The Model 280 Printers have been equipped with diagnostic test routines which can be used to determine the printer’s functionality.

To enter Test Mode:

1. Power the printer off.

2. Hold the Feed button.

3. Power printer on, while still holding the Feed button.

4. Release the Feed button when you see the fast blink red LED light.

5. Printer is now in Test Mode, ready to run the first test, i.e. Operation – Receipt Print

To navigate the Test Mode:

1. Press and hold the Feed Button (Long Press) to go to the next test.

2. Press and Release Feed Button (Short Press) to run the current test.

Operation – Receipt Print

The receipt test is the primary test option to use when determining if the printer is functioning correctly.The receipt test is mostly used during the early stages of troubleshooting, to eliminate the possibility that the problem is occurring with the printer. If the printer experiences a failure, and the error indicator light is activated, call TransAct’s Ithaca Facility’s Technical Support Department.

Operation – Electronic Journal

The iTherm® 280 has an electronic journal option. It is possible to configure the printer with a journal station. This selection allows the information saved in the electronic journal to be printed and maintained by the operator. If the Electronic Journal is unintentionally initialized, it may be deactivated by this option as well. If the Electronic Journal is password protected; the manual Electronic Journal option will be disabled.

Operation – Configuration

The configuration option allows the configuration of the printer to be printed and, if necessary, changed. When configuration Mode is entered, the current configuration, the Current User store status, and the current totals are printed. If any printer errors have occurred, a hardware and software error log may also be printed. At the end of the print out are instructions on how to use configuration Mode. Please read these instructions carefully, as they are not the same as Test Mode. You may exit configuration Mode at any time, without affecting the printer configuration, by pressing the power button.

Operation – Head Test

The head test is a factory test that prints out lines to check the printer head is operation correctly.

Operation – Continuous

The continuous test is a factory test that prints out the receipt print test continually. To stop this test, press the feed button.

Operation – Burn In

The burn in test is a factory test that prints out a head test, and then prints the receipt print test continually. To stop this test Press and hold the power button until the printer prints returns to Operation – Burn In.

Operation – Rolling ASCII

The rolling ASCII test is a factory test that prints out ASCII characters continually. To stop this test, press the feed button.

Hex Dump Mode

Hex-dump Mode is used to diagnose communication problems with the printer. As information is received by the printer, the information is converted to a Hex/ASCII format and printed. No translation is made, which means no commands are interpreted. All information is converted to Hex/ASCII and printed on the receipt tape. If a arriage return is sent to the printer, it is translated to 0D in the hexadecimal field and “.” in the ASCII field.

Entering Hex-dump Mode

To enter hex-dump Mode, perform the following:

1. Power the printer off.

2. Hold the Feed button.

3. Power printer on, while still holding the Feed button.

4. Wait for the red LED light to blink slow, and then release the Feed button.

5. Printer is now in Hex-dump Mode