As suggested in the post, we have tried with no avail to get a USB to Serial adapter to work since Windows 10 1703 update. We bought the FTDI adapter as suggested, updated the driver for the prolific as suggested, tried to switch to Microsoft USB to Serial, only to blue screen the machine. Usb To Parallel Port Driver Lpt1 Driver for Windows 7 32 bit, Windows 7 64 bit, Windows 10, 8, XP. Uploaded on 3/26/2020, downloaded 1080 times, receiving a 91/100 rating by 584 users.
A description for do-it-yourself;Device no more available,see bottom of page for possible alternativesThis deviceenables connecting of aUSB printer to an old-style parallel port.LPTzUSBkann be attached either directly or with an extension cable to computer'sprinter port. (LPTzUSB has a 25-pin SubD male connector).On the other face of LPTzUSB, a standard USB cable has to be connectedto the printer (LPTzUSB has a 4-pin USB-A socket).The Host Controller used supports USB Full-Speed (12 Mbit/s)and Low-Speed (1,5 Mbit/s) but not High-Speed (480 Mbit/s).All known printers use USB Full-Speed.
The use of an external AC/DC adaptor is highly recommended.It must supply (exactly or at least, depending on revision, see below)5 V and at least 50 mA.
USB hubs between LPTzUSB and printer are currently not supported.However, multi-function devices (with scanners, card readers, etc.)are supported, but only for printing.
This device is not suitable for capturingprinter data with another PC!For this purpose, another project namedLptCap exists.That device allows, in conjunction with my service-like application softwareSPE,re-formatting of printer data to any Windows printer(including PDF generators and FAX transmitters),i.e. translation of printer languages.
This device is not suitable for the opposite direction!For this purpose, USB→ParallelPrinter converters are widely availablefor about 5 € each.For connecting things other than printers, my projectUSB2LPT exists.
Recommended for connecting USB printers to:
- Windows95 systems (or older)
There must exist an appropriate printer driver for the desired operating system! Or the printer must support a common language like PostScript, PCL, ESC/P or Text-Only - older PCs or laptops/notebooks
There are IMHO no ISA USB cards around - Parallel Printer Switch Boxes (2 PCs at 1 printer or similar)
You may combine with USB to Parallel Converters too! - Pocket databases, ancient computers (Apple Classic, C64, Amiga, Atari…)
- Bureau machines, cash stations, store-managing systems
- Tool machines (e.g. for a protocol printer)
Not recommended for:
- Computers with PCI slots should be upgraded with (cheap) USB cards
- Something else than printers.
USB memory will be supported in the future, LPTzUSB will then simulate a remote computer for Total Commander. - USB dongles (software protection devices) cannot be supported ever!
- DOS software that runs in a Windows' DOS box and will print to an LPT: Here, a software-only solution is much better that redirects output to USB. (VDD in preparation)
Successor model:
A successor of the device described below is in preparation using eitherPIC32MX420,AT32UC3B0128,orLM3S5632 microcontroller.This will break the 30 kByte/s data transfer rate of the current design,and is even cheaper.Use as development kit:
Because this converter contains a well-known microcontrollerATmega16 and a „bidirectional“ USB Host+Device controller,an enthusiastic programmer can make very different things.For example, a USB mouse to serial or PS/2 converter,a USB keyboard to DIN or PS/2 converter, a copy devicefrom a USB scanner or digital camera to a USB printer (via Hub) etc.Making the device
I have used professional PCBs. All production data is availablein Eagle (a German PCB CAD software) format.For minimizing effort for reflow process, all SMDs are on one side only.Parts list / Bill Of Materials
LED 3mm rt | 0,05 | |
LED 3mm gn | 0,05 | |
USB socket Type A | USB AW | 0,20 |
Hollow socket | HEBW 21 | 0,26 |
„Infantry“ | PCC2233CT-ND | 0,156+ *2 |
X7R-G0603 100n | 0,05 *2 | |
NPO-G0603 22p | 0,05 *2 | |
BCN16 22k | 0,02 | |
BCN16 22 | 0,02 | |
SMD-0805 2k2 | 0,08 *2 | |
BAT 54C | 0,07 | |
1N4148SMD | 0,04 | |
Housing | COM 938 | 0,30 |
PCB | ul-11.brd | 5,00 |
USB cable | AK 672/2-2,0 | 0,60 |
Component placement
SMD components and crystal are placed as usual.Known from USB2LPT there are two sockets thatwill be placed as edge-mount devices although not suited for.
The SubD plug can be easily mounted in edge-mount technology.
Housing: Don't forget the holes for LEDs and the labels.
Programming
Programming of ATmega16 will be done with AC/DC converter and a specialparallel-port adapterdirectly at the parallel port, e.g. with PonyProg.The RESET connection will be done via internal solder bridge SJ2.This bridge must be closed for programming and may remain closed for operating the device.All JTAG signals are fed to the SubD plug too (for programming and/or debugging), but I've not used these pins anymore.The PonyProg configuration bits must be set as shown in the following picture:
Software
- Schematic, Eagle data of PCB, Programming adaptor for PonyProg
- New: Rev.1 with internal 5V regulator eliminates the need for a regulated AC adaptor:
Schematic, Eagle data of PCB, Programming adaptor is the same - Firmware for microcontroller
Usage
- Original device
- An AC/DC adaptor with regulated output voltage 5 Vis highly recommended!The device is protected against wrong polarization but not against overvoltage!
- Rev.1 (after 2007)
- An AC/DC adaptor with at least 8 V output voltage is necessary.Non-regulated output is sufficient.
