Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!uunet!europa.asd.contel.com!darwin.sura.net!mips!sdd.hp.com!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!news.iastate.edu!pv031e.vincent.iastate.edu!bischoff
From: bischoff@iastate.edu (Kurt M Bischoff)
Subject: input from clone printer port
Message-ID: <bischoff.712624114@pv031e.vincent.iastate.edu>
Summary: Can I input from IBM printer port?
Keywords: input, printer, IBM, parallel
Sender: news@news.iastate.edu (USENET News System)
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 23:08:34 GMT
Lines: 15


Please pardon me if this is a FAQ:

I want to use the parallel printer port of an IBM clone to
control real-world devices.  I want to be able to read and 
write the same port.  I have seen ads for disk drives that
work through printer ports, so I guess it's possible. 

Are the ordinary $15 parallel printer/monochrome graphics
cards capable of input? 

Is there a DOS or BIOS routine for reading from the printer
ports, or would I have to write a device driver?  

Thanks.
