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 Printer to Spektrix, work through each step in the article, adhering closely to the instructions. Please allow some time to complete the installation.
Before you read this article make sure you’re familiar with:
- Introduction to Hardware and Spektrix
- Introduction to Ticket Printers
- Installing the Spektrix Box Office App
To set up and install the printer, you’ll need:
- A PC with the latest version of the Spektrix Box Office App
- A Microcom Ticket Printer with a USB or Ethernet cable
- Ticket Stock
WARNING: Mistakes made during installation can be time-consuming to rectify. Even if you’ve installed a printer before, we recommend following this article closely, observing any changes to the process since you last completed an installation.
Getting Started
Setting up your Microcom printer will cover the following stages:
- Configuring your printer and retrieving information
- Installing the print driver on your PC
- Configuring the printer to work with your ticket stock
- Adding the printer to the Spektrix Box Office App
- Selecting the printer in your Spektrix system
TIP: You will need Administrator privileges on the PC. Without these, you may not be able to install new drivers or software. If you’re unsure, please check with your IT team before proceeding.
Step 1: Configuring your printer and retrieving information
You will first need to turn on your Microcom 485T Ticket Printer, retrieve important information to complete its installation and set it to work with your PC.
1.1 Turning on the Printer and Loading Ticket Stock
- Begin by plugging in the printer to a power source and turning it on.
- After the printer boots up, you’ll see a notification that paper will need to be loaded - a blinking red light status with the word “Stockout.”
To load the printer with Ticket Stock, you may need to adjust the paper guides inside the printer so that your ticket stock can load properly:
- Open the printer and locate the green adjustable paper guides.
- Loosen the green thumbscrew and adjust the guides until the Ticket Stock fits securely within the guides.
- Retighten the green thumbscrew once you’ve adjusted the guides.
After you’ve adjusted the paper guides, load your ticket stock into the printer:
- Feed the Ticket Stock thermal side up into the paper path between the green paper guides. Load with any sensor bars or marks closest to the feed.
- Once the printer detects Ticket Stock has been inserted in the printer, it will automatically feed and align the Ticket Stock.
- If the Autoload feature is disabled, you may also manually feed the Ticket Stock through the printer by lifting the print head release at the top of the printer and feeding the Ticket Stock through the printer.
- You can also manually feed the Ticket Stock by pressing and holding the Print button. Once the Ticket Stock exits the front of the printer, release the Print button.
TIP: If you need to fix a paper jam, follow the instructions found inside the printer and be sure to properly close the Print Head so that the Tickets can print.
1.2 Print a Test Ticket and Retrieve Information
Print a test ticket where you can retrieve important information needed to complete the printer’s installation on your PC.
TIP: Your printer will need to be in FGL Mode, just for this step, to print the test ticket. To change to FGL mode, from the printer touchscreen, select the Config Menu > Printer Mode. Select FGL and click Save. Select REBOOT NOW for changes to take effect.
Once the Ticket Stock is ready, from the touchscreen’s menu, press the Print button. A test ticket will be printed. If needed, tear the ticket from the printer.
From the test ticket, note the following:
- Model: In this example, 485T.
- DPI: In this example, 203 DPI.
- USB Enabled: If connecting with USB, this should be “YES.”
- USB Mode: If connecting with USB, this should be “USB Serial.”
- Ethernet IP: If connecting with Ethernet, take note of the IP Address and port number. In this example, the IP address is 169.254.109.19 and the port number is 9100.
1.3 Configuring your printer to print with your PC
After printing a test ticket, you’ll need to configure some settings on your printer before you can use it with your PC. There are several settings that you can configure but the following settings are required.
These settings can be found under Config Menu from the touchscreen on the printer.
Once in the Config Menu, you’ll see the setting to configure in the center.
You’ll also see the following buttons:
- Reboot: Reboot the printer
- Exit: Return to the main screen
- Previous: Return to the previous setting
- Next: Navigate to the next setting
Click on the button in the center to configure the setting, for example Printer Mode. The setting will often let you select from multiple options.
Select the option you’d like and click Save to save and return to the previous screen.
Clicking Back without saving will keep the existing settings and return to the previous screen.
After each setting is changed and saved, you can choose to Reboot Now or Reboot Later.
WARNING: You must reboot your printer for any changes to take effect.
You can reboot after every setting or after all settings have been changed. After a reboot, your printer will go back to the Main Menu, where you must select the Config Menu and click Next to go through to the next setting.
Here are the settings you’ll need to configure:
- Printer Mode
WARNING: Printer Mode configuration is required. The printer will be unable to connect with the PC if the printer mode is not in IMAGE Mode.
-
- Click Printer Mode.
- Select IMAGE.
