A.P. Lawrence

okidata printers dsr invalid

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From: Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us>
Subject: Re: Wierd printing issue
Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 11:19:01 -0800 References: <3c1086f5.1202969@news.ision.net.uk> <3C10B16F.D638874B@aplawrence.com> <3c190816.16725329@news.ision.net.uk> <3C16093D.8BE3549A@aplawrence.com> <3c18a1ed.13265765@news.ision.net.uk>

On Fri, 14 Dec 2001 11:58:11 +0000, Rob S <robatwork@REMOVEmail.com>
wrote:

>On Tue, 11 Dec 2001 13:24:02 GMT, Tony Lawrence <tony@aplawrence.com> wrote:
>
>-> Do you have any further info on "Note on printers: Okidata serial printers
>-> require DSR Invalid when using 3 wire xon/xoff flow control. Set this on the
>-> printer, using the front panel menus. " from your website?
>-
>-
>-Lack of that would cause you not to be able to print at all.
>
>Odd, as we have lots of clients printing to OKIs, and I've never changed the DSR
>setting from its default "valid". Changing to invalid does seem to have helped
>though - still undergoing tests.

The DSR setting should be "invalid" on the OKi320 and Oki320 turbot
printers if you're using xon/xoff.  If there's nothing connected to
the DSR (pin 6), the printer will act comatose.  However, if you have
a wire connected to the DSR, and going who knows where, all bets are
off as to what this line will do.  It may be acting like an antenna
and picking up junk.  That might be what's happening with your job
restarts.  I don't know what will happen to the internal buffer if you
thrash the DSR line.  My guess(tm) is that Unix loses contact with the
printer and declares the job lost.  When contact is regained, the job
starts from the beginning.  It's best to just disable the DSR and not
worry about it.

I'm partial to using hardware flow control for these printers and
Unix.  That's because xon/xoff is stupid when dealing with a printer
that's turned off and I tend to lose parts of print jobs.  See:
  http://www.cruzio.com/~jeffl/sco/serial_print.txt
for some clues (based on Digi serial).

Drivel:  Oki 320 printers are probably the best cheap form printers
available.  I have about 20 in service at various locations.  Some are
5-10 years old.  However, there are two maintenance items that need to
be performed.
1.  Turn the printer upside down about once a month and shake out all
the staples, paper clips, chad, divots, pencils, etc.  I have the
customers do this themselves.  Do this over a trash can please.
2.  Clean and lube the head:  Turn off the printer.  Pull the locking
lever up to release the head.  Clean off the crud.  Oil the felt pad
on the bottom of the pins array.  If there's no pad, a few drops of
oil in the hole where the pad was suppose to be will suffice.  Replace
head and lock in place.

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-- 
Jeff Liebermann  150 Felker St #D  Santa Cruz CA 95060
(831)421-6491 pgr (831)426-1240 fax (831)336-2558 home
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com   WB6SSY
jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us   jeffl@cruzio.com

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