Serial Communications
Serial Communications

Serial Communications

The GK888 printer features DCE serial communication port for hardware compatibility with legacy 888 printers.
The required cable must have a nine-pin “D” type (DB-9P) male connector on one end which plugs into the mating (DB-9S) serial port located on the back of the printer. The other end of this signal interface cable connects to a serial port on the host computer. The cable is a Null-Modem (cross-over signal connections) cable. For pinout information, see Interface Wiring.
The serial port communication settings between the printer and host (typically a PC) must match for reliable communication. The most common settings that require changes are Bits per second (or Baud rate) and Flow Control.
The host (typically a Windows PC) must have the data Flow control changed to match the printer’s default communication method; in legacy printers, it is noted by the Host Handshake setting DTR/
Xon/Xoff
. This combined hardware (DTR) and software (
Xon/Xoff
) mode may require changes based on any non-Zebra application software and the serial cable variation being used.
Serial communications between the printer and the host computer can be set by:
  • Autobaud synchronization
  • Programming using the ZPL ^SC Command
  • Programming using the EPL Y Command