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Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Printing: Printers, Papers and Inks => Topic started by: tony wyeth on October 07, 2009, 07:03:16 am

Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: tony wyeth on October 07, 2009, 07:03:16 am
Epson 9900 firmware update on 6th Oct and Driver to 6.61.I have updated, lets hope it solves our waste ink problems.
Regards to all.
Tony
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Guigui on October 07, 2009, 07:41:48 am
Quote from: tony wyeth
Epson 9900 firmware update on 6th Oct and Driver to 6.61.I have updated, lets hope it solves our waste ink problems.
Regards to all.
Tony

"This version improves the cleaning sequence" (seen on epson.co.uk)

Hurray !
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: JasonHopkins on October 07, 2009, 08:53:29 am
Quote from: tony wyeth
Epson 9900 firmware update on 6th Oct and Driver to 6.61.I have updated, lets hope it solves our waste ink problems.
Regards to all.
Tony



I am holding my breath  

Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: pleverington on October 07, 2009, 12:36:32 pm
Thanks for the heads up tony! Where did you find the updates--I'm not seeing them on the epson site.

Paul
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Guigui on October 07, 2009, 01:43:28 pm
Quote from: pleverington
Thanks for the heads up tony! Where did you find the updates--I'm not seeing them on the epson site.

Paul

I checked Epson USA website earlier today and the update wasn't available from there, but it was up on Epson Europe. Oddly, this is the second time that European websites are updated earlier than epson.com.

Anyway, if you run the automatic firmware updater you should be able to download the new firmware.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Farmer on October 07, 2009, 04:10:37 pm
Quote from: Guigui
I checked Epson USA website earlier today and the update wasn't available from there, but it was up on Epson Europe. Oddly, this is the second time that European websites are updated earlier than epson.com.

Anyway, if you run the automatic firmware updater you should be able to download the new firmware.

It's also on the Epson Australia website (has been for a few days).

http://tech.epson.com.au/downloads/ (http://tech.epson.com.au/downloads/) then follow the various menus to get to the product and the downloads.

It gives you some new menu options - basically 3 settings.  Default is similar to what you have now, but improved in the operation.  Setting 2 and 3 progressively "tune down" the agressiveness of cleaning, with 3 basically just alerting you to potential nozzle blocks but continues to print.  You can do a manual check to decide if you need to run a clean or not.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Wayne Fox on October 07, 2009, 06:21:23 pm
Quote from: Guigui
"This version improves the cleaning sequence" (seen on epson.co.uk)

Hurray !


Some detail would be nice ... that's about as vague as it comes.  Those that have installed the update should post any changes they see in menu options for nozzle checks and cleanings, as well as any new behavior.  I believe Jeff stated they were planning on removing the ANC function from cleaning of color pairs which would be a good move.

Quote from: Farmer
It gives you some new menu options - basically 3 settings.  Default is similar to what you have now, but improved in the operation.  Setting 2 and 3 progressively "tune down" the agressiveness of cleaning, with 3 basically just alerting you to potential nozzle blocks but continues to print.  You can do a manual check to decide if you need to run a clean or not.

So it affects how sensitive ANC is to clogs?  Still no option to completely disable it?  It sounds like these only apply to before print checks, not when doing cleans or black ink swaps?

Quote from: Guigui
I checked Epson USA website earlier today and the update wasn't available from there, but it was up on Epson Europe. Oddly, this is the second time that European websites are updated earlier than epson.com.

Anyway, if you run the automatic firmware updater you should be able to download the new firmware.

Actually that's SOP for Epson ... almost all firmware updates are available from the UK site before the US site.  Not sure if it's operational ... Epson USA web guys are busier, or if Epson USA does additional testing.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: vjbelle on October 08, 2009, 03:01:24 pm
Quote from: Wayne Fox
Some detail would be nice ... that's about as vague as it comes.  Those that have installed the update should post any changes they see in menu options for nozzle checks and cleanings, as well as any new behavior.  I believe Jeff stated they were planning on removing the ANC function from cleaning of color pairs which would be a good move.
I have installed the update but have not been able to find any new menu options.  I would like to know where Phil has found the menu items he is referring to.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Wayne Fox on October 08, 2009, 03:31:28 pm
Quote from: vjbelle
I have installed the update but have not been able to find any new menu options.  I would like to know where Phil has found the menu items he is referring to.


Same here.  I can't find any changes in the menus, and have no clue what the firmware actually does to improve things.  Will continue to use service mode and service mode cleans for now.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: vjbelle on October 08, 2009, 04:09:20 pm
Quote from: Wayne Fox
Same here.  I can't find any changes in the menus, and have no clue what the firmware actually does to improve things.  Will continue to use service mode and service mode cleans for now.
Just for reference my printer version is now [HW01699,1.12,A000]
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Farmer on October 08, 2009, 06:22:16 pm
My previous reply was eaten :-)

In the Maintenance Menu (ie turn on the printer with the pause button held down) there's a new option of Auto Cleaning Times with options for values of 1, 2 or 3.

