Printing: Risc PC to HP Colour LaserJet
Bill (Adopt)
Have just acquired, (sale or return), an HP Colour
LaserJet, which I intend attempting to connect to
a Risc PC (RISC OS 4.02). Additionally have to
hand (sale or return as well!), a Maplin
bi-directional parallel to usb converter lead, plus
an assortment of adaptor lead ends..
The Risc PC presently and happily prints to an HP
LaserJet 5 using the respective parallel ports,
although it also has the benefit of an STD UniPod
USB interface - presently only used for permanently
routing into the glitch-free DSL guts of Orpheus...
Two momentary questions, (if no one minds).. :))
The bi-directional parallel/usb lead's destructions
suggest connecting from a computer's usb port to
the printer's parallel port.
Is it possible for the lead to be connected in the
other direction ..ie, from the Risc PC's parallel
port to the HP printer's USB port - without damaging
anything and just before I blow half the neighbourhood
into next week..??
Secondarily ..is it possible to direct the Risc PC's
standard (or CC non-dongled Turbo output) printer stream
to it's unused UniPod USB output port and thence, via
a simple USB lead, to the HP printer..?
(..and might the latter avoid a problem)?
(Should say that, so as I know, the HP Colour LaserJet
uses the same HP PCL 5 (and HP PCL 6)? as they have done
for years ..and very happily via the Risc PC's drivers)...
Sorry if I'm being a bit non-techie here ..USB ports
were not around in the days of Mssr Jaquard, his
loom apparatus or the slippery cobblestones of the
Hovis Hill.. ;))
Many thanks for any light that might be shed on the
subject.. :))
Bill ZFC
--
Adoption InterLink UK with -=- http://www.billsimpson.com/
Domain Host Orpheus Internet -=- http://www.orpheusinternet.co.uk/
druck
> Have just acquired, (sale or return), an HP Colour
> LaserJet, which I intend attempting to connect to
> a Risc PC (RISC OS 4.02). Additionally have to
> hand (sale or return as well!), a Maplin
> bi-directional parallel to usb converter lead, plus
> an assortment of adaptor lead ends..
[snip]
> The bi-directional parallel/usb lead's destructions
> suggest connecting from a computer's usb port to
> the printer's parallel port.
> Is it possible for the lead to be connected in the
> other direction ..ie, from the Risc PC's parallel
> port to the HP printer's USB port - without damaging
> anything and just before I blow half the neighbourhood
> into next week..??
No that wont work, the lead is only for USB at the computer to the
parallel port on the printer. The bi-directional nature refers to the
ability to send printer status signals back to the computer.
> Secondarily ..is it possible to direct the Risc PC's
> standard (or CC non-dongled Turbo output) printer stream
> to it's unused UniPod USB output port and thence, via
> a simple USB lead, to the HP printer..?
Yes, via print to file with a specially constructed path which will be
described in your Unipod documentation.
> (..and might the latter avoid a problem)?
If you are not having a problem using parallel, then just use that.
You only need to mess around with USB if the printer doesn't have a
parallel port. You wont see any advantage on a Risc PC of using USB.
---druck
--
The ARM Club Free Software - http://www.armclub.org.uk/free/
The 32bit Conversions Page - http://www.quantumsoft.co.uk/druck/
Bill (Adopt)
druck <ne...@druck.freeuk.com> wrote:
> On 15 Jul 2008 "Bill (Adopt)" <ad...@billsimpson.com> wrote:
> > Have just acquired, (sale or return), an HP Colour
> > LaserJet, which I intend attempting to connect to
> > a Risc PC (RISC OS 4.02).
> > Is it possible for the lead to be connected in the
> > other direction ..ie, from the Risc PC's parallel
> > port to the HP printer's USB port
[..]
> No that wont work, the lead is only for USB at the computer to the
> parallel port on the printer. The bi-directional nature refers to the
> ability to send printer status signals back to the computer.
OK. Thanks, Druck. Helpful, concise and clear. :))
> > Secondarily ..is it possible to direct the Risc PC's
> > standard (or CC non-dongled Turbo output) printer stream
> > to it's unused UniPod USB output port and thence, via
> > a simple USB lead, to the HP printer..?
