Sharp AR-505 - AR-PB2A/AR-NC3D - No Lights on NIC & PWB not seen?

[drankinatty]

All,

I have no idea how to trouble shoot this problem. I have the AR-PB2A (N1275FC E2 COUGAR PRINTER) board with AR-NC3D Network Interface installed. The first thing I notice is that when the copier is turned on, I get no lights on the network interface (2 - green/yellow lights). I don't know if you should get lights with no cable plugged in, but when I plug a cable in, I would expect to see at least a green connection light.

The specifics of the Network Card are:

-----------------------
P/N: AR-NC3D
S/N: 875279
ROM: V5.59
CODE: 090
MAC: 0040AF6AD878

(small sticker)
P/N: 6117402
Rev: A
SVI: 08/00
-----------------------

On the Printer board, I find:

-----------------------
FLASH PWB MMK-5894V-0
(and then the other markings on the Printer board are)
N1275FC E2 COUGAR PRINTER
05821
SHARP NEP-16
-----------------------

From what I can tell, this is the normal AR-PB2A/AR-NC3D Print Controller and Network Card Combination.

I have removed the board from the copier and inspecting the motherboard wire harness behind it and the fan and all looks good. I have also inspected the pins that seat into the motherboard when the AR-PB2A/AR-NC3D is installed back into the copier and they look fine. Physically everything looks good.

What I don't know is "How do I troubleshoot this problem?" Are there other connections I should check?

I have the "Cougar 2000 Handy Guide" as well as the Service Manual and AR-PB2A Manual, but they are really no help in troubleshooting. The only reference to No lights is in the Handy Guide which simply says check power and make sure the copier is plugged in -- duh....

One other indication is that on the front panel you have the "Copy" "Print" buttons that allow you to swich between print and copy modes. When I press "Print", I get the following error that tells me the print controller isn't being seen:

"An optional Printer Board is not installed"

Ugh... Where do I start trying to figure this one out? Are there sim codes that will help? I have found a couple in the 60 range, but I'm not that familiar with them. What say the experts? I have both straight and crossover cables so I can connect my laptop to the AR-NC3D, but I'm not sure what I would do from there?

Help

[bilyahn]

Was it working before and you just got it? You can reset the NIC in system settings. If this doesn't work try a hard reset of the NIC

Remove the ARNC3D and move jumper OP2 on the AR-NC3D (also marked on nic board as FACT ), from pin 2-3 (Normal) to pin 1-2 (reset). Re-install the card and power up the Imager. The board will reset all parameters to Factory Default. This will be indicated by 3 quick green flashes of the LEDs, followed by the alternating orange and green indicators. This indicates that the unit has been reset to Factory Defaults. Turn off the power, remove NIC and restore jumper.

If this doesn't work then you probably have a corrupt ROM and you will need some additional ROMs or another machine to flash them with.

Good Luck.

Bil

If I remember correctly there should always be a yellow light on. Also is the scuzzi cable connected to the print controller properly? Correct port on the back of the machine and the right settings in sim 26?

[blackcat4866]

I seem to recall a lot of codes resulting from these print systems. I taught most of my Cougar customers to disconnect network cable, power Off/On, then after initialization is complete, plug the network cable back in. That restored printing in most cases. I think I have a good/used AR-NC3D if you think yours is faulty. Follow Bil's suggestions first. =^..^=

[drankinatty]

Was it working before and you just got it? You can reset the NIC in system settings. If this doesn't work try a hard reset of the NIC

Remove the ARNC3D and move jumper OP2 on the AR-NC3D (also marked on nic board as FACT ), from pin 2-3 (Normal) to pin 1-2 (reset). Re-install the card and power up the Imager. The board will reset all parameters to Factory Default. This will be indicated by 3 quick green flashes of the LEDs, followed by the alternating orange and green indicators. This indicates that the unit has been reset to Factory Defaults. Turn off the power, remove NIC and restore jumper.

If this doesn't work then you probably have a corrupt ROM and you will need some additional ROMs or another machine to flash them with.

Good Luck.

Bil

If I remember correctly there should always be a yellow light on. Also is the scuzzi cable connected to the print controller properly? Correct port on the back of the machine and the right settings in sim 26?

Bil,

Thank you -- I might be missing a cable altogether. On the back of the AR-PB2A (visible from the outside of the copier) you have a parallel port and a SCSI port (and the network RJ-45 port). I have NO cables whatsoever plugged into any of these at the moment. Is it supposed to have a cable connected to the SCSI port for normal operations?

When I removed the AR-PB2A and looked at the internal connection, you have a small (motherboard) inside the housing that the AR-PB2A pins plug into. Then you have a 3-4" (20-30 wire) harness that connects the motherboard to the interal workings of the copier. I presumed this is where the interface connection between the AR-PB2A print controller and the copier was made?? I'll take a picture and put them up the next time I get a chance.

This copier was purchased with the board already installed by the customer and he has never attempted to use it prior to this.

From what I can tell from reading the AR-NC3D ROM version 5.59 is current (or close to it). All references suggest a ROM version > 5.5 so this would qualify. I also have obtained a flash utility and new ROM that if worse-comes-to-worse, I can attempt later, but I wanted to exhause all possibilities before throwing caution to the wind and rolling the dice with the flash utility.

