[NFBCS] VersaPoint Duo Braille printers

[Jim Barbour]

Thanks everybody. What about things like telling the printer to print
double sided (interleaving)?

Jim

On Thu, Aug 19, 2021 at 03:04:20PM -0700, Brian Buhrow via NFBCS wrote:
> 	hello.  If you can produce brf files, you can make it emboss.  that is to say, you don't
> need Duxbury.  I, for example, use an ancient copy of nfbtrans to produce braille copy, which
> works fine, but doesn't produce UEB.
> 
> 	But, even more simply, a simple ASCII file with a line or two in it will tell you if you
> can get the thing working.   It will emboss ASCII into grade I braille.  
> Suggested steps:
> 
> 1.  Attach USB->serial cable to computer and printer.  
> 
> 2.  Turn the printer on and make it produce a configuration page, or talk you through the
> configuration.  
> 
> 3.   Look at the communications settings for the printer, including whether it expects data on
> its serial port, its parallel port or something else.  If it is expecting data on its serial
> port, check to see what the port settings are set to.  I'd expect, 9600,n,8,1, i.e. 9600 baud,
> no parity, 8 bits data and 1 stop bit.
> 
> 4.  Find a program that will copy a file to the serial port on your computer and feed your
> ASCII file into that.  If you're testing with linux, use stty to set the serial parameters of
> the port you're using, then use cat to send your test file to the printer.  ( To make the
> serial port settings stick between opens, use stty -a < /dev/serialport, which should cause
> stty to set the port on its standard input and, I think, tell the OS to hold those settings
> even after it closes the file.  You may need to read the serial port driver man page on linux
> to get this exactly right.
> 
> 5.  If you can walk through the printer's configuration settings and you have some braille
> paper, get it to produce a full copy of its settings on paper, so you can check things like
> whether it's set to print double sided, single sided, what its line and page lengths are, etc.
> 
> When you get the computer talking to it, I suggest ASCII files that test the dot patterns so
> make sure all dots are working.
> 
> For example, a line of = signs, to test the 6 dot pattern.  
> A line of "c"'s to te dots 1 and 4, a line of "3"s, to test dots 2 and 5, etc.  
> 
> Hope that helps.
> -Brian
> 
> On Aug 19,  2:22pm, Jim Barbour via NFBCS wrote:
> } Subject: [NFBCS] VersaPoint Duo Braille printers
> } Hey All,
> } 
> } I have inherited a VersaPoint Duo with speech interleaving Braille embosser
> } 
> } It was purchased in the early 2000s.
> } 
> } To start getting it working, it looks like I'll need a serial to USB adapter, drivers from somewhere and Duxbury.
> } 
> } My ultimate goal is to sell it.
> } 
> } Anybody have any advise for me?  Anybody know who the vendor was for this product?  Google says everything from Freedom to Enabling to Humanware.
> } 
> } To help inspire replies, I'd love to hear something like one of these.
> } 
> } * John Smith knows all about these printers.
> } 
> } * I tried to get that printer working a few years ago, and it totally wasn't worth it.
> } 
> } * I refurbish these all the time, hit me up and I may be willing to take it off your hands
> } 
> } * I have this printer and it does work.  Not sure what it would take to get the one you have up and running.
> } 
> } Any other replies are also welcome.
> } 
> } With all my thanks!
> } 
> } Jim
> } 
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> >-- End of excerpt from Jim Barbour via NFBCS
> 
> 
> 
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