Quick answer: Buy the TTP-244 Pro if you mainly print ordinary barcodes, addresses and product stickers at 203 dpi and want the lowest cost of ownership. Buy the TTP-345 if your labels are small or carry fine text and dense 2D codes, because it prints at 300 dpi and can take a cutter or peeler. Both are 4-inch desktop printers that work with or without a ribbon.
What you are actually choosing between
These two printers come from different TSC families. The TTP-244 Pro is the entry-level model that TSC built for buyers who care most about low running costs: it carries a two-year warranty and accepts a long 300-metre ribbon. The TTP-345 is the high-resolution member of the TTP-247 series, which TSC based on its earlier TTP-245 Plus design. It prints at 300 dpi and up to 5 inches per second, with 8 MB SDRAM, 4 MB Flash and an SDHC card reader for adding much more storage.
Which model should you buy?
Match the printer to the label you print most often. The matrix below is arranged by job rather than by specification.
| Your typical label | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Courier and e-commerce 4x6 labels | TTP-244 Pro | 203 dpi is plenty for shipping barcodes, and you can print direct thermal without a ribbon |
| MRP stickers, carton labels, asset tags | TTP-244 Pro | Long 300 m ribbons mean fewer changes and lower daily cost |
| Small pharma, cosmetic or electronic part labels | TTP-345 | 300 dpi keeps small fonts and compact DataMatrix or QR codes crisp |
| Tags or continuous media that must be cut | TTP-345 | Accepts an optional guillotine cutter for full or partial cuts |
| Labels peeled and applied by hand at a packing line | TTP-345 | Optional peel-off module presents each label flat, without wrinkles or tears |
| Large stored graphics, fonts or standalone formats | TTP-345 | SD card slot expands Flash storage well beyond the 4 MB built in |
A 300 dpi version of the TTP-244 Pro also exists, and its genuine head is listed below. If you need 300 dpi but no cutter or peeler, ask us which build suits you before ordering. You can see the current price on each product page: TSC TTP-244 Pro and TSC TTP-345. Our listings show USB, serial and parallel ports on both.
Direct thermal or ribbon: decide before you buy labels
Both printers support direct thermal and thermal transfer printing. With direct thermal, the head darkens heat-sensitive label stock and no ribbon is needed. It is cheap and quick, but the print fades with heat and sunlight, so keep it for short-life labels. With thermal transfer, the head melts ink from a ribbon onto the label. Use a wax ribbon on paper, wax-resin on coated paper and some synthetics, and resin on polyester labels that face chemicals, abrasion or outdoor storage.
Setting it up
First-day checklist
- Place the printer on a firm, level surface away from dust, and connect the external power supply and the USB cable.
- Install the TSC Windows driver. It supports Windows 7 to Windows 11 and Windows Server editions; macOS and Linux drivers are also published by TSC.
- Load the label roll with the printable side facing up, thread it through the guides and set the guides snug against the label edges.
- For thermal transfer, load the ribbon with the ink side facing the label, and fit the empty core on the rewind spindle in the correct direction.
- Run a media calibration so the sensor learns the label gap or black mark.
- Print a test label from BarTender UltraLite, which TSC offers as a free download, or from your own billing or ERP software.
Calibration in plain terms
The printer needs to know where one label ends and the next begins. Every time you switch to a new label size or a new media type, run calibration again. In TSC Console the path is: select the printer, then Functions, Printer Configuration and Calibration. The same screen lets you read and set print speed and density. If the first label prints too high or too low, adjust the print position with the Diagnostic Tool, or set the tear position in BarTender.
Cutter and peel-off mode on the TTP-345
When a cutter or peel-off module is fitted, the media path changes. TSC publishes separate loading videos for cutter mode and peel-off mode on the TTP-247 series, so follow the matching one. A label spindle for 3-inch media cores is also available for the TTP-247 and TTP-345, which helps if your converter supplies rolls on larger cores.
Running costs and consumables
- Ribbon length: on the TTP-244 Pro, buying 300 m ribbons rather than short rolls is the single easiest way to cut cost per label.