These basically range from "same as now, but with more accurate AID giving better ANC results" to "Just alert the user to a potential block and then let them decide if they want to clean".

Once you initiate a clean it will do a check with the AID, but it's more accurate now and the combination of accuracy and control over the default behaviour should improve things considerably.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: vjbelle on October 08, 2009, 06:33:50 pm
Quote from: Farmer
My previous reply was eaten :-)

In the Maintenance Menu (ie turn on the printer with the pause button held down) there's a new option of Auto Cleaning Times with options for values of 1, 2 or 3.

These basically range from "same as now, but with more accurate AID giving better ANC results" to "Just alert the user to a potential block and then let them decide if they want to clean".

Once you initiate a clean it will do a check with the AID, but it's more accurate now and the combination of accuracy and control over the default behaviour should improve things considerably.
Thanks for clarifying...... out of curiosity how do you know this to be the true function of this FW update?  Just out of curiosity
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Farmer on October 08, 2009, 07:28:54 pm
Quote from: vjbelle
Thanks for clarifying...... out of curiosity how do you know this to be the true function of this FW update?  Just out of curiosity

That's the information that I have from Epson.  I expect more detail will be published shortly.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Ryan Grayley on October 09, 2009, 12:21:00 pm
Quote from: Farmer
In the Maintenance Menu (ie turn on the printer with the pause button held down) there's a new option of Auto Cleaning Times with options for values of 1, 2 or 3.

Does the title of the new menu option refer to the number of times the printer will attempt a clean?
I updated my firmware today and the number of cleaning times was already set to 1.
So at the moment, will my printer make just one attempt to clean?
And if I change the setting to 2, will my printer makes two attempts to clean etc?

Any clarification would be great!
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Wayne Fox on October 09, 2009, 01:37:00 pm
Quote from: Ionaca
Does the title of the new menu option refer to the number of times the printer will attempt a clean?
I updated my firmware today and the number of cleaning times was already set to 1.
So at the moment, will my printer make just one attempt to clean?
And if I change the setting to 2, will my printer makes two attempts to clean etc?

Any clarification would be great!

Agreed.  Is this even a new feature?  I wasn't aware of this menu ... could this have been there all of the time? Odd this is in a menu designed for service techs, not end users - I can't find any mention of it in the documentation.  So is the change the default use to be 3 and now the default is 1 but you can change it back to 3?

So if I start a cleaning cycle and this is set to one, does that mean it won't clean again even if it detects a clog .. meaning if I have the printer set to not do auto nozzle checks between prints, the only time it will do an ANC on it's own is when changing black inks?  I guess that's useful, but I think I still prefer to control how aggressive the cleaning cycle is with service mode.  I almost always can clear a "clog" with a CL1 ... very little ink.  Wish they would just put the service mode functionality in a normal menu with an option to have ANC only report when it fails.

I still am unsure that these are "clogs".  Yesterday after sitting idle for about 5 days I started up my 7900, and 100% of the Cyan nozzles were "clogged".  Not a single spec of cyan ink anywhere.  All the other colors were perfect.  After a CL1 of that channel, 100% of the cyan channel was functioning.  Hard to see how this could be caused by ink clogs in the nozzles.  I'm seeing this a few times a month now, where all or nearly all of a color does this, and a simple channel clean clears it up completely.



Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: mikev1 on October 09, 2009, 02:54:06 pm
Quote from: Wayne Fox
Agreed.  Is this even a new feature?  I wasn't aware of this menu ... could this have been there all of the time? Odd this is in a menu designed for service techs, not end users - I can't find any mention of it in the documentation.  So is the change the default use to be 3 and now the default is 1 but you can change it back to 3?

So if I start a cleaning cycle and this is set to one, does that mean it won't clean again even if it detects a clog .. meaning if I have the printer set to not do auto nozzle checks between prints, the only time it will do an ANC on it's own is when changing black inks?  I guess that's useful, but I think I still prefer to control how aggressive the cleaning cycle is with service mode.  I almost always can clear a "clog" with a CL1 ... very little ink.  Wish they would just put the service mode functionality in a normal menu with an option to have ANC only report when it fails.

I still am unsure that these are "clogs".  Yesterday after sitting idle for about 5 days I started up my 7900, and 100% of the Cyan nozzles were "clogged".  Not a single spec of cyan ink anywhere.  All the other colors were perfect.  After a CL1 of that channel, 100% of the cyan channel was functioning.  Hard to see how this could be caused by ink clogs in the nozzles.  I'm seeing this a few times a month now, where all or nearly all of a color does this, and a simple channel clean clears it up completely.


