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Epson APL (Rev 1) Parallel Card Jumper Notes
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Hugh Hood
May 15, 2019, 12:00:48 AM5/15/19
to
I've been ask to share my notes on the jumper functions on the Revision
1 Epson APL Parallel printer card. Although I made these notes quite a
few years ago, I believe them still to be accurate.
For reference:
<http://mirrors.apple2.org.za/Apple%20II%20Documentation%20Project/Interface%20Cards/Parallel/Epson%20APL%20Printer%20Interface/Photos/Epson%20APL%20Printer%20Interface%20v1%20-%20Front.jpg>
Note that there are differences between the Rev 1 and Rev 2 (AKA APL B)
boards. The Rev 2 (B) has a larger 2716 EPROM (as opposed to the 2708)
and the Rev 1 has jumper pads, whereas the Rev 2 (B) does not.
Out of the box, the Epson APL (Rev 1) was set up to send 7-bit data. It
did this by grounding the 8th bit. Unlike some other parallel cards,
transmission of the 8th bit was not determined by a control code.
For example, the Grappler+ passed the 8th bit when you used an 'H'
rather than an 'N' in the standard <CTRL-I> 80N printer card
initialization string.
I suspect the Rev 1 Epson APL only sent 7-bit data since many DOS 3.3
programs (and even BASIC) printed with the high bit set. In turn, that
would trigger some printers to print special high-ASCII characters
rather than the low-ASCII characters the user intended.
Anyway, the forced 7-bit mode can be defeated. Conversely, you can also
force the 8th bit to always be high (not just pass it, but force it
high), if you have that need as well.
Directly below the EPROM, you will see two (2) sets of jumper pads. One
is labeled 'M4' (it is NOT connected). The other is labeled 'P4' (it IS
connected with a small jumper wire).
'P4' connects the 8th-bit to ground. By cutting the small jumper wire,
the 8th bit will no longer be grounded and will pass.
OTOH, 'M4', if connected, will force the 8th-bit HIGH. But, if you
decide to do this, you absolutely MUST cut the 'M4' jumper wire.
Otherwise, you will have direct short to ground. Not good at all.
FWIW, I've never seen a manual for either Epson APL card, and I've
looked high and low. Does anyone have one that they can scan and put up?
Hugh Hood
P.S. - You'll also notice (to the right of the ROM) that there are six
(6) more jumper pads - M1/P1/M2/P2/M3/P3. I don't know what they
control, but I would hope the manual might say. Since the Grappler+ had
four (4) DIP switches to control various functions, I suspect those on
the APL are similar in function.
1 Epson APL Parallel printer card. Although I made these notes quite a
few years ago, I believe them still to be accurate.
For reference:
<http://mirrors.apple2.org.za/Apple%20II%20Documentation%20Project/Interface%20Cards/Parallel/Epson%20APL%20Printer%20Interface/Photos/Epson%20APL%20Printer%20Interface%20v1%20-%20Front.jpg>
Note that there are differences between the Rev 1 and Rev 2 (AKA APL B)
boards. The Rev 2 (B) has a larger 2716 EPROM (as opposed to the 2708)
and the Rev 1 has jumper pads, whereas the Rev 2 (B) does not.
Out of the box, the Epson APL (Rev 1) was set up to send 7-bit data. It
did this by grounding the 8th bit. Unlike some other parallel cards,
transmission of the 8th bit was not determined by a control code.
For example, the Grappler+ passed the 8th bit when you used an 'H'
rather than an 'N' in the standard <CTRL-I> 80N printer card
initialization string.
I suspect the Rev 1 Epson APL only sent 7-bit data since many DOS 3.3
programs (and even BASIC) printed with the high bit set. In turn, that
would trigger some printers to print special high-ASCII characters
rather than the low-ASCII characters the user intended.
Anyway, the forced 7-bit mode can be defeated. Conversely, you can also
force the 8th bit to always be high (not just pass it, but force it
high), if you have that need as well.