- Click Save.
- Click Reboot Now or Reboot Later to save and apply the settings.
The next settings should be configured depending on the cable used to connect to your PC:
- USB Mode
TIP: If your printer connects using a USB cable, this configuration is required.
-
- Click USB Mode.
- Select Serial/CDC.
- Click Save.
- Click Reboot Now or Reboot Later to save and apply the settings.
- Optional Ports
TIP: If your printer connects using an Ethernet cable, this configuration is required.
-
- Click Optional Ports.
- Select Ethernet.
- Click Save.
- Click Reboot Now or Reboot Later to save and apply the settings.
- Ethernet
TIP: If your printer connects using an Ethernet cable, this configuration is required.
-
- Click Ethernet.
- Click DHCP.
- For DHCP Enable, select Enable.
- Click Save.
- Click Reboot Now or Reboot Later to save and apply the settings.
- Return to the Ethernet menu. Click next for Port.
- For Port, you can choose to select a port number or keep the default.
- Click Save.
- Click Reboot Now or Reboot Later to save and apply the settings.
Installing the Printer on your PC
Once you have configured your printer and retrieved all important information, you can now install the print driver for your Microcom 485T Ticket Printer.
REMINDER: Remember to reboot your printer to save any new configurations. The printer must be in IMAGE Mode.
How you install your printer will depend on how you connect the device to your PC.
For printers that connect via USB, follow the instructions in Printer Installation with USB Connection.
For printers that connect via Ethernet, follow the instructions in Printer Installation with Ethernet Connection.
Printer Installation with USB connection
To install a Ticket Printer on your PC using a USB connection, connect the printer to your PC with the USB cable and the power on.
Before installing the print driver, you’ll need the USB COM number.
In your PC’s search bar or from the Start Menu, search and select Device Manager. Under Ports (COM & LPT), find the printer. You can also disconnect and connect the printer from the PC to confirm its COM Port number. Take note of the number after COM. You’ll need this when you install the print driver.
Download and run the Windows Print Driver for Microcom Corporation Thermal Printers (X85 Based Products).
TIP: If you have previously installed a Microcom printer on your PC, we recommend uninstalling the printer first. Restart your computer before reinstalling.
As you run the print driver installation, note the following:
- Use the Printer Model and DPI from the test ticket to select your printer model.
- If you have enabled the cutter, select Cutter.
- Under printer connection, select the COM Port found in the Device Manager. The COM Port may also be autodetected if the printer is connected to the PC.
- Leave Port Number with the default number.
After the installation is complete, move onto Configuring the Microcom Printer to Work with your Ticket Stock.
Printer Installation with Ethernet Connection
To install a Ticket Printer on your PC using an Ethernet connection, connect the printer to the PC with the Ethernet cable and then turn the power on.
Download and run the Windows Print Driver for Microcom Corporation Thermal Printers (X85 Based Products).
TIP: If you have previously installed a Microcom printer on your PC, you can choose to uninstall the printer first.
As you run the print driver installation, note the following:
- Use the Printer Model and DPI from the test ticket to select your printer model.
- If you have enabled the cutter, select Cutter.
- Under printer connection, click Add Network Port … and enter the Ethernet IP address and Port Number from the test ticket.
After the installation is complete, move onto Configuring the Microcom Printer to Work with your Ticket Stock.
Configuring the Printer to Work with your Ticket Stock
After completing the print driver installation process, configure your printer to work with your ticket stock. There are three steps to this process:
- Creating a Ticket Stock Form in Print Server Properties
- Choosing the New Ticket Stock Form in Printing Preferences
- Setting Printing Defaults in Printer Properties
These steps will all take place in the Printer Settings found in the Control Panel.
Windows 10 and earlier:
-
- In your PC’s search bar or from the Start Menu, search and select Control Panel.
- Under Hardware and Sound, click View devices and printers.
- In Devices and Printers, an icon for your newly installed printer should now appear in this list.
Windows 11:
-
- In your PC’s search bar or from the Start Menu, search and select Control Panel.
- Under Hardware and Sound, click View device and printers.
- On the Settings screen, click Printers & scanners.
- Your newly installed printer should now appear in this list.
Creating a Ticket Stock Form in Print Server Properties
To print Tickets, you’ll need to create a Ticket Stock Form to set the dimensions of your Ticket Stock.
TIP: Measure your ticket stock, including any stub, in centimeters or inches as preferred. In Print Server Properties, the Width is the short edge and Height is the long edge.
Windows 10 and earlier:
-
- In Devices and Printers, highlight the printer and select Print Server Properties from the top menu bar.
- In the Forms tab, check the Create a new form box.
- Above the checkbox, create a new Form name, for example, Spektrix Ticket.
