Your advice will be appreciated - Serial printer with Epson LQ emulation needed.

[eliastrack]

Hi all,
In my current workplace, an old printer is in its last days
This particular printer is connected to a standalone biomedical device,
so there's no point in recommending solutions/ideas outside of the
requirements mentioned below. The original manufacturer does not
produce such printers anymore; however their response to our enquiry
said that the replacement printer should have the following features:
1. Serial interface, it's actually connected via an RS-232 Din25 plug
to the biomedical equipment.
2. Epson LQ emulation.
3. Must be capable of supporting DOS based printing rather than just
Windows based.
Now, upon a bit of research, there are printers that fulfil the above
but they're dot-matrix. I have a strong tendency for the new printer to
be a laser or at least an inkjet/bubble jet one.
q1. Would you recommend any laser/inkjet/bubble jet printer that can
fulfil the requirements above?
q2. If not, would you recommend some sort of electronic circuitry that
can emulate the above on the input side, and send the output to a
parallel or network printer?
Thanks in advance for your contribution,

Elias Track

 

[Bennett Price]

Take a look at Brother HL7050N

 

[Lou]

Hi all,
In my current workplace, an old printer is in its last days
This particular printer is connected to a standalone biomedical device,
so there's no point in recommending solutions/ideas outside of the
requirements mentioned below. The original manufacturer does not
produce such printers anymore; however their response to our enquiry
said that the replacement printer should have the following features:
1. Serial interface, it's actually connected via an RS-232 Din25 plug
to the biomedical equipment.
2. Epson LQ emulation.
3. Must be capable of supporting DOS based printing rather than just
Windows based.
Now, upon a bit of research, there are printers that fulfil the above
but they're dot-matrix. I have a strong tendency for the new printer to
be a laser or at least an inkjet/bubble jet one.
q1. Would you recommend any laser/inkjet/bubble jet printer that can
fulfil the requirements above?
q2. If not, would you recommend some sort of electronic circuitry that
can emulate the above on the input side, and send the output to a
parallel or network printer?
Thanks in advance for your contribution,

Elias Track

q3 Why do you not want a dot matrix??? Cheap to acquire (Ebay) and run.
The serial input is going to be a huge issue.

Lou

 

[Eric P.]

Hi all,
In my current workplace, an old printer is in its last days
This particular printer is connected to a standalone biomedical device,
so there's no point in recommending solutions/ideas outside of the
requirements mentioned below. The original manufacturer does not
produce such printers anymore; however their response to our enquiry
said that the replacement printer should have the following features:
1. Serial interface, it's actually connected via an RS-232 Din25 plug
to the biomedical equipment.
2. Epson LQ emulation.
3. Must be capable of supporting DOS based printing rather than just
Windows based.
Now, upon a bit of research, there are printers that fulfil the above
but they're dot-matrix. I have a strong tendency for the new printer to
be a laser or at least an inkjet/bubble jet one.
q1. Would you recommend any laser/inkjet/bubble jet printer that can
fulfil the requirements above?
q2. If not, would you recommend some sort of electronic circuitry that
can emulate the above on the input side, and send the output to a
parallel or network printer?
Thanks in advance for your contribution,

Elias Track

Epson Netherlands mentions Epson LQ-300+ on its webpage for Euro 290,=
http://www.epson.nl/product/printer/lq300+/index.htm
I see the same printer on the webpage of Epson UK
http://www.epson.co.uk/products/dot_matrix_printers/product_spec/LQ-300P.htm
Seems to offer what you need, but I'm not sure about the Dos ability.

 

[thoss]

Hi all,
In my current workplace, an old printer is in its last days
This particular printer is connected to a standalone biomedical device,
so there's no point in recommending solutions/ideas outside of the
requirements mentioned below. The original manufacturer does not
produce such printers anymore; however their response to our enquiry
said that the replacement printer should have the following features:
1. Serial interface, it's actually connected via an RS-232 Din25 plug
to the biomedical equipment.
2. Epson LQ emulation.
3. Must be capable of supporting DOS based printing rather than just
Windows based.

2. I suspect that a printer with PCL emulation would be LQ-compatible.

1. I have stashed away somewhere some serial-to-parallel and parallel-
to-serial adapters. Never used them, so don't know how well they work ,
if at all. But maybe a laser with parallel interface and PCL would
work. If interested, send me an e-mail.

 

[Warren Block]

2. I suspect that a printer with PCL emulation would be LQ-compatible.

PCL is unrelated to the old Epson escape codes; it was developed by HP.
My impression is that Epson's ESC/P code grew out of the original Epson
codes, or maybe that's what they called it all along.

Epson and Brother make lasers that will handle FX-80 codes. But the LQ
printers came later and may have additional codes that would not be
handled by an FX emulation.

Epson's inkjets might work. For example, Epson's manual for the Stylus
Color 600 says to choose a driver for the LQ-500 when printing from DOS.

1. I have stashed away somewhere some serial-to-parallel and parallel-
to-serial adapters. Never used them, so don't know how well they work ,
if at all.

That would be my suggestion for solving that problem, also.

 

[rwap]

We have an Epson 850 Inkjet printer with a parallel (centronics)
interface which would suit this (as well as dot matrix printers - some
have serial connections). We also have some serial -> parallel
convertors which would convert the signal from the electronic equipment
quite adequately.

Where are you based?

Rich Mellor
http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk/Printers2.html

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

I don't know what all it emulates, but the original HP DeskJet, as well as
the DeskJet 500 series do have onboard serial ports. Given that these were
built during the heyday of matrix printers, I'd expect they do have some
emulation present.

They're tough as nails, inkjet based printers and you can still easily find
ink for them. The only real weak spot seems to be keeping the paper rollers
from glazing over, but I've got several units here and they won't quit.

You should be able to easily find a used one of these for a very low cost.

William

 

[Christoph Lindemann]

Hi Elias,

There is an application called PrintCapture, which captures the data and
converts it to bitmap or redirects it to another printer.
(http://www.printcapture.com/index.html)

Check out the thread "Data Format", where a similar problem was discussed:
http://groups.google.dk/groups?lnk=hpsg&hl=en&[email protected]+Data+format

 

[measekite]

Hi!

I don't know what all it emulates, but the original HP DeskJet, as well as
the DeskJet 500 series do have onboard serial ports. Given that these were
built during the heyday of matrix printers, I'd expect they do have some
emulation present.

They're tough as nails, inkjet based printers and you can still easily find
ink for them.

i had one. they are garbage. they print poorly. they had paper feed
problems. they did not register envelopes. but at the time they were
the only inkjet printers around. finally i found a home for mine in the
garbage dump.

now the hp990 was terrific

The only real weak spot seems to be keeping the paper rollers
from glazing over, but I've got several units here and they won't quit.

You should be able to easily find a used one of these for a very low cost.

i know someone who has one sitting in the closet but rather than give it
to someone i advised them to trow it away. it is not worth the price of
ink.