The v3 PCB has some layout changes to make it easier to create a case for the Raspberry Pi + Retro-Printer Module (HAT); and also incorporates the software controlled LEDs. We are just waiting on some quotations for the new case and also volume production of the module.
The new software features the following:
Improvements to the handling of raw data (both plain and strip-escp2) and line feed conversion handling
Removal of redundant code
Changes to enable the Retro-Printer to work with the Banana Pi (M1 and M1+ tested) as well as the Raspberry Pi
Addition of a flashing indicator on the power led to show that whilst all data has been captured, the conversion is continuing to be processed. This should stop people switching the module off before it has finished processing.
We have recently successfully tried the Retro-Printer module with both the Banana Pi M1 (and M1+) and the Orange Pi PC.
This has necessitated some minor changes to the code in order to get it to compile on all 3 platforms (including the original Raspberry Pi); and we have taken the opportunity to make some further minor tweaks to the code to further improve the speed of processing.
Minor change made today to the start up - as we found that on faster class 10 micro SD cards, you could end up with 2 retroprinter processes running at the same time
Having worked with Hardkernel, following some changes to their software for communicating with the GPIO pins, we have now successfully tested the Retro-Printer module on the Odroid C1 single board computer. This means that it will also work with the Odroid C1+ and C2 computers.
Following feedback from the first purchasers of the Retro-Printer Module, we have now updated the software to improve the compatability with various computers and equipment
This includes the minor change to the convert-pcl program mentioned above (this is now v1.4), and we have started the software image from scratch using the latest Raspbian OS (as the Jessie image we previously used would not run on the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+).
This includes changes to the Epson ESC/P2 software to support more fonts and international chaaracter sets / tables.
You can also now set configuration options for the timeout so that it is indefinite - this can be useful if you are replacing a tractor feed printer which was used as a logging mechanism - ie the pages are only converted to PDF or printed whenever a full page has been processed, rather than whenever no data has been received for a set period of time.
The manual has been updated also to take account of the new changes and configuration options.
