thread Network printers are sporadically spitting out a line that says (alternately...) 'NG' or 'NE'. in Hardware Setup & Troubleshooting

Network printers are sporadically spitting out a line that says (alternately...) 'NG' or 'NE'.

MadMags — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 07:24:08 GMT

I have two network printers (Star TSP-650) on my setup, serving 4 Square Register terminals.

In the past two days, both of these are sporadically printing (alternately...) a single line of text that simply reads 'NG' or 'NE'. Maybe one every minute or so. So when we go to print a receipt, we need to tear off 20 or so lines of these nonsense outputs. After a while -- maybe 4 or 5 hours, the printer locks up and power cycling it has no effect. Only way I've found to clear it is to unplug, wait an hour or so, then turn it back on.

Any ideas on what may be causing this issue? Thanks for any input!

Re: Network printers are sporadically spitting out a line that says (alternately...) 'NG' or 'NE'.

JJ_ — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 22:45:21 GMT

Hey there @MadMags

The "NG" and "NE" codes are likely error indicators:

NG: Typically means "No Good" - indicating a command or data processing error
NE: Likely "Network Error" or "No Entry" - suggesting communication issues

The fact that both printers are alternating these messages suggests they're both trying to process the same corrupted data or commands from your Square Terminals.

Most Likely Causes

Network Communication Issues: IP conflicts, network congestion, or faulty network infrastructure
Printer Firmware Issue: The printers may need firmware updates
Power/Heat Issues: Extended operation causing instability

Immediate Steps to Try:

Network Isolation Test:
- Temporarily disconnect one printer
- See if the remaining printer still exhibits the issue
- This will help determine if it's a network conflict
Restart Network Equipment:
- Power cycle your network switch/router
- This often resolves communication issues
Check for IP Conflicts:
- Ensure each printer has a unique, static IP address
- Verify no other devices are using the same IPs

Let me know if this helps, and if you have additional questions. Will keep an eye out for your reply.

Re: Network printers are sporadically spitting out a line that says (alternately...) 'NG' or 'NE'.

buchmandor — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:16:48 GMT

The exact same thing is happening to our printer, starting 3 weeks ago.