Imagewriter II and Lion.

Good. And the self-test still works?

Hopefully a correct cable will be all you need to get it working.

Self-Test is working just fine. Thanks

John,

My cable arrived today and I am definitely almost there. The computer is now communicating with the printer. It actually prints the file that I send from Simple Text. No more back and forth print head movement when the printer is turned on.

The only issues that I am having now are:

1. The printer is going over each line twice, so the text is extra dark.

2. The printer is splitting some lines of text horizontally right through the characters.

Take a look...

I'm hoping this is a minor issue.

Thanks again for all your help!

Todd

I did one more test with a bitmap graphics image saved as a PDF. This is the print followed by the original image. On a side note from these remaining printing issues, what is the maximum number of horizontal pixels and the maximum number of characters per line that the Imagewriter 1 can print? Thanks!

Todd

It looks like any communications problems are solved.

Turn off the ImageWriter, open DIP switch 2 - 8 (flip it up) then turn it on again. The extra line feeds will cease.

Pixels per inch is 72, but characters per line isn't really a factor any more unless you are sending ASCII character data and using the ImageWriter's ROM character set, which we aren't doing here. If we were, one could choose from a number of different character sets ranging from the smallest, 17 characters per inch to the largest, 9 cpi. To do that you'd be using using a program intended to access the USB to serial converter directly which would bypass the raster generator and all its inconvenience.

The Mac has strictly been a bitmapped machine since its inception, but earlier, "classic Mac" OS versions had the ability to specify draft output to the ImageWriter for purposes of text-only output. That would cause it to print ASCII characters from its ROM. It was kind of a mess since extra spaces had to be inserted between words to make each line have contain the same number of words as you saw on the screen. If you really want to print ASCII letters and numbers you'll have to send character data using Terminal or a terminal emulator, or write a program to do it.

Great! I'll give this a whirl when I get home.

Is there any way to stop the printer from making two passes on each line that it prints? This double pass causes the text or image to look a bit messy or blurry.

Thanks, I really appreciate all the help and information!

Todd

When you print a document look for a dropdown menu to select "Printer Features" and a resolution choice should appear. The one you are using is probably 144 dots per inch. Choose 72 dots per inch and see if it prints using only one pass instead of two.

Choosing a different printer driver may also be instructive. Instead of "iwhi" choose a different one. When you do that, it may be less confusing to start by creating a brand new print queue instead of trying to change the existing one.

John,

SUCCESS! THANK YOU for all your help!!

Todd

I came across this thread today when searching on how to make an IW II work with Mavericks. Thanks all for the informaiton!

I do have a couple questions:

I am having a difficult time finding the USA-28X, I see on Amazon a 28-XG model, will this work?

I use several other USB-serial adapters for various things. One is a Keyspan 19HS, and another is a proliffic chipset built into a cable for a radio/computer interface. The last time I "messed" with these drivers, etc. I was installing the updated driver to the 19, which somehow replaced the driver for the radio's USB adapater. Is there a way to avoid this "Cross Contamination" as I spent a significant amount of time straightening that mess all out.

Thanks in advance, it would be nice to use my IW again!

John

JLModer2 wrote:

I am having a difficult time finding the USA-28X, I see on Amazon a 28-XG model, will this work?

Yes. The Keyspan / Tripp-Lite USA-28XG is the most recent model and will work. The only difference between the latest model and its predecessor USA-28XB is the addition of RoHS compliance. The USA-28XA was produced for only a short time and had a slower clock speed than the XB. All those hardware variants are otherwise interchangeable.

Though it has now been discontinued, at the moment the driver for OS X "Mountain Lion" can still be downloaded from Tripp-Lite here: Driver for USA-28XG (Mac OS X 10.6.x to 10.8.x).

It is a 64 bit driver and 100% compatible with Mavericks, though there is no guarantee it won't conflict with some other driver such as the one you used for the radio interface.

Drivers for older Mac OS versions may be found on this page: http://www.tripplite.com/products/discontinued?fw1pk=2

The original, USA-28 model used a different chipset, does not use the same driver, and I don't recommend it. The only similar current production unit is the USA-19HS, but it uses a DB9 connector. Some time ago I posted cable fabrication details for it elsewhere on this site, or you can probably find a suitable cable already made, but it's easier just to purchase a USA-28XG if you can find one.

Another option for the ImageWriter is to use a serial print server, another subject altogether that I have not yet discussed on this site. It may be a more attractive solution in that it does not require installing any kernel extensions, which always raises the possibility of a conflict now or in the future.

Thanks John.

So, tell me more about the Serial Print Server you speak of. I would much prefer a way to put the IW on the network if that is a possibility. The idea of not installing kernel extensions is very appealing as well. What do you suggest for the box itself?

Thanks for all your advice!!

John

This is one I have used: http://www.lantronix.com/it-management/print-servers/eps2-100.html

There are others.

The printer is added in the same manner as any other IP printer: OS X Mavericks: IP printer settings and can be available to any Mac on your network, wired or wireless.

I also found a wireless serial device server that I had intended to turn the ImageWriter into a "wireless printer," but I haven't found the time to figure that out yet.

Thanks John.

I'll try to get my hands on one.

Is there any trick to building the cable then? Does soemone make a 25pin-8pin din adpater or is it best to just hack one of my cables and put a 25 pin connector on it? Pins?

John

That print server includes a cable that ends in a DB9F.

You will need a "null modem" adapter, but after that all that is required is a Mini-DIN 8 to DB9 adapter, with appropriate genders to connect to a standard Apple "peripheral-8" cable. Sources include Monoprice, CablesToGo, and an eBay vendor that I mentioned in the User Tip. There is nothing special to making a cable but the above sources are way too inexpensive to bother.

I fabricated a DB9M to Mini-DIN 8 cable for the USA-19HS, but I since replaced it with the USA-28XG and didn't want to do that again. That sort of tedium is only fun the first time.