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Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.questions
Subject: Re: Printing under FreeBSD 1.5.1.1
Message-ID: <ernstjdt.24.2E4F1397@ctech.ac.za>
From: ernstjdt@ctech.ac.za
Date: Mon, 15 Aug 1994 07:04:55 GMT
References: <32hijhINNgab@gambier.ugrad.cs.ubc.ca> <32mr6f$lca@netbsd08.dn.itg.telecom.com.au>
Organization: Cape Technikon
Nntp-Posting-Host: 155.238.48.27
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In article <32mr6f$lca@netbsd08.dn.itg.telecom.com.au> tdwyer@netbsd08.dn.itg.telecom.com.au (Terry Dwyer) writes:
>Subject: Re: Printing under FreeBSD 1.5.1.1
>From: tdwyer@netbsd08.dn.itg.telecom.com.au (Terry Dwyer)
>Date: 15 Aug 1994 12:33:05 +0800

>Markus Meister (h5h1@rick.cs.ubc.ca) wrote:

>: Not being a UNIX expert, I've been having a hard time printing to my
>: li'l 24-pin printer. I tried 2 different ways, with lpr and by writing
>: to /dev/lpt1
>: Both ways it prints, but extremely slowly.. the printer only prints a few
>: characters at a time... is this because my computer isn't very fast
>: (a DX2-66, as opposed to a real unix workstation), and FreeBSD just doesn't
>: give the printing a lot of attention, or is something set up wrong?


>You are no orphan, I and atleast one other person have exactly the same
>problem.  The printer driver in the kernel may be the problem, or the 
>new way interrupts are handled, at least with some cheap serial/paralell
>cards.  I've been in touch with the author of lpt.c who told me this.  He
>is a little busy for the moment and probably won't be able to fix the
>problem very soon.

>BTW, my hardware is DX2-66 and I've tried two printers, a Brother M-1709
>and an epson LX-800 with the same results.

>Sorry I can't help, maybe someone else has a patch?

>Terry

>: - Markus

>-- 
>   _-_|\    Terry Dwyer           E-Mail: tdwyer@netbsd08.dn.itg.telecom.com.au
>  /     \   System Administrator  Phone: +61 9 491 5161     Fax: +61 9 221 2631
>  *_.^\_/   Telecom Australia     Telstra Corporation       MIME capable mailer
>       v    Perth  WA                 ( I do not speak for Telstra or Telecom )

Hi

I solved my printer problems by going SERIAL - don't laugh! It works and for 
dotmatrix printers I think it works quite well.

The cable was a bit of a challenge and setting the correct stty for the 
port, but after a few sleepless nights its going like a bomb and my box (
486DX40) is not even feeling it.

If you like some info on how I did it, I'll post the required stuff.

Rdgs
Ernst
--
Ernst J. du Toit (TED5)           Internet: ernstjdt@maxwell.ctech.ac.za
School of Electrical Engineering  BELTEL  : 175250 / Amateur Radio: ZR1ABB
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