Serial & Parallel Diagnostic Loopback Plugs

By David D. Scribner Revision 1.01

One of the many tools a PC service and repair technician keeps in their toolbox is a set of loopback plugs (wrap plugs) for diagnosing problems with RS !"! Serial and Parallel ports# $ problem arises when you may have to use various software diagnostic utilities% many which in turn have their own style of loopback plug configurations# &his can be easily resolved by using crimp type ' Subminiature connectors and two part connector hoods that screw together% and which can be found at your local electronic parts store for (ust a few dollars# &he crimp type connectors attach to standard !! gauge stranded wire% and can be easily punched back out of their housing position with a blunt ob(ect such as the tip of a closed pair of needle nose pliers when a configuration change is needed# )ou will likely still need to utili*e your soldering skills% however% as several of the configurations re+uire multi pin connections# ,y suggestion for other PC repair technicians out there (and what - do myself)% would be to construct a set of loopback plugs for the diagnostic utilities you use most# &hen% for those times when you need to use a different diagnostic package% keep extra pin configuration wire sets in your toolbox so you can +uickly reconfigure your loopback plugs for use with that vendor.s software# &his document outlines pin out configurations used by those various diagnostic utilities% as well as the pin definitions for the serial and parallel ports used on -/, compatible PCs# $lthough there are many vendor configurations included (as well as some 0generic1 loopback plug configurations collected through the years)% some vendors such as the manufacturer of the PC 'octor diagnostic utility make available loopback plugs for 2S/% game ports and even audio ports# Should you know of the wiring for those plugs% or know of a vendor.s pin out configuration not listed here% - would certainly welcome the information and will expand this document to include those configurations as collected# ,y email address is dscribner 3 bigfoot#com% and look forward to adding the information to this list for others to use4 $ny trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners#

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RS-232 Serial Loopback Plugs (DB-9 Pin)

IBM-P RS-232 Serial ( !M) Port DB-9 Pin-outs
DB-9 PIN (Male) 1 2 " ' * / 0 2 9 <----------------------------<---------------------------------------------------------# -----------------------------# -----------------------------<---------------------------------------------------------# <----------------------------<----------------------------FUNCTION Data Carrier Detect Recei e Data Tra$%&it Data Data Ter&i$al Rea() +i,$al -ro.$( Data +et Rea() Re1.e%t To +e$( Clear To +e$( Ri$, I$(icator ABBREVIATION DCD or CD R!D or RD or R! T!D or TD or T! DTR -ND D+R RT+ CT+ RI

&ransmitted and receive data are referenced from the data device and not the modem#

DB-9 "e#ale Serial onnector Port ( $ace-%ie&' as seen on P )

3-------------------------3 4 * ' " 2 1 5 4 5 4 9 2 0 / 5 3-----------------3

Serial Port Loopback (9-pin ( IBM)

)a#e 'C' R:' '&R Pin 7 ! ; Pin 8% 9 " <% = )a#e R&S% C&S &:' 'SR% R-

Serial Port Loopback (9-pin ( )orton)

)a#e 'C' R:' R&S Pin 7 ! 8 Pin ;% <% = " 9 )a#e '&R% 'SR% R&:' C&S

Serial Port Loopback (9-pin ( PassMark an* P -Doctor)

)a#e 'C' R:' R&S Pin 7 ! 8 Pin ;% < " 9 )a#e '&R% 'SR &:' C&S

>ote? PC 'octor can also support other vendor specific wrap plugs% a list of which can be obtained through the &est Options menu#

Serial Port Loopback (9-pin)

)a#e 'C' R:' R&S Pin 7 ! 8 Pin ;% < " 9% = )a#e '&R% 'SR &:' C&S% R-

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Serial Port Loopback (9-pin)

)a#e 'C' R:' '&R R&S Pin 7 ! ; 8 Pin <% = " < 9 )a#e 'SR% R&:' 'SR C&S

Serial Port Loopback (9-pin ( anot+er %ersion)

)a#e 'C' R:' R&S Pin 7 ! 8 Pin ;% < " 9 )a#e '&R% 'SR &:' C&S

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RS-232 Serial Loopback Plugs (DB-2, Pin)

IBM-P RS-232 Serial ( !M) Port DB-2, Pin-outs
DB-2* PIN (Male) 1 2 " ' * / 0 2 9 11 12 29 22 2* --------------------------------------------------------# <-------------------------------------------------------# <---------------------------<-------------------------------------------------------<-------------------------------------------------------# ----------------------------# <-------------------------------------------------------# <---------------------------<---------------------------FUNCTION ABBREVIATION C6a%%i% -ro.$( C- or -ND Tra$%&it Data T!D or TD or T! Recei e Data R!D or RD or R! Re1.e%t To +e$( RT+ Clear To +e$( CT+ Data +et Rea() D+R +i,$al -ro.$( +- or -ND Data Carrier Detect DCD or CD Tra$%&it3 (C.rre$t 7oo8) TD3 Tra$%&it- (C.rre$t 7oo8) TDRecei e3 (C.rre$t 7oo8) RD3 Data Ter&i$al Rea() DTR Ri$, I$(icator RI Recei e- (C.rre$t 7oo8) RD-

>O&@? Current loop technology was supported in the PC and :& interfaces# Current Aoop was discontinued when the $& interface was introduced# &ransmit and receive data are referenced from the data device% not the modem#

DB-2, "e#ale Serial

onnector Port ( $ace-%ie&' as seen on P )

