Computers and Parallel Port cards

sheeny (Al) · #1 27-07-2013, 10:35 PM

I think the time has come to look for a new computer for the obs. MY little lappy has done well but I'm getting increasingly frequent and severe problems.

Today was a gorgeous day, but I spent nearly two hours in the obs without capturing an image

... blue screen of death twice and some very strange comms problems with cameras and EQMOD.

I had a brief look about for a new computer a little while ago, and it seems to be harder and harder to get anything other than windows 8 and 64 bit. Obviously, 64 bit is the way to go in future, but before I lash out I have a couple of questions.

I'm thinking of buying a desktop for the obs rather than a lappy, since I really don't need the portability.

I have a parallel ST8, so...

Are parallel port cards still available for the latest PCs?

Would a IDE parallel card from an old computer work in a current one?

Al.

mithrandir (Andrew) · #2 27-07-2013, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheeny

Are parallel port cards still available for the latest PCs?

Would a IDE parallel card from an old computer work in a current one?

Al, a new PC will be PCI so you'll need a PCI card. If you are having the PC built for you, just specify you want one or more parallel ports and leave it to them to source the right motherboard or install cards if they have to.

BlackWidow (Mardy) · #3 27-07-2013, 10:47 PM

Hi Al. Yes you can still purchase ports cards but it is most likely your old card won't suit the newer systems. You can also purchase USB to parallel adaptors, but from my past experience that don't operate with all devices as they seem to be wired to suit printing applications only

Barrykgerdes · #4 27-07-2013, 10:56 PM

Hi

The latest lap tops now have Win 8 as the operating system and what is more they don't even have drivers to use Win 7 let alone XP. They have neither COM or LPT ports. I know of no USB/parallel device that does anything more than provide access to a printer.

On the other hand you can still build a tower that can accept a full LPT and/or com port card and video systems that have drivers. However if you want full functionality of the LPT ports you will need to modify your operating system as the use of the parallel port addresses has been inhibited after Windows 98 2e.

Barry

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #5 27-07-2013, 11:26 PM

You may need something like this installed - http://www.ebay.com.au/bhp/pci-parallel

redbeard (Damien) · #6 28-07-2013, 06:17 AM

Another one if they have stock

http://msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=9635

Barrykgerdes · #7 28-07-2013, 08:09 AM

When I rebuilt my standby computer 18 months ago with a G31 Asrock motherboard (el cheapo that had three PCI slots) I wanted a Fully configured LPT port. There were COM port headers on the board so these were provided with connectors.

To get the LPT port I bought a "Skymaster" PCI Multi I/O controller card from my local computer shop for $40, I have since seen much cheaper versions. There were cards that provided COM and LPT or cards that just provided LPT. This is the type I have.

I have a number of programs written in Qbasic/Basic for control of devices via the Printer port. These programs worked correctly from Windows 98 2E with the standard Qbasic interpreter or as compiled exe programs.

However these programs no longer worked in Windows XP due to direct calls to port addresses not being supported any longer because of security problems. There is a work around that involves a mod to some Windows files ,I don't have the details at the moment. This mod worked OK for me.

When we come to Windows 7 and 8. These are 64 bit programs and Qbasic does not work at all nor do programs compiled from Qbasic. The way around this is to use QB64, a derivative of C++ that reads and converts basic source code to make 32 bit versions of the programs. However addressing of the I/O ports has not been completed yet.

Barry

PS I have located the modification info that will be required to run SB products. See attached PDF and zip

AndrewJ · #8 28-07-2013, 09:26 AM

Gday Sheeny

As Barry noted,
the bigger problem is having drivers to allow access to the port.
For XP, its easy as you can use something like UserPort to give direct access, but in W7 onwards you are toast

That said, i have been looking recently for a PCI LPT port card i can set up to suit the std Irq/Addr so that old dongles work etc
What i found along the way is
if you can get an Intel Chipset Motherboard
with B or Q type NorthBridge chips,
then you have a good chance of getting both
COM and LPT headers on the board.
These just need an adapter to make them useable

Some models i found locally are
ECS B75H2-M3
GA-B75M-D3H
GA-B85M-HD3
ASRock B85M-PRO4
ASUS B85M-E

( That was last week, so they are probably out of date by now

)

Andrew

sheeny (Al) · #9 28-07-2013, 09:54 AM

I suppose it could all be a bit academic, unless SBIG has the appropriate drivers for the ST8 in the new OS. I missed the boat to get mine converted to USB, so I have a bit of research to do to see if they still support a parallel driver.