I agree with you Wayne.  I'm not sure they are clogs either.  I see this all the time switching from PK to MK in service mode and then doing a nozzle check, and it isn't always just the black inks.  I think it might be air bubbles at least some of the time.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Farmer on October 09, 2009, 04:48:41 pm
Quote from: Wayne Fox
Agreed.  Is this even a new feature?  I wasn't aware of this menu ... could this have been there all of the time? Odd this is in a menu designed for service techs, not end users - I can't find any mention of it in the documentation.  So is the change the default use to be 3 and now the default is 1 but you can change it back to 3?

It's definitely a new feature - not present in previous firmware.  This isn't really a service tech menu (there are service mode menus, which are different) but users aren't encouraged to go in there unless they have a problem.

The changes aren't a case of now it's 1 and used to be 3 - there used to be no options.  The changes are in the sensitivity of the AID and the behaviour of the printer in responding to detecting blockages.

I'm waiting for exact details - as I said, I expect them to be published shortly then you will have an official source to refer to :-)
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Wayne Fox on October 09, 2009, 05:25:27 pm
Quote from: Farmer
It's definitely a new feature - not present in previous firmware.  This isn't really a service tech menu (there are service mode menus, which are different) but users aren't encouraged to go in there unless they have a problem.

The changes aren't a case of now it's 1 and used to be 3 - there used to be no options.  The changes are in the sensitivity of the AID and the behaviour of the printer in responding to detecting blockages.

I'm waiting for exact details - as I said, I expect them to be published shortly then you will have an official source to refer to :-)


Look forward to more info.  I guess it makes sense the menu is in maintenance mode menu, since it most likely will be a set once type of option and for many the default will be fine.

The menu description doesn't sound like it has anything to do with the sensitivity of the system ... it sounds like all it affects is how many times it will attempt to clean when the system detects a clog before "failing".  Before the update it seemed like it would try 3 times, but it was hard to tell if it was 2 or 3.  As I mentioned it seems like all this does is make it so it won't ever do multiple cleanings on it's own when set to 1.

But then again small menus like this don't always communicate their intent very well ... maybe the label should have been ANC sensitivity or something like that.

Oh well ... I'll keep doing things like I have been (service mode) until someone gets an "official" word.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Farmer on October 09, 2009, 06:07:18 pm
Quote from: Wayne Fox
The menu description doesn't sound like it has anything to do with the sensitivity of the system ... it sounds like all it affects is how many times it will attempt to clean when the system detects a clog before "failing".  Before the update it seemed like it would try 3 times, but it was hard to tell if it was 2 or 3.  As I mentioned it seems like all this does is make it so it won't ever do multiple cleanings on it's own when set to 1.

But then again small menus like this don't always communicate their intent very well ... maybe the label should have been ANC sensitivity or something like that.

It's not a sensitivity menu, Wayne.  The accuracy of the AID system (not sensitivity) has been improved.  That's constant - it's always more accurate.  Sorry if I conveyed some other meaning.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Wayne Fox on October 09, 2009, 07:49:06 pm
Quote from: Farmer
It's not a sensitivity menu, Wayne.  The accuracy of the AID system (not sensitivity) has been improved.  That's constant - it's always more accurate.  Sorry if I conveyed some other meaning.

OK .. my brain fog is gradually lifting ... the improvement in the AID system is not really connected to the new menu setting ... more of an "under the hood" improvement.  The new menu setting just offers another option.  I may turn ANC back on and run it normally for a while to see what happens.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Ryan Grayley on October 10, 2009, 03:08:24 am
Quote from: Wayne Fox
OK .. my brain fog is gradually lifting ... the improvement in the AID system is not really connected to the new menu setting ... more of an "under the hood" improvement.  The new menu setting just offers another option.  I may turn ANC back on and run it normally for a while to see what happens.

Hmm, that seems to make sense. Please keep us posted with your findings...
Thanks
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: JasonHopkins on October 12, 2009, 09:24:32 am
Hi Peeps,

anyone experiencing a better epson experience after this update?

My machine is still going into a clean after swapping blacks and wasting circa 14ml of ink, used to be 20ml+ and from most ink channels - it is now draining just MK and PK.

Anybody else have info?

Thanks,

Jason
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Farmer on October 12, 2009, 09:32:27 pm
OK guys - some more information posted officially.

Go to http://tech.epson.com.au/downloads/ (http://tech.epson.com.au/downloads/)

Then choose Large Format Printers from the drop down list, then choose 7900 or 9900 from the next drop down.  Click Continue, then click Search (without changing any options), then click Continue.

The document is called Firmware_1699_Pro7900_9900_Release_Notes.pdf
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Wayne Fox on October 12, 2009, 11:55:54 pm
Quote from: Farmer
OK guys - some more information posted officially.

