Serial -> Parallel connection?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tony Stanford
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T

Tony Stanford

Hi -

I hope this isn't a stupid question, but ....

I have an aged but perfectly functioning HP Laserjet 5P. It has parallel
and Local Talk ports. Problem is that I have just bought a laptop which
has only serial and USB ports.

Is there any way to connect it to the Laserjet? I wondered if there was
such a thing as a parallel -> serial adaptor.

Thanks,

Tony
 
Maybe something like USB to Parallel Cable shown here
http://www.sweex.nl/product.asp?pid=301

Specifications
Supports: IEEE1284 standard
Interface: USB 1.1
Maximum parallel data speed: 1.2 Mbps ECP Mode
Cable length: 1.5 metres
Bus powered
Supports: Windows 98se, ME, 2000 and XP

Every large computershop has products like above
 
Many thanks for the helpful reply. I thought it was a stupid question
because USB is a serial device, while parallel gives eight bits on 8
separate lines. Does the device you suggest 'collect' 8 serial bits and
then transmit down 8 lines, so to speak?

Does anyone know if HP's 5P parallel driver will actually recognise a
USB/parallel converter? HP's drivers usually fail to install if they
don't recognise the appropriate port.

I haven't yet taken delivery of the laptop. It's a Dell running Windows
XP. It has an Intel ProWireless 802 11b/g mini PCI card in it. Now, I
have an old desktop machine running Wndows 98 which does have a parallel
port. Is there a dongle I can get to hang on its USB port to network to
the Dell, thus allowing me to print to the HP via the network.

I don't know much about this kind of thing, and wonder if I would need
XP on the desktop to do that.

Many thanks for the advice.

Tony

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005,13:44:28, Eric P. wrote
 
You can't do much with the serial port on the laptop, apart from
connecting an external dialup modem.
So maybe you could look for a laptop with a better hardware configuration.

I don't doubt the HP Laserjet 5P will work with the parallel/USB
conversion but never tried it myself.

I'm using 5 computers in a small network, using a Draytek Vigor 2600We
ADSL Router/Wireless LAN.
All computers, four desktops and a laptop, run Windows 98SE.
One desktop can in addition run Windows XP Home from an extra harddisk
instead.
Two computers are connected wireless 802 11b, one of them is a 5 year
old Toshiba laptop running Windows 98SE.

I have an HP Laserjet 4100N connected to the parallel port of a desktop
running Windows 98SE as a local printer and use this one to print from
the other computers in the network.

Indeed there are networkadapters you can connect to USB, I have some of
them in my collection.
But using a regular NIC connected to PCI is just as simple.
 
On Sun, 14 Aug 2005,15:31:19, Eric P. wrote
Indeed there are networkadapters you can connect to USB, I have some of
them in my collection.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for the info.

Presumably I don't need a router to connect two machines or more peer to
peer machines, just usb 802.11 dongles on each?

Regards

Tony
 
Presumably I don't need a router to connect two machines or more peer to
peer machines, just usb 802.11 dongles on each?
Click to expand...

If both have RJ45 ethernet ports an RJ45 cross-over cable might get
you started and try things out. Ethernet cards (and cables) are cheap,
if there isn't an RJ45 ethernet port on old desktops. Most cards are
plug and pray. Once you've got a simple setup working and sorted
out the basic network configuration, you can look at other options, like
wireless, if needed. There are quite a few online resources on
setting up a basic network.
Years ago we used BNC and co-ax ethernet cards, you could
daisy chain without any additional hardware like hubs or routers.
You didn't even have to worry about crossover cables.
 
I have an aged but perfectly functioning HP Laserjet 5P. It has parallel
and Local Talk ports. Problem is that I have just bought a laptop which
has only serial and USB ports.

Is there any way to connect it to the Laserjet? I wondered if there was
such a thing as a parallel -> serial adaptor.
Click to expand...

The 5P also has an IrDA infrared port. This might be your best bet,
saving some cabling.
Some laptops come with IrDA ports, (maybe they didn't mention it)
otherwise you can get a USB-IrDA dongle for about $20.
 
