LocalTalk to USB adaptor?

I just got an almost new HP Laserjet 2100 TN printer.

It has a standard Parallel port and a "8 pins LocalTalk" port.

I tried to plug my iBook G3 to the Parallel Port with a "USB-Parallel" wire. (That method works fine on a Pc!)
Didn't work.

Since LocalTalk was a Mac standard in the old days, I was wondering if there is a USB to LocalTalk adapter that would allow me to print my iBook documents on that printer?

Thanks for trying to help me!

Ben

IBook G3 350Mhz, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Jun 4, 2007 10:05 PM

22 replies

Jun 6, 2007 7:54 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I got this printer used. Almost new, but used anyway.
I do not know how it got that adress.
I obtained it by pressing simultaneously the two buttons on the printer, which generate a kind of report. The adress was on it.

So I really don't know how it was configured.

As to what program I used to get that error message,
First: I deactivated airport.
Second I went to System preferences/network and selected internal Ethernet instead of Airport.
Third: In Safari 1.0 (that still works fine) I entered the adress 192.0.0.192 as suggested.

And I immediately got back that error message.

There was also a Header to the page saying Hewlet-Packard or HP (not sure)

That's it...

Maybe I would be able to borrow a router for today. Would it be easier to have one to reprogram the printer? Or do I really need a Pc? I could also borrow my neighbour laptop...

Isn't it odd to need a Pc to help a Mac? Would do a very nice ad!

Jun 6, 2007 8:13 AM in response to Benoit St-Onge

Ok!
I borrowed the neigbour's Pc.
Hooked the the Crossover wire to the Pc and Printer.
Activated Internet Explorer.
Enter the following adress: http://192.0.0.192/

Got back an error message saying that IE is not able to show that web page.

I guess I should have expected that!
A Pc should never work better than a Mac...
So How come it works fine when i plug a USB to Parallel cable between that printer and a Pc? And I'm not able to do ANYTHING with my mac?

Jun 6, 2007 8:40 AM in response to Benoit St-Onge

There is a program called Web Jet Admin that seems to work only on PCs. It may allow you to configure the printer and change its IP address to something closer to the address of your Mac:

Download HP Web Jet Admin for windows XP

Jun 6, 2007 10:06 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Started it.
Was asked to many question that I didn't understand...
Got scared. (It's not my Pc after all!)
Canceled.

Any other way?

I give up...

Is there ANY HP Laser printer that works fine with OS X.2.8 and an iBook G3???

Jun 6, 2007 10:30 AM in response to Benoit St-Onge

You need to get the printer onto the same subnet as your computer to print to it. If it won't readily come to you... why not move closer to it!

Printer default is 192.0.0.192. You could change your Built-In Ethernet Address to from "Using DHCP" to "Manually" and set the address for the built-in Ethernet to something in the 192.0.0.xxx range, and subnet 255.255.255.0. This change only requires Preferences changes, and you seem much more comfortable with those.

This change should not impact your Airport configuration.

Jun 6, 2007 11:40 AM in response to Benoit St-Onge

SOMETHING NEW!!!

Went to one of my friends office.
Plugged the printer into the office's router.
Tried adding the printer on a iMac G4 running Os X.2.8.

Runs perfectly!

Why does it work on a router but not with a crossover wire is a mystery.

If I buy a router, plug in it the printer and the Cable Modem;
will I be able to access the Internet through Airport AND print wireless?
Or will I need to connect my iBook to the router with a cable in order to print?

Jun 6, 2007 12:16 PM in response to Benoit St-Onge

When the printer powers up and sees that there is a DHCP Server available, it takes the Address provided by the DHCP server rather than its default. If you had a Hub or Switch that the printer could see, and could connect it also to the second Ethernet port on a White Airport base station, you could do the same thing.

Another way to do this would be to get a Router, and use your AirPort Base Station only as a wireless Access Point, not a full-fledged access point plus Router. (It is just a matter of changing a few settings, and no performance penalty.)

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LocalTalk to USB adaptor?