For running of LPTzUSB, a RS232 to TTL converter is recommended too.So you can observe data transmission and other useful things,e.g. using HyperTerminal at 38400 Baud. See following picture:Note that the ATmega16 program instructs HyperTerminal to draws thecolored picture. There is no special Windows program necessary for nice output.
The bytes of descriptors shown have following meaning:
- USB address (without HUB always 01)
- USB device class (printer: 07)
- USB device subclass
- USB protocol
- Number of Configuration (mostly 01)
- Number of Interface (mostly 00)
- Number of Alternate Setting (mostly 00)
- Number of Endpoints (not counting EP0)
- EP0: Bits:
- 7: Direction (1=IN) [Not valid for EP0]
- 6: Toggle
- 5-4: Transfer type, 00=Control, 01=ISO, 10=Bulk, 11=Interrupt
- 3-0: Endpoint Number
- EP0: FIFO size
- EPx: Bits for next Endpoint etc.
- EPx: FIFO size for next Endpoint etc.
Delivery
Although this device requires an AC/DC adaptor, supplying this heavy deviceoutside Germany is not recommended!Frequently Asked Questions
Furthermore, you have the possibility to print to a fileand copy the .PRN file to a USB capable PC and print it out there.Moreover, Ethernet to USB printer converters are widely available.
Making such a device is possible since one or two years(!)
![Cable Cable](https://sc01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB11LS.lwnH8KJjSspcq6z3QFXaw/USB-to-parallel-adapter-LPT-36-pin.jpg_350x350.jpg)
Supplying power in reverse direction is never intended in the host-centricUSB specification.
You can watch the current voltage at HyperTerminal.
Wheel re-invented! Sorry.
- The company C-Logic in India has built such a device, as you can't see at this Cypress page. For obtaining you should write to C-Logic.
- Since August 2006, there is another company in Israel that produces a similar device called „LPT2USB“.
- AK-Nord, a German webshop
- ipcas GmbH, offers a multi-function device with Ethernet and logging to a USB stick.
- Jacobi C.E.O.S. offers a device for 79€ (2010, incl. VAT).
- lpt2usb.net has one for 69 US$ (2010, VAT ??), it's IMHO the cheapest commercial thing.
Keeping state-of-the-art
The following, more modern solutions, need power too.The second solution needs another PC.Development board with USB host controller
![Driver Lpt Usb Converter Driver Lpt Usb Converter](http://www.cnc1.eu/files/images/stories/UC100_USB_controller/UC100_01.gif)
Then you need a piece of software continuously running on that Raspberry,that will take the parallel port data, possibly filter them, and put them to your USB printer.Typically this is best done with the “native” languagePython.
LptCap and a PC
If you already have a PC near your problem, you can capture parallel port data into USBusing this incredible simple circuitry, with no 5 V ↔ 3.3 V level conversion hassle at all.The PC then can process and output (redirect) to any printer.The page above offers solutions ready to run on Windows.The glue logic that is sometimes required when using an FT245R chip can be avoidedby using a dedicated microcontroller like ATmega32U4 on an Arduino Mini boardor a naked PIC16F2459 on a breadboard (that chip doesn't need a crystal).
Warning:
The USB to Parallel adapter is no longer manufactured and sold.
For an overview of all oscilloscopes, visit the Oscilloscopes page.
The USB to Parallel adapter is no longer manufactured and sold.
For an overview of all oscilloscopes, visit the Oscilloscopes page.
The USB to Parallel adapter is a dedicated interface for TiePie engineering instruments, it is not a universal adapter for e.g. a printer or another parallel port device. It will only work with:
The special software for these instruments, that supports the USB to Parallel adapter, is no longer updated, but will remain available through this web site.
The USB to Parallel adapter is only supported by Windows 98 - Windows XP, 32 bit only. Newer Windows versions and 64 bit Windows version are not supported.
Specifications
The tables below show detailed specifications of the USB to Parallel adapter.
USB to Parallel adapter | |
---|---|
Connectors | USB plug type A 25 pins female D-sub |
Cable length | 1.8 m (70 inch) |
Power supply | 200 mA from down stream port |
Weight | 150 g (5.3 ounce) |
Color | Black |
Downloads
Download the software, drivers and manual for the Handyprobe HP2, Handyscope HS2 and TiePieSCOPE HS801 to use with the USB to Parallel adapter.
Manual
Description | Version | Remarks | Size |
---|---|---|---|
USB to Parallel adapter installation manual | English | 68.32 kB | download |
Handyprobe HP2
Other Handyprobe HP2 related downloads can be found on the Handyprobe HP2 page.
Description | Version | Remarks | Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Handyprobe HP2 USB to parallel adapter driver | 1.30.0.1 | Windows 98/ME/2000/XP 32 bit | 369.46 kB | download |
Handyprobe HP2 WinSoft measurement software (32 bit, USB) | 2.87 | Windows 98/ME/2000/XP | 1.96 MB | download |
Handyscope HS2
Other Handyscope HS2 related downloads can be found on the Handyscope HS2 page.
Description | Version | Remarks | Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Handyscope HS2 USB to parallel adapter driver | 1.30.0.1 | Windows 98/ME/2000/XP 32 bit | 369.45 kB | download |
Handyscope HS2 WinSoft measurement software (32 bit, USB) | 2.87 | Windows 98/ME/2000/XP | 1.97 MB | download |
TiePieSCOPE HS801
Other TiePieSCOPE HS801 related downloads can be found on the TiePieSCOPE HS801 page.
Description | Version | Remarks | Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
TiePieSCOPE HS801 USB to parallel adapter driver | 1.30.0.1 | Windows 98/ME/2000/XP 32 bit | 369.23 kB | download |
TiePieSCOPE HS801 WinSoft measurement software (32 bit, USB) | 2.87 | Windows 98/ME/2000/XP | 2.06 MB | download |