Norstar Flash printer port

[genekeats]

I have a Norstar Flash unit circa 2001, with software version: N* Flash 2.0.10.

Anything I should know about the printer port on the module?

The Operation Guide mentions an RS-232 (serial) port on the module for connecting to a terminal or printer. On the module I see a DB25F connector, which suggests it is really a (parallel) printer port. I tried to connect a printer with two different printer cables (DB25-to-C36) but had no luck with the printing.

If this port can be used to attach to a PC using a null modem cable and some terminal software, the connector on the Flash module doesn't seem to fit the profile, i.e. DB9.

Thanks.

 

[misseditbythatmuch]

I am new to posting answers, so I invite fact checking.

When the Flash was current technology, the DB25 jack was used in the early PC industry as an I/O jack for a variety of data formats including Parallel printing, Serial (printing and modem-ing), and some SCSI external devices, and a few other things. (Remember, the 90's were a dark and twisted time in the realm of PC's, protocols and standards...)

In the case of the Flash, I believe it is a serial format.

It can support a printer, but it must be a printer with a serial port, or it can be a parallel printer with the adjunct of a serial-to-parallel signal converter.

Depending on what you find for serial printers (Okidata had a popular MX series with both parallel (with centronics) and serial (DB25) ports), you may need a cable to adapt from DB25 serial to DB9.

1200 baud
XON/OFF and I think the flash software embeds a <CR> at the end of each report line
Cable will be a stright thru config


You can also go DB25 to a modem (emulation) connection.
pin2xmit to pin3rec
pin3rec to pin pin2xmit
pin7ground to pin7ground.
1200 baud
8bit
no parity
1 stop bit
EMULATE Digital VT-100 or equivalent.

Hope this is helpful.

My primary fact source is the Startalk Flash Setup and Operations Guide. I supplement it with some tinkering, the making of sparks, the aroma of toasted pvc, and the occasional succesful repair.

 

[misseditbythatmuch]

Sorry, I meant to say the popular Okidata 18_ series. The MX popped out as it was my favorite Epson printer (as dot matrix goes).

 

[genekeats]

Thanks very much, misseditbythatmuch.

Searching on RS-232 and DB25 uncovered plenty of info, and I'm sure I'll make the connection.

Will "report" back.

 

[jerryreeve]

the connector on the flash is serial and used both for printer and terminal. I believe that the output does not need a null but have one on hand just in case.

the flash installation guide advises that the port is also used for an ACD Wallboard. use a straight modem cable. 1200 baud xon/xoff

I would suggest hooking up a laptop as noted above and run it in hyperterm or PC Plus, then try to send a report out and you should see a screen dump. you can also monitor the startup messages of the flash.

----------------------------
JerryReeve
Communications Systems Int'l
com-sys.com

 

[genekeats]

Thanks for the feedback.

Ultimately I wanted to do this with a terminal. My stab-in-the-dark parallel printer connection failed, so I posted here to confirm it was indeed a serial port. After brushing up on serial communication and the standard pinouts, I made a "crossover" cable using three wires, fed that into an old computer, fired up a terminal program, and it worked perfectly.

1200 baud, 8-N-1, no flow control or handshake. I'll try patching the flow control to see if it helps.