Installation Guide

Table Of Contents
4
SP Series Info Central: Troubleshooting
Making Test Cards
You can make the following types of test cards.
Printer test cards verify the function of the printer. You print them using controls on the printer. The
personalization of the card is determined by the printer, the print ribbon, and modules (such as magnetic stripe)
installed in the printer.
Printer magnetic stripe test cards, which verify that the driver sends magnetic stripe information to the printer
and verifies that it is encoded. Use controls in the Printer Toolbox to print magnetic stripe test cards. See
"Magnetic stripe test card" for steps to follow.
Sample cards, which are made using files provided with the driver. Sample cards are made at installation to
verify that the printer produces the same result at the factory and at your site.
See Print a sample card for steps to follow.
You can also make sample cards using the ID software to test print quality and card design. Do not make
sample cards until you are sure the printer and driver work properly (by printing a printer test card).
Making a printer test card
The SP Series printer does not need to be connected to a PC to print this card.
1 Power off the printer.
2 Confirm that cards and print ribbon are loaded in the printer. See the SP Printer Guide if needed.
If the printer has a magnetic stripe module, the card for a printer test card must have a magnetic stripe.
If it is a three-track module, be sure to use blank cards with the correct coercivity (the default is high
coercivity) which are shipped in the Starter Kit.
If the printer has been installed previously and has used a custom magnetic stripe format, you might need to
set the printer to use the default encoding format for the module. See Magnetic stripe setup.
3 Power on the printer (1). Within 5 seconds, press and hold the Ready key (2), as shown in the illustration. Hold
the Ready key firmly until the printer sounds three tones and displays “Printer Test Card” on the LCD panel,
usually about 15 to 30 seconds.
4 Release the Ready key and observe the printer. You hear the internal components initialize and the printer
starts processing the card.