jewett@mcnc.org (Rusty Ford Jewett) (01/02/89)
I am trying to use an Epson LX-800 printer with a Tandy 1000A computer. I need to do graphics dumps, as well as to have programs that normally support Epson printers to be able to print to the printer. I have managed (with much heartache) to be able to do normal graphics dumps using the printscreen option, but when using PCpaint or a CAD program, I end up with an extra linefeed in between each printed line. It looks like a venetion blind. With PCpaint, it also prints each line twice, one below the other. Does anyone have any idea how I can solve these problems? If it helps any, I was able to remove the extra linefeed when using the printscreen option by using the "mode lfoff" command. Thanks in advance!!! Rusty (jewett@alvin.mcnc.org)
andyross@igloo.UUCP (Andrew Rossmann) (01/03/89)
In article <3853@alvin.mcnc.org> jewett@mcnc.org (Rusty Ford Jewett) writes: >I am trying to use an Epson LX-800 printer with a Tandy 1000A computer. I >need to do graphics dumps, .... >... but when using PCpaint or a CAD program, I end up with an extra >linefeed in between each printed line. It looks like a venetion blind. >Does anyone have any idea how I can solve these problems? >(jewett@alvin.mcnc.org) Are you using a standard Tandy printer cable?? I think I've heard or read that Epson printers use one of the lines to force all CR's to also give a line feed. This line even overrides any DIP switch settings in the printer. The solution is to either get a different cable, or to cut one of the lines on the Tandy cable. andyross@ddsw1.MCS.COM -or- ddsw1!andyross -or- ddsw1!igloo!andyross
jim@trsvax.UUCP (01/04/89)
Earlier, igloo.UUCP!andyross said: " .. I think I've heard or read " that Epson printers use one of the lines to force all CR's to also give a " line feed. This line even overrides any DIP switch settings in the printer. I can't find this in my FX-85 manual and have never heard of it. But we were trying th get a Texas Inst. printer to work with PrintMaster(tm) and were using the FX-80 printer driver and had a very similar effect. Turns out that the printer uses MX-80 for 'almost perfect' emulation. Meaning: be sure you are using the correct printer driver. James T. Wyatt UUCP:decvax!microsoft!trsvax!rwsys!jim /* My employer isn't aware I have opinions - please don't tell them */
japplega@csm9a.UUCP (Joe Applegate) (01/09/89)
In article <193300085@trsvax>, jim@trsvax.UUCP writes: > > Earlier, igloo.UUCP!andyross said: > " .. I think I've heard or read > " that Epson printers use one of the lines to force all CR's to also give a > " line feed. This line even overrides any DIP switch settings in the printer. > > I can't find this in my FX-85 manual and have never heard of it. But we > were trying th get a Texas Inst. printer to work with PrintMaster(tm) > and were using the FX-80 printer driver and had a very similar effect. Tandy 1000 series computers are advertised as IBM compatible... unfortunately as I and others have found out after the sale: THAT IS FALSE ADVERTISING! The Tandy 1000 series is designed to be compatible only with Tandy peripherals They use a different HD interrupt... a different monitor scan rate... a different joystick interface... a different floppy disk cable configuration... (and the cheapest disk drives that Teac makes [both my original drives died!]) A very non-standard (and sub-standard) keyboard that has caused me considerable interface problems... AND A non-standard parallel port WHICH not only requires a special Tandy cable but ALWAYS outputs a hardware LF on every CR. Tandy provides a program called lf.com that patches DOS to overcome this problem but programs that use the Tandy wonder bios STILL output a LF on pin 14. To use an industry standard printer on a Tandy non-standard computer carefully cover pin 14 with a piece of tape (on the printer end of the cable). If you haven't guessed it I am not a satisfied customer... In fact I will never buy another Tandy computer and take great pleasure in warning my students against buying Tandy computers! I love Fast Eddy Juge's mottos: "Sales, lousy Service, no real Support" "Tandy, In business to take your money" "Tandy, There are so many better values" - Joe Applegate - ======================STANDARD DISCLAIMER============================ All views and opinions are my own and do not represent the views or opinions of the Colorado School of Mines, whatever they might be. =====================================================================
andyross@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Andrew Rossmann) (01/11/89)