Go to http://tech.epson.com.au/downloads/ (http://tech.epson.com.au/downloads/)

Then choose Large Format Printers from the drop down list, then choose 7900 or 9900 from the next drop down.  Click Continue, then click Search (without changing any options), then click Continue.

The document is called Firmware_1699_Pro7900_9900_Release_Notes.pdf

Interesting ... pretty much like you described it.  Improved AID functionality, new menu allows control of the process.

Couple of things of interest ...

"If you choose to switch the AID mode off, it will only operate after initial ink
installation and after a black ink change.  At all other times, the system will be entirely
manual and reliant upon the user checking the nozzle check pattern and performing
cleaning if desired."

I'm not sure this is obvious from the menu which I believe is still worded the same, but actually supplies the functionality that most users assume when they select the option to disable ANC.  Previously this only turned off ANC before printing a print, now it basically turns it off completely.  I assume if you select this option, the new menu options are irrelevant, since no ANC will be performed.  As far as black ink swaps, you can still do this through service mode to avoid an auto cleaning, then normally a CL1 is all that is necessary if there happens to be a clog.

Note the new default setting of 1 will also not ever trigger a clean from an auto nozzle check before printing a print, it will just warn you if it detects a clog then continue to print.  To me it sounds like completely disabling ANC is not the best option any more, better to use this set to 1 and if the ANC reports a clog, you could abort the printing process.  You actually have to select option 3 to return the printer to its previous functionality ... of course if the AID is improved even that might be a good option now.

Overall sounds like some nice changes.  I wish they would find some way to address how often the printer is clogging (my Cyan channel has been 100% "clogged" every time I start the printer up the last 4 times, with no other clogs ...just doesn't make sense).  All the attention to auto nozzle checking and too many cleanings, if the printer clogged as little as my 3800 or my 11880 it really wouldn't matter.  But at least it has become manageable and these changes gives the user a  lot more control.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Wayne Fox on October 13, 2009, 02:03:07 am
deleted .. unsure what happened to get a duplicate post.  Sorry
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Ryan Grayley on October 13, 2009, 03:47:02 am
Quote from: Farmer
OK guys - some more information posted officially.
Go to http://tech.epson.com.au/downloads/ (http://tech.epson.com.au/downloads/)
Then choose Large Format Printers from the drop down list, then choose 7900 or 9900 from the next drop down.  Click Continue, then click Search (without changing any options), then click Continue.
The document is called Firmware_1699_Pro7900_9900_Release_Notes.pdf

Thanks for that, indeed very interesting and after nearly a year I am starting to feel more positive about my Epson 7900. I guess we will soon know whether this update really makes a difference in practice! [Update1: my optimism was premature. See my later post below.]

Quote from: Wayne Fox
To me it sounds like completely disabling ANC is not the best option any more, better to use this set to 1 and if the ANC reports a clog, you could abort the printing process.  You actually have to select option 3 to return the printer to its previous functionality ... of course if the AID is improved even that might be a good option now.

Yes, this makes good sense to me. I think I will re-enable my ANC for "every job" and set the "Auto Cleaning Times" menu to 1. If this means I don't need to print out a nozzle test pattern before every print then this will save a lot of time. [Update1: Nope, this didn't work out. See my later post below.] I rarely use photo black but I will use the service mode method and CL1 cleaning for the odd occasion that I do swap.

So maybe there is some hope at last for the clogs but we shall see.  [Update1: my optimism was premature. See my later post below.]

Now Epson just need to sort out the Leopard/Snow Leopard 7900/9900 driver mess when printing profiling test charts with Photoshop CS4.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Ryan Grayley on October 13, 2009, 04:22:58 am
Quote from: Ionaca
Yes, this makes good sense to me. I think I will re-enable my ANC for "every job" and set the "Auto Cleaning Times" menu to 1. If this means I don't need to print out a nozzle test pattern before every print then this will save a lot of time. I rarely use photo black but I will use the service mode method and CL1 cleaning for the odd occasion that I do swap.

