[Ham-Computers] Using USB printer for DOS program??

Sat, 08 Jun 2002 09:28:25 -0700

Phil, et al,

While it is certainly true that DOS never supported USB. A number of
individuals
and companies have developed USB after market drivers both free and fee for
DOS.

That said, and without knowledge of the OS your running you can get a USB to
serial
converter and connect the printer to  one of the serial ports. Then, edit
autoexec.bat
and enter a line mode lpt1:comx (where x = the com port number of the serial
port),
you may have to add bit rate, error checking and data bits as follows:

mode lpt1:com1 96,7,e

Use the mode help command for exact syntax.

The DOS program will call lpt1 and this will inturn call com1. Your USB
printer may
use com4 or 3. Look in the hardware config to see what the USB port is using
for
and interrupt.

I'm assuming your on a windows dirrivitave such as Win95/98, there are a
number of
after market boards from companies like SIIG that are fairly cheap and they
usually
come with drivers that might also be of use.

You needn't use the USB to serial converter for the mode command. I'd try
that
first to see if it works before buying a serial to USB converter.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Mike (KF6MPI)

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Duane Fischer,
W8DBF
Sent: Saturday, June 08, 2002 8:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Ham-Computers] Using USB printer for DOS program??

I concur. Further, although DOS does not require an installation, persay,
Windows does. Phil will need the printer drivers for this. If for DOS only,
he
should need nothing but a parallel port, preferably lpt#1 or com#1,
depending on
the printer, of course.

----------
From: R Goodspeed (W7DGX) <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Ham-Computers] Using USB printer for DOS program??
Date: Saturday, June 08, 2002 2:08 AM

Phil,

As far as I know, DOS has never supported USB ports.

If you can get your printer operating on the parallel port, both windows and
DOS
supports that port.

          Rolly

Philip Atchley wrote:

> Hello all
> I have a Epson Stylas Photo 820 printer on this machine.  It has either a
> parallel or USB interface.  I'm using it  on the USB bus and it is set as
> the default printer.
>
> Problem is this.  I have a DOS logging program running in a window that
I'm
> using for all my Beacon logging as it is much more convenient and
versatile
> for that task.  BUT, if I attempt to print anything from that program to
the
> Epson, it bombs out saying there is no printer on LPT1.  It then tries to
> print the task to the "Acrobat PDF Writer" which is a pseudo printer for
> creating .pdf files.  Of course that bombs out too.
>
> Anyway to tell the DOS program to look for the printer on the USB?
>
> 73 de Phil  KO6BB
>
> Loving home provided for wayward Boatanchor Receivers
> [email protected]
> Merced, Central California
> 37.18N  120.29W  CM97sh
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ham-Computers mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/ham-computers

_______________________________________________
Ham-Computers mailing list
[email protected]
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/ham-computers
_______________________________________________
Ham-Computers mailing list
[email protected]
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/ham-computers