Directly below the EPROM, you will see two (2) sets of jumper pads. One
is labeled 'M4' (it is NOT connected). The other is labeled 'P4' (it IS
connected with a small jumper wire).
'P4' connects the 8th-bit to ground. By cutting the small jumper wire,
the 8th bit will no longer be grounded and will pass.
OTOH, 'M4', if connected, will force the 8th-bit HIGH. But, if you
decide to do this, you absolutely MUST cut the 'M4' jumper wire.
Otherwise, you will have direct short to ground. Not good at all.
FWIW, I've never seen a manual for either Epson APL card, and I've
looked high and low. Does anyone have one that they can scan and put up?
Hugh Hood
P.S. - You'll also notice (to the right of the ROM) that there are six
(6) more jumper pads - M1/P1/M2/P2/M3/P3. I don't know what they
control, but I would hope the manual might say. Since the Grappler+ had
four (4) DIP switches to control various functions, I suspect those on
the APL are similar in function.
Patrick Schaefer
May 15, 2019, 4:33:21 PM5/15/19
to
Am 15.05.2019 um 06:00 schrieb Hugh Hood:
> P.S. - You'll also notice (to the right of the ROM) that there are six
> (6) more jumper pads - M1/P1/M2/P2/M3/P3. I don't know what they
> control, but I would hope the manual might say.
A look onto the back of the board tells us that these control the
> P.S. - You'll also notice (to the right of the ROM) that there are six
> (6) more jumper pads - M1/P1/M2/P2/M3/P3. I don't know what they
> control, but I would hope the manual might say.
voltages applied to pin 21, 19 and 18 of the EPROM. For a 2708, this is
-5 V, +12 V and PGM (Gnd). A 2716 needs Vpp (+5V), A10 (+5 V or Gnd) and
/CE (Gnd) here.
M1: Gnd to pin 21 (a 2716 needs +5 V here which is NOT available!)
P1: -5 V to pin 21 (2708)
M2: +5 V to pin 19 (2716)
P2: +12 V to pin 19 (2708)
M3: +5 V to pin 18
P3: Gnd to pin 18 (2708, 2716)
Patrick
James Davis
May 17, 2019, 3:16:20 AM5/17/19
to
> Hugh Hood
>
>
> P.S. - You'll also notice (to the right of the ROM) that there are six
> (6) more jumper pads - M1/P1/M2/P2/M3/P3. I don't know what they
>
>
> P.S. - You'll also notice (to the right of the ROM) that there are six
> (6) more jumper pads - M1/P1/M2/P2/M3/P3. I don't know what they
> control, but I would hope the manual might say. Since the Grappler+ had
> four (4) DIP switches to control various functions, I suspect those on
> the APL are similar in function.
Hugh, I have the manual (a pamphlet) [see: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.sys.apple2/EjMz0QDGrwk]. How soon do you need it? Scanning and uploading might take me a few days to get to.
> four (4) DIP switches to control various functions, I suspect those on
> the APL are similar in function.
James Davis
Hugh Hood
May 17, 2019, 10:41:42 PM5/17/19
to
On 5/17/2019 2:16 AM, James Davis wrote:
>
> Hugh, I have the manual (a pamphlet) [see: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.sys.apple2/EjMz0QDGrwk]. How soon do you need it? Scanning and uploading might take me a few days to get to.
>
James,
>
> Hugh, I have the manual (a pamphlet) [see: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.sys.apple2/EjMz0QDGrwk]. How soon do you need it? Scanning and uploading might take me a few days to get to.
>
Thank you very much for offering to scan and upload the EPSON APL
Parallel Card Manual.
Offer accepted.
Please do it at your leisure. I've been waiting a couple of decades to
find one so a few more days (or weeks) won't matter one bit.
Hugh Hood
Hugh Hood
May 17, 2019, 10:51:37 PM5/17/19
to
Patrick,
Thank you very much for tracing and explaining those other six (6)
jumpers on the Epson APL board.