In article <1136@csm9a.UUCP> japplega@csm9a.UUCP (Joe Applegate) writes: >Tandy 1000 series computers are advertised as IBM compatible... unfortunately >as I and others have found out after the sale: THAT IS FALSE ADVERTISING! > >The Tandy 1000 series is designed to be compatible only with Tandy peripherals >They use a different HD interrupt... a different monitor scan rate... a >different joystick interface... a different floppy disk cable configuration... >(and the cheapest disk drives that Teac makes [both my original drives died!]) >A very non-standard (and sub-standard) keyboard that has caused me considerable >interface problems... AND > >A non-standard parallel port WHICH not only requires a special Tandy cable >but ALWAYS outputs a hardware LF on every CR. Tandy provides a program called >lf.com that patches DOS to overcome this problem but programs that use the >Tandy wonder bios STILL output a LF on pin 14. > >If you haven't guessed it I am not a satisfied customer... In fact I will >never buy another Tandy computer and take great pleasure in warning my students >against buying Tandy computers! > > - Joe Applegate - You CANNOT blame Tandy for the problems with Epson printers. In fact, Epson is the ONLY printer brand affected (to the best of my knowledge.) Most printer ignore line 14. Tandy has had line 14 tied to ground since the Model I. The 1000 was originally designed to be a PCjr clone, therefore, the different HD interrupt. Some of the newer 1000's can work with standard PC controller cards. The so-called monitor problem can be fixed by issuing a MODE 200. Tandy adds an extra blank scan line between lines of text. On a monitor that has a vertical size control, when you re-adjust the screen, the scan lines are slightly closer together, resulting in more readable text. The ONLY time I ever have keyboard problems is when a program directly reads scan codes. Although this used to be common, very few programs now do. Even then, the problem was almost always that the arrow keys 'moved' into the keypad. Tandy's own KEYCNVRT.SYS can fix a few potential problems. I even wrote my own program that lets the Tandy keyboard emulate (at least at the key-code level) the new extended keyboards. It even allows you to use Ctrl-/ to get the backslash, instead of having to reach over to the keypad. At over 2 years old, I've NEVER had a disk drive problem. I ran floppies only for nearly 2 years. I've never heard of problems with the disk drive cabling. True IBM's twist 2 lines on the cable to change selection. Tandy (and many clones) use the Drive Select jumpers on the drive. Big Deal. The Tandy 1000 has 2 SEPARATE joystick connectors in the FRONT of the computer. On IBM's, you must use a Y-cable that connects the joystick to the BACK of the computer. I should note that I have Tandy 1000SX (one of the first), 640K, Smartwatch, Seagate ST-251 40M hard disk and controller (from Hard Drives International), Logitech Bus mouse, Practical Peripherals 2400 baud internal modem, 8087-2. The only hardware related program problems have been Seagate's On-Track partitioning software (wouldn't boot off the HD, so I use the stuff that came with the computer.) Also, more and more programs (especially games) make use of the 320x200 16 color graphics mode. NO other PC-compatible computer can give you anything close to that for <$700! (As in the sale priced HX w/ monitor.) I've had Tandy's from the Model I, to the Model III, and now the 1000SX and have NEVER been dissatisfied! andyross@ddsw1.MCS.COM
ehr@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (Ernest H. Robl) (01/12/89)
By the way, I've found that it's possible to fix the problem the other way, too -- going from a non-Tandy MS-DOS machine to an older "non-compatible" Radio Shack printer. I now have my DWP-210 working with a Zenith SupersPort. The key was getting a cable from Radio Shack -- and NOT using a generic MS-DOS printer cable. And, while the MS Word did not have a printer driver for the DWP-210, it took only a couple of changes in the driver for the DWP-220 to use all the features available on daisy wheel printers, including microspace justification and overstrike bold face. The cable made the major difference. I just thought this would save someone time later when confronted with the same problem. -- Ernest -- My opinions are my own and probably not IBM-compatible.--ehr Ernest H. Robl (ehr@ecsvax) (919) 684-6269 w; (919) 286-3845 h Systems Specialist (Tandem System Manager), Library Systems, 027 Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham, NC 27706 U.S.A.