Pro-100. - Still Having Problems With Displayed Ink Levels

[jtoolman]

Not being able to download or print out of this app is probably the lowest priority for me. however if other things you mention are taking place then that would be quite a problem for a ton of us.

So glad I still have two RPO-100 sleeping restfully in their boxes.

Joe

 

[stratman]

The chip is most likely EEPROM where an electrical signal erases memory / resets the chip. EPROM needs ultraviolet light to erase memory and would not be user friendly to reset like an EEPROM chip.

I have been told in a PM that the inability to recognize a "NON-Canon chip" 551/550 cartridges by Canon software occurred before the Pro-100 and Pro-10. The PM did not state if the issue also occurred with reset OEM chips as well.

Is there a class action lawsuit possible from the inability to use non-Canon chips with a specific Canon software? I don't know but it appears there is no critical mass to trigger such litigation if even possible.

... waste absorber misreporting, Failure to print after "X" number of refills?

These might be litigated as there could be damages to users and may also be against US law.

 

[stratman]

Let me show the stuck bit scenario. Some might better understand and some will not.

Way to show the Christmas spirit.

Counter starts full at 1111. The left most bit is...

Source?

Have you presented this info before in the forum?

I doubt Canon created this issue on purpose based on what has been presented thus far. It is more likely human error by either Canon, the resetter folks, or both. That this only effects DIM'ed chips, that these DIM'ed chips still provide critical functioning, and that a new OEM cartridge fully resolves all issue with ink level monitoring makes this issue much ado about next to nothing. Unless something new and critical is noted in the future.

 

[jtoolman]

If someone sends me a CLI-42 DIMed cart, maybe a GRAY one and I will test it agains my other NON DIMed carts and I can just continually top it off as Mike suggested, after it first reports about 80%.
I would check it visually after every so many squared feet of media, and top off but not reset the chip.

If the theory holds, the chip will remain at 80% and the optical prism will never report it as LOW. This would be the case IF the chip was no longer counting down behind our backs and making us think that it would simply continue to report at 80% until otherwise force to do otherwise by the optical prism and drop to the " YELLOW ! " warning.

If it is actually continuing to count down, then simply topping it off and not resetting will obviously not work.

But if it is NOT counting down and it is simply frozen at 80% until is it forcibly overwritten by the optical prims kicking in, then I would say that topping off without resetting might just work.

This would be very easy to prove or disprove and I would be wiling to test this.

I would just need a DIMed Gray cart to do so.

Joe

 

[mikling]

Lately, the shelf life of Epson compatible chips is < 1 month for some desktop models it used to be measured in several months. Add the automatic firmware update. Now think how that translates into the aftermarket. According to the words of one supplier in China "disgusting". I did mention that despite my not ticking off the installation of the auto update, it proceeds regardless....Nasty. The production run on chips must be made in batches and as soon as it heads out, they are obsolete. So those who are stung should have some solace in the situation.

It's simple really.... The aftermarket emulates to what is currently "known". It is not hard for Epson to continually release new software that enquires into previously unused parts of the chip for data that they had not done before. Of course, the emulators only copy what had been known before. So with this new enquiry routine, the aftermarket is instantly obsoleted. Epson doesn't even have to get a hold of the new aftermarket to do this.

This current generation of printer is possibly one of the last ones for sensible refilling. At least we know it still works. Worse is forthcoming down the road in future generations. Understand that these companies are in a battle for survival and they must transition to a different business model.

 

[mikling]

Stratman, the value chosen is hypothethical. It is all speculation but I am putting the pieces together. We're just thinking out loud and readers should recognize this at this point. I think toolman understands my theory.

Any idea thrown in the open could help put the pieces together.

I can test my theory as I am all set up but time is an issue. Roy can as well but we will have to wait till New Year for his results.

Santa delivered a toy for us.

 

[websnail]

Lately, the shelf life of Epson compatible chips is < 1 month for some desktop models it used to be measured in several months.

Source?

 

[websnail]

But if it is NOT counting down and it is simply frozen at 80% until is it forcibly overwritten by the optical prims kicking in, then I would say that topping off without resetting might just work.

This would be very easy to prove or disprove and I would be wiling to test this.

Are you taking my bet then Joe?

 

[Roy Sletcher]

Interesting...somehow the PRO-100 KNOWS it has a reset cart installed....I bet this gets written into the EPROM data in case of a Warranty Issue...apparently a "complete and perfect" reset is not achieved!!! AND it gets potentially communicated over the internet...what else might CANON then control..such as excessive cleaning cycles, waste absorber misreporting, Failure to print after "X" number of refills?

The Electronic Countermeasure War continues!

Not to mention "calling home" through your wifi connection and giving all sorts of data they have learned about you to Canon Inc.

Fortunately their biggest market is in the US, and I think I am correct in stating that under US law it would be illegal for Canon to disable the printer just because you do not use Canon carts, or other accessories.

RS

 

[Roy Sletcher]

Roy, do test the DIMed chips by topping off at LOW and then see if the EMPTY pops up soon after. And also top off the ones that did not reach low as yet and do not reset them. I'd like to see if we get the same results with myself running 1.02 and you running 1.1

Let me show the stuck bit scenario. Some might better understand and some will not.

Counter starts full at 1111. The left most bit is underlined and is the frozen one due to DIM. As long as the value is greater than 0000 the optical sensor works. So the lowest value that the counter can get to is 1000 after being DIMed and decremented. This explains why the ink level monitor remains high....even just before the optical sensor kicks in. Now after the optical sensor kicks in, the normal counter goes to ANOTHER SEPARATE counter that now takes over to empty. If my hunch is correct, this counter then will go to the EMPTY value.

Now on normal chips and prior printers, even if the normal counter value was high, as soon as the optical sensor kicks in, the counter is PULLED down immediately and the countdown role is pushed to another counter call it LOW to EMPTY counter. Now at the same time it also explains why you cannot fool the normal counter was well. It will always count down as it is being used and either the optical sensor overrides the count and shifts the counter to the LOW to EMPTY one or the count is always decremented by normal useage and when it reaches 0000 it naturally transfers the counter role to the LOW to EMPTY one.

Mike,

Excellent point. I will be resetting and topping up in next week or so, and will follow your suggested protocol.

Roy