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

As I refilled the Yellow and Light ( Photo ) Magenta I physically checked the Black and Gray that I had previously reset and topped off.
The Black which shows full is full and the gray which shows a bit down is indeed a bit down.
OK so it does appear that the physical levels are matching so far what ink monitor is reporting.
Let see what happens as the the black / Gray / Yellow / Light Magenta begin to be used up. I did not top off or reset the Black and Gray this time so if the gray drops from about 80% to say 60% in the next few days then I can confidently say that ink monitoring is behaving normally.

Joe

jtoolman said:

Ok I am back and printing a dozen 13 x 19 through the PRO-100
I reset and topped off the Black and Gray carts and began to print.
These are very ink dense images with very saturated and dense quality. No high key stuff here. So ink use should be heavy.
All colors that were not previously modded to refill and reset have shown a gradual drop as seen here.
The two blacks have not show even a bit of a drop.
I will physically check them and I suspec they will be someone used up and not 100% as the ink monitor is currently showing.
Iwill continue to print until one of the colors gets the low warning, reset and refill.
So there seems to be some truth about what was originally reported.

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jtoolman said:

As I refilled the Yellow and Light ( Photo ) Magenta I physically checked the Black and Gray that I had previously reset and topped off.
The Black which shows full is full and the gray which shows a bit down is indeed a bit down.
OK so it does appear that the physical levels are matching so far what ink monitor is reporting.
Let see what happens as the the black / Gray / Yellow / Light Magenta begin to be used up. I did not top off or reset the Black and Gray this time so if the gray drops from about 80% to say 60% in the next few days then I can confidently say that ink monitoring is behaving normally.

Joe

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Hi Joe,

From the images you have posted it appears your monitoring is working correctly because I can see that in one file you Y and PC is down to half.



In my example taken from my printer two minutes ago I am getting the following. In my opinion something, somewhere is clearly wrong as the reset cartridges never drop below 80%, and then go straight to empty with no intermediate readings.

Magenta visual 15% - displayed FULL
Photo Cyan visual 15% - displayed 80%
Yellow Visual 50% Displayed 50% - SEE NOTE BELOW
Black Visual 15% Displayed FULL
Grey Visual 15% Displayed 80%
Photo Magenta Visual EMPTY Displayed 80%
LG VisuaL EMPTY Displayed 80%
Cyan Visual 50% Displayed Full

NOTE ABOUT THE YELLOW - This is an un-reset OEM cartridge, and so far is displaying correctly. If on reset it becomes defective, then I will suspect the resetter. If on reset it works correctly, then my reset technique for the first cartridges, or the cartridges, or chips may have been at fault.

Regrettably because of the time it takes to use up cartridges it is slow progress. Will eventually get to the bottom of it.

Roy

stratman said:

I was looking for a site with all the firmware versions for you - which i could not find, including a Canon FTP site - and I noticed my error. The firmware flasher is 1.2 but the firmware version itself is 1.1. I also have not seen any posts about downgrading firmware or reflashing the same firmware. I would try reflashing the same version before downgrading and might not do that until I spoke with Canon.

At this point, if new OEM cartridges do not work properly, or those new OEM after a reset do not work properly, then it is either the printer or the resetter (as long as you are following proper reset technique, which differs from previous models of resetters from what I've read). At that point it is either get a replacement resetter or talk with Canon before flashing to whatever version to begin the trail of information to obtain a replacement printer whilst still under warranty. The only upsides to this is that ink level monitoring appropriately catches when the cartridge is "empty" before damage is done AND that Canon has already admitted to ink level monitoring issues that are supposed to be corrected with firmware update. We and Canon know that not every printer will be fixed by a firmware update -- stuff happens. So, one way or another you should be able to be made whole again.

Great idea of using a different resetter. It would be a good test. I'd try it now on your old malfunctioning cartridges, too. Why wait!

Good luck on your competition! I am also getting snow now but the deep stuff is supposed to bypass us. Either way, making plans for Thanksgiving on Thursday and will be touring the internets, weather permitting.

Internet not less expensive? You need to move to the USA, my friend! You may get mugged and you're going to be paying more for your health care but the ink cartridges are cheaper, so it all works out in the end.

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Hi Stratman,

One of your earlier comments that this had been recognized by Canon was incorrect. I have not contacted them so far.

Unfortunately it will take time top isolate the problem because of the slow usage of cartridges.