- Ribbon width: choose a ribbon slightly wider than the label so the head is never exposed to bare stock, but not much wider, or you waste ink.
- Stock: browse thermal transfer ribbons, barcode labels and stickers and direct thermal e-commerce shipping labels.
- Volume buyers: if you use labels and ribbons every month, ask for a bulk or project quote instead of buying roll by roll.
Which printhead fits your printer?
The printhead is the main wear part. A worn head shows up as thin white lines running through barcodes and text. Use the table to order the right genuine part.
| Printer | Genuine head | Also fits | Warranty on the head |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTP-244 Pro, 203 dpi | Part 98-0330043-01LF | TC200, TC210 | 1 year or 25 km |
| TTP-244 Pro, 300 dpi | Part 98-0330043-02LF | TC300, TC310 | 1 year or 25 km |
| TTP-345 | TTP-345 300 dpi head | TTP-342 Pro, TTP-343 Plus | 25 km or 90 days from invoice |
White spots, scratches and physical damage are not covered under head warranty, so clean the head gently and avoid cheap ribbons or gritty labels. For platen rollers or other parts, use our spares enquiry or see printer spares and accessories.
Common problems and fixes
- Ribbon rewind spindle does not turn: restart the printer first. If it still does not turn, refit the rewind spindle and check it faces the right direction.
- BarTender sends the job but nothing prints: make sure the printer is switched on, and that the printer name, port and driver selected in BarTender are all correct.
- Labels skip or the error light comes on after a media change: run calibration again and check that the guides are not pinching the roll.
- Print is light or uneven: raise the density or lower the speed in TSC Console or the driver, and confirm the ribbon suits the label material.
- Vertical white lines: clean the head; if the lines remain, the head needs replacing.
For anything beyond these checks, our TSC service centre in Delhi repairs both models.
Warranty and cover options
New printers ship with the standard manufacturer's warranty against manufacturing defects. Longer cover can only be bought at the time you buy the printer. You can choose a 1-year extended warranty, or a comprehensive warranty for 3 or 5 years, such as the 5-year Comprehensive Care Pack. There is no 1-year comprehensive option, and comprehensive cover can't be added later. The comprehensive warranty takes the place of the standard warranty, and both run together from the printer's invoice date. So a 5-year plan means 5 years in total, not 1 + 5. Once cover ends, ask us about an AMC.
Frequently asked questions
Is the TTP-345 worth it over the TTP-244 Pro for shipping labels?
Usually not. Shipping labels scan well at 203 dpi, so the TTP-244 Pro is the economical choice. The TTP-345 pays off on small labels, fine print and dense 2D codes.
Can the TTP-244 Pro print without a ribbon?
Yes. It supports direct thermal printing on heat-sensitive labels with no ribbon, and thermal transfer printing when you load a ribbon for longer-lasting labels.
What is the print speed and memory of the TTP-345?
TSC rates the TTP-345 at up to 5 inches per second at 300 dpi, with 8 MB SDRAM and 4 MB Flash. An SDHC card reader lets you add more Flash storage.
Which printhead do I order for a 300 dpi TTP-244 Pro?
Order genuine TSC part 98-0330043-02LF. It also fits the TC300 and TC310. The 203 dpi TTP-244 Pro uses part 98-0330043-01LF.
Does the TTP-345 printhead fit other TSC models?
Yes. The genuine TTP-345 300 dpi head is listed as compatible with the TTP-345, TTP-342 Pro and TTP-343 Plus.
Why is my ribbon rewind spindle not spinning?
Restart the printer first. If the spindle still does not turn, reload it correctly and make sure it is fitted in the right direction.
How do I recalibrate after changing label size?
Load the new roll, then run calibration from TSC Console under Functions, Printer Configuration, Calibration. Adjust the print or tear position in the Diagnostic Tool or BarTender if needed.
Need help choosing? Call +91 98110 11467, WhatsApp +91 93110 11467 or contact us. buytscprinters.com is run by Infinite Solutions, New Delhi, an authorized TSC and Printronix partner, so advice, GST invoice and after-sales support come from one team.