This article is from the Apple II Csa2 FAQ, by Jeff Hurlburt with numerous contributions by others.
Looking at the IIgs serial connector, the pins are numbered as follows:8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1The signals on each pin are: 1 Handshake Out (DTR) 2 Handshake In (DSR) 3 Transmit Data minus 4 Signal Ground 5 Receive Data minus 6 Transmit Data plus 7 General purpose input (DCD) 8 Receive Data plus Shield is frame ground. The ImageWriter I or DeskJet 500 has a female DB-25 connector, arranged in the standard order for DTE (Data Terminal Equipment): 1 Frame Ground 2 Transmit Data 3 Receive Data 4 Request to Send (output from printer, probably not used) 5 Clear to Send (input to printer, probably not used) 6 Data Set Ready (input to printer) 7 Signal Ground 8 Carrier Detect (input to printer, probably not used) 20 Data Terminal Ready (output from printer) The pinout of the cable is:IIgs (Mini-Din-8 male) Printer (DB-25 male) 1 (HShk Out) 6 (DSR) 2 (HShk In) 20 (DTR) 3 (TxD-) 3 (RxD) 4 (Gnd) 7 (Gnd) 5 (RxD-) 2 (TxD) 6 (TxD+) no connection 7 (DCD) no connection 8 (RxD+) must be conected to signal ground (IIgs pin 4, printer pin 7)If you have a shielded cable, also connect the cable shield to the Mini-Din- 8 plug's shielding, and to pin 1 and the shield of the DB-25.
 
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