How to build a DriveWire serial cable - Revision history

MagicFab: /* DB9 male (PC side) to 4-Pin DIN male cable (CoCo side), */

2021-11-22T03:10:08Z

DB9 male (PC side) to 4-Pin DIN male cable (CoCo side),

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 This has been tested and worked in GNU/Linux and Windows to 115,200 kbps.
-=== DB9 male (PC side) to 4-Pin DIN male cable (CoCo side),  ===
+=== DB-9 or DB-25 female (PC side) to 4-Pin DIN male (CoCo side) cable  ===
 Parts :
-* DB9 male connector
+* DB-9 or DB-25 male connector
-* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])
+* Solderable 4 pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])
 * 4 conductor cable
 This cable may be built based upon the following diagram :
@@ Line 44: / Line 90: @@
 Such converters range in price from about $10 - $20 (or less from chinese providers, with longer shipping times) and can be purchased from most electronics stores and online. If they don't have it on the shelf, ask someone and they can most likely order it for you. You will still need the cable above as this is just an adapter to be able to connect it to PC's with no DB-9 male serial port.
 Alternatively, you can also still purchase an add-on PCI or PCIx serial card. TigerDirect and NewEgg still stock a large selection of these cards. The internal serial cards tend to offer better data transfer rates than the USB to Serial adapters in testing.
 == Source ==

MagicFab: /* General cable information */

2021-11-22T03:05:58Z

General cable information

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 When connecting a CoCo to a DriveWire 3 or 4 server you will need a particular serial cable. Here are two ways to build such a cable. USB to serial adapters generally work well.
 Note : '''The physical cable connecting the CoCo to the Server is recommended to be no longer than 10 feet in length.'''.
 == Possible cable combinations ==

MagicFab: Clarified use of Serial to DB9 adapter

2021-11-22T03:01:29Z

Clarified use of Serial to DB9 adapter

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:01, 21 November 2021
Line 53:		Line 53:
	\|}		\|}

	== ~~Direct~~ USB-A male RS232 cable converter to 4-Pin DIN male cable ==		== Possible cable combinations ==

			=== Single, direct USB-A male RS232 cable converter to 4-Pin DIN male cable ===

	Parts :		Parts :
Line 68:		Line 70:
	This has been tested and worked in GNU/Linux and Windows to 115,200 kbps.		This has been tested and worked in GNU/Linux and Windows to 115,200 kbps.

	== ~~USB-A male to RS-232 DB9 female serial adapter,~~ DB9 male to 4-Pin DIN male cable ==		=== DB9 male (PC side) to 4-Pin DIN male cable (CoCo side), ===

	Parts :		Parts :

	* USB male to DB-9 female RS232 female serial adapter ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001081237508.html example adapter]) - needed for modern PCs which most probably don't have a DB9 serial port. Older PCs have a '''male''' DB9 connector on board.
	* DB9 male connector		* DB9 male connector
	* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])		* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])
Line 81:		Line 82:
	[[File:CoCo-serial-cable.png\|500px\|center]]		[[File:CoCo-serial-cable.png\|500px\|center]]

	USB to ~~Serial (~~DB-9) converters range in price from about $10 - $20 and can be purchased from most electronics stores and online. If they don't have it on the shelf, ask someone and they can most likely order it for you. You will still need the cable above as this is just an adapter to be able to connect it to PC's with no DB-9 male serial port.		==== Optional USB-A male to RS-232 DB9 female serial adapter for modern computers ====

			'''Note''' : If you don't have access to an older PC with a serial port with a male DB9 connector, you will need an additional serial converter :

			* USB male to DB-9 female RS232 female serial adapter ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001081237508.html example adapter])

			Such converters range in price from about $10 - $20 (or less from chinese providers, with longer shipping times) and can be purchased from most electronics stores and online. If they don't have it on the shelf, ask someone and they can most likely order it for you. You will still need the cable above as this is just an adapter to be able to connect it to PC's with no DB-9 male serial port.

	Alternatively, you can also still purchase an add-on PCI or PCIx serial card. TigerDirect and NewEgg still stock a large selection of these cards. The internal serial cards tend to offer better data transfer rates than the USB to Serial adapters in testing.		Alternatively, you can also still purchase an add-on PCI or PCIx serial card. TigerDirect and NewEgg still stock a large selection of these cards. The internal serial cards tend to offer better data transfer rates than the USB to Serial adapters in testing.

