This guide describes how to install and configure the Fargo DTC1250e card printer for use with the GoBright digital reception kiosk.
Step 1: Unboxing & network configuration of the DTC1250e printer
1.1 Unbox the DTC1250e printer from the box.
1.2 Unbox the printable cards
1.3 Load the card(s) in the input hopper.
1.4 Insert the print ribbon cartridge in the printer.
1.5 Power the printer via the power adapter.
1.6 Connect the printer with a network cable.
1.7 Wait until both buttons have continues blue lights.
1.8 Press and hold the right "pause/resume" button for five seconds, or until the printer starts to print.
1.9 The printed card will provide the printer's MAC address and IP address along with other advanced printer information.
1.10 The printer must have a static IP address.
It is recommended to give the printer a static IP address via a MAC address reservation in your DHCP-server.
Please do so with the MAC address you see on the printed card.
1.11 The static IP address of the printer is needed in step 2
1.12 Default username of the printer is "root", password [no password]
Step 2: Installation of the printer driver
You need to install the correct driver for the Fargo DTC1250e printer on your Windows server.
2.1 Download the latest driver from the HID Global website.
2.2 Run the installer and install the printer as a local network printer.
2.3 During installation, you will be prompted to enter the printer's IP address. Enter the IP address you configured in the previous step.
Step 3: Find the name of printer
In the previous step, you installed the printer in Windows.
Next, you need to find the exact name of the installed printer:
3.1 Open Control Panel.
3.2 Select Devices and Printers.
3.3 Double-click the DTC1250e Card Printer.
3.4 In the menu bar, click Printer, then select Properties.
3.5 In the General tab, find the exact name of the installed printer.
3.6 Copy this name, as you will need it in the next step.
Step 4: Installation of the Badge Printing Service
Follow the next article to install the Badge Printing Service, and configure the device to work with the kiosk:
Setting up badge printing: via intermediate Windows Service
Troubleshooting
Some cards have an opening at the top for attaching a keycord or clip.
If the printer does not print the entire card and stops printing at the opening, you need to change the card orientation in the input hopper.
The printer has a sensor that detects the end of the card. When a card has an opening at the top, the sensor may interpret it as the end of the card, causing the printer to stop printing prematurely.
The sensor is located at the front of the printer. To prevent this, make sure the opening in the card faces the back of the printer when placing the cards in the input hopper.
Different cards have different coatings, which can affect print quality. For example, pre-printed cards may have a different coating than standard blank cards.
You can adjust the Resin Heat Adjust value in the printer driver on the Windows server to optimize the print quality for the type of card you are using.
To change driver settings:
- Log in to the Windows server where the printer driver is installed.
- Right click on the printer driver icon in the Printers Folder and select 'Document Defaults'.
- Open the tab 'Card'.
- Click on 'ToolBox'.
- Open the Tab 'Advanced Settings'.
- Change the value 'Resin Heat Adjust' to value between from 0 to -20.
Please save the adjusted setting and test the newly printed card. Keep changing it until you reach the desired quality.
(as different cards have different coatings, there is no standard value, but in normal circumstances the 'Resin Heat Adjust' value should be between 0 and -20).