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I used to do this at home all the time (from Linux though): networked printer with its own IP address and then good old netcat. I'd do it with PostScript files
by TacticalCoder 5y ago
I used to do this at home all the time (from Linux though): networked printer with its own IP address and then good old netcat. I'd do it with PostScript files and send them to HP LaserJet 4M+: not only do these beauties speak PostScript natively, they can also be made to display the infamous "PC LOAD LETTER" message.
I'd try to find these printers used then I'd upgrade them: more RAM, more fonts, adding a network card inside the printer etc.
I still have several of these printers in a garage, some of them have printed more than 300 000 pages. They probably still work: some things were that good back then.
And, yup, there's something feeling magical when netcat'ing a .ps file (or another format) directly to the printer.
- na85 5y agoHow did you add network cards? Do some printers have PCI expansion slots?
- kindall 5y agoProprietary, not PCI, but expansion slots, yes. On HPs it was called the MIO slot and later the EIO slot. If your printer came with a MIO card that only did serial and parallel, you could swap it for one that added networking.
- jeffreygoesto 5y agoAnd if it stops working, try re-soldering it in an oven before throwing away. Some infamous batches had bad soldering problems that can be fixed. See i.e. [0] [0] https://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/2077-how-to-bake-an-hp-jet-direct-card https://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/2077-how-to-bake-an-...
- jtvjan 5y agoI recently tried that with my Epson Ecotank, but instead of rendering the document, it just printed out the literal source code. It then held the paper halfway through the machine until I sent enough newlines. I was only half disappointed.
- tonyedgecombe 5y ago>It then held the paper halfway through the machine until I sent enough newlines. That is what a form feed character is for (ASCII 0x0C).