The printer automatically detects and switches the serial port to match common serial port cabling and signal connection configurations for DTE and DCE communications.
You will need a signal interface cable with a nine-pin D type (DB-9P) male connector on one end that is capable of plugging into the mating (DB-9S) serial port on the back of the printer. The other end of the cable connects to a serial port on the host computer. This allows for the use of two common cable types and drop-in replacement for Zebra and other printer models.
Zebra printers use a Null Modem (crossover) cable. Early models of Zebra printers (DCE devices) which support EPL programming used a straight-through (no crossover) 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 modified to match the printer’s default communication method (Hardware); 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 using one of these methods:
