Printers

[CPC_Fan]

Hello all. Just a quick question about printer compatibility with the original CPC 6128. I vaugley remember that a printer had to be Epsom 24 pin compatible to work with it. Is that right? I only ask, as I have been offered a Canon BJC 85 printer, but I don't know if it is Epson 24 pin compatible and I can't find out anything about it when I do a search in Google. Can anyone help at all?

[Bryce]

Not sure about the exact protocol it needs, but I had a Canon BJC250 (The non-portable version of the 85) connected to my CPC for years and it worked fine. Finding ink for it will be a bigger problem.

Bryce.

[CraigsBar]

Not sure about the exact protocol it needs, but I had a Canon BJC250 (The non-portable version of the 85) connected to my CPC for years and it worked fine. Finding ink for it will be a bigger problem.

Bryce.

If the BJC followed the same markings as the BJ range then there would have been a BJC250 and a BJC250ex. the ex included full epson compatibility and the non ex versions didn't


I had a BJ 200ex for years and when it died I got a free (non EX replacement) which never worked with anything other than ASCII text.


as a result I woudl always look for an 'ex' on canon printers when hoping to use them on retro machines.


craig

[dcdrac]

I had a canon inkjet worked with my 6128 using protext

A Canon BJ10

https://www.priceless-inkjet.com/images-products/products/c_bj10ex.jpg

[CPC_Fan]

Thanks for the info guys. I seem to remember reading that the BJ10 worked with the original CPC's ok, so I will look into that as well as the other models mentioned. Getting ink for any of them shouldn't be too much of a problem hopefully, as there is a shop near to where I work that seems to be able to get hold of any ink cartridge.

[chinnyhill10]

The BJ100 had a DIP switch that selected Epsom compatibility. Suggest checking online to see if there is a manual for that printer and if its detailed in there.

[dcdrac]

yes I recall my BJ10 had dip switches on it to make it emulate an Epson, I had an Epson DMP before the BJ10 and just used the cable from that for the BJ10.

BJ-10ex

[CraigsBar]

Again with all of these, only the "ex" versions will work properly.

[TFM]

Every printer with a Centronics port will work with the CPC, I used Citizen, Epron and HP Deskjet 500 successfully. For printing text it really doesn't matter which printer you have connected. For GFX it depends on the software. There is quite a lot out there.


Software like Prowort / Protext allows to define own printer drivers f.e.

[CraigsBar]

Every printer with a Centronics port will work with the CPC, I used Citizen, Epron and HP Deskjet 500 successfully. For printing text it really doesn't matter which printer you have connected. For GFX it depends on the software. There is quite a lot out there.


Software like Prowort / Protext allows to define own printer drivers f.e.

For printing raw ASCII code, yesbany printer will work. However once you move to graphics or enhanced print options (print enhancers) you need a printer that supports Epson control codes. And the canon ex models are the easiest to fine these days. If it says ex, it will work 100%.

[TFM]

That solely depends on the software you are using. I won't exchange my HP Deskjet 500 for any Epson compatible crap. HP printer languages are so much more advanced. 

[chinnyhill10]

Every printer with a Centronics port will work with the CPC,

Good luck with that with a GDI printer as my last 3 Centronics based printers were.

[TFM]

Don't need luck, just coding skills.    Never had a printer I couldn't get to work.

[CPC_Fan]

Some more useful information. Thanks again. If I do get a printer, I will mainly be printing out text from Protext, some of it maybe with Pro-Print and Pro-Ext. May also print out some graphics on the odd ocassion. As I'm no coder, it looks like it may be best to get a fully Epson compatible one if I can. Would get an old dot matrix one, but haven't really got the room for one, hence why I was looking at the portable Canon ones.

[TFM]

Well, for Prowort / Protext you don't need to be a coder to make your own printer driver. Just get the handbook including the control codes used by the printer.    Epson compatible can be an advantage for GFX printing for sure. 

[CPC_Fan]

Ok. Thanks for the tip TFM.


I suppose that I could always save the text/file in Protext, load it into Protext PC on my computer and print it out from there? Although that does kind of defeat the object of using the Amstrad to produce it in the first place. As for graphics, I will just have to see what printer I end up with and go from there.

[TFM]

I honestly don't know about the compatibility between Protext on CPC and PC. Maybe they are not compatible. But if you are fine with text printing with attributes (bold, intalics, .... ) then I can help / make you a printer driver for Protext as long you give me a link where I can find the control codes of the specific printer. 


Oh an you need of course to tell me which characters in Protext do you want to perform which function. Example:


The control Code "X" in Protext does switch FAT on and off. Such control codes are shown inverse.

[CPC_Fan]

Thanks for the offer TFM. I will probably just mainly be printing text, so if/when I get a printer for my 6128, I will let you know what one I get and the control codes if I can find them. We can then work from there.

[CraigsBar]

Thanks for the offer TFM. I will probably just mainly be printing text, so if/when I get a printer for my 6128, I will let you know what one I get and the control codes if I can find them. We can then work from there.

I found a website that was selling reconditioned BJ-10ex printer with a full ink cartridge for £60....


http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/micros/individual/newprodpages/prodinfo.php?prodcode=CAN-BJ10EXSH-WT


they have black ones too.


I am considering one myself to share with the A600 and the CPC's


Craig

[Bryce]

There's one on ebay for a fiver: Canon BJ-10EX Standard Inkjet Printer | eBay
and you can still buy the cartridges. Just give it a good clean and grease and you should be fine.

Bryce.

[CPC_Fan]

@Craigsbar - Thanks for the link. Something worth considering, even though that's more than I want to pay.

@Bryce - Yeah I have already seen that one on Ebay. Trouble is that I have already emailed the seller and they don't know why it's not working. Even though it's only a fiver, I'm not sure that I want to take a risk and spend money on something that I might not be able to get to work and then have to get rid of anyway.

[Bryce]

Maybe it's just me, but I always look at it the other way... If I can fix it I've saved myself 55 quid.

If it prints at all, then it's usually just a matter of cleaning the mechanics.

Bryce.

[chinnyhill10]

I am considering one myself to share with the A600 and the CPC's


Craig

My BJ100 (essentially the same printer) worked great with the Amiga but was the thirstiest printer known to man. I've never known an inkjet drink so much ink.


So my advice is to get practiced with refills!

[ivarf]

Maybe it's just me, but I always look at it the other way... If I can fix it I've saved myself 55 quid.

If it prints at all, then it's usually just a matter of cleaning the mechanics.

Bryce.

My experience is that usually you have to change rollers? Btw, have anyone got a laserjet working on å CPC? Does it have enough RAM?

[Bryce]

If I have a CPCBooster with Bluetooth connected to my CPC, can I print to a bluetooth laser printer?

Bryce.