The XMP1541 adaptor

Description

The XMP1541 adaptor serves as a pair of an XM1541 multitask cable and an XP1541 or XP1571 parallel cable, allowing you to reuse your already existing Commodore serial cable and Commodore parallel cable. It's compatible with PS/2, EPP and ECP parallel ports and with Commodore 1541, 1570 and 1571 drives.

Hardware requirements

You need the following hardware to make use of this adaptor:

Software support

The following PC softwares fully support this adaptor:

For the list of softwares that partially support this adaptor, see the page of the XM1541 multitask cable and the XP1541 and XP1571 parallel cables.

Important notes

  • Don't let the name "XMP1541" fool you. This adaptor also works with the Commodore 1570 and 1571 drive, not only the Commodore 1541 drive.
  • This adaptor itself gives you no parallel capabilities. If your drive doesn't have it already then you should build the Commodore parallel cable first.
  • If you don't want to use the parallel features of your drive from a Commodore machine then you might want to create the XMP1541 cable combo instead.
  • We have found this adaptor to fail to work with certain motherboards, including ones with the ALI 5 chipset and some laptops. Check your motherboard's manual or visit the manufacturer's homepage before trying this cable! Also, see the non-comprehensive list of motherboards with the ALI 5 chipset. If your PC proves to be incompatible with this adaptor then use the XAP1541 adaptor instead.

Construction

Actually, there are no plans or construction pages for this adaptor. Instead of building a genuine XMP1541 adaptor, you should build an XEP1541 adaptor - or use the one you already have - and create a "twisted" Commodore serial cable.

Usage

Take your already existing Commodore serial cable. Connect one serial plug into the serial port of your Commodore drive and the other serial plug into the serial port of the adaptor. Take your already existing Commodore parallel cable. If you have a parallel port on your Commodore drive then you can connect one end of the cable into it; otherwise the cable is, probably, just hanging out of the drive. Connect the user port plug onto the user port edge of the adaptor, being very careful not to do it upside down, that is, the top side of the user port plug should be leveled with that side of the adaptor with the plugs. Connect the parallel plug of the adaptor into the parallel port of your PC.

Make sure to put your equipment far away from monitors, TV sets and other devices with strong emission, otherwise cables may pick up interference and you may experience data loss or corruption.

Copyright

The XM1541 multitask cable is © by Michael Klein and Nicolas Welte, 2000. The XP1541 and XP1571 parallel cables are © by Joe Forster/STA, 1997. If you produce and sell cables or adaptors that are compatible with this adaptor or the cables it implements then you must give credits to the respective copyright owners. If your adaptors are built onto printed circuit boards then you must also make the complete layout available in a format and resolution that is suitable for high quality reproduction.

Source: The Joe Forster-STA homepage

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