Hi Joe:
I recently purchased an HP 40 inkjet printer. It works
perfectly. I plugged the printer into the USB ports. I went to
my file. I pressed F 2, went to file. I went through the
printing steps concerning page numbers. When it asked if I was
ready to print, I pressed Enter. I did even get the prompt as to
how many copies I wanted.
I got my printer from Universal Low Vision. The phone numbers
are:
614-224-6465, or 800-369-0347. The address is:
8 East Long Street Suite 210
Columbus Ohio 43215.
It does not come with the USB cable, but I had one. I believe
the price was around $140. They are great people, and understand
the technology it needs to work with.
Good luck on this. Yes, it really is frustrating!
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Giovanelli <[email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date sent: Wed, 13 May 2009 20:32:57 -0500
Subject: [GWN] printing
Hi, Listers,
I've been "messing" with various printers and none will print
using our Braille Pluses.
When we study the word processor section of the Braille Sense
manual, we find very detailed instructions about how to embossor
print. These instructions are well written and easy to follow.
At the end of the printing section we read that the printer we
use must be an HP or compatible printer and must support PCL 3 or
higher. Well, PCL stands for printer control language. If you
look up PCL, you'll discovered that there quite a few different
"languages.
I have a reasonably new laser printer, an HP 1020 P. I have no
idea what PCL it uses, but I was unable to print from the Braille
Sense.
Undaunted, I hunted around and found a couple of parallel
printers. I used the USB to parallel adapter, set the options
for a parallel port printer.
Unless there's another place in the manual about the adapter and
printing with a parallel printer.
I wrote to GW Micro support and was told that even parallel
printers must deal with PCL 3.
I have been involved with computers for close to 30 years and
have not encountered the PCL problem, either with DOS or with
Windows. Of course, Windows expect the correct drivers for the
printer in use. I wonder if these drivers are where this PCL 3
resides.
Our units do not ask for drivers. I'm sort of guessing here, but
it seems that we have just one driver, so if our printers cannot
work with it, we will not be able to print.
It isn't worth buying a printer which will work with our units
unless you do not have a computer and don't want one.
If you have a computer, get the file you wish to print and move
it to your computer and you'll print and save lots of time.
I've spent lots of time so hope I saved you from having to do the
same thing.
If I'm right about all this actually being a driver issue, it
would be better to just say something about that in the manual.
I hope this was of interest and help.
Joe G.