- Select a unit of measurement, Metric (centimeters) or English (inches), and input the Width (short edge) and Height (long edge). Leave all Printer area margins at 0.
- Click OK to save the new form.
Windows 11:
-
- From Printers & scanners, scroll to Related Settings and click Print Server Properties.
- In the Forms tab, check the Create a new form box.
- Above the checkbox, create a new Form name, for example, Spektrix Ticket.
- Select a unit of measurement, Metric (centimeters) or English (inches), and input the Width (short edge) and Height (long edge). Leave all Printer area margins at 0.
- Click OK to save the new form.
Choosing the New Ticket Stock Form in Printing Preferences
Once you have created a New Ticket Stock Form, select the new form in Printing Preferences by following these steps:
Windows 10 and earlier:
-
- From Devices and Printers, right-click the printer icon and select Printing Preferences.
- Click the Advanced button on the bottom right.
- From the Paper Size dropdown, select your newly-created form.
- Click OK to save the Advanced Options.
- Click OK to save the Printing Preferences.
Windows 11:
-
- From Printers & scanners, click the printer.
- Click Printing Preferences.
- Click the Paper tab.
- From the dropdown, select your newly-created form.
- Click OK to save the Printing Preferences.
TIP: If your new Ticket Stock Form does not appear in the dropdown list, you may have entered dimensions incorrectly. In this case, repeat the steps in Creating a Ticket Stock Form in Print Server Properties.
Setting Printing Defaults in Printer Properties
Once you have selected your new Ticket Stock Form, set Printing Defaults in Printer Properties by following these steps:
Windows 10 or earlier:
-
- From Devices and Printers in the Control Panel, right-click the printer icon and select Printer Properties.
- Click on the Advanced tab.
- Click on the Printing Defaults button on the bottom left.
- Click on the Advanced button on the bottom right.
- From the Paper Size dropdown, select your newly created form.
- Click OK to save the Advanced Options.
- Click OK to save the Printing Defaults.
- Click OK to save the Printer Properties.
TIP: You can print a Test Ticket by pressing the Print Button or by going to Devices and Printers from the Control Panel, highlight and right-click the printer, select Printer Properties, and click the Print Test Page button on the bottom right corner.
Windows 11:
-
- From Printers & scanners, click the printer.
- Click on Printer Properties.
- Click on the Advanced tab.
- Click on the Printing Defaults button on the bottom left.
- Click on the Paper tab.
- From the dropdown, select your newly created form.
- Click OK to save the Printing Defaults.
- Return to Printer Properties and click OK to save.
TIP: You can print a Test Ticket by pressing the Print Test Page button from Printer Properties or by going to Printers & scanners, selecting the printer and clicking the Print Test Page.
Adding the Printer to the Spektrix Box Office App
After you’ve configured your printer to work with your Ticket Stock, the next step is to add the printer to the Spektrix Box Office App.
REMINDER: If you haven’t already, install or update the Spektrix Box Office App before adding the printer.
Follow these steps to add your printer:
- From the system tray, right-click on the Box Office App icon and click Open. You’llsee a Printers tab, with a list of available printers on the left hand side.
- Select your Microcom Ticket Printer under Available printers on the left side.
- Click the > (right arrow) button to add it to Spektrix printers on the right side. An Add/Edit Printer screen will pop up.
- Add a printer name so that you can identify the printer in Spektrix. This cannot be left blank.
- Click OK to add the printer.
- Click OK to close the Box Office App.
Running a Test Print from the Spektrix Box Office App
Before using the printer with Spektrix, run a test print.
- Restart the Box Office App by either restarting your PC or restarting the Box Office App itself. Read Troubleshooting the Spektrix Box Office App for more information.
- From the system tray, right-click on the Box Office App icon and select Open.
- Select the printer from Spektrix printers.
- Click Test printer in the bottom left corner.
A successful test print will print the word “TEST” on the Ticket Stock.
Selecting the printer in Spektrix
Once you have successfully printed a test ticket, your Microcom printer is ready to print tickets from Spektrix.
- Log into Spektrix and select Control Panel > Change local settings.
- On the Select BoxOffice App screen, under Select your printer, highlight the printer you would like to print from, then click OK. This will make it the default printer for that Spektrix account.
- Log in to each user's Spektrix account and repeat these steps to change the default printer in the local settings.
TIP: You can only install Microcom Ticket Printers on a PC running the Box Office App. However, once you’ve installed a printer, anyone in your organization can print to it from wherever they log into Spektrix. You just need to keep the App running on the PC the printer is connected to.
This article should give you the information to set up and install your Microcom Ticket Printer. To learn more about hardware, visit the Set up and troubleshoot hardware section of the Support Centre.