Well it didn't take me long to change my mind about this option! I ran a test print and  it resulted in the message on the printer LCD  "Cleaning Please Wait". I waited about three minutes while the printer made a lot of whirs and clicks. I can't believe it was just running an AID check, it sounded more like it was cleaning. The LCD then came up with the message "Some nozzles are closed" and then ran the print without giving me the option to abort. So much for saving time ink and paper. If there is no abort option if "Auto Cleaning Times" is set to 2 either then I see no point in using either of these two new options as I don't want to run the risk of producing a print with banding. So as usual, my ANC is going to stay disabled and I will continue with the tried and tested method of a manual nozzle test pattern and CL1 cleaning as required.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Guigui on October 13, 2009, 05:57:30 am
Quote from: Ionaca
Well it didn't take me long to change my mind about this option! I ran a test print and  it resulted in the message on the printer LCD  "Cleaning Please Wait". I waited about three minutes while the printer made a lot of whirs and clicks. I can't believe it was just running an AID check, it sounded more like it was cleaning. The LCD then came up with the message "Some nozzles are closed" and then ran the print without giving me the option to abort. So much for saving time ink and paper. If there is no abort option if "Auto Cleaning Times" is set to 2 either then I see no point in using either of these two new options as I don't want to run the risk of producing a print with banding. So as usual, my ANC is going to stay disabled and I will continue with the tried and tested method of a manual nozzle test pattern and CL1 cleaning as required.
That's exactly what I thought when I read the patch notes.
Quote
In the event that an AID check does detect a blockage, the printer will display a warning on the LCD panel that Some Nozzles Are Clogged and then continue printing without performing any cleans.
What kind of logic is that ? Warning you that there are clogs and then let you waste ink & paper ?
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: JasonHopkins on October 13, 2009, 06:06:36 am
Hello everybody,

this may sound like a dim question but where do you find the CL1 cleaning function?

I cannot find it in the Maintenence Mode (hold pause button on boot), is there another combination for the Service Mode?

Also my machine keeps sayin "Some Nozzles Are Clogged" even though they are not, so I am going to ignore this for a while.


I have asked Epson to update my machine to an earlier Firmware version, not sure if they can/will do it.

I am pretty sure that all of these black swap problems started in June or July.

I also have an issue with 1 metre prints coming out 3mm short, which again I believe is due to a firmware update as I have older untrimmed prints that are exactly the correct size, but are not correct if I print them now.


What is the point of a firmware update if your machine goes forward 1, back 2 steps?

Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Ryan Grayley on October 13, 2009, 06:24:50 am
Quote from: JasonHopkins
this may sound like a dim question but where do you find the CL1 cleaning function?
I cannot find it in the Maintenence Mode (hold pause button on boot), is there another combination for the Service Mode?
Also my machine keeps sayin "Some Nozzles Are Clogged" even though they are not, so I am going to ignore this for a while.
I have asked Epson to update my machine to an earlier Firmware version, not sure if they can/will do it.
I am pretty sure that all of these black swap problems started in June or July.
I also have an issue with 1 metre prints coming out 3mm short, which again I believe is due to a firmware update as I have older untrimmed prints that are exactly the correct size, but are not correct if I print them now.

CL1 is under Service Mode. Hold down the OK, Menu and Down buttons and then switch the printer on.
(In Service Mode, you need to use your host computer to print a nozzle test pattern.)

Many people have experienced the 7900/9900 message "Some Nozzles Are Clogged" even though they are not since November last year. Many people disable the ANC for this reason.

An Epson UK technician regressed my 7900 firmware when he came to "look" at my printer earlier this year.

As Wayne suggests, do the black swap in Service Mode and you should avoid wasted ink.

Are your short prints just with canvas are is this with paper prints too?
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: JasonHopkins on October 13, 2009, 08:29:23 am
Quote from: Ionaca
CL1 is under Service Mode. Hold down the OK, Menu and Down buttons and then switch the printer on.
(In Service Mode, you need to use your host computer to print a nozzle test pattern.)

Many people have experienced the 7900/9900 message "Some Nozzles Are Clogged" even though they are not since November last year. Many people disable the ANC for this reason.

An Epson UK technician regressed my 7900 firmware when he came to "look" at my printer earlier this year.

As Wayne suggests, do the black swap in Service Mode and you should avoid wasted ink.

Are your short prints just with canvas are is this with paper prints too?


Ionaca,

thanks for the info - tried searching for the key combination without luck.

Does swapping ink in this mode completely stop the obscene wastage?

What firmware version do you have on your machine, is it a pre-summer version?

I am losing 3mm over a metre on most paper media (Hahnemuhle and Canson) other than thin cheap paper.

I noticed in the Service Mode an input for mechanical adjustment of roll feed which reads 990.60mm - I may try a few experiments with this setting.

Like I say I think a lot of my problems started in June when I updated the machine firmware.

Thanks
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Ryan Grayley on October 13, 2009, 08:35:14 am
Quote from: JasonHopkins
Ionaca,

thanks for the info - tried searching for the key combination without luck.

Does swapping ink in this mode completely stop the obscene wastage?

What firmware version do you have on your machine, is it a pre-summer version?

I am losing 3mm over a metre on most paper media (Hahnemuhle and Canson) other than thin cheap paper.

I noticed in the Service Mode an input for mechanical adjustment of roll feed which reads 990.60mm - I may try a few experiments with this setting.

Like I say I think a lot of my problems started in June when I updated the machine firmware.

