Printers come equipped with various power and configuration modes that allow users to optimize performance, troubleshoot issues, and reset settings as needed. Understanding these modes can significantly enhance the efficiency and functionality of your printer. This guide provides a detailed overview of both power-off and power-on modes, explaining the specific actions required to initiate each mode and their respective outcomes.
Power Off Modes
With the printer power off, press and hold the Feed button while you turn on the power.
Flash Sequence | Action |
Amber - Red Flashing | Firmware Download Mode—The printer starts rapidly flashing red to denote entry into the Firmware Download mode. Releasing the Feed button here will start initializing the printer for download. The printer is ready to start downloading firmware when the status light begins to slowly flash between red and green. |
Amber | Normal Operations Mode—The printer continues into a normal printer initialization. Releasing the Feed button here will allow the printer to start normally without firmware download or operating in Communications Diagnostic mode. |
Green | Communications Diagnostic (Dump) Mode—Release the Feed button immediately after the printer status light turns green. The printer will print Now in DUMP at the top of the label and then advance to the next label. After printing the first label, the printer automatically enters diagnostic mode and prints out a literal representation of all data subsequently received. To exit diagnostic mode and resume printing, turn off and then turn on the printer. Another way to exit diagnostic mode is to press the Feed button as many times as it takes to clear the printer’s command buffer and print ‘Out of DUMP’ on the label. |
Power On Modes
With the printer power on and the top cover closed, press and hold the Feed button for several seconds.
The green status LED will flash a number of times in sequence. The explanation at the right (Action column) shows what happens when you release the key after the start of the specific number of flashes and before the next flash sequence starts.
Flash Sequence | Action |
* | Configuration Status—The printer prints a detailed printer configuration status label. You can use this label to:
|
* ** | Standard Auto Media Calibration—The printer detects and sets media type and media length and adjusts the media sensors for optimal performance with the installed media (equivalent ZPL command ~JC). The printer will feed one to four labels while calibrating. |
* ** *** | Serial Port Configuration—Applies only to printers with serial interface ports. To reset serial port communication parameters, except for Flow Control, press and release the Feed button while the LED rapidly flashes amber and green. For autobaud synchronization, send the ^XA^XZ command sequence to the printer while the LED rapidly flashes amber and green. When the printer and host are synchronized, the LED changes to solid green. No labels will print during autobaud synchronization. |
* ** *** **** | Factory Defaults—Resets the printer to the factory default settings (equivalent to ZPL command ^JUN). See ZPL Configuration for a description of the primary configuration settings and their associated ZPL commands. Some configuration settings are not returned to their initial ‘out of box’ settings. Other settings are exclusively set, viewed, and controlled by programming and are also reset. This performs a standard media calibration and then a memory defragmentation routine. When the printer has entered Factory Default mode, the status light will turn amber for three seconds. During that time you may do two things:
Releasing the button after the first flash resets the network factory options only (equivalent ZPL command ^JUN). Releasing the button after the second flash sequence (two flashes) resets the printer defaults only. Releasing the button after the third flash sequence (three flashes) will reset both printer and network settings (equivalent ZPL commands ^JUN and ^JUF) |
* ** *** **** ***** | Print Width Adjustment—Prints a succession of boxes starting at the minimum print width and ending in the printer’s maximum print width in 4mm increments. Press the Feed button once when the printer has reached the desired maximum print width. |
* ** *** **** ***** ****** | Print Darkness (Density) Adjustment—Prints a succession of bar code simulation patterns starting at the minimum darkness (print density/heat) and ending in the printer’s maximum darkness in increments of four using the ZPL darkness setting range values. Press the Feed button once the pattern is clear and legible. Do not continue to increase the darkness setting or bar code line widths may become distorted reducing readability. |
* ** *** **** ***** ****** ******* | Manual Media Calibration—The printer runs extensive tests to detect and set media type and media length, and then it adjusts the media sensors for optimal performance with the installed media (equivalent ZPL command ~JG). Manual calibration is recommended whenever you are using pre-printed media, print on the liner or if the printer will not correctly auto-calibrate. A graphical profile of the media sensing will print. See Manual Calibration for more details and considerations |
To exit configuration mode, keep the Feed button pressed until after the seventh flash sequence cycle ends, then release the button.
By familiarizing yourself with the printer’s power and configuration modes, you can ensure proper maintenance, perform necessary calibrations, and address issues effectively. Whether you need to reset the printer to factory defaults, adjust print width, or calibrate media, these modes offer the tools to manage your printer’s operations with precision and ease.