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MODEL DATA
Model Numbers LBP-8II
LBP-8IIT
LBP-8IIR
Introduction Date 8II: June 1987
8IIT/8IIR: May 1988
Original MSRP 8II: $2,750
8IIT: $3,950
8IIR: $4300
Replaces Model LBP-8A2
Replaced by Model LBP-8 Mark III/IIIT/IIIR
GENERAL INFORMATION
The SX based LBP-8II is part of a product family that includes the TX based LBP-8IIT and the RX based LBP-8IIR. These technically excellent printers were not big sellers in the U.S., because they aren't compatible with programs written for their American cousin, the HP LaserJet series II. In the U.S., software companies usually supported HP PCL protocol and rarely supported Canon ISO 646. The situation is the opposite in Europe, where Canon has the dominant share of the market. Canon does not offer HP PCL for any of its printers because to avoid stepping on the toes of its biggest customer, HP. For users who need HP protocol, Canon recommends purchasing a copy of Laser Twin from Metro Software. This program converts HP commands into Canon commands. It runs as a DOS-based TSR on IBM compatible PCs and is therefore not a solution for all types of computers.
The Canon LBP-8II has a slightly different control panel from the HP II. The circuit board etch is the same but the overlay is different and the board has LEDs in different places and two fewer switches. The control panel also has a beeper to alert the operator to look at the LCD panel when an error occurs. HP LaserJet series II printers do not have beepers.
FONT INFORMATION
The LBP-8II has 1 or 8 fonts, depending on how you like to count fonts. The only typeface is Courier 10 but it exists in normal and rotated for four different styles (regular, bold, italic, and footnote), making a total of 8 fonts. Many of the font cartridges designed for the LBP-8A products can be used with the LBP-8II.
There are a large number of font cartridge products available for the Canon LBP-8II/8IIR/8IIT printers. Part numbers and descriptions for these font cartridge products made specifically for the Canon 8II family are listed in the ordering information table below.
REFURBISHED PRINTERS AVAILABLE
The LBP-8II and LBP-8IIR have been discontinued, but The Printer Works can build them from parts at special request. Refurbished printers are in like-new condition and come with a full-one-year warranty. For a price quote, select the printer's part number in the ordering information table.
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CONTROLLER SPECIFICATIONS
Part Number 8II: SG4-6211-080
8IIR/8IIT: SG5-4012-060
Designer/Mfg. Canon
Design Similar to HP LaserJet series II
Std. Emulations ISO 646, Diablo 630
Opt. Emulations Epson FX, IBM Proprinter
Emulation Brand Canon
CPU & Clock Rate 68000 @ 10 MHz
Bitmap Resolution (max) 300 X 300
RET None
Base RAM 512 KB
Max RAM 4.5 Megabytes
Font Cartridges 2 Slots, Std. Full Size
Control Panel Type Full Function with 16 Char. LCD & Bell
Standard Interfaces RS-232, Centronics Parallel
Optional Interfaces Canon Video
The Canon LBP-8II controller is very similar to the HP LaserJet Series II board. They look identical, but they are programmed with different firmware and the circuit board etch is just different enough to prevent firmware from being swapped. Merely swapping ROMs will not turn an LBP-8II into an HP II.
Memory cards for the 8II family look similar to HP II memory cards, but they are different. The Canon brand memory boards are listed here.
Data General 6454 and Olivetti PG 108
The Data General Model 6454 is a clone of the Canon LBP-8II. It uses a controller board of a similar design. The Data General printer behaves very much like the Canon LBP-8II. The test pages are identical and the command language appears to be the same. There is an optional video interface, just like the one on the Canon model, but reportedly the Canon optional video boards do not work with the DG 6454. The Canon 8II and DG 6454 use the same font cartridges and memory boards.
The Olivetti PG 108 also uses a controller board of a similar design. This controller executes PCL (LaserJet+ level) and has a slot for an optional video interface. The Olivetti printers use the same memory cards as the HP II and IID.
Controller Options
Epson FX-85 and IBM Proprinter emulations are optional with plug-in cartridges. With the optional Canon video I/O card and a QMS JetScript, these printers can operate as an Adobe PostScript printer with the same performance as a QMS-PS 810. The other standard built-in protocols are ISO Standard mode (ISO 6456, 2022, 2375, 6429) and VDM vector graphic mode.
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You can check prices or order these items from the ordering information table below.
The Canon LBP-8II and LBP-8IIR use the same toner cartridges as all other SX-based printers.
PAPER HANDLING
The Canon LBP-8II, -8IIT, and -8IIR printers use the same shaped paper trays and high-capacity feeders as all other SX-based printers. All versions are physically interchangeable, but there are slight color differences. (See also Diagram 300.)
