Skip to main contentClick to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions.
PhaserShare


PhaserShare LocalTalk/Serial card
With the PhaserShare LocalTalk/serial card, you can connect the printer to a LocalTalk network and to a computer's serial port. Both the LocalTalk and the serial connections are simultaneously active.

When a PhaserShare card is purchased initially with the printer, it is installed at the factory. When a PhaserShare card is purchased later as an upgrade kit, follow the instructions under Installing PhaserShare cards in Tektronix Printers for installing the card.

LocalTalk connection

Note: LocalTalk is some-times referred to as AppleTalk. LocalTalk refers to the physical connection; AppleTalk is the protocol.
You can make LocalTalk connections between the printer and a single computer or a LocalTalk network. If your LocalTalk installation is complex, or if you need assistance, contact your network system administrator.

Note: Connect your printer to a LocalTalk network before you turn on the printer.
The LocalTalk connection to the PhaserShare card is an 8-pin, circular DIN connector (1).

LocalTalk connectors and cables are available through your local reseller. This illustration shows two commonly used types of LocalTalk connectors:

  1. Self-terminating connector

  2. Connector that requires an external terminator, depending on your network configuration

    Note: Depending on the type of LocalTalk cables you use and your network configuration, you might need to use terminators at certain points in the installation. Refer to the documentation for your LocalTalk connectors and cables for details.

Connecting to a single computer

 You can use LocalTalk connectors and cables to connect the printer directly to your computer, without connecting it to any other network. Make sure that the printer is turned off before making any LocalTalk connections.

  1. Connect the short cable of a LocalTalk connector to the PhaserShare LocalTalk port.

  2. Connect the short cable of another LocalTalk connector to your computer's LocalTalk port.

  3. Connect a LocalTalk cable from the LocalTalk connector that you have just attached to your computer to the printer's LocalTalk connector.

    Note: Depending on the type of LocalTalk connectors you use and your network configuration, you might need to use external terminators. Refer to the documentation for your LocalTalk connectors and cables for details.
For details on how to select the printer in the Chooser, change the printer's name, or set the printer's zone, see EtherTalk, LocalTalk, and TokenTalk Configuration.

Serial connection

The serial connector on the PhaserShare LocalTalk/serial card is an RS-232, DB-9 plug (1). The connector is wired as DTE (Data Terminal Equipment).

The default language for the serial port is PostScript. Refer to your printer's user documentation for information about changing the printer's default language.

To make a serial connection between the printer and your computer, follow these steps:

  1. Connect a serial interface cable to your computer and to the serial port on the PhaserShare LocalTalk/serial card. Use a null-modem cable.

    Note: Tektronix part numbers for serial null modem cables: 9-pin to 9-pin, 012-1379-00; 9-pin to 25-pin, 012-1380-00.
  2. Use the printer's front panel menus to set the baud rate and other serial communications parameters (see Setting serial port parameters from the printer's front panel).

Serial port signals

Signal name Pin number Printer I/O Description
DCD

1

In

Data carrier detect

RxData

2

In

Received data

TxData

3

Out

Transmitted data

DTR

4

Out

Data terminal ready

Gnd

5

-

Signal ground

DSR

6

In

Data set ready

RTS

7

Out

Request to send

CTS

8

In

Clear to send

RI

9

In

Ring indicator

Serial port setup (printer)

 The serial port has these settings. Factory defaults are marked with an asterisk (*).

Serial port settings

Serial parameter Choices
Baud rate

300
600
1200
2400
4800
9600*
19.2 K
38.4 K

Data bits

7
8*

Stop bits

1*
2

Parity

Even
Odd
Mark
Space
None*

Flow Control

XON/XOFF*
DTR/DSR

There are two ways to change the printer's serial port settings:

Setting serial port parameters from the printer's front panel

  1. Press the Menu button; the front panel briefly displays Entering Menu, then displays Help Pages.

    Note: When you are in the menu, if the front panel is not used for 5 minutes, the printer returns to the Ready state.
  2. Enter the Serial Settings menu by pressing the right (---->) or left (<----) arrow buttons until the front panel displays Serial Settings.

  3. Press the Menu button; the front panel displays Baud Rate.

  4. Set the baud rate:

    1. Press the Menu button again; the front panel displays the currently selected baud rate. The current status is marked with an asterisk (*) in the upper-right corner of the display.

