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Manual Switch Box

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by conjh13 2 views

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I have a manual switch box used to connect one parallel port with two - ie. to connect one PC with two printers. I'd like to use it to connect one Win98SE PC to a Dot Matrix printer and a fairly new HP LaserJet printer. Is there any reason this should not work? And if it would work, is there any reason not to use it? Is there any way it could be harmful to either the computer or one of the printers?

The switch is a beige metal unit approximately 2" height x 4" depth x 6" width. On the frontit has a black knob allowing you to select between 'A' and 'B'. In tiny print along the lower edge it says 'Data transfer switch.' On the back it has three parallel ports, one labled I/O, another labled 'A', and a third labled 'B'.

6 replies

by liquidcoolit

Those Switcher boxes work like a charm. you might have to set your Parallel port on your PC to standard mode. Not ECP/EPP. Otherwise the Dot matrix might not work.

There is no reason why it won't work.

Cheers ....

by buffalodan

HP has NEVER recommended the use of a manual switchbox along with their line of Laser jet
printers.

yes it could be harmful, the metalic components associated with a manual switch are more subject to static electricity charges than a software operated switch would be, thus increasing the risk of damage to the HP input port.

by buffalodan

a second parallel port on an adapter card would probably only cost 10-15 bux, installs as a pci or isa card, and is very easily configured as lpt2. this way, both printers could be online simultaneously, and selected when needed.

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