EN Echo Command 16-25
Echo Command  
The Echo command echoes its value field (in ASCII format) back to 
the host.
E
C
 * s # X
# =Echo value (ASCII)
Default = 0
Range = –32767 to 32767
If multiple users are requesting status, it can be difficult to distinguish 
one user’s status response from another. The Echo command 
provides the means to label status responses. Since the 
user-selected value for the value field is returned, this command 
can be used as a user identification mark or “place holder.” 
Sending the Echo command, with a specific user-selected value, 
at the beginning of a status request enables users to identify their 
status response data.
Notes Status readback requests are processed in the order they are 
received.
Status readback responses are returned to the printer port from 
which they were received. 
When selecting an echo value, it is important to select a number 
which is not likely to be used by another user, such as a random 
number.
This example illustrates why using the Echo command with a random 
number is important. Assume an application uses a fixed number 
each time the Echo command is sent. Further, assume the printer 
running the application was turned off after the application sent the 
Echo command followed by a Free Space command. The printer 
generates the status readback responses to the Echo command and 
Free Space commands. Since the host is not accepting data, the data 
will be in the printer waiting for the host to accept it. Now, assume the 
host computer is turned on and the application is again executed.