Pentax PocketJet User Manual

Printer User’s
Guide

The Future of Portable
Printing . . . Today!

POWER

DATA

BATTERY

CHARGE

REFRESH

ON

OFF

™

®

Contents i

Printer User’s Guide

™

®

ii Pentax PocketJet Printer User’s Guide

PENTAX ® is a registered trademark and PocketJet™ is a

trademark of Asahi Optical Co., Ltd.

Centronics ® is a registered trademark of Centronics Data

Corporation.

Helvetica™ and Times™ are trademarks of Linotype-Hell AG

and/or its subsidiaries.

HP ®, LaserJet ® and PCL ® are registered trademarks of

Hewlett-Packard Company.

Macintosh ®, Newton ®, PowerBook ® and TrueType ® are

registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

OS/2 ® is a registered trademark of International Business

Machines Corporation.
PhoenixPage™ is a trademark of XIONICS.™
RBRC™ is a trademark of the Rechargeable Battery

Recycling Corporation.
Windows ® is a registered trademark of Microsoft.
The “CE” mark on the printer indicates compliance with

European Union regulations.

Copyright © 1995, 1997 by PENTAX Technologies Corporation.

All rights reserved. Specifications subject to change without notice.

P/N 201986-003

In Europe, P/N AC000801

Contents iii

Contents

Safety Information 1

Safety Precautions ............................................................... 1

Battery Recycling/Disposal Information ............................ 2

Printer Features 3

Warranty Information 4

Setting Up the Printer 5

Unpacking the Printer .......................................................... 5

Installing the Battery ............................................................. 6

Connecting to an AC Outlet .............................................. 8

Charging the Battery ........................................................... 9

Removing the Battery ........................................................ 11

Tips on Using the Battery .................................................... 12

Checking the DIP Switches ............................................... 13

Printing a Self-Test Sheet .................................................... 14

Checking the Self-Test Sheet............................................. 16

Identifying Your Printer Model....................................... 18

Connecting to Your Computer ......................................... 19

Parallel Interface ............................................................ 19

Optional Serial Interface ............................................... 20

Optional Infrared Interface .......................................... 22

Using the Printer 23

Checking the Printer Driver ............................................... 23

Installing a Printer Driver ................................................ 23

Selecting a Printer.......................................................... 25

Setting Default Paper Size ................................................. 26

Printing ................................................................................. 27

Turning the Printer Off......................................................... 29

Auto-off Timer Feature ................................................... 29

Activating and Disabling the Auto-off Timer .............. 29

Making Prints Lighter or Darker ......................................... 30

Tips on Printing Large Graphics ........................................ 31

Using Fonts ........................................................................... 32

Protecting the Printer ......................................................... 32

PRINTER USER’S GUIDE

CHAPTER

1

CHAPTER

2

iv Pentax PocketJet Printer User’s Guide

CHAPTER

3

Tips on Using Paper 33

Inserting Paper .................................................................... 33

Use Recommended Paper ............................................... 34

Usage and Handling Instructions...................................... 34

Clearing a Paper Jam ....................................................... 35

Guide to Imprinting Letterhead ....................................... 36

Maintaining the Printer 37

Cleaning the Print Head .................................................... 37

Cleaning the Platen Roller ................................................ 39

Cleaning the Printer’s Case .............................................. 40

Reference 41

Using the Operation Panel ................................................ 41

Indicator Lights ................................................................... 42

DIP Switches ........................................................................ 44

Troubleshooting 45

Indicator Light Warnings .................................................... 45

Paper Problems .................................................................. 47

Printed Image Problems .................................................... 48

Pages Don’t Print ................................................................ 51

Pages Are Partially Printed ................................................ 52

Technical Information 53

Specifications...................................................................... 53

Radio & Television Interference ........................................ 55

Ordering Information 59

Supplies and Accessories .................................................. 59

Replacement Parts and Upgrades .................................. 60

Printer Commands 61

Character Sets 67

Index 75

CHAPTER

6

CHAPTER

4

CHAPTER

5

CHAPTER

7

CHAPTER

8

APPENDIX

A

APPENDIX

B

1

Safety Information

Safety Precautions

◆ Avoid placing the printer in direct sunlight or dusty
environments. Avoid high temperatures and rapid
changes in temperature or humidity.