MagicFab: Fixed male/female mistake in DB9 cabling

2021-11-22T02:50:26Z

Fixed male/female mistake in DB9 cabling

MagicFab: Added info from SourceForge cable specs, 4PIN DIN pinout from RS CoCo 3 service manual

2021-03-04T23:56:47Z

Added info from SourceForge cable specs, 4PIN DIN pinout from RS CoCo 3 service manual

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{NavHardware}}
-When connecting a CoCo to a DriveWire 3 or 4 server you will need a particular serial cable. Here are two ways to build such a cable.
+== General cable information ==
 == Direct USB male RS232 cable converter to 4-Pin DIN male cable  ==
@@ Line 37: / Line 87: @@
 == Source ==
 * Scott Adams (direct FTDI to 4-Pin DIN cable)
 * [https://sourceforge.net/p/drivewireserver/wiki/DriveWire_Specification/#physical-interface-requirements Drivewire physical interface requirements] - from the [DriveWire Specification https://sourceforge.net/p/drivewireserver/wiki/DriveWire_Specification] (DB9 to 4PN-DIN male)

MagicFab: MagicFab moved page How to build your DriveWire serial cable to How to build a DriveWire serial cable: Better title

2021-03-04T23:20:04Z

MagicFab moved page How to build your DriveWire serial cable to How to build a DriveWire serial cable: Better title

← Older revision	Revision as of 19:20, 4 March 2021
(No difference)

MagicFab: MagicFab moved page DriveWire USB to 4-pin DIN cable to How to build your DriveWire serial cable: Better name

2021-03-04T23:15:04Z

MagicFab moved page DriveWire USB to 4-pin DIN cable to How to build your DriveWire serial cable: Better name

← Older revision	Revision as of 19:15, 4 March 2021
(No difference)

MagicFab: Fixes, better links

2021-03-04T23:13:06Z

Fixes, better links

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:13, 4 March 2021
Line 7:		Line 7:
	Parts :		Parts :

	* [https://www.amazon.com/FTDI-USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT-5-0-Cable-RS232-Serial/dp/B01HI9CXG4 ~~FTDI USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT_5.0~~] ~~- Amazon.com~~		* FTDU USB male RS232 serial adapter ([https://www.amazon.com/FTDI-USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT-5-0-Cable-RS232-Serial/dp/B01HI9CXG4 example])
	* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])		* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])

Line 16:		Line 16:
	* Black is connected to DIN pin 3		* Black is connected to DIN pin 3

	* Tested and ~~working~~ in GNU/Linux and Windows to 115,200 kpbs		This has been tested and worked in GNU/Linux and Windows to 115,200 kpbs.

	== USB male to RS-232 DB9 female serial adapter, DB9 male to 4-Pin DIN male cable ==		== USB male to RS-232 DB9 female serial adapter, DB9 male to 4-Pin DIN male cable ==
Line 22:		Line 22:
	Parts :		Parts :

	* USB male to DB-9 RS232 male ~~Serial Cable~~ ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002061007209.html example adapter]) - needed for modern PCs which most probably don't have a DB9 serial port		* USB male to DB-9 RS232 male serial adapter ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002061007209.html example adapter]) - needed for modern PCs which most probably don't have a DB9 serial port
	* DB9 male connector		* DB9 male connector
			* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])
	* 4 conductor cable		* 4 conductor cable
	* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])

	This cable may be built based upon the following diagram :		This cable may be built based upon the following diagram :

MagicFab: Reformatted, added canonical/original method of cable build

2021-03-04T23:09:50Z

Reformatted, added canonical/original method of cable build

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:09, 4 March 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{NavHardware}}		{{NavHardware}}

	~~These~~ are ~~the parts needed~~ to ~~make~~ a USB to 4-Pin DIN cable ~~that works with DriveWire~~:		When connecting a CoCo to a DriveWire 3 or 4 server you will need a particular serial cable. Here are two ways to build such a cable.

			== Direct USB male RS232 cable converter to 4-Pin DIN male cable ==

			Parts :

	* [https://www.amazon.com/FTDI-USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT-5-0-Cable-RS232-Serial/dp/B01HI9CXG4 FTDI USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT_5.0] - Amazon.com		* [https://www.amazon.com/FTDI-USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT-5-0-Cable-RS232-Serial/dp/B01HI9CXG4 FTDI USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT_5.0] - Amazon.com
	* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug		* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])

			To connect this the FTDI cable wires yellow, orange, and black are used :

			* Yellow is connected to the DIN pin 4
			* Orange is connected to DIN pin 2
			* Black is connected to DIN pin 3

			* Tested and working in GNU/Linux and Windows to 115,200 kpbs

			== USB male to RS-232 DB9 female serial adapter, DB9 male to 4-Pin DIN male cable ==

			Parts :

			* USB male to DB-9 RS232 male Serial Cable ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002061007209.html example adapter]) - needed for modern PCs which most probably don't have a DB9 serial port
			* DB9 male connector
			* 4 conductor cable
			* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])

			This cable may be built based upon the following diagram :

	~~To connect this the FTDI~~ cable ~~wires yellow, orange, and black are used~~.		[[File:CoCo-serial-cable.png\|500px\|center]]

	~~Yellow is connected~~ to the ~~DIN pin 4~~, ~~orange~~ is ~~connected~~ to ~~DIN pin 2, and black is connected~~ to ~~DIN pin 3~~.		USB to Serial (DB-9) converters range in price from about $10 - $20 and can be purchased from most electronics stores and online. If they don't have it on the shelf, ask someone and they can most likely order it for you. You will still need the cable above as this is just an adapter to be able to connect it to PC's with no DB-9 serial port.

	* Tested and ~~working~~ in ~~Linux and Windows to 115,200 kpbs~~		Alternatively, you can also still purchase an add-on PCI or PCIx serial card. TigerDirect and NewEgg still stock a large selection of these cards. The internal serial cards tend to offer better data transfer rates than the USB to Serial adapters in testing.

