Micros 3700 remote printer problems.

[mcgiggle]

Hi Folks,
I've been having a printer problem at various sites over the last few months.
I only get one or two lines on a confidence test and then the "printer did not respond" window pops up. I've tested all cabling (with a TDR)and it's all good, I'm a cabling engineer with 30 years in the industry!
The hardware guys that follow me onto site seem to be swapping out everything and can't isolate the issue and are not sure if it's a problem with one piece of gear or say a particular till and printer combo!!!
I'm gob smacked this problem hasn't been sorted due to the fact this is on one of the UK's largest brewers/restaurant chains.

Any help will be gratefully received.

Cheers
Pete (the confused cabling guy).

 

[hosehead78]

Just a question, but have you checked the DIP switch settings and PIN setting on the printer to make sure they are correct?

 

[mcgiggle]

Mmmmm, thanks for the reply but if the DIP switch settings were incorrect I wouldn't get anything from a Confidence
! Test!

 

[pmegan]

Are these new/replacement printers or have they been working for a while? I once had a very similar problem when I received a batch of TM-U220 printers that had the internal dip switches set incorrectly, making the print buffer only 4k. Single orders printed fine, but one the restaurant got busy the printers started to choke, seemingly at random. "Printer did not respond" isn't necessarily a communications problem. It's kind of the catch all error; kind of like the Micros version of "here there be dragons".

 

[mcgiggle]

Not sure due to the fact that the customer speaks to "Systems" before I get call out and they have them doing all sorts including swapping hardware around! But generally I think they have been working for a while. The last call I attended I did a self test (switch off, switch on with the feed button held down) and it printed the self test ok which I assumed proved the printer and power supply? It did say buffer was full but I checked all the results against a working printer and they were the same. Again I'm a cabling engineer but obviously try my best to clear the fault rather than just walk away saying it not my problems as the cabling tests ok.

 

[hosehead78]

As stated, the printer will work for a few orders, then die at random. This is generally caused by the internal dip switch settings not being correct. I would (if possible) take a look at the internal dip switch settings. Turn the printer over and remove the cover with the single screw. There is 2 sets, DSW1 and DSW2.

DSW 1 should have these at least in the ON position.
1, 2, 8.

DSW 2 should have these at least in the ON position.
1, 8

I have default settings at the site where I work. If you need them let me know.

You can get the manuals here.

https://pos.epson.com/developers/techresdetails.htm?ProductPK=545

 

[mcgiggle]

Cheers for the heads up HH but the printer doesn't print any cheques at all and only one line of the Confidence Test.

 

[hosehead78]

Check your cables, i know it if you get anything back it usually isnt the cable, but if the plugs are dirty it can cause intermittent issues. Even though you get the 1st ping of the confidence test, I would still check all the DIP switches. The 1st line of the test could only be a bounce back or verification that there is something there on the other end. Read the manuals and do a search on them for DIP Switch.