MtP300 Series Operator’s Manual Printek, Inc. 1517 Townline Road Benton Harbor, MI 49022 269-925-3200 www.printek.com Printek Part Number 6044 Rev.
FCC Part 15 Class B This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules.
Read all setup and operating instructions before proceeding with operation. Do not operate in an enclosure unless properly ventilated. Make sure no ventilation openings are blocked or obstructed, which may result in the printer overheating. Do not operate near a heat source. Lesen Sie vor der Inbetriebnahme die Aufbau- und Bedienungsanleitung. Betreiben Sie den Drucker nicht in einem kleinen, geschlossenen Raum, es sei denn dieser wird ordnungsgemäß belüftet.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................1 Getting Started .....................................................................................................................................................3 Battery Installation and Charging .....................................................................................................................
Table of Contents Advanced Setup Features...................................................................................................................................45 Print & Font Samples.........................................................................................................................................47 Specifications.......................................................................................................................................................
Introduction Thank you for purchasing a Printek MtP300 Series Mobile Thermal Printer. The MtP300 Series offer a variety of configurations to suit any printing environment. All models support media up to 3.12 inches wide and include “black mark” sensing capabilities on the printed side of the media. The MtP300 LP also supports rear black mark sensing and label gap sensing. All models are equipped with a Serial RS-232C port and will support one additional, optional interface.
Getting Started Battery Installation and Charging Note: You must charge the battery for at least 2½ hours prior to the first use. The battery for your MtP300 printer is shipped in an “uncharged” state. The battery must be charged using the following instructions prior to using the printer for the first time. Maximum battery capacity is not reached until after completing a minimum of three complete charge and discharge cycles.
Getting Started Installing Media Each printer comes supplied with a roll of receipt paper. For your convenience, the printers feature a paper supply indicator as shown in Figure 2. The indicator changes from all green to all red as the paper supply is used. Note: For maximum performance and optimum print quality, use only genuine Printek media in your MtP300 Series printer.
Getting Started Refer to Figure 4 and unroll enough paper to allow it to lay through the print head as shown, and close the paper door. Figure 4 - Paper Laying Through Print Head You may now press the Paper Feed Button to advance the paper a few inches and then tear it off in preparation for printing. Turning the Printer On and Off To turn the printer on, simply press the Power Button. If you continue to hold the Power Button, the printer will display the printer’s model number.
Getting Started • • • • A list of any graphic images or logos that have been stored. A sample bar code. Printer serial number. A print head test pattern. To print the standard printout, press and hold the Paper Feed button while turning on the printer with the Power Button (press and release the power button, but continue to hold the paper feed button) until the printer displays “Printing Current Menu Values”, and then release the Paper Feed button.
Getting Started 6. You may continue to step through additional set up features by pressing the 7. When you have finished setting the parameters to match you host system, press the until “Exit Menus” is displayed. 8. Press the 9. Your printer is now configured and ready to communicate with your host system. Enter Button. Advance Button Enter Button to save the changes and exit the Setup Mode.
Daily Operation Introduction For normal daily use, most users will only need to turn the printer on and off, load paper, and recharge the battery at the end of the day. The following sections describe these simple activities and provide additional information regarding the use of the MtP300. Control Panel The MtP300 Series printers are designed for simple operation with an easy to use control panel. As shown in Figure 5, the control panel consists of an LCD Display, five indicators, and four pushbuttons.
Daily Operation Enter Button – Used in printer configuration menus to advance to the next setup feature. May also be used to print the settings and connection information for the currently selected interface. Power Indicator – ON indicates that the power is on and that the printer is in normal power mode. SLOW FLASH indicates that the printer is in Setup mode and not accepting data.
Daily Operation Battery Charging The MtP300 contains battery monitoring and charging circuitry so that the battery may be charged while still in the printer. Charging the battery in the printer requires an optional power supply. Printek offers power supplies for use with 100-240VAC/50-60Hz and 12/24VDC for vehicle applications. Optional external battery chargers are also available so that you can have fully charged batteries “standing by” when needed.
Daily Operation Using the Magnetic Card Reader The optional Magnetic Card Reader (MCR) is used by some applications to read information from credit cards, drivers licenses, etc. When the host system sends a request to the MtP300 to enable the Magnetic Card Reader, “Swipe Card Now” will be displayed and the MCR Indicator will flash to indicate that the card may now be passed through the MCR slot, or “swiped”. Refer to Figure 8 for the card orientation.
