Yahoo Groups on ALPS, Oki and other MicroDry Printers
Yahoo ALPS Groups
The best publicly-available source of help and information about ALPS printers are the Yahoo groups for ALPS, Oki and other MicroDry printers, which function as an excellent support community for ALPS users. Further resources are listed in the References section at the bottom of the page.
The two moderated Yahoo Groups are Alps and alpsdecal. Membership is required to view the resources, and encouraged for participation. Note the rules about personal identification: no handles or anonymous posting permitted.
Among the resources is a Files section with subsections containing everything from drivers and manuals to sample printouts, trouble-shooting procedures, printer and ink specifications, photos illustrating various issues and solutions, not to mention the huge archive of collected knowledge in the archived threads of each group.
A list of current reliable overseas ALPS service shops (not affiliated with ALPS) is also part of the resources, and list members may also offer their services.
For more information on maintenance, and specific instructions for packaging, see the Servicing and Repairs and Maintenance on this site.
Yahoo "Alps" Group
This group is the main group, but membership of both groups is common. The "Files" section of this group provides a fantastic resource for first-time ALPS users and experienced users alike, and documents and photos are constantly being added and/or updated as problems come up and are resolved via the mailing list.
Both lists are moderated, and new members are strongly advised to read the rules of use, how to ask questions. This information is also distributed as a monthly email to all registered members.
Yahoo "alpsdecal" Group
This group was originally specifically for decal printing purposes, but both groups essentially deal with all ALPS-related issues, there is no distinction, and posters often post to both groups at the same time.