HP DeskWriter 560C/MacOSX problem

[Robotech_Master]

I recently acquired an old HP DeskWriter 560C. (It was free, and I
was printerless.)

Now, said DeskWriter works just fine under OS9, as it has a driver and
everything.

Under OS X, I had a problem. Multiple problems.

First of all, OS X doesn't recognize printers on the serial port. I
had to recompile part of CUPS to make it work, but that wasn't hard.

Next, there's no OS X driver for the DeskWriter. However, I was told
that all HP laserjet printers spoke the same languages, so if I
installed the hpijs foomatic and Ghostscript packages from
linuxprinting.org, it would be okay.

After some wangling, I at last got the computer to acknowledge that
there is a printer connected *to* it. However, when I try to print,
either it prints nothing (if I select the Generic driver) or prints a
couple of pages with 1 or 2 lines of gibberish each followed by "FIFO
overrun error" or "Datacomm buffer overrun - no DTR handshaking".

Anyone know what foomatic HP driver is closest to the Deskwriter? Or
if there's something else I'm not doing right?

 

[Matt Broughton]

First of all, OS X doesn't recognize printers on the serial port. I
had to recompile part of CUPS to make it work, but that wasn't hard.

The serial backend is also available as a package installer at

Next, there's no OS X driver for the DeskWriter. However, I was told
that all HP laserjet printers spoke the same languages, so if I
installed the hpijs foomatic and Ghostscript packages from
linuxprinting.org, it would be okay.

It is my understanding that the DeskWriter series is the same as the
DeskJet printer with the same model number, ie, DeskWriter 560 is
equivalent to the DeskJet 560. The DeskWriter series was a Mac only
issue. The drivers were apparently written for use with QuickDraw
technology, but the underlying language was the pcl used by the
corresponding DeskJet model.

After some wangling, I at last got the computer to acknowledge that
there is a printer connected *to* it.

Yes, that can be a bit confusing as you actually configure the serial
port rather than the printer. Hopefully you found your way to the web
interface of CUPS at <http://127.0.0.1:631>.
I have posted an online version of the Read Me (which I wrote) file
included with the Serial Enabler cited above at:

However, when I try to print,
either it prints nothing (if I select the Generic driver) or prints a
couple of pages with 1 or 2 lines of gibberish each followed by "FIFO
overrun error" or "Datacomm buffer overrun - no DTR handshaking".

That's as far as anyone has gotten to the best of my knowledge. My
guess is that it has to do with the pinouts on the printer. It was
reported to me (as I was trying to help some others get their
DeskWriters to work in OS X) that the manual calls for a flow control of
DTR. That does not seem to work however. Using the flow control of
RTS/CTS gets the printer to start the output, but ends with no DTR
signal.

I haven't had the opportunity yet to pursue tracking down the printer's
pinouts and comparing them to say an HP 870CSe. My HP 870 is working
great with OS X on a Keyspan serial adapter. There may be some cabling
combination or trickery that might enable the proper functioning of the
DeskWriter series printer in OS X.

With the door now open in this forum -- does any one know the pinouts
for the DeskWriter 560 and the DeskJet 870? Perhaps Bob Headrick or
someone else would be so kind as to help us out.

Anyone know what foomatic HP driver is closest to the Deskwriter? Or
if there's something else I'm not doing right?

I can't remember off hand whether the hpijs package has a driver for the
DeskJet 560. If not, you can use the Gimp-Print drivers found at:
<http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php3>
That presupposes that a way can be found to get the DTR handshake
working.