Daily Operation Fault Messages Check Paper This message is displayed and the Error Indicator flashes whenever the printer runs out of print media. This may also occur if there has been a paper jam that prevents paper from feeding into the print head. To clear the error, first clear the jam and/or install new media. For information on how to replace the media supply or to check for a possible jam, please refer to “Installing Media” on page 4 in the Getting Started section of this manual.
Printer Configuration Introduction To Setup The MtP300 Series printers feature an easy to use control panel “Setup” menu system for setting permanent configuration parameters. These menus offer many useful and necessary features, but are typically only used when first setting up the printer. They are rarely used in normal everyday operation. The values that are set are used as the “defaults” whenever the printer is turned on or reset by the host system.
Printer Configuration Entering Setup To enter Setup, press and hold the Enter Button while turning on the printer with the Power Button. Continue to hold the Enter Button until “Menus Active” appears on the LCD Display. After releasing the Enter Button, “Entering Setup Menus” will be displayed momentarily before advancing to the “FORMAT MENU”. While in Setup Mode, the power indicator will blink slowly.
Printer Configuration Setup Menu Summary The following table is a summary of the features and possible values available in the Format, Interface, and Options Menus. This table may be used to help locate a particular item, or as a “quick reference” for the Setup menu system.
Printer Configuration Format Menu FORMAT MENU Current Format The MtP300 supports five “Formats”, or sets of printing parameters that may be selected either through the control panel or by host application programs. These Formats include printing related features such as Form Length, Font, Character Pitch, Margins, etc. Each Format also includes the ability to name the Format with a name such as “Receipt”, “Routing Label”, or “Shipping Label”, etc.
Printer Configuration Font Font 16.9 cpi Courier Possible Values: 4.2 cpi SnsSrfA 5.5 cpi SnsSrfA 10.2 cpi SnsSrfA 10.7 cpi SnsSrfA 12.7 cpi Courier 13.5 cpi Courier 14.5 cpi Courier 15.6 cpi Courier 16.9 cpi SnsSrfA 16.9 cpi Courier* 18.5 cpi SnsSrfA 18.5 cpi Courier 20.3 cpi SnsSrfA 20.3 cpi Courier 22.6 cpi Courier 25.4 cpi Courier Any downloaded fonts will also be displayed. This feature selects the default font and character pitch.
Printer Configuration Print Contrast Print Contrast 0 Possible Values: -75 … 0* … +125 in increments of 5 (+35* for LP Models) The printer automatically adjusts the amount energy used in order to maintain constant print quality as the battery discharges during use. The Print Contrast setting modifies the value that is determined to be needed by the printer and may be used to obtain improved print quality on different qualities of thermal print media.
Printer Configuration Mark Sensitivity Mark Sensitivity 0 Possible Values: -10 …0* …+10 This feature allows the Black Mark/Paper sensor to be adjusted to allow for variations in media materials and Black Mark printing methods. The following list will help determine if, and how, the Mark Sensitivity should be adjusted. • • • If the printer is not detecting black marks reliably, set the Mark Sensitivity to a lower value.
Printer Configuration Interface Menu INTERFACE MENU Current Host I/O After entering Setup as described earlier in “Setup Basics”, press the MENU” is displayed on the top line. Advance Button until “INTERFACE The bottom line displays the currently selected host interface. The Interface Menu provides access to the features that may be configured for the currently selected interface. Note that the Serial interface is standard in all MtP300 Series printers.
Printer Configuration Baud Rate Baud Rate 57600 Possible Values: 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600* This feature sets the baud rate for the Serial interface. The value must match the setting used on the host system. Data Bits Data Bits 8 Possible Values: 7, 8* This feature sets the number of data bits in the serial character frame. The value must match the setting used on the host system.
Printer Configuration ETX/ACK Handshaking ETX/ACK Off Possible Values: Off*, On This feature enables or disables the ETX/ACK character handshaking method used to control data flow from the host system to the printer. When enabled, an ACK character will be sent by the printer after an ETX character has been received and processed out of the input buffer. ETX characters used for handshaking cannot be part of an escape sequence.
Printer Configuration Bluetooth Interface INTERFACE MENU Bluetooth Note that “Bluetooth” must be displayed on the bottom line of the display in order to access the following features and for this interface to be active when Setup is exited. Emulation Emulation Printek Possible Values: Printek*, O’Neil, ZPL-II, Mt3, CPCL, Hex Dump This feature sets the family of printer commands that may be used by a host application program to control the various capabilities of the printer.
