can anyone tell me why troop/wasatch is not working?

[Robert Lambie]

we have same problem with Troop. We bought it from B&P along with our grenadier and laminator but instantly the software did not work with the brand new built to spec pc. the trouble was… Troop did not like Windows XP Pro Service pack 2. But did work with Service Pack 1. we were down for two days trying to get the new Server the older version of Windows.
I wasnt pleased with it at the time and as i type this, i do not know if it has ever been resolved after 4 years… so keep biting at the bit Russell or hand it back! 😕

[Shane Drew]

thats interesting russell. I use 6.3 wasatch softrip. I’m running xp pro.

All worked well until xp automatically updated to Service Pak 3. Now it doesn’t work. I’ve had to transfer it over to another computer still running sp2, and turn off auto updates.

I have for a technician coming out to put my machine back to the original settings, as even restoring it to an older date changes nothing. I’m told by several software gurus that sp3 is causing no end of problems with all sorts of software. They tell me that Vista has more bugs than just about any previous version released before it.

I was told that from 6.3, all versions of Wasatch was vista compatible.

Have you contacted Wasatch directly in the States? From experience they are fairly good with responses.

[Russell Huffer]

Hi Shane,

I have spoken to B&P where I bought the software from and they told me there is an issue and Wasatch are working to resolve it.

I have also emailed Wasatch .com direct but to date have only had a reply asking for my serial number.

I just can not believe how bad 6.4 is, 6.3 would sometimes need a reboot to find printer, 6.4 needs complete reboot every other job, but even worse i have separate cutter and it can not print then cut without reboot and then 9 times out of 10 ca not find the cutting marks, meaning i have to reprint and hope it works. I have about 10 meters of uncuttable print and cut on my workbench.
My advice stick to old version or look for alternative RIP as Wasatch seems to be getting worse.

Regards

Russell.

[Chris Wool]

out of interest what made you move away from versa or colourrip.

chris

[Shane Drew]

Russell, I have had a problem with my original 540ex, even when using roland colorrip, and that is, if I leave the machine on, but don’t use it for a few hours, when I eventually rip to the machine, when it comes to print, it says communication is lost to the printer. I assumed it was with the printer, not the rip. I just turn the printer off, then back on, and the rip sees the printer and starts printing.

I now have a second 540ex, and although the second one works every time I rip to it, updating to wasatch didn’t fix the problem with the 1st one not seeing it. So, I’m guessing its my network card in the printer.

I’ve had the roland technicians out, and they maintain its the network, the crowd that look after my network probs, maintains its the printer.

Its easier to just turn the darn thing off and on again, than worry about who’s fault it is frankly.

Do you have to reboot, or will turning the printer off and then on do anything on 6.4?

Sounds extremely frustrating though. I’ve not heard of it before, and something that difficult to work with, I’m sure wasatch would have a fix if it was a result of their software.

When I made an enquiry last time, I had to submit my serial numbers, and they are a fair few hours behind us, so my replys are slow, especially if it is early in the week.

Pretty helpful though from experience. Hope you get it sorted mate.

[Robert Lambie]

quote Chris Wool:

out of interest what made you move away from versa or colourrip.

chris

troop is the rebadged software "i think started as flexisign but now wassatch" that comes with B&P solvent machines chris. so has all the prfiles for their inks/media contained…

[Simon Polakof]

quote Chris Wool:

out of interest what made you move away from versa or colourrip.

chris

We made the choice to move to Wastch due to the better options that it offers when you personally want to make your own profiles and thus control the colors better.
When we bought our VP540 it was brand new in the market and there were few profiles that where given out buy the vinyl companies. Which made the argument of upgrading to wasatch much stronger.

As I understand it the Wasatch company worked with roland in the first vers versions but the partnership broke of somewhere and Wasatch started to make their own product.

[Russell Huffer]

I believe this is a Wasatch issue as i do not get an error message about communication to printer is lost and restart printer does not start print, also the bigger problems are with my Graphtec cutter and i doubt that both printer and cutter have same fault.

I never moved away from Versa or Colourrip, I bought Troop with machine as was unaware of Colourrip at time of purchase, Versa is not an option as my printer is sj740 and i am told no v in model means Versa no work.

Rebooting the pc nearly always restarts the printer however sometimes i need to clear the queues this is not a problem for print as i just re rip and go again, however the cut paths can not be reriped with out re print.

I know Versa is free, where can i get Colourrip from and is it free if you have soljet and also would it drive Graphtec cutter to enable print and cut jobs.

Regards

Russell.

[Shane Drew]

Russell, don’t quote me, but I’m pretty sure roland colorip only works with rolands. It is a cut down version that does not allow non roland machines to communicate.

No idea about versa though.

