The printer port (left) and modem port on a Macintosh LC: 8-pin Mini-DIN sockets, the same type the ImageWriter II cable plugs into at the computer end on the Macintosh Plus and later (photo: Caroline Ford, CC BY-SA 3.0)
The Apple ImageWriter II cables connect the Apple ImageWriter II, ImageWriter II/L and Apple ImageWriter LQ to Apple's computers. The printers have an 8-pin Mini-DIN serial port, and Apple made a different cable for each type of computer port: Mini-DIN-8 on the Macintosh Plus and later, the Apple IIgs and the Apple IIc Plus; DE-9 on the first Macintoshes; DIN-5 on the Apple IIc; and DB-25 on the Super Serial Card, the Apple III and the Lisa. Each cable was made in beige and in smoke, with different part numbers. The details below are from Apple's Peripheral Interface Guide of January 1991.[1]
Printer connector
ImageWriter II and II/L pin-outs (Peripheral Interface Guide, Peripherals, p. 9)[1]
Pin
Signal
Description
1
DTR
Data terminal ready (output)
2
DSR
Data set ready (input)
3
TXD−
Transmit data (output)
4
SG
Signal ground
5
RXD−
Receive data (input)
6
TXD+
Balanced transmit + (output)
7
NC
No connection
8
RXD+
Balanced receive + (input)
Shield
PG
Protective ground
The guide gives the connector type as "Mini DIN-8 male". Handshaking is DTR (hardware) or XON/XOFF, chosen with DIP switch 2-3, and the baud rate with switches 2-1 and 2-2; see Apple ImageWriter II.[1]
Which cable
Cables for the ImageWriter II, II/L and LQ (Peripheral Interface Guide, peripheral connection tables)[1]
Computer
Computer port
Smoke
Beige
Guide page
Macintosh Plus and later
Mini-DIN-8
590-0552 (M0197)
590-0340 (M0187)
Macintosh, p. 25
Macintosh 128K, 512K and 512Ke
DE-9
590-0551 (M0196)
590-0332 (M0185)
Macintosh, p. 26
Apple IIgs and Apple IIc Plus
Mini-DIN-8
590-0552 (M0197)
590-0340 (M0187)
Apple II, p. 37
Apple IIc
DIN-5
590-0554 (A2C4313)
590-0333 (A2C4312)
Apple II, p. 36
Apple II, II Plus and IIe, with a Super Serial Card
DB-25 on the card
590-0555 (A2C0312)
590-0331 (A2C0311)
Apple II, p. 35
Apple III and III Plus
DB-25
590-0555 (A2C0312)
590-0331 (A2C0311)
Apple III, p. 13
Lisa and Macintosh XL
DB-25
590-0555 (A2C0312)
590-0331 (A2C0311)
Lisa, p. 19
The cable charts also list 590-0556 (smoke) and 590-0335 (beige), a DB-25 to Mini-DIN-8 cable for the Super Serial Card in an Apple II, II Plus, IIe or IIgs.[1] The ImageWriter LQ must be set to 9600 baud (switch 2, positions 1 and 2, on) when used with any of the Apple II models, the Apple III or the Lisa.[1]
Cable wiring
Apple's cable charts give each cable's connections, with the ends in the order printed.[1]
590-0552 and 590-0340, Mini-DIN-8 to Mini-DIN-8 (Cables, p. 8)[1]
Mini-DIN-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Mini-DIN-8
2
1
5
4
3
8
7
6
590-0551 and 590-0332, Mini-DIN-8 to DE-9 (Cables, p. 7)[1]
Mini-DIN-8
1 and 7
2
3
4
5
6
8
DE-9
7
6
9
1
5
8
4
590-0554 and 590-0333, DIN-5 to Mini-DIN-8 (Cables, p. 8)[1]
DIN-5
1
2
3
4
Mini-DIN-8
2
5
4 and 8
3
590-0555 and 590-0331, Mini-DIN-8 to DB-25 (Cables, p. 9)[1]
Mini-DIN-8
1
2
3
4 and 8
5
DB-25
6 and 8
20
3
7
2
590-0556 and 590-0335, DB-25 to Mini-DIN-8 (Cables, p. 9)[1]
DB-25
2
3
6 and 8
7
20
Mini-DIN-8
3
5
2
4 and 8
1
All connectors on these cables are male. Apple also lists 590-0550, a Mini-DIN-8 to DB-25 female adapter for using DB-25 cables on the Apple IIgs and IIc Plus, and 590-0553, 699-0430 and 590-0341, a Mini-DIN-8 to DE-9 female adapter for connecting DE-9 cables to Mini-DIN-8 ports.[1]