Printer Configuration Discoverability Discoverability On Possible Values: Off, On* This feature is used to set whether the printer may be discovered by other Bluetooth devices. PIN PIN 0 Possible Values: 0*, Up to 16 Numeric Characters. Note that this feature is only available if Paring Mode is set to Paired. To advance through the character positions, press the Advance Button. To change the character at the current position, press the Increment Button.
Printer Configuration Address Address 0080371B8F32 Possible Values: Twelve digit hexadecimal string. This feature displays the unique hardware value associated with the particular Bluetooth interface installed in the printer. This value is set by the hardware manufacturer, is guaranteed to be unique for each interface, and may not be changed.
Printer Configuration WLAN Channel WLAN Channel 1 Possible Values: 1* … 14 Note that this feature is only available if the WLAN Type is set to Peer-to-Peer. This feature sets the radio channel to be used when communicating in a Peer-to-Peer network. When in an Infrastructure network, the radio channel is automatically assigned by the interface and Access Point.
Printer Configuration WLAN Auth WLAN Auth Auto Possible Values: Auto*, Open, Shared This feature specifies the authentication method that will be used when establishing connections on the network. The method may be to use an open key or a shared key. If set to “Auto”, the printer will automatically match itself to the method used by other nodes.
Printer Configuration Tunnel Port Number Tunnel Port# 08023 Possible Values: 00000 … 08023* … 65384 This feature specifies the TCP/IP port to be used for data that is to be printed.. To advance through the character positions, press the position, press the Increment Button. 30 Advance Button.
Printer Configuration Options Menu OPTIONS MENU The OPTIONS MENU contains features that affect how the printer operates regardless of how features in other menus have been set. After entering Setup as described earlier in “Setup Basics”, press the Advance Button until “OPTIONS MENU” is displayed on the top line.
Printer Configuration Truncate Lines Truncate Lines No Possible Values: No*, Yes This feature specifies what is to be done with data that will not fit within the printable area of the current Format. The printable area is defined as the printable line length of the print head (approximately 4.1 inches) minus the area specified by the left and right margin. When printing text, a value of “No” will cause excess data to be “wrapped around” and printed at the beginning of the next line.
Interfacing To A Host Computer Every MtP300 is equipped with an RS-232C Serial Interface. Optional factory installed interfaces are also available for IrDA (Infrared), Bluetooth®, and Wi-Fi®. When the printer is equipped with one of the optional interfaces, the interface that is selected in the Interface Menu as described on page 22 is the one that will be active and the other interface will be ignored.
Interfacing to a Host Computer IrDA Interface In addition to the standard Serial interface, your MtP300 may be equipped with an optional IrDA interface. IrDA interfaces are commonly found on many PDA’s and notebook computers. To communicate using the IrDA interface, “IrDA” must be selected in the Interface Menu as described on page 24. The IrDA interface uses infrared light to provide a cable free, short range interface.
Interfacing to a Host Computer may have the printer print it out. To print all the configuration for the interface, press and hold the Button until “Printing Setup” is displayed. Enter Whenever a host device has established a connection to the printer, the Wireless Indicator will be lit. When the host closes the connection, the indicator will turn off. To conserve battery power, application programs should disconnect from the printer whenever possible.
Power Considerations MtP300 printers are designed to provide superior output using as little power as necessary. This provides the longest possible battery life. The printers may also be operated from an external power supply when used in a more permanent installation in a vehicle or office. The following discussions indicate how the printer accomplishes this power conservation using features such as Standby and Auto Power Down.
Maintenance and Troubleshooting Cleaning In normal environments, the printer should be cleaned after printing a few rolls of paper or if there are voids in the printout. For optimum performance and life, you should clean the Print Head and Platen Roller whenever you load new paper. To clean the printer areas as described below, use a Thermal Head Cleaning Pen available from Printek, or you may use cotton swabs moistened with isopropyl alcohol. Please refer to Figure 12 for the following instructions.
Maintenance and Troubleshooting Battery Care Charging the Battery The printer’s battery is charged in the printer using an optional power supply. Power supplies are available for 100-240VAC/50-60Hz and for 12/24VDC vehicle applications. Follow the steps listed below to charge the battery. An optional external two-bay charger is also available. • Plug the power supply into a power source appropriate for the adapter being used. • Plug the power supply into the power connector on the side of the printer.
