Roland PNC950 Still Won't Work

[Arlo Kalon 2.0]

I'm still trying to get this old plotter running. It is hooked up to this processor precisely as it was to the last one. Every time I try to send a job out to cut the green light at the bottom flashes indicating something is wrong. I've tried every available driver for it and had Cadmn come over to try to set it up - he got it running on the last computer. It's on LPT1 port with a null modem on the cable just like before. Anyone able to think of some obscure detail I might have missed? Anybody ever have any luck with the USB adapter idea I saw someone posted a few days ago? I'm getting swamped with hand painted work and HAVE to get this running for patterns. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[round man]

back when I used mine on a printer port one time I had to go into my rom bios setup and specify a different type of lpt port that it would load,...seems to me it was an older port type rather than the newer ports

edited to add there is no such thing as a null modem printer cable,...they are only for serial ports,..and if it flashes when you send a plot file that says there is some kind of communication going on,....check and be sure exactly what lind of port and which one it is that you have it hooked up to,.....and make sure your plotter software is running the info thru that port,...

 

[LittleSnakey]

Yes you can use that plotter with a usb/parallel cable. we have ours running on one. the only feature that does not work now is the show me button in flexi.

Round man may be right, There may be a setting in your bios for the lpt port you got nothing to loose by trying all of those settings before buying the usb cable.

 

[OldPaint]

hooked up to LPT-1 with NULL MODEM CABLE??? you want the plotter connected to a PRINTER TYPE CABLE, with the 2 end lock clips. and then that same cable will connect to the LPT-1 port on the rear of the computer. your computer is set to default to LPT-1. in the roland driver set up you have tell it to use LPT-1. you are using XP right? ok.
1.go to start -left click mouse
2. SETTINGS choose printers & faxes
3. find the plotter, left click, next window that open, UNDER PRINTER go to properties.
4. next window that opens will have tabs on top, choose PORTS.
5. check box for lpt-1. apply OK.
6. if that dont work, go back into this same way, in port page, hit configure!!!! it should find and initial connection.

 

[Arlo Kalon 2.0]

hooked up to LPT-1 with NULL MODEM CABLE??? you want the plotter connected to a PRINTER TYPE CABLE, with the 2 end lock clips. and then that same cable will connect to the LPT-1 port on the rear of the computer. your computer is set to default to LPT-1. in the roland driver set up you have tell it to use LPT-1. you are using XP right? ok.
1.go to start -left click mouse
2. SETTINGS choose printers & faxes
3. find the plotter, left click, next window that open, UNDER PRINTER go to properties.
4. next window that opens will have tabs on top, choose PORTS.
5. check box for lpt-1. apply OK.
6. if that dont work, go back into this same way, in port page, hit configure!!!! it should find and initial connection.

The printer was previously hooked up with a null modem at the plotter the cable was then attached to and it worked fine. I hooked it up as you said and finally got it to come to life, somewhat. It printed a long line of gibberish. But at least it feels like I'm getting there. Already had to reschedule one job I need the plotter to make a lettering pattern for. Got 4 days to get this thing functioning. Any other ideas?

 

[round man]

Arlo you may have to enter your bios on the machine and change the lpt port from type eep to ecp and or centronix,... the older type printer port interface,..the older roland plotters used this type of port and I recall having the same problems about the time the port standards changed on most machines in the mid to later 1990's,... that is the primary reason I usually suggest that folks use a serial cable with the older rolands because alot of folks are wary of making changes to their bios,...

 

[OldPaint]

iam with round man. get a regular LPT to printer cable. or dont your computer have an LPT-1? or is it all USB??

 

[Arlo Kalon 2.0]

iam with round man. get a regular LPT to printer cable. or dont your computer have an LPT-1? or is it all USB??

I got the cable you said to - clips into plotter and into parallel port on computer.

 

[Arlo Kalon 2.0]

Something weird happened. I left the plotter on overnight and today it is working perfectly!

 

[OldPaint]

most computer and plotter problems...are OPERATOR INTERFERENCE))))))

 

[round man]

Funny you should say that Joe,..in my network security class last month we found proven statistical research that that over 60% of all network problems attended to by system administrators were caused by users within the network,...that is logged on users,...not the hackers

 

[OldPaint]

when i work on others computer............i make a little lable i stick on the case:
95% of COMPUTER PROBLEMS...
ARE OPERATOR ERROR!!!!!!!!!!!!