Z3100 - USB or LAN?

[Mark Lindquist]

After getting back to printing with my 44" Plain Vanilla Z3100 I'm finding a few issues (problems I guess).

After a firmware update before I took a hiatus from printing to work on other projects I noticed that the front panel said: "No IP Connectivity" even when I was connected.  I just kept printing and overlooked the error message.  Now, after say 11 months of inactivity (yes I kept it on the whole time) I notice that when it is plugged in to LAN it slows the internet down to a snail's pace.  I normally unplug it from the network when not using.

So my question is, would it be better to use USB?  IF so, how long a USB cord can be used?

Will all the  same things work like calibration, etc. with USB?

Any advantages of one over the other?

Using a Mac with Tiger (Don't want to mess with things anymore than I have too).

Thanks for the advice from all of you - sorry I haven't been around for a while (long time - long story).

Best -

Mark

[Mark Lindquist]

I found that in USB mode the Utility does not allow for calibrating or profiling.

I went back to Ethernet and things seem to be working well again.

Have any of you had a similar experience with USB not allowing calibrating in the utility?

Thanks-

Mark

[Roscolo]

I found that in USB mode the Utility does not allow for calibrating or profiling.

I went back to Ethernet and things seem to be working well again.

Have any of you had a similar experience with USB not allowing calibrating in the utility?

Thanks-

Mark

I'm connected via USB and calibration and profiling through HP Utility work fine. OS is Win XP Pro 32 bit.

[Mark Lindquist]

I'm connected via USB and calibration and profiling through HP Utility work fine. OS is Win XP Pro 32 bit.

Hmmmm.  Doesn't work with Mac OS.  Profiling only available with ethernet.

[Roscolo]

Hmmmm.  Doesn't work with Mac OS.  Profiling only available with ethernet.

It probably does work, but figuring out why it's not working on yours is probably more time and effort than it's worth if you're working fine on ethernet. My experience was the opposite, I had more problems with ethernet, basically with the printer just not being detected by the HP Utility. I could print fine, but the printer wasn't detected in the HP Utility. Never had that problem with USB.

Since I upgraded firmware and driver, I have had a couple of instances where HP Utility did not detect the printer in USB or ethernet, but rebooting seemed to solve the problem with USB so I stick with USB. My advice is when you find something that works most of the time, leave it alone and stay with it.

[John Caldwell]

It probably does work, but figuring out why it's not working on yours is probably more time and effort than it's worth if you're working fine on ethernet. My experience was the opposite, I had more problems with ethernet, basically with the printer just not being detected by the HP Utility. I could print fine, but the printer wasn't detected in the HP Utility. Never had that problem with USB.

Since I upgraded firmware and driver, I have had a couple of instances where HP Utility did not detect the printer in USB or ethernet, but rebooting seemed to solve the problem with USB so I stick with USB. My advice is when you find something that works most of the time, leave it alone and stay with it.

We just went through this with our Z3200 and OSX. After months of good operation via USB in 10.4 and 10.5, the HP Printer Utility became unstable and could no longer update the printer firmware or Import Paper Presets. Hours of research and time on the phone with HP yielded no solution. An HP tech told me that some unknown software update ruined USB compatibility, affecting many machines, and that ethernet connectivity would solve the problem. Further, it was necessary to uninstall the HP assets in the Library>Printers folder, and delete all PPDs relating to the Z series. Lastly installing the Apple HP Drivers 1.1.1, and then installing the newest Raster driver and HP Utility did allow the Z3200 to be networked via ethernet connectivity. So far, so good. 10.6 calls for a different Apple HP driver download, apparently.

This discussion is a Z3100 topic of course, but there may be similarities.

John-

[Mark Lindquist]

It probably does work, but figuring out why it's not working on yours is probably more time and effort than it's worth if you're working fine on ethernet. My experience was the opposite, I had more problems with ethernet, basically with the printer just not being detected by the HP Utility. I could print fine, but the printer wasn't detected in the HP Utility. Never had that problem with USB.

Since I upgraded firmware and driver, I have had a couple of instances where HP Utility did not detect the printer in USB or ethernet, but rebooting seemed to solve the problem with USB so I stick with USB. My advice is when you find something that works most of the time, leave it alone and stay with it.

Yep - That's what I am facing - just go with what works.  Pretty weird the driver etc., is so squirrely.

[Mark Lindquist]

We just went through this with our Z3200 and OSX. After months of good operation via USB in 10.4 and 10.5, the HP Printer Utility became unstable and could no longer update the printer firmware or Import Paper Presets. Hours of research and time on the phone with HP yielded no solution. An HP tech told me that some unknown software update ruined USB compatibility, affecting many machines, and that ethernet connectivity would solve the problem. Further, it was necessary to uninstall the HP assets in the Library>Printers folder, and delete all PPDs relating to the Z series. Lastly installing the Apple HP Drivers 1.1.1, and then installing the newest Raster driver and HP Utility did allow the Z3200 to be networked via ethernet connectivity. So far, so good. 10.6 calls for a different Apple HP driver download, apparently.

This discussion is a Z3100 topic of course, but there may be similarities.

John-

Thanks John - good to know you have it working.  I will forgo the hours on the phone with HP tech support, requiring iffy updates and reboots, etc.  I got it back running on ethernet and USB just won't import paper presets still, so I have to stick with ethernet and thank my lucky stars it's working.  Amazing how flukey these printers are.

I won't be using it on 10.6 anytime soon though, hopefully.

Mark

[howseth]

I am working with OSX 10.4.11 Tiger. Connected USB to a G5 Mac. and printing with a 24" Z-3100: I have has similar problems getting new calibrations and paper profiles... Shutting off printer, and letting it re-set itself when turned on again - seems to solve this problem. (But, really, HP Software should have been better than this)

Howard

[Mark Lindquist]

I am working with OSX 10.4.11 Tiger. Connected USB to a G5 Mac. and printing with a 24" Z-3100: I have has similar problems getting new calibrations and paper profiles... Shutting off printer, and letting it re-set itself when turned on again - seems to solve this problem. (But, really, HP Software should have been better than this)

Howard

Interesting.  No matter what I do, there is no getting calibrations or paper presets with USB running OSX 10.4.11 Tiger.  Only works with Ethernet.  But as long as it works one way or another- I shouldn't (won't) complain (too much)  

[howseth]

I never updated to the very latest Z-3100 drivers - because it is working - I don't have faith in the HP software 'easy' updates  - and I am off warranty. So, I won't mess with it while it is still giving me the quality I want: it does. (For now, for now..) (... and I only use one specific paper in it these days.) does feel like skating on thin ice - especially since I will have to move the printer again to a new building next month. It survived the last move, just barely - I think.

Howard

[Mark Lindquist]

I never updated to the very latest Z-3100 drivers - because it is working - I don't have faith in the HP software 'easy' updates  - and I am off warranty. So, I won't mess with it while it is still giving me the quality I want: it does. (For now, for now..) (... and I only use one specific paper in it these days.) does feel like skating on thin ice - especially since I will have to move the printer again to a new building next month. It survived the last move, just barely - I think.

Howard

Yeah, I know what you mean.  If it's working and ain't broke, don't fix it.  Moving is always a risk.  If you have 4 big guys to help you, just keep it always in the same position (like when moving out of the truck, don't go downhill with it.  A tailgate lift is handy.)  A little shaking can be good for the ink carts, eh?    

Hey, the Z3100 is a sturdy piece of work - a great machine in fact.  The drivers... that's another story.  The great thing about it is when it's good it's really good.