Question about HP Laserjet 4

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Dan_Musicant

I've wondered about this for years and years and would appreciate
commentary:

I've had this printer since 1994. This printer predates Energy Star
printers and doesn't have an energy saving mode. Even when idle, if
powered up it uses over 80 watts, possibly 100. Inasmuch as I print
infrequently, I turn it on when I need to print and then turn it off.
After printing even a single page, the printer makes a lot of noise for
about 20-30 seconds, and I presume this is a fan that cools some
componentry. I've always figured it might be best to wait for that noise
to stop before switching off the printer. Should I continue to do that
or can I simply switch off the printer when the last page (or single
page) has reached the exit tray?

Thanks for your comments.

Dan
 
I've wondered about this for years and years and would appreciate
commentary:

I've had this printer since 1994. This printer predates Energy Star
printers and doesn't have an energy saving mode.
Click to expand...

Pity it wasn't the 4+ - that does!
Even when idle, if
powered up it uses over 80 watts, possibly 100. Inasmuch as I print
infrequently, I turn it on when I need to print and then turn it off.
After printing even a single page, the printer makes a lot of noise for
about 20-30 seconds, and I presume this is a fan that cools some
componentry. I've always figured it might be best to wait for that noise
to stop before switching off the printer. Should I continue to do that
or can I simply switch off the printer when the last page (or single
page) has reached the exit tray?
Click to expand...

I think the noise is mainly motors, etc. which are kept running in case
more printing is coming along. The only fan is the one at the top rear
of the printer; I think that's thermostatic, so if that was running I'd
wait until it stopped. But that fan is very quiet and (a) not the source
of the noise you describe and (b) best checked by feeling for airflow.
That fan runs at two speeds, faster when actually printing, so bear that
in mind when checking.

It strikes me that for the duty cycle you use, you'd be better off with
a smaller, lower power printer, but I know the LJ4 is a good solid
printer (I have eight!).
 
:
:> I've wondered about this for years and years and would appreciate
:> commentary:
:>
:> I've had this printer since 1994. This printer predates Energy Star
:> printers and doesn't have an energy saving mode.
:
:Pity it wasn't the 4+ - that does!

Yes, I bought it not much prior to the release of the 4+, maybe 6 months
to a year.

:
:> Even when idle, if
:> powered up it uses over 80 watts, possibly 100. Inasmuch as I print
:> infrequently, I turn it on when I need to print and then turn it off.
:> After printing even a single page, the printer makes a lot of noise for
:> about 20-30 seconds, and I presume this is a fan that cools some
:> componentry. I've always figured it might be best to wait for that noise
:> to stop before switching off the printer. Should I continue to do that
:> or can I simply switch off the printer when the last page (or single
:> page) has reached the exit tray?
:
:I think the noise is mainly motors, etc. which are kept running in case
:more printing is coming along. The only fan is the one at the top rear
:of the printer; I think that's thermostatic, so if that was running I'd
:wait until it stopped. But that fan is very quiet and (a) not the source
:of the noise you describe and (b) best checked by feeling for airflow.
:That fan runs at two speeds, faster when actually printing, so bear that
:in mind when checking.

It seems to last about 30 seconds. It may be motors + the fan. I think
the fan is moving more air while I'm hearing that noise. I guess I'll
continue to leave the printer on until the noise subsides.
:
:It strikes me that for the duty cycle you use, you'd be better off with
:a smaller, lower power printer, but I know the LJ4 is a good solid
:printer (I have eight!).

I love the quality of output and the low maintenance I've gotten from
the LJ4. The only things I wish I had are color and duplexing. Well,
more speed would be nice, but with the amount of printing I do, it's a
minor concern.

I've done some duplexing with the LJ4 by feeding once-printed sheets
into the manual feeder. I don't believe the printer officially supports
this and I believe they say this can cause problems. Is it actually a
bad idea to do this? So far, I haven't noticed problems, but it may just
not be apparent to me.

I have a Jetdirect card (bought off ebay not too long ago) and one day
(probably) I will install it and try to get the printer set up as a
network printer. It's barely an issue for me, really.

