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Setting Up a Microcom 485T Ticket Printer

Dave Carr
Dave Carr
  • Updated

In this article we’ll guide you through setting up and installing a Microcom 485T ticket printer for use with Spektrix.

To connect a Microcom 485T ticket printer to Spektrix:

  • Work through each step in the article, following the instructions in each step
  • Pass each checkpoint to ensure successful installation

TIP: Mistakes made during the installation can be time consuming to rectify. Even if you’ve installed a printer before, we recommend following the steps in this article as described as the installation process may have changed.

Before you install your Microcom ticket printer, make sure you’ve installed and registered the Spektrix Box Office App.

Hardware and software requirements

Click on each tab below to view the hardware and software requirements. 

  • Printer model

    The steps in this article apply to the following Microcom printers:

    • 485T
    • 485T Direct
    • 485TM
    • 485TC

    Some Microcom printers have a touchscreen where settings can be configured directly.

    For non-touchscreen printers you’ll need to install the X85 Configuration Application to change settings.This article covers both touchscreen and non-touchscreen printers.

    TIP: Before you begin the installation, ensure your printer is on the latest firmware version. Take a look at Updating Microcom 485T Ticket Printer Firmware for more information.

  • Printer connection

    This article is for Microcom 485T ticket printers that connect via USB or Ethernet. For ethernet connections, your PC must be on the same network as your printer and assigned a static IP address.

  • PC requirements

    To install the printer, you must use Windows 11 Professional. Only one Microcom printer can be installed on a PC. If you have multiple Microcom printers, you’ll need to install each one on a separate PC.

    TIP: You won’t need to install the Spektrix Box Office App and the ticket printer print driver on every computer you plan on selling tickets from. As Spektrix is a cloud-based system, you’ll be able to print from any browser and location including other PCs not connected to the printer.

    You’ll need Administrator privileges on the PC. Without these, you may not be able to install new print drivers or software. If you’re unsure, please check with your IT team before proceeding

  • Box Office App

  • Ticket design and cutting settings

    When printing using a Microcom printer, you can use the following in your ticket designs:
    • Generic Mode fonts only
    • Barcodes
    • QR codes
    We recommend creating a separate Ticket Designs for printed tickets and E-tickets.

 

Installation steps and checkpoints

There are five main steps to setting up a Microcom ticket printer:

  1. Powering on the printer and loading tickets
  2. Configuring printer settings
  3. Installing the print drivers
  4. Configuring the printer to work with your ticket stock
  5. Adding your printer to the Spektrix Box Office App.

This article will cover steps 1 to 3, once you’ve passed these steps, we’ll signpost you to the articles you need to complete steps 4 and 5.

To ensure you successfully complete each step, there are corresponding checkpoints that you should pass before moving onto the next step. If you fail any checkpoint, follow the troubleshooting steps at the end of the checkpoint.

Before you begin the installation process, you may want to check if your printer is already installed.

  • To check your printer installation, follow these steps:

    1. In your PC system tray, right click on the Box Office App icon and select Open.

    2. In the printers tab under Available printers, check if your printer is listed:


    If your printer is listed, follow the steps in How to add Hardware to the Spektrix Box Office App. If your printer is not listed, check to see if your printer is correctly installed.

    1. Right click on the start button on your task bar and select Device Manager

    2. Under Print Queues, look for your Microcom printer:

    TIP: You may want to uninstall the ticket printer before proceeding through this article. This is to ensure the printer is correctly configured and installed when following the steps in this article.

 

Step 1: Powering on the printer and loading tickets

In this step we’ll guide you through:

  1. Powering on the printer and loading ticket stock
  2. Configuring printer settings
  3. Installing printer drivers

 

1.1 Powering on the printer

To power on the printer, follow these steps:

  1. Plug the printer into a power source. Do not turn on the printer.

  2. Connect the USB cable or Ethernet cable to the back of the printer.

    TIP: If you are connecting your ticket printer to your PC via USB, the built-in Microsoft CDC driver will install once the USB cable is connected and the printer turned ON. Please wait for this to complete before continuing.

