I have a HP 750c plotter. Can I use a Parallel to USB cable. Running Parallel from the Plotter to USB to the computer. Can this be done?:)
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I have a HP 750c plotter. Can I use a Parallel to USB cable. Running Parallel from the Plotter to USB to the computer. Can this be done?:)
Likely yes. I assume you mean a USB parallel port adapter (you plug it in a USB port of your computer and it emulates a parallel port - usually LPT2 or LPT3, some can be configured).
Not sure if it's an adapter. I saw out in the stores a cable. One end has a female parallel end and the cable is about 6 feet long with the other end having a USB end.
If it's XP I would say you may be in for some fun getting it to install correctly.
And stay installed. I have had zero luck with those. I finally threw them in the bin and just used a LPT card. Much more reliable.
USB to Parallel adapters can be problematical. It seems to me that a lot of printer drivers (most of the HPs and Lexmarks I've tried, for instance) don't work with the virtual ports created by these devices. Doesn't hurt to try, but I'd make sure you can return the adapter if it doesn't work.
Internal parallel port cards can have some of the same issues. Like winmodems, many cards don't actually incorporate a controller chip; they use software to create a virtual port. SIIG, Lava Computer, and StarTech all make parallel port cards with hardware controllers in the $40-$50 range.
It is an adapter. The whole electronics part is stuffed into the parallel end. I've had success with those in the past. However for some cheapo consumer printers the drivers are crappy and may or may not work as they try to talk directly to the parallel port (which doesn't really exist).Quote:
Originally Posted by Twigs