Have fun with t he white stuff. We had 10 inches overnight. Usually Canada dumps this stuff on the US, but I think this storm originated in the US South West and was dumped on Canada. Most passed south of Ottawa thank goodness.

Not sure if the internet is cheaper in US. I think US and Canada lag behind the EU in internet speed, infrastructure and fair pricing. Just had a fight with my ISP, so can say with certainty I pay C$47.00 month for 170 gigabytes of data. Average download speed about 25mbps which is very poor compared to Europe.

My location of choice in the US is New England. My son lives in CT, so I am there quite often. Really enjoy it and the people. Chances of getting mugged there about same as Canada. Consumer products usually much cheaper in US, and when I tell the New England locals what we pay in Canadian taxes they visibly flinch and start reaching for the pitchforks.

RS

Hi Roy. I think you got it wrong. The only colors I had originally reset and topped off were the Black and the Gray. The rest had never been reset. I printed the dozen or so 13x19s till the Yellow and Photo Magenta were declared low with the yellow signal. I then reset and filled those two colors.
The Black which was full before the prints were made found to be reported as 100% and physically it was.
The Gray was reported to be about 80% and physically it was.

The yellow and photo magenta are presently full as I did not print anything more after resetting and refilling those two colors. I also reset and topped off the Light Gray.
I will now have to continue to print and see whether the gray which began to drop some will continue to gradually drop to 50 or 60%. If it does, then that'll be fine.

Then I will monitor the newly reset and refilled yellow and Photo Magenta and see how the ink monitoring behaves in comparison to actual ink levels in the cart.

So I might be in the same boat as you since the only reset and refilled color that has dropped to 80% is the gray. If it does not drop any more as I continue to use it up and then plummets to empty, the we have a problem Houston!
PS:
This are my latest ink levels!

Joe

How did you do with your photo competition? I hope satisfying.

Roy Sletcher said:

Hi Stratman,

One of your earlier comments that this had been recognized by Canon was incorrect.

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Look at post #18 where I quote directly from Canon that they are aware of the ink monitoring issue and created an updated firmware to deal with it.

Unfortunately it will take time top isolate the problem because of the slow usage of cartridges.

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I would reset and refill all the cartridges except the Yellow and see what happens. You flashed new firmware v1.1 which incorporates the fix from Canon but it might be the chips need to be reset for the printer to take advantage of the firmware flash. It could be the resetter, your resetting technique, an improper/partially failed firmware flash, or a bad printer that needs a replacement. It might be the chips you have reset went bad and no further resets will change the issue. This is why your OEM, never reset Yellow is key to helping figure this out.

If the above does not work then I would reflash with the latest firmware and see if that takes care of the issue. If that does not work then it would be time to call Canon if you have moxie!

Speaking of flashing firmware... how, precisely, did you do the firmware flash?

Have fun with t he white stuff.

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It pretty much bypassed me as well, some ice and a covering of snow, but a county over got plenty. Lake effect snow can be tricky.

Not sure if the internet is cheaper in US.

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I meant for purchasing ink cartridges off the internet.

My location of choice in the US is New England. My son lives in CT, so I am there quite often.

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If you do decide to move down here, we'll reserve a pitchfork for your own to have.

stratman said:

How did you do with your photo competition? I hope satisfying.


Look at post #18 where I quote directly from Canon that they are aware of the ink monitoring issue and created an updated firmware to deal with it.


I would reset and refill all the cartridges except the Yellow and see what happens. You flashed new firmware v1.1 which incorporates the fix from Canon but it might be the chips need to be reset for the printer to take advantage of the firmware flash. It could be the resetter, your resetting technique, an improper/partially failed firmware flash, or a bad printer that needs a replacement. It might be the chips you have reset went bad and no further resets will change the issue. This is why your OEM, never reset Yellow is key to helping figure this out.

If the above does not work then I would reflash with the latest firmware and see if that takes care of the issue. If that does not work then it would be time to call Canon if you have moxie!

Speaking of flashing firmware... how, precisely, did you do the firmware flash?


It pretty much bypassed me as well, some ice and a covering of snow, but a county over got plenty. Lake effect snow can be tricky.


I meant for purchasing ink cartridges off the internet.


If you do decide to move down here, we'll reserve a pitchfork for your own to have.

