Epson ActionLaser 1500 - USB to Parallel (Centronics) Cable?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kurt
  • Start date Start date
K

Kurt

I have a Epson ActionLaser 1500 that is a great workhorse... still
works fine. But, with newer computers not having a parallel port, I'm
trying to see if a "USB to Parallel" cable will work. I purchased a
TrendNet cable, but it doesn't seem to be compatible. And, since this
printer is so old, Epson will not offer up any support.

Anyone know if...
1) The printer is even compatible with a USB to Parallel cable
connection?
2) If so, how to get this to work? (other brand of cable, driver(s),
etc.)
 
Kurt said:
I have a Epson ActionLaser 1500 that is a great workhorse... still
works fine. But, with newer computers not having a parallel port, I'm
trying to see if a "USB to Parallel" cable will work. I purchased a
TrendNet cable, but it doesn't seem to be compatible. And, since this
printer is so old, Epson will not offer up any support.

Anyone know if...
1) The printer is even compatible with a USB to Parallel cable
connection?
Click to expand...

It is possible.
2) If so, how to get this to work? (other brand of cable, driver(s),
etc.)
Click to expand...

I used an IBM 3116 with a macintosh récently, to connect it I used a
standard cable USB and an adaptator USB-parallel, all was fine.

But some cables USB did work and some others didn't.

Alain
 
Alain191 said:
It is possible.


I used an IBM 3116 with a macintosh récently, to connect it I used a
standard cable USB and an adaptator USB-parallel, all was fine.

But some cables USB did work and some others didn't.

Alain
Click to expand...


I used a one of these cables and my Epson Action Laser showed up in Win
7 64-bit as "USB printing support". So, the cable was able to find the
device.

My problem is I cannot find an HP LaserJet II or III driver to download
from the web. HP site says the LaserJet II or III drivers are on the
Vista disks, but I moved from XP to Win 7. I found an HP universal
driver HPUPD41PCL5X64.exe that I was going to try but every link that
referred to it is dead. Many driver sites appear to be unsafe. This is
my workhorse printer as well and I really hate to give it up, but there
may be no choice.

D.
 
I used a one of these cables and my Epson Action Laser showed up in Win
7 64-bit as "USB printing support". So, the cable was able to find the
device.

My problem is I cannot find an HP LaserJet II or III driver to download
from the web. HP site says the LaserJet II or III drivers are on the
Vista disks, but I moved from XP to Win 7. I found an HP universal
driver HPUPD41PCL5X64.exe that I was going to try but every link that
referred to it is dead. Many driver sites appear to be unsafe. This is
my workhorse printer as well and I really hate to give it up, but there
may be no choice.
Click to expand...

The Vista driver is readily available on the HP site, in any case....

http://tinyurl.com/yh4d8cl
 
Steve said:
Have the OP and/or you tried adding a parallel port? Some motherboards have the
header on the motherboard and it's just a matter of installing a connector, or
perhaps installing a parallel port card?






s
Click to expand...


Steve-Thanks for the tip about the header on the motherboard. I will
look. That would be the easy solution. I am also going to look for a
driver on the Win 7 disk. I opted out of having Windows find driver
updates for me.

I have read about the IEEE 1284 parallel cards and will consider one of
those as well.

Diane
 
I'm using an old Canon SX engine flatbed Apple Laserwriter II
similar to the old HP LaserJet II and III under Win7 32bit
Ultimate. Mine is a serial printer, but you choose the
port/interface at install. Bit slow at 9600 baud serial but
acceptable for letters. Supberb print quality, crisp and
black.
Found several drivers in Win7.
AFAIR I may have had to download further Win7
printer drivers from a MS site.
Settled for HP LaserJet III Postscript Cartridge v52.2
The AppleLaserwriter II  is Postscript compatible.
A few quirks that can be worked around.
Found that setting, print direct to printer, instead
of spool first seemed to help, it does however
lock things up until the print has finished,. Try
both. Don't think the whole PC is locked up,
haven't tried the Win7 Show Desktop whilst
it is printing. Can print web pages with gif''s
and jpg's but being serial it takes ages, so
use the parallel port on Asus P5VD2-X board to
drive my Epson colour inkjet for that.
There were other drivers but this one seems OK.
Click to expand...

I have several Apple LaserWriter IIg motherboards. Perfect
upgrade. Has up to 32 Megs of RAM, and most importantly, an Ethernet
port. Sure beats serial any day.
 
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