Printer USB connectivity

[stevie lee]

this requires fairly quick answers, ie today saturday..

My friend has a Canon Pixma MP210 all in one, it says hi-speed usb 2.0 for the connection type, but he has a 6 year old PC with only a usb 1.0 slot in it, there are NO options in bios to change it around to a 1.1 or a 2.0 slot.

the drivers install and it detects it in Win XP, but when it comes to print it tries to start printing but as the print heads move across it stops and complains about a paper jam. turn the printer off and on again the paper feeds through and all is well. this happens every time.

is this because theres a problem with usb speeds? its not recieving the data fast enough so it just gives up??

if so, will a 'Belkin Hi-speed USB 2.0 5-port Pci Card' do the trick for around £15, or is it just easier buying a different printer?

while i'm on that, will an Epson DX4450 work on usb 1.0?

[kungpo]

Hard to say. I would imagine it odd that a printer would *have* to have USB 2.0.

In saying that, for £15, getting a USB 2.0 card is not a bad idea irrespective of the printer. The Canons are known to be really good, so i would try and stick with it.

[Funkstar]

If it is USB 1.0 then there is a chance the printer doesn't like the interface.

Other than potential speed, there isn't a lot of difference between 1.1 and 2.0. In fact USB1.1 devices were renamed USB2 and devices taking advantage of the 480mbit bandwidth are labled USBHighSpeed

[stevie lee]

i will suggest getting the usb card then, thanks kungpo, (by the way where is the thanks button, is it a post limit feature?)

if you read around on pcworld website, (one i've found with more detailed desciptions), most of the canons, a couple of lexmarks and the odd HP say hi-speed usb 2 for connectivity, for all the others it just says usb 2.0, and if you read on other websites the hi-speed usb 2 is not backwards compatibale. so thats why i thought about the speed problem with not recieving data fast enough.

[kungpo]

I've not seen things not working on USB 1.0 / 1.1 yet - they work but just slower, although sometimes need extra power (2.5" usb drives for instance).

I wouldn't take what PC World say as gospel either...but you knew that!

[Agent]

USB is backwards compatible.
A USB 2 device will have no issues working with a USB1 port. If it doesnt, its a driver / hardware issue.

[Agent]

....if you read on other websites the hi-speed usb 2 is not backwards compatibale.

Thats 100% untrue

[stevie lee]

i definately think its his usb speed thing now having thought about it a bit more including that stuff from FUNKSTAR,

there is lots of information swirling around in my brain at the moment, (mainly how to convert 5k potentiometers from a 280 deg sweep to a 30 deg sweep and how to apply new tracks) i just needed a bit more information or clarification before deciding stuff.

i will buy him the pci card adapter for christmas, i'm feeling generous because it's my birthday tomorrow. and i will report back sometime in the next week or so if it cured the printer.



editied bit

for agent..

the backwards compatible bit must just be the dodgy webistes i was reading, i stand corrected..
ive just thought to try printer on different computer, results sometime depending on when i can test it.

[Agent]

Another computer is the best way to do it

I expected Funkstar to know better

[GoNz0]

its the printer firmware thats should be causing the error, maybe contact support who will send you a firmware flash or maybe swap for a refurb thats had the firmware upgrade.

as epson printers are one of my skills i have seen several updates not available to joe public to get round issues like yours.

[Funkstar]

I expected Funkstar to know better

Fair point

I know 1.1 and 2.0 are completely compatible, but there was something in the back of my mind telling me there was issues with the original 1.0 systems. That might have been a driver or power issue rather than a hardware problem though.

I apologize

[s3ds]

First thing i would do is check the printer if its new it may have "temp bits" added for carrage
Second id try it on a pc with USB2 to make sure it works
If it passes the above then id get a USB2 card

[Agent]

But that then adds another variable in: Is it the computer or the USB?
If it is the USB, who says its related to speed? (USB *has* to be backward compatible, its part of the specification).

Hey, it could just be a faulty printer

[stevie lee]

hello again, i'll find out in the next 2 hours what, if anything is faulty,

the temp bits for cariage were all removed, from what i could find anyway,

i am running with the idea in my head that its either not enough juice for the usb signals, although it only stops when it starts to print something, the ink level monitors and stuff work.. OR its a knackered feed sensor thing, the paper reaches where the print head should start printing and then it stops and complains of a paper jam,

anyway thanks for all the help from people, you know who you are..


edited bit now that weve sorted it.

drumroll please....... it was the print feed sensor that was knackered, swopped it at the shop for a different printer, specs said hi-speed usb 2, but it still works on usb 1.0, just takes about 40 seconds before it starts printing, and we got a £5 discount because the price had gone down since last weekend, so that worked out nicely.

so usb is backwards compatibale, and if you smile at the ladies you get something in return,

I just need to sort out my printer now, one of the inks run out, everything comes out pink.....

anyways end of me posting for this topic, delete it, close it or whatever..