Bizhub c308 dead network card/module?

[Elmojo]

if printing USB then this will do the trick for both wired and wireless.
https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Networking-USB-Print-Server/dp/B0B19T1GKY/ref=sr_1_22?crid=23AHSH5SLCIMI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.I5 mIwUUM9HEZvCRQejdznyKovjkEuPXIU94LrXp66IiMi-o3tH6bW2YBPOFmYXpbHRqGVYFSnTZXMGP26c3D0YBv5lzGg3Qi 4APQtysHpqwSxDaSZWjJbQVtqM2S7Qt8m57P6xEake5AIW3aYY wClIxE5_m9Os3Ln4ollJjPbTaID6TkhSn52ETVF20HWiSQbjNT AYaCQ8jUIEK3SZMEwTwdSMVUhBAfy4Yd-nNtSaw.4s3F0on0LysG_wcNcIMVbxTZKhE4weDyxzLYe7SQbaw &dib_tag=se&keywords=print+server&qid=171810438 6&s prefix=print+server%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-22

Huh, hadn't thought of that option. Very possible.... The reviews aren't great, but it may be worth a try, rather than dropping a bunch of cash on a new MFP. Thanks!

EDIT: Do you happen to know if using a wifi adapter like that will allow us to use the normal scan to file operations on the copier? Right now, being connected by USB and shared through one of our desktop PCs, we don't have that feature, and it's a big problem.

[Elmojo]

You could try to send the MFP board into https://www.hytecrepair.com/ They should be able to fix the board.
Otherwise boards from a C258, C308, or C368 can be made to work. If you find a used board let me know and I can write down the procedure.

Thanks for the link, I'll absolutely keep them as an option. I'm hoping to not be down that long, but whatever it takes.
I appreciate the list of compatible models as well. I may take you up on needing that procedure, if I can't make one of these other options work quicker.

[femaster]

Thanks for the link, I'll absolutely keep them as an option. I'm hoping to not be down that long, but whatever it takes.
I appreciate the list of compatible models as well. I may take you up on needing that procedure, if I can't make one of these other options work quicker.

If you have link lights on the network port of the copier, you could try a network reset from within service mode, but you will need to know what all the network setting are as they will be wiped back to factory defaults.

Otherwise, Hytec is the go to place for repaired boards. It's where Konica gets their boards repaired here in the US, as do other OEMs as well. They can either repair the board you send in and return it, or if they have some repaired boards in stock, they will do an advanced exchange for a little higher price. Be advised though that if the board you send in is deemed unrepairable, you will be charged whatever the going rate is for an outright purchase of a repaired board with no exchange.

[Elmojo]

If you have link lights on the network port of the copier...

There doesn't appear to be any provision for link lights on this copier. I was surprised at this, and actually had the office manager send me a photo, since I didn't believe her.
Sure enough, I don't see any place for light next to the LAN port. Unless they are really well hidden...

Thanks for the info about Hytec. That makes me feel way better about them.
Do you have any idea about what their typical turnaround is for a board repair? Am I looking at a week or a month?

[rrrohan]

definitely has 2 lights just looked at one in the workshop

[Duplicator]

definitely has 2 lights just looked at one in the workshop

I agree. There are 2 lights on the jack on all the units we have. It might not be a bad idea to take a laptop or known working switch over there with a known good cable. That way we can definitively say it's the copier and not some other dead piece of network equipment. From the laptop and/or switch those items will have link lights.

I have dealt with lighting striking a building before. It's very likely everything on the network (including the copier) has let the magic smoke out.

[Elmojo]

I agree. There are 2 lights on the jack on all the units we have. It might not be a bad idea to take a laptop or known working switch over there with a known good cable. That way we can definitively say it's the copier and not some other dead piece of network equipment. From the laptop and/or switch those items will have link lights.

I have dealt with lighting striking a building before. It's very likely everything on the network (including the copier) has let the magic smoke out.

Thanks to both of you for the confirmation. I thought it was odd when she told me it had no lights. I've never seen any sort of networked equipment that didn't have status lights.
We've already run a brand new dedicated cable from the copier, down the hall, and back to the (also new) switch. No dice.
I have to bring my laptop to config the wifi print server when it comes, so I'll definitely try just connecting the copier directly first, as a 3rd check, but it sure seems like the copier network jack has bought the farm. :/
I'm going to try that external print server box, and hope that it allows scan to file. That's the one thing I can't tell for sure from the description. I'm hoping it will, since it just adds the machine as a networked device, but since it's running through the USB interface, I'm not holding by breath...

[z3tech]

Thanks to both of you for the confirmation. I thought it was odd when she told me it had no lights. I've never seen any sort of networked equipment that didn't have status lights.
We've already run a brand new dedicated cable from the copier, down the hall, and back to the (also new) switch. No dice.
I have to bring my laptop to config the wifi print server when it comes, so I'll definitely try just connecting the copier directly first, as a 3rd check, but it sure seems like the copier network jack has bought the farm. :/
I'm going to try that external print server box, and hope that it allows scan to file. That's the one thing I can't tell for sure from the description. I'm hoping it will, since it just adds the machine as a networked device, but since it's running through the USB interface, I'm not holding by breath...

