Which way round does the cable go on this parallel port card?

[Biggsy]

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190618564564

The cable connector for the second port can be fitted either way round on the pins.  Which way is correct?

There's no mention of it in the instructions.  I'm more confident in answers from YACFers than the Chinese box shifter.  Fanx.

[Chris S]

Is there not a red strip on one side of the ribbon? That should be pin 1.

[rusky]

Pin 1 of the cable is red. Pin 1 of the connector should be labelled, if it isn't look on the back, pin 1 has a square solder pad.

[Biggsy]

Thank you both.  The cable does indeed have a red stripe, and I see the little square pad on the back of the board!

Wow, this forum is so useful! 

[Biggsy]

Oh I was mistaken about the seller.  I forgot I got it from the US rather than China.  That would explain why I didn't have to wait aaaages for it.

[Feanor]

Now, com ports are always usefull.

But I've not had need of a parallel port in many a long year!

[Biggsy]

LPT2: HP LaserJet 4100.

LPT3: http://www.dirtcellar.net/documentation/DriveGLEAM/index.html#The_parallell_port:

[Kim]

Ah, blinkenlights.   

Our Laserjet 4050 has an Ethernet card, fortunately.

[Biggsy]

I've got a COM header on the motherboard.  What interesting things can I do with it?

[Feanor]

I've got a COM header on the motherboard.  What interesting things can I do with it?

In the first instance, simply bring it out to a 9-pin connector on a backplate, if you think you might need it.

Typically, I use a com port to gain console access to devices like Cisco wireless access points etc.
Also hobby electronics projects etc.
Or an old US Robotics 14.4 Modem for teh lolz.
What connection did the old BBC turtle use?

Unless you have devices which need console terminal access, then you won't need it.

As a console application, I use PuTTY, but the real hardcode would just use 'cu' on their Linux system.

[pcolbeck]

I've got a COM header on the motherboard.  What interesting things can I do with it?

As a console application, I use PuTTY, but the real hardcode would just use 'cu' on their Linux system.

Minicom is less hair shirt than cu on Linux. Serial ports are a bit of a problem on laptops as they are dying out. There are USB to serial adapters but not all of them work well with all laptops (I now have a selection). Cisco are gradually starting to provide USB connectivity for console access to their kit. At least you don't have to upgrade Cisco kit via a serial port these days. Copying a 4Mb file at 9600 baud is not fun.

[Feanor]

At least you don't have to upgrade Cisco kit via a serial port these days. Copying a 4Mb file at 9600 baud is not fun.

Indeed.
Just hours of fun with a TFTP server, wading through it's logs, and Wireshark, as you try to figure out what variation on the SIP firmware image name it's failing to find this time...