Oh, and one more thing you can probably help me with, Bob... I've been
wondering if it's worthwhile to get more RAM for the printer. It seems
to be very cheap nowadays. Assuming I install the Jetdirect card (like I
say, it doesn't seem important to me), there's a lesser amount of RAM I
can install (the card takes up a slot). I believe I can install an
additional 16 MB, maybe more. Currently I have 6 MB in there (I think
it's a 2 MB and 4 MB card). I've experienced some very slow printing
speeds for some print jobs, in particular ones with graphics and/or some
PDF's. I mean, jobs that seem to take forever. I thought that possibly
with more RAM, those jobs would print a lot faster. Some of those RAM
cards seem to be 3rd party. I am wondering if those are adequate. Here's
a short thread I created a couple of years ago concerning this issue:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=27&threadid=1523487&arctab=arc&highlight_key=y

Shortly after creating that thread I had a question of an ebay seller
before buying used LJ4 memory from him, but he didn't answer me so I put
off buying.

Thanks for your posts.

Dan
 
:It strikes me that for the duty cycle you use, you'd be better off with
:a smaller, lower power printer, but I know the LJ4 is a good solid
:printer (I have eight!).

I love the quality of output and the low maintenance I've gotten from
the LJ4. The only things I wish I had are color and duplexing. Well,
more speed would be nice, but with the amount of printing I do, it's a
minor concern.
Click to expand...

Again (sorry to say this) one gets more speed from a 4+. And the option
to fit a duplexer. You might look round...the last 4+ I bough cost me
about $10 on eBay.
I've done some duplexing with the LJ4 by feeding once-printed sheets
into the manual feeder. I don't believe the printer officially supports
this and I believe they say this can cause problems. Is it actually a
bad idea to do this? So far, I haven't noticed problems, but it may just
not be apparent to me.
Click to expand...

I used to do it. The paper may be a bit dryer, but it always worked for
me.
I have a Jetdirect card (bought off ebay not too long ago) and one day
(probably) I will install it and try to get the printer set up as a
network printer. It's barely an issue for me, really.
Click to expand...

Yes, I print to mine over the network from Windows XP like that (at
work). XP Pro can talk direct to the JetDirect.
Oh, and one more thing you can probably help me with, Bob... I've been
wondering if it's worthwhile to get more RAM for the printer. It seems
to be very cheap nowadays. Assuming I install the Jetdirect card (like I
say, it doesn't seem important to me), there's a lesser amount of RAM I
can install (the card takes up a slot).
Click to expand...

No....! The JetDirect card is a big one that fits in the back. The RAM
slots are in the side. 72 pin parity SIMMs, dead cheap and easy to get.
One can get 60ns SIMMs and modify them to make them appear slower if
need be, with a couple of solder blobs.

Not sure if more RAM will speed things up in your case, but might as
well...you may have problems with complex pages that are resolved with
more RAM.
 
:
:> :It strikes me that for the duty cycle you use, you'd be better off with
:> :a smaller, lower power printer, but I know the LJ4 is a good solid
:> :printer (I have eight!).
:>
:> I love the quality of output and the low maintenance I've gotten from
:> the LJ4. The only things I wish I had are color and duplexing. Well,
:> more speed would be nice, but with the amount of printing I do, it's a
:> minor concern.
:
:Again (sorry to say this) one gets more speed from a 4+. And the option
:to fit a duplexer. You might look round...the last 4+ I bough cost me
:about $10 on eBay.

LOL! That might be worth it, then. Well, I'd need the duplexer. The
speed increase would be nice, but by itself would motivate me to change
printers.
:
:> I've done some duplexing with the LJ4 by feeding once-printed sheets
:> into the manual feeder. I don't believe the printer officially supports
:> this and I believe they say this can cause problems. Is it actually a
:> bad idea to do this? So far, I haven't noticed problems, but it may just
:> not be apparent to me.
:
:I used to do it. The paper may be a bit dryer, but it always worked for
:me.

It's worked for me, too. Of course, I need to take the trouble to hand
feed each page or else run the risk of having the wrong page printed on
the back side. I stopped taking that risk and have been hand feeding for
the second side. It's only something I do occasionally, usually for
manuals I download.

