Printing Integrated Shipping Label through Thermal Printer Prints Garbage Characters or Symbols

There are several steps that support reps can do depending on the cause of the problem. 

 

1. Reinstall the printer driver.

   - Garbage characters are usually a result of wrong or corrupt driver. Refer to the Thermal Printer guide or the manufacturer to reinstall the printer driver.

 

3. Replace the printer cable.

   - When a printer prints garbage, it is also because of a faulty cable or a loose connection. You can try to Power OFF your printer and computer. Disconnect and reconnect another cable on the printer and computer.

 

4. Perform Hex Dump.

   - Support will need to refer customer to their IT person or the printer manufacturer as this requires technical expertise to put the printer in the communications diagnostics mode and then analyze the hexadecimal values printed under such mode.

 

 

Note:

 

Thermal Printer Communications Diagnostics Mode (Hex Dump)

 

If there is a problem transferring data between the computer and the thermal printer, the printer can be set to "communications diagnostics mode". The printer will print the ASCII characters and their respective hexadecimal values for any data received from the host computer.

 

(For Eltron LP 2844)With the printer power off, press and hold the feed button while you turn on the power. The printer prints out a listing of its current configuration. After printing the label, the printer will automatically enter a diagnostic mode in which the printer prints out a literal representation of all data subsequently received. To exit the diagnostic mode and resume printing, turn off and then turn on the printer. The technician then analyzes the printed hexadecimal values to check any communication problem.