Configuring the Printer 2-3
Request the printer statuses You can request the print buffer, battery status, and magnetic card reader
status from the printer by sending 16 hex (Ctrl-V) to the printer.
The printer responds with
ESC-'B'-#pbchars#-CR-LF-ESC-'V'-#volts#-CR-LF-ESC-
'M'-#card#-CR-LF-NAK
ESC B Print buffer status.
#pbchars# The number of characters currently in the print
buffer, shown as four ASCII hex digits, which are
“OR’d” with 30 hex.
CR LF Carriage return and line feed.
ESC V Battery voltage status.
#volts# Four ASCII decimal digits (which are “OR’d” with
30 hex). The first three are the battery voltage
(form x.x).
The fourth character categorizes the voltage listed
to give it a reference. Values are 1-4, where 1 is
high and 4 is low.
CR LF Carriage return and line feed.
ESC M Magnetic card reader status.
#card# Four ASCII hex digits (which are “OR’d” with 30
hex) representing the time left before the printer
enters sleep mode.
CR-LF-NAK Indicates the end of a response from the printer.
You can send a print status request to the printer for print buffer status and the
magnetic card reader status by sending 2 hex (Ctrl-B)