I am looking for a manual to an Okidata microline u82 printer.  All I really
need is the settings for the various DIP switches inside.  

12 responses total.

I'll try, we used to have a lot of the u83 units, and a few u82 units as well,
maybe someone has something in the ancient hardware file.  If I can get the
settings I'll mail them to you (this will be faster than posting back here).

Do you know where i can get a printer ribbon for the Okidata 180?

Thank you Mike, that would be greatly appreciated.

I have one for the u84, better yet, call Okidata and *ask* for one.
The manual that I got for the u84 said ... AND I quote ...
"Do NoT change the settings on any switch, the IBM-Compatible ML84 is preset
at the factory to operate properly with IBM Personal Computers, you should not
have to make any internal adjustments."

(BTW, the phone number for okidata cust. service is 1-800-OKIDATA)

The u84 is different from the the u82 it seems.  Mine has a serial and
parallel port.  Right now it is set up for parallel operation but I 
would like to use it on a serial port.  In order to do that I need to
open the machine and set some of the switches to first activate this port
and secondly tell it what the baud rate, parity, etc. is.
Thanks for the #, I will give them a call.

It turns out that what we had were 83s and 84s, no 82s, sorry.  You may want
to try Patricks' suggestion of calling Okidata, they might sell you an
old manual.

The last I knew, Radio Shack was able to get a great many old printer
ribbon types.

Wow!  A good 4 years between #6 & #7.

<smile>
Well, I figured anyone wandering in and reading....   ;)

I am collecting opinions on the differences between and relative advantages
of Okidata, Toshiba and Epson 24-pin printers.  I will be switching to one
of these from my Panasonic for two reasons:  you cannot print downloadable
RAM fonts and use the print buffer as a buffer at the same time, and I have
not in 10 years figured out how to make draft the default setting, too many
buttons and flashing lights.  Plus we have people interested in acquiring my
three Panasonics (a class of senior citizens, to go with their computers and
the instructor is familiar with the KXP1124).

My requirements - print buffer that will do both things at once.  Toshiba and
Epson say that they will, have not figured out the Okidata yet.
No confusing buttons and lights, I don't need any fonts or pitches.
Some easy way to switch between continous and sheet feed (one of the Epsons
seemed rather complicated, you had to do several things in a row and with the
Panasonic it was only one switch, plus a manual backup of the continuous paper
since I never could remember the sequence of buttons to do it automatically)

Advantages would be quieter printing (Toshiba is more heavily built), being
able to see what you are printing (all of them are bad at this because of the
dark grey plastic covers), and being able to print on the top of the first
page (Toshiba is set up to waste the first page as the pins grab it and hold
it up vertically for no known reason).  Another advantage would be no extra
fonts or pitches (Toshiba uses font cartridges but you can ignore those).

I will print graphics rarely or never, only one size and pitch type, only one
width paper, no envelopes or labels.  Speed is not all that important but if
other things are equal it would be nice.  Ease of operation is important -
I cannot remember arbitrary sequences of buttons and lights.

Toshiba P321 or 1340, Okidata Microline 380, Epson LQ 200, 570, 850, 5000
(last two seem identical except for pain color on the front panel).
Also Toshiba P341 if it offers any advantage over the two P321s.

WRite-On, which I will use to print Cyrillic, supports:
IBM ProPrinters (9 and 24 pin), Epson LQ series, Toshiba dot=matrix P321,
P341, P341/351, P1351/1340 and P1350.  Or anything that fully emulates the
graphics-mode command set of any of these.  My Panasonic emulated IBM and
Epson, my choice, but would not have worked without the print buffer added.
I am surprised that Toshiba does not have Epson or IBM emulation.

Toshiba - to change the setting from draft to LQ you open up the front cover,
pry up some transparent plastic to get at a dip switch, find a very tiny
screwdriver, and move pin 7 of DIP switch 2 from OFF to ON (using a strong
light and a magnifyng glass, and counting carefully).  WP5.1 has software
control, but Write-On probably does not, nor does WP4.2.
Add this to the fact that it wastes the first page when doing continous feed
paper, and the power switch is way at the back and hard to get at.
And to use downloadable fonts you are supposed to get some additional part
from the dealer ($30 for the Panasonic print buffer, but the Toshiba has a
print buffer, wonder what they are talking about).

We are trying out the Okidata Microline 380.  An improvement over the
Panasonic as far as setting fonts.  Nice feature is that it loads single
sheets for you in the right place when you pull a lever, the Panasonic tended
to feet sheets in crooked by hand.  We cannot print after 10 pm because the
neighbor sleeps so will test downloadable fonts later.  Using the Epson LQ500
definition, it lets you fill in a path to look for these fonts.  Promising.
To save paper you can use the serrated edge and tear off half a sheet.  We
have lots of free ribbons for the Toshiba and none for the Okidata but that
is life.  They are all noisy.    We also have an Epson LQ 570 to try out, and
an 850 and a 200 - is one of them better than the others?

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