Citizen Printer

Does someone make a 100% compatible Parallel port card?

I have been trying to hook up a Epson POS printer that worked fine with an older computer with a new computer that doesn't have a integrated Parallel port and I tried a couple PCI add-in cards and couldn't make it work. I called Epson and they told me that the printer won't work with add-in cards. I did some research and found that most cards emulate a Parallel port with their drivers. My logic is that If I get a DOS compatible card it works just like a motherboard port. But maybe it just uses special DOS drivers. Anybody have more information? I have been looking at this card http://www.startech.com/item/PCI1PECP-1-Port-EPPECP-Parallel-PCI-Card.aspx A new printer for my needs is $300

Public Comments

1. just buy a new printer
2. The problem you are seeing is the current drain. The older parallel port used TTL output and new ones use CMOS. That means newer ones have the far less capability to provide sufficient current. Two thins you can do: 1) use MUCH shorter cable. No, it is not the resistance that cause the voltage drop, but the capacitance. I am not going to explain why as I don't think you'd want to know why. 2) find an older ISA based not PCI based card. Many of these follow the older standard. I'd ignore EPSON's comment that they won't work with expansion cards. Regardless of where they are, they are just ports. The printer won't be able to tell the difference.