This hardware is not recommended. Greenbits recommends the mC-Print3 instead.
Use the guides below to troubleshoot and resolve common problems you may experience with the Star TSP650II Bluetooth receipt printer.
- Printer is unresponsive or disconnected
- Receipts are blank, discolored, or have gaps
- Frequent disconnections
- Cash drawer is not opening automatically
- Factory reset instructions
- Status indicator lights
- Further resources
Printer is unresponsive or disconnected
The printer will disconnect from the iPad any time you:
- Reboot the printer.
- Reset the printer.
- Reboot the iPad.
- Turn Bluetooth off.
- Turn Airplane Mode on.
- Move the iPad out of the printer's Bluetooth range (about 30 feet)
To reconnect the printer to the iPad:
- On your iPad's home screen, select Settings.
- Select Bluetooth. Confirm that Bluetooth is switched on.
- Look for Star Micronics in the device list.
- If Connected, skip to reconnect the printer in the Register app.
- If Not Connected, tap Star Micronics to connect. If connection fails, select Forget This Device when prompted, or select the info icon
and then Forget This Device. - If Star Micronics appears with no status listed, proceed to the next step.
- On the back of the printer, press and hold the red PAIR button (1) until the green indicator light (2) begins to flash. Release the PAIR button.
If the indicator light is not green, follow the factory reset instructions, then set up your printer again.
- On the iPad, tap Star Micronics.
- After a few seconds, the status changes to Connected.
- The indicator light on the back of the printer changes to blue, which means pairing was successful.
Reconnect the printer in the Register app:
- Sign in to the Register.
- Select the menu icon
. - Select Settings.
- Select Receipt Printer.
- Tap Star Micronics.
- When prompted to select your printer model, select TSP650II.
- Select Test Print to confirm the connection.
If no printers appear in the Receipt Printer Setup menu, force-quit Greenbits and then check this menu again.
Frequent disconnections
- Go to the App Store and search for the Star Setting Utility app.
- Download and install the app.
- Open the app and select the toggle next to Auto Connection.
Receipts are blank, discolored, or have gaps
If you're getting blank receipts:
- Make sure the paper roll is loaded correctly, with the lead at the front of the roll:
- Next, make sure you're using thermal paper.
- You can check this by scratching the paper with the edge of a coin or another metal object. This should leave a light gray mark on the paper.
- If there's no mark, replace the paper roll with thermal receipt paper.
If receipts are blackened or discolored, the paper roll may have been exposed to excessive heat.
- Change to a new roll.
- Check for any sources of excessive heat in the immediate area of the printer and whether printer itself may be overheating (see status indicator lights).
If there are gaps or white lines on your receipts:
- Turn the printer off and allow it to cool for several minutes.
- Carefully clean the thermal print head with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab or soft cloth.
- Wait for the alcohol to dry completely before turning the printer back on.
Cash drawer is not opening automatically
Your receipt printer triggers your cash drawer to open automatically each time you complete a sale, even if you don't print a receipt. If your cash drawer is not opening automatically, it could be because your receipt printer is not connected to your iPad. To check this:
- Sign into the Register app.
- Select the menu icon
.
- Select Settings.
- Select Receipt Printer.
- Select Test Print.
If the test print fails, then your cash drawer isn't opening automatically because the Register is not connected to the printer.
If the test print is successful, make sure the drawer is unlocked and unobstructed and check the cash drawer cable.
Make sure the drawer is unlocked and unobstructed
- The key lock on the front of the drawer should be in the vertical (unlocked) position.
- Turn the key to the left/counterclockwise to open the drawer manually.
- Remove the till insert and inspect the drawer for foreign objects that could interfere with the mechanism that opens the drawer.
If you no longer have the key, you can order replacements from the manufacturer. You'll need to know the numerical code engraved on the lock to ensure you get the correct keys.
Check the cash drawer cable
- Make sure you're using the cable that was included with your cash drawer.
- This is a specialized CD-101A cable for cash drawers.
- The connectors on each end are different sizes.
- The smaller connector resembles that of a landline phone cable.
- The wider end resembles that of an Ethernet cable.
- Neither phone cables nor Ethernet cables will work with your cash drawer.
- If you don't have the correct cable, order a replacement from the manufacturer.
- Make sure the narrow end of the cable is securely connected to the port labeled DK on the back of the printer.
- Make sure the wider end is securely connected to the port on the bottom of the cash drawer.
Factory reset instructions
If problems persist after following the above suggestions, try resetting the printer:
- Turn the printer off.
- Using a narrow pointed object, press and hold the RST button on the back of the printer.
- While continuing to hold RST, turn the printer on. The POWER and ERROR lights on the front should begin to flash.
- While POWER and ERROR are flashing, release the RST button.
- Within 12 seconds, POWER and ERROR should stop flashing.
- If POWER and ERROR stop flashing within 12 seconds of releasing RST, the reset was successful. Follow the directions to confirm the connection to the iPad.
- If POWER and ERROR keep flashing longer than 12 seconds, start over at step 1.
Status indicator lights
Front LED indicator lights:
Back LED indicator lights:
- Green (on): Not connected.
- Green (flashing): Ready to start pairing.
- Blue (on): Connected.
- Purple (flashing): Auto connection ON.