Scan to SMB will not work through a USB to Ethernet Print Server. The copier will not see the local network to scan to the share.

I have a working used UK-212 Kit out of a 8 series if you are interested. You can DM if you would like.

[Elmojo]

Scan to SMB will not work through a USB to Ethernet Print Server. The copier will not see the local network to scan to the share.

Well that's a major bummer.
DM incoming.

[Synthohol]

they can still scan to a USB stick and carry it back to their PC.

[rrrohan]

the real killer is scanning, printing is easy. guess you can do TWAIN scanning to a shared folder but the host pc has to request the scan as far as i know u cant push twain scans from the copier

[Elmojo]

they can still scan to a USB stick and carry it back to their PC.

Let's call that Plan C. lol

the real killer is scanning, printing is easy. guess you can do TWAIN scanning to a shared folder but the host pc has to request the scan as far as i know u cant push twain scans from the copier

Indeed. I'll look into TWAIN, thanks. That may be an option.

I've found a c654e for sale at a great price, but it's about 4hrs' drive from me. Anyone have thoughts or opinions on that machine? I know they're super heavy, but the physical size is near enough to my c308 that I think it'll fit in the same space. Are there any downfalls to the c654e that I may not be aware of? I'm just thinking about it as a backup plan, in case fixing the c308 ends up not being viable.

[Duplicator]

I've found a c654e for sale at a great price, but it's about 4hrs' drive from me. Anyone have thoughts or opinions on that machine? I know they're super heavy, but the physical size is near enough to my c308 that I think it'll fit in the same space. Are there any downfalls to the c654e that I may not be aware of? I'm just thinking about it as a backup plan, in case fixing the c308 ends up not being viable.

The C654e is near end of life. It may be hard to get new parts in the close future. Also, they are one of the oldest machines that support things like TLS1.2 for SMTP and SMB2. As soon as something else changes network security wise its very unlikely Konica is going to release a new firmware for that generation.

IMO the best way you could move forward is to preform a board swap or buy a different copier. Board swaps aren't that hard and can be done within the time it would take you to drive to go get that machine. Do they have insurance? In the past cases I've worked on I've been able to get network switches, access points, cameras, door access control card systems, and even servers covered under insurance after a lighting strike. If you can go down the insurance route maybe the customer is able to get a slightly used but newer copier (if you're lucky).

[Elmojo]

The C654e is near end of life. It may be hard to get new parts in the close future. Also, they are one of the oldest machines that support things like TLS1.2 for SMTP and SMB2. As soon as something else changes network security wise its very unlikely Konica is going to release a new firmware for that generation.

IMO the best way you could move forward is to preform a board swap or buy a different copier. Board swaps aren't that hard and can be done within the time it would take you to drive to go get that machine. Do they have insurance? In the past cases I've worked on I've been able to get network switches, access points, cameras, door access control card systems, and even servers covered under insurance after a lighting strike. If you can go down the insurance route maybe the customer is able to get a slightly used but newer copier (if you're lucky).

I's older than the c308? I swear, I can't decipher the KM model naming to save my life. ?
Can anyone help me with a "cheat sheet", or similar, that will help me figure out which models and newer/older/faster/slower?

I agree that a board swap would be good, but I haven't been able to find one for direct sale, and in speaking with my boss this morning about it, he's concerned about the downtime involved in sending ours in for repair. I'm also concerned about the fact that although I have fairly decent experience working on equipment in general, I'm not super confident that I wouldn't end up borking the repair, and leaving us with no copier at all. :/

[femaster]

I's older than the c308? I swear, I can't decipher the KM model naming to save my life. ?
Can anyone help me with a "cheat sheet", or similar, that will help me figure out which models and newer/older/faster/slower?

Don't have a cheat sheet, but the digits do mean something. This is how things break down for business class (i.e. non-pro/non-production) models:

[C]####[letter]

C = Color. (No C = B&W)
# = Either a 3 or 4 digit number.
- First 2 digits of the number indicate the speed (28 = 28 Pages /Minute, 55 = 55 P/M, etc)
- Last 1 or 2 digits (and possible letter) are the series of the machine. The smaller, desktop style, models will have the 4-digit number. ##4 = 4 series, ##4e = 4e Series, etc. These will go in order, higher number = newer model. So series order from older to newer would be: 4, 4e, 7, 8, 8e, 9. There were no 5 or 6 series released in the US. There might have been overseas, but I don't know for sure.

There is an exception to the above rule now. With the newest lines, the i-series, they are starting over again at 0, so despite that being a lower number than 4 or 8, if it has an i at the end it is newer. ##0i series is now coming to an end and the latest series, the ##1i is starting to release now.