Parallel printer solution

By twiztidbeans
in Hardware Hangout

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twiztidbeans

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Hi guys, I don't post often but was looking for some help/advice. I have a computer that needs to print to two parallel printers simultaneously. I was looking for a hardware solution and ran across a parallel Y-splitter. With this solution printer 1 will print correctly; printer 2 will print some of the data, but it is rearranged. Has anyone had experience with a similar situation or know why a Y-splitter would not work? Any help you be much appreciated :)

p.s. - My software is locked down by our corporate office for security, so any software solutions are a bust.

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goretsky Supervisor

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Hello,

I can't think of any parallel printer duplication or "tee" software solutions. Could you print each document twice, instead? What about adding a second, USB-based printer to the computer?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

  • 2 weeks later...
Apprentice

twiztidbeans

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This is a restaurant POS system I am working with. McDonald's is going PCI Compliant with the new software upgrade NCR is rolling out this year. They have moved the order receipts from the Present Window printer to the Cash Window printer. This way the receipts are handed back with credit cards which is part of the new PCI compliance. We were using the receipts to know what order goes out the Present Window, especially for the double drive-thru with cars merging at random. The receipt that printed up WAS the next car coming to you. With the new system and no receipts to help with the order in which the cars come to you, yeah... its just chaos.

My solution was to redirect the printer to the second window. It worked fine but I was informed that the PCI Compliance is becoming a law, so I was looking for a work around. If I could print to both printers then I could had out the receipt at the cash window for legal compliance, and then have a correct order list for the second window. In turn we will now exactly what car is at the Present window.

I tired a parallel Y-splitter which worked fine when I originally tested it. The only issue I had was both printers had to be on. I'm splitting the cable, so it was understandable. In order to accomplish the 75ft to reach the other printer, McDonald's uses ATEN IC-164 parallel line extenders. With both printers connected using the correct parallel printer cables, both printers work fine. When I attach the line extenders, the present window printer receipts look garbled. Almost as if the printer is issuing the incorrect line breaks, causing the receipt to scramble.

mcdproblem.bmp

Rising Star

helpifIcan

Posted
Posted (edited)

This is a restaurant POS system I am working with. McDonald's is going PCI Compliant with the new software upgrade NCR is rolling out this year. They have moved the order receipts from the Present Window printer to the Cash Window printer. This way the receipts are handed back with credit cards which is part of the new PCI compliance. We were using the receipts to know what order goes out the Present Window, especially for the double drive-thru with cars merging at random. The receipt that printed up WAS the next car coming to you. With the new system and no receipts to help with the order in which the cars come to you, yeah... its just chaos.

My solution was to redirect the printer to the second window. It worked fine but I was informed that the PCI Compliance is becoming a law, so I was looking for a work around. If I could print to both printers then I could had out the receipt at the cash window for legal compliance, and then have a correct order list for the second window. In turn we will now exactly what car is at the Present window.

I tired a parallel Y-splitter which worked fine when I originally tested it. The only issue I had was both printers had to be on. I'm splitting the cable, so it was understandable. In order to accomplish the 75ft to reach the other printer, McDonald's uses ATEN IC-164 parallel line extenders. With both printers connected using the correct parallel printer cables, both printers work fine. When I attach the line extenders, the present window printer receipts look garbled. Almost as if the printer is issuing the incorrect line breaks, causing the receipt to scramble.

mcdproblem.bmp

Is there a chance you can add a second parallel port card to the POS and send to both printers?

Edited by John S.
removed response from the quote
Experienced

JamesCherrill

Posted
Posted

I got a parallel to USB converter for my old HP LaserJet when I replaced an old PC with one that had no parallel port. Worked perfectly - just plugged it in and added the printer.

I see no reason why you couldn't move one (or both) printers to USB this way.

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