GEN2 Universal printer on IGT AVP Trimline

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

Hi dear friends of NLG…

I was wondering if someone here could give me a hand with a Futurelogic printer.  It’s a GEN2 Universal installed in a AVP Trimline machine. 

The problem is that I got a new board for that printer but it comes without firmware (“.VFXâ€� file) and templates (“.SLFâ€� file).  I need those files for the machine I mentioned (NETPLEX protocol).

Any suggestion or advice regarding the files and the download process will be greatly appreciated. My email address is andres_dandrea@yahoo.com

I’m attaching pictures of the slot machine and the printer with the board already replaced.

Thanks in advance.

[stayouttadabunker]

I'm not too sure SAT but I think they have it at this link?

http://slot-tech.com/interesting_stuff/TechFest%2018%20Goodies/

[TZtech]

Hello Sat

You have mail. Does AVP still use netplex ? Not to familiar with that platform.

Ian

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

you guys are the best!!!

I'm also a newbie regarding the AVPs....  I guess they use NETPLEX since everything on IGT uses that protocol (even the button lamps LOL )  Anyways, if I'm wrong about the netplex stuff let me know so I don't get any smoke out of anything

I'm going to have some fun with that little baby on the floor.  Thanks a lot for your inputs!!

[jay]

Hey Andre,

I saw the Student Protests last night on the news..... are you heading North ? to work in Mehicako with Oz ?

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

Hey Andre,

I saw the Student Protests last night on the news..... are you heading North ? to work in Mehicako with Oz ?

Man... what can I say....

I'm working outside venezuela at the moment... .  I just hope there appears military individuals with balls enough to get rid of chavez this year (like they did in Honduras)

Regarding your question: my prays are focused on that!!

Best regards to you Jay

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

Guys I'm stuck right now and need your help please...

I got the latest version of the downloader program (FLI 2.00.0016) and some firmware versions to try out (thanks Ian!!!  you're the man!! )   but I couldn't get connected to my printer at all.

Check the previous pictures I posted so you can have a look at the printer board, there are couple of important things to note:

- The new board we got has no jumpers at all (the one already installed in the printer)

- It has a USB port for firmware-upgrades purpose (no molex connectors nor dip-switch banks), so I got it physically connected to mi laptop through an USB-printer cable.

Then I open the FLI downloader  and perform the procedure as described in all the manuals I have read and nothing happens.... It only shows "No Printer" - "Printer not detected" - "Printer none" and things like that.

Another strange fact I'm watching is that it doesn't take the paper once I feed it...  The printer has the "paper" and "fault" leds solid ON.  It just does nothing, it's frozen.

According to the manuals and my email conversation with TZtech,  the printer need to get paper first in order to get flashed, but none of them are happening.  I tried it with the two ports that appears available on my laptop:  COM1 and COM4.  Both outcomes were the same:  nothing!

The board is brand new, so I think the problem is most likely to be myself 

I'm clueless at the moment, so any input from you guys will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[a69mopar]

It sounds to me that the printer fault is preventing it from initializing, perhaps the board was bad, or incompatible.  The other thing is i would check your com port to see if it is com 1 or com 4.  perhaps the usb port you have the device cable hoohed to is a different com port.  I have had this happen with other electronics that communicate through usb.

Thanks,
Wayne

[TZtech]

Hi

Ok my suspicions may be right in that the AVP does not use Netplex anymore but uses USB for peripherals. This may also mean that you may need a different FLI downloader ?
Will see if I can dig up anything.

Ian

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

It sounds to me that the printer fault is preventing it from initializing, perhaps the board was bad, or incompatible.  The other thing is i would check your com port to see if it is com 1 or com 4.  perhaps the usb port you have the device cable hoohed to is a different com port.  I have had this happen with other electronics that communicate through usb.

Thanks,
Wayne

Hi Wayne, thanks for your reply.

Actually, the laptop I use for this kind of tasks is a COMPAQ Evo N600c.  It has only two USB ports, one parallel port and one serial port (that is probably COM1)

The downloader program (FLI downloader) only shows two options available for choosing:  COM1 and COM4.  I tried first the COM4 since i believe COM1 is the serial (DB9) port.  I tried the two options in each USB port and the result was the same: nothing.  The printer is like frozen.

At some point I was wondering if i needed to instal some drivers in my laptop because once i connect the printer to the USB port it shows the  "Found New Hardware" message in the screen and it starts looking for drivers, asks for driver cds etc..  Since i don't have drivers cds i cancel everything and then, when i go to device manager it shows two alerts in "other devices" that are related to my ticket printer.

Other strange fact for me is that the printer doesn't take the paper when I feed it.

Hi

Ok my suspicions may be right in that the AVP does not use Netplex anymore but uses USB for peripherals. This may also mean that you may need a different FLI downloader ?
Will see if I can dig up anything.

