Parallel interface using USB adapter?

csete · Post by **csete** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:19 pm

I have a really old parallel JP1 interface that I've been using for quite a while. I'm now out of computers with a parallel port. Can I use an adapter like http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... &CatId=471 and have it work? If so, what would be the advantage of building/buying a real USB adapter?

Thanks.
Craig

Capn Trips · Post by **Capn Trips** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:25 pm

The parallel JP1 cable will only work with a parallel port and will not work with a parallel-USB adapter.

So you see the advantage of building a USB adapter cable is obvious.

csete · Post by **csete** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:35 pm

I read somewhere else that the current USB design is not really supported by Tommy anymore. Is that true? Is there something else I should be looking at?

Capn Trips · Post by **Capn Trips** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:58 pm

I don't know what you define as "current", but every design of every interface is Tommy's. To read about the latest variants, look here. (and look at the date of the post.)

jimdunn · Post by **jimdunn** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:11 pm

I think csete is referring to this post, towards the end of Rob's Market Place thread:
https://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewt ... &start=438

The Robman wrote:The 3 types they are working on to start with are ...

JP1P - traditional JP1 parallel
JP1S - traditional JP1 serial
JP1X - JP1.x serial

but I have asked them to also explore making some USB cables. The trouble is that Tommy has pretty much disowned the current USB design, but there isn't an alternative yet, so it's all we've got.

Capn Trips · Post by **Capn Trips** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:01 am

Capn Trips wrote:I don't know what you define as "current", but every design of every interface is Tommy's. To read about the latest variants, look here. (and look at the date of the post.)

EDIT: OOPS! Dopey me. That document omits the JP1 USB interface, doesn't it? Sorry.

Regardless, I'm not sure what the OP means by "support". The interface schematic exists and works for many and there is no reason it shouldn't continue working for others.

I have not heard DIY Gadget indicate he'll stop selling them, has he? (although he is temporarily out of stock on USB cables and not selling until the end of the month.)

jimdunn · Post by **jimdunn** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:14 am

Capn Trips wrote:The interface schematic exists and works for many and there is no reason it shouldn't continue working for others.

Absolutely - I think that's an extremely important point.

And if I have to build another JP1 parallel interface, I'll build another "simple" - because it's easy, cheap, and has never given me a problem on any PC or laptop, or with any remote I've hooked it up to.

But I know other people's mileage varies, and some people have had issues with them - if that ever happened to me I guess that's when I'd look at building/buying a different design.

Capn Trips · Post by **Capn Trips** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:52 am

For those not equipped to build their own interface, I guess the PC user will still be OK, since one can buy cheap Parallel port add-in cards for a PC, but Laptop/Notebook users may SOL if the source of pre-built USB cables goes away. (This only applies to JP1, of course, since the JP1.x interface works fine with Serial-USB adapters)

csete · Post by **csete** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:05 am

What is the suggestion at this point? Buy the parts and do the USB build myself? I should be able to do that build if that is necessary. The big annoyance is that I've been looking at the new Atlas remotes... I'd love to replace my current remotes with a couple of those. If my reading is correct, a JP1 cable is not capable of working with those remotes?

Evan_s · Post by **Evan_s** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:10 am

The older atlas remotes with the settings button on the left is JP1 and would work with a simple parallel cable.

All of the various Day versions are jp1.2 or jp1.3 which requires a new cable. Serial seemed to be the most popular for those versions from what I recall. These serial cables will work with usb to serial adaptors which is why I think there is no usb version so far.

Capn Trips · Post by **Capn Trips** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:44 pm

Evan_s wrote:The older atlas remotes with the settings button on the left is JP1 and would work with a simple parallel cable.

..but it only comes with a 1K EEPROM, which is severely limiting when programming it.

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:55 pm

Just FYI, I am also looking at getting some USB cables built.

I bought a batch Atlas remotes with a view to reselling them, but I haven't as of yet gone through them to see which versions I have. I believe it's a mixed batch. I expect that there are some JP1 versions in there, and if that's the case, I will replace the 1k EEPROM with a 2k chip before I offer them for sale.

However, this will all have to wait until I re-open the shop.

csete · Post by **csete** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:27 pm

I may try one more time to get my parallel cable working via Wine on my Linux box. That may be my easiest short term solution until I can figure out my next steps. My bigger problem at the moment seems to be *finding* my parallel cable. I can't remember when I last used it or where I may have put the silly thing. Argh.

classicsat · Post by **classicsat** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:21 pm

Evan_s wrote: All of the various Day versions are jp1.2 or jp1.3 which requires a new cable. Serial seemed to be the most popular for those versions from what I recall. These serial cables will work with usb to serial adaptors which is why I think there is no usb version so far.

Serial is the only option for JP1.x, since the remote uses actual serial, rather than bit-banging Jp1 uses. That is also why JP1.x can work with a USB-Serial adapter.