On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM Warner Losh via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > > On Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 4:44 PM Rick Bensene via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> > wrote: > > > Correction to my posting of 2/10/2025 > > > > > > > > There was a company called Xircom that made parallel port modems. These > > were full modems that were small enough that they plugged into a laptop > > serial <parallel> port, and got their power from the laptop via the > > external mouse/keyboard port. They had a feed-though connector so you > > could still connect and external mouse/keyboard if you wanted. ... > > > > So which is it? My memory of the time was they were RS-233 devices that got > their power from the keyboard port via a pass through cable. If they were > parallel port, the PP provides enough power... > > Xircom also had parallel port ethernet products...
The Xircom PE3 (Pocket Ethernet Adapter III) needed power either from a PS/2 port or an AC adapter. Phantom Power Cable The Phantom Power Cable supplied with the Pocket Ethernet Adapter III allows you to power all Adapter models (except PE3-10BX) directly from a PS/2-style C6-pin mini-DIN) mouse port on your computer. The cable includes a pass-through connector that allows a mouse to be plugged in on top of the Phantom Power Cable connection. Wall-Mount AC Power Adapter AC power adapter specifications are listed below for the US.A. and Canada Input Voltage: 120 VAC / 60 Hz Output Voltage: 12 VDC unregulated, 300ma (500ma for Model PE3-10BX) https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/manuals/Xircom/Xircom%20Pocket%20Ethernet%20Adapter%20III%20(PE3)%20-%20Users%20Guide%20-%20NOV95.pdf https://www.brutman.com/Dos_Networking/xircom_pe3.html
