Printronix Auto ID T800 Series Administrator's Manual page 217

Table 12. Printer Problems and Solutions
Symptom
Media moves, but no image
prints in ONLINE mode.
Media moves, but no image
prints in Direct Thermal
mode.
Media and ribbon move, but
no image prints in Thermal
Transfer mode.
When narrow media is
installed, the media moves
but no image prints.
Printing is faded or of poor
quality.
Print is light on the left or right
side of the label.
Prints strange characters
instead of the correct label
format.
Solution/Explanation
1. Make sure the J402 power supply cable has a good
connection to the right side of the printhead.
2. Place the printer OFFLINE and print the Checkerboard
diagnostic test pattern in Tools > Print Tests section. If the
pattern prints, there is a communication problem between
the host computer and the printer.
1. Media is not the type for direct thermal printing. Install
direct thermal media.
2. Direct thermal media is installed wrong side up. Reinstall
the media with the correct side facing the printhead.
1. Print the Checkerboard diagnostic test pattern and check
that the image appears on the used portion of ribbon. If the
image is on the ribbon, the ribbon may be installed with the
transfer side against the printhead, instead of against the
media.
2. The ribbon may be designed for another model printer.
3. The ribbon may not be compatible with the media.
Verify the Media > Image > Label Width value agrees with the
width of the installed media. Too large a value will start the
image too far to the right and off the media.
1. Clean the printhead.
2. Check that both latches on the pivoting deck are closed
and latched. Close the printhead by pressing down on
both sides of the pivoting deck and rotating the deck lock
lever fully counterclockwise.
3. Verify that the head pressure adjustment dial is properly
set. Try increasing the pressure.
4. Verify that the Print Speed and Print Intensity values are
correct. Adjust Print Speed and Print Intensity in the
Media > Speed and Media > Image sections,
respectively, or via host software.
Check if the pressure is set for the width of the media being used.
Even the pressure near the edge of the media.
1. If the printer serial interface is being used, check that the
printer serial baud rate setting matches the baud rate of
the host computer. Reset the printer via software, or turn
the printer off and then on.
2. Check if the printer serial host interface is set for 8 data
bits but the transmitting device is set for 7 data bits (or
vice-versa). Check the current setting by viewing it on the
LCD, and use the Host IO > Serial section to adjust the
settings, if necessary.
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