Custom printer cable

  • Thread starter Thread starter Geoff Sullivan
  • Start date Start date
G

Geoff Sullivan

I need some help from a printer guru here. For years I have been using a
parallel printer cable that has only *some* of the lines connected. It has
performed satisfactorily with many different printers until I installed
WindowsXP. Now I have determined that XP needs additional connections in
order to make even the simplest printers work (ie. HP IIIp LaserJet).

My cable uses:

1 ------------------------------- > STROBE 2
------------------------------- > DATA 0 3 -------------------------------
DATA 1 4 ------------------------------- > DATA 2 5
Click to expand...
------------------------------- > DATA 3 6 -------------------------------
DATA 4 7 ------------------------------- > DATA 5 8
Click to expand...
------------------------------- > DATA 6 9 -------------------------------
DATA 7 and
Click to expand...
11< ------------------------------ BUSY and
18 thru 25 ----------------------- GND

The cable is 12-conductor so I have one unconnected line available in the
cable. Can I use it to make WindowsXP happy so it will drive my printer?

I know, I could go and buy another cable, but this is a custom
installation, a long cable run through some walls, and would be a royal
pain in the ass to replace.
 
Geoff Sullivan said:
I need some help from a printer guru here. For years I have been using a
parallel printer cable that has only *some* of the lines connected. It has
performed satisfactorily with many different printers until I installed
WindowsXP. Now I have determined that XP needs additional connections in
order to make even the simplest printers work (ie. HP IIIp LaserJet).

My cable uses:

1 ------------------------------- > STROBE 2
------------------------------- > DATA 0 3 -------------------------------
------------------------------- > DATA 3 6 -------------------------------
------------------------------- > DATA 6 9 -------------------------------
11< ------------------------------ BUSY and
18 thru 25 ----------------------- GND

The cable is 12-conductor so I have one unconnected line available in the
cable. Can I use it to make WindowsXP happy so it will drive my printer?

I know, I could go and buy another cable, but this is a custom
installation, a long cable run through some walls, and would be a royal
pain in the ass to replace.
Click to expand...

For twenty some years using computer I have never needed any special
printer cable for any Dot Matrix, Laser, Inkjet, Multi-Functional etc..

But to make you happy you can either

1) Buy the kits and making your own cable

2) Buy the regular cable then clip off the PIN's you don't want

3) If you need extended cable the you can buy a STRAIGHT (direct) cable
and you should be all set. Just make sure not to connect 2 regular
cables as some may have some twisted inside (I am not a cable expert but
I ran into the problem nearly 20 years ago and still can't forget the
lesson).
 
Dnia 2003-12-16 19:45, Geoff Sullivan napisa³ :
I need some help from a printer guru here. For years I have been using a
parallel printer cable that has only *some* of the lines connected. It has
performed satisfactorily with many different printers until I installed
WindowsXP. Now I have determined that XP needs additional connections in
order to make even the simplest printers work (ie. HP IIIp LaserJet).
Click to expand...

I would suggest connecting an /ack signal (pin 10 to pin 10).

Look at this:
http://www.lammertbies.nl/comm/cable/parallel.html#prnt
 
I confirm that aknowlegment signal is needed. I also suggest to use the
select signal too, some devices need it.

--
 
Sorry 'bout the formatting. Here's how that pinout should look:

1 --------- STROBE
2 --------- DATA 0
3 --------- DATA 1
4 --------- DATA 2
5 --------- DATA 3
6 --------- DATA 4
7 --------- DATA 5
8 --------- DATA 6
9 --------- DATA 7
and
11 -------- BUSY
and
18 thru 25 --- GND
 
I know, I could go and buy another cable, but this is a custom
installation, a long cable run through some walls, and would be a royal
pain in the ass to replace.
Click to expand...

Adding an /ack line didn't do the trick I'm afraid. :(

So, I bit the bullet and got a fully qualified, store-bought, super
duper, gold plated, etc, etc, IEEE 1284 cable and did the dirty deed since
12 conductors wasn't enough to make XP happy. Enlarging the holes in the
walls wasn't fun, but now everything works just fine.

Thanks for all the advice I got.
 
Back
Top