MAILBAG
 
To: Will Watts (Editor: EUG #0 - EUG #13)
From: G. Peake <address hidden>
Subject: PLUS 1 CONVERSION
Mail Ref.: EUG #10

My system is an Elk and Plus 1 with a Slogger Master RAM Board, Pres' AP2, AP6, AP3/4 and, at the moment, I'm building Jafa Systems' Mode 7 Adaptor. In ROM, I have Slogger's T2P4 and Pineapple Software's PCB and DIAGRAM 2. The Pineapple ROMs are for the Beeb, but both work well with the Elk with just a few differences in the keys used. PCB works in Normal (a bit on the slow side) and Turbo modes, while Diagram 2 is very limited in Normal and Turbo modes, but okay in 64K.

I have modified my Plus 1 by fitting a 25-way D-type connector in the top half of the box, above the printer socket. By fitting a short length of ribbon cable with an IDC connector to it and plugging this into the printer socket, a standard IBM PC type printer socket, a standard IBM PC type printer cable can be used to condirect to any IBM PC compatible printer. I have sent instructions on how to make this modification in case anyone else would like to try it. Much neater and more convenient than Beeb-type cables.

  1. Connect approx 3 inches of 26-way ribbon cable to a 26-way IDC connector. Pin 1 is marked by an inverted "V".

  2. Fit the 25-way D-type connector in the top half of the Plus 1's case having cut a suitable hole.

  3. Solder the ribbon cable to the D-type connector as in the following table:-
    4.               ELECTRON                         IBM STYLE PLUG

                PIN                                 PIN
                 1 --------------------------------- 1  
                 2 --------------------------------- 19
                 3 --------------------------------- 2  
                 4 --------------------------------- 19
                 5 --------------------------------- 3  
                 6 --------------------------------- 20
                 7 --------------------------------- 4  
                 8 --------------------------------- 20
                 9 --------------------------------- 5  
                10 --------------------------------- 21
                11 --------------------------------- 6  
                12 --------------------------------- 21
                13 --------------------------------- 7  
                14 --------------------------------- 22
                15 --------------------------------- 8  
                16 --------------------------------- 22 
                17 --------------------------------- 9 
                18 --------------------------------- 23 
                19 --------------------------------- 10
                20------------------:
                21                  :
                22                  :
                23                  :--- NOT CONNECTED 
                24                  :
                25                  :
                26------------------:
  4. Connect the IDC connector to the printer port and re-assemble the Plus 1 case.

G. Peake
British Aerospace, Saudi Arabia