  3. Turn the printer ON.
  4. For ticket printers with a touchscreen, you’ll see a blinking red light with the word “Stockout”. This indicates that the printer has no tickets loaded.
  5. For non-touchscreen ticket printers, you’ll see a blinking red status light. This indicates that the printer has no tickets loaded.

Once you’ve powered on the printer, you’re ready to load ticket stock.

 

1.2 Loading ticket stock

To load ticket stock into the printer, you may need to adjust the paper guides inside the printer. Follow these steps:

  1. Open the printer and locate the green adjustable paper guides.
     
  2. Loosen the green thumbscrew and adjust the guides until the Ticket Stock fits securely within the guides. Do not set this too tightly or tickets may get jammed. 
     
  3. Retighten the green thumbscrew once you’ve adjusted the guides.

 

After you’ve adjusted the paper guides, load your ticket stock into the printer:

  1. Insert tickets between the green guides, thermal side up with the notch or band nearest to the printer.
     
  2. Once the printer detects ticket stock has been inserted, it will automatically feed and align the ticket stock.
     
  3. If Autoload is deactivated, manually feed the ticket stock through the printer by lifting the print head release at the top of the printer. Insert ticket stock.
     
  4. You can also manually feed the ticket stock by pressing and holding the Print / Line Feed green button. Once the ticket stock exits the front of the printer, release the Print / Line Feed green button.

Once you’ve powered on the printer and loaded the ticket stock, you can move onto Step 2: Configuring printer settings.

 

Step 2: Configuring printer settings

To use a Microcom printer with Spektrix, you’ll need to configure the printer settings.

By the end of this step, you should be able to pass:

 

2.1 Configuring printer settings (touchscreen printers)

Before you can use your printer, you’ll need to configure the printer mode and connection settings. 

TIP: The following instructions are for Microcrom 485T ticket printers with a touchscreen. For ticket printers without a touchscreen, skip to 2.1A Configuring the Printer Settings (non-touchscreen).

To configure the printer mode, follow these steps:

  1. On your printer’s touchscreen, tap CONFIG MENU:


  2. Tap PRINTER MODE:


  3. Select IMAGE and tap Save:

    TIP: The printer will be unable to connect to your PC if the printer mode is not set to IMAGE.

    Make sure you save your settings. Tapping Back without saving will retain your existing settings.

  4. Tap REBOOT NOW:


    WARNING: You must reboot your printer for changes to take effect.

 

2.2 Configuring the printer connection

For configuration steps click on the USB or Ethernet tab below depending on your connection type.

  •  

    USB

    If your printer connects via USB, you’ll need to configure this setting.

    1. From the printer touchscreen, tap Config Menu. Tap Next until you see USB Mode.
    2. Tap USB Mode and then select Serial/CDC.
    3. Tap Save and then tap Reboot Now to save and apply settings.

    Once you’ve configured your USB settings, you can move onto Step 3: Installing the print drivers.

  • Ethernet

    If your printer connects via Ethernet, you’ll need to configure this setting.

    1. Enter the Config Menu, tap Next until you see Optional Ports
    2. In Optional Ports select Ethernet
    3. Tap Save
    4. Tap Reboot Now to save and apply the settings

    Next, configure Ethernet settings. Follow these steps:

    1. Enter the Config Menu, tap Next until you see Ethernet.
    2. In Ethernet, tap DHCP.
    3. For DHCP Enable, select Disable.
    4. Tap Save.
    5. Tap Reboot Now to save and apply the settings.
    6. Return to the Config Menu, tap Next until you see Ethernet.
    7. In Ethernet, tap next until you see Port.
    8. Tap Port. You can choose to select a port number or keep the default.
    9. Tap Save.
    10. Tap Reboot Now to save and apply the settings.

