Subject: Re: Parallel <---> Serial ?
From: supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)
Date: Tue, Dec 1, 1998 23Ç43 
Message-id: <19981202014332.13540.00001130@ng112.aol.com>

"John G." <johng@videotron.ca> wrote:

>O.K here is the question:
>
>Can I hook up a HP parallel port printer using the
>Harmonie drivers to an Apple IIgs' serial port by using
>a Parallel to serial port adapter/convertor. The unit I

Yes.  I have this setup, with a Canon BubbleJet.

>had in mind is one of two moodels from Global.
>
>One model is single conversion no power required with
>DB25 to Centronics connectors.
>
>The other model is a bi-directional converter with a 256K
>buffer again with DB25 to Centronics connections and 9V
>adapter for power.

I have the bi-directional model, but I'm sure the
single direction one works as well.  The
bi-directional one is cool because I can use it
to turn my Windows PC's LPT port into an
extra COM port if I need to by reversing the
direction.

>Both models support serial 300-57600 bps, odd, even,
>or no parity; 7 or 8 bit data; DCE-DTE switchable.
>
>Will these converters work for what I want to do or am I
>just wasting my time and should get a Parallel Card
>for the GS.

They work WONDERFULLY on the IIGS.  I
went with the converter because I had no luck
with parallel cards.  First, I stuck in the Grappler+
parallel card from my (now dead) IIe and tried
to print to the Canon.  It sort of worked, but I
kept getting missing pixels every several lines.
Then I picked up a cheap Fingerprint+ card
and put it in the IIGS.  The Fingerprint card's
screen dump functions don't work on the IIGS,
but I tried to use it as a dumb serial card.  All
I got was garbage.

At the point, I decided enough was enough.
I read about serial to parallel converters in
GS+ magazine when they reviewed a
portable DeskJet.  I was impressed, got a
bi-directional converter, and my Canon works
FINE with Harmonie ever since.

Good luck!