1. ZT400 Series Industrial Printer User Guide
  2. Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
  3. Alerts and Error States
  4. Troubleshooting
  5. RFID Issues
  • ZT400 Series Industrial Printer User Guide
RFID Issues

RFID Issues

Issue
Possible Cause
Recommended Solution
Printer Stops at RFID Inlay
The printer stops at the RFID inlay.
The printer calibrated the label length only to the RFID inlay instead of to the inter-label gap.
  1. Select
    FEED
     for the Media Power Up and Head Close parameters as appropriate. See Power-Up Action or Head-Close Action in Calibration, Diagnostic, and Other Tools.
  2. Manually calibrate the printer. See Calibrating the Ribbon and Media Sensors.
Voided Labels
When RFID is enabled, the printer voids every label.
The printer is not calibrated for the media being used.
Manually calibrate the printer. See Performing Manual Sensor Calibration.
You are using an RFID label with a tag type that is not supported by your printer.
These printers support only Gen 2 RFID labels. For more information, refer to RFID Programming Guide 3, or contact an authorized Zebra RFID reseller.
The printer is unable to communicate with the RFID reader.
  1. Turn off (
    O
    ) the printer.
  2. Wait 10 seconds.
  3. Turn on (
    I
    ) the printer.
  4. If the problem persists, you may have a bad RFID reader or a loose connection between the RFID reader and the printer. Contact Technical Support or an authorized Zebra RFID service technician for assistance.
Radio frequency (RF) interference from another RF source.
Do one or more of the following as necessary:
  • Move the printer away from fixed RFID readers or other RF sources.
  • Make sure that the media door is closed at all times during RFID programming.
The settings are incorrect in your label designer software.
The software settings override the printer settings. Make sure that the software and printer settings match.
You are using an incorrect programming position, particularly if the tags being used are within printer specifications.
Do one or more of the following as necessary:
  • Check the RFID programming position or the program position setting in your label designer software. If the position is incorrect, change the setting.
  • Restore the RFID programming position back to the default value.
For more information, refer to RFID Programming Guide 3. For transponder placement details, go to zebra.com/transponders.
You are sending RFID ZPL or SGD commands that are incorrect.
Check your label formats. For more information, refer to RFID Programming Guide 3.
Low yields. Too many RFID tags per roll are voided.
The RFID labels are not within specifications for the printer, which means that the transponder is not in an area that can be programmed consistently.
Make sure that the labels meet transponder placement specifications for your printer. See zebra.com/transponders for transponder placement information.
For more information, refer to RFID Programming Guide 3, or contact an authorized Zebra RFID reseller.
Incorrect read and write power levels.
Change the RFID read and write power levels. For instructions, refer to RFID Programming Guide 3.
Radio frequency (RF) interference from another RF source.
Do one or more of the following as necessary:
  • Move the printer away from fixed RFID readers.
  • Make sure that the media door is closed at all times during RFID programming.
The printer is using outdated printer firmware and reader firmware versions.
Go to zebra.com/firmware for updated firmware.
Other RFID Issues
RFID parameters do not appear in Setup mode, and RFID information does not appear on the printer configuration label.
The printer does not void RFID labels that are not programmed correctly.
The printer was powered off (
O
) and then back on (
I
) too quickly for the RFID reader to initialize properly.
Wait at least 10 seconds after turning the printer power off before turning it back on.
  1. Turn off (
    O
    ) the printer.
  2. Wait 10 seconds.
  3. Turn on (
    I
    ) the printer.
  4. Check for the RFID parameters in Setup mode or for RFID information on a new configuration label.
An incorrect version of printer firmware was loaded on the printer.
  1. Verify that the correct firmware version is loaded on your printer. For more information, refer to RFID Programming Guide 3.
  2. Download the correct printer firmware if necessary.
  3. If the problem persists, contact Technical Support.
The printer is unable to communicate with the RFID subsystem.
  1. Turn off (
    O
    ) the printer.
  2. Wait 10 seconds.
  3. Turn on (
    I
    ) the printer.
  4. If the problem persists, you may have a bad RFID reader or a loose connection between the RFID reader and the printer. Contact Technical Support or an authorized service technician for assistance.
The DATA light flashes indefinitely after you attempt to download printer or reader firmware.
The download was not successful. For optimal results, cycle power on the printer before downloading any firmware.
  1. Turn off (
    O
    ) the printer.
  2. Wait 10 seconds.
  3. Turn on (
    I
    ) the printer.
  4. Attempt to download the firmware again.
  5. If the problem persists, contact Technical Support.