◆ Avoid use in areas of high vibration.

◆ Because the printer uses a thermal printing method, it

produces heat during operation. Be sure to place it
where it will receive adequate ventilation.

◆ Don’t allow moisture to come in contact with the printer,
accessories, the AC adapter or the AC power cord.

Outdoor Use Warning

To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not expose this
printer, its AC adapter or the power cord to rain or moisture.

Caution: Using AC Power

To use AC power (with or without battery installed), you must
use the AC adapter supplied with the printer.

With the AC adapter, you can connect the printer to 110 ­240 volt power outlets. The adapter automatically accepts
the correct voltage when connected.

Check the standard power plug configurations that are
used in your country. If the appropriate power cord is not
included with your printer, notify your local reseller.

United

Kingdom

Australia and
New Zealand

U.S.A. and

Canada

Continental

Europe

Use an SEV approved

plug in Switzerland.

Safety Information

2 Pentax PocketJet Printer User’s Guide

Unplug AC cable when printer is not in use.

Always unplug the AC cable from the AC power outlet when
you stop using the printer or charging the battery. The
transformer inside the AC adapter generates heat while it is
plugged in. Unplugging the AC adapter extends its life.

Battery Recycling/Disposal Information

This printer contains a rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd)
battery. The battery is recyclable. At the end of its useful life,
please consider recycling options (contact your local solid
waste officials) or proper disposal (see paragraphs below). It
may be illegal under various state and local laws to dispose of
the battery in your solid waste collection.

The RBRC™ seal on the Ni-Cd battery pack contained in the
PocketJet printer indicates that Pentax Technologies is
voluntarily participating in an industry program to collect
and recycle these battery packs at the end of their useful
life, when taken out of service within the United States. The
RBRC program provides a convenient alternative to putting
spent Ni-Cd battery packs into the trash or municipal waste
stream, which is illegal in some areas.

Pentax Technologies’ payments to RBRC make it easy for you
to drop off the spent battery pack at local retailers of
replacement Ni-Cd batteries or at authorized Pentax
product service centers. You may also contact your local
recycling center for information on where to return the spent
battery packs. The involvement of Pentax in this program is
part of its commitment to protecting our environment and
conserving natural resources.

For users

outside the United States, please contact your local
reseller or local solid waste official for information on
recycling your used batteries.

3

Printer Features

The Pentax PocketJet printer is an ultra-light portable printer.

The printer’s small size and light weight make it the ideal
traveling companion for your PC notebook computer.

The Pentax PocketJet printer features:

◆ Models for letter, legal, and A4 paper sizes.

◆ Models with 512 KB and 2 MB of memory.

◆ High-quality images with a resolution of 300 by 300 dots

per inch.

◆ Print speed of up to three pages per minute.

◆ Operation on battery power or via AC adapter that

automatically switches between 110 and 240 volt power.

◆ Operation via optional car adapters.

◆ Parallel and serial interfaces. The complete printer kit

includes a parallel interface cable. A serial cable and
cables for selected laptops and PDAs are available.

◆ An optional infrared interface adapter for wireless
communication between your printer and computer.

◆ Full HP-PCL4 LaserJet

®

IIP compatibility. The printer can be
driven directly from most software applications and
operating systems.

◆ Direct thermal technology—no toner, ribbons, or ink are
ever needed.

◆ Connectivity options for Macintosh PowerBook and
Newton computers as well as many Personal Digital
Assistants (PDAs), palmtops and pen-based systems.