I am curious, though. Why are they there?
Would different voltages applied to the EPROM pins cause the card's
firmware to act differently?
Or, can you speculate what Epson may have intended their use to be?
Hugh Hood
Thank you very much for tracing and explaining those other six (6)
jumpers on the Epson APL board.
I am curious, though. Why are they there?
Would different voltages applied to the EPROM pins cause the card's
firmware to act differently?
Or, can you speculate what Epson may have intended their use to be?
Hugh Hood
James Davis
May 18, 2019, 3:39:20 AM5/18/19
to
On Friday, May 17, 2019 at 7:51:37 PM UTC-7, Hugh Hood wrote:
> Patrick,
>
> Thank you very much for tracing and explaining those other six (6)
> jumpers on the Epson APL board.
>
> I am curious, though. Why are they there?
>
> Would different voltages applied to the EPROM pins cause the card's
> firmware to act differently?
>
> Or, can you speculate what Epson may have intended their use to be?
>
>
>
>
>
> Hugh Hood
>
I could not find a copy of the Epson APL Card User Manual at the Epson website, and their contact via email form has no submit button to click, so I wasted my time there. Hence, I went ahead and scanned my manual into a PDF using Epson Scan on my Epson Scanner/Copier/Printer for you.
> Patrick,
>
> Thank you very much for tracing and explaining those other six (6)
> jumpers on the Epson APL board.
>
> I am curious, though. Why are they there?
>
> Would different voltages applied to the EPROM pins cause the card's
> firmware to act differently?
>
> Or, can you speculate what Epson may have intended their use to be?
>
>
>
>
>
> Hugh Hood
>
I uploaded the PDF to Asimov Incoming and sent this to the AsimovLookerAfterer:
>>
Dear AsimovLookerAfterer,
I will be uploading the following to Asimov Incoming very soon. Watch for it. (By the time you read this, it may already be there.)
Apple Software Map - Entry Template - for Asimov Network <Mailto:asm-te...@asimov.net>[<--BAD]/<Mailto:AsimovLoo...@Mail.Com>:
=============================================================================
Begin3
Title: Epson MX Series DMP Option User Manual [for] Apple II Interface Kit (P8090023-1).pdf
Author: Epson, Shinshu Seiki Co., Ltd., Nagano, Japan. Copyright (c) 1981.
Version: P8090023-1
Entered-date: 05-17-2019
Description: Epson MX Series Dot Matrix Printer Option User Manual [for] Apple II Interface Kit
[e.g., Epson APL Card User Manual]
Keywords: APL Card, APL User Manual, Apple II, DMP, Dot Matrix Printer, Epson, Interface Kit,
Interface Card, Manual, MX Series, MX Series Option, Option, PDF, User Manual.
Uploader: <Email Address Omitted> (James Davis)
Primary-site: ftp.asimov.net /pub/apple_II/documentation/hardware/io/
2.81MB Epson MX Series DMP Option User Manual [for] Apple II Interface Kit (P8090023-1).pdf
Platform: Any computer/O.S. that can use PDF (Personal Document Format) documents.
End
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Secondary-site: ftp.asimov.net /pub/apple_II/documentation/hardware/printers/
2.81MB Epson MX Series DMP Option User Manual [for] Apple II Interface Kit (P8090023-1).pdf
{Make this file a hardlink of the primary-site file [to save 2.07MB of (size on) disk space].}
=============================================================================
Sincerely yours,
James Davis
<<
They sure want a lot of redundant information on their submittal form.
>
> On 5/15/2019 3:33 PM, Patrick Schaefer wrote:
>
> > > P.S. - You'll also notice (to the right of the ROM) that there are six
> > > (6) more jumper pads - M1/P1/M2/P2/M3/P3. I don't know what they
> > > control, but I would hope the manual might say.
