Printer Upgrade on a Bluebird

This wouldn’t be only a software (firmware) upgrade on a game, this would be about a complete printer upgrade. To start off with, for one reason or another, I didn’t have a spare GEN 1 (Seiko) type ticket printer.  At the casino in which I work we call them Seiko but they are also known as the GEN 1. What I would like to pass along is how easy and simple it was to upgrade a Bluebird stepper game that originally had a GEN 1 printer installed in it, to an Ithaca Epic 950. This also worked with a game that had an Ithaca 850 in it. That game was also upgraded to a Ithaca 950. One thing to check on the replacement 950 chassis is that the “power board” has to have 14 pins on it. The power board (some call it the “com board”), located directly behind the printer, has to have the 14 pin Molex type connector so the cable from the game will plug right into it. After the correct sized connector is checked, the game should be compatible with the 950 printer. Power down the game, remove four small bolts that hold the printer frame in place and unplug the cable that comes from the game that connects to the back of the printer. Next, set the Ithaca 950 printer frame in place (do not unplug the small ribbon cable that connects the printer to the “power board”, it may be tricky to reconnect.). Bolt the printer frame back down and plug the 14 pin connector into the back of the printer. Now power up the game. After the game has fully booted up, press the WMS round white diagnostics button, the go into the printer setup and printer type menu. This is what is a little weird but it works. The game does not have an option for the Ithaca 950 printer so simply select “PSA Netplex.” Select “save” option, then return to the regular game menu. Now, enter the diagnostic menu again and print a test ticket to verify that the printer does work. The game should print a test ticket. If not, the 950 may have the wrong software installed. The correct one is around version N00527. N00526 and N00528 should work also. As a note, we are running the “Oasis” system, with a majority of Sentinel IIs, and some Sentinel IIIs. It is also a good idea to print an actual cash out ticket from the game. I usually print two or three just to make sure the printer is working properly.