
Parallax, Inc.
February 3, 1995

BASIC Stamp Cable Description

If you'd like to make your own Stamp-to-PC cable, here's the pin-out:

Stamp Header Pin       Male DB25 Pin         Signal         Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        1                    25               GND        <<< on Stamp
        2                    11               BUSY
        3                     2               DATA

Please note that the above DB25 pin numbers are as seen on the MALE
connector, which plugs into your PC's parallel port. If you're thinking
in terms of the PC female DB25 connector, then reverse the numbering.

(Note by RSteveW: I really DON'T know what he is jabbering on about with
regard to the DB-25, as the numbering is the same for male and female!! The
numbering on the two sexes of connector ARE already reverse directions to
match up properly!)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: rmadams@acs.bu.edu (Robert Adams)
Subject: Re: Basic Stamp Programming Cable Pinouts
Date: 25 Oct 1994 18:05:42 GMT

I wanted to know this information recently as well, and here is the
response I got.  Tip of the propellor-beanie to Jean-claude Leger
(LEGER@LETO.VLJ.DEC.COM) for the great ASCII-graphic!

> That's the cable I made :
>
>              +--------------------------+
>              |            |  |   +      |
>   STAMP      | O          |  |   +      |
>   clip       |      ***   |  |   +      |
>   side       | O          |  |   +      |
>              |                   +      |
>              +--------------------------+
>                    1 2 3
>                    / | \
>                   /  |  \
>   PC             25  11  2
>   PARALLEL
>   PORT        GND   BUSY   DATA0
>   DB25

Perhaps this could be included in the BASIC-Stamp FAQ?  Is that okay,
Jean-claude?
                         (RSteveW: It's pretty bloody obvious, I think!!)
R. Mark Adams
rmadams@haldane.bu.edu

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From: elektro1@IAC.unibe.ch (von Escher Kurt)
Subject: Re: STAMP / PC cable ?
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 1994 06:53:19 GMT
Organization: University of Bern, Switzerland

In article <317pdg$mbk@mrnews.mro.dec.com> system@leto.enet.dec.com
(Jean-claude LEGER) writes:

> Hi,
> Can anybody describe the 3 wires cable between the STAMP and the PC ?
> Thanks.

PC (LPT1:)                   STAMP (3 Pin connector)

   pin  2  <----------------->  pin, chip side
   pin 11  <----------------->  middler pin
   pin 25  <----------------->  pin, battery clip side

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From: ethelen@netcom.com (Ed Thelen)
Subject: Re: Pinout for Basic Stamp Programming Cable
Date: Sat, 5 Nov 1994 08:04:19 GMT

In article <jmoutsos.29.000D6980@hookup.net>,
James Moutsos <jmoutsos@hookup.net> wrote:
>Does enyone have the pinouts for the Basic Stamp Programming Cable?
>I ordered one but do not have time to wait for it to arrive. I need
>to finish a project ASAP.
>Thanks in advance
>James

Well - looks like time to quit lurking and respond -

Get a male 25 pin "RS232" d-connector and a 3 pin female 0.1 inch centers
plug from your friendly electronics store.   The 3 pin may be a problem,
you could probably substitute a sawed up dip plug "Dual-Inline-Plug"
suchas used for computer chips - 

Get about 6 feet of the limpest 3 or four wire cable you can get -
I have used telephone wire (like connecting the set to the wall) and also
3 conductors of a ribbon cable.

Now the tough part - an ASCII picture -  looking at the pins of the
25 pin connector I will number them my way (my connectors did not have
numbers)
           \-------------------------------------------/
            \  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13  /
             \  14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  /
              \-------------------------------------/

     connect pin     to     ---
              2             one end of the 3 pin plug
              11            the middle of the 3 pin plug
              25            the other end of the 3 pin plug
                            (Parallax marked this end white)

(RSteveW: Genuinely descriptive!!!! <NOT!> )

To help reduce the stress and strain on the wires of the 3 pin plug,
you should use some shrink wrap (like Parallax) or epoxy (like me)

We had no clue which way the 3 pin plug goes - try it each way,
there is no problem. 

(RSteveW: I'd hate to count on these guys for techs!)

Parallax is very relaxed about people copying the wiring and software.
Their statement was that they are in the business of selling hardware -
buy more STAMP boards -

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