USB-to-parallel converters: drivers (or not)?

[Jonathan Sachs]

I want to attach my printer to my laptop computer through a USB-to-parallel
converter. I hope somebody can give me the lowdown on how these gadgets
interact with the computer.

Some product descriptions say that they come with Windows XP drivers. Others
say they use a driver that comes with Windows XP. Yet others say "plug and
play," and I don't know whether that means that they don't require drivers,
or it is just another way of saying the driver comes with Windows XP.

If I buy a converter that needs a driver, I'm concerned that support may be
dropped in a future version of Windows, leaving me with a paperweight and an
unusable printer.

 

[Thomas Ferguson]

Myself, I have no direct experience using a USB/Parallel converter.


Based on feedback from others:

If you use such a device, make sure it is one that allows bi-directional
communication with the printer. Not all do. If you are considering a device
that does not allow bi-directional communication, make sure your printer
will work with it. Many only require a simple parallel port.

Make sure the parallel port provided is IEEE certified. The link is for one
such; however, while I believe it would be satisfactory, I do not endorse
the product since I have no knowledge of how it performs in use.

Note that some printers might require special software to use the device.
Possibly, that includes some or all Epson products. Multi-function
units/all-in-ones will not work through these devices although the printer
functions might. Check with the printer maker to see if it will work
properly with the device you are interested in, if possible.


A better solution to the lack of an available parallel port is to install
one if possible. This is not an option, I know, with some laptop/notebook
computers. When it is possible, a PCI card with one or more parallel ports
works very well. This is the best solution. There are also suitable ISA bus
cards that work well.

http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3/1000121
http://www.mysterybyte.com/index.htm?content=parts.shtml&side=sidepart.htm&show=1

Let us know.

 

[Jonathan Sachs]

A better solution to the lack of an available parallel port is to install
one if possible. This is not an option, I know, with some laptop/notebook
computers. When it is possible, a PCI card with one or more parallel ports
works very well. This is the best solution. There are also suitable ISA bus
cards that work well.

Thanks for the additional input. Unfortunately adding a parallel port would
be difficult. Here is the situation: I have a laptop computer with no
parallel ports built in. I am using a port expander with one parallel port,
and I have two printers to connect to it. When I need to change printers I
must turn everything off and crawl behind my desk to move the cable.

If I put one of the printers on a USB converter I could use them both
without hassle, as I did before getting my new machine. If I put both of
them on USB converters I could also eliminate the port expander, which would
reduce the tangle of cables on my desk.

I could solve the cabling problem by getting a parallel port on a PC card,
but that would make the tangle worse instead of better. It would also give
me one more thing to unplug and replug when I take the computer with me.

http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3/1000121

http://www.mysterybyte.com/index.htm?content=parts.shtml&side=sidepart.htm&show=1

The CompuPlus device looks like exactly what I need. I couldn't find
anything appropriate at MysteryByte. Perhaps you referred me to them for a
product which they no longer sell.

An earlier poster in this NG praised the Belkin F5U002, but when I studied
the information on Belkin's web site, I found so many cautions and
qualifications that I want nothing to do with it. For example, it promises
to work only with PCL devices. (Too bad about any application that prefers
to speak PostScript.) Belkin is an established company with a good
reputation, though, so I wonder whether their product really has any more
compatibility problems than others. Perhaps their product description is
just more honest.

 

[Thomas Ferguson]

There are parallel port cards available with more than one port. I referred
you to the Mysterybyte site because they list some of these. However, many
suppliers/resellers have them.

Between the two general approaches (adding parallel ports or using
USB/parallel converter), each has its different balance of pluses and
minuses. One can only check them both out and pick the best for your
application.

If the Belkin product interests you, Perhaps you could check with them about
use with PostScript printers. I suspect that, as you suggest, they are being
honest about its capabilities. You suggest further that they have a good
reputation and that forthrightness is part of it.

I do not know how I can assist further. Do let me know.

--


Tom
MSMVP PS-D

 

[Ed C]

I have the Belkin F5U002 that installed on XP without any
effort, using the drivers that exist on XP for my HP693C
(old) printer. The only issue I have is that it only
prints on half the page, wasting a lot of paper. I am
going to post a question about it. I don't think it is
the fault of the cable.

 

[Jonathan Sachs]

I have the Belkin F5U002 that installed on XP without any
effort, using the drivers that exist on XP for my HP693C
(old) printer. The only issue I have is that it only
prints on half the page, wasting a lot of paper. I am
going to post a question about it. I don't think it is
the fault of the cable.

If the printer didn't do that before, what suggests to you that it's NOT the
cable?

The Belkin web site's product description says that the F5U002 is compatible
only with PCL printers (in fact, only with certain releases of PCL), so
presumably it's doing something or other to the commands that pass through
it. If I had this experience, I would be very, very suspicious.