PART #

QUESTION AND ANSWER

MK41FBP































TOP

Q: I have a 2 PCs to 1 printer, the print job did not go through on one computer, instead it was sent to "Queue" instead of printer - what should I do?
A: Check the network setting and check that the printer cable is IEEE1284 rated. Also, check to make sure the dip switch 1 is "OFF", then set the parallel ports to EPP or ECP mode.

Q: I have set up 4 PCs to one printer and I can manually switch it, but I can't use the software to select the port.
A: Try updating your driver.

Q: How can I get one PC to work with 4 parallel devices?
A: Change the parallel port setting to EPP/ECP mode and make sure the cable from the computer to the autoswitch is an IEEE1284 rated straight through pin out cable.

Q: Does the switch automatically detect the print job when using one PC to 3 printers?
A: No it does not automatically detect when you have a 1-3 or 1-4 mode. You need to manually set the port or use the software to switch the port.

Q: I can't print to my HP 890c. I tried changing the port to ECP and it sometimes prints, but is inconsistent. Also I can't seem to switch it via software. I can only manually switch with the buttons.
A: Add a 9V 500MA power adapter, make sure the port is EPP/ECP, the cables should be IEEE compliant, and download the most recent driver.

Q: I can't print from Win NT.
A: You need to go to the BIOS to set the computer's parallel port to EPP/ECP mode.

Q: I can' seem to print to any device.
A: Try setting the parallel port to EPP/ECP.

Q: What power adapter should I use with this autoswitch?
A: The power adater is optional. Try to print first and check your port mode, cables and dipswitches. If you have a problem then you can use the TR1284-MK.

Q: Why can I not autoswitch with one PC and 3 devices?
A: When you are in 1 - 4 mode, you need to manually switch or switch from the software because it won't know which device you want to use. They can only auto detect the jobs sent when the setup is 4 computers to one device. All the autoswitches work this way.

Q: I have 3 serial monitors and one printer connected to the computer, but I can't get the setup to work.
A: the switch is only for parallel devices. To be able to print, set the dipswitch 1 to "ON", then reset and choose Port B, then you can print to Port B.

Q: I have 3 laptops and only one printed to the laser printer. They used to work fine with a manual switch and I could sometimes print from manually switching, but intermittently got garbled print outs.
A: Check the cables, parallel port settings and dipswitch 1. It shouldn't have to be manually switched.

Q: Only the computer on Port A will recognize the Zip drive and three other portable computers won't.
A: Reinstall the Zip drive on the notebooks with the autoswitch in between and have the port locked on. Also, try adding a power adapter. Check if you are using AP software which requires that you have constant communication with the Zip drive which locks the switch from being able to switch.

Q: I have one PC to 4 devices including a Zip drive and scanner - how do I set this up?
A: the Zip drive and scanner both require being connected to the computer when you boot up, so you may need to get a second parallel port for them. 

Q: What cables do you recommend I use?
A: They have to be IEEE1284 which you can get from any supplier.

Q: I have an IEEE1284 cable but only one end fits into the computer, the other end is too big for the connector on the switch.
A: It should be a DB25 Male to Male straight through cable for the connection from the computer to the switch. You can compare the 2 ends of the cable and they should be the same. You could be using a printer cable.

Q: I can't print from my HP 710 whenever I switch away and back to it. I have to turn off the unit before I can get it to work.
A: Run HPFCFG*.EXE to uncheck the bi-directional communication and launch the toolbox when printing to get around the problem. You should also update your drivers.

Q: Does this unit do file transfers?
A: Yes it does.

Q: How can I print from my Xerox laser printer?
A: Disable the tool box also disable the bi-directional feature too. Also download the latest driver.

Q: I have a mass storage device, a scanner and 2 printers. Why do the 2 devices require to be connected to the computer when the computer boots up to be able to load the driver?
A: Check if you've got a pass through connector on the scanner or the mass storage. If you do, you can connect the MK to it and connect the device directly on the LPT port.

MK42FBP

TOP

Q: I can't print from either computer to either printer. It only printed once and is very erratic, what should I do to fix this?
A: Try resetting the computer printers and switches. If this doesn't work, try adding a power adapter and check all cables for IEEE rating. Also check the parallel port modes are in ECP.

Q: I used to have an IBM dos machine which worked fine with an HP laser and a NEC dot matrix printer, but when I installed a Win 98 machine, I got garbled print.
A: Check the parallel port setting on the Win 98 machine. Swap the cable and port your other machine to see where the problem is and update the driver.

Q: I can't access the scanner while the printer works fine.
A: Try to put the scanner on Port A, which is the default port. The scanner needs to be locked on the computers when the computers boot up for it to be initialized. Also check to make sure you have the EPP/ECP as your parallel port setting and all your cables are IEEE1284 compliant.

Q: The switch used to work fine when I hooked up my HP 880 by itself on bi-directional mode, I only had to disable it when I used the scanner. Then it stopped working with the printer, and when I tried to print the LED locked on the A and PA port and the computer said it lost communication.
A: Try using a power adapter and update your software.

Q: I have 3 Windows 98 systems, a Win NT, a Canon printer and a Zip Drive hooked up. Win NT cannot recognize the Zip Drive.
A: Lock the port A where the Zip Drive is to the NT machine while it is booting up. Then do this also with each of the PCs when they boot up so it can recognize the Zip Drive.

Q: I can't get the 2 computers to talk to each other.
A: Try setting up the software correctly.

Q: Can I use an DC12 volt power supply?
A: Use a DC9V instead. Higher voltage could damage the unit.

Q: I have a Win 95 machine and 3 DOS machines, how do I set these up?
A: Put the computer that you want to do data transfers with on A and B port, or on the C and D port. Install a Win 95 driver on the Windows machine and use the old driver for the DOS machines.

Q: I can't get the MK42FBP to work from 2 computers to 3 printers.
A: This version is not reversible. You can only attach 2 printers to it. We will soon have USB networking products available which will allow you to share devices. Check back on our website for it.

Q: I can't print to my plotter on port B.
A: You need to use the software to switch the port to B, check the parallel port mode and you may need a power adapter with the plotter.

Q: I have a Dell and can't print from any of my 3 computers to any printers. I'm using a laser and a dot matrix.
A: The Dell only has a PS/2 and an AT. The PS/2 is bi-directional, but it doesn't support EPP or ECP, so you cannot use this switch.

Q: How long can the cables be between the printers and the computer because I want to connect a 25 foot cable on both sides?
A: A total of 5 meters. A test with a 6 foot and a 50 foot cable worked out fine.

Q: Could I connect 2 computers to a laser printer, a scanner and another printer?
A: Actually this part does not support such a setup. But what you can do is to connect your laser printer behind the scanner, then connect the scanner and the other printer to the PA and the PB port on the switch.

Q: I can't do a file transfer using a laplink cable which is connected to the computer and switch.
A: You need to use a straight through cable.

MK-810SD

TOP

Q: I need something to put 7 computers on one console - any suggestions.
A: Get the MK810SD.

Q: Is the MK810SD daisy chainable?
A: Yes, you can daisy chain this unit.