FYI: printer ports are being ditched on laptops even on higher end
ones with widescreen. Generally speaking they are not needed much
anymore as anyone who needs one can get away with a usb to parallel
port connection.

I tried responding earlier with options but seems the message got
lost.... perhaps someone out there is flagging messages that have urls
to compgeeks dot com or compusa as spam, hell if I know.

Anyhow... while I feel that wifi is the cheap solution one might also
consider bluetooth. It costs more than a wifi adapter for a
centronics... but compgeeks had the trueblue HP bluetooth adapters for
$130. A little less hassle than WiFi but costs more and sort of
depends on whether you have bluetooth on your laptop for it to be worth
wile. WiFi does have greater range, and is more common than bluetooth
oddly enough.

Also... While you could get a nice spiffy $50ish centronics to wifi
adapter for a printer... i'm starting to see hubs with parellel ports
onboard on closeout.
 
If both have RJ45 ethernet ports an RJ45 cross-over cable might get
you started and try things out.
Click to expand...

This is a very valid point... if you must go wired than ethernet is the
way to go. The distance is limited to about 100m where usb is limited
to well... I don't know... much less. The cable cost is typicaly less
than USB. The thickness of the cable is almost as small as USB, is
much more in the way of hot swapable than usb, as in the PC doesn't
react when you disconnect the device. The only downside is you gotta
set the IP address on the printer or enable a DHCP on your PC, which
basicly means turning on internet connection sharing if running win98se
(IIRC), win2k pro, winxp home/pro.
 
Many thanks for all the helpful responses. Given my setup at home, and
the fact that the new laptop comes equipped with a 802.22b/g card, that
is the way I'm going to go.

Could someone please answer one more simple question? Do I just need a
USB 802.11 dongle, to network 2 or more machines, or *must* I have a
wireless access point, too? I just want to network 2 machines by
802.11, one of which will have the printer attached. So I can access
files and printer from any machine.

So, do I need a wireless access point, or will a 802.11 card on each
machine suffice?

Many thanks

Tony
 
Many thanks for the helpful reply. I thought it was a stupid question
because USB is a serial device, while parallel gives eight bits on 8
separate lines. Does the device you suggest 'collect' 8 serial bits and
then transmit down 8 lines, so to speak?

Does anyone know if HP's 5P parallel driver will actually recognise a
USB/parallel converter? HP's drivers usually fail to install if they
don't recognise the appropriate port.
Click to expand...

Sure, i run an old HP Laserjet 5 on a Belkin brand USB to Parallel adapter
I haven't yet taken delivery of the laptop. It's a Dell running Windows
XP. It has an Intel ProWireless 802 11b/g mini PCI card in it. Now, I
have an old desktop machine running Wndows 98 which does have a parallel
port. Is there a dongle I can get to hang on its USB port to network to
the Dell, thus allowing me to print to the HP via the network.

I don't know much about this kind of thing, and wonder if I would need
XP on the desktop to do that.
Click to expand...

Just hook the printer to the Win98 machine and share the printer on the
network. Yes you could get a USB Wireless b/g adapter and network the two
machines.The only drawback to this setup is that you'll have to have the win98
machine on if you want to print.
 
Could someone please answer one more simple question? Do I just need a
USB 802.11 dongle, to network 2 or more machines, or *must* I have a
wireless access point, too? I just want to network 2 machines by
802.11, one of which will have the printer attached. So I can access
files and printer from any machine
Click to expand...

You want to network three machines, where the printer = a machine.

You "could" setup an Ad-hoc that is isn't dependent on an access point.
This would require if i'm remembering correct (something I haven't
done) all wireless devices manualy set to the same SSID and the same
channel, as well as a series of IP address such as 192.168.0.x where
the last value = 1-254.

Or you can pickup an access point, that auto assigns this info to each
client.

One keypoint to an access point is you can buy one with a hub and
router onboard where all machines on your network can access a
broadband connection. Not so useful if you are on dialup, dialup
requires just an access point with one PC with internet connection
sharing on. Also access points with routers and hubs are typicaly the
things on sale... and if your pc already has a network adapter you can
just jack into it with a cable and reserve the wireless for devices
that move or devices you don't want a huge wire on.
 
