Chapter 2

There are many parallel interface cards made by other manufacturers. Be sure the card you purchase is designed to work with the MX-70.

Testing the Hookup

The time has come to see if all this hardware works. Whatever your computer is, now’s the time to be sure it’s hooked up to the printer.

We will soon find out if we hooked the “auto” wire to the correct terminal, mentioned in the last chapter.

Turn on the MX-70 first, then the computer. Type in the following software:

PR#l

10 FOR P = 1 TO 24

2 0 P R I N T P

30 NEXT P

and RUN.

(for Apple users only, to “switch in” the printer. We will leave it tied to the screen for this entire chapter.)

(TRS-80 and most other Microsoft BASICS use LPRINT in Line 20)

If the printing is single-spaced (6 lines per inch), skip to the next paragraph. If the printing is double-spaced, go back inside the printer to switch the “auto” wire to the other terminal. (Don’t forget to turn off all the power first!) Remember:

RED CAP - NO LF ADDED

WHITE CAP - ADDS LF TO EACH CR RECEIVED

If nothing printed, the problem is probably in the cable. Many connectors are wired differently than the Epson cable. See Appendix J for the correct MX-70 connector wiring.

When All Systems Are “Go”

When all is well, type in this short demonstration program, but DO NOT RUN it, yet:

-TRS Model I users - see Appendix D for help with line 30.

-Atari users - see Appendix E for help with trailing semicolons.

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