> Yes, via print to file with a specially constructed path which will be
> described in your Unipod documentation.
Um ..yes..? I've scrabbled through the written
documentation as retained ..and have a lot of,
(to me not very understandable), stuff about
Jason's MassFS ..otherwise I'm presently a bit
stuck!
I guess it may be quite a simple re-direction of
the print stream output, but not sure where that
info is held. (STD's printed initial instruction
seem to refer only to installation of the UniPod -
which is the fully populated version, btw).
I'll do a bit more digging..
> > (..and might the latter avoid a problem)?
> If you are not having a problem using parallel, then just use that.
> You only need to mess around with USB if the printer doesn't have a
> parallel port. You wont see any advantage on a Risc PC of using USB.
This is the nub. The printer only has USB ..being
a cheaper version it doesn't have a parallel port.
I suppose the answer, (failing a re-direct to a USB
output file), is to exchange/upgrade to one with a
parallel ..about twice the price and a bit for luck.. :((
Many thanks indeed, Druck, for your very prompt and
helpful reply. :))
Hopefully someone will have tried printing from their
UniPod USB and know the path ..otherwise I guess it's
back to the drawing board in the next few days..!
..again, many thanks :))
Chris Evans
<URL:mailto:ad...@billsimpson.com> wrote:
> In article <1f037ebf...@druck.freeuk.net>,
> druck <ne...@druck.freeuk.com> wrote:
> > On 15 Jul 2008 "Bill (Adopt)" <ad...@billsimpson.com> wrote:
> > > Have just acquired, (sale or return), an HP Colour
> > > LaserJet, which I intend attempting to connect to
> > > a Risc PC (RISC OS 4.02).
> [..]
>
> > > Is it possible for the lead to be connected in the
> > > other direction ..ie, from the Risc PC's parallel
> > > port to the HP printer's USB port
> [..]
>
> > No that wont work, the lead is only for USB at the computer to the
> > parallel port on the printer. The bi-directional nature refers to the
> > ability to send printer status signals back to the computer.
>
> OK. Thanks, Druck. Helpful, concise and clear. :))
Adaptors that do work in the other direction [1] do exist and we can get
them but they are very expensive at about 100 GBP
[1] They alow a USB printer to connected to the parallel port of a computer!
The other probable problem is does the HP talk the correct language?
RISC OS can only printer to Colour lasers that are PostScript.
Not to PCL Colour or GDI (Sometimes called Host based, Direct, ...)
Which model HP is it?
We have a number of RISC OS compatible Colour lasers in stock all with
Parallel Ports and USB (One has a network interface built in as well!)
Chris Evans
--
CJE Micro's / 4D 'RISC OS Specialists'
Telephone: 01903 523222 Fax: 01903 523679
ch...@cjemicros.co.uk http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/
78 Brighton Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2EN
The most beautiful thing anyone can wear, is a smile!
Bill (Adopt)
Chris Evans <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <4fbf82d...@billsimpson.com>, Bill (Adopt)
> <URL:mailto:ad...@billsimpson.com> wrote:
> > In article <1f037ebf...@druck.freeuk.net>,
> > druck <ne...@druck.freeuk.com> wrote:
> > > On 15 Jul 2008 "Bill (Adopt)" <ad...@billsimpson.com> wrote:
> > > > Have just acquired, (sale or return), an HP Colour
> > > > LaserJet, which I intend attempting to connect to
> > > > a Risc PC (RISC OS 4.02).
> > [..]
> >
> > > > Is it possible for the lead to be connected in the
> > > > other direction ..ie, from the Risc PC's parallel
> > > > port to the HP printer's USB port
> > [..]
> >
> > > No that wont work, the lead is only for USB at the computer to the
> > > parallel port on the printer. The bi-directional nature refers to the
> > > ability to send printer status signals back to the computer.