I suppose I could go with a new PC for everything but the ST8. Providing I can keep one of my two lappys going, I could drive the ST8 alone from that.

BTW the cameras I've been having comms issues with are all ImagingSource Cameras not the ST8. I have struggled with random errors during capture that I suspected were due to the lappy not keeping up, but the imaging session before last I slowed the frame rates down to 7.5 fps and still had an issue. This session the problem was connections - too long between use, so a bit of contact cleaner was required.

Al.

AndrewJ · #10 28-07-2013, 10:15 AM

Gday Sheeny

On
http://www.sbig.com/support/software-archive/
it shows what appears to be an x64 version of driver checker
for parallel cameras.
Dont know if it will work in W8, but many places will still sell W7 with a new PC if asked ;-)
May just work.
And just found this
http://www.bisque.com/sc/forums/p/18123/76068.aspx
I know it works for my ST7 USB in W764bit
so maybe W7 is supported

Andrew

Barrykgerdes · #11 28-07-2013, 10:27 AM

I am unable to test it at the moment because I have used my LPT port card in another computer to drive a scanner which it does work in XP. I don't know if it works with Win 7 because there is no driver.

However I also run VMware 8.05 on the Win 7 OS and it has Windows 98 2e running in virtual mode. This program says that the printer port is working but I can't connect anything to it. I will need to investigate this feature

Barry

AndrewJ · #12 28-07-2013, 10:56 AM

Gday Barry

Quote:

However I also run VMware 8.05 on the Win 7 OS and it has Windows 98 2e running in virtual mode. This program says that the printer port is working but I can't connect anything to it. I will need to investigate this feature

This is the subject of a discussion a few weeks back.
Based on what i read, even if you run a VM inside W7
W7 still blocks native access to the ports.
Thats why i just created a secondary HD with Native XP on it
and boot into that when i need to use apps that want
direct port access.

Andrew

Barrykgerdes · #13 28-07-2013, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

Gday Barry

Thats why i just created a secondary HD with Native XP on it
and boot into that when i need to use apps that want
direct port access.

Andrew

Way to go Andrew. I also use a multi boot system that runs DOS 7.0 (only on Fat32 files), XP twice, Win 7 home, Win 7 Ultimate and now the trial version of Windows 8.1 (by far the most unfriendly version of windows I have seen). My Win 7 Home also has VMware and virtual Linux, XP and Windows 98.2e. However Win 98 2e is very limited in attaching to peripherals.

Barry

PS I will talk to my VMware contact and see if there is any work arounds.

BlackWidow (Mardy) · #14 28-07-2013, 12:15 PM

Seems like we have a few Parellel post here :-)

AndrewJ · #15 28-07-2013, 01:42 PM

Does that also make us "Serial" offenders :-)

Andrew

sheeny (Al) · #16 28-07-2013, 07:37 PM

Oh, comm on, guys!

Al.

rally · #17 28-07-2013, 08:40 PM

Those jokes are a Bit weak - cant really Pin it on anyone in particular.
IReQuest you pickup your game or I/Or someone else'll have to rePort you.

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #18 29-07-2013, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

Way to go Andrew. I also use a multi boot system that runs DOS 7.0 (only on Fat32 files), XP twice, Win 7 home, Win 7 Ultimate and now the trial version of Windows 8.1 (by far the most unfriendly version of windows I have seen). My Win 7 Home also has VMware and virtual Linux, XP and Windows 98.2e. However Win 98 2e is very limited in attaching to peripherals.

Barry

PS I will talk to my VMware contact and see if there is any work arounds.

Your VMware support guy is a bit of a joke if you ask me.

Barrykgerdes · #19 29-07-2013, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlgerdes

Your VMware support guy is a bit of a joke if you ask me.

Well you said it!

Barry