Printer Features

4 Pentax PocketJet Printer User’s Guide

Warranty Information

Standard Warranty

Pentax provides, free of charge, a one-year limited warranty for
your new PocketJet printer. For one year from the date of original
purchase, Pentax will repair or replace a failed unit with a new or
rebuilt unit when it is returned postpaid to an authorized Pentax
service center. A return material authorization (RMA) number and
proof of purchase are required—in the continental United States
call Pentax at 1-800-543-6144 or 1-303-460-1820 and ask for
Customer Support.

See the Warranty Registration Card for details.

Outside the continental United States, see the Warranty
Registration Card for contact information and warranty details or
visit the Pentax Technologies Web site (www.pentaxtech.com) for
the location nearest you.

If the PocketJet battery or thermal paper fails due to defects
in material or workmanship within the first 90 days of
ownership, it will be replaced. Contact Pentax or your local
reseller for further information.

Pentax makes no other warranty, either expressed or implied,
with respect to this product. Some states or provinces do not
allow limitations, so the above limitation may not apply to you.

Extended Warranty

See the warranty card included with your PocketJet printer
for extended warranty information, or contact your local
reseller.

5

Setting Up the Printer

Unpacking the Printer

Follow the instructions on the

Read Me First

sheet.

The complete printer kit contains the items in Figure 1.

CHAPTER

1

PENTAX

POWER

DATA

BATTERY

CHARGE

REFRESH

ON
OFF

PENTAX

Protective Case

Parallel Interface
Cable

Printer

Battery

AC Adapter

AC Cable

Quick Reference Card

®

Service Plans

If Tim

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DOS Print
Utility Disk

User's Guide

Print Head
Cleaning
Cloth

Quick Reference
Card

Thermal Paper
(100 Sheet Box)

Warranty
Card

Printer User's

Guide

The Future of Portable

Printing . . . Today!

™

®

FIGURE 1. The contents of the complete printer kit.

Setting Up the Printer

6 Pentax PocketJet Printer User’s Guide

Installing the Battery

1 Open the printer’s battery cover by pressing the

cover latch. Push the cover away from the AC adapter
receptacle.

See Figure 2.

2 Swing the cover open and remove it.

3 Gently push the battery connector into the terminal

on the inside of the printer’s battery compartment next
to the cover latch.

See Figure 3.

FIGURE 3. Pushing the
battery connector into the
terminal.

CHARGE

REFRESH

ON

OFF

POWER

DATA

BATTERY

PARALLEL/SERIAL

AC ADAPT.

!

Terminal

Battery Connector

Removal Ribbon

Bulge

1

2

CHARGE

REFRESH

ON

OFF

POWER

DATA

BATTERY

PARALLEL/SERIAL

AC ADAPT.

!

FIGURE 2. Opening the battery cover.

7

Setting Up the Printer

CAUTION:

Do not force the battery connector into the
terminal. If you are having difficulty inserting the con­nector, make sure the connector tab is facing the top
of the printer case. See Figure 3.

4 Grasp the battery removal ribbon, which is attached

to the inside of the battery compartment.

See Figure 4.

NOTE:

If you forget to hold on to the ribbon, you may
accidentally insert the battery on top of it. Then you
won’t be able to remove the battery by pulling on
the ribbon.

5 While holding on to the ribbon, tilt the battery and

place it inside the battery compartment. Once the
battery clears the outer edges of the compartment,
press it securely into position.

Make sure the side of the battery with the warning label
faces the outside of the battery compartment.
Otherwise, the battery cover will not close properly.

NOTE:

The side of the battery opposite the warning
label contains a heat sensor that stops the flow of elec­tricity if the battery overheats.

6 Attach the battery cover to the end of the battery

compartment opposite the AC adapter receptacle.
Close and latch the cover. If necessary, gently push the
cover latch toward the AC adapter receptacle until it
latches.

Removal Ribbon

CHARGE

REFRESH

ON

OFF

POWER

DATA

BATTERY

PARALLEL/SERIAL

AC ADAPT.

!

FIGURE 4. Placing the battery inside the
battery compartment.

