🚀 go-pugleaf

Hello all.

We are a computer bureau situated in Harare, Zimbabwe. We currently utilise
a Data Products FP1500 printer, that was badged and sold as an ICL printer.
The printer is being used on our ICL Series39 mainframe computer.

We are hoping to decommision our mainframe system and move all our
processing onto PC platforms. However, large volume printing will still be a
requirement. We are therefore pursuing two options:

1. Acquire new fast systems printers capable of communicating with PCs
2. Keep existing printers (FP1500 being one of them) and modify them to
communicate with PCs.

My questions are:

1. Is it possible to modify this printer and its communications systems
(hardware/software) to communicate with PCs? Please advice whether this
communication will be with a standalone PC via the parallel port/serial
port, or with PC/PCs via a LAN connection.

2. Will it be possible to keep the existing communications hardware and
implement a software solution using some remote print manager software on
Windows, UNIX or any other PC-based operating system?

From our knowledge, there seems to be a provision for 3 interface hardware
boards on the printer, a centronics paraller, Data Products Short and Long
line. We are unable to find any additional information as there are no Data
Products agents on our side, and ICL local offices are unable or unwilling
to either provide any technical information or help us modify the printer to
work with PCs. The DP website (www.dataproducts.com) mentions switch
settings on the Circuit Card Assembly, but since we don't have any
documentation on the printer, we cannot even try the switch settings. The
webiste also mentions that the above 3 interfaces are part  of the printer
when sold as standard.

If any other information is that you feel is necessary, such as the
interface with the mainframe, type of network hardware used, board serial or
model #'s, we will provide this information. Any help would be greatly
appreciated.

Best Regards.

Please reply to dinkybose@hotmail.com