Maintenance and Troubleshooting Testing the Power Supply and Battery To verify that the printer’s internal battery charger is functioning properly, perform the following steps. • Test the power adapter (100-240VAC/50-60Hz, 12/24VDC adapter) with a voltmeter to verify that its output voltage is 9 VDC. • Connect the power supply to a power source and then connect it to the printer. • Verify that the printer’s Battery Indicator is illuminated. If illuminated, the charging circuit is functioning properly.
Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting When encountering problems, the cause may be the printer or may sometimes be due to other problems with your system. Please review the following tables to solve common problems you may encounter with your printer. You may also visit www.printek.com for additional “FAQ’s” that may assist you. If you are still unable to solve your problem, please contact the company where you purchased your printer since they are most familiar with your systems.
Maintenance and Troubleshooting Other Problems Problem Printer will not turn on. Possible Cause Battery not installed properly. Printer turns itself off. Discharged battery. Auto Power Down is enabled. Battery discharged. Electrostatic discharge. Battery Indicator does not light or does not stay lit when power supply is connected. Battery already fully charged. Power supply not receiving power. Faulty power supply. Battery not installed properly. Battery not charging. Faulty power supply or battery.
Maintenance and Troubleshooting Obtaining Service If service is required for your printer, please contact the company where you purchased your printer. If they are unable to assist you, contact Printek Customer Service at (800) 368-4636 to obtain the name of the nearest Printek Authorized Service Center. If you wish to return your printer to Printek for service, please contact Printek Customer Service at (800) 3684636 to obtain a Return Authorization Number.
Advanced Setup Features An additional security menu is available for system administrators who prefer to “lock out” operator changes to the various menus. This method of security can be set independently for the Format Menu, the Interface Menu, or the Options Menu. When set to Edit Allowed, the user is allowed to make changes to any item in the menu specified. When set to View, the operator can review the settings, but cannot edit, or change, the values.
Print & Font Samples Print Samples 47
Print & Font Samples Courier Font With International Extended Character Set Courier Font PC Line Drawing Extended Character Set 48
Print & Font Samples Sans Serif Font 49
Specifications Printer Specifications Printing Specifications Printing Method: Printing Resolution: Printing Width: Direct Thermal, Up To 3.3 Inches Per Second 203 dots per inch (8 dots per mm) 576 Printing Elements for up to 2.84″ (7.
Specifications Physical Specifications Size: Weight: 6.5 x 5.3 x 3.1 inches, 19.56 x 16.76 x 7.87 cm (LxWxH) 1.96 lbs. (0.
Specifications Media Specifications Receipt Paper General Specifications: Approved Vendors: 0.0022 to 0.0065” (0.056 to 0.089mm) Thick Black Mark Sensing On Printed Side 2.00 to 3.12” (50.8 to 79.25mm)Wide 0.750” (19.05mm) Inside Diameter Core 2.625” (66.
Specifications Black Mark Position The vertical position of a Black Mark is dependent on the application program that will be used to search for and print relative to the mark. The following diagram shows the optimum position when seeking the Black Mark at the beginning of a print job and will require little, if any, reverse paper motion. The Black Mark must be printed on the front side of the paper for the MtP300.
Specifications Supplies and Accessories Supplies Battery: Receipt Paper: Labels: 7.4V, 2200 mAH Li-Ion Available separately or in 5 or 20 packs. 3.12” Width * Available in cases of 36. 2 x 1.25”, 3 x 1.75”, or 2.9375 x 4.9275” * Available in cases of 36. * Other sizes available on request.
Glossary of Terms 802.11 Wireless networking communication standards created by IEEE. access point An interface between a wireless network and a wired network. Ad-Hoc A Wi-Fi network consisting of only stations (no access point). Same as Peerto-Peer. ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange. authentication The process a Wi-Fi station uses to identify itself to another station. bandwidth The amount of data that be transferred in a given period of time.
Glossary IP Internet Protocol. A specification for packets, or datagrams, of data and an addressing method to allow the exchange of data with another system. Must be combined with another protocol such as TCP to create a complete connection with the other system. LAN Local Area Network. LCD Liquid crystal display. LED Light emitting diode. line pitch The vertical spacing of rows of characters. Measured in lpi. lpi Lines per inch.