8 Pentax PocketJet Printer User’s Guide

Connecting to an AC Outlet

Connect the printer to a nearby AC power outlet to run it
on AC power or to charge the battery.

1 Connect the AC adapter to the printer.

2 Connect the AC cable to the AC adapter.

3 Plug the AC cable into a nearby AC power outlet.

The AC adapter works with 100 - 240 volt, 50/60 Hz power.
It senses the voltage in the power outlet and
automatically switches to the proper voltage.

NOTE:

The plug on the AC cable shown in Figure 5 is
compatible with AC power outlets in the U.S.A. and
Canada. Your printer should ship with a power cord
that meets your country’s power requirements. If you
have the wrong power cord, please contact your local
dealer or order direct from Pentax. See Chapter 8,
“Ordering Information,” on page 59.

FIGURE 5. Instructions for connecting
the printer to a power outlet.

CHARGE

REFRESH

ON

OFF

POWER

DATA

BATTERY

PARALLEL/SERIAL

AC ADAPT.

!

Printer

1

PENTAX

AC Adapter

AC Cable

To power
receptacle

3

2

9

Charging the Battery

The battery MUST be charged prior to first use.

Follow these steps to charge a new battery and to
recharge a used battery.

1 Make sure the printer is connected to an AC power

outlet with the AC adapter and power cord. See page 8.

2 Make sure the printer is off.

3 Make sure the battery is installed. See page 6.

4 Press the main switch and hold it down for a few

seconds until the green BATTERY indicator light stays lit.

See Figure 6.

This puts the printer in Charge mode, which completely
discharges the battery and then charges it.

The green BATTERY indicator light stays lit continuously
until discharging is completed; then it blinks until
charging is completed.

NOTE:

During the charging cycle, you will not be able

to print.

When the printer finishes charging the battery, it
automatically turns itself off, and the green BATTERY
indicator light goes off.

The entire process should take about 70 minutes.

Setting Up the Printer

Press and hold down
a few seconds

POWER

DATA

BATTERY

CHARGE

REFRESH

ON

OFF

Green BATTERY light

Main
switch

FIGURE 6. Charging the battery.

10 Pentax PocketJet Printer User’s Guide

NOTE:

Your Ni-Cd battery will last much longer and
carry a greater charge if it is always completely dis­charged prior to charging. Steps 1-4 in “Charging the
Battery” explain this procedure.

Refreshing the Battery

Refreshing the battery “tops off” the charge without first
discharging the battery. You may refresh a

seasoned

battery

occasionally

when you don’t have time to

completely discharge and charge it.

CAUTION:

This procedure is not recommended, par­ticularly with a new battery, as it may reduce the
battery’s life and its ability to carry a charge.

1 Make sure the printer is connected to an AC power

outlet with the AC adapter and power cord.

2 Make sure the printer is off.

3 Press the main switch and hold it down for a few

seconds until the green BATTERY indicator light stays lit.
This puts the printer in Charge mode, and it starts
discharging the battery.

4 Press the main switch and hold it down for a few

seconds until the green BATTERY indicator light starts to
blink. This bypasses the discharging process and puts the
printer in Refresh mode, which charges the battery
immediately.

The green BATTERY indicator light blinks until charging is
completed.

When the printer finishes refreshing the battery, it
automatically turns itself off, and the green BATTERY
indicator light goes off.

Stopping the Charge or Refresh Process

If you want to stop the printer while it is in Charge or Refresh
mode, press the main switch twice quickly.

11

Removing the Battery

1 Open the printer’s battery cover by pressing the

cover latch. Swing the cover open and remove it.

2 Pull out on the battery removal ribbon as shown in

Figure 7 until the battery starts to tilt out of its
compartment.

NOTE:

If the battery removal ribbon is caught behind
the battery, insert a thin metal object such as a flat­blade screwdriver between the battery and the case
at the end away from the AC adapter receptacle.
Gently push the battery toward the AC adapter re­ceptacle and tilt it out of its compartment.

