Enhanced Capabilities Port (ECP) This is the newest of the parallel protocols.
It allows bi-directional simultaneous (full-duplex) communications over special
IEEE 1284–compliant cables. Many bi-directional cables exist, but they may be
EPP cables, which do not support ECP communications.IEEE 1284 established the standard for bi-directional communications on the parallel
port, and the ECP protocol allows for full-duplex (simultaneous communications in two
directions) parallel communications.Connecting to a Network
With the cost of a high-quality, high-volume laser printer, it is wise to share it among several
PCs by placing the printer on the local area network (LAN). Printers to be shared over a net-
workcanbepurchasednetwork-readyorcanbeeasilyadaptedforconnectingtoanetwork.
Printers that are network-ready have an installed network adapter into which an
RJ-45 network connector can be inserted. A printer that is not network-ready can be at-
tached to a network through a network printer interface like Hewlett Packard’s JetDirect.
These devices can be used to connect one or more printers to the network. A printer con-
nects to a network interface device through its parallel port. The network interface device
provides the network adapter that interfaces the printer to the network. Figure 17-16 il-
lustrates both a network-ready printer connected directly to the network and another
printer that is not network ready connected with a network interface device.Printer Safeguards
Here are a number of common-sense procedures and a few more technical ones that you
can use to keep a printer working and reliable: Power protection Plug inkjet, dot matrix, and other nonlaser printers into a
surge protector or UPS (uninterruptible power supply). However, you should
never plug a laser printer into a conventional UPS. Laser printers draw a tre-
mendous amount of power at startup, and few UPS units have enough power
to handle the demand. If you use a UPS for your laser printer, be sure the UPS
can handle the peak loading (peak power requirements) of the laser printer.
Paper Always use the type and weights of paper recommended by the manu-
facturer for the printer, and never use paper heavier than the recommended
maximum weight. This will help avoid print feed and paper path jams. Some
printers prefer laser printer paper that is finished on one side; check your printer’s
documentation.
Cleaning Clean dot-matrix printers regularly with a vacuum or blow them
out with compressed air. If you wish to vacuum out a laser printer, be sure
you use only a vacuum and dust bag specially made for that task. The toner
can really gum up the works of a regular vacuum cleaner.(^436) PC Hardware: A Beginner’s Guide