The [[NLQ401]] is a Near Letter Quality printer from [[Schneider]], for use with German Schneider CPC computers. The '''SFT401''' tractor feed add-on was sold separately. Both NLQ401 and SFT401 were advertised as official Schneider expansions on the back of the german CPC6128 users manual.
== Technical General Specifications ==
For (detailed) general information about Amstrad/Scheider printers, see:{{AmstradPrinterLinks}} == Hardware Notes == * The NLQ401 PCB can be optionally fitted with RS232 interface (25pin DSUB connector, and 75188/75189 voltage converters, this might also require a different firmware version).* As seen on the photo, the board contains a [[uPD7810/uPD7811|uPD7811G]] processor, but its internal ROM is disabled via MODE0/MODE1 pins, so it does act more like a ROM-less uPD7810. According to the NLQ401 service manual either uPD7810 or uPD7811 can be used.* The 16K EPROM is mapped to address 0000h..3FFFh. The MODE0/MODE1 pins are wired so that external memory uses only 14bit addresses (the upper 2bit of Port F are used as I/O signals, rather than as address bits) == Reviews == * [[CPC Schneider International]], March 1985, page 24 (german) (this review contains some misleading info; among others claiming that it can print in 11 different character heights, as well as claiming that it'd support "user defined" "8bit" characters - which probably refers to the 7-pin graphics mode)
== Manuals ==
* [[Media:Schneider NLQ401 User Manual(German)...pdf|NLQ401 User Manual (German)]]
* [[Media:Schneider NLQ401 Service Manual (German).pdf|NLQ401 Service Manual (German)]]
* [[Media:UPD7811G Datasheet.pdf|uPD7811G Datasheet]] (8bit CPU with 4096 byte ROM, 256 byte RAM, 44 I/O lines)
* [[Media:UPD78C11A Datasheet.pdf|uPD78C11A Datasheet]] (CMOS version of uPD7811, this datasheet version includes some info fragments on MODE0/MODE1 pins)
== ROM Images ==
File:Schneider NLQ401 Printer PCB Top (photo by Nilquader).jpg|NLQ401 PCB Top
File:Schneider NLQ401 Printer PCB Bottom (photo by Nilquader).jpg|NLQ401 PCB Bottom
File:NLQ401 Schematic.png|NLQ401 Schematic
File:NLQ401 and SFT401 (advert on back of Schneider CPC6128 manual).jpg|NLQ401 and SFT401
File:NLQ401_Printhead_internals.jpg|print head internals
File:NLQ401_Printhead_topcover.jpg|print head cover
</gallery>
Commodore printer, apparently from the same manufacturer, and probably containing more or less the same hardware. Known differences are: MPS-803 uses a CBM-style serial port (no centronics port). And control codes and character set in BIOS may differ from the Amstrad version, too. [[:File:Commodore MPS-803 dark boxed.jpg|(other picture)]]
The MPS-803 uses the same 9-pin head as the NLQ401, but reportedly it has only 8-pins are installed, more confusingly, the MPS-803 uses only 7-pins for both Text and Graphics printing (producing a similar picture as the older MPS-801/[[DMP1]]).
* [[Media:Commodore MPS-803 Printer Users Guide.pdf|Commodore MPS-803 Printer Users Guide.pdf]]
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centronics - wikipedia on ''Centronics Data Computer Corporation'' (includes info about their GLP "Great Little Printer" series)
[[Category:Peripherals]]
[[Category:Printers and printer ports]]