:
:> I have a Jetdirect card (bought off ebay not too long ago) and one day
:> (probably) I will install it and try to get the printer set up as a
:> network printer. It's barely an issue for me, really.
:
:Yes, I print to mine over the network from Windows XP like that (at
:work). XP Pro can talk direct to the JetDirect.

The card I got is:

HP JetDirect 10Base-T internal print server LAN J2550-60003

It's genuine HP, I presume used. Haven't installed it yet. It won't take
up one of the RAM slots? Do I just install it and hook it up to my
router with ethernet cable? No software or driver installation? Will XP
just see it?

:
:> Oh, and one more thing you can probably help me with, Bob... I've been
:> wondering if it's worthwhile to get more RAM for the printer. It seems
:> to be very cheap nowadays. Assuming I install the Jetdirect card (like I
:> say, it doesn't seem important to me), there's a lesser amount of RAM I
:> can install (the card takes up a slot).
:
:No....! The JetDirect card is a big one that fits in the back. The RAM
:slots are in the side. 72 pin parity SIMMs, dead cheap and easy to get.
:One can get 60ns SIMMs and modify them to make them appear slower if
:need be, with a couple of solder blobs.
:
:Not sure if more RAM will speed things up in your case, but might as
:well...you may have problems with complex pages that are resolved with
:more RAM.

Thanks. Why in the world do you have 8 LJ4's? So, you have at least one
4+ as well, then...

Dan
 
LOL! That might be worth it, then. Well, I'd need the duplexer. The
speed increase would be nice, but by itself would motivate me to change
printers.
Click to expand...

Duplexers are rather rare and expensive, unfortunately.
It's worked for me, too. Of course, I need to take the trouble to hand
feed each page or else run the risk of having the wrong page printed on
the back side. I stopped taking that risk and have been hand feeding for
the second side. It's only something I do occasionally, usually for
manuals I download.
Click to expand...

I compromise and print 20 or 30 sheets at a time. They rarely misfeed,
and if they do I've only lost 10-15 sheets on average.
:Yes, I print to mine over the network from Windows XP like that (at
:work). XP Pro can talk direct to the JetDirect.

The card I got is:

HP JetDirect 10Base-T internal print server LAN J2550-60003

It's genuine HP, I presume used. Haven't installed it yet. It won't take
up one of the RAM slots?
Click to expand...

No, there's a large slot on the back, above the power connector.
Do I just install it and hook it up to my
router with ethernet cable? No software or driver installation? Will XP
just see it?
Click to expand...

No. Email me for details when you get that far...you need various bits
of setup. Possibly some on the printer, and also on XP. Depends on your
network, too.
Thanks. Why in the world do you have 8 LJ4's? So, you have at least one
4+ as well, then...
Click to expand...

Sorry, that's 8 LJ4+s. Use to have some LJ4s...may have one left
somewhere. It's a long story...I do use two of them all the time.
 
Dan_Musicant said:
The card I got is:

HP JetDirect 10Base-T internal print server LAN J2550-60003

It's genuine HP, I presume used. Haven't installed it yet. It won't take
up one of the RAM slots?
Click to expand...

No, it uses an MIO slot.
Do I just install it and hook it up to my router with ethernet cable?
No software or driver installation?
Click to expand...

Install it, configure it with an IP address and netmask through the
printer display and buttons. If you had more than one to configure,
there are utilities, but the fact that nothing is ever really completely
uninstalled on Windows would lead me to avoid them for this one-time
use.
Will XP just see it?
Click to expand...

No. Here's how to set it up:

http://groups.google.com/group/comp.periphs.printers/msg/850d68c775d43f25?hl=en&
 
:
:> LOL! That might be worth it, then. Well, I'd need the duplexer. The
:> speed increase would be nice, but by itself would motivate me to change
:> printers.
:
:Duplexers are rather rare and expensive, unfortunately.

Thanks for the heads up.
:
:> It's worked for me, too. Of course, I need to take the trouble to hand
:> feed each page or else run the risk of having the wrong page printed on
:> the back side. I stopped taking that risk and have been hand feeding for
:> the second side. It's only something I do occasionally, usually for
:> manuals I download.
:
:I compromise and print 20 or 30 sheets at a time. They rarely misfeed,
:and if they do I've only lost 10-15 sheets on average.

Interesting and sensible idea, and I'll be adopting it. Thanks.

