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Star TSP100/TSP143 printer setup

The Star TSP100 is a thermal printer that can connect to your POS device via a network (LAN or Wi-Fi) or a USB connection. Note that the Star Printer can only connect to one POS device via USB.

Please note that the TSP143IV is not supported via a USB connection on the iPad. Other TSP100 models, such as the TSP143III, do support USB setup.

What you'll need

Before you can set up your printer, you’ll need the following hardware included in your shipment:

Hardware

Star TSP100 printer Star TSP 100
Power cable Power Cable
Paper roll (80 x 70 mm) Paper roll

Setting up the Star TSP100 printer

To set up your printer, choose your preferred connection method from the options below and follow the instructions.

  1. Connecting your printer

    To connect your printer, you need its power cable and an Ethernet cable.

    1. Connect the power cable to your printer and plug the other end into an electrical outlet.

      Connecting a power cable to the Star TSP

    2. Connect the Ethernet cable to your printer and plug the other end into an Ethernet port on your router.

      Connecting an ethernet cable to the Star TSP

    3. Turn on your printer and wait for the power light to turn solid, indicating your printer is ready

      Turning on the Star TSP

    Inserting a paper roll

    1. Open the printer's cover by pushing the lever on the right side away from you and lifting the cover.
    2. Insert the paper roll so the end feeds from the bottom of the roll, as shown in the image below. While doing so, make sure the paper roll stays tight and doesn't unspool.

      Star Printer roll insertion

    3. Pull the paper out past the cutter at the front of the printer.
    4. Push the cover down to snap it shut.

    Finding your printer's IP address

    To connect your printer and POS, you will need the IP address of the receipt printer on your network. To find the IP address, print the Current IP Parameters Status page:

    1. Turn the printer off
    2. Hold down the feed button.
    3. Turn the power on while continuing to hold feed.
    4. Wait for the device to start printing, then release feed. Two test receipts will print.

    The bottom of the second page will show Current IP Parameters Status. Hang on to this page and note the IP Address, which will be used later.

    Star TSP IP address receipt

    If Current IP Parameters says the IP address is 0.0.0.0, your printer couldn’t establish a network connection. Check that the Ethernet cable securely connects your printer and router, or try a different Ethernet port on your router and repeat the steps above.

    Setting up a static IP address

    Your wireless printer and POS device need to be connected to the same network to communicate properly.

    A static IP address is a unique fixed number that you can assign to a wireless printer to ensure it remains constant on your network. When setting up a static IP, choose an IP address outside the DHCP range to reduce the risk of IP conflicts.

    1. Connect your iPad or computer to the same network as your printer.
    2. On your wireless device, open a web browser.
    3. In the URL, enter your printer’s IP address.
    4. Log into the Star Network Utility using these credentials:
      User: root.
      Password: public
    5. It may prompt you to change the password but that’s not necessary, press Cancel.
    6. On the left-hand side menu, navigate IP Parameters > Static. The current IP Address and subnet mask should autofill. If the current IP Address and Subnet mask do not autofill, then manually type in the network configuration obtained from the printer.
    7. Click Submit
    8. On the left-hand side menu, navigate Save > Save.
    9. Click Execute. The receipt printer should then restart and print a new configuration report with Static next to the IP address instead of DHCP.

    Adding the printer to Lightspeed Restaurant Back Office

    Before adding your printer to Back Office, make sure your iPad is connected to the same network as your printer. Once both your iPad and printer are on the same network:

    1. Log in to Back Office using your Lightspeed Restaurant credentials.
    2. From the navigation menu, select Configuration > Printing > Printers.
    3. Select Add Printer.
    4. Give the printer a name (we recommend naming it after its function or location, e.g., Star TSP100 printer or Bar Printer).
    5. Enter the printer’s IP address into the relevant field.
      Note: For Lightspeed Restaurant to connect with your printer, the printer’s assigned IP address must always match the IP address entered in the Back Office.
    6. From the Driver drop-down menu, select Star TSP100 LAN or Star TSP143IV LAN, depending on your model.
    7. Check the box to Disable status check for this printer.

