Re: USB to Parallel adapter?


"Rich Grise" <richgrise@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:pan.2006.06.29.03.18.52.450156@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 19:12:42 -0700, Jim Thompson wrote:
On Wed, 28 Jun 2006 01:56:24 GMT, Joerg
Hello Jim,

I would think that one of you bit-bangers could design a USB-to-LPT
device and then write software to take parallel port commands and
convert them to USB (and back). No?

I was told by a (pretty good) Windows programmer that such a task of
near realtime control via USB can quickly turn into a major nightmare.
Deadline is near, stuff don't work, coffee, more coffee, Prozac...

You have to deal with numerous intricacies of Windows, a product that
isn't exactly known for flawlessness. Plus I guess the market potential
for a bitbang capable device would be slim.

So bit-bangers aren't up to analog-level design ?:-)


Ha, ha. It's not the connecting of the dots - it's trying to do _anything
at all_ synchronously on a Windoze OS.

Good Luck!
Rich


Apparently there is a low-level microsecond timer that can be accessed. See
http://www.codeproject.com/cpp/precision_timer.asp for some information.

Here is software that claims 1 millisecond asynchronous event scheduling:
http://www.ryledesign.com/winhrt.html

Here is another good reference page:
http://www.geisswerks.com/ryan/FAQS/timing.html

However, it is probably best to say goodbye to the fading parallel port. In
my case it may be a problem because I have some very expensive software
that is protected by a dongle, and reverts to DEMO mode if it is removed
(Save functions are disabled). I was worried about this in case I lost the
dongle or it stopped working, or having to pay a huge price for a USB
dongle. However, I found the ultimate solution. The VB script has a "Save"
function that is not disabled, so I don't really need the dongle after all!
Hooray for back doors!

Paul


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Interfacing to parallel port dongle via USB adapter
    ... But newer computers, particularly laptops, do not have these legacy ports and instead use USB to Parallel converters. ... The usual solution is to obtain a USB dongle from the software vendor, but they require the user to be on "maintenance" in order to get a USB dongle, and they impose outrageous penalties and payment of back support in order to be reinstated. ... But I want to see if it is possible to emulate a parallel port via USB that will be transparent to the software that interfaces with the dongle. ... The parallel port hardware is mapped into the PC I/O space, and access is not constrained on any descrete time boundaries. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Interfacing to parallel port dongle via USB adapter
    ... But newer computers, particularly laptops, do not have these legacy ports and instead use USB to Parallel converters. ... The usual solution is to obtain a USB dongle from the software vendor, but they require the user to be on "maintenance" in order to get a USB dongle, and they impose outrageous penalties and payment of back support in order to be reinstated. ... But I want to see if it is possible to emulate a parallel port via USB that will be transparent to the software that interfaces with the dongle. ... This is a newer dongle than the one used for another software package that interfaces to software sold by my associate to work with my product, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Dongle issues: parallel dongle, no parallel ports on computer
    ... SurfCam wants $$ to replace my Parallel dongle to a USB version). ... parallel port solution for non-parallel port equipped notebooks? ...
    (alt.machines.cnc)
  • Re: Dongle issues: parallel dongle, no parallel ports on computer
    ... SurfCam wants $$ to replace my Parallel dongle to a USB version). ... Besides, I KNOW that my parallel dongle has minimal encryption in it as the mathematics of encryption, let alone the technology did not even exist when I was issued a dongle. ... My new computer came without a parallel port. ...
    (alt.machines.cnc)
  • Re: [SLE] SuSe 9.0 - major problem with HP PSC 950 printer
    ... setup and/or kernel messages to verify correct base addresses in the ... * Some kind of deadlock with the services USB, ... for the PTAL service. ... This is why I recommend to use the parallel port whenever possible. ...
    (SuSE)
Loading