UGREEN 20224 2 m USB to DB25 Parallel Printer Adapter

Overview

The UGREEN 20224 lets a computer that only has USB ports print to an older printer with a 25-pin (DB25) parallel port. The conversion electronics sit inside the 2 m cable and take their power from the USB port, so there is no separate adapter or power supply. It suits an office, counter or workshop keeping an older parallel-port printer in service.

Is it right for you?

• Suits printers with a DB25 male parallel port and a driver that supports your operating system.
• Not for printers with a 36-pin Centronics port, or for a DB25 female printer port. Those need a different cable.
• Not for scanners, engravers, Zip drives or serial RS232 equipment, even where they use a DB25 shell.
• Not a universal hardware LPT port. Direct-I/O DOS software, industrial applications and copy-protection dongles are outside its scope.

Key features

• USB-A male plug for the computer and a DB25 female connector for the printer side, on a 2 m grey cable.
• Active USB to parallel conversion built into the cable assembly, powered from the USB port.
• IEEE 1284 bidirectional communication where the printer, driver and operating system support it.
• Adapter rate up to 12 Mbps over USB 2.0.
• Connects without a separate converter driver on supported systems, including Linux where the USB printing bridge and printer driver are supported.
• Works with a USB-A port on the computer or on a data-capable USB hub or dock.

What else you need

A computer with a USB-A port, a printer with a DB25 male parallel port and its own power supply, and the printer driver from the printer maker. The adapter powers only its own conversion electronics from USB.

Installation

Plug the USB-A end into the computer and the DB25 end into the printer port, then install the printer maker’s driver and print through the operating system spooler as normal. In a virtual machine, test the whole workflow, because the USB printing bridge or legacy driver may not be exposed as expected.

Before you buy

• It does not install or replace the printer’s operating-system driver.
• DB25 connectors can also carry serial or proprietary signals. Confirm the port is a parallel printer interface before connecting.
• It does not raise legacy print performance to the 480 Mbps rate of USB 2.0.
• Old printers can have mechanical, consumable or firmware faults that have nothing to do with the adapter. Keep a known-good baseline where you can.
• Only the adapter cable is in the box.