3 Remove the battery from the compartment.

4 Squeeze the connector tab on the battery connector

down.

5 Gently pull the battery connector from the terminal

inside the printer.

Setting Up the Printer

CHARGE

REFRESH

ON

OFF

POWER

DATA

BATTERY

PARALLEL/SERIAL

AC ADAPT.

!

Removal
Ribbon

Battery
Connector

Pull ribbon out

Squeeze
connector
tab down

2

4

Tilt battery out

3

Gently pull
connector out

5

FIGURE 7. Instructions for removing the battery.

12 Pentax PocketJet Printer User’s Guide

Tips on Using the Battery

◆ Charging the battery after it has been completely
discharged takes about 70 minutes. For instructions, see
page 9.

◆ When you use the printer with a battery, it can print
approximately 30-35 pages on a full charge.

◆ Darker prints discharge the battery faster than lighter
prints do. Use the density dial to adjust lightness and
darkness.

◆ The printer’s protective vinyl carrying case has a sleeve
on the inside for an extra battery. With two batteries, you
can print twice as many pages before you have to
charge the batteries. (The sleeve on the back of the case
is for the quick reference card.) To order a spare battery,
see page 59.

◆ If the battery is not used for an extended period and
becomes discharged, it is best to recharge it without
using Refresh mode. Follow the instructions for “Charging
the Battery” on page 9.

◆ Use of the optional infrared adapter may decrease the
number of pages that can be printed with a fully
charged battery.

◆ Activating the auto-off timer (see page 29) extends the
battery’s life and is recommended when using the

optional infrared adapter.

13

Setting Up the Printer

Checking the DIP Switches

The PocketJet printer has eight DIP switches that control
how the printer works. Follow these steps to make sure the
switches are set correctly.

1 Set the printer face down so that the battery

compartment is toward you.

2 Find the set of eight DIP switches marked SW1 on the

bottom of the printer.

See Figure 8.

3 Check the settings of the DIP switches.

At the factory, DIP switches 1,3-6, and 8 are set in the OFF
position. Switches 2 and 7 are set in the ON position.
Figure 8 shows the factory settings.

For a table listing the function of each DIP switch, see
“DIP Switches” on page 44.

PENTAX

THERMAL PRINTER
MODEL NO. PT-A4301
INPUT: DC 14.4V-1.3A

SER. NO.

AO4X12345

This device complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1) this
device many not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received
including interference that may cause
undesired operation.

This product meets radio onterference
noise limits EN 55022 (B).

ASAHI OPTICAL CO.,LTD.
MADE IN JAPAN

SW1

Battery compartment

FCC ID: DU2 PT-A4301

TO BE USED WITH MODEL PT-1501A
RECHARGEABLE BATTERY.

SW1

ON

OFF

1234567

8

FIGURE 8. Checking the printer’s DIP switches.

14 Pentax PocketJet Printer User’s Guide

Printing a Self-Test Sheet

1 Make sure the printer is turned off.

2 Set the printer face down so that the battery

compartment is toward you.

3 Using a pointed object such as

a push pin or paper clip, gently
move DIP switch 3 away from you
to the ON position.

4 Turn the printer face up and press the

main switch once quickly to turn the
printer on. The red POWER indicator lights
up. (If you are using the battery, the green
BATTERY indicator also lights up.)

See

Figure 9.

5 Insert a sheet of the recommended thermal paper

into the paper input slot. Place the print side of the
paper away from you, so that it faces the rear of the
printer.

See Figure 10.

NOTE:

You can print on only one side of thermal pa­per. This is the smooth, coated side. For more
information, see “Tips on Using Paper” on page 33.

6 After you insert the paper, the printer pulls it though

and prints the self-test image.

See Figure 11.

The green DATA indicator light comes on and stays lit.

One quick press

Red POWER light

POWER

DATA

BATTERY

CHARGE

REFRESH

ON

OFF

Green BATTERY light

FIGURE 9. Turning on the printer.