Wayne indicates that there is less ink wastage if you swap blacks in service mode. I can't verify this because I only use Matte black on my Epson 7900. I use an HP Z3200 for my canvas and photo printing.

I am on the latest firmware version.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: JasonHopkins on October 13, 2009, 09:04:24 am
Quote from: Ionaca
Wayne indicates that there is less ink wastage if you swap blacks in service mode. I can't verify this because I only use Matte black on my Epson 7900. I use an HP Z3200 for my canvas and photo printing.

I am on the latest firmware version.


Thanks
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: mcmorrison on October 13, 2009, 12:38:54 pm
Hello Wayne,

I too am seeing the cyan channels go, sometimes 100%. Not other channels, just cyan.

Best,

Michael Morrison
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: GeoffM on October 13, 2009, 01:54:50 pm
Quote from: mcmorrison
Hello Wayne,

I too am seeing the cyan channels go, sometimes 100%. Not other channels, just cyan.

Best,

Michael Morrison


Interesting...

Add me to that list as well. I powered on my 7900 for the first time in about three weeks on Sunday, ran a nozzle check and only the cyan channel had blocking (but very little). I was actually quite pleased given how long the printer had been idle, and as usual, a CL1 on that channel pair cleared it.

Geoff
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Mulis Pictus on October 14, 2009, 03:07:53 pm
Quote from: GeoffM
Interesting...

Add me to that list as well. I powered on my 7900 for the first time in about three weeks on Sunday, ran a nozzle check and only the cyan channel had blocking (but very little). I was actually quite pleased given how long the printer had been idle, and as usual, a CL1 on that channel pair cleared it.

Mine 7900 was doing that as well. At some point the cyan was missing all or about half of lines in nozzle check nearly every start. It was before I started using service menu and the cleans were very aggressive, 20 - 30ml. To me it looked as air bubbles somewhere in the cartridge or lines, resulting in low pressure?
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: deanb2010 on October 20, 2009, 11:47:05 pm
Like others, I've had the cyan channel drop out.  I can have a perfect nozzle check, print a single 11x14 print, and redo a nozzle check and the channel is gone, 100%. I have not been able to detect any cause or pattern.  Yesterday, a CL1 cleared it but then the Yellow channel went out. It took a CL2 to get running again.  I am confident this is not a clog but some kind of printer issue. It has happened on the Photo Black one time, but usually the Cyan.

I have been running the printer in the service mode... I wish Epson would put the CL1,2,3,4 options at the regular menu, it would make things a lot more pleasant.  I have installed the new firmware, and believe it is a step in the right direction, but until further reports come in I don't intend to trust the Auto Clean.

I have a question for those who may know.  How do you figure out how much ink is wasted during a clean or Matte/Photo Black swap?

Thanks.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: snickgrr on October 21, 2009, 12:05:51 am
I also today turned on the printer after probably a month and half of non use.  Only the cyan channel showed some few minor blocks.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Ray on October 21, 2009, 12:06:37 am
Quote from: Ionaca
Thanks for that, indeed very interesting and after nearly a year I am starting to feel more positive about my Epson 7900. I guess we will soon know whether this update really makes a difference in practice!


After 4 or 5 years (can't recall when I bought it) I'm beginning to feel more positive about my Epson 7600. It seems to work well every time I switch it on without additional head cleaning and stuffing around with yellow bands to clear the cyan contamination.

It simply seems to have sttled down into reliable performance, and I haven't updated the driver in years. There's no recent update available. What the heck's going on? You can see I have little incentive to upgrade to a 7900 with all these reports of difficulties.

Could it be, these wide-format machines are designed to be used every day for about 8 hours, trouble free? If you're an amateur and use the printer infrequently, you've got problems.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Ryan Grayley on October 21, 2009, 03:14:45 am
Quote from: Ray
After 4 or 5 years (can't recall when I bought it) I'm beginning to feel more positive about my Epson 7600. It seems to work well every time I switch it on without additional head cleaning and stuffing around with yellow bands to clear the cyan contamination.

It simply seems to have sttled down into reliable performance, and I haven't updated the driver in years. There's no recent update available. What the heck's going on? You can see I have little incentive to upgrade to a 7900 with all these reports of difficulties.

Could it be, these wide-format machines are designed to be used every day for about 8 hours, trouble free? If you're an amateur and use the printer infrequently, you've got problems.

I understand your thoughts completely. I bought a 9600 when it first came on the market and in all this time it only had missing nozzles once or twice a year. The only reason I bought the 7900 was for speed. If I had known it was going to be such a time waster I wouldn't have bought it. I also have a Z3200 and it just works. Maybe I should have bought a Canon for the high speeds.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Mulis Pictus on October 21, 2009, 04:15:17 pm
Quote from: deanb2010
I have a question for those who may know.  How do you figure out how much ink is wasted during a clean or Matte/Photo Black swap?
AFAIK, one can only tell when using standard mode (ie. not the service mode) for ink switch and printing nozzle check (or small job) after it. The JobMonitor will then show high ink usage for this job, like 25ml instead of usual 0.1ml (in case the cleaning was needed).