MEMORY
The Canon LBP-8II family uses unique memory boards. Long-term availablity is questionable. One megabyte and 2MB RAM expansion cards are available. 4 MB cards are not currently available, but a 2 MB card can be modified into a 4MB card. Please check with our sales department for current information.
CONTROLLER UPGRADE OPTIONS
The Canon LBP-8II, -8IIT, and -8IIR can be converted to PostScript printers by simply plugging in one of the PostScript cartridge products designed for the HP LaserJet series II. The Printer Works has tested Adobe's PostScript Cartridge, Pacific Data Products' PacificPage, and UDP's TurboScript II, and found that they all work with the Canon 8II controller! This fact hasn't been advertised by the manufacturers of the PostScript cartridges.
The only problem with using PostScript cartridges designed for the HP II is that the control panel has a smaller number of switches and LEDs. The LCD readout is the same, so status messages are accurate and the ON-LINE/OFF-LINE toggle happens to be the same. Printing test pages takes a little fumbling around to find the right button. Most users may find the printer quite acceptable even without complete control panel compatibility, because the main purpose of the control panel buttons is to set the serial interface parameters and print test pages. Most people use the parallel interface and test patterns can be generated from the host.
The control panels are inexpensive and easy to change if an HP version is desired for total PostScript cartridge compatibility. In this case, the panel would be mismatched, if the printer were ever to be used without the PostScript cartridge in Canon mode.
The Canon LBP-8II is an excellent candidate for conversion to an HP II or HP III. Only the control panel and the controller board need to be changed. With an HP controller there are many economical ways to add fonts and get PostScript compatibility.
Low cost Brother HL-8 controllers can be used to give the Canon 8II printer HP LaserJet Plus and font cartridge compatibility. This is the most economical way to get some level of HP compatibility, but there is no PostScript emulation cartridge for the HL-8.
The Canon 8IIR can be converted to an HP IID or HP IIID compatible by changing the controller board and control panel. The 8IIT can be converted into either a QMS-PS 810 or a QMS-PS 810 turbo by changing the controller board and control panel and by covering the font cartridge slots.
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For price and ordering information or to place the item in your shopping cart, select a Part Number in the table.
PRINTERS Part Number Description R61-0022 Printer, Canon LBP-8II, 110/115V 50/60Hz R61-8032 Printer, Canon LBP-8IIT, 110/115V 50/60Hz R61-5032 Printer, Canon LBP-8IIR, 110/115V 50/60Hz R61-0025 Printer, Canon LBP-8II, 220/240V 50Hz R61-8035 Printer, Canon LBP-8IIT, 220/240V 50Hz R61-5035 Printer, Canon LBP-8IIR, 220/240V 50Hz VIDEO CONTROLLERS Part Number Description SG4-6211 Controller, Canon LBP-8II SG4-6211-AEX Adv. Exch., Controller, Canon LBP-8II SG5-4012-060 Controller, Canon LBP-8IIR or -8IIT SG5-4012-AEX Adv. Exch., Controller, Canon LBP-8IIR or -8IIT SG5-4110-000 Controller, Data General 6454 SG5-4110-AEX Adv. Exch., Controller, Data General 6454 S63-1890-000 Video Interface Card, Canon LBP-8II family MEMORY Part Number Description S63-1300-000 Memory Card, 1 Megabyte, Canon LBP-8II family S63-1880-000 Memory Card, 2 Megabytes, Canon LBP-8II family DOCUMENTATION Part Number Description R63-1000-SET Manual, Canon 8II Programmers R63-6007-000 Manual, Canon 8IIT/8IIR Programmers ACCESSORIES Part Number Description R63-6017-000 Envelope Feeder, Canon, for LBP-8IIR S63-1860-000 Emulation Cartridge, Canon PC-PP, IBM ProPrinter for -8II family S63-1870-000 Emulation Cartridge, Canon PC-FX, Epson FX-85 for -8II family CANON FONT CARTRIDGES Part Number Description S63-1710-000 FC, CN for 8II, Dutch 801P (Times Roman Portrait) S63-1720-000 FC, CN for 8II, Dutch 801P (Times Roman Portrait) S63-1730-000 FC, CN for 8II, Century 702P (Schoolbook Portrait) S63-1740-000 FC, CN for 8II, Century 702L (Schoolbook Landscape) S63-1750-000 FC, CN for 8II, Humanist 601P (Optima Portrait) S63-1760-000 FC, CN for 8II, Humanist 601L (Optima Landscape) S63-1770-000 FC, CN for 8II, Swiss 721P (Helvetica Portrait) S63-1780-000 FC, CN for 8II, Swiss 721L (Helvetica Landscape) S63-1790-000 FC, CN Private Font C (4 empty EPROM sockets)
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