Lichen Software

I was given a LaserWriter 4/600 PS. From what I can find this is supposed to be a networkable localtalk printer. I do not have any of the original software that would have come with this printer.

I also have an AsanteTalk Local Talk to Ethernet transceiver.

1. If plugged directly into the back of a classic machine, this printer does print using LaserWriter 8.x postscript driver. So it appears to be working as either a serial or a directly connected localtalk printer.

2. The AsanteTalk transceiver when attached to a 7100 and an ethernet hub allows the 7100 to see other machines on the network. So it works

3. If the printer is connected to the back of a classic machine using phoneNet connections instead of directly with a serial cable, the LaserWriter driver will not see it. Similarly, it cannot be seen over the network through the AsanteTalk transceiver.

So I am thinking that on this particular printer, localtalk is not activated for some reason and this is probably one of the options in the original software that came with it.

Can someone give me any URLs to get original software for this machine? I have done a lot of googling here and the best I can get so far is something that purports to be a driver, but is just a text file.

The configuration options in the LaserWriter Driver do not mention localtalk versus serial.

The goal is to set up a "free" postscript laser printer that can be seen by everything on the network, both OSX and Classic and stands by itself on the network. :-)

Rob

This is my favourite printer for everyday use in both OS9 and OSX. You don't need any additional software other than what's already built in to the OS.

I have two of these printers. One is hooked up to an AsanteTalk box at my parent's place. The other is hooked up to a Gatorbox at my place. The Gatorbox does the same thing as the AsanteTalk box in that it is a bridge between localtalk and ethernet.

One downside of the AsanteTalk boxes is that they always lose the connection after a power outage. You have to disconnect all the wires to the AsanteTalk box and then reinstall them in the correct order. Check the bottom of the AsanteTalk box for the order of installation instructions.

Another potential issue is termination of your phone net adapters. The phone net adapters should have terminal resistors in the unused phone plugs. It will probably still work without them, but there's no guarantee.

Here's the basic setup.

1) The AsanteTalk is connected to an ethernet hub or switch using a standard ethernet cable.

2) A phone net adaptor is plugged into the localtalk port of the AsanteTalk box.

3) A phone net adaptor is plugged into the Laserwriter 4/600.

4) Use a standard telephone wire to connect the phone net adapters from the AsanteTalk and the Laserwriter. Make sure you have a terminator in the open port of each phone net adapter.

5) Make sure there is power getting to the AsanteTalk box.

6) Boot your computer and see if the printer is available. Make sure that you have Appletalk enabled through your ethernet port.

If you've made all the connections correctly it should be totally plug and play.

Good Luck.

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Rob

The 4/600 is a localtalk printer. It's not really correct to call it a serial printer, even though you can connect it directly to you computer with a serial cable. The communication protocol is still Appletalk, which is a networking communication protocol.

If the printer works with a direct connection to your computer with a serial cable, you could try using the serial cable to connect the printer to the AsanteTalk box directly. The phone net adapters or wires could be the problem.

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CanadaRAM

It's also worth noting that most brands of wireless router other than Apples, do not route Appletalk through WiFi, so wireless printing to AppleTalk/LocalTalk printers is out of the question unless you have Apple routers.

Lichen Software

Hi Rob,

That is pretty much the procedure I have used with the exception of the appletalk connections. I was trying to go in directly using a serial cable.

Note that just using the serial cable the AsanteTalk does work with the 7100 in that I can view shred folders on the other machines. It may be different with a printer. One piece of documentation that I was able to find specifically mentioned the localtalk connectors when using the asantetalk with a printer.

You may be right with regard to faulty appletalk boxes. I have several, so I can try switching around or changing the phone line. In FileMaker 5-6 days I used a LocalTalk network to simulate program performance over a WAN. It let me see bugs that I otherwise would not see working locally.

Lichen Software

Hi CanadaRam,

I am using a NetGear wireless B router. I am not sure if it supports appletalk wirelessly, but it does in the hard wired section. That is why my dealer here in Barrie carries the line in addition to the apple stations.

I have been able to set up a desktop printer in my PB 1400 that prints to a Canon printer on an OS X machine using the LaserWriter 8 driver through a Lucent card on System 7.6.1.

Once I get this printer to show over the wired network, I will try it from the PB.

Lichen Software

Hi Rob,

I love the Sig. Red Green is every normal man's hero. I did not realize how much I missed that show.

What made it doubly funny was I would be siting there laughing till I cried and then I would look over at my wife who had a look on here face that said " I don't get it ... And he is really disgusting, every woman's nightmare in a man" and I would laugh harder.

I will have to take my real machine and go to YouTube and look around for some episodes.

Lichen Software

Rob,

How do you get this printer to print a test page? This one doesn't automatically. It is my understanding that it prints out the printer specs when one does that.

Then if nothing works, I could at least compare specs with a known good installation.

duosonic

I, too, have a 4/600 - the only way to make it print a test page is to unplug it & then plug it back in, as it does not have either a power switch or a "print test page" function However, when you unplug it, you also have to unplug the Asante - wait till the test page has printed, then plug the Asante back in.

I use it as a network printer with my PBTi and an iMac DV400, by running it through an ethernet bridge, with apple talk enabled on both computers for the ethernet connection.

It is a great workhorse printer - I got mine used in 1991, and have replaced the motor in it once (thank goodness for fixyourownprinter.com !) & it still keeps pumping out the pages.

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Rob

If you're using OS8 or OS9 you can set the printer to print a startup page on power-up using the Apple Printer Utility software. The normal default is to print a startup page on power-up. Please note that this is different from the Desktop Printer Utility software.

I think OS9 may not include the Apple Printer Utility software as part of the regular install. You can download a copy from versiontracker.

About the only thing it's useful for with the 4/600 is to select printout of a startup page. You have two options: print a startup page on power-up, or not. You can't tell it to print a startup page directly.

I love Red Green, but I don't have a TV, so I hardly ever get to see it. I kinda figured this would be more of a guy show, but I had no idea that Red doesn't charm the fairer sex.

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Real Macsters don't repair permissions.

Opinions are like toothbrushes. Everybody has one, so there's no need to share. - Red Green