> >
> > A look onto the back of the board tells us that these control the
> > voltages applied to pin 21, 19 and 18 of the EPROM. For a 2708, this is
> > -5 V, +12 V and PGM (Gnd). A 2716 needs Vpp (+5V), A10 (+5 V or Gnd) and
> > /CE (Gnd) here.
> >
> > M1: Gnd to pin 21 (a 2716 needs +5 V here which is NOT available!)
> > P1: -5 V to pin 21 (2708)
> > M2: +5 V to pin 19 (2716)
> > P2: +12 V to pin 19 (2708)
> > M3: +5 V to pin 18
> > P3: Gnd to pin 18 (2708, 2716)
> >
> >
> > Patrick
> >
> >
To answer your question to Patrick first: The chips (2708 v 2716) require different voltages from each other at the pins listed. The jumpers facilitate correcting the voltages for which chip is placed in the card by the manufacturer/repairman.
James Davis
Patrick Schaefer
May 19, 2019, 9:05:10 AM5/19/19
to
Am 18.05.2019 um 04:51 schrieb Hugh Hood:> Patrick,
> Thank you very much for tracing and explaining those other six (6)
> jumpers on the Epson APL board.
>
> I am curious, though. Why are they there?
The 2708 was a very early EPROM type that required three voltage
supplies. Parts from the next generation (2716 with 2kB and 2732 with
4kB) required only a single supply and were considerably cheaper.
Therefore EPSON designed the card with the state-of-the-art 2708, but
provided some means to switch over to the next memory generation as soon
as it will become available. Unfortunately they made some mistake and
connected jumper M1 to Gnd and not to +5 V.
From performance point of view it does not matter if a 2708 or 2716 is
fitted. In both cases only 256 bytes of memory are used in the $Cnxx
/IOSEL space.
I don't know if any APL boards have been fitted with 2716 chips at all.
It is likely that the redesigned APL-B made this obsolete. The APL-B
supports bankswitching the $C800-CFFF region (/IOSTB) so that 2kB of ROM
code could be used (to support graphics printing etc).
Patrick
> Thank you very much for tracing and explaining those other six (6)
> jumpers on the Epson APL board.
>
> I am curious, though. Why are they there?
supplies. Parts from the next generation (2716 with 2kB and 2732 with
4kB) required only a single supply and were considerably cheaper.
Therefore EPSON designed the card with the state-of-the-art 2708, but
provided some means to switch over to the next memory generation as soon
as it will become available. Unfortunately they made some mistake and
connected jumper M1 to Gnd and not to +5 V.
From performance point of view it does not matter if a 2708 or 2716 is
fitted. In both cases only 256 bytes of memory are used in the $Cnxx
/IOSEL space.
I don't know if any APL boards have been fitted with 2716 chips at all.
It is likely that the redesigned APL-B made this obsolete. The APL-B
supports bankswitching the $C800-CFFF region (/IOSTB) so that 2kB of ROM
code could be used (to support graphics printing etc).
Patrick
Hugh Hood
May 19, 2019, 12:27:23 PM5/19/19
to
Patrick,
Thank you for sharing that detailed information on the Epson APL card(s).
Since the Epson APL ROM shown here --
<https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/Apple%20II%20Documentation%20Project/Interface%20Cards/Parallel/Epson%20APL%20Printer%20Interface/ROM%20Images/Epson%20APL%20Printer%20Interface%20ROM.bin>
contains references to code in the $C800-CFFF region you mentioned, I
suspect that it must belong to the latter 'B' APL card rather than to
the original (Rev 1) board.
Very good to know. Thanks.
Hugh Hood
On 5/19/2019 8:05 AM, Patrick Schaefer wrote:
> Am 18.05.2019 um 04:51 schrieb Hugh Hood:> Patrick,
>
Thank you for sharing that detailed information on the Epson APL card(s).