For some time I already do the switches and manual nozzle check/cleaning from service mode and don't know anymore how much ink it takes, but as others I too believe the CL1 cleaning uses less than the normal one.

Mulis
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: edwinb on October 21, 2009, 04:53:39 pm
Quote from: Ionaca
I understand your thoughts completely. I bought a 9600 when it first came on the market and in all this time it only had missing nozzles once or twice a year. The only reason I bought the 7900 was for speed. If I had known it was going to be such a time waster I wouldn't have bought it. I also have a Z3200 and it just works. Maybe I should have bought a Canon for the high speeds.

I sympathise with the frustration of blocked nozzels however we have many 79/9900s installed and they all seem to be working perfectly.
I have spoken to some of our users and they are further replacing /upgrading from 4880 for example -very happy.
Maybe its just the early batch of machine- pre the firmware upgrades?
Edwin
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Wayne Fox on October 21, 2009, 11:04:03 pm
Quote from: Mulis Pictus
AFAIK, one can only tell when using standard mode (ie. not the service mode) for ink switch and printing nozzle check (or small job) after it. The JobMonitor will then show high ink usage for this job, like 25ml instead of usual 0.1ml (in case the cleaning was needed).

For some time I already do the switches and manual nozzle check/cleaning from service mode and don't know anymore how much ink it takes, but as others I too believe the CL1 cleaning uses less than the normal one.

Mulis

Interestingly, this may be true of normal mode now as well.  I was trying to determine how much ink was used for a normal clean today, so I printed a nozzle check, performed a clean, then printed another nozzle check, then printed a job sheet.

Both jobs for the nozzle check showed .01ml of ink consumed for each color.  I was assuming the second one (last job printed) would have shown at least 2 or more ml of ink per color.

I'll try testing this more tomorrow, could easily have been an error my part - although it's not a difficult task and I'm pretty sure I actually did the clean

Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Mulis Pictus on October 22, 2009, 12:15:24 pm
Quote from: Wayne Fox
Interestingly, this may be true of normal mode now as well.  I was trying to determine how much ink was used for a normal clean today, so I printed a nozzle check, performed a clean, then printed another nozzle check, then printed a job sheet.

Both jobs for the nozzle check showed .01ml of ink consumed for each color.  I was assuming the second one (last job printed) would have shown at least 2 or more ml of ink per color.
I think it shows the ink used in cleaning only if it was triggered by ANC, which is the case of normal mode black ink switch and following nozzle check/job - at least in older firmwares. So what I meant is

[ink switch]
[nozzle check] - this triggers ANC and possibly cleans and JobMonitor reports 25.3ml for example, which means 0.1 for nozzle check and 25.2ml for the clean. This is how I read the JobMonitor output.

I am not aware about a way how to find out the amount of ink used when cleaning manually.

Mulis
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: JasonHopkins on October 24, 2009, 12:15:18 pm
Quote from: Mulis Pictus
I think it shows the ink used in cleaning only if it was triggered by ANC, which is the case of normal mode black ink switch and following nozzle check/job - at least in older firmwares. So what I meant is

[ink switch]
[nozzle check] - this triggers ANC and possibly cleans and JobMonitor reports 25.3ml for example, which means 0.1 for nozzle check and 25.2ml for the clean. This is how I read the JobMonitor output.

I am not aware about a way how to find out the amount of ink used when cleaning manually.

Mulis


It is not exactly the most scientific approach but I write down ink readings on a nozzle check strip, perfom the swap and clean and then look at the figures again, along with the maintenance tank readings. I have nearly been through 4 maintenance tanks in 8 months!!!

I am just really fed up with this printer now  

The only plus is Epson keep sending me inks, but I want to use this machine for a long long time - so this issue will burn holes in my pockets.       something I am not sure Epson want to fix.

(End of moan)
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: JasonHopkins on January 10, 2010, 12:44:02 pm
Are people still having this issue with the Cyan dropping out completely channel?

My machine keeps going from bad to worst.

I am having trouble with black on any quality setting other than 5 and now every time I do a print the Cyan channel goes completely blank for the next print.

argghhghghghhg
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Ryan Grayley on January 10, 2010, 01:31:17 pm
Quote from: JasonHopkins
Are people still having this issue with the Cyan dropping out completely channel?

My machine keeps going from bad to worst.

