AR-PB2 (serv.man8). Including ARPB2a queries) - Sharp Copying Equipment FAQ (repair manual). Page 13

 ARPB2FAQ v3.doc  

- 14 -

    03/07/00

A.  The AR-PB2a is an enhanced version of the AR-PB2 & ARPB2+ Printer Board released to

support the AR287/337/407/507. The hardware is identical but the firmware is different. Existing
AR-PB2 Printer Boards can be upgraded to an AR-PB2a through a simple flash memory
upgrade. The BOOT flash memory needs to be updated to v2.04 and the Program/Font flash
memory to v4.37. The ARPB2a has now replaced the ARPB2+.

There are important points that you should be aware of:

•  Only the ARPB2a can be installed in an AR287/337/407/507.  If an ARPB2 or ARPB2+ is

installed, an “F9” error will occur.

•  An existing ARPB2 or ARPB2+ installed in an AR250/280/285/286/335/336/405/505 can

be upgraded into an ARPB2a. The Boot & Program /Font firmware within the printer board
will require updating to Boot v2.04 and Program/Font v4.37.  This is advisable as you then
benefit from any bug fixes that are included in the later firmware and v4 printer drivers.

•  When upgrading the printer board firmware to v2.04/4.37 it is very important to follow the

correct upgrade instructions. Please ensure you download and read the new modified
Flash Upgrade procedure. If the correct upgrade procedure is not followed, the
printer board could be made unusable and re-flashing is then impossible.

•  The ARPB2a firmware can be downloaded from the Sharp Technical Web site and can be

found in the Copier/ARProduct/ARPB2a area.

•  The updated v4 printer drivers should be used in conjunction with the ARPB2a printer

board.

•  Previous versions of printer driver must be removed prior to the installation of the

new v4 driver. Version 2 and version 3 drivers will conflict and may cause unpredictable
results.

•  To obtain the advanced features of the ARPB2a, the ARNC3D Network Card firmware

must also be upgraded to v5.55a. This firmware is included on the ARPB2a CDRom or can
be downloaded with the instructions from the Copier/ARProduct/NC3D area of the Sharp
Technical Web.

•  All ARPB2 stock has been updated and so only the ARPB2a can now be purchased.

A.    

T

T

h

h

e

e

 

 

C

C

D

D

 

 

t

t

h

h

a

a

t

t

 

 

a

a

c

c

c

c

o

o

m

m

p

p

a

a

n

n

i

i

e

e

s

s

 

 

t

t

h

h

e

e

 

 

A

A

R

R

P

P

B

B

2

2

a

a contains the following updated print drivers & utilities;

•  PCL5e, PCL6, and PS2 (Version 4) printer drivers

•  Printer Administration Utility v2.3

•  Status Monitor v2

•  Windows 2000 PPD’s

When the ARPB2a is fitted to the AR287/337/407/507 the following additional advanced features
can also be utilised;

• Secure 

Printing

• Confidential 

Printing

• Print 

Job 

Auditing

•  Tandem Printing ** (not AR287)

• Status/Alerts 

By 

Email

•  Internal Network Scanning (with additional ARNS1 & additional 32MB RAM)