Since the Epson APL ROM shown here --
<https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/Apple%20II%20Documentation%20Project/Interface%20Cards/Parallel/Epson%20APL%20Printer%20Interface/ROM%20Images/Epson%20APL%20Printer%20Interface%20ROM.bin>
contains references to code in the $C800-CFFF region you mentioned, I
suspect that it must belong to the latter 'B' APL card rather than to
the original (Rev 1) board.
Very good to know. Thanks.
Hugh Hood
On 5/19/2019 8:05 AM, Patrick Schaefer wrote:
> Am 18.05.2019 um 04:51 schrieb Hugh Hood:> Patrick,
>
Patrick Schaefer
May 19, 2019, 4:09:01 PM5/19/19
to
Am 19.05.2019 um 18:27 schrieb Hugh Hood:
> Since the Epson APL ROM shown here --
>
>
<https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/Apple%20II%20Documentation%20Project/Interface%20Cards/Parallel/Epson%20APL%20Printer%20Interface/ROM%20Images/Epson%20APL%20Printer%20Interface%20ROM.bin>
>
>
> contains references to code in the $C800-CFFF region you mentioned, I
> suspect that it must belong to the latter 'B' APL card rather than to
> the original (Rev 1) board.
You are right, this is the Epson APL-B ROM. It is identical to the one I
> Since the Epson APL ROM shown here --
>
>
<https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/Apple%20II%20Documentation%20Project/Interface%20Cards/Parallel/Epson%20APL%20Printer%20Interface/ROM%20Images/Epson%20APL%20Printer%20Interface%20ROM.bin>
>
>
> contains references to code in the $C800-CFFF region you mentioned, I
> suspect that it must belong to the latter 'B' APL card rather than to
> the original (Rev 1) board.
dumped from one of my cards a couple of years ago.
Patrick
James Davis
May 22, 2019, 9:05:03 PM5/22/19
to
Hugh Hood,
You can get it now at:
ftp://public.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/documentation/hardware/io/Epson%20MX%20Series%20DMP%20Option%20User%20Manual%20[for]%20Apple%20II%20Interface%20Kit%20(P8090023-1).pdf
Hope it helps every Apple II Enthusiast looking for it,
James Davis
You can get it now at:
ftp://public.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/documentation/hardware/io/Epson%20MX%20Series%20DMP%20Option%20User%20Manual%20[for]%20Apple%20II%20Interface%20Kit%20(P8090023-1).pdf
Hope it helps every Apple II Enthusiast looking for it,
James Davis
James Davis
May 22, 2019, 9:11:20 PM5/22/19
to
Hugh Hood
May 22, 2019, 11:55:45 PM5/22/19
to
James,
Please accept my thanks for your scanning and uploading the manual for
the Epson APL (Rev 1 / Cat. 8131) Parallel Card.
Also, I offer an apology to all regarding an error in my 'Jumper Notes'
for the card.
Based on the schematic shown in the manual James uploaded, it appears
*two* (2) things must be done in order to allow the 8th bit to pass
through 'as-is'.
1. Jumper 'P4' must be cut (as I previously mentioned);
AND
2. Jumper 'M4' must be connected (as I previously omitted).
I mistakenly thought that connecting 'M4' would make the 8th bit always
'HIGH', when in fact the schematic shows that this is incorrect. NOT
connecting 'M4' (after cutting 'P4') would result in the always 'HIGH'
state.
I do regret the error, and hope that someone coming across this thread
will read to the end.
On another note -- I noticed the schematic had a hand-written note
regarding the addition of a '250 PF Non-polarizing Ceramic Capacitor
between pins 3 and 7 of chip 6A.'
It mentions that this addition was recommended in the August, 1984 issue
of Call-APPLE Magazine, page 30 under the heading 'Card Sorting'.
Can someone venture a guess as to what this does, or better yet, find
that issue of Call-APPLE and explain it to me?
