TP-10.THD --- Copyright 1988 by Phil Wheeler An original compilation of Compuserve Model 100 Forum messages for use by Forum members only. The TP-10 is a small Tandy printer, configured to interface with the Color Computer. This thread deals with its use with the Model 100 family -- via the RS-232 port. This short set of messages has stretched over a long period (indeed, may continue to stretch) , and the first one is missing. I imagine it was in the vein of "How can I use a TP-10 printer with my Tandy 102?". <> Message range: 166867 to 168353 Dates: 4/2/88 to 4/30/88 Sb: #TP-10 Printer Fm: bob scott 73125,1437 To: Art Groll 72776,2625 I am not specifically familar with the TP-10, but I think it used the odd ball "color computer" serial interface ( a round DIN plug). Is that what yours has? Does it have a parallel input port? If it has a parallel port, just plug in that appropriate cable form RS and set the printer switches to select "paralel" and go. If it uses the CoCo serial hook-up only, you'll have to wire up a cable (only three wires) between a DB-25 connector and a DIN connector (both available at RS). You'll have to use a short (4 or 5 line) BASIC program to dump text files, etc. to the printer, since the M100 is hardwired for parallel printing in all it's PRINT functions. If you need the exact cable pinouts, drop me a line and I'll try to dig up my old CGP-115 serial cable. Fm: Art Groll 72776,2625 To: bob scott 73125,1437 Yes, I sure could use the exact pin connections. The TP-10 Printer has a small round 4-pin DIN on it and I'm trying to hook it to the RS-2 Fm: bob scott 73125,1437 To: Art Groll 72776,2625 Art: will dig the stuff out and upload ASAP. Bob Fm: bob scott 73125,1437 To: Art Groll 72776,2625 Sorry to take so long. The pin out for the M100 to a DIN serial is: 4 PIN DIN DB-25 --------- ----- 4 2 3 7 2 6 and 5 If you do an OPEN COM:48n1d FOR OUTPUT AS #1 in your program, you can send data to the printer using PRINT #1, whatever. If you're really ambitious, you can do handshaking by checking printer busy with T% = INP(187) AND 32, T% will be 0 or 32 depending on whether the printer is busy or free (forget which way it goes). If you don't do this, you'll have to use delay loops in the program to keep from overrunning the program. Fm: Art Groll 72776,2625 To: bob scott 73125,1437 Got your info and am still trying to figure out how to get the TP-10 to print from the M102 serial port. Got my cable wired the way you suggested and it seems to get the printer's attention. However, all I get is Roman Numeral 10's (crossed X's) with a couple of letters and graphics characters every once-in-a-while. Definitely not readable. I'm using Scripsit since I'm not smart enough on the 102's Basic yet. I've got the output set for COM:48N1D and I've tried all combinations of that to no avail. Sure appreciate your help and patience! Any other ideas? Fm: Alan Rowberg 76703,4421 To: Art Groll 72776,2625 Go into TELCOM and keep trying different STAT settings until it prints right, then use that with your program. Your setting of COM:48N1D is 600 baud and is very unusual -- try 57I1E or 58N1E as two of your first choices. Does your printer manual tell you the baud rate? Fm: Alan Rowberg 76703,4421 To: Art Groll 72776,2625 By the way, when you set STAT in TELCOM, then you press F4 to go online and type a word or two and press RETURN. Then it goes right to the printer. Then look and the printer and use F8 and Y to go back and change the STAT if it is still not right. XXXX's are often a sign of baud rate mismatch, and a switch in your printer probably controls this. Fm: bob scott 73125,1437 To: Art Groll 72776,2625 Hmm, My CGP-115 uses 600 baud for the serial interface. I have little knowledge of COCO's, but I'd be amazed if there were TWO standards. Accoridng to my manual, the CGP uses 600 baud, 7 bits and TWO stop bits. That would be (ummmm) STAT 47N2D, I think. Anyway it has to be 47?2D, but I'm not sure if a "N" or a "I" would be better. Try 47N2D first. If you're printing from Basic, You have to OPEN as "COM:47N2D". You can use STAT and TERM, as mentioned in the other message and type to the printer from TELCOM. Good Luck, Bob Fm: Art Groll 72776,2625 To: bob scott 73125,1437 OK!! Telecom with STAT 47I2D works from the keyboard. Now...when I try to upload, it seems that when the printer gets to the end of a line it loses track of the M100 and starts printing garbage. So I guess I will have to learn Basic and figure out a program that puts in enough delay at the end of 32 characters (the width of the TP-10 page) to allow the printer to line feed and carriage return. Many thanks for sticking with me on this one!! Fm: Alan Rowberg 76703,4421 To: Art Groll 72776,2625 What software are you using? Some program are written in basic and you just need to add a wait. All the software I have used honors XON/XOFF that the printers I use honor, except for one printer, where I needed a delay. An easy fix was to drop the baud rate on the printer with DIP switches, and then drop the M100 rate. Fm: Phil Wheeler 71266,125 To: Art Groll 72776,2625 You might consider using one of the Basic print processing programs in DL2 (e.g., PRINT.QIK, PRINT.BF, PRINT.100, PRINTR.100). These will do some rudimentary for matting of the output -- and I think one (PRINT.100, as I recall) does support serial output as written. The program may provide enough inherent delay for your purposes (one of the *advantages* of Basic!) or you may be able to modify it (add FOR I=0 TO 100: NEXT, with 100 an experimental value, to the right place in the code) to give an added delay. Fm: bob scott 73125,1437 To: Alan Rowberg 76703,4421 TP-10 doesn't support baud rate changes or XON/XOFF..... Fm: bob scott 73125,1437 To: Art Groll 72776,2625 Art: The TP-10 supports HARDWARE handshaking. If you dig around the DL's there's a short program to dump text to a Brother electronic typewriter which works the same way. I think I mentioned in an earlier message to you that you need to do an INPUT (187) to test if the printer was ready for more input. Doing a "blind" wait will work, but it's not terribly efficient. Check out the Brother program, and consider modifiying one of the programs that Phil suggested using the INPUT (187) technique that the Brother program uses. (If you managed to build the cable, the software is easy!)