This is mostly a documentation of my setup for when I will need to remember what I did.
For general usage
First of all, two null-modem cables to convert from the Apple IIc DIN-5 to standard male DB-9:
| DIN-5 | DB-9 |
| 3 (GND) | 5 (GND) |
| 2 (TX) | 2 (RX) |
| 4 (RX) | 3 (TX) |
| 1 (DTR) | 6 (DSR) |
| 5 (DSR) | 4 (DTR) |
| 7 (RTS) and 8 (CTS) tied together |
These two go in the printer and modem port of the IIc, and on the other side are plugged to the IN/OUT port of old-school serial switchers:
Connection to modern hardware (Raspberry Pi with surl-server) is done via two USB-to-serial FTDI cables, plugged in the A ports of both serial switchers. This requires female/female gender changers as these cables come with male DB-9.
Quicktake connection
The Quicktake comes with a male Mini-DIN-8 to female DB-9 cable. However, this cable has to be split in order to use a Quicktake with ACIA 6551 serial chips, for reasons detailed in the Quicktake for Apple II article. I have made that cable with a male DB-9 and two female DB-9. The male DB-9 goes to the official Quicktake cable, the two female ones go to the Apple IIc (via the switchers):
| To Quicktake cable (male DB-9) | To IIc, data (female DB-9) | To IIc, control (female DB-9) |
| 2 (RX) | 2 (RX) | |
| 3 (TX) | 3(TX) | |
| 5 (GND) | 5 (GND) | |
| 4 (DTR) | 6 (DSR) |
Apple IIe connection
I sometimes connect the Apple IIc to the IIe, in order to play Shufflepuck. This one is easy: a straight male DB-25 to male DB-25, then a female DB-25 to female DB-9 adapter. I don’t even know how they’re wired as they function as-is.
Connecting everything
The Apple IIc modem port is connected to one serial switcher, which also has plugged in:
- port A: surl-server‘s main tty (handling control, main data, audio streaming)
- port B: the Quicktake data cable
- port C: the Apple IIe
The Apple IIc printer port is connected to a second serial switcher, which also has plugged in:
- port A: surl-server‘s aux_tty (handling printing and video streaming)
- port B: the Quicktake control cable
Satisfying cleanliness
This setup makes everything much more clean, and more importantly, I don’t have to switch the cables in the modem and printer port of the Apple IIc.
