Difference in printing speed / results on HP LaserJet's

[Mat G]

Our ERP system (a Unix system) prints to several HP printers. When we
print our mainly text invoices out, one printer is much faster than a
newer model.

The system only used HPLJ4 drivers, no matter what the printer as this
has always worked fine in the past.

Between customers, we have a seperator page which is just a simple
graphic (a thick black corner, top left).

A LaserJet 2200n, with 8MB of memory prints fine, several hundred
sheets, no problem! This printer has RET=on, economode=off,
resolution=1200dpi, print density=3. This has just TCP/IP (correctly)
configured. This has one tray.

The same job sent to a LaserJet 4100n with 32MB of memory prints
invoices, then goes slow for each seperator page. Near the end of a
print run, it starts printing a blank sheet instead of the seperator
page. It also misses our small logo off the invoice sheets. This
printer has RET=medium, economode=on, resolution=fastres 1200dpi,
print density=3. This has TCP/IP, Novell/Netware and IPX-SPX
configured (although, now I know this, I will disable Novell &
IPX/SPX). This printer has two trays.

Any reason why we have such differences between one old and newer
printer?

Any help would be gratefully received!

Many thanks,
Mat G
Birmingham
UK

 

[Warren Block]

Between customers, we have a seperator page which is just a simple
graphic (a thick black corner, top left).

A LaserJet 2200n, with 8MB of memory prints fine, several hundred
sheets, no problem! This printer has RET=on, economode=off,
resolution=1200dpi, print density=3. This has just TCP/IP (correctly)
configured. This has one tray.

The same job sent to a LaserJet 4100n with 32MB of memory prints
invoices, then goes slow for each seperator page. Near the end of a
print run, it starts printing a blank sheet instead of the seperator
page. It also misses our small logo off the invoice sheets. This
printer has RET=medium, economode=on, resolution=fastres 1200dpi,
print density=3. This has TCP/IP, Novell/Netware and IPX-SPX
configured (although, now I know this, I will disable Novell &
IPX/SPX). This printer has two trays.

Any reason why we have such differences between one old and newer
printer?

Start by comparing the Unix queue configuration for the two printers.
The queue for the LJ4100 may have a print filter act on the data before
sending it on to the printer. That could cause a slowdown or loss of
graphics.

Check both the cables and network connection on the new printer. If
it's connected to one of the many hubs or switches that "auto-detect"
speed incorrectly, that might do it. (Invoices print the same speed
because it's very little data, graphics slow down.)

It might be worthwhile to compare the PDL detection settings on the new
printer with the old one (PCL versus PostScript versus auto-detect).

 

[Alan]

It might be worthwhile to compare the PDL detection settings on the new
printer with the old one (PCL versus PostScript versus auto-detect).

In HPs with autodetect you can usually switch it to just run as either
PS or PCL all the time if you're only using one language. A panel
setting or PJL command.

 

[Warren Block]

In HPs with autodetect you can usually switch it to just run as either
PS or PCL all the time if you're only using one language. A panel
setting or PJL command.

I thought that was what I said.

Anyway, the point is that the print job may be malformed and
mis-detected by auto-detect, or may require, say, PCL, but the printer
is set to only process PostScript. Or vice versa.