[Info-vax] Old junk breaks

[gah4]

On Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at 9:17:35 AM UTC-7, Dave Froble wrote:

(snip)

> That gets to the heart of the matter. I have a DECserver 90M terminal server, 
> used with a dot matrix printer, that I've not used for many years. Probably has 
> ink all dried out. I'll most likely never use it again. So I really don't need 
> the DEChub90 nor the terminal server. But, it's perhaps nostalgia, more than 
> anything else. Anytime anything breaks, it seems like I'm breaking also.

About 25 years ago, I got a box of Milan Fastport 3100 (some 3200) print
servers.  Each has both a parallel port and serial port.  The print
spooler only needs to be able to make a TCP connection to port 2000
(or parallel) or port 2001 (for serial) printer.  I think it was $1 plus
shipping.

I think right now I have none in use, but I am supposed to get one
connected to a Dymo label printer.  (Any day now ...)

I suspect that doesn't answer your question, but serial port
print servers are not rare.  

Ones that do LAT are probably harder to find, but most spoolers
can do TCP.  Many accept a TCP connection on port 9100,
as that is what the early HP spoolers did.  Some will also
accept the LPR protocol.  

About 25 years ago, I was working on school networking projects,
and would by network parts on eBay.  I found that sometimes
you can get a whole box of somethings for less than the price
of one.  I once got 100 3 foot Ethernet cables for $25. Many went
to school projects, but also home networking.  Still many of those
left.  (Again, that was about 25 years ago. No idea how much 
they cost now.)