Customer Reviews

Belkin F5U002 USB Parallel Printer Adapter

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I purchased this cable a few weeks ago to replace my bi-directional cable for my HP Deskjet 697C. While I agree that the packaging was poor and left much untold. What I found was a product which I was more than satisfied with. Like the others, I am a Computer Tech. A System Administrator to be exact. I was having communication problems with my printer since purchase. Sometimes the bi-directional communications would work-sometimes not. Print jobs would hang after a couple of pages. This cable has resolved that problem. After reading these reviews, I would like to make mention that the packaging does not guarentee complete compatibility. Remember, this cable is designed to merge two types of communication which were NOT meant to be used on the same peripheral. USB is actually a networking technology. When your printer is connected using this cable, it is seen as a networked printer. If they are not designed to be a network printer, then the limitation is with your printer. And, the bi-directional technology in HP products only serves to provide feedback to the computer like paper outages. The printer works just fine without the bi-directional capability. Though it was a little depressing to find this, it isn't the cables fault. It is just the limitations you get when mixing two types of communication technologies. Overall, I am more than satisfied with the product. Just be smart and do the research before buying and buy from someone who has a return policy if it isn't compatible with your particular printer.

As a computer technician, even I wasn't able to get this to work. USB to parallel adapters are pretty much useless because they are not bidirectional. That means that it won't work with any type of modern printer, such as an HP Deskjet. It's not just Belkin, other types won't work either. They claim compatability with IEEE 1284 standards and some even claim to be bidirectional but are not. To make it work at all, you have to disable bidirectional support in Windows but if the HP software installation is run again it will fail when it trys to communicate with the printer. Also, Belkin has no useful tech support will not respond to questions in e-mail.

I'm not a tech type, but I end up doing all of my own computer troubleshooting by scouring the net until I find the answers I need. That's what I had to do in order to install this cable on my laptop (which has only USB ports--no parallel port) to connect with my HP LaserJet III. The tough part was getting the cable's drivers installed (note that there are updated drivers on Belkin's web site that you should download). The computer kept freezing up just before the driver finished installing, and Belkin's tech support was NO help--they told me that the cable was defective and that I should exchange it for a new one. I did that, but had the same problem with the second cable. I finally found the answer to the problem in a newsgroup on MS's support site. Turns out Norton System Works was the problem. For anyone else who encounters a similar problem, here's how I fixed it: After I disabled Norton System Works (and my antivirus program) I had to do the Belkin uninstall (as listed in Belkin's manual), then go into c:\windows\inf and delete *all* of the files that were 0 k in size (over 14,000 of them!), and delete the following two files (in the same folder listed above): drvidx.bin and drvdata.bin (these files will be recreated when you restart windows). **Note that these instructions may be specific to WindowsME.** After restarting and plugging in the cable, I went through the same install procedure, and voila! Just printed two test pages, and it was speedy and accurate. Although I give low marks to Belkin's tech support, I am happy with the product otherwise. Good luck!

Living in Switzerland, I bought a like device from a local multiple store. It would not work with my HP DJ 720C but did work with my Canon BJC 250C. In addition, from this same store I bought a 4 to 1 USB switch (to connect up to 4 PC's to one printer). This box worked with the motherboard USB's but happily blew the O/P driver circuits of my dual port plug in adapter - PCI to USB - card. It's clear the market is supplying shoddy USB products - anyone know of a USB User Group? we need to pool our data and get to manufacturers and suppliers. (I also have many years experience as an electronics engineer).

We also tried the Belkin F5U002 USB Parallel Printer Adapter. Actually, two of them on seperate pc's with identical OS (Win98) and printers (Epson Stylus Color 600)After several hours, of trying to install/restart/go back to step 2/etc, we gave up and uninstalled everything and went surfing for problems and ended up here. This cable will NOT work with the Epson Stylus Color 600, so don't waste your time.

The Belkin will not work with ANY Epson parallel printers.
No choice but to buy the Epson USB Adapter Kit.
Check the Epson site for details to see which kit if any will fit your printer.
Buying the USB Adapter Kit from Epson directly is the cheapest way to go!

I wasn't sure this would work, but gave it a shot anyway - I just got a new laptop with only USB ports (no parallel) and didn't want to have to buy a new printer too. Anyway, it literally took about 2 minuts from opening the box, to successfully printing. I'm running Windows XP, and it's a new Dell laptop and an old Canon BJC-2000 printer. I haven't tried yet and don't know if the scanner cartridge (that works with the BJC-2000) will also work with this cable, because it says on Belkin's Web site that it only works with the printing function, not scanning or other functions. Anyway, for what I wanted it for, a BIG thumbs-up for this cable.

Ditto stevec50's comments. As an engineer, I couldn't get the device to work, either. To make matters worse, if you have your bidirectional printer switched "on" when you restart your machine, you get a Blue Screen. Belkin's latest driver upgrade (October 1999) does not resolve any problems (even though the Readme text says it does), and their technical support is clueless. My recommendation is to find another route for your parallel devices, such as an A-B switch, an autoswitch, or by adding another ISA parallel port card. Beware of the latter, though. My new Micron Millennia Max 733 has no ISA slot! (I was told that is the way of the future - no ISA.)

I recently purchased the version of this cable pictured above. I was unimpressed with the packaging and physical design. I never plugged it up because at the next store I searched I found an updated version. This newly encountered one, was and is grey (not black with brown writing like the unimpressive one), and is styled like the current Belkin USB Type A to B cables. The neat thing is this one is actually a USB cable with a tiny Printer Attachment. So if you detach the Centronics 50 piece from the cable, you end up with a long USB Cable. Now that's classy. I gotta return that other one. Anyone, anyone... drag.

Still confused... give Belkin.com a try. You'll find pictures of this under Products.

This product wouldn't work with the Epson Stylus color 600 because it uses it own print spooler as opposed to the Windows print spooler. I had to use the driver for a different printer which disabled all the features of my printer.