      Disable check status

    8. Click Save to finish.
  2. Connecting your printer

    Only the Star TSP100IV is compatible with a Wi-Fi configuration. To connect your printer via Wi-Fi, you need an Ethernet cable and an MCW10 Wireless LAN device from Star Micronics.

    1. Plug your Ethernet cable into the MCW10 Wireless LAN unit and connect the other end to the Ethernet port on your Star Printer.

      Connecting an ethernet cable to the Star TSP

    2. To supply power to the Wireless LAN unit, connect it to the printer using the micro USB to USB-A cable.
    3. Connect the power cable to your printer and plug the other end into an electrical outlet.

      Connecting a power cable to the Star TSP

    4. Turn on your printer and wait for the power light to turn solid, indicating your printer is ready

      Turning on the Star TSP

    Inserting a paper roll

    1. Open the printer's cover by pushing the lever on the right side away from you and lifting the cover.
    2. Insert the paper roll so the end feeds from the bottom of the roll, as shown in the image below. While doing so, make sure the paper roll stays tight and doesn't unspool.

      Star Printer roll insertion

    3. Pull the paper out past the cutter at the front of the printer.
    4. Push the cover down to snap it shut.

    Preparing your device for a Wi-Fi setup

    Before your printer can connect to your network, you need to configure your MCW10 Wireless LAN unit by installing the Star Utility App. To do this, follow the instructions found here on Star Micronics's website.

    Finding your printer's IP address

    To connect your printer and POS, you will need the IP address of the receipt printer on your network. To find the IP address, print the Current IP Parameters Status page:

    1. Turn the printer off
    2. Hold down the feed button.
    3. Turn the power on while continuing to hold feed.
    4. Wait for the device to start printing, then release feed. Two test receipts will print.

    The bottom of the second page will show Current IP Parameters Status. Hang on to this page and note the IP Address, which will be used later.

    Star TSP IP address receipt

    If Current IP Parameters says the IP address is 0.0.0.0, your printer couldn’t establish a network connection. Check that the Ethernet cable securely connects your printer and router, or try a different Ethernet port on your router and repeat the steps above.

    Setting up a static IP address

    Your wireless printer and POS device need to be connected to the same network to communicate properly.

    A static IP address is a unique fixed number that you can assign to a wireless printer to ensure it remains constant on your network. When setting up a static IP, choose an IP address outside the DHCP range to reduce the risk of IP conflicts.

    1. Connect your iPad or computer to the same network as your printer.
    2. On your wireless device, open a web browser.
    3. In the URL, enter your printer’s IP address.
    4. Log into the Star Network Utility using these credentials:
      User: root.
      Password: public
    5. It may prompt you to change the password but that’s not necessary, press Cancel.
    6. On the left-hand side menu, navigate IP Parameters > Static. The current IP Address and subnet mask should autofill. If the current IP Address and Subnet mask do not autofill, then manually type in the network configuration obtained from the printer.
    7. Click Submit
    8. On the left-hand side menu, navigate Save > Save.
    9. Click Execute. The receipt printer should then restart and print a new configuration report with Static next to the IP address instead of DHCP.

    Adding the printer to Lightspeed Restaurant Back Office

    Before adding your printer to Back Office, make sure your iPad is connected to the same network as your printer. Once both your iPad and printer are on the same network:

    1. Log in to Back Office using your Lightspeed Restaurant credentials.
    2. From the navigation menu, select Configuration > Printing > Printers.
    3. Select Add Printer.
    4. Give the printer a name (we recommend naming it after its function or location, e.g., Star TSP100 printer or Bar Printer).
    5. Enter the printer’s IP address into the relevant field.
      Note: For Lightspeed Restaurant to connect with your printer, the printer’s assigned IP address must always match the IP address entered in the Back Office.
    6. From the Driver drop-down menu, select Star TSP143IV LAN.
    7. Check the box to Disable status check for this printer.
      Disable Status check annotated
    8. Click Save to finish.
  3. Connecting your printer

    This connection method requires a Lightning to USB-A connection cable. Connecting your printer via USB means your printer can only be connected to one POS at a time.

