+bob1200xl Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I have a couple of old HP laser printers that I use on my Atari via a P:R Connection. They are getting a bit cranky and showing their age and, the newer HP laser printers, although they look like cheap, little plastic toys, actually work pretty well. Not ready to throw out my old 4MP, but I have ordered an M401dn to see what it can do. First problem is that all the PCL5 code in my programs is set for feeding cards, labels and such into a 4MP, an edge fed printer. The new printer feeds from the center, so I have to adjust the formatting values to accomodate that. Biggest problem is that the new printers are only available with USB interfaces. I can print to them via APE, but I want to direct connect to the Atari where I have better control over the hardware. So... does anyone have experience with some kind of parallel to USB adapters? Particularly on an HP printer? I'd like to try and do this without re-inventing the Wheel. Thanks. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wieczor Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Only parallel to usb adapters I've seen, were meant to attach old parallel printer to usb port in computer. So you are looking for something reversed, good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+David_P Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 There's the USB cart at Atarimax, but then you'll have to write your own drivers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 Did some hunting and found that LPT2USB adapters do exist: http://www.lpt2usb.net/ for $69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted January 19, 2013 Author Share Posted January 19, 2013 Yes - that is the adaptor that I would need. Anybody ever tried one? I can print to a USB device thru APE only if I use the Windows driver. Printing directly to the port with APE always seems to send the data out the parallel port. If I could either print directly to the USB port or send the parallel port data to a USB device, I would be set. (I think) By the way, does anyone know why I can't select a Windows BOLD font in APE? I can select 11pt. Courier, for example, but not BOLD? Anyone know how to set the timeout to less than 10 seconds? Having fun... Thanks for the help! Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 Not what you are asking for but there are still laserprinters available with parallel port. Aren't these compatible? I have a brand new brother connected to my 850. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted January 19, 2013 Author Share Posted January 19, 2013 Does it support PCL5? The cheap, little HP printers that have internal PCL5 support do not come with a parallel interface. Support on the HP lasers is very good, but nothing lasts forever. It's time to develop a new strategy for using the new stuff on our Ataris. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ransom Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 IIRC, the Brother laser printers with parallel ports did PCL6 emulation and also Epson FX emulation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Can anyone give me a model number for these Brother printers - I don't see any on their site... Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ransom Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 The models I investigated a couple of years ago are discontinued, but it looks like this one has what you need: http://www.brother-u...ec#.UPybXXy9KSM Edited to add: D'oh...sorry, I forgot you need a parallel port as well. Looks like they've discontinued all such models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillC Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Can anyone give me a model number for these Brother printers - I don't see any on their site... Bob I don't know about the Brother printers, but the OKI B400 series has a parallel port, Epson FX and IBM ProPrinter III XL emulation, and also include a duplexer. This series have been available since at least early 2009, I don't know how much longer before it will be discontinued. The current base model is the B411D, although the earlier B410D may still be available from some sources http://www.okidata.c...?sku=B400Series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 I saw the OKI models - they look useful. How long parallel ports will be available is the question. I'm going to see what I can make work... Thanks! Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted January 26, 2013 Author Share Posted January 26, 2013 I tried one of these and they do not work on an HP M401dn or MF1536dnf printers. Bummer... Bob Did some hunting and found that LPT2USB adapters do exist: http://www.lpt2usb.net/ for $69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Hello Bob1200XL , I do have one USB-Parallel adapter and I will check out any remaining older Parallel Printer to get work on my real hardware of Atari 800XL and 1200XL ! The company called "entrega". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fibrewire Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 PCL was developed by HP, and PCL6 is supposed to be completely backwards compatible to PCL5 although some manufacturers don't follow this - I would bet Hp does. The HP P2035 looks promising, and not too expensive with a parallel port to boot! http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574883395&toolid=10001&campid=5336500554&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2F111004249650 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irgendwer Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 To merge this with the other thread , this sound for me like a perfect use case for the RaspberryPI (esp. cheaper version A): Interfacing the SIO-port, processing the data (Cups?) and directing it to the USB-port. Would be even cheaper than the $69,-... BTW: There is also a German source for such interfaces: http://ak-nord.eshop.t-online.de/epages/Store6_Shop10552.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Shop10552/Products/LPT2USB ...more than € 82, so I would go for the Raspi... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted January 26, 2013 Author Share Posted January 26, 2013 That LPT2USB is not the one that I have. It may or may not work... Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted January 26, 2013 Author Share Posted January 26, 2013 Getting a 2035 would probably work, but I am in search of a USB solution since parallel ports are rapidly going away. Our own Hardware may be required, but it won't be a RaspberryPI. The learning curve on that kind of device is way too steep... Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted February 1, 2013 Author Share Posted February 1, 2013 I was talking to Steven Tucker about tweaking APE so we could print directly to the port for a USB printer - and, he got it working! The Esc codes work as they should so my old Atari programs work properly. You can change fonts in the middle of a document, move the text origin anywhere on the page, set landscape,,, One new benefit is that when you are working with a Basic program that has printer control codes in it, you can List the program to the TrueType device and it will not act on the Esc codes. If you print to the Raw device, it will act on them. So, you List the program to TT and Run it to Raw - fantastic! I tried this on an HP LaserJet M401dn and an HP LaserJet 1536dnf with good results. Be aware that some printers (LaserJet P2035, for one) have no internal PCL5/6 formatters, so you cannot use them with Esc codes on APE. Of course, your APE printer still works just fine as a Windows printer on your PC, just like always. Bottom line: you don't need expensive extra hardware to use a USB printer on your Atari. (the one I tried didn't work, anyway) Use APE. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ransom Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 That's great news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Bottom line: you don't need expensive extra hardware to use a USB printer on your Atari. (the one I tried didn't work, anyway) Use APE. Bob Awesome - what version is this? I have 3.0.8 registered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted February 1, 2013 Author Share Posted February 1, 2013 I have a patched 3.0.10. Ask Steve at AtariMax for the correct file. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I have a patched 3.0.10. Ask Steve at AtariMax for the correct file. Bob Thanks - will send an email. Wish there was a better way to keep track of updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl0re Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 (edited) Does it support PCL5? The cheap, little HP printers that have internal PCL5 support do not come with a parallel interface. Support on the HP lasers is very good, but nothing lasts forever. It's time to develop a new strategy for using the new stuff on our Ataris. Bob The laserjet 1200s still had parallel. When I was a network admin I kept buying them even after they were discontinued because usb printers have more problems / get glitched more (which meant more people calling me for help)... It was funny because ignoring my own work experience I bought a usb only hp and it drove me nuts. I recycled it, after reenacting a scene from office space, and bought a wireless printer... they finally have the bugs out of wireless printing... they 1200s are on ebay used. Edited February 24, 2013 by sl0re Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idavis Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 This might not be a popular other option, but I was able to use an emulator to print from my emulated Atari running on my laptop directly to my HP LaserJet. And my LaserJet is network connected. So that opens up even more options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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