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LaserJet 4 with Sys 7.5.5 & 8.1 SERIAL Port issues

Aoresteen

Well-known member
I have a loaded HP Laserjet 4. It has the PostScript SIMM, 26 MB ram (max it can have with the PS SIMM), extra high capacity paper tray, and the PS font cartridge. The JetDirect card does *NOT* have a Local Talk port.

I have the proper Apple serial cable and want to drive the printer via the serial port.

When I use the the LaserJet driver 8.1 it will not let me use the serial port. It insists on using AppleTalk.

Any idea on haw to use the serial port?

Mac is a loaded Quardra 605 with System 7.5.5 and OS 8.1.

Thanks!

 

Aoresteen

Well-known member
For reasons I'd rather not go into, Ethernet is off-limits to my Quadra. I found a JetDirect card on ebay that has AppleTalk/LocalTalk on it. Cost was only $13. I have a box of AppleTalk/PhoneTalk connectors in my storage unit. I spent some time screwing with the serial port but it's a dead end.

Thanks!

 

Aoresteen

Well-known member
I gave Ethernet a go but I have issues. I can't get the Mac to see the LaserJet.

How do I configure the LaserJet driver with the IP address of the LaserJet 4? This is getting way too hard.

The hub works. The cables work. The printer works as I tested all these with my WinXP computer. Any Idea on haow to get the Mac to see the LaserJet on the Ethernet network?

 

CelGen

Well-known member
I remember configuring the JetDirect module through the VFD panel on the printer. Then I used Apple's LaserWriter network printer in the chooser to point at the IP and say it was a LaserJet 4M.

 

NJRoadfan

Well-known member
As said above, the JetDirect is configured by the printer's control panel. Be sure to enable the Appletalk protocol to see the printer in chooser. TCP/IP is only supported by later releases of Mac OS. Localtalk unlike Ethernet should work "out of the box", just connect it and enable Localtalk on the Mac and it should appear in Chooser. You don't even need PhoneNet, a standard 8-pin to 8-pin MiniDIN cable is fine.

 
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