Retro-Printer Module Lights

[KenS]

Hi there, after switching from Windows 11 to Linux Mint, I decided to try to get Retro-Printer working. After getting the software extracted onto the SD card, I was able to connect to CUPS, through three different ways, http:retro-printer:631, http://127.0.0.1:631 and one time to http:// my raspberry pi IP address:631. The 127.0.0.1 seems to be use by Linux users. I think I should only have one CUPS printer, but at the moment haven't been able to get back on at my http://raspberrypi IP address:631, so I wonder if having two CUPS printers might cause a conflict with Retro-printer. Anyway, I have a MicroGrafix MW350 connected between a C64 Ultimate (I have tried my real C64C and U64) and my HP Envy 5530 USB printer. The Micrografix MW-350 is set to HP Thinkjet (2225) (SW 1 and 3 set to on). I was able to connect to the SSH through Linux version of Putty. I have the configuration set to HP emulation, I think all of the other settings are on default settings. Do the lights have any diagnostic purpose. I might get the "Data LED" light to once or twice every 5-6 seconds, if I hold down the pushbutton on the MV-350 to print the "Status Report", it should print after a second or two. Printer doesn't activate. When I release the pushbutton, the "Online: light flashes 5-6 times. I have had them yesterday, were both the "Online LED" and the "Data LED" would flash 5-6 times together. I have been able to get a test page to print from the Http://127.0.0.1 website. But so far I haven't gotten either the MW-350 to print a status page. If i try to print something from the Commodore 64 Ultimate, the "Online LED" flashes three times after 5-6 seconds. So I am get signals from the C64 through the MV-350 to the Retro-Printer module, but the printer doesn't do anything.. Take care.

[RWAP]

Ken - it would make it easier to read your posts if they were broken into shorter paragraphs...

Anyway, the indicator lights do not help too much with troubleshooting. The flashing light shows that the Retro-Printer is processing the captured data (ie creating a PDF).

If nothing is coming from the attached printer - check that you have it set as the server default under CUPS as we do not expect people to type in the full name of the printer they have set up, so we just print to the default.

[KenS]

OK, I was wondering if it might have been creating a PDF. Sorry about that, will break everything into smaller paragraphs. Just wanted to let you know what I had done, to get to the flashing lights. Before, I would get any reaction either from Retro-Printer or the MW-350. take care.

[RWAP]

There is also another use for the LEDs if you try using the Retro-Printer to capture serial data without a dongle - the LEDs will flash to show a problem.

[KenS]

I was reading the "Dynamometer / MSDOS Printing" discussion, it got me to wonder if my CUPS printer was set to default server. Found and set CUPS to default server. When I pressed and held the Pushbutton on the MW-350 interface for a test page or tried to print from the C64 Ultimate, the Retro-Printer "Offline LED" light would flash 5-6 times, then for the first time, the HP Envy 5530 display screen would flash off and on for a second at the same time.
So it appears that the retro-printer module is trying to communicate with the printer. Getting closer.

When you mention "try using the Retro-Printer to capture serial data without a dongle - the LEDs will flash to show a problem" was you talking about page 24-25 of the Retro-Printer manual. I tried this earlier in my testing, but not with this CUPS configuration. Take care.

[RWAP]

I was reading the "Dynamometer / MSDOS Printing" discussion, it got me to wonder if my CUPS printer was set to default server. Found and set CUPS to default server. When I pressed and held the Pushbutton on the MW-350 interface for a test page or tried to print from the C64 Ultimate, the Retro-Printer "Offline LED" light would flash 5-6 times, then for the first time, the HP Envy 5530 display screen would flash off and on for a second at the same time.
So it appears that the retro-printer module is trying to communicate with the printer. Getting closer.

When you mention "try using the Retro-Printer to capture serial data without a dongle - the LEDs will flash to show a problem" was you talking about page 24-25 of the Retro-Printer manual. I tried this earlier in my testing, but not with this CUPS configuration. Take care.

Ermm - no - it is not mentioned in the Retro-Printer manual.

I am still trying to understand the problem you are explaining.

a) Have you looked at the PDF generated by the Retro-Printer from the captured data. Look in /home/pi/data/pdf
That has to be the first point of call - if the PDF is generated and is OK, then you are good to go.

If the PDF is corrupt or not generated then something else is wrong. Possibly handshaking settings or more. This is NOT something an ordinary user can investigate easily. There are different handshaking settings available - the most common is the value in

/root/config/handshaking
default is 0, but can be 0, 1 2 3 or 4


To edit:

Code: Select all

nano /root/config/handshaking

Edit the value
Press CTRL x to save and exit.

See section 7 of the manual.

You then need to restart the retro-printer software when you edit this file (or any other configuration file).

Code: Select all

cd /home/pi/temp/sdl/escparser
./retroprinter-restart.sh

(or reboot).


b) If the PDF is good then it is your printer settings - set up through the CUPS web interface.
Some printers need new printer drivers installing - unlike Windows, Linux does not do that automatically.

I am not sure what printer you have set up in CUPS or how you have it set up.

I assume the MicroGrafix MW350 is a printer and you have it set up to emulate a HP Thinkjet 2225 printer.

I am not a CUPS expert or printer expert - so I had to use google:

Google: "install HP Thinkjet 2225 printer on raspberry pi"

- you need to enter the command:

Code: Select all

apt install foo2zjs

Then install under CUPS:
Open your web browser on any computer on your local network.
Navigate to the CUPS web interface by entering https://retro-printer:631/
Go to the Administration tab and click Add Printer. (You may be prompted to enter your Raspberry Pi’s username and password).
Under local printers, select your USB-to-Parallel device (e.g., HP Thinkjet (USB Parallel Printer)) and click Continue.
Under the Make/Manufacturer list, select HP, then look for ThinkJet or the foo2zjs driver options.
Click Add Printer to complete the setup.
Set it as the server default

If it doesn't work - then upload some PDFs (possibly the raw data from /home/pi/data/raw) too and some screenshots of the CUPS web interface.

[KenS]

Sorry for the delay. For the pass 4-5 days haven't been able to connect to the CUPS server. Anyway, i did get the HP Envy 5530 printer to try to print but after 3 seconds it would stop. Retro-Printer does create a pcl files that are placed in the plc folder. I have attached my notes from today testing. The Micrografix MW-350 (mid-1980's) is a printer interface that connects between a C64 and the printer. Take care.

[RWAP]

The raw files are the most important - they are a plain text file.

Upload a sample raw and the pcl file - if the pdf folder is empty then either the emulation setting is wrong or the handshaking is wrong.

[KenS]

Here's the pcl, pdf and raw files, the first ones are a test of the MW-350 printer interface. The second file is trying to print from the C64 Ultimate Elite II.

[RWAP]

Ok so the data is being captured and pdf created ok.

It looks like a problem with how you have set up the printer - you need to get Cups website working

Add some screenshots to show what happens when you try to access CUPS