On Sun, 14 Aug 2005,14:40:10, zakezuke wrote
and if your pc already has a network adapter you can
just jack into it with a cable and reserve the wireless for devices
that move or devices you don't want a huge wire on.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed reply.

I have a 802.11 card in a laptop to be delivered next week. I have a
desktop with no network card, but am buying a 802.11 usb 'dongle'. The
printers are connected to the desktop.

Your suggestion of an access point (and I will be moving to broadband
shortly), seems the way to go. Does that mean the printers plug into the
access point? Or still into the machine, which must therefore be on when
I want to print from the laptop? By the way, the laptop is in another
room, hence I want the radio link.

I'm afraid I don't know the first thing about networking. Does anyone
know some good links on how to set up an 802.11 network?

Thanks again,

Tony
 
Your suggestion of an access point (and I will be moving to broadband
shortly), seems the way to go. Does that mean the printers plug into the
access point? Or still into the machine,
Click to expand...

Some printers come with the network option, with others it's an
optional extra. It's sometimes referred to as network enabled.
 
Your suggestion of an access point (and I will be moving to broadband
shortly), seems the way to go. Does that mean the printers plug into the
access point? Or still into the machine, which must therefore be on when
I want to print from the laptop? By the way, the laptop is in another
room, hence I want the radio link
Click to expand...

You can (considering you already are getting wifi adapter for the
laptop)

-by access point I'm refering to a wifi router.

1. Buy the dongle for your PC, Buy dongle (centronics wifi print
server). Attach modem to WAN port on the access point and have a
network.

-or-

2. Buy an access point that has a jack for the printer. If your pc
has a network adapter (i.e. a jack that looks bigger than a phone
jack). Attach PC and Printer to the access point, attach modem to the
[wan] port on the access point.

1 requires more hardware but assures that you can place your stuff
anywhere.
2.requires you spend more on your access point unless you find one that
supports older printers on closeout. Your cable modem and your access
point must be near your PC as they are attached to it with a wire.


Something that resembles a guide

http://www.wifi411.com/wifi_guide/wi-fi_setup_guide.php

Keep in mind also that anything you buy retail typicaly offer free
technical support. Use them esp for a trivial little question on "how
do I setup encryption so any joker can't see what i'm doing".
 
You can (considering you already are getting wifi adapter for the
laptop)

-by access point I'm refering to a wifi router.
Click to expand...
[snip]

Many thanks for your helpful advice.

Tony
 
You can (considering you already are getting wifi adapter for the
laptop)

-by access point I'm refering to a wifi router.
Click to expand...
[snip]

Many thanks for your helpful advice.

Tony
Click to expand...

I posted this earlier, but the lack of any response suggests it may
not have got through. Though maybe you just thought it irrelevant. So,
one more time:
The 5P also has an IrDA infrared port. This might be your best bet,
saving some cabling.
Some laptops come with IrDA ports, (maybe they didn't mention it)
otherwise you can get a USB-IrDA dongle for about $20.

This sounds rather cheaper than a WiFi solution, though you might have
line- of-sight issues.
 
Thanks very much for the info. I did receive your detailed response and
thought I'd posted a note saying thanks. Apologies if it didn't get
through. For various reasons, I'm going for the wifi solution.
Thanks
Tony


On Wed, 17 Aug 2005,16:43:36, Alan wrote
You can (considering you already are getting wifi adapter for the
laptop)

-by access point I'm refering to a wifi router.
Click to expand...
[snip]

Many thanks for your helpful advice.

Tony
Click to expand...

I posted this earlier, but the lack of any response suggests it may
not have got through. Though maybe you just thought it irrelevant. So,
one more time:
The 5P also has an IrDA infrared port. This might be your best bet,
saving some cabling.
Some laptops come with IrDA ports, (maybe they didn't mention it)
otherwise you can get a USB-IrDA dongle for about $20.

This sounds rather cheaper than a WiFi solution, though you might have
line- of-sight issues.
Click to expand...
 
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