:
:> :Yes, I print to mine over the network from Windows XP like that (at
:> :work). XP Pro can talk direct to the JetDirect.
:>
:> The card I got is:
:>
:> HP JetDirect 10Base-T internal print server LAN J2550-60003
:>
:> It's genuine HP, I presume used. Haven't installed it yet. It won't take
:> up one of the RAM slots?
:
:No, there's a large slot on the back, above the power connector.

Again, a revelation to me. I was misinformed, or more likely I
misinterpreted what I saw.

:
:> Do I just install it and hook it up to my
:> router with ethernet cable? No software or driver installation? Will XP
:> just see it?
:
:No. Email me for details when you get that far...you need various bits
:of setup. Possibly some on the printer, and also on XP. Depends on your
:network, too.

I have a Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 wireless router. Right now, I have two PC's
hooked up to the router by ethernet cabling and access the network
wirelessly with my Lenovo T60 laptop. I've only been printing from the
PC that's hooked up to the LJ4 by parallel port.
:
:> Thanks. Why in the world do you have 8 LJ4's? So, you have at least one
:> 4+ as well, then...
:
:Sorry, that's 8 LJ4+s. Use to have some LJ4s...may have one left
:somewhere. It's a long story...I do use two of them all the time.

Interesting, thanks Bob for your help. It's been great.

Dan

PS I downloaded a PDF yesterday and my LJ 4M isn't printing it. It
prints the first 5 pages and when it gets to the next it just sits there
for literally over an hour. I haven't let it crank (?) must past an hour
yet on the 6th page. The printer acts as though it's loading (i.e. the
ready light continues to blink) but nothing happens on that 6th page.
When I tried the 7th page, same thing. I have a mind to bring the file
to a copy place and have them duplex it for me. It's a 37 page PDF,
being the manual for the Sandisk Sansa m200 series MP3 players, the file
being Sansa_ug_Eng_m200.pdf, 451 kb.

It's because of problems like this that I'm interested in installing
more RAM, although I don't know if that will prevent the problem.
 
:PS I downloaded a PDF yesterday and my LJ 4M isn't printing it. It
:prints the first 5 pages and when it gets to the next it just sits there
:for literally over an hour. I haven't let it crank (?) must past an hour
:yet on the 6th page. The printer acts as though it's loading (i.e. the
:ready light continues to blink) but nothing happens on that 6th page.
:When I tried the 7th page, same thing. I have a mind to bring the file
:to a copy place and have them duplex it for me. It's a 37 page PDF,
:being the manual for the Sandisk Sansa m200 series MP3 players, the file
:being Sansa_ug_Eng_m200.pdf, 451 kb.
:
:It's because of problems like this that I'm interested in installing
:more RAM, although I don't know if that will prevent the problem.

Correction, it's the 5th page that won't print, the one that says "Table
1: Control Names and Functions" at the top. Also, the following page.
I've tried no pages past that.

Dan
 
:
::PS I downloaded a PDF yesterday and my LJ 4M isn't printing it. It
::prints the first 5 pages and when it gets to the next it just sits there
::for literally over an hour. I haven't let it crank (?) must past an hour
::yet on the 6th page. The printer acts as though it's loading (i.e. the
::ready light continues to blink) but nothing happens on that 6th page.
::When I tried the 7th page, same thing. I have a mind to bring the file
::to a copy place and have them duplex it for me. It's a 37 page PDF,
::being the manual for the Sandisk Sansa m200 series MP3 players, the file
::being Sansa_ug_Eng_m200.pdf, 451 kb.
::
::It's because of problems like this that I'm interested in installing
::more RAM, although I don't know if that will prevent the problem.
:
:Correction, it's the 5th page that won't print, the one that says "Table
:1: Control Names and Functions" at the top. Also, the following page.
:I've tried no pages past that.
:
:Dan

Googling I saw a post that said that older Laserjet printers with slow
processors often had problems (i.e. slowness, etc.) with large PDFs when
printing in PS. So, I just changed to the PCL driver and voila, it's
printing very fast indeed, apparently approximating the capacity 8 PPM.
I suppose extra RAM might not help (i.e. when using the PS driver, which
I have been using as my "default").

Dan
 
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