    Once you’ve configured your USB settings, you can move onto Step 3: Installing the print drivers.

 

2.1A Configuring printer settings (non touchscreen)

For printers without a touchscreen, you’ll need to print the printer diagnostic information onto your ticket stock. You can then use this information to configure your printer using the Microcom 485 configuration application. Print a test ticket by pressing the green button on your ticket printer. A test ticket will look similar to this:

Save this test ticket as it contains useful information to use in the Microcom 485 Configuration Application and when installing the print driver.

If your printer connects using an Ethernet cable, you can find the IP Address and Port number:

In this example, the IP Address is 192.168.200.3 and the Port number is 9100. This is also the default IP Address and Port number for all Microcrom 485T ticket printers.

Once you’ve printed your test ticket, download and install the Microcom X85 Configuration Application.

 

Configuring printer settings in the Microcom 485 Configuration Application

To configure your printer settings, open the Microcom 485 Configuration Application and follow these steps:

  1. In the application, click Connect to Printer.
  2. Select your communication interface:
    • USB: Select Serial / USB CDC and choose your device from the dropdown. Click OK.
    • Ethernet: Select Network and input the IP Address and Port number printed on the test ticket. Click OK.

  3. Return to the main screen. Under Basic Configuration, click Language. Select Image Mode.

    WARNING: The printer will be unable to connect with the PC if the printer mode is not in Image Mode.

  4. To save your settings, click Save to Printer, then click Restart Printer.
  5. Click Quit to exit the application

TIP: For a more detailed walkthrough take a look at pages 4 to 9 of the 485 Configuration App User Guide.

 

Checkpoint 1: Test print from the ticket printer

To check that the printer is working and that you’ve properly configured the printer, run a test print.

  • Touchscreen printers

    For ticket printers with a touchscreen, you should see Status: Ready to indicate the ticket stock has been loaded and the printer is ready to print. The printer should also say IMAGE Mode. Tap PRINT:

    Tap Print. On older models, the Print button will appear as Line Feed. A diagnostic label should print:

    Once you have successfully printed a test print from the printer, you can move onto Step 3: Installing printer drivers. If the test print is not successful, take a look at I can’t print a test ticket in the Troubleshooting a Microcom Printer article

  •  

    Non-touchscreen printers

    For non-touchscreen ticket printers, you should see a solid green light to indicate the ticket stock has been loaded and the printer is ready to print. Press the green button. A diagnostic label should print:

    Once you have successfully printed a test print from the printer, you can move onto Step 3: Installing printer drivers. If the test print is not successful, take a look at Why can’t I print tickets? in the Troubleshooting a Microcom Printer article

 

Step 3: Installing the print drivers

Once you’ve configured your ticket printer settings, you’re ready to install the print drivers. Installing the printer drivers is a two step process:

  1. Retrieving printer diagnostic information
  2. Installing the print drivers

By the end of this step, you should be able to pass:

 

3.1 Retrieving printer diagnostic information

When installing Microcom print drivers, you’ll need to enter information specific to your printer. For steps on retrieving information, click on the tab below depending on whether your printer is touchscreen or non-touchscreen. 

  • Touchscreen printers

    Printer information can be found under Printer Info from the Config Menu. For review on how to navigate and use the Config Menu, follow the instructions in 2.1 Configuring printer settings (touchscreen printers). Follow these steps:

    1. In the Config Menu, tap Next. When you see Printer Info, select it
    2. From the Printer Info screen, make a note of the following:

    TIP: Use the directional arrows to scroll through the printer information.

    • Model.

    • Code Ver: This should be the latest version. Instructions on finding and updating the firmware to the latest version can be found in Updating Microcom 485T Ticket Printer Firmware.

      WARNING: Printers on older firmware versions may be unable to connect with your PC. Upgrade the printer’s firmware before installing printer drivers.

