Hi everyone, hope your weekend has started off well & that your weekend is good to you.

So i got round to putting together the 5m long laplink parallel port data transfer cable. I ended up using the 'Parallel Transfer Mode 0' cable schematics from docs.kernel.org/networking/plip.html and used 3 parallel runs of some cheap 4 core shielded speaker wire from our local hobby electronics store:
https://www.jaycar.co.nz/4-core-round-screened-audio-cable/p/WB1510

Soldering 12 wires from 3 different multi-core cables into the DB25 plugs was a bit of a hassle & with three runs of cable between the plugs. The cables barely fit in the plug housing -but they did fit with some light encouragement. I just tested it out & it works!

Getting around 20KB/s between dosbox running on my main PC and my 386DX40 & I think that a reasonably speed to get form the old standard parallel port in my 386, I'm stoked!

Supposed I should put together a serial null modem cable and try that out as well. I expect the speed will be quite a bit less.

... A friend asks only for your time, not your money.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)

kirkspragg wrote to All <=-

Soldering 12 wires from 3 different multi-core cables into the DB25
plugs was a bit of a hassle & with three runs of cable between the
plugs. The cables barely fit in the plug housing -but they did fit
with some light encouragement. I just tested it out & it works!

My first IT job had me soldering 100 DB25s onto some kind of shielded cable, forget what type. It was a pain, but at least it was one cable per
connector!



--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

My first IT job had me soldering 100 DB25s onto some kind of shielded cable, forget what type. It was a pain, but at least it was one cable per connector!

That would have made it a bit easier, did you have a decent soldering setup to help you hold the connector & cable in place while soldering together?

I kinda made do with my basic temp controlled iron and a single bench clamp to hold the plug.... next time i'll have 2nd clamp of some sort to hold the cables. Its far too fiddly and error prone otherwise - I only slightly melted the plastic of one of the plugs when I slipped with the iron. Man am I out of practice wielding a soldering iron!

... Help! I've fallen and I can't Hey! Nice carpet!

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)

Re: Re: DIY Laplink cable results
By: kirkspragg to poindexter FORTRAN on Mon Aug 18 2025 12:53 pm

That would have made it a bit easier, did you have a decent soldering setup to help you hold the connector & cable in place while soldering together?

A pair of vise-grips. :)
--- SBBSecho 3.29-Win32
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

Re: DIY Laplink cable results
By: kirkspragg to All on Fri Aug 15 2025 21:15:35

Hi, kirkspragg.

So i got round to putting together the 5m long laplink parallel port data transfer cable.

I just tested it out & it works!

I just wanted to let you know that you're my personal hero :)

BobW
--- SBBSecho 3.29-Linux
* Origin: >>> Magnum BBS <<< - magnumbbs.net (21:1/205)