Table of Contents

Introduction

None of the Computer Links will work without a Cable.

At the time that the Z88 was designed, there was no standard connector, so Cambridge Computer made up its own. It uses the 9 way 'D' type connector which are used with the modern computers, but they are different in two different ways.

Mechanically - they do not have the stand-offs to accept the screw down connectors. This means that if a normal computer cable is used, it will not fit completely in the Z88 as the screws on the cable connector will prevent in it from plugging into the Z88.

Z88 9 way connector

The Z88 Serial Cable connector do not have any screws fitted, so it fits into the Z88 perfectly. So why not just remove the screws you may ask?

Electrically - The bad news that even the connections to the nine pins are different.

There is a lot of misinformation on the net about making your own cables, this . This is because initially the connection may work by sending a few characters across the link, this breaks down if handshaking is not respected.Before blaming the software, please get the correct cable, then Cambridge used IMP/EXP built in software which used software handshaking and just 3 connections. This was later replaced with PC Link II which used hardware handshaking and used more connections for hardware handshaking. Other companies then also started making computer cables for the Z88 which may have used different wire colours and worked with their software, but may still not work with the current one.

Before using any cable, please check it against the pinouts given here, or just get the correct cable. Then any of the transfer programs may be used with the Z88 confidently.

9 way Cable with screws

Z88 Links to be modified

Connectors
/Signals / RxD / TxD8 / CTS / DCD / CTS7 / RTS / DTRNot Used

	Z88		Desktop	25 Way PC Cable	25 Way Serial Printer Cable	Z88-To-Mac
	Image Modified Computer Cable at Z88 end

	Z88 to Desktop RS-232 Cable			Z88 Cables for other devices modified to be used with the Desktop				using optional USB Serial adapter. Z88 plug used but the other connector removed & replaced		with a 9 way 'D' socket for the Desktop.
	Z88		Desktop USB Serial Socket	Desktop Old Standard Serial Socket	Printer Plug	Old Mac modem connector
Connector diagrams are exterior views	9 way 'D' plug	Image Added Cable	9 way 'D'socket	25 way 'D'socket	25 way 'D'plug	Mini-DIN-8 connector
Signals	Pin-outs		Pin-outs		Colour of cable to be connected to the Desktop NOTE: Do not rely on these colours. Different manufactures used different colours.			1 /	Check that the connections are electrically correct.	Signals
	1			DO NOT USE for for RS232 signals. It carries 5v at 10uA even when the machine is off. Not Used
2 / TxD	2		Image Added	2	Black	Red / Black	Brown	RxD
3 / RxD	3		Image Added	3	Red	Yellow	Red	4 / RTS	TxD
RTS	4	Image Added	8	Brown	Purple	Orange	CTS
DCD	8	4 / DTR		4	Not Used			DTR
CTS	5		Image Added	7	Yellow	White / Black	Yellow	RTS
	6	6 / DSR		6	Not Used
GND	7 / Gnd	Image Added	5 / Gnd	Orange & Shield	Blue / White & Shield	Green	GND
DTR	9	Image Added	1 /	1 / DCD	6	All four pins (8 - 9 on Z88 and 1 -6 on other side) connected for Eazylink handshaking.			DSR
				See Appendix B in the Z88 User Guide for full explanation.

Recently, the older type of Z88 computer cables have appeared on the market. These are:

25 way to Z88 Cable and
Z88 to Mac Cable

If you are handy with a soldering iron, or wish to buy an adapter, the following give clear instructions on how to modify these cables and save money from buying the standard cables.

Benny Boogaert shows you how to modify these cables..

Modifying Z88 to Mac Cable to 9 way PC cable.
1. Cut off the Mac Plug 2. Strip 1 cm and tin wires		3. Brown 2 Red 3 Green 5
4. Yellow 7 Orange 8		5. finished socket
6. connector housing		7. cables together
8. comms linux