Wanting to connect a Stylewriter 2500 to ethernet port on Powerbook in OS 9

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Wanting to connect a Stylewriter 2500 to ethernet port on Powerbook in OS 9

Hello all,

I'm wanting to use a Stylewriter 2500 directly with a Powerbook G3 to the Ethernet port to use the printer. If I got a Farallon iPrint Ethernet Adapter to connect the print from Serial to Ethernet would I need any additional extensions active or add any additional extension to the set I already have?

See 2nd reply for extension set here:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=348971&tstart=0

I know I would have to add the Stylewriter 2500 drivers, but hopefully nothing else?

Thanks a million.

PowerBook, Mac OS 9.0.x, OS 9 Forever!!!

Posted on Feb 13, 2006 7:29 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 14, 2006 9:13 AM in response to PSST

PSST,

Maybe check the Apple support section for older downloads for this printer. I have a feeling there may be something more recent, a more generic printer driver that covers all Stylewriters.

I used to use the Farallon EtherMac iPrint Adaptor to print from my iMac over Ethernet to serial to a Stylewriter 1200. It was fine. The only drivers needed was an updated set from Apple for Mac OS8 - that seemed to include a driver for every Stylewriter.

iPrint Adaptors are pretty thin on the ground, you would be lucky to get one for less than the cost of a brand new top of the range USB colour inkjet printer.

I use mine now to connect Ethernet LAN (and broadband) to a LocalTalk network of the IIci and SE. Works like a treat.

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Answer 2

Feb 14, 2006 9:19 AM in response to PSST

Hi, PSST -

As an alternate to the Farallon adapter, Asanté makes one that is commonly used with Macs -
AsantéTalk EtherTalk to LocalTalk Bridge

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Answer 3

Gloria P

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Feb 14, 2006 9:28 PM in response to PSST

By the way, I have a Stylewriter 2500 I would like to hook up and use, but it does not have the proper ink cartridges, ink, etc. Where do you get yours?

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Answer 4

PSST Author

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Feb 15, 2006 7:21 PM in response to Gloria P

GloriaP,

I used to be able to get Apple Stylewriter 2500 cartridges at Staples. Check there. If not, my girlfriend works for an ink cartridge refill company called Cartridge City. You can check out their website at www.redundantcartridge.com. They have compatible cartridges on hand, the BCI-21 Black is $5.95 and the BCI-21 Color is $14.95. They can take an order over the phone and send the cartridges out after payment is made over the phone. Cartridge City pays for the shipping to you.

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Answer 5

PSST Author

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Feb 16, 2006 12:19 AM in response to PSST

I'm sorry my post is not meant to sell a business or product. This was just my own personal experience for finding these cartridges. Also the cartridges happen to be Canon compatible. Which is what the original Stylewriters were.

Again my apologies, I don't want to be violating any forum rules.

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Answer 6

PSST Author

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Feb 16, 2006 12:21 AM in response to PSST

Many thanks to Simon Teale and Don Archibald again for all of your invaulable help.

-Thanks a million as always.

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Answer 7

PSST Author

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Feb 20, 2006 6:09 AM in response to PSST

Simon Teale,

Thanks for the info on the iPrint adapter. I had a couple of questions about it for you if you don't mind. How is the speed printing on a Stylewriter through Ethernet, is it slow? Also I use an Apple Airport card to connect to the internet, do I have to switch between the two of them, or can they both be used at the same time? Does Appletalk need to be active in order to print through Ethernet? Sorry for asking so many questions. I ordered one, and it's on it's way. But, I would greatly appreciate anything you could tell me about it.

-Thanks again.

PowerBook Mac OS 9.0.x OS 9 Forever!!!

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Answer 8

Feb 21, 2006 3:30 PM in response to PSST

PSST,

No problem with questions. Hope the answers are what you wanted to hear.

Stylewriter printing is never that quick and I did find it awfully slow and that was even just in B&W. It evetually got too slow for me, doing excel spreadsheets and some bitmap images, that I went out and bought a USB HP DeskJet.

I kept the Stylewriter connected to my IIci, so it had something to print on, for another 3 years (until my ink cartidge stash ran out), before giving it away.

You "should" be OK with an OS9 configuration with TCP/IP over Airport and AppleTalk over Ethernet. At worst though, I do remember something about AppleTalk needing to be on for TCP/IP in OS9, so you may need a TCP/IP and AppleTalk over Airport configuration, and a AppleTalk over Ethernet configuration, using Location Manager to quickly switch between the two.

There's also something nagging away at the back of my mind, about certain LocalTalk printers that won't work with this proposed setup. I think several models of LocalTalk printer could only be used by plugging them into a Mac and then connecting that Mac onto the Ethernet / LocalTalk adapter - a sort of System 7 Printer Sharing setup. If I could find some formal documentation for the adapter, I'm sure it would explain it exactly.

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Answer 9

PSST Author

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Feb 25, 2006 8:49 PM in response to Simon Teale

Hello all again,

I got the whole thing set up, but can you believe this after two years in storage I unpack my Stylewriter 2500 and found that I magically lost my serial printer cable! I've owned a lot of things over the years, and never lost a single thing connected to electronics! 🙂

I have a question though, if I order a replacement serial printer cable from we love macs, will the cable still work just as good as the original apple cable? I didn't want to have troubles with printing and data errors with the replacement cable.

Any help would be really appreciated. Many thanks as always.

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Answer 10

eww

Level 9

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Feb 26, 2006 9:21 AM in response to PSST

PSST: If you buy a proper Mac serial printer cable (regardless of brand), and it isn't defective (as you should expect), it will work fine.

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Answer 11

Mar 1, 2006 9:35 AM in response to PSST

PSST,

Like eww says, mine ran for years on LocalTalk / PhoneNet cable (ordinary phone cable) with a couple of small black PhoneNet / Serial converters (they don't do anything more than redirect the signal from the 6 wires in ordinary phone cable to the pins on a serial port). Worked a treat, once I worked out how to stop the converters coming out the back of the mac with just the slightest pull (ie weight of the cable).

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