I have posted to the hardware section of the SS website a new, much easier design for a parallel port adapter. It should be considered experimental, and I have only tested it with an Omron V3A. However it doesn't need a battery or a buffer chip, making it much easier to use.
Full details here: stripesnoop.sf.net/hardware/parallel2.html
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Have you determined whether the $1.50 readers from All Electronics <http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=367&item=MCR-8&type=store> are compatible with this new parallel port design?
(I have no idea what current this reader uses, or even what
current can be safely sourced/sinked with modern parallel ports.)
These readers have a 22 inch cable with a 6-pin RJ11 connector. There's a 6-pin RJ11 jack to DB25 male adapter
available (http://www.pigselectronics.com/products/HOOD.htm)
which would seem to allow a simple no-soldering-required connection to a parallel port. (Just push the pins from the jack into the appropriate holes on the supplied DB25 connector.)
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Hmmm. Good point Charles Why don't you try! I used by last DB-15M connector a few days ago, so I can't wire my MCR-8.
That RJ-11 to DB-25M will not work. Those are usually used for consoles or terminals pluging into older Unix hardware or Cisco Switches/Routers. Besides, you have to leave the 5V line going to the gameport "loose"
Anyone have a MCR-8 wired to a DB-15 and the new parallel port design to check? Despite the warning on the "El Cheapo" construction page, you probably will not damage your port, since their is no power coming *from* the MCR-8.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Perhaps my description of the RJ-11 to DB-25M adapter wasn't clear. There are 6 wires coming from the RJ-11 female jack, each with a crimped type-D pin at the end, but not inserted into the DB-25 connector body. You can push any pin into any pin position on the DB-25, or just wrap tape around a pin for a line to be left open.
Perhaps this info is obsolete, but looking at the parallel port pinout from the old IBM-PC Tech Ref Manual, DB-25 pins 18-25 are all Grounds. (Is this still valid?) But I guess the problem is that you are also tying DB-25 pin 15 to Ground, so a jumper wire with a crimped pin at either end would be required to make this connection. (And most people wouldn't be able to find one of these.)
Taking a different tack, I did some more searching and found a similar RJ-11 to DB-15M adapter, which ought to make for a solderless gameport connection for the MCR-8. I've got a few on order and will report back. Only thing is these cost $3 each as opposed to 50 cents for the RJ-11 to DB-25M from pigs_electronics. (But then there's always the S&H which makes the piece cost pretty high in either case unless you're buying a bunch of them, although still cheaper than buying a decent soldering iron and solder if you don't have them already. :-) )
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Folks,
I have posted to the hardware section of the SS website a new, much easier design for a parallel port adapter. It should be considered experimental, and I have only tested it with an Omron V3A. However it doesn't need a battery or a buffer chip, making it much easier to use.
Full details here: stripesnoop.sf.net/hardware/parallel2.html
Have you determined whether the $1.50 readers from All Electronics <http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=367&item=MCR-8&type=store> are compatible with this new parallel port design?
(I have no idea what current this reader uses, or even what
current can be safely sourced/sinked with modern parallel ports.)
These readers have a 22 inch cable with a 6-pin RJ11 connector. There's a 6-pin RJ11 jack to DB25 male adapter
available (http://www.pigselectronics.com/products/HOOD.htm)
which would seem to allow a simple no-soldering-required connection to a parallel port. (Just push the pins from the jack into the appropriate holes on the supplied DB25 connector.)
Hmmm. Good point Charles Why don't you try! I used by last DB-15M connector a few days ago, so I can't wire my MCR-8.
That RJ-11 to DB-25M will not work. Those are usually used for consoles or terminals pluging into older Unix hardware or Cisco Switches/Routers. Besides, you have to leave the 5V line going to the gameport "loose"
Anyone have a MCR-8 wired to a DB-15 and the new parallel port design to check? Despite the warning on the "El Cheapo" construction page, you probably will not damage your port, since their is no power coming *from* the MCR-8.
Perhaps my description of the RJ-11 to DB-25M adapter wasn't clear. There are 6 wires coming from the RJ-11 female jack, each with a crimped type-D pin at the end, but not inserted into the DB-25 connector body. You can push any pin into any pin position on the DB-25, or just wrap tape around a pin for a line to be left open.
Perhaps this info is obsolete, but looking at the parallel port pinout from the old IBM-PC Tech Ref Manual, DB-25 pins 18-25 are all Grounds. (Is this still valid?) But I guess the problem is that you are also tying DB-25 pin 15 to Ground, so a jumper wire with a crimped pin at either end would be required to make this connection. (And most people wouldn't be able to find one of these.)
Taking a different tack, I did some more searching and found a similar RJ-11 to DB-15M adapter, which ought to make for a solderless gameport connection for the MCR-8. I've got a few on order and will report back. Only thing is these cost $3 each as opposed to 50 cents for the RJ-11 to DB-25M from pigs_electronics. (But then there's always the S&H which makes the piece cost pretty high in either case unless you're buying a bunch of them, although still cheaper than buying a decent soldering iron and solder if you don't have them already. :-) )