    To connect your printer, you need its power cable and a Lightning USB cable.

    1. Connect the power cable to your printer and plug the other end into an electrical outlet.

      Connecting a power cable to the Star TSP

    2. Connect the USB-A cable to the available USB port on your device, and then connect the Lightning connector end to your iOS device.

      USB LIghtning cable connection

    3. Turn on your printer and wait for the power light to turn solid, indicating your printer is ready

      Turning on the Star TSP

    Inserting a paper roll

    1. Open the printer's cover by pushing the lever on the right side away from you and lifting the cover.
    2. Insert the paper roll so the end feeds from the bottom of the roll, as shown in the image below. While doing so, make sure the paper roll stays tight and doesn't unspool.

      Star Printer roll insertion

    3. Pull the paper out past the cutter at the front of the printer.
    4. Push the cover down to snap it shut.

    Adding the printer to Lightspeed Restaurant Back Office

    1. Log in to Back Office using your Lightspeed Restaurant credentials.
    2. From the navigation menu, select Configuration > Printing > Printers.
    3. Select Add Printer.
    4. From the Driver drop-down menu, select Star TSP100 USB.
    5. Give the printer a name (we recommend naming it after its function or location, e.g., Star TSP100 printer or Bar Printer).
    6. Check the box to Disable status check for this printer.
    7. Click Save to finish.

Printing a test receipt

With the above steps complete, log in to the Lightspeed Restaurant app, reload your configuration, and print a test receipt to ensure your printer is connected.

  1. In the Restaurant POS App, tap the Status Preview Status preview icon button (four dots on the navigation bar).
  2. Tap Reload Refresh icon to sync the device with the latest Back Office configuration.
  3. From the main screen, select your user profile.
  4. Tap Settings on the navigation bar.
  5. Select Printing center.
  6. Under Printers, tap Print test next to the new printer to print a test sheet.

    The 'Printing center' screen with the test button highlighted.

A successful test print completes the printer's basic setup. But to start printing receipts or order tickets, you need to configure the printing profiles and production centers that control how the printer functions in your restaurant.

Troubleshooting

  • Your wireless printer and POS device need to be connected to the same network to communicate properly.

    A static IP address is a unique fixed number that you can assign to a wireless printer to ensure it remains constant on your network. When setting up a static IP, choose an IP address outside the DHCP reservation range to reduce the risk of IP conflicts. For more information about DHCP reservations and static IP addresses, consult our Understanding basic networking guide.

    1. Connect your iPad or computer to the same network as your printer.
    2. On your wireless device, open a web browser.
    3. In the URL, enter your printer’s IP address.
    4. Log into the Star Network Utility using these credentials:
      User: root.
      Password: public
    5. It may prompt you to change the password but that’s not necessary, press Cancel.
    6. On the left-hand side menu, navigate IP Parameters > Static. The current IP Address and subnet mask should autofill. If the current IP Address and Subnet mask do not autofill, then manually type in the network configuration obtained from the printer.
    7. Click Submit
    8. On the left-hand side menu, navigate Save > Save.
    9. Click Execute. The receipt printer should then restart and print a new configuration report with Static next to the IP address instead of DHCP.
  • The Star TSP100 has two lights: Ready and Error. When the Ready light is on, it glows blue, and when the Error light is on it glows red. Their light patterns indicate status or error information. The table below illustrates some of the most common error light patterns, their meanings, and how to troubleshoot them. If your error light pattern is not listed below, check out the Star troubleshooting guide for more information.Printer indicating blue ready light and red error lights.

    Table of printer light codes, their meanings, and troubleshooting steps.

What's next?

Editing receipt templates

Visit our Editing receipt templates article to learn how to customize the layout of your receipts and production tickets.

Learn more

Managing printing profiles

Set up your Kitchen Printer to print order tickets by assigning it to your kitchen printing profile.

Learn more

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