dc12 become incredibly slow to print....

[logobear]

We have a networked dc12 - and it has become incredibly slow printing from all 3 of our pc's - suspect it is the network card in the EX12 fiery rip.
When printing, - it takes ages to spool within the sending PC, - and a windows print failure box will pop up, nothing will happen for about 15 to 60+ minutes, but ultimately the page will probably print.
If I ping the Friery rip, I will get 1 success followed by 3 fails, and if I redo I will get 4 fails.
I have rebooted everything, changed cables, different ports in my switch and everything else I can think of.
I get identical results from each of my 3 pc's within the shop.
It does print, but golly it is slow, useless for a tshirt shop.
Any suggestions?
Phil

[John G]

Hi Phil,
Can you rule out the network/rip by printing direct from one of the printers?

[logobear]

I think I could connect a PC direct into the fiery rip without it going through the switch/hub, but otherwise my network works just fine, all PC's have fast web access and can all read and write to my network storage. All other aspects of my network work fine, and I changed cables and sockets with identical results.
Everything else on the network can ping each other with 100% reliability, just not the Fiery that controls and prints (via twain) to the dc12

[John G]

I was thinking more to check the printer, not the network!

[logobear]

the device photocopies perfectly, and after eons, will produce perfect print, but the time should be measured in geographical epoc, not seconds.
Windows times out and says document failed to print after 2 or 3 minutes, - and then about an hour later, eventually, the fiery/rip will get the file, and print it perfectly.
It is something to do with the network card, and packet data transmission, and the rip network card failing to recieve most times, so the pc resends, again and again, and eventually the packet of data does arrive, and we move onto the next packet ...........imho.....
I love my dc12, it is on contract with xerox, but unfortunately they don't have any more about. they have offered to take it away, but i don't know what can possibly replace it for laser transfere prints, - we do 500 - 1000 per month, and the desktop Oki etc just seem to cost a lot too much per page.
any comments appreciated