Anyone use a homemade TI link cable lately?

[duragezic]

I tried building a serial link last night for my 83+ but I could not get it to work at all. I used one end of the calc-to-calc link cable. I even just built the components onto a breadboard (it's a little tough to fit the components into a DB9 backshell, in case anything shorts). There's only two Zener diodes, 3 resistors and a LED. It says the LED needs to have a 2 V drop but I'm not sure of the specs on mine but I wouldnt imagine that being the problem.

I've soldered hundreds of DB9 connectors so I know that the 6 wires coming from there are soldered correctly. And that's all there really is to it!


I built the serial link because TI's GraphLink software is suppose to support homemade links under the Black cable setting. Of course that was in 2000 when TI's new version was reported to do that... I got a newer one called TI-Connect but it still has a Black cable option.

But I even tried with CAL and it didnt work. The link test went straight to 'failed'.


I've used a parallel port cable long ago and that one is easier and worked in CAL.


I posted a message in OS about XP supporting serial and parallel devices and the replies said there shouldnt be a problem. But perhaps XP doesnt allow direct access to the LPT1/COM1 ports and the homemade links require direct access?

Just wondering if anyone has used a homemade link recently in 2000 or XP. And what software they used. That way I can see if its my cable or something else.

 

[PottedMeat]

Hmm any reason you aren't going with a TI branded cable ( USB or Serial )? A long time ago I used a parallel link - In Win2K I think, and I believe I had to use some special driver that allows direct port access. This may be the one:

DriverLINX Port I/O Driver for Win95 and WinNT

If you live in the Dallas area Tanner Electronics has a box of TI-Graph Link cables (USB) for $2.99 each.

 

[duragezic]

Yeah back in the day I guess it was more popular to use homemade links, but even now the only way I could get a TI cable is for $20 or more from their website.


I may need a driver like that. It was so long ago that I used a parallel link that I'm sure it was Win9x where the OS allowed direct access.


As the TI software is trying to find my link it doesnt even blink the LED or anything, it just instantly goes to fail. Same with CAL. I remember when I had a somewhat broken parallel link (loose connections) it was just kinda touchy and sporadic transmission, not a instant failure of the link.

 

[sswingle]

I still have a homemade link around here somewhere...

 

[duragezic]

Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers
I still have a homemade link around here somewhere...

You ever find it? I wanna see if parallel or serial homemade cables work in XP. Or maybe there is plans for a USB cable. But by the time I get a USB cable and the parts I'd be $10-15 in to it, and could just as well get a TI one. I got all the parts already for a parallel and serial cable.

 

[Jawo]

I havent used it in the past year or so, but I did get a TI black cable working under XP Pro on a TI-83Plus. I had many troubles trying to get the serial cable to work for my TI-86, since its been phased out for awhile. I used the drivers on the TI CD than TI will send you for free (also contains lots of demos).