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Apple Macintosh and Newton serial connection

 

                
 8  7  6
 °  °  °
5    4  3
°    °  °
  2   1
  °   °
Miniature DIN-8 jack
Viewed from outside of computer
PinR S-422 signal nameRemarks
1Handshake outputVoltage from Mac
2Handshake inputInput to Mac
3Transmit data -(use this pin when connecting to R S-232)
4Frame ground
5Receive data -(use this pin when connecting to RS-232)
6Transmit data +(leave open for RS-232)
7Not connect ed
8Receive data +(connect to ground for RS-232)

The mating DIN-8 plug is available from Mouser Electronics (800-346-6873) as stock number 171-2408 ($1.33). It's also available from Digi-Key (800-344-4539) as part no. CP-2080-ND ($1.22).

To get a cable pre-assembled to the DIN-8 plug, order a DB-9 male to DIN-8 plug cable (Item number ACC 1312, $4.95 plus $3 for overnight shipping) from MacWarehouse (800-255-6227). This cable is made to connect ol d Mac 512K computers to newer serial printers such as the HP DeskWriter or Apple Imagewriter II. The DB-9 end is not pinned to mate to a PC. Cut the DB-9 off and wire to your connector.

Mac or Newton to IBM PC cable
MacMall (800-222-2808) carries a DIN-8 plug to DB-9 jack cable as item #68795. Their price is $9.99 plus $3 for overnight shipping within with the continental US. If for some reason you want to build it, here is the pin-out of the cable:
< TR>
DIN-8 Male PinPC Signal NameDB-25 Female PinDB-9 Female PinRemarks
1DSR66Handshake from Mac to PC
2 (or 2 and 7*)DTR204Handshake from PC to Mac
3Receive data32Data from Mac to PC
4 (or 4 and 8*)Signal ground75
5Transmit data23Data from PC to Mac
No connectionRTS, CTS4, 5 Jumper in connector on PC end
*In the DB-25 cable, pin 7 was shorted to pin 2 and pin 8 was shorted to pin 4 in the DIN-8. Pins 7 and 8 in the DIN-8 were not connected in the DB-9 cable.

DIN-8 to DB-25 data from ohmeter measurement of cable furnished in Newton Connection Kit by Brian Wood <beww@intac.com>. DB-9 connections from my measurement of cable purchased from MacMall.

Macs and Newtons always have a female jack for the serial connector so this cable should have a male DIN-8 plug. The PC usually has a male DB-25 or DB-9 pl ug so this cable should have a female jack.

This page written by John Neuhaus, WA2JXE <neuhaus@planet.net>. Please send your comments and suggestions.

To view this page at the authors own home page, please check: http://users.aol.com/jneuhaus/applserl.html

MSI Communications would like to thank John Neuhaus for his contribution to our cable reference page!
The recommendations contained in this page are soley those provided by John Neuhaus, and have been retained in this document for your assistance. MSI Communications neither endorses nor recommends that any user reading this page patronize any company lis ted on this page.

Last update: November 9, 1995

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