Weird problem with 82240B printer

[Moggul]

One of my 82240B printers is displaying a weird problem. When connected to a 28S it works normally but when connected to a Pioneer such as 42S or 17BII it just prints parts of the information, misaligned data or random characters.

You can check the pictures below showing both printers and the results. I positioned the calculators so that both printers were receiving the same information at the same time.

Is this a known issue? What could be the cause?

[Dave Britten]

I had a very similar problem with my 27S and 82240B. It would print fine with the 82240A, and all my other calculators work with the 82240B.

[DavidM]

(05-21-2020 12:31 PM)Moggul Wrote:  Is this a known issue? What could be the cause?

Don't think it's a known issue, but perhaps others will know better.

My guess would be that the "bad" combination of devices may be on opposite ends of the tolerance ranges for the IR timing. I'm wondering if changing the batteries in one or both of the devices would make a difference. You could also try an external power supply for the printer as well.

Just a thought!

[Moggul]

(05-21-2020 04:36 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  I had a very similar problem with my 27S and 82240B. It would print fine with the 82240A, and all my other calculators work with the 82240B.

Interestingly enough the 27S works as well a couple of my 42S and the 17BII+. Not working are a 42S and all of the 17BII (not +).

Batteries are rated as 4/5 so I don't think that is an issue.

[ijabbott]

(05-21-2020 05:01 PM)Moggul Wrote:  

(05-21-2020 04:36 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  I had a very similar problem with my 27S and 82240B. It would print fine with the 82240A, and all my other calculators work with the 82240B.

Interestingly enough the 27S works as well a couple of my 42S and the 17BII+. Not working are a 42S and all of the 17BII (not +).

Batteries are rated as 4/5 so I don't think that is an issue.

I guess you've already tried fiddling with the DELAY (on 42S) or PRNT mode setting (17BII and 27S)?

[BobVA]

Sounds like you ran the self test already, so...

Try raising the DELAY parameter to something high (like 5) and see what happens.

If that fixes it, you can then reduce it to where you still get reliable printing on that printer. (If it doesn't help, then at least you've ruled out some issues). Could be a tolerance stack up as suggested by DavidM.

Also try varying (e.g. increasing) the distance and see if that helps and perhaps try it out of line of sight to any florescent lights, monitors, etc that may be producing optical interference that one printer may me more susceptible to (long shot, I'll grant you).

[Moggul]

(05-21-2020 07:14 PM)BobVA Wrote:  Also try varying (e.g. increasing) the distance and see if that helps ...

Amazingly enough, increasing the distance from 2-3 cm (1 in) to 10 cm (4 in) did the trick and now the printer works flawlessly!!!

I do not know what the causes may be but now I have a fully functional unit. Thanks Bob!!!

[BobVA]

Transmitter a little on the hot side + a receiver a little on the sensitive side. It was probably overloading the receiver. As DavidM noted, tolerance stack up.

Glad you fixed it!