Thank you for your help and let me know on the external cable. If I do need one, I'll have to find somewhere to purchase one. Just thinking about it, I can't see where the other end of the SCSI cable would plug into, unless there is some type of gender-blender between the SCSI port and the rectangular 10-16 pin block on the back of the copier in that general area. The rectangular block is a female block that looks something like this (exact number of pins may vary):

[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]
[ ][ ]

This ring any bell. I'll have to refer to the service guide to get a proper name for it.

[drankinatty]

I seem to recall a lot of codes resulting from these print systems. I taught most of my Cougar customers to disconnect network cable, power Off/On, then after initialization is complete, plug the network cable back in. That restored printing in most cases. I think I have a good/used AR-NC3D if you think yours is faulty. Follow Bil's suggestions first. =^..^=

Thank you blackcat,

I'll follow Bil's advise and report back. If I do end up needing another one, that sounds good to me.

[blackcat4866]

Bil,

Thank you -- I might be missing a cable altogether. On the back of the AR-PB2A (visible from the outside of the copier) you have a parallel port and a SCSI port (and the network RJ-45 port). I have NO cables whatsoever plugged into any of these at the moment. Is it supposed to have a cable connected to the SCSI port for normal operations? ...

Yes, you need to have a cable connecting the print system to one of the SCSI ports in the back, then also have the correct one of the two SCSI ports enabled in simulation 26. It's very common to have the one or both ports disabled, or to have the cable plugged into the disabled port.

Get the cable first before troubleshooting any further. =^..^=

[drankinatty]

Yes, you need to have a cable connecting the print system to one of the SCSI ports in the back, then also have the correct one of the two SCSI ports enabled in simulation 26. It's very common to have the one or both ports disabled, or to have the cable plugged into the disabled port.

Get the cable first before troubleshooting any further. =^..^=

Ah hah! That makes sense now. Where would I get one of these funky scsi on one endy and block attach on the other end cables? I'll check the service manual to see if I can find a part number. If anybody has the P/N or a favorite vendor, I'd appreciate the help.

[bilyahn]

The part number for the cable appears to be QCNW-0153FCZ1 it's called a fax interface cable in the parts guide but that is the only cable that comes with this unit. The part is no longer availible from Sharp but someone might have an old one or if you have a copier wholesaler they might have one. We have pretty much recycled all of these that we get as trade-ins.

Good luck.

Bil

[drankinatty]

Bil,

Thanks again. That is the immediate problem. I don't have the SCSI cable. It took hitting me with a bat to get it to click. So what I need is the SCSI cable (male/female) that goes from either port A or port B on the back of the copier (shown as "13" in the service manual page below):

http://www.rlfpllc.com/dl/office/copiers/Sharp_AR-505/pwb-diagram-pp5-4.pdf

and the SCSI port on the AR-PB2A board

No wonder no lights were coming on I'll search for the sharp part number, but is there any reason a normal SCSI cable wouldn't work if I'm unable to find the part number? It's just a SCSI cable right? No weird proprietary re-pinning?

Thanks again.

[blackcat4866]

I haven't done much with SCSI, but IIRC this cable is unique. Use this part number from Bil's post: QCNW-0153FCZ1

Try here: http://www.precisionroller.com/qcnw-...rt_number.html
=^..^=

[drankinatty]

So I guess that would actually be a HD50 male/male SCSI cable that is needed...

[drankinatty]

Got it, thanks - must be unique for $100

[drankinatty]

I'm going to experiment. Triplite makes a HD50 pin M/M external SCSI peripheral connect cable available through Amazon for .99 (5.98 shipping). So for a total of $6.98 we will test whether this is a normal SCSI cable before plunking down the $100 for the "Sharp" HD50 M/M interface cable. I'll report back

[drankinatty]

I'll be danged!! You guys are great! That .97 cent 50HD male/male SCSI cable did it!

I hooked the SCSI cable to Port 'A' and the other end to the AR-PB2A SCSI port. Entered Sim 26-44, and set Port 'A' to '1' and then exited the simulation.

I checked and the green light was on on the AR-NC3D network interface. I then went to get a network cable to plug it into the wall. As I'm walking away from the copier -- it magically spits out a single sheet of paper with the:

Unit Serial No: Version: 05.59
Network Address:
Network Topology: Ethernet Connector: RJ45
Network Speed: 10 Megabits
Novell Network Information
Print Server Name: SHARP
<snip remainder>

That's fantastic. I guess it's working. I'll still need to set the network address and change the print server name -- but this is a home run with a 97 cent SCSI cable

One question I have is whether I have set the sim 26-44 code correctly. You have 4 choices of the decimal value to enter for Port 'A':

0: no 1: PRT 3: EXT PRT 8: T-A

I currently have it set as '1', and it appears for all purposes to be working, but I'm curious what '3' and '8' are. Any ideas? (for now I'm happy to leave well enough alone and just finish the network configuration)

Let me know if I should set something different and -- thank you all for your help.

[drankinatty]

I'll be danged!! You guys are great! That .97 cent 50HD male/male SCSI cable did it!

<snip>

I currently have it set as '1', and it appears for all purposes to be working, but I'm curious what '3' and '8' are. Any ideas? (for now I'm happy to leave well enough alone and just finish the network configuration)

Let me know if I should set something different and -- thank you all for your help.

Found it! Page 7-30 of the Service Manual:

0: No Connection
1: Printer Controller
3: External Printer Controller (not used)
4: Scanner Controller (not used)
8: Tandem connection (initiator)
10: Tandem connection (target)

Thanks again for all your help. Now all I got to do is figure out how to set the IP and change the Print Server name