Thread
Apple Imagewriter II Restoration
I didnt think the apple imagewriter II could do regular serial? I thought it was localtalk. Guess not 
Localtalk was optional, that port on the back is RS-422/232 serial.
Ah. Yea, I wasnt aware of that.
But I dont know the baud rate/flow control or anything to send that file?
But I dont know the baud rate/flow control or anything to send that file?
Default jumpers should be set at 9600 baud (SW 2-1 and 2-2 CLOSED) and hardware flow control (SW2-3 OPEN), 8-N-1 for the rest.
That means I have to make another crazy homemade cable hanging around. ugh. lol.
Might be easier to write a simple binary serial output app for the Mac.
Might be easier to write a simple binary serial output app for the Mac.
I got that too:
Mini-DIN 8 DB-25 DB-9
1 DSR 6** 6
1 DCD 8** 1
2 DTR 20 4
3 RxD 3 2
4* GND 7 5
5 TxD 2 3
6 NC
7 NC
8* GND
Shield Shield
*Connect together at Mini-DIN 8
**Connect together at DB-25
DB-9 specs weren't in the Imagewriter manual, I looked up the pin out online.
Mini-DIN 8 DB-25 DB-9
1 DSR 6** 6
1 DCD 8** 1
2 DTR 20 4
3 RxD 3 2
4* GND 7 5
5 TxD 2 3
6 NC
7 NC
8* GND
Shield Shield
*Connect together at Mini-DIN 8
**Connect together at DB-25
DB-9 specs weren't in the Imagewriter manual, I looked up the pin out online.
Then I am sure you know this question too:
How to send the binary via serial and flow control? I have written alot of serial based software before, But never in any case I had to use flow control for anything.
How to send the binary via serial and flow control? I have written alot of serial based software before, But never in any case I had to use flow control for anything.
I have never done it in C, but this guy has done it in QBasic on the receive end: http://ptouchman.blogspot.hk/2014/07/serial-flow-control-rts-in-qbasic.html
You need a loop of some sort that stops transmitting when the DTR line is set to false and resumes when its set to true. I think you can send the contents of the file "raw" to the serial port using a terminal program too. Whats interesting is Apple's programming examples in the IW II technical reference don't bother with flow control at all. They just open up the serial port and write characters to it.
You need a loop of some sort that stops transmitting when the DTR line is set to false and resumes when its set to true. I think you can send the contents of the file "raw" to the serial port using a terminal program too. Whats interesting is Apple's programming examples in the IW II technical reference don't bother with flow control at all. They just open up the serial port and write characters to it.
Thats good because I dont know C. lol. I am a BASIC guy. Well, the modern forms of it. I dont know too much about the older forms as it was slightly different than what I am used to, today.
This is a very interesting (and timely) discussion since I am working on an ImageWriter II as well.
While Apple never wrote color drivers for the ImageWriter II, at least one third party developer did. The one I am familiar with is MacPalette II and it will allow you to print in full color from a Mac.
There are 3 versions of the ImageWriter II. I am guessing you have the second (1986) version. The last version (1990) is MUCH more streamlined internally and considerably easier to take apart. A couple days ago I took apart a 1986 version and then a 1990 version. The 1990 version is so much more beautifully modular.
While Apple never wrote color drivers for the ImageWriter II, at least one third party developer did. The one I am familiar with is MacPalette II and it will allow you to print in full color from a Mac.
There are 3 versions of the ImageWriter II. I am guessing you have the second (1986) version. The last version (1990) is MUCH more streamlined internally and considerably easier to take apart. A couple days ago I took apart a 1986 version and then a 1990 version. The 1990 version is so much more beautifully modular.
10 PRINT "HELLO!"
20 GOTO 10
RUN
HELLO!
HELLO!
HELLO!
HELLO!
HELLO!
HELLO!
HELLO!
HELLO!
Lol. Basic today isnt like that anymore.
It's closer to C# without semicolons, and most people like to pretend it doesn't exist anymore.
I've been looking for someone that can fix these things.
I have 2 and would like to get one working out of them. The problem has been a pin not firing. Replacing the head did not fix the problem. If any one in the SF Bay Area would be great as these things weigh a ton and shipping them would be prohibitive.
I have 2 and would like to get one working out of them. The problem has been a pin not firing. Replacing the head did not fix the problem. If any one in the SF Bay Area would be great as these things weigh a ton and shipping them would be prohibitive.