# SCSI and Scanner **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 28, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scsi-and-scanner/296556 "2005-03-28T04:28:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scsi-and-scanner/296556/1 "2005-03-28T04:28:11Z")
I’ve acquired a scanner and both ofthe cable that came with it say scsi on them however, one is clearly a printer cable and the other is a serial cable. What gives? ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scsi-and-scanner/296556/2 "2005-03-28T04:49:39Z")
IANASCSIE, but the SCSI standard consists of a number of different varieties, fast, slow, wide, narrow, etc. Depending on whether it’s internal or external, the connector can vary again. I had a server with 3 different types of external SCSI ports, while an HP scanner I have someplace has yet two more. Many have the Centronics printer-style connector - take a look [here](http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/scsi_connecters.html) - posting the style and your scanner model would help someone who knows give more info. ---
**Author:** ![Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bag_of_mostly_water/32/1029_2.png) [@Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bag_of_Mostly_Water)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scsi-and-scanner/296556/3 "2005-03-28T04:50:58Z")
SCSI uses (used?) several different connector types. One, [Centronics 50](http://www.scsicablesource.com/images/c-cx50m.jpg), looks very much like a printer connector. Another, [DB25](http://www.scsicablesource.com/images/c-db25m.jpg), has been used as a connector for serial cables. I can see how you would be confused. SCSI is very picky about cables. Make sure you use the correct ones. I have a drawer full of proper SCSI cables I don’t need. PM me if you want some. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scsi-and-scanner/296556/4 "2005-03-28T04:54:39Z")
There are a lot of different connectors and cables that work with SCSI. For example, SCSI ZIP drives used to use a DB25 connector (they may still, but I haven’t looked at one of these drives in a long time). This is the same type of connector that’s used with a parallel port, which was often used for printers before USB became common. Other SCSI cables use a Centronics connector, which also used to be used with printers. The main difference between a SCSI cable and a conventional cable (e.g. a DB25 printer cable) is shielding. SCSI cables handle a relatively high transfer rate, so they must be shielded from electrical interference. If, for example, you tried to use a DB25 printer cable on a SCSI ZIP drive, you’d probably get a lot of errors. The shielding tends to make SCSI cables thicker, stiffer and more expensive than conventional cables. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scsi-and-scanner/296556/5 "2005-03-28T13:02:22Z")
Well I have an SCSI card. It’s not installed yet. What I don’t have is come sort of adapter that lets me hook up the scsi cables I have to a hd68 interface. Or a cable that goes from one to the other. or something. **ex chemist** I can’t pm you form this board. ---
**Author:** ![NillyWilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@NillyWilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NillyWilly)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scsi-and-scanner/296556/6 "2005-03-28T13:08:17Z")
And don’t forget that the original TWAIN drivers allowed SCSI connectivity over the Parallel port. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scsi-and-scanner/296556/7 "2005-03-28T13:19:35Z")
**ex chemist** , apparently, I can’t email you either. You may email me and I’ll email you back. **Nilly Willy** , do go on. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scsi-and-scanner/296556/8 "2005-03-28T14:58:40Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > Well I have an SCSI card. It’s not installed yet. What I don’t have is come sort of adapter that lets me hook up the scsi cables I have to a hd68 interface. > > Or a cable that goes from one to the other. or something. > > **ex chemist** I can’t pm you form this board. Most computer supply stores will stock SCSI adapters/convertors of various sorts. I’m not too familiar with the 68-pin cables, but I’ve bought 50-to-25 pin converters and 50 (large) to 50 (mini) converters at CompUSA or similar stores. ---
**Author:** ![NillyWilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@NillyWilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NillyWilly)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scsi-and-scanner/296556/9 "2005-03-28T15:59:28Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > **Nilly Willy** , do go on. [This](http://kb.indiana.edu/data/aiqw.html?cust=291793.87907.30) talks about SCSI over parallel much more coherently than I could right now. I should mention that actually the TWAIN drivers handle scanner comm while ASPI etcetera drivers handle device level comm.