Parallel interface for ZX Spectrum
There's no one, most popular standard. Below are known parallel interfaces with technical details.
Data port is address where a value must be OUTed,
to set the 7bit or 8bit parallel lines that send byte to printer.
Busy line is feedback from printer - when set to high voltage (1), printing cannot be continued (BUSY), low voltage (0) means printer is ready to receive byres (READY).
Strobe line also goes to printer - when set low voltage (0), the data is valid and printer should take byte from data lines; when high voltage (1) - printer ignores value on data lines.
Busy and strobe lines can be inverted in interface or not
(when not inverted: busy when =1, strobe when =0). Strobe is "auto" when ganerated by hardware and activated by writing to data port. Only busy and strobe lines are available unless noted otherwise.
When port address is shown as two hexadecimal digits (e.g. #FB), the high byte doesn't matter. Otherwise all 16 bits matter (e.g. #E0BF). The "n" means device number (interface supports several parallel ports).
Interfaces sorted by low byte of data port address
| Hardware | Data |
Busy when
Strobe when |
Notes |
|---|
| Interface 1 Bis | #1D |
bit 7,(#1D)
auto |
5 input lines for LapLink |
M³ody Technik
1986-12 | #1F
(inv) |
bit 4,(#9F)=0
bit 4,(#9F)=1 |
M³ody Technik 1986-12, page 109 [pl]. 8255 used: #DF is config port; PA=data. All signals inverted. Printer driver included. |
| MB-02 | #3F |
bit 7,(#5F)=1
bit 1,(#5F)=0 |
8255 used; #7F is config port; PB=data, PC2=/ACK, PC3=/AUTOFEED, PC4=/ERROR, PC5=SELECT, PC6=PAPEROUT |
| YAMOD.8211 | #0n58 |
bit 7,(#0n59)=0
bit 0,(#0n5A)=1 |
PC LPT connected as YABUS.ZXISA; n=0..1 |
| Unipolbrit 2086 | #xx7B |
bit ?,(#BB)=1
bit ?,(#BB)=0 |
8255 used; #FB is config port; PA=data; only PA and PC0, PC1, PC4, PC5 are in DB15 slot |
AERCo
Centronics | #7F |
bit 4,(#7F)=1
auto |
bit 5,(#7F)=0 - printer present |
| MultiPrint | #BF |
bit 6,(#BB)=1OUT (#BF),A
OUT (#BB),A
OUT (#BF),A |
8kB ROM, 8kB RAM |
| Hilderbay | #E0BF |
bit 7,(#E2BF)=1OUT (#E3BF),#0E
OUT (#E3BF),#0F |
|
Informik
1989-II | #E3 |
bit 4,(#F3)=0
bit 4,(#F3)=1 |
Informik 1989-II, page 109 [pl]. 8255 used: #FB is config port; PA=data (PB switches memory banks). All signals inverted. |
| Sam FDD | #E8 |
bit 0,(#E9)
bit 0,(#E9)=1 |
|
| Elwro 800 Jr | #DE |
bit 7,(#DD)=1
bit 2,(#DD)=0 |
8255, other bits reserved | |
| Scorpion | #DD |
bit 7,(#FE)
auto(?) |
| |
| AERCo FD-68 | #E0DF
? |
bit ?,(#xx??)
?? |
|
| PlusD | #F7 |
bit 7,(#F7)
bit 6,#EF |
|
| DISCiPLE | #FB |
bit 6,(#1F)
bit 6,(#1F) |
|
ZX Lprint 3
Pentagon | #FB |
bit 7,(#FB)=1
auto (?) |
2kB ROM |
Centronics
Microface | #FB |
bit 7,(#FB)=1
auto |
see files for documentation |
| ZX Spectrum +3 | #0FFD |
bit 0,(#0FFD)=1
bit 4,(#1FFD)=0 |
| |
GP500A
PZ "APINA" | #xx?? |
bit ?,(#xx??)
?? |
|
| Kempston S | #xx?? |
bit ?,(#xx??)
?? |
|
| Kempston E | #xx?? |
bit ?,(#xx??)
?? |
|
| Tasman | #xx?? |
bit ?,(#xx??)
?? |
|
| DK'Tronics | #xx?? |
bit ?,(#xx??)
?? |
|
INES
Printerface | #xx?? |
bit ?,(#xx??)
?? |
|
| Opus Discovery | #xx?? |
bit ?,(#xx??)
?? |
|
ZX Lprint by Euro Electronics
The test for printer ready is IN A,(#E0): AND #E0:
CP #40. The ROM is paged into #0800..#0FFF. Looks like
paged permanently.
ZX Lprint MK III
The ROM is paged into #0000..#07FF (with out to #FB - on,
out #7B - off). The code for selected printer is copied into printer buffer (at #5B00).
Multiprint by Romantic Robot
Is NMI & debug interface with parallel port.
Files for download
- 54503305.jpg 67.2kB (2005-06-14 13:15)
- Centronics Microface by ZE "INFORTECH" (for CSH). Top and inside view (missed female edge slot).
- microfac.zip 35.9kB (2005-05-31 18:53)
- Centronics Microface by ZE "INFORTECH" (for CSH). Made from LS374, LS125 and LS121. Eagle data files. Documented by Jarek Adamski.
- mprint.zip 6.1kB (2005-05-08 03:30)
- ROM of Multiprint by Romantic Robot.
- zxlprint.zip 7.8kB (2005-05-08 02:39)
- ROM contents of ZX Lprint interfaces by Euro Electronics.
Links to other pages
See also
- ZX Printer - Timex Printer 2040
- Details about ZX Priner and Timex Printer 2040.
- PPI 8255 parallel interface
- Most popular parallel interfaces based on 8255 PPI. Hardware type, port addresses, slot type, description of options.
- Interface 1 Bis
- Interface 1 replacer - IDE, Kemston Joystick, parallel printer (LapLink), 512kB SRAM - by Dan Antochi.
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