REPORTER CLAIMS THAT REPLACEMENT FLIGHT DATA PRINTERS ARE UNACCEPTABLE.

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A REPLACEMENT FLT PLAN PRINTER WAS INSTALLED IN THE MADISON ATCT AND TRACON (MSN). THE NEW PRINTER IS MANUFACTURED BY DATA PORT. THE PRINTER IT REPLACED WAS MADE BY WESPER CORP. THE REASON FOR THE REPLACEMENT IS DUE TO WESPERCORP PRINTER IS NO LONGER SERVICEABLE. FAA AIRWAY FACILITIES ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL THESE PRINTERS ABOUT 3 YRS AGO. CTLRS OBJECTED TO THEM AT THAT TIME AND THEY WERE REMOVED AND PLACED IN STORAGE. THE PRINTERS WERE UNACCEPTABLE THEN AND ARE STILL UNACCEPTABLE NOW. WE ARE FORCED TO USE THESE PRINTERS NOW AS THE ALTERNATIVE TO HAND WRITING STRIPS; WHICH IS NOT AN OPTION. THE REASON THE PRINTERS ARE UNACCEPTABLE: 1) THE PRINT IS MUCH SMALLER ON THE DATAPORT PRINTER. THE SMALLER PRINT IS OBVIOUSLY MORE DIFFICULT TO READ. ALSO; THE SMALLER PRINT BECOMES OBSCURED BY THE STRIP HOLDERS. CTLRS NOW SPEND MORE HEADSDOWN TIME TRYING TO READ STRIPS. THE SMALLLER PRINT ALSO LENDS TO EYE STRAIN. 2) NO PROTECTION DEVICE IS FIXED TO THE OFFLINE BUTTON. WHILE REACHING FOR THE PAPER ADVANCE BUTTON TO REMOVE STRIPS; THE OFFLINE BUTTON CAN EASILY BE PUSHED INSTEAD. WITH THE PRINTER OFFLINE; OBVIOUSLY MEANS THAT NO STRIPS ARE PRINTED. ADDITIONALLY; NO ALARM IS SOUNDED WHEN OFFLINE IS SELECTED. WEPER CORP PRINTER HAD BOTH A PROTECTIVE GUARD ON THE OFFLINE SWITCH AND AN ALARM THAT BEEPED WHEN THE PRINTER WENT OFFLINE. 3) THE NEW PRINTERS ARE MUCH NOISIER THAN THE PRINTERS BEING REPLACED. THE ADDITIONAL NOISE LENDS TO FURTHER DISTRACTIONS IN THE TRACON. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME TO UPGRADE ATC EQUIP WITH EQUIP LESS CAPABLE THAN THE DEVICE IT REPLACES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THE NEW PRINTERS ARE BEING PHASED IN AT ALL FACILITIES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS AND THAT NATCA NATIONAL HAS FILED UCR ON THE EQUIP.