HP LaserJet IIIp in a modern environment

[Jason]

I just rescued an HP LaserJet IIIp from nearly going in the dumpster
last week. I asked the person if it worked as I saw them struggle
to heave it into the dumpster bin. They didn't know, so I asked if
I could have it. Its my first laser printer.
I have a 2 PC home network. Both machines are running winxp pro
and are networked with a netgear 4 port router. I have the printer
up and running, and it is working very well. It is installed via the
parallel connection to my main machine, and it shares nice over
my lan.
I have a few questions though.

1. Is it possible to utilize the ethernet connection on this printer?
Is there a way I could sever the parallel connection to my main PC
and instead run ethernet from my router to the rj45 connection on
the printer and have it be a network printer? Perhaps this network
connection on the printer only works with older style networks (the
printer is 12 years old).
Note, the ethernet connection is via an adapter that hooks onto
what looks like a second parallel port on the back of the printer.
Not sure if that is standard issue, or someone added it.

2. The buttons on front don't seem to do anything much that I can see.
Also, the LCD display says 05 self test on startup, and then 02 warm
up, then MP load letter (if no paper up against the sensor) or 00
ready letter, if ready to print.
Other than that, nothing does anything (aside from the "online/reset"
button. The other 5 buttons don't seem to have an effect.
No biggie, the printer works, just curious about it.

3. Is it common that this printer jams when too many sheets are loaded
at once? I have a stack of paper in the front tray, and I keep it all
back a couple of inches - except a push one sheet forward into the
rollers. I don't print alot, so it doesn't bother me much.

Thanks for any help/advice on this printer.

Jason

 

[Tony Marsillo]

Jason,
Some good info here. The IIP and IIIP are very much alike.

http://medlem.spray.se/erikwelander/Maint-howto.htm

http://fixyourownprinter.com/kkc6.html

Good luck

 

[John Beardmore]

1. Is it possible to utilize the ethernet connection on this printer?
Is there a way I could sever the parallel connection to my main PC
and instead run ethernet from my router to the rj45 connection on
the printer and have it be a network printer? Perhaps this network
connection on the printer only works with older style networks (the
printer is 12 years old).

Ethernet hasn't changed that much.

Note, the ethernet connection is via an adapter that hooks onto
what looks like a second parallel port on the back of the printer.
Not sure if that is standard issue, or someone added it.

Could it be a serial to parallel converter ?


Cheers, J/.

 

[Gordon]

I just rescued an HP LaserJet IIIp from nearly going in the dumpster
last week. I asked the person if it worked as I saw them struggle clip......
I have a few questions though.

1. Is it possible to utilize the ethernet connection on this printer?
Is there a way I could sever the parallel connection to my main PC

No the HPIIp & HPIIIP did not have any network expansion port. You
need to use a LPR print server, I have one that plugs into the
paralell port, that I'm using with an old HPII with a HPIII formatter
installed, and it works very good.

2. The buttons on front don't seem to do anything much that I can see.
Also, the LCD display says 05 self test on startup, and then 02 warm
up, then MP load letter (if no paper up against the sensor) or 00
ready letter, if ready to print.
Other than that, nothing does anything (aside from the "online/reset"
button. The other 5 buttons don't seem to have an effect.
No biggie, the printer works, just curious about it.

You can order an new panel form www.printerworks.com or
http://fixyourownprinter.com .

3. Is it common that this printer jams when too many sheets are loaded
at once? I have a stack of paper in the front tray, and I keep it all
back a couple of inches - except a push one sheet forward into the
rollers. I don't print alot, so it doesn't bother me much.

You need to order the separator pad from one of the above suppliers.

Gordon

 

[Warren Block]

1. Is it possible to utilize the ethernet connection on this printer?
Is there a way I could sever the parallel connection to my main PC
and instead run ethernet from my router to the rj45 connection on
the printer and have it be a network printer? Perhaps this network
connection on the printer only works with older style networks (the
printer is 12 years old).
Note, the ethernet connection is via an adapter that hooks onto
what looks like a second parallel port on the back of the printer.
Not sure if that is standard issue, or someone added it.

A second parallel port on a IIIp is unlikely, but it might be a serial
port. Please post any labelling shown on the adapter box. My guess
would be that it's a DB25-to-RJ45 connector adapter. Still serial,
though.

An ordinary parallel JetDirect or other print server should work on the
parallel port, though.

 

[Timothy Lee]

A second parallel port on a IIIp is unlikely, but it might be a serial
port. Please post any labelling shown on the adapter box. My guess
would be that it's a DB25-to-RJ45 connector adapter. Still serial,
though.

I've just had a look at our old IIIp, which just sits there as a backup
device, and the second port on the rear is a serial port, one of the big
ones that looks like a parallel port, if that makes sense.