> >
> > OK. Thanks, Druck. Helpful, concise and clear. :))
> Adaptors that do work in the other direction [1] do exist and we can get
> them but they are very expensive at about 100 GBP
> [1] They alow a USB printer to connected to the parallel port of a computer!
The set of adaptors and the parallel/usb lead (all
immediately returnable if they are suitable!),
already cost around 40.00gbp - so 100.00gbp might
not be a bad exchange in some circumstances!
About the same as a standard RISC OS 'card', I guess..
> The other probable problem is does the HP talk the correct language?
> RISC OS can only printer to Colour lasers that are PostScript.
> Not to PCL Colour or GDI (Sometimes called Host based, Direct, ...)
> Which model HP is it?
Again.. very useful information that I didn't quite
appreciate and I know there will be others 'out there'
who, inexperienced with laser printing, will be equally
thankful for your clarification.
The Color(!) LaserJet is a brand new, (still unboxed),
HP CP1215 - manufacturing date a few weeks ago, (with
usb port only, of course); it includes 16MB of onboard
memory, which 'John Lewis' reckon should be about
enough to cope with normal useage - given that it's
only a 600dpi and not a photo-printer as such.
(It's also very cheap - around 1/4 the price of the
LaserJet 5L back in 1995 - ideal for this Pensioner
with a bus pass)!
As for likely use, I'm not really interested in
wholesale colour photos, etc - mostly just adding
sensible colour to the occasioanl header print run,
as well as to spreadsheets, graphs, list identifiers
and suchlike, where experience indicates that the
intermittent use of an inkjet photo printer would be
enormously expensive and wasteful, with continual
power-on cycling cleaning routines, blocked cartridges
and so on)...
As for PostScript, I've never printed using PostSript
before, so have no experience of this driving method
- or how it compares in speed, access etc etc, especially
with an SA Risc PC's RISC OS 4.02.
High speed runs are not a requirement, either. I
don't print volumes of magazines and such like ..just
the odd run of one-off catalogues, individual sheets,
or just plain single sided one sheet letters. You'll
appreciate the odds.. :))
Presently using a Computer Concepts Turbo driver with
the now 13yr old HP LaserJet 5L ..which is still working
as well as the day it was bought ..except for the final
few sheets it chunks out as a lump if the paper 'tray'
is allowed to get really low. (I know! Standard fault
- and you have the kit to fix it in stock)!! ;))
Turbo driver has also been faultless - although the
LaserJet can print happily, if /very/ slowly, from
the Risc PC's 586 card, using Windows 95 and HP's own
set of drivers.
> We have a number of RISC OS compatible Colour lasers in stock all with
> Parallel Ports and USB (One has a network interface built in as well!)
Of course! :)) Is there anything that you don't have
in stock... ;'))
Thanks for your engaging and thoughtful reply, Chris ..
I'll probably call - and/or have a look-see on the
website(s) as well!
Brian Carroll
<ad...@billsimpson.com> wrote:
[Snip]
> Is it possible for the lead to be connected in the other
> direction ..ie, from the Risc PC's parallel port to the HP
> printer's USB port - ...
No. I infer that the printer has only a USB port.
[Snip]
> Secondarily ..is it possible to direct the Risc PC's standard
> (or CC non-dongled Turbo output) printer stream to it's unused
> UniPod USB output port and thence, via a simple USB lead, to
> the HP printer..?
Yes. But there are 2 stages to consider:
1. Connecting the printer to the USB port of UNIpod.
Connect the UNIpod port to the printer for which you may need a
cable with miniature connector at one end.
Switch on the printer then boot your RiscPC
Do Ctrl-F12 and enter *USBDevices . You should see 2 devices
listed: Device number 1 is the USB component of the UNIpod card,
Device number 2 should be your USB printer. This proves the USB
connection is OK. Under the latter look for
Vendor (0xVVVV) : Hewlett Packard Product (0xPPPP)
: USB Printer
Note down VVVV and PPPP.
2. Driving the printer.
You will have to find a suitable RISC OS driver for the HP Color
Laserjet. There is possibly something in Printing.PDFs.HP which
would work, at least partially, but I have no experience of HP
laser products so hopefully someone else will have a suggestion.
