I was wondering if anyone had made an Amstrad printer proxy? I would imagine it being a parallel interface on a Pi Zero or something like that that intercepts and interprets the Amstrad printer output and redirects it to a modern network printer via CUPS (or some abstraction sitting on top of that). The idea of being able to print straight from the Amstrad to a modern printer tickles me, for some reason :) Is there anything about the idea that wouldn't be feasible?
Hi,
If this doesn't fit your needs completely, could be a good starting point:
https://github.com/dasta400/ACPCPE (https://github.com/dasta400/ACPCPE).
I stumbled across a commercial solution last year, maybe this is an option: https://www.retroprinter.com/
Quite interesting, I will write about it on my web site.
It could be interesting if the python program PC side could act also as a sound card using a resistance ladder (aka digiblaster).
Well, looks like this has been comprehensively done already, that's nice :) I suppose the question now is do I buy a retroprinter unit, or do I probably spend even more for the experience of getting a very similar thing working myself as an extension to ACPCPE...
Quote from: genesis8 on 11:53, 14 September 21It could be interesting if the python program PC side could act also as a sound card using a resistance ladder (aka digiblaster).
Real time Digiblaster samples playing may be hard to achieve, but playing the whole sound stream once received and/or store it in raw or compressed format should be close to trivial.
Quote from: Cwiiis on 13:32, 14 September 21Well, looks like this has been comprehensively done already, that's nice :) I suppose the question now is do I buy a retroprinter unit, or do I probably spend even more for the experience of getting a very similar thing working myself as an extension to ACPCPE...
If you need a professional solution go for retroprinter, for fun and learning DIY!!!
Anyway the ACPCPE seems to be far cheaper.
What would be nice is something similar that prints over wi-fi. :D
Quote from: Animalgril987 on 17:59, 14 September 21
What would be nice is something similar that prints over wi-fi. :D
Indeed, that's what I was intending - if I get the time I'll dig in and have a go 🙂
Awesome. You can put me down for one!! :D :D
Quote from: Animalgril987 on 17:59, 14 September 21
What would be nice is something similar that prints over wi-fi. :D
Could this be done using the M4 card?
There are cable that are used to connect a centronics printer to USB, these cables are Bi-Directional so in theory it should be possible to connect the CPC to a Raspberry Pi and use CUPS to redirect the printer output to a file (.PS oder .PDF maybe ?) ...
But I think someone has to do the Pi Programming then ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: GUNHED on 02:21, 15 September 21Could this be done using the M4 card?
It should be possible, but normal print procedures of the CPC won't work (I mean, using the printer port).
Most network capable printers uses IPP protocol (https://www.pwg.org/ipp/ippguide.html (https://www.pwg.org/ipp/ippguide.html)), using the M4 ROM command C_NETSEND, or the USIFAC II (with the WIFI module) AT command AT+CIPSEND you can manage (for instance add print jobs to) a network printer reachable from the CPC.
Quote from: Animalgril987 on 17:59, 14 September 21What would be nice is something similar that prints over wi-fi.
Changing the MCU board of the ACPCPE for something compatible with the arduino framework, at least 9 digital I/O pins and wifi (NodeMCU for instance) should make it possible using the arduino library HttpClient.
See this example of the wifi printing part: https://medium.com/@ttrolololll/printer-pulse-check-to-prevent-dry-ink-with-esp32-devkit-338874d21445 (https://medium.com/@ttrolololll/printer-pulse-check-to-prevent-dry-ink-with-esp32-devkit-338874d21445).
Quote from: ajcasado on 12:17, 15 September 21It should be possible, but normal print procedures of the CPC won't work (I mean, using the printer port).
But it would be possible for someone to create a ROM that overrides the MC_PRINTER jumpblock entries so that LIST #8 and PRINT #8 send to printer via M4 or USIFAC?
I would give it ago, but I have trouble wrapping my old brain around low-level network stuff :( :D
Quote from: Animalgril987 on 16:04, 19 September 21I would give it ago, but I have trouble wrapping my old brain around low-level network stuff
That is THE reason you should try it ;-)
Quote from: eto on 16:41, 19 September 21That is THE reason you should try it ;-)
I guess so :D
@ Duke, how do I use C_NETSEND from a ROM?
Also, can someone please explain how would I access USIFAC AT commands from inside a ROM?
Many thanks in advance.
Alan.
you can create one using the M4 and send your print job to a PHP server, then have a PC also connected to that server print the print jobs with QZ Tray - it works fantastic from Mobile Phone / PC to another PC with Printer connected anywhere over the internet - and can see no reason it wouldn't work on CPC if the CPC is the one sending the printjob to the server