Best parallel cables according to redditors

It's hard to tell from the image; do you know what the connector is? It looks like it might be a DB-25 SCSI connector, which was commonly used by Macs in the 90s. If so, you could use something like this to connect it to a modern computer. Apple has been using HFS since the 80s so it should be readable.

Now whether the drive still works, or whether the data on the discs themselves is still any good, there's no way of knowing.

If I was buying piecemeal, I would buy...

• FT-450D $750
  
• Pyramid 30amp switching psu ~$80
  
• DX-CC Fan Dipole $180
  
• 50' rg8x feedline $20
  
  total ~ $1030
  
  So youd save ~$200, but you also wouldnt be getting the LDG tuner ... which is likely where the cost difference is. IMO you dont need the LDG tuner, the built in ATU + fan dipole that is resonant on multiple bands will get you operating on 80,40,20,10 (and maybe even 6).
  
  Alternatively, you can build very simple 40/20 fan dipole for MUCH cheaper than the DX-CC (like ... $50?) so it really depends how much you want it to work "out of the box".
  
  FWIW i bought the dx-cc when i bought my first HF rig (an FT-897d) because I didnt want to mess with antenna stuff a ton before getting on the air. I've been very happy with it.
  
  
  
  edit:
  
  to clarify, I think you are better off spending money on an antenna than you are on a tuner.

I am using a reverse breakout cable to connect 4 of the SAS ports into my cases backplane.

https://imgur.com/a/HmSaD

This cable:
https://www.amazon.com/NORCO-Computer-Parallel-Cables-C-SFF8087-4S/dp/B002MK7F0Y

To use more than 8 disks with your SAS2 controller, you need to combine 4 of the ports into a single SFF-8087 connection (via the linked reverse breakout cable) and then connect that into a SAS Expander.

My case has a SAS expander built in which is how it expands the 4 SAS2 connections into 24.

A good standalone SAS Expander is this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-RES2SV240-24-Port-RAID-Expander-Card-SAS-SATA-PCI-Express-x4/173218886325

So you connect the reverse breakout cable from 4 blue ports on your motherboard, into that SAS Expander, then you can use forward breakout cables to connect the remaining ports on the SAS Expander into disks.

The SAS expander has 6 ports, 1 is used by the connection to your controller, that leaves 5 open ports which you can connect 4 SATA disks per port for a total of 20 disks.

Forward breakout cable:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=8186

So with 1 reverse breakout, 1 SAS expander, and 5 forward breakout cables, you can connect 20 disks to 4 of your blue SAS ports.

Then you could do the same with the other 4 ports to achieve 40 total disks.

If you wanted to do even more, you could buy a SAS expander with more ports, or start chaining SAS expanders together.

> usb-a to usb-c cables that will soon phase out.

This is a DB25 to Centronics 36 pin parallel cable. It has been obsolete for decades. If I pay extra for shipping, I can have it tomorrow.

There is no risk of USB A-to-C cables being difficult to obtain in the foreseeable future.

You mean like this?

Something like this https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Parallel-Connector-Converter-Supports/dp/B012FF3CW0 and this https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Slimline-Gender-Changer-GC25SM/dp/B00066HP5G maybe?

But then who knows what OS its software supports.

If you already have the SATA ports handy, just use a reverse breakout cable to connect to them. If you don't, or need more, I'd recommend the controller card I posted plus 2 SAS cables and you'll be good without have to spend $300+.

You're welcome!
Link to the case on Norco's website, take special note of the PSU depth max length
Here are a few parts that you will need if you do decide to get that case.
FlexATX PSU The ones on amazon at the time were too long to fit in the case, i had to return the one i bought from them and ended up getting this one.
Reverse Breakout SATA Cable
2x 4PIN MOLEX Extension cables This is to plug into the HDD backplane

Here you go, friend!

https://www.amazon.com/Printer-25-Pin-Parallel-Cable-Adapter/dp/B005HBKOH6

PCIe and Thunderbolt related stuff is expensive as fuck. This should work just fine, and could be plugged into a Dell Thunderbolt or USB-C dock if you absolutely need a dock.

There are actually plenty for way cheaper prices than the official docks in case one needs only two display outputs and not other ports that come with the official docks.

