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Rules For Squirrel That Everyone Should Follow

Creation date: 2/15/2019 12:56 PM    Updated: 7/27/2026 8:47 AM   pos squirrel squirrel not working squirrel printer squirrel problems
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Argus IT Help Desk · Squirrel POS
Rules For Squirrel That Everyone Should Follow
Hard-won lessons from years of dealing with Squirrel support.
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Squirrel is a service many of us have to use, and when it works, it works well. When it doesn't… dealing with Squirrel has been compared to sticking your hand into a bag of rabid gerbils. These rules — collected over years of experience — will save you grief and make your next Squirrel support call go faster.
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Rule 1: DO NOT MOVE PRINTERS
If you change the location of a receipt printer, it may or may not work — and if it works, that's pure luck. The printers are meant to be exactly where they are. Leave them there.
🔌  Rule 2: Squirrel runs on its own network
Squirrel terminals are not on the regular Argus network — they run on their own network, set up by Squirrel. Argus IT can test the lines and verify connectivity, but past that point it's up to Squirrel how to proceed. That's why some problems have to go through Squirrel support rather than IT.
📧  Rule 3: Get it in writing
If you call Squirrel to get a problem fixed, make sure they email you a full description of what they did — then send that to Argus IT. The only way we can stop recurring problems is to find out why they keep happening.
📡  Rule 4: Know your payment terminal's limits
The wireless payment terminals you bring to guests have real-world range limits:
Bluetooth units
Up to 150 metres on a good day — with direct line of sight to the base station. Obstacles (glass, concrete, people) cause issues fast.
3G units
Work most places, but fluorescent lights, steel, or concrete weaken the signal.
💡 If a terminal keeps dropping in one spot, it's probably the spot — not the terminal.
🕐  Rule 5: Squirrel servers lose track of time
Over time, the server's internal clock can drift — by as much as 8 minutes. That drift causes terminal connectivity problems. When strange connection issues appear, the server clock is a good thing to check (or ask to have checked).
🐌  Rule 6: Check the cables before you call
If a terminal or printer isn't working, make sure it's plugged in before calling Squirrel — and not just the power cable, the network cable too. Yes, this has been the entire problem before.
💪  Stay strong
This may help, or you may be more confused than when you started. Either way — do not let Squirrel get you down. For hands-on troubleshooting, see Squirrel POS Terminal Not Working — First Checks (KB-170009).
ArgusIT KB# 170003 · Tags: squirrel · pos · squirrel not working · squirrel printer · squirrel problems
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