Which null modems can work for a 2-Player game?

[AliensTC4Eva]

Ok, me and a friend both have old/legacy PCs and we would like to play Co-Op Doom 2 again. Since we live close, a null cable modem would work just fine for a 2-Player game.

However, I'm not sure which Null Modem is best suited for Doom, care to help a brother out?

And beside, I can't seem to find Null Modems in the stores anymore, since they are obsolete. But I've looked on E-bay and I found this:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=so&sbrftog=1&from=R10&fstype=1&catref=C6&satitle=Null+Modem&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=&floc=1&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D1&sadis=200&fpos=ZIP%2FPostal&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&so=Show+Items

I was thinking that the first item on the list is probably the one that works, since the Serial Ports on back are Male ports, and these are Female Ports are something. But I'm still not sure and i don't want to make mistakes.

If this is insufficient information, and you need the specs of those old PCs we got please ask, thanks!

[Opulent]

null modems usually refers to a serial cable that transfers with a standard set of commands and speeds that are not platform specific but terminal specific.
if you get a standard null modem serial cable (that can physically connect to both computers), then you will have the default 8 N 1 9600 capability.
and that's all you need for DOOM.
keep in mind, that you might also be able to boost that speed with today's equipment... and, of course, using a crossover ethernet cable and UDP/IPX/TCP would increase your performance considerably.

[fodders]

Yes, what he said.

[AliensTC4Eva]

Opulent said:

null modems usually refers to a serial cable that transfers with a standard set of commands and speeds that are not platform specific but terminal specific.
if you get a standard null modem serial cable (that can physically connect to both computers), then you will have the default 8 N 1 9600 capability.
and that's all you need for DOOM.
keep in mind, that you might also be able to boost that speed with today's equipment... and, of course, using a crossover ethernet cable and UDP/IPX/TCP would increase your performance considerably.

What is the default 8 N 1 9600 Capability in Null Modems , and how am I suppose to know which ones have it or not?

And also, do you think this Null Modem would be good enough for me to start a 2-player game?

http://cgi.ebay.com/10FT-NULL-MODEM-SERIAL-CABLE-DB9F-to-DB9F_W0QQitemZ5842719093QQcategoryZ64047QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



Also what about shielding?

Should I get a "shielded" null modem and not worry about EMI or anything like that?

[exp(x)]

That should work. My brother and I used to use a null modem cable like that when our LAN was acting up.

[LexiMax]

I had one of those once...it was orange null modem cable...the FASTWIRE.

Came with some neat file transfer programs. But oh man, Doom was so much of a better application for it

[rfnagel]

FWIW, if you wish to attempt to wire up your own cable, here are the pinouts for various null modem cables that will work with any game that supports multiplayer null modem games (as well as pinouts for a parallel communication cable - can be used with games that support this type of connection for multiplayer games, and various loopback plugs - these are used for port testing):

		       Null Modem Cables:
		       ------------------

			                
			    1-------1   
			    2-------3   
         9 Pin to 9 Pin     3-------2   
			    4-------6   
			    5-------5   
			    6-------4   
			    7-------8   
			    8-------7   
			                
			                
			    1-------8   
			    2-------2   
	9 Pin to 25 Pin	    3-------3   
			    4-------6   
			    5-------7   
			    6-------20  
			    7-------5   
			    8-------4   
			                

			                
			    2-------3   
        25 Pin to 25 Pin    3-------2   
			    4-------5   
			    5-------4   
			    6-------20  
			    7-------7   
			    8-------8   
			    20------6   
			                


		   Parallel Communication Cable:
		   -----------------------------

	                                
			    1-------7   
			    2------15   
	25 Pin to 25 Pin    3------13   
			    4------12   
			    5------10   
			    6------11   
			    7-------1   
			    8------14   
			    9------16   
			   10-------5   
			   11-------6   
			   12-------4   
			   13-------3   
			   14-------8   
			   15-------2   
			   16-------9   
			   17------17   
			   18------18   
			   19------19   
			   20------20   
			   21------21   
			   22------22   
			   23------23   
			   24------24   
			   25------25   
			                


		     Serial Loopback Plugs:
		     ----------------------

    9 Pin Serial - DB9S Connector (Female)    2  3  7  8  1  4  6  9
					      ^--^  ^--^  ^--^--^--^

   25 Pin Serial - DB25S Connector (Female)   2  3  4  5  6  8  20 22
					      ^--^  ^--^  ^--^--^--^


		     Parallel Loopback Plug:
		     -----------------------

   25 Pin Parallel - DB25P Connector (Male)   2  15 3  13 4  12 5  10 6  11
					      ^--^  ^--^  ^--^  ^--^  ^--^