Drag your chosen PDF file to Printers on the iconbar then from
the iconbar Menu -> Printer control find the relevant entry for
this new printer (it should be at the end of the list).
Open Menu -> Connections, click 'File' then enter the string:
Devices#.$.USBPrinter_VVVV_PPPP
Click OK then Printer's iconbar Menu -> Save choices.
3. Print something :-)
I'm using RISC OS v 4.39 and Printers v1.64a and I have just
done all this from cold using a new connection from my UNIpod to
an Epson StylusColor900 printer (which is normally connected via
the parallel port). I used to use this with a USB card and the
info summarised here came, with the printer, from Jonathan
Briggs whose help long ago is acknowledged.
Brian.
--
______________________________________________________________
Brian Carroll, Ripon, N Yorks, UK briancarroll at f2s dot com
______________________________________________________________
Chris Evans
The CP1215 isn't PostScript or even PCL it is 'Host Based' so will never
work with RISCOS.
> As for PostScript, I've never printed using PostSript
> before, so have no experience of this driving method
> - or how it compares in speed, access etc etc, especially
> with an SA Risc PC's RISC OS 4.02.
Just as easy as using PCL and can be much quicker.
> > We have a number of RISC OS compatible Colour lasers in stock all with
> > Parallel Ports and USB (One has a network interface built in as well!)
>
> Of course! :)) Is there anything that you don't have
> in stock... ;'))
>
> Thanks for your engaging and thoughtful reply, Chris ..
>
> I'll probably call - and/or have a look-see on the
> website(s) as well!
Our entry level Colour laser isn't on the website yet, I'll give you the
details when you call.
Bill (Adopt)
Chris Evans <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <4fbfc06...@billsimpson.com>, Bill (Adopt)
> <URL:mailto:ad...@billsimpson.com> wrote:
[..]
> > The Color(!) LaserJet is a brand new, (still unboxed),
> > HP CP1215
> The CP1215 isn't PostScript or even PCL it is 'Host Based' so will never
> work with RISCOS.
> > As for PostScript, I've never printed using PostSript
> > before, so have no experience of this driving method
> > - or how it compares in speed, access etc etc, especially
> > with an SA Risc PC's RISC OS 4.02.
> Just as easy as using PCL and can be much quicker.
Thank you :))
[..]
> > I'll probably call - and/or have a look-see on the
> > website(s) as well!
> Our entry level Colour laser isn't on the website yet,
> I'll give you the
> details when you call.
Thanks, Chris! :))
I gather by 'Host Based' you mean driven entirely
by the onboard disc installed (PC) software - ie
with absolutely no onboard firmware and therefore
not entirely suitable unless my 586 card takes a
sudden major hike in speed.
I gather you also mean that it will be equally
unable to understand a PostScript print stream.
I'll ring you tomorrow, as I get the chance - and
will discuss the matter further with you then.
Many thanks for your continuing kind attention.. :))
Bill (Adopt)
Brian Carroll <bric-...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <4fbf75f...@billsimpson.com>, Bill (Adopt)
> <ad...@billsimpson.com> wrote:
[..]
> 2. Driving the printer.
> Devices#.$.USBPrinter_VVVV_PPPP
> 3. Print something :-)
Thank you indeed for your very useful instruction set,
Brian. :))
I've presently left them intact so that others coming
later might also save them as I have just done.
They have given me some insight into what is actually
happening with my UNIpod USB ports - unfortunately
SIMMTECH and, to a small degree, STD are not always
the easiest to follow for the non-techie.. ;))
Chris, (CJE), believes that even PostScript is not viable
with the HP CP1215 - so my immediate assumption must be
that should the UNIpods USB port work - the printer will
still be unable to understand the stream.
hmmm..! Nothing's ever easy, is it?! I daresay the
next 24 hours will turn up even more info...
Will speak later.. :))
..and many thanks for your expertise.. :))
Chris Evans
Yes
> I gather you also mean that it will be equally
> unable to understand a PostScript print stream.
Yes :-(