SW1

ON

OFF

1234567

8

15

Setting Up the Printer

NOTE:

If the printer doesn’t print the self-test image,

see “Troubleshooting” on page 45.

7 Turn the printer off by pressing

the main switch twice quickly. All
the indicator lights turn off.

8 Using a pointed object, gently

move DIP switch 3 toward you to
the OFF position.

9 Turn the printer face up again.

It is now ready for use.

NOTE:

If you do not return DIP switch 3 to the OFF
position, the printer will print a self-test sheet every
time you power up the printer.

POWER

DATA

BATTERY

ON

OFF

Non-coated,
less-smooth
side of paper

FIGURE 10. Inserting a test sheet.

SW1

ON

OFF

1234567

8

16 Pentax PocketJet Printer User’s Guide

Checking the Self-Test Sheet

The self-test sheet gives you three sets of information: Printer
Status, Font/Symbol Set Options, and print quality.

See

Figure 11.

FIGURE 11. Self-test page with Printer Status for
models that support legal-size paper.

Printer Status

Font/Symbol
Set Options

Print Quality

(for models
supporting
legal-size
paper)

17

Setting Up the Printer

Printer Status

The information in this section varies by printer model.

For a model that supports legal-size paper, the Printer Status
section shows:

◆ Paper Size—the default paper size and character set.
The current setting appears in bold type. The “Letter” and
“Legal” paper sizes common in the United States use the
PC-8 character set. If the model supports A4-size paper
common in Europe, the “A4” paper size uses the PC-850
character set. To change the default setting, see “Setting
Default Paper Size” on page 26.

◆ The serial speed and other serial settings (data bit,
serial parity, stop bit, and Xon/Xoff) used with a serial
interface. The current serial speed appears in bold
type. To change these settings, see “Optional Serial
Interface” on page 20.

◆ The firmware version number.

◆ The memory size, for example, 512 KB or 2 MB.

◆ The setting of the auto-off timer. To change the setting,

see “Auto-off Timer Feature” on page 29.

For the Letter/A4 512 KB model, the Printer Status section
shows “Country” instead of “Paper Size.” It does not show
the Memory Size and the settings for Xon/Xoff and the auto­off timer.

“Country” shows the default paper size and character set.
The current setting appears in bold type: “USA” for letter-size
paper and PC-8 character set, or “Europe” for A4-size paper
and PC-850 character set. To change the default setting,
see “Setting Default Paper Size” on page 26.

Printer Status

(for Letter/A4
512 KB model)

18 Pentax PocketJet Printer User’s Guide

Font/Symbol Set Options

This section shows samples of the printer’s seven internal
fonts and its character sets.

Print Quality

The lower part of the sheet contains a black line, shaded
bars, and lines of characters. Examine this section of the
self-test sheet to check the quality of the printed image.

Identifying Your Printer Model

You can identify your printer model by looking at the
Printer Status section of the self-test sheet.

◆ Letter/A4 512 KB Model: Look for the word “Country.”
There is no indication of memory size.

◆ Letter/Legal 512 KB Model: Look for the words “Paper
Size” followed by two options: “Letter” and Legal.”
“Memory Size” is 512 KB.

◆ Letter/Legal/A4 512 KB Model: Look for the words
“Paper Size” followed by three options: “Letter,”
Legal,” and “A4.” “Memory Size” is 512 KB.

◆ Letter/Legal/A4 2 MB Model: Look for the words “Paper
Size” followed by three options: “Letter,” Legal,” and
“A4.” “Memory Size” is 2 MB.

NOTE:

Unless your printer has been upgraded, you
can identify your model by looking at the serial
number on the bottom of the printer’s case. If the
serial number is in the format T1LGxxxxx, you have
one of the Letter/Legal models. If the serial number
is in the format T1xxxxxxx or A1xxxxxxx, you have a
Letter/A4 512 KB model. If your printer has been
upgraded, the self-test sheet indicates which
model and how much memory is installed, as listed
above.

