Printer Interfaces

Printers are connected to computers using a variety of different interfaces such as parallel, serial, SCSI, USB, or IEEE 1394. Network capable printers also have a built-in network interface and are connected directly to a port on the network so they can be shared across many computers..

Parallel
A parallel printer interface is called (IEEE 1284). This port works by sending an 8-bit information stream to the printer. It uses a standard parallel printer cable, which has a DB-25 connector to connect to the computer and also a 36-pin Centronics connector for the connection to the printer. The maximum length of the parallel cable is usually limited to 10 feet. The reason for this is that the data integrity decreases, and you can have loss of data to the printer over a larger length.

Serial
The serial printer interface sends the data to the printer one bit at a time. This interface needs to be configured to the serial communication parameters including baud rate, parity bit, or start and stop bits. Serial printers are very rarely used these days, however sometimes dot matrix printers use this interface.

Universal Serial Bus (USB)
The USB port is the most common type of port available on most pc's today. This is why it makes a great printer interface used on small and medium sized printers and desktop printers and scanners combo's. (and many other peripherals). USB is much faster than most of the other types of printer interfaces. A USB printer comes with Plug and play compatibility and can be automatically detected and configured by your operating system.

IEEE 1394
The IEEE 1394, which is also called Firewire, due the super fast speed that it boasted at when it was first released. The firewire interface is not built in though on many printers or pc's. It is available for for high end printers, and is popular on laptops.

Network
Today most high end printers, and even some of the more basic ones, come with a built-in network adapter or can also have one fitted into them. Network printers are directly attached to one of the free network ports on a hub, or a router, and are assigned a network identification such as an IP address. The printer uses a standard network cable with an RJ-45 connector. Sometimes in a larger company, they will use a pc that is directly connected to the printer as a printer queue manger.

Wireless
Today, one of the more popular interfaces for connections of printers is the wireless connections that support 802.11, Bluetooth, or Infrared standards. The main advantage of a wireless connections is that both the computer and the printer can be moved around, and obviously there are no wires. The disadvantage is that there is a limit to the range of the network coverage. They can also be prone to interfaces from other electrical sources, and the reason that most wireless printers are slow, is that the data is usually error checked vigorously.

Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
There are very few printers which have a SCSI interface. These types printers are becoming obsolete due to the faster printer interfaces