Cheers
Shane

[Chris Wool]

colour rip lists your machine and is available from rolands site but its a cut down ver of earlier wasatch will not run in vista, i have used it for almost 6 years and have not encountered any of the problems you mention.

i think its been on about 7 different computers and is rock solid in its performance but profiles were poor in early days.

when allprint brought out a set of profiles for the then new ecosol max inks all colour issues disappeared and is a joy to use.

it will not drive the graphtec cutter ( to my knowledge i have a fc7000 as well )

there is a upgrade path from colour rip to a roland only wasatch which handles vista and new type pdf etc only around 150 quid but my work flow does not warrant even that but will before long.
when versa came out all colourrip upgrades stopped at ver 2.2 and works on all my xp pro machines inc sp3 with no dongles which put me off the new upgrade which has a dongle.

chris

[Gordon Forbes]

Not stealing your post I just upgraded Signlab Cut and Print asked if it supported the Cadet as it does but after installation could only find Uniform ICC profiles for it cant use Oracal ones and by what I read on their forums can’t import ones for it neither (haven’t asked anyone directly yet) but what use is that when they say it’s an all singing dancing rip. I must say tho it is far advanced compared to the version 7 that I had before.
As regards vista I just had a computer die for some reason mobo i think I bought all the components my self and bought XP Home to go on it SP3 and everything works OK its only when you do the upgrade it changes a lot of settings and stops applications working correctly.

[Robert Lambie]

Gordon… have you tried running the uniform profiles on the oracal vinyl mate? we just run the uniform ones that came with our troop, onto the oracal digital and it works perfect.
the uniform digital is just Metamark MD5 re-badged and their wrap from memory is re-badged MACtac macfleet. i found that out when i ordered some uniform vinyls and part branded uniform but boxed metamark etc something like that anyway, was nearly 4 years ago now… 😀

[Gordon Forbes]

Yeah just run Uniform Gloss Fine1 720 x 720 at the moment Fine 2 lays down a lot of ink.
Thanks Rob.

[Andrew Ritchie]

try running it with the dot type at 4 and passes 4, it maybe running at 8.
to find that…
open a file and double click on it, then go to "printer options" the "advanced" and you will see the options there…

[Russell Huffer]

Well niether Wasatch or B&P have come through for me, I have chased them both today but B&P not phoned me back and Wasatch ignored my question Friday which was the last day of my waranty now they refuse to talk to me unless i pay them $299.00 as I have no waranty. All I want is a windows product that runs under windows, I thought not a lot to ask but it seems it is if you ask it of Wasatch.

Looking on the bright side of things I must be saving loads of electricity as i have to keep restarting my pc to get wasatch to print anything.

Anybody suggest a rip that will run a roland with activasol inks in it ??

Regards

[Chris Wool]

Russel according to kevin waites new post you can have the latest versaworks for the older printers like yours and mine. enough money but cheeper i suspect than b&ps offering.

chris

[Andre Woodcock]

I had Troop/Wasatch 6.1 Roland edition. As I wanted to use Wasatch with my New Oce cs9160, I had to upgrade to 6.4 full server. Had already bought the upgrade a month ago and reading this post I hesitated until yesterday the Wasatch 6.1 needed to be reinstalled so I just upgrade to 6.4 and everything went really smooth. now I have to keep my fingers crossed.

[Russell Huffer]

Quick update on above, Shane was right about Wasatch being helpful, altough they said they could not see a problem with the way that Wasatch created the Graphtec markers they have just sent me a update to 6.4 that now gives the option of Graphtec type 1 or type 2 marks. So they do listen and act accordingly.

I have yet to do a print and cut but have been using the new version for a week now and it has not "hung" once, so hopefully they have sorted that out as well.

My faith in Wasatch is suitably restored.

Regards

Russell.

[Shane Drew]

quote Russell-H:

Quick update on above, Shane was right about Wasatch being helpful, altough they said they could not see a problem with the way that Wasatch created the Graphtec markers they have just sent me a update to 6.4 that now gives the option of Graphtec type 1 or type 2 marks. So they do listen and act accordingly.

I have yet to do a print and cut but have been using the new version for a week now and it has not “hung” once, so hopefully they have sorted that out as well.

My faith in Wasatch is suitably restored.

Regards

Russell.

Thanks for the update mate. I’m pleased it seems to have worked out.

I contacted Wasatch some time ago and asked that they look out for your email. They advised me they rec’d it and promised they would get back to you, after looking at your complaint.

I’m pleased they have followed through too, as it also restores my faith in dealing with bigger companies overseas.

Interestingly, I explained all about UKSB’s and they confessed they’d never heard of us, but now its on their radar, I’m sure they will pop in every now and then for a look. 😉