How the heck do you get two parallel port printers to work on one PC?

[JackBurton]

This guy needs to hook up two parallel port printers to one machine, how the heck do you set that up? It would REALLY help if the guy could go out and buy at least ONE USB printer but nooooo, he want these printers hooked up. Anyway, any help would be most appreciated.

 

[ElFenix]

buy a pci parallel card

 

[JackBurton]

Doh! Should have thought of that. Thanks man.

 

[spanky]

or get an A/B switch.

 

[corkyg]

Spanky007 has it right - just get a A-B switch and select which you want. You can't print on more than one at a time anyway.

 

[sciencewhiz]

most modern printers use a status monitor which is in constant communication with the printer. It will complain (often quite loudly) if you use an A/B switch, because it is disconnected from it's printer for half the time.

It is probably similar in cost for a good AB switch and a pci parallel port card.

 

[DeschutesCore]

Most A/B Switches need to support BiDirectional communications, and those run around 29+. A PCI parallel card, around 29, much better choice considering the status monitors sciencewhiz mentioned.

And yes, you CAN print with two printers at once.

DC.

 

[dj4005]

Going the route of the PCI parallel card also saves you the expense of a third cable.

 

[JackBurton]

Anyone know of a good PCI parallel card? I found one at newegg.com for $18 but i don't know if it is any good. It is a Koutech I/O Flex-1NP Interface Card.

 

[DeschutesCore]

Lava makes some extremely popular cards, and they seemed to have good driver support the last time I installed one. Anything from Siig might work as well.

DC

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
most modern printers use a status monitor which is in constant communication with the printer. It will complain (often quite loudly) if you use an A/B switch, because it is disconnected from it's printer for half the time.

that's why i hate install those proprietary printer softwares. just gimme a windows driver and thats all i want/need dammit!