Home Forums Discussions Problems Star TSP800 Thermal Printer

Has anyone used the above printer for printing prescriptions? I just purchased one recently, and it's rather difficult to configure. At least for me it is.

I have been using it for the last six months. I don't know what I would do without it. I have the TSP 800 prescription printer (USB). The prescription paper must have the black timing marker on the back. It will not work with the prescription rolls without the marker. I had tried the rolls without the marker and called everybody in tech support at the place that I bought it from (POSworld on the web, if I recall correctly). The error light kept blinking. No one had a clue. Installed and reinstalled the drivers to no avail. Luckily, I had a small roll of the one with the timing marker and put it in for the heck of it, out of pure frustation. It immediately snapped to the next prescription point and Voila! Problem solved! Never have had a problem again.
The only issue that I am faced with is that the TSP now is the default prescription ouput format. When I fax the script to the pharmacy on an online fax it cuts off the left border at the receiving end. I don't care. I print it out on the TSP and manually fax it, if ever I need to.
Hope this helps.

Zak,

Wow, I have never been so happy to get a post on here. Even if I never get it to work, I am glad it is working for you, and you know what it is. I am rather confused by the whole process.

I purchased the networked version of the TSP800 so I could print controlled substances. I am frustrated at having to write out Concerta and Focalin XR scripts especially since many of my patients are on three different strengths. Since I have paid ~ $500 for the printer and cord and another $200 or so for the paper, I do want it to work. Mine came with a roll of white paper; I guess so I could play with it prior to wasting my 2.4 cent paper (cheaper than the scripts I use now). I read the manual, and it was fairly confusing with 65 micron paper going over the tension bar and > 65 micron paper going under or removing the thing or whatever. The paper has the black marks and the red light blinks incessantly.

Making it further confusing is that Star Micronics manufactures the printer, TheGeeks.net sold it to me and Micro Format provided the paper. I do not know if I get my support from The Geeks or from Star Micronics. I am a bit worried for three reasons: 1) I have heard that Star does not have good support, 2) the sales person at The Geeks did not even know if the printer came with a cord -- I had to email him when I received it and let him know the good news that it does come with one for future reference, and 3) while I understanding Star closing at 3PM on July 3rd and being closed the 4th and 5th, I was shocked to call today and hear voicemail saying, "We will be closed on Wednesday, July 11. What, do they celebrate "week after July 4th day?"

Anyway, I found this configuration utility on their website:
http://www.starmicronics.com/rxprinter/
I wonder if it will help.

Anyway, please stay in touch until I hopefully get this resolved. Thanks.

Bert,

I'm setting up our office with AC and have been lurking on this site for several months as we implement. Having some problems with setting up the Star network printer, it prints a test page just fine, was able to assign an IP address and see it on the network, but somehow the spooler corrupts when we try to print. Have been on hold for long periods waiting for tech support. Did you experience similar problems?

T

I have 2 starr printers and love them we run them off of PCs in the nurse’s station.
I downloaded the starrRX driver straight from starrs website

Beau

Thanks, I was able to download an updated driver and now the printer is connected to the network. Now I'm trying to figure out how to get the paper alligned. I reset the DIP switch #8 to off as directed but still, it rolls thru about 5 labels and then flashes the error statement. How do you get it to recognize the registration marks?

Thanks,

Tim

Tim,

I have to say that getting the settings correct on the print driver and the Star in general was a nightmare for me. At the time, Pedro was my support tech, and he was incredible and basically walked me through it via email. The settings I have, which may have changed with a new model or driver are the following:

DIP Switch 1
Sw 12345678
On ********
Off

1,2 = Emulation : Star Line/T
4 = Sensor Adjustment : Off

Memory Switch
FEDCBA9876543210 HEX
<0> 0000000000000000 0000
<1> 0000000000000000 0100
<2> 0000000000000000 0000
<3> 0000000000000000 0000
<9> 0000000000000000 0000

<0> 4 = Character Mode : Standard
<1> A = Back Feed Step : Setting 1
<1> 9 = Back Feed : Invalid
<1> 8 = Black Mark Detect : Valid
<1> 4 = Zero Style : Normal Zero
<1> 3-0 = Inter. Char : USA
<3> F-8 = Page : Normal
<3> 4 = ANK Pitch : 12 dot
<3> 1 = <CR> : Ignore
<3> 0 = Feed Pitch : 4mm

A lot of these settings are by default, but some have to be set. Mine did not work correctly until I had all of these settings. Let me know if you need any help getting these settings. You definitely have to have the setting Black Mark Detect : Valid. By default, I believe it is Invalid.

Question on the TSP 800 can you find Triplicate paper for it??

I can't say for sure, but my guess is no.

I have a Star TSP800 Thermal Prescription printer at the front reception desk and it has been working well for the past year. It is attached to the reception computer by USB interface and I print to it from the exam room computers through a Windows XP peer to peer network.

However, lately I installed some power management software (Edison) that puts the computers to sleep (standby mode) after 30 min of inactivity in order to be green and save power.

However, when the reception computer wakes up, it doesnt apparently reconnect to the Star TSP800. A reboot of the reception computer solves the problem.

Has anyone else run across this problem and if so is there a way to fix it without rebooting every morning?