Finally, here's a summary of the control character commands referenced
in the manual:
1. <CTRL-I> -- default command character
2. <CTRL-I><CTRL-#> -- change command character to <CTRL-#>
3. <CTRL-I>#N -- turn screen OFF and allow between 40-255 characters
per line (# = a range of 40 to 255)
4. <CTRL-I>I -- turn screen ON
5. <CTRL-I>K -- turn OFF auto line feed
This is a rudimentary (but fairly) standard set of commands for an
early-vintage parallel card. Nothing fancy, but I never thought it would be.
Hugh Hood
Please accept my thanks for your scanning and uploading the manual for
the Epson APL (Rev 1 / Cat. 8131) Parallel Card.
Also, I offer an apology to all regarding an error in my 'Jumper Notes'
for the card.
Based on the schematic shown in the manual James uploaded, it appears
*two* (2) things must be done in order to allow the 8th bit to pass
through 'as-is'.
1. Jumper 'P4' must be cut (as I previously mentioned);
AND
2. Jumper 'M4' must be connected (as I previously omitted).
I mistakenly thought that connecting 'M4' would make the 8th bit always
'HIGH', when in fact the schematic shows that this is incorrect. NOT
connecting 'M4' (after cutting 'P4') would result in the always 'HIGH'
state.
I do regret the error, and hope that someone coming across this thread
will read to the end.
On another note -- I noticed the schematic had a hand-written note
regarding the addition of a '250 PF Non-polarizing Ceramic Capacitor
between pins 3 and 7 of chip 6A.'
It mentions that this addition was recommended in the August, 1984 issue
of Call-APPLE Magazine, page 30 under the heading 'Card Sorting'.
Can someone venture a guess as to what this does, or better yet, find
that issue of Call-APPLE and explain it to me?
Finally, here's a summary of the control character commands referenced
in the manual:
1. <CTRL-I> -- default command character
2. <CTRL-I><CTRL-#> -- change command character to <CTRL-#>
3. <CTRL-I>#N -- turn screen OFF and allow between 40-255 characters
per line (# = a range of 40 to 255)
4. <CTRL-I>I -- turn screen ON
5. <CTRL-I>K -- turn OFF auto line feed
This is a rudimentary (but fairly) standard set of commands for an
early-vintage parallel card. Nothing fancy, but I never thought it would be.
Hugh Hood
Hugh Hood
May 22, 2019, 11:59:54 PM5/22/19
to
On 5/22/2019 10:55 PM, Hugh Hood wrote:
>
> It mentions that this addition was recommended in the August, 1984 issue
> of Call-APPLE Magazine, page 30 under the heading 'Card Sorting'.
>
My goodness. Will the errors never cease?
>
> It mentions that this addition was recommended in the August, 1984 issue
> of Call-APPLE Magazine, page 30 under the heading 'Card Sorting'.
>
Make that the *October* 1984 issue of Call-APPLE.
Hugh Hood
Patrick Schaefer
May 23, 2019, 1:59:43 PM5/23/19
to
Am 23.05.2019 um 05:55 schrieb Hugh Hood:
> On another note -- I noticed the schematic had a hand-written note
> regarding the addition of a '250 PF Non-polarizing Ceramic Capacitor
> between pins 3 and 7 of chip 6A.'
This causes some delay to the phi1 signal coming from the Apple bus,
> On another note -- I noticed the schematic had a hand-written note
> regarding the addition of a '250 PF Non-polarizing Ceramic Capacitor
> between pins 3 and 7 of chip 6A.'
which gives the signals a the D inputs of IC6 and IC4 some more time to
settle.
Bad engineering practice because it affects all boards in all slots.
That means with this modification other boards in the same computer
might not work properly anymore.
It is better to cut the phi1 trace, insert a 180 Ohm resistor and
connect the capacitor behind this resistor. Its value will have to be
reduced to some ten pF. This isolates the delayed signal from the
mainboard bus.
Patrick
James Davis
May 24, 2019, 2:54:30 AM5/24/19
to
I also have the matching user manual for the MX-100 printer, but it is about a hundred pages and would be hard to scan without ruining the binding.
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