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Hi Stratman,

Happy Thanksgiving. Trust you are gorging on turkey and fine food, and preparing to support you favourite NFL team during the balance of the festivities.

To answer your questions in sequence:

I did OK in the Club Print Competitions - got three Honourable mentions. They were tough judges, and I am not the most creative photographer, so it is very hard for me to get Awards of Excellence. One landscape print was criticized because I had been careless and allowed the sky to drift towards cyan instead of the needed deeper blue. Very easily done, and cost me the Award of Excellence.

I misunderstood the details in your post #18. Hopefully the new firmware rev 1.1 is the fix. Will find out when I reset all cartridges except yellow.
I am pretty certain I have flashed correctly, because after our last exchange I downloaded a new version of the file and attempted a flash. This was rejected with the error message that 1.1 was already in place. In addition every nozzle check prints the firmware number, and rev 1.1 it is.

As you suggest will reset and refill all except the yellow. They are nearly empty right now, and see where we go from there.

As a last resort I will contact Canon. They may give me a hassle with the warranty. You see the printer was purchased in the US from a reseller who was taking advantage of the rebates. I paid $125.00 or so, and brought it into Canada as part of my tax free allowance. I had just fried my Pro9000 head and was faced with buying another for head for $160 from Canon Canada, so this was the better deal.

Trouble with purchasing Cartridges from the Internet is the fact that shipping to Canada seems to be open season for outrageous shipping charges. Unless buying a complete set when it becomes more reasonable.

I am old and retired so moving South is not on the agenda. You can use my allocated pitchfork for any social justice cause you wish.

Enjoy your turkey

Roy

jtoolman said:

Hi Roy. I think you got it wrong. The only colors I had originally reset and topped off were the Black and the Gray. The rest had never been reset. I printed the dozen or so 13x19s till the Yellow and Photo Magenta were declared low with the yellow signal. I then reset and filled those two colors.
The Black which was full before the prints were made found to be reported as 100% and physically it was.
The Gray was reported to be about 80% and physically it was.

The yellow and photo magenta are presently full as I did not print anything more after resetting and refilling those two colors. I also reset and topped off the Light Gray.
I will now have to continue to print and see whether the gray which began to drop some will continue to gradually drop to 50 or 60%. If it does, then that'll be fine.

Then I will monitor the newly reset and refilled yellow and Photo Magenta and see how the ink monitoring behaves in comparison to actual ink levels in the cart.

So I might be in the same boat as you since the only reset and refilled color that has dropped to 80% is the gray. If it does not drop any more as I continue to use it up and then plummets to empty, the we have a problem Houston!
PS:
This are my latest ink levels!

Joe

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Hi Joe,

Hope you are enjoying your turkey. You have earned it with all your posts and videos about inkjet printing.

See stratmans post numbers 18 and 35 in which he states the reset problem is known to Canon, and has been fixed with a firmware upgrade. I am assuming it is firmware version 1.1

I will be resetting tomorrow, and will find out in a week or so whether the problem has been fixed.

Roy

Just got back from my daughter's and yes, just like the turkey, I am stuffed!
So will you be updating your FW to 1.1?
Has anyone here updated to 1.1?
I will be printing a few B&Ws to use up some of the Gray inks and see If my Gray will drop one more notch. If it does then I will stay where I am. If not I will update.
Joe

Just printed some more and thake a look at the Gray!
I dropped to about 50% so it looks like it is working OK Though in large increments.
Joe
PS: Is the problem Canon refers to the same as the one being discussed here? Or is it that the jumps are pretty large? Mine seems to be working reasonably well as the screen cap shows. I would love a more gradual indication but if this is the best, then I can live with that.

Upgrading to the firmware would not be worth it unless it actually improved the current coarseness of the ink level jumps as levels decrease.

I was reminded to register my PRO-100 with Canon.
Received a 50% off promo code.
Ordered the buy one get four free Semi Gloss 8.5x11 / 50 sheets.
Entered the code, and ended up with 5 packs for just over $18 with free shipping.
Best part is I still have two more PRO-100 printers which means two more unregistered serials and my two current unregistered PRO9000MKIIs and the one PRO9500MKII I never bothered to register.

Don't forget to register your PRO Canon printers and you will be able to get 50% off these already great paper deals. I just did it.
Oh by the way, I believe you can order more than one "Buy one get four free" in the same order and still get 50%b off the total.

Joe