Hi, would it be possible to connect my old TI-86 to PC via an ordinary mini jack - USB cable or would it destroy my calculator? I live in Poland and it's impossible to get the original TI link cable here and the shipping from UK or USA almost doubles the price of the item.

The thing I'm talking about looks like this.

It don't think it will harm your calculator. If anything it just won't work. It's similar in concept to the silver link, but i don't know what kind of internal differences there might be between the cables. I'd guess that it probably won't work. *Edit* You said TI-86? I don't think TI connect even supports that. You'd have to find linking software that works for the TI-86 as well. I'd suggest seeing if TILP (third party linking software) supports the TI-86. You'd still most likely have a cable issue though.

*Edit2* Ok, Ti connect does still support the TI-86, though I know I've had issues with getting some files to transfer, even with a proper cable. Not that the cable won't recognize them, but some files get flagged as invalid file types for some reason (last time I tried this).

Grounds and voltage are the things I'm most worried about - I couldn't find any data for TI-86. Summing up - no one knows whether it would work. It could but most probably with great effort of work.

No. Because the ports on the computer are either only output or only input, not both directions. You'd have to split the correct stuff up to the mic in and audio out, and then you'd need to prevent the default audio drivers and write your own (which would be a mess)

My guess is that sending a file is more a communication between the client and the host, rather than the host just streaming it.