USB to Parallel cable - will it work?

[John Pals]

Does anyone know if this USB to Parallel cable will work in conjunction with a JP1 Parallel Simple cable design?
(If not, please give the long answer.) :-)

Mfg: Syba Model: SY-USB-P
http://www.syba.com/Product/Info/Id/304
This cable uses a DB-25 Female connector, just like the one found on the back of PCs/Laptops. (Not the centronix, like found on the back of the printer)

Reason:
I currently have a JP1 Parallel Simple design cable.
It has worked well for me in the past and continues to work with the remotes I have.
I don't plan on getting any new remotes, but if I did, it will probably use the JP1.x interface and I would need to make/buy a new JP1.x cable anyway. (most likely USB)

I'm looking at using a new laptop for programming. However, most of the laptops I have come across do not come with the LPT port built right into the laptop.
I would rather not buy/build a JP1 USB cable since most new remotes use the new JP1.x interface and my existing cable is working fine.

I have read in this post...
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8084
...that 'serial to USB' adapters work for some designs and not for others.
However, there is nothing to say if a 'USB to parallel' adapter will work for any of the parallel designs.
I'd be willing to test it with the simple design if nobody has a solid technical reason why this type of cable could not work.

I can find the above cable for about $8 + $5 ship., which would be a cheap and, hopefully, easy solution if it works.

Note: Most of the other "USB to Parallel" cables to be found use the centronix connection and would not work easily, if at all, with the JP1 cable.

Thank you in advance for your help and comments.
John

[Mark Pierson]

I'm fairly certain that a USB-Parallel converter won't work because of the "bit-banging" that the simple interface relies on. The comm routines in IR talk directly to the LPTport.

[John Pals]

Thank you for the quick response, Mark.

I figured that might be the case.

I noticed you stated it won't work with the 'simple' interface.
For the sake of others, do you know if the 'Ultra' version uses the same "bit-banging"?
If not, is there another reason why that design wouldn't work with this cable?

Thanks again in advance.
John

[Capn Trips]

I don't plan on getting any new remotes, but if I did, it will probably use the JP1.x interface and I would need to make/buy a new JP1.x cable anyway. (most likely USB)

I'll leave it to others to convince you that the JP1 parallel interface will NOT work with a parallel-USB adapter, but I will point out that when you go shopping for a JP 1.x cable, you won't find a USB version. The JP1.x cable's only design uses a serial interface, which works with most USB-Serial adapters (despite the post to which you refer, the issue is not with JP 1.x cable design, but lies in the various USB-Serial adapter differences, apparently).

[Mark Pierson]

For the sake of others, do you know if the 'Ultra' version uses the same "bit-banging"?

I believe so... at least IR still takes direct control of the port.

[The Robman]

Let me answer with a greater degree of certainty than the previous answers have shown.

NONE of the JP1 interfaces, regardless of design, regardless of whether they are parallel or serial, will work with a USB converter cable. The *ONLY* way to program a JP1 remote via a USB port is to use a dedicated USB cable.

However, this is not the case with JP1.x So, for this reason, we never invented a JP1.x USB cable. The only JP1.x cable on the market is a serial cable which *WILL* work with a serial-to-USB converter cable.

I should also add that, if you haven't yet bought a new laptop, take a look at Dell laptops as many of them still have the legacy ports. I picked up a Dell D610 because it has all the legacy ports.

[John Pals]

Thank you, all, for your quick and informative responses.

Rob and Mark,
That was the exact information I was looking for.

Would it be possible to update the post to which I refered above so that it somehow reflected the information discussed here.
I ask this specifically since it is linked to in at least one stickied post.

Capn,
Thanks for clarifying that there is no JP1.x USB cable, just serial cables and serial to USB adapters.

On another note, I'd like to take this chance to say, you guys run an awsome site.
I wandered onto your site a few years ago, built the simple interface and got each of my rooms that have remotes down to one remote each, something I couldn't have accomplished with out this site, the well documented procedures, and your help and dedication, along with everyone else in the forum.

I don't know how you guys find the time to do it, but thank you so much!
Keep up the good work.

John

[The Robman]

Would it be possible to update the post to which I refered above so that it somehow reflected the information discussed here.

done

[John Pals]

You're than man, Rob!

I hope that helps keep down the number of future adapter questions. :-)

[robertmyhtpc]

I have a new laptop and have no legacy ports. What is the best option for me. I am programming 15-2116, 8910 and 9910s only.
Thanks so much
Robert

[The Robman]

The *ONLY* way to program a JP1 remote via a USB port is to use a dedicated USB cable.

[robertmyhtpc]

Rob,

Can you recommend a source for the usb interface please.

Thanks

[The Robman]

Not at present. I normally sell them but I am out of stock at the moment (and my store is closed), and both of the other JP1 vendors are offline at the moment also.

I am working on getting some more cables made but it will still be a while before I get them.

[robertmyhtpc]

Thanks

[qingz]

I think you can use a printer port PCI card for desktop or PC card for laptop.