TOPIC
When using an older, non-ECP (Extended Capabilities Port), printer with the new Apple PC Serial & Parallel Card, I notice that the printer goes into an unknown state and will not reset as long as the cable is attaching the printer and the card. If I disconnect the cable from either the printer, or PC Serial & Parallel Card, the printer resets and goes on-line. What is causing this, and is there a workaround?
DISCUSSION In testing an Epson LQ-800 with a Power Macintosh 9600/200, 7300/180 and 4400/200 with a PC Compatible card and an Apple PC Serial & Parallel Card installed, we were able to reproduce the issue you described. The printer would not become ready when the cable was attached to the parallel port on the Apple PC Serial & Parallel Card. In searching Epson's web site, http://www.epson.com/home.shtml , we found information on the ECP standard and some older Epson printers. If this error state is encountered, Epson recommends to first verify that you are using a known good parallel cable. If the error state persists, then try disabling the ECP specification and communication from your parallel port, however, the parallel port on the PC Serial & Parallel card cannot be modified in the way it handles print jobs - EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port), ECP, and so on. Epson also referenced masking pin 31 on the Centronix connector to keep that signal from being sent. In testing, we successfully printed from a Power Macintosh 9600/200, 7300/180 and 4400/200 using the PC Serial & Parallel card when Pin-31 masking was applied and the printer than reset as expected. |
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| Document Information | |
| Product Area: | Computers |
| Category: | Cards |
| Sub Category: | DOS Compatibility |
| Keywords: | kwindows |
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