Printing Problems over twinax

[Guest.Visitor]

Our problem is with larger print jobs 50+ page reports, checks, and forms. The print job will start and print for a while, then Qsysopr will display a message saying the connection to the printer is lost. The printer will print a few more pages, depending on the memory, then quit. The Operator starts the printer/writer and the printer starts right up again, only it starts at page one and reprints the last print job over again. We didn't have a problem until I replaced an old HP4si with a new HP4050. Now an old HP4si that has been on the system is doing the same thing. So far the HP5si hasn't given us any problems. Here is our config. There are 3 printers, an HP5si, an HP4si, and a HP4050. They are all connected to the AS/400 with twinax. Each printer has an Acom Link controller box attached for addressing etc. Each printer is on it's own port. Our AS/400 is a model 720 and we are V4R4 of the OS. We also use a third party printing software for forms called FormsPrint. Any help will be appreciated. Rick Long

[Guest.Visitor]

You can change the spool file (option 2 on the WRKSPLF display) to start printing at any given page. Dave

[Guest.Visitor]

Rick, I used to do environmental surveys for companies, along with my other consulting work. Environmental in this case means "System Environment". Check your cabling, termination, etc. One of the most common problems when adding new hardware is the termination. Insure there is a terminating connector at the end of the twin-ax line, and that the 50-ohm resistor is still operating at 50-ohms. Many things can make the resistor go "open" or "closed" so that there is not enough resistance to effectively terminate the signal. Spikes, being dropped and being damaged, etc. You might also check to insure that the connector(s) on the line are tightened, connected properly (not cross-threaded) or damaged. Power: Not neccesarily the power from the AS/400 or device itself, but where the twin-ax route runs. If the line runs next to flourescent lights, motors, power boxes, fuse/breakers or high-voltage lines, you can incur signal dgredation. If you ran new cable, you may also have a bunch of cable that was not used or cut out of the line. If you coiled the cable up say, three or for wraps, you can cause an effect called inductance, where the coil of wire acts as a power amplifier and creates an electromagnetic force, which causes signal degredation. Finally, if you are using the same old twin-ax run and the old printer had no problem, it may be that the new device is more susceptible to interference. The higher the rate of data transfer, the more susceptible to interfenence the signal is. Hope this helps, Bret Myrick P.S. If the ideas above do not help, call the MFG who will tell you to call IBM who will tell you to call the MFG.

[Guest.Visitor]

Bret, Thanks for info. We do have some of the twinax coiled up under the table the printers sit on. We also have some of the twinax running over the top of the power distribution box from the "on-line" UPS. I'll check out all of your suggestions, and let you know how it turn out. Thanks again for the time and help. Rick