Owc OWCTB3ADP2DP Thunderbolt 3 Dual DisplayPort Display Adapter, Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077T485Y1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XYvEDbFAREH3S for DisplayPort

StarTech.com 4K 60Hz Thunderbolt 3 to Dual HDMI 2.0 Display Adapter - MacBook Pro and Windows Compatible - Dual Monitor 4K HDMI Video (TB32HD24K60) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075CLHQY7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_f0vEDbHF7N7JG for HDMI

USB to DB25 parallel does exist only issue you may run into is getting an older print driver to work in newer OS. Windows 8 & 10 may require driver signing

Edit: I reread and see that you're trying to get the device to print to newer printers or send output to a computer. What's the device?

You may be able to use this software to output to a computer via a serial to USB dongle and convert the output to PDF to print later

There are many portable printers like the HP OfficeJet 250. I helped a client with this printer and it's pretty good on the road, has a scanner built in and battery so you don't have to have it plugged in to power to print. Wireless printing via WiFi direct too.

Not sure if there's a way to do it direct from device to printer, newer printers might not have the right profile to accept a job even if you had a converter. You may have to go device to laptop via convertor, print to PDF using software then just print that PDF to a printer as usual.

Have to be careful with what is being asked here.

Does your Dad have a DesignJet 5500 as is noted in the link you provided? It's a massive printer...You've also asked for a serial cable, and linked to a parallel descriptor on the DesignJet 5500's printers Spec page. :) (Serial cables are not used for printing unless its USB.)

If you do need to connect a DesignJet 5500, your options will be different depending on if it has addons. I don't have access to one, but I do have a DesignJet 5400 and it only has a USB B, Network, and USB A ports.

If you are connecting to this monster directly from the computer, /u/Boom2Cannon is correct, you need a USB A to USB B cable.

If you really are needing an old style parallel cable (as linked to in the OP), you will need one of these, but double check! Most computers these days no longer have a parallel port.

My cable arrived today and was an easy set up on Windows 8 (yea sorry, it came with the PC). Selected a Virtual USB port and my HP LJ5L drivers

Good to go - THANKS !

You can try this USB to parallel port converter or similar.

> it uses a big plug

Something like this guy? That's my first hit on Amazon. (edit: here's one for 2$. Or get a new printer.)

Take a look at the __main__.py for examples of instantiation, and doing other things with the RPi. Actually, look at the whole repo for ideas, and feel free to ask.

To me, this sounds like a fun job! How'd you get into it?

External hard drives - The amount of speed you will lose is negligible.

External monitors - Buy a Mini DisplayPort adapter. You can connect to any new TV/most new computer monitors over VGA, DVI or HDMI.

Boot camp - You will likely have to find & install drivers for the Magic Mouse to work properly. Some in this thread say no matter what you do it never works like it did in OSX.

Laser printer - If by huge plug you mean one of those parallel ports, I believe there are parallel/USB adapters available on amazon at well. ( http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-16899-IEEE-1284-Parallel/dp/B000UX21PY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303994144&sr=8-2 ) You can certainly find new USB laser printers if that's what you're after.

SFF8087 to 4x SATA.

Like these:
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-SAS8087S450-Serial-Attached-Cable/dp/B004KDO22K/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1396212048&sr=8-11&keywords=sff+8087

http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Internal-SFF-8087-Forward-Breakout/dp/B005E2XTO8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1396212048&sr=8-4&keywords=sff+8087

http://www.amazon.com/Discrete-SFF-8087-Reverse-breakout-cable/dp/B002MK7F0Y/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1396212048&sr=8-7&keywords=sff+8087

This is my server case that I use. I use these cables to go from the back plane to these PCIe sata cards. Back when I used to have my server running Windows I had bought a RAID controller. It wasn't until after I switched to proxmox that I found out the controller wasn't compatible. I think this is a much cheaper option, and I already have multiple of these so my server is pretty much already filled. That is a good idea though. I just didn't really find a good authoritative list on what RAID controllers actually work well with proxmox a few years ago, that is why I went this route. Thanks for the idea though

Cheetah 15K 2.5" drives run on +5 and +12, so I'd guess either a borked backplane or physical incompatibility between the SAS and SATA connectors.

Oracle doc
with the pinout voltage-wise.

That said, the Raptor drives also use SATA's +3.3 IIRC, which the cheetah does not appear to. Test for +3.3 also.

If the voltages are all there, I'd try plugging in the SAS backplane to a SATA controller with a reverse breakout cable