19

Setting Up the Printer

Connecting to Your Computer

You can connect the printer to your computer by using:

◆ The parallel interface cable supplied with the complete
printer kit. See “Parallel Interface” below.

◆ The optional RS-232C serial interface cable. See
“Optional Serial Interface” on page 20.

◆ The optional infrared adapter. See “Optional Infrared
Interface” on page 22.

◆ The optional interface cables for Macintosh PowerBook
and Newton computers and for many Personal Digital
Assistants (PDAs), palmtops and pen-based systems. See
pages 59 and 60.

For information about what type of printer connection your
computer has and about connecting your computer to a
printer, see the documentation that came with your
computer.

Parallel Interface

1 Make sure your printer is off before installing the

interface cable.

2 Take the printer end of the cable and hold it so the

notched metal surface is facing up.

3 Insert the printer end of the cable into the interface

connector on the side of the printer.

See Figure 12 on

page 20.

CAUTION:

Always insert and remove the interface
cable gently. Press the latching devices on each side
of the interface connector when removing the cable.

4 Insert the other end of the cable into the appropriate

connector on your computer.

20 Pentax PocketJet Printer User’s Guide

FIGURE 12. Instructions for connecting
the printer to your computer with a cable.

PARALLEL/SERIAL

AC ADAPT.

!

Interface
connector

Printer end of cable
(see detail below)

Parallel interface
cable

To appropriate
computer input

Small catches
(bottom)

Notched metal
surface (top)

Latching
devices

Optional Serial Interface

The RS-232C serial interface cable is available from your
dealer or direct from Pentax. See Chapter 8, “Ordering
Information,” on page 59.

Set DIP switches 1, 2 and 7 (and 6 on some models) to control
the printer’s serial interface by following these instructions.

NOTE:

The printer automatically senses whether it is
connected to the computer with a parallel or serial
interface. It does not use a DIP switch for this purpose.
Switches 1, 2 and 7 have no effect when the printer is
connected with a parallel interface.

1 Make sure the printer is turned off.

2 Set the printer face down so that the battery

compartment is toward you.

3 Use a pointed object such as a push pin or paper clip

to change the setting of a DIP switch. Gently move the
DIP switch away from you to turn it ON. Move it toward
you to turn it OFF.

21

4 Set switches 1 and 2 to the baud rate that you have

specified for the serial interface using your computer’s
operating system.

◆ For 38,400 bits per second (bps), set switches 1 and
2 to the OFF position.

◆ For 19,200 bps, set switch 1 to the ON position and
switch 2 to the OFF position.

◆ For 9,600 bps, set switch 1 to the OFF position and
switch 2 to the ON position.

◆ For 2,400 bps, set switches 1 and 2 to the ON
position.

5 Set the DIP switches to the handshaking method your

computer is using to communicate with the printer.

◆ For Xon / Xoff handshaking, set switch 7 to the OFF
position (Activate). When Xon / Xoff handshaking is
active, DTR hardware handshaking is disabled.

◆ For DTR hardware handshaking, set switch 7 to the
ON position to disable Xon / Xoff handshaking.

If you have a Letter/A4 or Letter/Legal printer
model, switch 6 controls the DTR polarity. Set switch
6 to the OFF position (Active High) in most
situations.

If you have a Letter/Legal/A4 printer model, switch
6 (together with switch 5) controls the default
paper size and character set. For these models,
DTR hardware handshaking is permanently set to
“Active High.”

To identify your printer model, see page 18.

NOTE:

Your computer controls the DTR polarity for DTR
hardware handshaking. Most computers use high
polarity. If your computer is using low polarity and if
you have a Letter/A4 or Letter/Legal printer model,
set switch 6 to the ON (Active Low) position.

Connect the RS-232C serial Interface cable to the printer
and computer by following the instructions for “Parallel
Interface” on page 19.

Setting Up the Printer