Ian

Hi Ian, thanks for your help buddy.  Look, the manual for GEN2 Universal says that the external USB port located in the printer is for firmware download purpose, it even says that the connection can be done in hot (without turning the printer off), but it doesn't says anything about the program used for this purpose.  I guessed it was the same FLI downloader used for GEN2.

Who knows...  I'm clueless at this point.

I'm trying to find out the order information for this part to see if I can get some after sales support. 

Anyways, if something comes up to your mind guys let me know through this way or at andres_dandrea@yahoo.com

K+ to all you and million thanks for your efforts 

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

some screenshots

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

couple more

[TZtech]

Hi

I have checked out the brochure for this on the futurelogic website. According to that it should work on USB,Netplex or RS232. Unfortunately there is no info on what you need to flash these. I know the SW works on the previous generation Gen II but i am not sure about this one. Will keep looking.

Ian

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

I just tried couple of things more:

1.  I tried to connect again the laptop to the printer but this time i took off the USB cable that connects the printer to the slot machine in order to use the slot machine as power supply only.  The result was the same.

2.  Since the printer is showing the red and yellow leds in solid state, I swapped the printer's head with the machine next door to see if there was something wrong in the printer's head that was impeding the paper to be feed, but it wasn't the case. The first printer worked OK in the machine next door and the last one started to behave the same way, what tells me the problem (whatever is) is on the new board. It needs to get flashed in order to work I guess.

I'll keep you posted.  Best regards to all you and thanks again 

[TZtech]

Hi Andes

Asked on the slot Tech forum and got the following reply

http://forums.delphiforums.com/slottech/messages/?msg=7420.1
Dont know if you are aware of this forum and also Results Website - Good info on both.

The last link may work on your printer. The only problem is that the files I sent you probably wont  work on your model. At least if you can establish comms you are halfway there.

Ian

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

Hi Andes

Asked on the slot Tech forum and got the following reply

http://forums.delphiforums.com/slottech/messages/?msg=7420.1
Dont know if you are aware of this forum and also Results Website - Good info on both.

The last link may work on your printer. The only problem is that the files I sent you probably wont  work on your model. At least if you can establish comms you are halfway there.

Ian

Like I said Ian:  You're the man!!!   One day we'll have to meet each other to invite you some beers buddy   

I'm downloading all of them... will try and let you know

Tell Mr. Robert that I'm very thankful for his help, will catch up with that forum later

Cheers

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

Seams that I'm half way down as TZtech said...

I performed the installation as stated in the readme file, then I connected the USB cable to the printer, tried "erase" (cause I have nothing to upload yet) and it seams the com was successfully established. 

Now I'm just missing the firmware file itself.  According to the self-test ticket from the printer next door I'll need a firmware version GUN0010020

I'm attaching couple of screenshots to leave as reference.

Thanks to all who came up with tips and advices.  I don't have enough words to express my gratitude   

Best regards and K+ to all you people 

[TZtech]

Hi Sat

Great stuff - Glad its working. Now I also know what to expect if I ever run into one of these.
Will keep on digging for the firmware.

Ian

[jay]

No chance you could do a READ or backup from the machine next door and get the firmware, then write it to the other one ?

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

No chance you could do a READ or backup from the machine next door and get the firmware, then write it to the other one ?

I wish I could do that... but didn't see any option to do that in the program for IGT USB download... 

Take a look at the screenshots I took from that program

CHeers, going home to have some rest

[Mike Matthews]

Hi, New here. RE#16. Sat, Just so you are aware, the latest version for the Trim Line Gen 2 Universal is GUU0010501 and is available from Zuzo/Happ. It is "supposed" to help take care of a false printer jam condition. Hope this helps.

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

Hi, New here. RE#16. Sat, Just so you are aware, the latest version for the Trim Line Gen 2 Universal is GUU0010501 and is available from Zuzo/Happ. It is "supposed" to help take care of a false printer jam condition. Hope this helps.

Thanks Mike for the tip and welcome to Newlifegames.  I hope you enjoy this forum as I have been doing for quite few years now.

Anything I can do for you let me know

Best regards to all

[SAT (aka GANDHI)]

Just wanted lo let you know that I've been in contact with a representative from HAPP and she shipped me some CDs with the files I need and the latest download utility. 

Will keep you posted regarding the end of this thread. 

Best regards

[stayouttadabunker]

Awesome SAT! This is a great thread to watch...
I hope you get it running the way you want!

[Mike Matthews]

Great. Glad they were able to help you. Just a heads up though. I have ran into problems with the latest firmware. Seems that it doesn't like the emulated/legacy (Blue options menu) games. Every printer that I loaded it into went into a printer com fail and I had to reload the previous version back into the printer to get the game back up. I have also had a few of the non-emulated (Grey menu) games refuse to recognize this update as well.

As for the download tool being able to do up to 5 printers at a time thru a hub, well lets just say I don't trust it. Tried doing 4 at once. 2 took the update, one got wiped and had to be replaced and the 4th just didn't take it at all

Regards