I am having trouble with black on any quality setting other than 5 and now every time I do a print the Cyan channel goes completely blank for the next print.

argghhghghghhg

Yes, my 7900 also gets steadily worse and in fact it completely sucks. I have wasted a lot of time and money because my 7900 randomly stops firing the cyan channel even in the the middle of a print run. For example, the cyan channel stopped firing twice on a recent run of 40 prints and about 6 or 7 prints were ruined before I noticed. A CL1 Service Mode channel clean is all that is required to restore the cyan channel but that is not the point. I cannot rely on my 7900 for multiple print runs yet I bought this machine to increase my production. Instead it is a worse production machine than my trusty 9600 because I cannot afford to divert my attention to doing anything else during printing. My 9600 is slow but it is 100% reliable and I can leave it running all night knowing that every print would be perfect.

To add further insult to injury, in the last week or two my 7900 has developed a new fault and now it won't initialise at all. Every time I switch on it displays the error message "Install Ink Cartridge" yet the fault remains even I change the offending LK cartridge. Frankly I think I would like Epson to just take my pile of 7900 garbage back as it has been nothing but trouble since almost the day it arrived in November 2008.

Thank goodness I bought a Z3200 last year. With the lastest printer drivers it is trouble free and allows me to just get on with running my business.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: JasonHopkins on January 10, 2010, 01:40:20 pm
Quote from: Ionaca
Yes, my 7900 also gets steadily worse and in fact it completely sucks. I have wasted a lot of time and money because my 7900 randomly stops firing the cyan channel even in the the middle of a print run. For example, the cyan channel stopped firing twice on a recent run of 40 prints and about 6 or 7 prints were ruined before I noticed. A CL1 Service Mode channel clean is all that is required to restore the cyan channel but that is not the point. I cannot rely on my 7900 for multiple print runs yet I bought this machine to increase my production. Instead it is a worse production machine than my trusty 9600 because I cannot afford to divert my attention to doing anything else during printing. My 9600 is slow but it is 100% reliable and I can leave it running all night knowing that every print would be perfect.

To add further insult to injury, in the last week or two my 7900 has developed a new fault and now it won't initialise at all. Every time I switch on it displays the error message "Install Ink Cartridge" yet the fault remains even I change the offending LK cartridge. Frankly I think I would like Epson to just take my pile of 7900 garbage back as it has been nothing but trouble since almost the day it arrived in November 2008.

Thank goodness I bought a Z3200 last year. With the lastest printer drivers it is trouble free and allows me to just get on with running my business.


Yeah those HPs now seem like the better choice - this 9900 is just costing me hand over fist at the moment in lost ink, paper and time.

They even have the cheek to be phoning me up at the weekend offering extended warranty while I am waiting for an engineer to fix it since before xmas!


arghaggha
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: Wayne Fox on January 10, 2010, 02:43:27 pm
I was having problems with the cyan channel completely dropping.  A call and visit from service 3 months ago resolved it, and haven't had a problem with a single cyan nozzle since.  At this point my 7900 is running pretty well. Still more clog's than I see from my 11880, and more than I believe I should be seeing but nothing extreme and manageable with service mode and CL1 cleans.  Just fired it up a couple of days ago after a 3 week hiatus and no "clogs".  
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: deanb2010 on January 10, 2010, 10:19:14 pm
I had exactly the same issue... Like Wayne, a service call fixed the issue, and in fact the printer seems to be running better than ever.  Several parts were replaced, but the most interenting item, is that when the serviceman "unplugged" the ink line at the head, it appeared that there may have been a small leak, as there was a small amount of cyan ink around the gasket.  The serviceman mentioned that on several printers he had worked on, the connection did not appear to be very tight.  Whether it was the parts that fixed the issue or the tightened connection I wouldn't dare say.  But things seem to be better.
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: JasonHopkins on January 11, 2010, 07:41:58 am
Quote from: deanb2010
The serviceman mentioned that on several printers he had worked on, the connection did not appear to be very tight.  Whether it was the parts that fixed the issue or the tightened connection I wouldn't dare say.  But things seem to be better.


Thanks I will certainly mention this when he comes this week with parts - I am going to ask him to replace everything that he brings (print head and motherboard) as I am completely fed up with the machine so I may as well get as many new and up to date parts as possible!

Maybe I should not have been an early adopter, but I cannot believe Epson would sell machines with so many faults - since day 1 I have had problems and this will be the 6th time the guy comes to tinker with it.  
Title: Epson 9900 firmware update
Post by: DeanChriss on January 26, 2010, 08:36:56 pm
For what it's worth, I was having the same random clogging problems as most others until the latest firmware update for the 7900 last November. Since then I have not had a single nozzle clog and have not had do run a single cleaning cycle, even though the printer has been used much less than normal. In fact it sat powered off once for three weeks and once for two weeks, and otherwise there have typically been 4 or 5 days between printing jobs. Before the update this lack of use would have meant clogs for sure. I got the printer about 13 months ago, and it has never behaved this well. Whatever Epson did, I'm happy about it.