In article <73msps$dn6$1@newsreader3.core.theplanet.net>, 
chris_davis@atari.freeserve.co.uk says...
>
>I am trying to connect a SCSI ZIP Drive to my Black Box, and get them to
>talk to each other.  Apparently, MATHY VAN NISSELROY has succeeded.  If you
>are out there, please help.
>Chris Davis
 
Howdy Chris
 
WHen you want to connect a SCSI ZIP drive to a BlackBox you have two problems: 
 
1)  The ZIP expects PARITY enabled, and the BlackBox doesn't usually have that. 
 
Solution 1:  Hook the ZIP drive to a MAC/PC/whatever and switch PARITY off via software (modern HD's no longer have jumpers)
 
Solution 2:  Buy yourself a PARITY PAL from CSS/Bob Puff.  I probably comes with instructions (my BB+FB was at CSS for a checkup, so I asked Bob to install it for me), but I don't know.  Otherwise you solder the parity pal to the 74LS640 chip.  Either on top of the BB or below it (if you have a FloppyBoard, there is not enough room for the PAL over the LS640.)
 
2)  The ZIP has a 25 pin "external" connector, the BB's SCSI connector has a 50 pin "internal" connector.
 
Solution 1: Try to find an adaptor cable (we only need two connectors and some  wire, no electronic components) at a place like Jameco or RAdioShack.  The things I've seen in their catalogs (I live in the Netherlands, Europe, so I can not "hop by" at the nearest Ratshack) that MIGHT do the trick have these silly pieces of metal connected to them, that are used to close up the back of a PC (every PC card has one of these "L" shaped things)
 
Solution 2:  buy the connectors and some flatcable and do some soldering.  
 
I have the Parity PAL and the selfmade adapter cable.  Works fine. 
 
I don't have the pinouts of both connectors by hand, but you might want to look for the IOMEGA ZIP FAQ.  In the AMIGA section, it tells you how to build such a cable.  Check out the numbering on you connectors before you start.  In the FAQ, they mention that something is numbered wrong on a certain connector.  That was not true with the connector I bought.  And they suggest you start soldering all the cables that are not connected to ground.  I did it the other way around. I soldered the ground wires together in groups (maybe you can use just one or two and connect the rest of them together on one connector) and did the rest later.  It's easier to run one small wire around a bunch of wires already connected to two plugs, that the other way around.  BTW I used a IDC connector on the BB side.  IDC are these connectors you press onto a flatcable.  Remember to keep them short.  The FAQ mentiones 30 cm (1.2 inch) if I remember correctly, I used 10 cm.
 
CU  Mathy van Nisselroy
 
PS beware of you "terminator switch" settings.
The ZIP drive can only be SCSI number 5 or 6
Therefor you can not save you configuration on the ZIP drive.
Unless you change the code in the BB's EPROM ofcourse.