View serial printer output on a Raspberry Pi using Python
View serial printer output on a Raspberry Pi using Python
You can connect a Raspberry Pi to your serial printer using a USB serial adapter. You’ll need basic code to read the messages from the printer and display them on your screen or send them elsewhere. No special software is required—just programming and the hardware setup.
It might be better to check RPi forums for help: https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewt...p?t=216842. I own a 3B chipset, but I’m just using it as a TV stand for my parents...
Hi there. Thank you for sharing the link. I believe I have a USB to Serial adapter, but it doesn’t function properly on Windows even after installing the driver. It appears as a Human Interface Device, which might mean it’s not what I expected. When connected to the alarm system, it seems the printer isn’t ready or something similar happens. Are serial printer outputs just plain text? Let me know!
Sorry, I don't have the skill right now. At this stage, I'm not as effective as a simple Google search.
Typically I see serial printers sending simple ASCII characters. This isn't always true, so check if your adapter appears as a COM port on Windows or /dev/ttyUSBx on Linux. You may need to install drivers for your USB serial device. For best results, use a null modem/crossover cable—don’t connect directly. Try using PuTTY to test the connection on your computer; you might have to adjust the port settings, but aim for 9600/8N1 (standard speed).
Pi offers serial connections through GPIO pins when you understand the timing requirements; you may only need a little script to interpret the data
Be mindful of this, since the conversion will likely require a level adjustment. The Raspberry Pi's UARTs operate at 3.3V, while RS232 typically uses -12V to +12V.
Hi @Alfihar / @mahyar I prefer the USB serial adapter because it offers more flexibility and is simpler to install. I also needed a socket for the RS232 connector, so I plan to utilize that as well! Thanks for your help regarding this Alfihar. I believe I’ve already connected the mentioned RS232 connector. During a closer look, the "USB Serial Adapter" I’m using is a Cypress Semiconductor Corp. HID->COM RS232 Adapter, which appears in Windows as a "USB to Serial Mouse" adapter (or similar). Either way, I’ll likely need an adapter or level shifter.