Zebra Technologies GC420d Connecting your Printer to a Computer

Connecting your Printer to a Computer

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P1052685-001 GC420d™ User Guide 5/23/2012

Connecting your Printer to a Computer

The printer support a variety of interface options and configurations. These include: Universal

Serial Bus (USB) interface, RS232 Serial and Parallel (IEEE 1284.4).

• USB, Serial and Parallel

The Zebra Setup Utility is designed to assist you with installing these interfaces. The

cabling and unique parameters for each of these physical printer communication interfaces is

discussed in the following pages to assist you with making configuration setup choices prior to

and immediately following applying power. The Zebra Setup Utilities configuration wizards

will instruct you to turn the printer’s power on at the appropriate time to complete the

installation of your printer.

Interface Cable Requirements

Data cables must be of fully shielded construction and fitted with metal or metallized

connector shells. Shielded cables and connectors are required to prevent radiation and

reception of electrical noise.

To minimize electrical noise pickup in the cable:

• Keep data cables as short as possible (6 foot [1.83 m] recommended).

• Do not tightly bundle the data cables with power cords.

• Do not tie the data cables to power wire conduits.

.

Caution • Keep the power switch in the OFF position when attaching the interface cable.

The power cord must be inserted into the power supply and the power receptacle on the

back of the printer before connecting or disconnecting the communications cables.

Important • This printer complies with FCC “Rules and Regulations,” Part 15, for Class B

Equipment, using fully shielded data cables. Use of un-shielded cables may increase radiated

emissions above the Class B limits.

Contents

Main Page iii iv FCC Compliance Statement Environmental Management Page vi Who Should Use This Document How This Document Is Organized vii Contacts Contacts viii Document Conventions Contents x Page xii Introduction GC420d Thermal Printers Whats in the Box? Unpack and Inspect the Printer Your Printer Opening the printer Printer Features Page Status Light Page Getting Started Attaching Power Loading Roll Media Preparing Media Placing the Roll in the Media Compartment Page Page Printing a Test (Printer Configuration) Label 16 Pre-install Windows Printer Drivers PlugNPlay (PnP) Printer Detection and Windows operating systems 17 Universal Serial Bus (USB) Device Communications Serial Port and Windows operating systems Ethernet Connecting your Printer to a Computer Interface Cable Requirements Page 20 Serial Communications Autobaud ZPL ^SC Command EPL Y Command Resetting the Default Serial Port Parameters 2. While the status LED rapidly flashes amber and green, press the feed button. Serial baud, NO parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit and a HARDWARE and SOFTWARE (merged) data Page 23 After Your Printer is Connected Testing Communications by Printing Page Print Operations Determining Printer Configuration Long Term Printer In-activity or Storage Thermal Printing Modes of Printing Print Media Types Page Determining Thermal Media Types To perform a media scratch test, complete these steps: Replacing Supplies Adjusting the Print Width Adjusting the Print Quality Media Sensing Printing on Fan-Fold Media Page Printing with Externally Mounted Roll Media Externally Mounted Roll Media Considerations: Fonts and Your Printer Localizing the Printer with Code Pages Identifying Fonts in Your Printer Stand Alone Printing Sending Files to the Printer Print Meter EPL Line Mode Printer Options 40 Label Dispenser Option ^XA ^MMP ^XZ Page Page Zebra KDU Printer Accessory 44 KDU Plus Printer Accessory * - Not real values ( 45mA + 120mA + 25mA ) + 50mA <Max. Current Current Draw ZBI 2.0 Zebra Basic Interpreter Page Maintenance This section provides routine cleaning and maintenance procedures. Cleaning Cleaning the Printhead Media Path Considerations 51 Sensor Cleaning Platen Cleaning and Replacement Other Printer Maintenance Replacing the Printhead Page Page Page Page Troubleshooting Status Light Descriptions Status Light Error Resolutions Page Print Quality Problems No print on the label. The printed image does not look right. There are long tracks of missing print (blank vertical lines) on several labels. The printing does not start at the top of the label or misprinting of one to three labels. A ZPL label format was sent to, but not recognized by, the printer. A EPL label format was sent to, but not recognized by, the printer. Manual Calibration Troubleshooting Tests Resetting the Factory Default Values Communications Diagnostics Page Feed Button Modes Feed Button Modes Amber - Red Flashing Green Amber www.zebra.com Page Page Page Universal Serial Bus (USB) Interface Parallel Interface PRINTER DB-25 Pin No. Centronics Pin No. DB-25 to Centronics (Cable) Serial Port Interface Connecting the Printer to a DCE Device Page Page Page Page C 82 Managing Printer Configuration with ZPL Programming ZPL Printer Configuration Format ZPL Configuration Status to Command Cross-reference Page Page Printer Memory Management and Related Status Reports ZPL Programming for Memory Management