and has very limited connection spots, reason for A/B switch only one connector port and can only run plotters when engraver is not in use(has worked for me up until now).
Also no serial port that will work on the computer, monitor(looks like a 9pin at least) is hooked in the only one so I'm really limited. Do you know if QEG will run on windows98/se, I'm thinking of upgrading to a different computer but need to know what windows QEG will run on. I tried a old laptop I have with windows98se on it but couldn't get it to run the computer. Software loaded into the computer OK but could not locate the engraver. Thinking maybe windows95 is the best I'll be able to do?
Thanks,
Puck
From: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#13]
20 Feb 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#12] 20 Feb 2006
Puck,
Actually Win 95 and 98 are very similar. If you are using Win95 now then it should not be a problem using Win98. It will not work in XP at all so do not try that.
However the QEG program is a DOS based program that means if you are using it with Win 95 then you are using the MS DOS shell to run the program.
If this is the case be sure to get all the set-up properties so you can set-it up the same way under Win 98.
If this is not the case then there may be some issues trying to use the QEG software with Windows . You may have to set up a dual boot method. (one for when you need the windows and one for just using QEG under MS DOS).
It would not work if you let the computer boot up into windows and then exited to MS DOS this method still has windows running in the background and will cause issues with the QEG program.
You would need to boot the system up as MS DOS because windows uses memory and function keys that the QEG program would require. In that case you might as well just format the drive to just use DOS unless windows is required for other software.
That particular system has a special control unit that has to use the QEG software to work.
On that age of computer you can still find add on Serial cards to expand the number of ports you have available. This however may not be necessary at this time.
From: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#14]
20 Feb 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#12] 20 Feb 2006
I believe the monitor is an 14/15 pin . Your mouse is the Com1 port if installed. You could add a serial port but that would envolve adding a $20 card if you have room.
You should have no problem with your software runing on Win 98 SE. The laptop it self may be the problem. 98 was the last good version with DOS built in the software.
So the plotter works with no problem.... doe sit use the same serian 9 pin outupt cabel. Of couse you plugged that into the engraver and it still did not work....right
No probem with the engraver ...... runs boot up self test with no problems and will move manually right, left, up, down,
My best guess is software or engraver.... Reload software into a new directory location on the same computer.
EDITED: 20 Feb 2006 by PENINSULATROPHY
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#15]
20 Feb 2006
To: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#14] 20 Feb 2006
PenTrophy,
No, the monitor is a 9 pin just like the engraver, same end. I took the montior cable off the computer and checked. Monitor cable is built in to the monitor and has a 9 pin end.
Yep, plotters work fine. Different cable setup, thats why the A/B switch works them, they have a 25 pin with a printer end (parallel). So those cables don't help me any.
Engraver is the problem, quit working right and then stopped altogether. So I've reloading the software from the original disks (tried a new directory) and I also downloaded a newer version off the net and it didn't make a difference so just to make sure it's not the computer/engraver cable I ordered that new one, $8 with shipping didn't think it would hurt to try their suggestion of replacing the cord.
Waiting on the controller to get back now before I can do any more.
Thanks,
Puck
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#16]
20 Feb 2006
To: laserman (MIKEMAC) [#13] 21 Feb 2006
Laserman,
I'm using windows 3.1. I actually tried winXP and gives me the same thing as win98se, can't find the engraver. I believe this statement you made is the problem:
"It would not work if you let the computer boot up into windows and then exited to MS DOS this method still has windows running in the background and will cause issues with the QEG program."
So thats why I was going only up to win95 since at one time I remember having it on one of the three computers I had all A/B/C/D switched together to run three (engraver and 2 plotters) at the same time. The windows95 computer bit the dust and I never replaced it.
Once I gave up doing graphics on 18 wheelers I found I only needed two computers anyway. Those 40+ foot trailers just got to be to much for one person and I did'nt want to work that hard anymore anyways.
I like the simple stuff now....
Thanks,
Puck
From: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#17]
20 Feb 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#15] 21 Feb 2006
From: Ken D. (KDEVORY) [#18]
21 Feb 2006
To: ALL
Reading this thead, I see both serial and parallel ports mentioned. Both may use the same 25 pin connector, but with different internal wiring. DCE vs. DTE is another internal wiring issue. And of course Male/Female connectors is the most obvious.
"9-pin" makes me think serial, but references to a "parallel connector" brings the old centronics connector to mind.
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#19]
21 Feb 2006
To: Ken D. (KDEVORY) [#18] 21 Feb 2006
Ken,
Not really sure what it's really called but hooked it back to the engraver and A/B switch and the engraver runs so will at least have a backup now when the new one arrives.
Puck
From: Ken D. (KDEVORY) [#20]
21 Feb 2006
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#19] 21 Feb 2006
Puck,
Test your "backup" when it arrives, to confirm its a match. Its better to know before you need it.
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