** @name cables.txt Description of CD-i nullmodem cables.
* 
* @author CD-i Fan
*
* @history
* @rev 2005/04/01 cdifan Created.
* @rev 2005/06/25 cdifan Added DB-9 cables, fixed signal name typos.
* @rev 2005/07/03 cdifan Added wirecount note and ICDIA picture link.
* @rev 2005/07/13 cdifan Tuned wording a little bit.

To use cdilink with your CD-i player you need a so-called CD-i nullmodem
cable. Such a cable used to come with the CD-Interlink disc but you can
easily make one yourself or perhaps borrow one from a fellow CD-i fan.
See the file cables.txt for more information.

The nullmodem cable needs to be connected to the primary serial port
of your CD-i player. It is typically located at the back of the player
and often marked "Input 2"; for some players you need to use a port
splitter cable on the front port. On consumer players this serial port
generally has a MiniDIN-8 connector; the Philips CD-i 60x professional
and authoring players also have two DB-9 connectors on the back marked
"Input 3" and "Input 4", where "Input 3" is the primary serial port.

Below we describe the cables for a MiniDIN-8 connector (consumer players)
as well as the cables for a DB-9 connector (professional/authoring players).
More information, including a nice picture, is available on the Internet,
esp. the ICDIA site at http://www.icdia.co.uk/docs/cdi_nullmodem.jpg.
If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to contact me.
You can reach me via email using cdifan (at) gmail (dot) com.

NOTE: The three-wire cables specified below are sufficient for cdilink,
but may not work for other purposes. A fully generic nullmodem cable
needs six wires as specified on the ICDIA site.


* Nullmodem cable for connecting CD-i MiniDIN-8 to PC DB-25

The CD-i side is a MiniDIN-8, male connector.
It looks like this, viewed from the pins:

       2   1

 5       4   3

   8   7   6

The PC side is a DB-25, female connector.
It looks like this, seeing into the holes:

13  12  11  10  9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1

  25  24  23  22  21  20  19  18  17  16  15  14

Now, the following pins should be connected:

On the CD-i side                On the PC side

2 (RXD) ----------------------- 2 (TXD)

3 (TXD) ----------------------- 3 (RXD)

5 (GND) ----------------------- 7 (GND)

6 (CTS) ---+               +--- 4 (RTS)
           |               |
7 (RTS) ---+               +--- 5 (CTS)
                           
                           +--- 6 (DSR)
                           |
                           +--- 20 (DTR)
                           

* Nullmodem cable for connecting CD-i MiniDIN-8 to PC DB-9

The CD-i side is a MiniDIN-8, male connector.
It looks like this, viewed from the pins:

       2   1

 5       4   3

   8   7   6

The PC side is a DB-9, female connector.
It looks like this, seeing into the holes:

5   4   3   2   1

  9   8   7   6

Now, the following pins should be connected:

On the CD-i side                On the PC side

2 (RXD) ----------------------- 3 (TXD)

3 (TXD) ----------------------- 2 (RXD)

5 (GND) ----------------------- 5 (GND)

6 (CTS) ---+               +--- 7 (CTS)
           |               |
7 (RTS) ---+               +--- 8 (RTS)
                           
                           +--- 4 (DTR)
                           |
                           +--- 6 (DSR)


* Nullmodem cable for connecting CD-i DB-9 to PC DB-25

The CD-i side is a DB-9, female connector.
It looks like this, seeing into the holes:

5   4   3   2   1

  9   8   7   6

The PC side is a DB-25, female connector.
It looks like this, seeing into the holes:

13  12  11  10  9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1

  25  24  23  22  21  20  19  18  17  16  15  14

Now, the following pins should be connected:

On the CD-i side                On the PC side

2 (RXD) ----------------------- 2 (TXD)

3 (TXD) ----------------------- 3 (RXD)

5 (GND) ----------------------- 7 (GND)

7 (RTS) ----------------------- 4 (RTS)
                            
8 (CTS) ----------------------- 5 (CTS)
                           

* Nullmodem cable for connecting CD-i DB-9 to PC DB-9

This cable is symmetric; both sides are a DB-9, female connector.
It looks like this, seeing into the holes:

5   4   3   2   1

  9   8   7   6

Now, the following pins should be connected:

On the one side                 On the other side

2 (RXD) ----------------------- 3 (TXD)

3 (TXD) ----------------------- 2 (RXD)

5 (GND) ----------------------- 5 (GND)

7 (RTS) ----------------------- 8 (CTS)
                            
8 (CTS) ----------------------- 7 (RTS)
                           
That's it!