    • Head DPI.
    • USB: If using USB, this should be set to Enabled.
    • USB Mode: If using USB, this should be set to CDC.
    • ETH: If using ethernet, this should display as Connected.
    • ETH DHCP:If using ethernet, this should be set to Off.
    • ETH IP: If using ethernet, write down the IP address.
    • ETH Port: If using ethernet, write down the Port Number.

  •  

    Non-touchscreen printers

    Most of the information you need for the print driver installation will be found in the test ticket printed in 2.1A Configuring printer settings (non-touchscreen).

    You’ll need the following information:

    1. Printer model
    2. Print head DPI

    3. Firmware Version: This should be the latest version. Instructions on finding and updating the firmware to the latest version can be found in Updating Microcom 485T Ticket Printer Firmware.

      WARNING: Printers on older firmware versions may be unable to connect with your PC. Upgrade the printer’s firmware before installing printer drivers.

    4. USB Enabled: If using USB, this should be set to Yes.
    5. USB Mode: If using USB, this should be set to USB Serial.
    6. ETHERNET: If using ethernet, this should be set to Static.
    7. IP: If using ethernet, take note of the IP Address and Port number and make sure they match what you had used earlier in 2.1A Configuring the Printer Settings without a touchscreen.

 

3.2 Installing the print drivers

To install Microcom print drivers, follow these steps:

  1. Download and extract the Microcom X85 print driver.
  2. In the extracted software, right click on the setup file and run as administrator.
  3. Select your printer from the dropdown menu and click Next:

You’ll need the Model and DPI from 3.1 Retrieving printer diagnostic information.

Your printer will be either Microcom 485T (203dpi Cutter) or Microcom 485TC (203dpi Tear) or Microcom 485TC (203dpi Cutter)  

WARNING: Choosing the incorrect printer from the drop down can result in your printer not being correctly installed.

Once you’ve selected your printer, you’ll need to select your connection type. Click on the tab below for your connection type. 

  • USB

    If you're connecting via USB, the print driver setup should be able to detect what COM port the ticket printer is connected to:

    Check that the COM Port number is correct by checking in Device Manager:

    1. Right click on the start button in your taskbar and select Device Manager.

    2. Under Ports (COM & LPT), you should see the printer. It may be listed as USB SERIAL DEVICE (COM#).

      TIP: If you see more than one device and are unsure which is your printer, unplug and plug in the ticket printer. The device will disappear and then appear. The COM port number should be next to it in parentheses.

    After you've checked to see if the COM port number is the same, return to the installation screen.

    You won’t need to enter the Network Port Number. Click Next until you see INSTALLATION SUCCESSFUL. Click Exit.

  •  

    Ethernet

    On the connection screen, click Add Network Port…:

    Enter the IP address displayed during 3.1 Retrieving printer diagnostic information and click Next:

    Click Next until you see INSTALLATION SUCCESSFUL. Click Exit.

 

Checkpoint 2: Checking the printer status

A successfully installed Microcom printer should show a status of Waiting. If the printer status is Offline, this indicates the wrong printer driver has been selected. Uninstall the print drivers and reinstall the print driver that matches your printer.

If the printer previously worked and now does not, restart the Printer Spooler in Windows Services before uninstalling and reinstalling the driver.

If you didn’t pass Checkpoint 2, take a look at Why can't I connect to my printer? in the Troubleshooting a Microcom Printer article.

 

Checkpoint 3: Test print from Windows

To check that the ticket printer is connected to your PC, run a test print from the Windows print driver.

  1. Click the Windows / Start button in your taskbar. Type Printers & scanners and select it from the available options.
  2. Select your printer from the list.

  3. Click Print test page:
     

 

Next steps

Once you’ve connected, configured and installed your printer, you’re ready to move onto the next step: Configuring a printer to work with your ticket stock. 

If you’ve already completed this step, move onto How to add Hardware to the Spektrix Box Office App.