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Monoprice IEEE 1284 Cable - 50ft DB25 Male to CN36 Male — main product image
Monoprice IEEE 1284 Cable - 50ft DB25 Male to CN36 Male
Monoprice IEEE 1284 Cable - 50ft DB25 Male to CN36 Male
Monoprice IEEE 1284 Cable - 50ft DB25 Male to CN36 Male
Monoprice IEEE 1284 Cable - 50ft DB25 Male to CN36 Male
Monoprice

Monoprice IEEE 1284 Cable - 50ft DB25 Male to CN36 Male

★★★★★4.3 (2 reviews)

50-foot IEEE 1284 parallel printer cable with molded connectors for reliable long-distance legacy printing.

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Overview

The Monoprice IEEE 1284 Cable is a 50-foot parallel printer cable designed for environments where a legacy printer or peripheral needs to be located far from the host computer. It features a DB25 male connector on the computer end and a Centronics 36-pin (CN36) male connector on the printer end, following the standard parallel port pinout used by the vast majority of parallel printers manufactured over the past several decades. The cable's 18-pair conductor construction and IEEE 1284 compliance support bidirectional data transfer, enabling features like print status reporting and advanced communication modes (ECP/EPP) when supported by both the computer and printer.

Build quality focuses on reliability at the connection points, where failures most commonly occur. The molded connector heads absorb strain that would otherwise stress the solder joints, while thumbscrews on the DB25 end and metal clip receptacles on the CN36 end keep the cable firmly seated during use. The 50-foot length is the cable's primary selling point and its main caveat: while it solves real-world distance problems in workshops, warehouses, and offices with remote print stations, it exceeds the IEEE 1284 standard's recommended maximum cable length. Users should test their specific setup to confirm reliable operation, particularly if they are using faster communication modes like ECP.

Key Features

Buy with Confidence: With Monoprice's Lifetime Warranty on all Cables, you can rest assured we stand behind our products and our customers.

If you have a computer and printer with this interface you can depend on Monoprice to stock the cables you will need to connect them.

The 18 conductors in this cable consist of 18 tightly woven pairs of wires with one conductor in each providing the signal and the second providing a dedicated ground return (except for the 18th pair which is used device detection).

The connector heads are molded onto the cable and the DB25 end has thumbscrews for securing the connector to the computer while the CN36 end has metal clip receptacles for securing it to the printer.

This parallel printer cable provides the most common printer connection with a DB25 male connector on one end, to connect to the computer's parallel port, and a Centronics CN36 male connector on the other end,to connect to the printer's parallel port.

Specifications

Length
50 Feet
Connector 1
DB25 Male
Connector 2
CN36 Male
Conductors
18 Pair
Standard
IEEE 1284
DB25 Fastening
Thumbscrews
CN36 Fastening
Metal clip receptacles
Connector Type
Molded

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • 50-foot length solves distance challenges in offices, workshops, or server rooms where the printer is far from the computer.
  • Molded connector heads provide strain relief and durability at the connection points.
  • Thumbscrews on the DB25 end and metal clip receptacles on the CN36 end ensure secure, stable connections.
  • IEEE 1284 compliance supports bidirectional communication for printer status feedback.
  • Monoprice pricing offers a cost-effective solution for maintaining legacy parallel printing setups.

👎 Cons

  • 50-foot length exceeds the IEEE 1284 recommended maximum of approximately 30 feet, which may result in signal degradation or communication errors in some setups.
  • Parallel printing technology is largely obsolete, limiting this cable's usefulness to legacy hardware only.
  • No shielding details are provided, which matters more at longer cable lengths where electromagnetic interference is a greater concern.
  • The bulky Centronics 36-pin connector can be awkward to route through tight spaces or cable management channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

This cable connects devices with a DB25 parallel port (commonly found on older computers and print servers) to printers and peripherals with a Centronics 36-pin (CN36) parallel interface.
The IEEE 1284 standard supports cable lengths up to approximately 30 feet for guaranteed signal integrity. At 50 feet, this cable may work for many setups, but signal quality can degrade depending on the devices and environment. It is best suited for situations where shorter cables are not practical.
Yes, as an IEEE 1284 compliant cable, it supports bidirectional communication modes including nibble, byte, and ECP/EPP modes, allowing your computer to receive status information from the printer.
No, this cable requires a DB25 parallel port on the computer side. Modern computers would need a USB-to-parallel adapter, which is a separate purchase and not included.
The DB25 end uses thumbscrews for a secure connection to the computer, while the CN36 Centronics end uses metal clip receptacles that snap onto the printer's bail clips.

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