Yet Another Slow Printer

[Dave Hammond]

I know this has been thrashed around a hundred times, but I've got
a problem with a slow parallel printer that just won't go away.

The system is an Everex 386, 20Mhz., running SCO 2.3.1.  The printer is an
ancient Okidata Microline 84.  It ran just fine under 2.1 on an original
AT and 2.2 on a Compaq 10Mhz 286.  On the 386 it runs at 1 line every few
seconds.

I've tried the polling (lp0i) drivers and they do no better.  Unfortunately,
the manual for the Oki is long since gone, so I haven't a clue what
interface options I might try to change.

I'm just shy of giving up and buying a serial interface module for the
thing.  Anyone have any clues?

BTW, I notice the stty for lp0 (during printing) has a vtime setting of
20 (or so-- this is from memory). I thought this might account for the
strange timing, but any attempts to lower it result in no significant
difference.  Does this value have its usual meaning (eg, block for vtime
tenth-secs, or until min chars are available) on parallel interfaces?

--
Dave Hammond
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