3----------------------------------------------------------3 4 1" 12 11 19 9 2 0 / * ' " 2 1 5 4 5 4 2* 2' 2" 22 21 29 19 12 10 1/ 1* 1' 5 3--------------------------------------------------3

Serial Port Loopback (2,-pin ( IBM)

)a#e B>' &:' R&S 'SR &CD R'F Pin 7 ! ; < 7C 79 Pin 8 " C% 9 77% !6% !! 78% !" !C )a#e B>' R:' C&S% 'C' &'% '&R% RRCD% CECR'

>ote? $n old style -/, loopback plug used a "#= D Ohms resistor connected between the pin < and pins 77 and !! leads# &his loopback plug was used to test the -/, S'AC and /SC $dapters% which are not that common anymore% but if you run across one at least you can configure a plug to test it with4

Serial Port Loopback (2,-pin ( )orton)

)a#e &:' R&S 'SR Pin ! ; < Pin " C 9% !6% !! )a#e R:' C&S 'C'% '&R% R-

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Page 4

Serial Port Loopback (2,-pin ( PassMark)

)a#e &:' R&S 'SR Pin ! ; < Pin " C 9% !6 )a#e R:' C&S 'C'% '&R

Serial Port Loopback (2,-pin ( P -Doctor)

)a#e &:' R&S 'SR Pin ! ; < Pin " C 9% !6 )a#e R:' C&S 'C'% '&R

>ote? PC 'octor can also support other vendor specific wrap plugs% a list of which can be obtained through the &est Options menu#

Serial Port Loopback (2,-pin ( -et anot+er %ersion)

)a#e &:' R&S 'SR Pin ! ; < Pin " C% !! 9% !6 )a#e R:' C&S% R'C'% '&R

S.RI/L P!R0 L!!PB/ 1 DI/2)!S0I

0.S0I)2 R3L.S

Ghen the diagnostic asserts R&S (output) it then tests for the presence of C&S and Ring -ndicator (input)# -f C&S and R- are detected the R&S driver and C&SHR- receivers are considered operational# Ghen '&R is asserted (output) the diagnostic tests for the presence of C' and 'SR (input)# -f C'H'SR are detected the '&R driver and C'H'SR receivers are considered operational# 'ata is transmitted and received on the data lines and the data is compared in the diagnostic buffer# -f any statusIs are not detected an error message is displayed#

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Page 5

Parallel Loopback Plugs (DB-2, Pin)

IBM-P Parallel Printer Port DB-2, Pin-outs
DB-2* Male DB-2* Fe&ale

Pi$
1 2 " ' * / 0 2 9 19 11 12 1" 1' 1* 1/ 10 12 -------------------------------# -------------------------------# -------------------------------# -------------------------------# -------------------------------# -------------------------------# -------------------------------# -------------------------------# -------------------------------# <------------------------------<------------------------------<------------------------------<-------------------------------------------------------------# <-------------------------------------------------------------# -------------------------------# - 2* <--------------------------

+i,$al
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 +tro:e; Data 9 (lea%t %i,$i<ica$t) Data 1 Data 2 Data " Data ' Data * Data / Data 0 Ac=$o>le(,e; B.%) Pa8er E$( +elect A.to Fee(; Error; I$itiali?e Pri$ter; +elect I$ -ro.$( (Data Ret.r$)

>ote? Signals marked with an asterisk (J) denote an active low signal#

DB-2, Male Parallel

onnector Port ( $ace-%ie&' as seen on P )

3----------------------------------------------------------3 4 1 2 " ' * / 0 2 9 19 11 12 1" 5 4 5 4 1' 1* 1/ 10 12 19 29 21 22 2" 2' 2* 5 3--------------------------------------------------3

Parallel Port Loopback (IBM)

)a#e StrobeJ 'ata /it 6 $cknowledgeJ /usy Pin 7 ! 76 77 Pin 7" 7C 7< 78 )a#e Select @rrorJ -nitiali*eJ Select -n

Parallel Port Loopback ()orton an* PassMark)

)a#e 'ata /it 6 'ata /it 7 'ata /it ! 'ata /it " 'ata /it ; Pin ! " ; C < Pin 7C 7" 7! 76 77 )a#e @rrorJ Select Paper Out $cknowledgeJ /usy

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Parallel Port Loopback (/MI' +eckIt an* P -Doctor)

)a#e StrobeJ 'ata /it 6 $cknowledgeJ /usy Paper Out Pin 7 ! 76 77 7! Pin 7" 7C 7< 78 7; )a#e Select @rrorJ -nitiali*eJ Select -n $uto KeedJ

>ote? PC 'octor can also support other vendor specific wrap plugs% a list of which can be obtained through the &est Options menu#

Parallel Port Loopback (Micro2444)

)a#e StrobeJ $cknowledgeJ /usy Paper Out Pin 7 76 77 7! Pin 7" 7< 78 7;% 7C )a#e Select -nitiali*eJ Select -n $uto KeedJ% @rrorJ

Parallel Port Loopback (-et anot+er %ersion)

)a#e StrobeJ $cknowledgeJ /usy Paper Out Pin 7 76 77 7! Pin 7" 7< 78 !6 )a#e SelectJ -nitiali*eJ Select -n Bround

>ote? &his parallel loopback version actually works very well to 0spoof1 your PC into thinking a parallel printer is attached% since the Paper Out and @rror pins are not used# &his is especially beneficial for older 'OS based programs that are 0hard coded1 to recogni*e only the AP&7? port for printing# $lthough this works for those programs running under 'OS% or in Gindows =CH=9S@% it will not work for those programs that do not support legacy devices in 'OS mode% such as Gindows ,e#

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