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  • Author Author: phoenixcomm
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NexGen: The Lab: Compaq IEEE 1284 Test Box:

phoenixcomm

imageOk, So what is this gem, I just uncovered in my junk box, well what the heck is IEEE 1284 well not sure so I looked it up  "IEEE 1284 is a standard that defines bi-directional parallel communications between computers and other devices. It was originally developed in the 1970s by Centronics and was widely known as the Centronics port, both before and after its IEEE standardization. Wikipedia". So as it turns out it's the standard bi-directional printer port. Hmmm, I might be able to use it, so as I could not find much info on the box I decided to just unbox it. What I found was the following.

  • XC68HC912B32 -- 16Bit CPU, memory, lots of I/O
  • AM7205-15RC   -- FIFO, 8KX9
  • M4-128/64          -- CPLD MACH 4 Family 5K Gates 128 Macro Cells
  • MAX237CWG    -- RS-232 Interface
  • SG615PTJC      -- CRYSTAL OSCILLATOR (29.4912Mhz)
image image

Well as you can see this is straightforward, except for the CPLD. If we assume (this may not be good), that the male header on the top of the device is not there, or to say, since I don't know what it does, hence it does nothing at this point. 

here are the next steps:

  • to find some sort of wall wart about 5-9 or pick in the middle 7vdc 
  • connect a serial monitor on the DB-9F and see if it talks. (alive or dead)

More to come ~~ CAH

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