Re: ImageWriter LQ settings

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

ladyphoenixxii@my-deja.com writes ...
> 
> There are three banks of dipswitches located upper left behind the platen.
> The following settings are used with the GS.
> 
> Farthest left
> switches 12345 up 67 down 8 up
> 
> middle set
> switches 12 down, 345678 up
> 
> As I recall the set up advances the page, so where the top of the page is
> aligned with the line on the plastic near the print head it advances a bit
> so the upper margin is automatically set.
>

     Your settings look okay except that, in the first group (SW-1), the
printer seems to be configured for graphics printouts-- i.e. unless you send
control codes to change this setup, it will not work well for printing Text.

     With power OFF, try setting 6 and 7 UP and 8 DOWN.

     Below is a snip from the FAQs which should help with picking settings: 

>>
     While a number of settings are the same; there are some differences
between IW-II and IW-II LQ in DIP switch settings as well as which DIP
switches are present. Unless there is a note attached or a setting is labeled
"IW-II" or "'LQ", the indicated setting applies to both printers. 

     IW-II DIP switches are located near the left front side, inside the
printer. Lift the cover to get access. 'LQ DIP switches are located near the
left rear of the printer under the rear cover. When changing switches, power
should be OFF.


ImageWriter II & II LQ DIP Switch Settings

     In Imagewriter manuals, "SW-1" refers to DIP switch module 1. Each such
module has several individually numbered switches. For example SW-1 #5 refers
to switch #5 on the SW-1 module.

When a switch is UP (pointing toward the back of the printer)
it is open or OFF.

When a switch is DOWN (pointing toward the front of the printer)
it is closed or ON.

When a setting is labeled "usual" this refers to the usual setting
at the time a printer is shipped in the USA.


     The settings for SW-1 have to do with printout format. ImageWriter
control codes can override these settings. The codes for a particular setup
could be sent in a character string by your program or an application.

     On SW-1 all of the switches are normally open (UP) except #8 which is
closed (DOWN). These settings work for printouts under Appleworks and several
other programs which take care of page breaks. For tasks like listing a
program, doing a hex dump in the monitor, etc. you may want SW-1 #5 to be
DOWN for automatic skipping over perforations between pages.


Character Set
SW-1        #1  #2  #3

American     U   U   U  default
Italian      D   U   U
Danish       U   D   U
British      D   D   U
German       U   U   D
Swedish      D   U   D
French       U   D   D
Spanish      D   D   D


Form Length
SW-1      #4

11 inches  U  default
12 inches  D


Auto Perforation Skip
SW-1      #5

No         U  default
Yes        D


Character Pitch
SW-1      #6  #7

 10 cpi    U   U
 12 cpi    D   U  default
 17 cpi    U   D
160 dpi    D   D (proportional)


Line Feed with Carriage Return
SW-1      #8

No         U  CR only
Yes        D  CR plus LF



     The settings for SW-2 are concerned with hardware interfacing. #1 and #2
set the baud rate the printer will expect:


SW-2                   #1  #2

  300 (on IW-II)        U   U     
19200 (on IW-II LQ)     U   U  'LQ default
 1200                   D   U
 2400                   U   D
 9600                   D   D  IW-II default

You should set the switches to match the speed of your printer interface. For
the IIgs serial Printer Port, the Port and the DIP switches would normally be
set for the maximum speed the printer can handle (e.g. IIgs Port at 9600 baud
and DIP switches set DOWN  DOWN  for the IW-II).


SW-2 #3 is usually set UP to enable DTR hardware handshaking. If your
interface wants to use XON/XOFF handshaking, set #3 DOWN.

SW-2 #4: If you have the 32K Memory Option, LocalTalk card, etc. installed,
SW-2 #4 should be set DOWN. Otherwise, it should be set UP (the usual
setting).

IW-II: SW-2 #5-#6 on the IW-II are factory-set to optimize hammer firing and
should be left alone by the use (On my IW-II #5 is DOWN and #6 is UP.)

'LQ: SW-2 #5-#7 (#7 is only on the 'LQ) on the IW-II LQ are used to set the
number of cut sheet feeder bins attached to the printer.

'LQ SW-2                #5  #6  #7

1                        U   U   D
1 and 2                  D   U   D
1, 2, and 3              D   D   D
1 and envelope           U   U   U  default
1, 2, and envelope       D   U   U
1, 2, 3, and envelope    D   D   U


'LQ: SW-2 #8 (only on the 'LQ)  sets Auto Paper Load position.

To print line    U  default
To paper bail    D


'LQ: SW-3 #1-#5 (only on the 'LQ)  are factory-set to optimize printer
operation and should be left alone by the user.

'LQ: SW-3 #6-#8 (only on the 'LQ)  control vertical alignment of dots in
bidirectional printing mode. Set for best alignment.

<<

     For vertical alignment info, see ...

http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/Csa2PRINTER.html#003 .



> I do have a spare LQ that I can take parts from.  
> I took one thrift soft buy
> with a bad print headpart but couldn't figure how
> to open it up and preserve
> the innards.  If someone knows how to do that I could
> offer cheap parts.  The
> things too heavy to ship for repair.
> 
 ....

     Don't think I've ever opened up our ImageWriter II to get to the innards
(and, we do not have an 'LQ).  From past messing around with this sort of
hardware, my guess is that the bolts you will need to loosen will come in on
the bottom of the printer.

     By the way, don't be too quick to blame the printer for screwed up
printing. Many older IW ribbons use a foam capstan and pressure wheel to pull
the print ribbon during printing. These eventually turn to mush and the
ribbon no longer moves.



Rubywand