how to connect a DECprinter I (LA180) ?

[Paul Anderson]

The serial interface was not widely used. The LP11  and LPV11 was used for
mostly Data Products printers (LP01, 02, etc). The LS11 and LAV11 worked
with the LA180 and in the case of the LS11, others. I think all used the
same cable to the LA180, including the PDP8 interface. If you need the part
#, I'll try to find it over the weekend.

Paul

On Dec 28, 2007 10:19 PM, Rick Murphy <rick at rickmurphy.net> wrote:

>  At 10:05 AM 12/28/2007, Henk Gooijen wrote:
> >
> >The seasonal holidays give me time to play around a bit ...
> >I wanted to connect my DECprinter I (that's an LA180) but
> >I could not find any documentation here at home, neither
> >on the web!  Can somebody who knows or has an LA180
> >connected tell me how it is hooked to a serial line?
> >Or point me to an LA180 user's manual on the web?
> >
> > >From my guess, the BERG header is "standard" as on M7800
> >DL11's or M7856 DL11-W, SLU's (with the appropriate lugs
> >either RS-232 or 20 mA current loop), but I would rather be
> >assured than destroying a very nice printer!
> >
> >thanks,
> >Henk
>
> You've gotten some replies already that were mostly correct - the
> *base* LA180 is a parallel printer.
> If you look at the fold-down door that has the logic card, it has four
> threaded posts that are designed to mount the LAXX-NW or LAXX-NX serial
> converter cards. (The -NW is EIA RS232, the -NX is current loop). If
> you've got two cards mounted on the back door, you have a serial printer.
>
> The LA180 is a workhorse. I ran hundreds of boxes of paper through one
> that had been dropped off a truck - the plastic cover was badly cracked
> but it ran forever that way.
>
> I've got the LA180 maintenance manual. Prints, mechanical drawings, and
> logic description. If anyone can get it onto one of the archives,
> they're welcome to it.
>         -Rick
>
>