printing parallel over ethernet cable
- by Crudler
I have a bit of an interesting challenge :)
I have a machine with a parallel printer output, i want it to be able to print instead to a printer in a different room and i know that parallel isnt great over big distances.
i found this:
http://www.amazon.com/over-Cat5-Extension-Cable-Adapter/dp/B002WJ9S6Y%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAINHICTCYYZGJWT4Q%26tag%3Dusbprintercables.net-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB002WJ9S6Y
which will let me connect over cat5, but its usb to cat 5.
my machine can only output on parallel (its not a computer)
so what i was thinking of getting is a parallel(f) to usb and usb to parallel (M) for either side
i.e. machine - parallel - usb - cat5 - usb - parallel -printer
just seems a bit messy :)
suggestions?
another thing i would like to try is to get rid of the old school parallel printer and instead use a network based multi function. would this be possible?
i.e. machine - parallel -usb - cat5 - ethernet print server - network printer
this might be rougher because the machine cannot "know" that we are using a network printer. it can ONLY print to LPT1
Thanks!