	== Source ==		== Source ==
	* Scott Adams		* Scott Adams (direct FTDI to 4-Pin DIN cable)
			* [https://sourceforge.net/p/drivewireserver/wiki/DriveWire_Specification/#physical-interface-requirements Drivewire physical interface requirements] - from the [DriveWire Specification https://sourceforge.net/p/drivewireserver/wiki/DriveWire_Specification] (DB9 to 4PN-DIN male)

MagicFab: Formatting, links

2021-03-01T19:58:49Z

Formatting, links

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:58, 1 March 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{NavHardware}}		{{NavHardware}}
	~~For DriveWire users, Scott Adams (likely not the Dilbert Scott Adams or the adventure Scott Adams) contributes parts he has found for making a USB to 4-Pin DIN cable that works with DriveWire:~~

	~~The~~ parts ~~number is FTDI~~ USB~~-RS232-WE-1800-BT_5.0 and a~~ 4-~~pin~~ DIN ~~plug, solderable.~~		These are the parts needed to make a USB to 4-Pin DIN cable that works with DriveWire:

	https://www.amazon.com/FTDI-USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT-5-0-Cable-RS232-Serial/dp/B01HI9CXG4		* [https://www.amazon.com/FTDI-USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT-5-0-Cable-RS232-Serial/dp/B01HI9CXG4 FTDI USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT_5.0] - Amazon.com
			* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug

	To connect this the FTDI cable wires yellow, orange, and black are used. ~~Yellow is connected to the DIN pin 4, orange is connected to DIN pin 2, and black is connected to DIN pin 3.~~		To connect this the FTDI cable wires yellow, orange, and black are used.

	~~I have tested this~~ in Linux and Windows ~~and it works fine~~ to 115,200 kpbs.		Yellow is connected to the DIN pin 4, orange is connected to DIN pin 2, and black is connected to DIN pin 3.

			* Tested and working in Linux and Windows to 115,200 kpbs

			== Source ==
			* Scott Adams

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:50, 21 November 2021
Line 53:		Line 53:
	\|}		\|}

	== Direct USB male RS232 cable converter to 4-Pin DIN male cable ==		== Direct USB-A male RS232 cable converter to 4-Pin DIN male cable ==

	Parts :		Parts :

	* FTDU USB male RS232 serial adapter ([https://www.amazon.com/FTDI-USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT-5-0-Cable-RS232-Serial/dp/B01HI9CXG4 example])		* FTDU USB-A male RS232 serial adapter ([https://www.amazon.com/FTDI-USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT-5-0-Cable-RS232-Serial/dp/B01HI9CXG4 example])
	* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])		* Solderable male 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])

	To connect this the FTDI cable wires yellow, orange, and black are used :		To connect this the FTDI cable wires yellow, orange, and black are used :
Line 66:		Line 66:
	* Black is connected to DIN pin 3		* Black is connected to DIN pin 3

	This has been tested and worked in GNU/Linux and Windows to 115,200 ~~kpbs~~.		This has been tested and worked in GNU/Linux and Windows to 115,200 kbps.

	== USB male to RS-232 DB9 female serial adapter, DB9 male to 4-Pin DIN male cable ==		== USB-A male to RS-232 DB9 female serial adapter, DB9 male to 4-Pin DIN male cable ==

	Parts :		Parts :

	* USB male to DB-9 RS232 ~~male~~ serial adapter ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/~~1005002061007209~~.html example adapter]) - needed for modern PCs which most probably don't have a DB9 serial port		* USB male to DB-9 female RS232 female serial adapter ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001081237508.html example adapter]) - needed for modern PCs which most probably don't have a DB9 serial port. Older PCs have a '''male''' DB9 connector on board.
	* DB9 male connector		* DB9 male connector
	* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])		* Solderable 4-pin DIN plug ([https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000133397159.html example])
Line 81:		Line 81:
	[[File:CoCo-serial-cable.png\|500px\|center]]		[[File:CoCo-serial-cable.png\|500px\|center]]

	USB to Serial (DB-9) converters range in price from about $10 - $20 and can be purchased from most electronics stores and online. If they don't have it on the shelf, ask someone and they can most likely order it for you. You will still need the cable above as this is just an adapter to be able to connect it to PC's with no DB-9 serial port.		USB to Serial (DB-9) converters range in price from about $10 - $20 and can be purchased from most electronics stores and online. If they don't have it on the shelf, ask someone and they can most likely order it for you. You will still need the cable above as this is just an adapter to be able to connect it to PC's with no DB-9 male serial port.

	Alternatively, you can also still purchase an add-on PCI or PCIx serial card. TigerDirect and NewEgg still stock a large selection of these cards. The internal serial cards tend to offer better data transfer rates than the USB to Serial adapters in testing.		Alternatively, you can also still purchase an add-on PCI or PCIx serial card. TigerDirect and NewEgg still stock a large selection of these cards. The internal serial cards tend to offer better data transfer rates than the USB to Serial adapters in testing.