STB Systems Serial & Parallel Adapter


ADF 6FF1

If anyone has the options disk for this adapter, documentation or other relevant files, I'd love to hear about it.

Outline
STB Serial & Parallel Adapter

STB Systems apparently still had a fascination with their green dots. What are they for?

Components:
X1 - 1.843200 MHz
U1 - Silicon Logic LD805C (parallel port controller?)
U3-U17 - PALs
U15 - Startech Semiconductor ST16C550P UART

P1 - Parallel port
P2 - Apple-style 8 pin serial port (not verified)
W1 - Four pin, two row jumper. Set as shown. I have no idea what it does.

Experiences

I finally installed this adapter in a 9585-0X0 running Windows NT 3.1. It configured easily as COM2 and LPT2. The parallel port will handle bidirectional communication if you enable it in system programs. I used the parallel port to print to an HP OfficeJet 9130 from NT 3.1 (the OfficeJet was able to emulate an early LaserJet right out the box, so that's how I got NT 3.1 to print to it.).

I have also run a Costar serial label printer from the COM port. The label printer already had a cable on it for an Apple Macintosh serial port, so using it with this adapter did not require any fiddling around.


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Copyright ©2005 by William R. Walsh. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce this material in its original form, or to use it in other projects. However, you MUST provide credit for any of the text and outline that you use. There are to be no charges assessed for access to this information other than those required to cover connectivity, media or duplicating expenses.