Organization: L'AISON - Local Area Information Server Open Network
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 06:54:35 EDT
Subject: Re: Modem Cables
Lines: 43
Michael Peirce,peirce@outpost.SF-Bay.org, writes:
> I recently purchases a nice new Teleport/Gold
> modem
> I ran out and bought a little switcher box
> down at CompUSA.
> I tried two types of cables between the Macs
> and the box - "ImageWriter II" cables and
> "modem" cables. Of course neither of these
> worked and neither cables came with
> schematics showing their real wiring inside
I think I have the same switch box from CompUSA. Here's the problem:
The Mac Imagewriter II cables are wired with a "twist". Their input and output
signals are swapped. One end's input pins are wired to the other end's output
pins. If you use that cable as your connection between switch and Macs, it
won't work. You need a cable that looks just like the Imagewriter Printer
cable, but is wired "straight-thru". Get two of these and connect the Macs to
the switch with them, and you'll use the modem cable supplied with your
Teleport to connect it to the switch's common.
The CompUSA near me sells this cable as:
PC Accessories (Brand)
#30080 Mac II to Switchbox (Strt Thru) Cable 6 Ft
Mini8 Male/Male
They have a bundled package of the switch, 2 of these straight cables, and a
third cable of "Imagewriter to Mac" style. The bundle is actually priced much
less than buying these all separately.
The wiring of a cable with the inputs and outputs twisted is often called a "null-modem" cable. Perhaps this is what you referred to when you mentioned you were also trying to use "modem" cable