    2. Press the right arrow (---->) button until the front panel displays the desired baud rate.

    3. Press the OK button to set the new baud rate; the front panel briefly displays Selected, then it displays Baud Rate.

  5. Set the data bits:

    1. Press the right arrow (---->) button; the front panel displays Data Bits.

    2. Press the Menu button; the front panel displays the currently selected setting for data bits. The current status is marked with an asterisk (*) in the upper-right corner of the display.

    3. Press the right arrow (---->) button until the front panel displays the desired setting for data bits.

    4. Press the OK button to set the data bits; the front panel briefly displays Selected, then it displays Data Bits.

  6. Set the stop bits:

    1. Press the right arrow (---->) button until the front panel displays Stop Bits.

    2. Press the Menu button; the front panel displays the currently selected setting for stop bits. The current status is marked with an asterisk (*) in the upper-right corner of the display.

    3. Press the right arrow (---->) button until the front panel displays the desired setting for stop bits.

    4. Press the OK button to set the stop bits; the front panel briefly displays Selected, then it displays Stop Bits.

  7. Set the parity:

    1. Press the right arrow (---->) button until the front panel displays Parity.

    2. Press the Menu button; the front panel displays the currently selected setting for parity. The current status is marked with an asterisk (*) in the upper-right corner of the display.

    3. Press the right arrow (---->) button until the front panel displays the desired setting for parity.

    4. Press the OK button to set the parity; the front panel briefly displays Selected, then it displays Parity.

  8. Set the flow control:

    1. Press the right arrow (---->) button until the front panel displays Flow Control.

    2. Press the Menu button; the front panel displays the currently selected setting for flow control. The current status is marked with an asterisk (*) in the upper-right corner of the display.

    3. Press the right arrow (---->) button until the front panel displays the desired setting for flow control.

    4. Press the OK button to set the flow control; the front panel briefly displays Selected, then it displays Flow Control.

  9. To return the printer to normal operation, press the Exit button until the front panel displays Ready.

Serial port setup using a PostScript utility file

 You can configure the serial port by editing the DEVPARAM.PS file and sending it to the printer. The file is included with the printer's network utilities software. To edit the DEVPARAM.PS file, you should be familiar with the PostScript setdevparams command. You should also know how to use PostScript dictionaries and key value pairs.

The following example sets these parameters:

In this example, the changes are persistent across jobs and across printer power cycles; they remain in effect until you change them again.

(%Serial_NV%) 6 dict begin
/Password () def
/FlowControl /XonXoff def
/Parity /None def
/DataBits 8 def
/StopBits 2 def
/Baud 9600 def
currentdict end setdevparams

  1. View the DEVPARAM.PS file in a text editor and substitute the values you want to use for the current values. The possible values for each parameter are listed in the following table; the values are case-sensitive and must be entered exactly as shown in the table Parameter values.

  2. Save the file.

  3. The printer's port you are using should be configured to receive PostScript. See the printer's user documentation for more information on using different printer language modes.

  4. Use one of the following methods to send the file to the printer:

Computer serial port setup (Windows)

 Under Windows, you can easily set up your computer's serial port during the installation of the printer driver. See your printer's user documentation for details.

Computer serial port setup (DOS)

Under DOS, use the MODE command to set up your computer's serial port:

  1. If you are using the printer's default serial parameters, type this command at the DOS prompt (if COM1 is not available, use COM2):

    MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1,P

    If you changed the printer's serial port parameters from the default values, you must enter different values for the MODE command (see your DOS documentation for details on the MODE command).

    For a complete listing of the printer's default serial port parameters, see Serial port setup (printer).

  2. You can add the MODE command to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, so that it takes effect every time you turn on your computer. (Refer to your PC user documentation.)

Some PCs and UNIX hosts do not support Space parity; usually they accept parity values of odd, even, or none. Therefore, the closest settings are 9600 baud, 1 stop bit, 8 data bits and no parity, which have the following associated MODE statement:

MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1,P

The Space parity forces the parity bit to 0. For most users, 8 data bits and no parity is identical to 7 data bits and Space parity.

Return to Networking Topic List
Support Home Page
Network Printers Support Home
Additional Information

Register your Printer
ASPs & TPMs
About Software Support
Color Connection
Printer Warranties
Material Safety Data Sheets
Supplies & Cartridge Recycling Program