USB>Parallel Convertors and Plotters

[Anonymous]

Hi Folks,

With the advent of laptops lacking parallel ports,and AC'ers still using plotters with only parallel ports, has anyone had success using the little piece of equipment, a USB-to-Parallel adaptor??

The specifics of it, a Dell Precision M70 (with USB without Parallel) and a HP Designjet 430 (without USB with Parallel) and a Sunsway USB adaptor..

There is no printing happening from any app...

Its difficult to find concrete info regarding setup issues etc from any source (HP, DELL, or Sunsway), so I'm left with a lack of communication between the two, even though when plugged in the plotter was detected...Possible keywords to the problem 'EPP' 'bi-directional' ???

Any info or user experience (obviously not specifically ArchiCAD) to resolve this would be appreciated..

Thanks
Alan

[Anonymous]

it might be worth looking into getting a an HP Jetdirect box which interfaces the parallel port to an ethernet network. probably easier to get working


bill

[Anonymous]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the quick response...

JetDirect was an option considered but for a single person outfit, it seemed a little expensive but obviously if this is the way to go we'll have to go that way..

I would have preferred a simpler method i.e. get the USB 'thingy' working (having purchased one) but I'll dig more ...

Thanks again
Alan

[Stephen Dolbee]

Alan,

We used such an adapter a few years ago, by Belkin. If I remember correctly, you are on the right track. I think the problem was getting the right settings in the software. The "bi-directional" setting was the solution for us (I think). That was several years ago and am relying on my rapidly aging memory. Wish I could be more specific.

Steve

[Anonymous]

Steve,

Thanks for the input, its something more I can look for..

In trying to source other pieces of kit to fix my problem, I found (oldish) PCMCIA>parallel cards and the issue of EPP and bi-directional data transfer sprung up...

Its gettting the settings to appear on the dialog that's the problem

Alan