is there a splitter (aka A-B switch) for using two printers with one computer?
Any such animal out there in computer-printer land?
I have a old printer for misc. printing and a newer one for better quality and would like to use both with the flip of a switch.
I have a old printer for misc. printing and a newer one for better quality and would like to use both with the flip of a switch.
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Yes. May I add that you need to always use the same USB port so as not to confuse the print drivers. This can be an issue on a laptop. ... Thinkpads_User
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I've got a desktop and the cords from both printers are not USB.
In that case, a couple of small print servers (also noted above) may be the best idea. Parallel Port printer servers are cheap on eBay. Get one for each printer and put them on your network. This post is in general agreement with the post by theras2000 ... Thinkpads_User
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http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Way-DB-25-Manual-Parallel-Printer-Sharing-Switch-Box-/300457339597?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f4a72acd
will the above work?
$8.49 and free shipping sounds good to me.
I have no network.
will the above work?
$8.49 and free shipping sounds good to me.
I have no network.
Most probably. The price can't be beat even if, in the end, it does not suit your needs. I have seen those a long time ago. ... Thinkpads_User
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... a better choice -- if your PC has a spare PCI slot -- is to simply add a 2nd parallel port. This inexpensive card actually has two parallel ports: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815104231&cm_re=pci_parallel_port-_-15-104-231-_-Product
With that configuration, you don't need to remember to switch to the appropriate printer, as both printers will be available all the time.
With that configuration, you don't need to remember to switch to the appropriate printer, as both printers will be available all the time.
nick, have u considered just buying 2 cheap USB printers instead? Or heck, 1 laser printer. The stuff is so cheap these days. Might be worth it once you factor in the (a) ink, (b) cost of repair/replacement on such old devices, (c) time cost of fiddling with old stuff.
"I've got a desktop and the cords from both printers are not USB."
Are they even the same on both printers? If they're both parallel you can (still) buy parallel A-B switches. Or you can buy a parallel port PCI card.
If one port is serial and the other parallel, you can forget about it - but in that case the PC probably has both ports anyway.
Are they even the same on both printers? If they're both parallel you can (still) buy parallel A-B switches. Or you can buy a parallel port PCI card.
If one port is serial and the other parallel, you can forget about it - but in that case the PC probably has both ports anyway.
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both printers are parallel. I've got maybe 3 black and 3 color, new cartridges for both, so want to alternate back and forth, maybe once every couple weeks to keep from having to throw out the printers and the new ink. The deskjet 1220 may be old but is is like new, only used a few hours.
I use the 710C for misc. printing, stuff that will be thrown out at some point.
Both printers are in my control panel, so the drivers are here.
The only issue I found when using the 1220 at my father's house, was that you had to manually turn it on, and it would not turn on by itself once you clicked OK to a print job. My 710 C turns on automatically.
When I was given the computer and the 1220 printer, I hooked up my 710C because I like the auto turn on, feature.
I asked a question on EE about the 1220 not turning on auto, and never got any real solutions. Asked that many months ago.
I use the 710C for misc. printing, stuff that will be thrown out at some point.
Both printers are in my control panel, so the drivers are here.
The only issue I found when using the 1220 at my father's house, was that you had to manually turn it on, and it would not turn on by itself once you clicked OK to a print job. My 710 C turns on automatically.
When I was given the computer and the 1220 printer, I hooked up my 710C because I like the auto turn on, feature.
I asked a question on EE about the 1220 not turning on auto, and never got any real solutions. Asked that many months ago.
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http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Port-25-Pin-DB-25-Parallel-Printer-Sharing-Switch-Box-/140444459879?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b3246367
the one above says for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003.
O/S should not matter should it?
I have Vista.
the one above says for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003.
O/S should not matter should it?
I have Vista.
OS doesn't matter.
A mechanical print sharing switch is a somewhat older design (given that networks and print servers are now commonplace). But they are hardware devices, so it should not really matter what OS you use.
... Thinkpads_User
... Thinkpads_User
That switch box on ebay should work fine. Itis totally independent of the OS and requires no software at all.
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closing this question and Theras2000 was the first to provide a link to a switch.
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thanks....a few extra points for multiple comments of help.
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garycase:
so this item:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SYBA-PCI-Parallel-2-Port-I-O-Controller-Card-SD-PCI-P-/190454257992?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c57f55948
would work, and I'd select one printer, or the other, in my "printer" preferences?
so this item:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SYBA-PCI-Parallel-2-Port-I-O-Controller-Card-SD-PCI-P-/190454257992?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c57f55948
would work, and I'd select one printer, or the other, in my "printer" preferences?
yep and yep
As noted above, Yes the SYBA card will work fine -- and you could simply select the printer to use whenever you printed something. You could also set either printer as the "default" to use when you didn't change it in the printer preferences.
ASKER
ok thanks.
You dont need a switch. Connect both to the computer and choose it from the print program. if its parallel port you can find a parallel to usb converter.