Getting a Sharp AR-405 with AR-PB2A to print from Snow Leopard

Question

I made this work, and thought I'd share (after not being able to, and going over these boards).
Maybe I can help someone else...
Backstory: This is $12,000 printer circa 1999/2000, and not so easily replaced off the shelf! The AR-PB2A is a networking box attached to the machine that allows it to use several protocols, and adds features. It has a parallel port as well.
I'd gotten a new MBP 2 months ago with OSX 10.5.6 (to start the move from OS9) and thought I'd die when it wouldn't print (but the gimp folks helped out). Sharp no longer supports this model, and judging by the printer list from Apple, they don't support this OS either. Last week, we added an imac, which came pre-loaded with Snow Leopard.
Imagine my horror on the "no appletalk" issue!
Long-term, printer-sharing isn't going to cut it. This printer may outlast a few system revisions yet.
After many restarts, and crashing the printer dozens of times, here's what works.
All you need is a PPD file that works from an earlier system.
This works for both 10.5.8--10.6.1 ... it may work on earlier OS X versions. It may help for other Sharp AR series printers of this vintage.
1. Go to the printer interface, and set the printer's IP number if it hasn't already been set. Refer to the AR-PB2A manual if you need to figure out how to get to the right panel and what I type below makes no sense:
A.If the printer is online, toggle the button to OFFLINE.Click the "MENU" button on the lower right. Navigate to TCP/IP settings.
B.Make sure the printer's IP number is set to your LAN network (ie 192.168.1.xx)
Pick that last number to be one not already used on your network/LAN.
C.Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0
D.**Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1
E.Close the settings panels, and shut off the printer and let it sit a couple minutes, then restart.
** -ROUTER address actually. Not being a network guru, this alternative terminology stumped me for awhile
2.Print a NIC page (startup page with the network info on it). If it doesn't auto-print one on startup, go into the printer's panels and either set it to print or tell it to do so now. (Default PW for the "key operator" thing in case you're interested is 00000. If it's been changed, you'll need to know what it was changed to.)
My printer was never set to be on TCP/IP network, we only recently were able to migrate to DSL, router etc. (We left the appletalk settings intact, and the appletalk-capable machines still print to it fine.)
3. When the machine is up and running again, try to access it with a web browser. Just type in the IP # of the machine into your browser. It should bring up a web page. If not, check the IP to be sure it's correct. This will help verify that the printer is accessible.
If you are successful, you'll be presented with some settings pages. Here you can poke around and see all what you can change (including the IP#).
4. HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART:
The default PORT is 10001. CUPS wants to default to port 631. You can't set this printer's port to 631 (but you can set it between 10001 and 6xxxx). Just leave it. This port number will be shown at the bottom of the NIC printout page, under
"TCP/IP Connection Information
Port Number : 10001"
If you need or wish to change any settings via the web access pages, you'll need a PW. For this particular model, default is "sysadm". There is no place to input a user name, so other "default Sharp" pw's don't work Although, they may work for other sharp models.
5. Now the big fun:
System Prefs > Printers & Fax > click the + to add a new printer
Click the IP printer button at the top.
Drop down menu has three options:
Line Printer Daemon
Internet Printing Protocol
HP DirectJet - Socket
Select HP DIRECTJET-SOCKET
(the other two crashed my printer every time, causing it to be shut off and sometimes the settings completely redone)
In the first line, type in the IP of the printer followed with the port--
Here's my own example:
192.168.1.195:10001
If the port number is not there, it will not print.
(be sure to match the IP number to your network and what you set the printer to)
Leave the next line Blank.
The 3rd line down (Printer Name) starts out with the basic IP number. Give this printer a sensible name here.
Location line: Name it or leave it blank
Drop down menu at the bottom, go look for your PPD file. (if you can't find it now, you can reset it later). It should default to "Generic..."
This will bring up a dialog with a progress bar, you can wait for that to finish or click configure. Set the printer's options regarding memory, trays, duplex module etc.
Click "Add" at the bottom of the panel.
The printer should now show up in your Printers & Fax panel, and be available.
Try a test print.
Notes: I can't figure out how to rename a printer once it's been set up. If you don't set the name when you add the printer, you won't be able to later (although the unix folks might know the way around that). Otherwise, you'll end up with the IP# as the printer name. If you don't like this, delete and set it up again (naming the printer).
Presently, on this 10.5.8 machine, I have this printer set up to print via AppleTalk and as an IP printer (both are listed printers now). I can print to either one from this machine. But only the IP printer version (via HP JetDirect-Socket) works on the 10.6 machine.
I write this in hopes it helps someone else in some way. Maybe you too can save 10 hours, when it can be done in about 10 minutes (less if your printer is actually in the same room as your computer!) Who knew that "HP JetDirect" would work when the other two more "obvious" choices for a Sharp printer would crash it? Ha!
Now, we're off to get some ancient Epson LQ-570+ online. We've managed to get one to work on 10.5.8 ... and therefore, we are hopeful! Anyone remember PowerPrint LT and the dongles?? Mwah ha ha ha... yes the insanity continues....
--Ky

Answer 1

I made this work, and thought I'd share (after not being able to, and going over these boards).
Maybe I can help someone else...
Backstory: This is $12,000 printer circa 1999/2000, and not so easily replaced off the shelf! The AR-PB2A is a networking box attached to the machine that allows it to use several protocols, and adds features. It has a parallel port as well.
I'd gotten a new MBP 2 months ago with OSX 10.5.6 (to start the move from OS9) and thought I'd die when it wouldn't print (but the gimp folks helped out). Sharp no longer supports this model, and judging by the printer list from Apple, they don't support this OS either. Last week, we added an imac, which came pre-loaded with Snow Leopard.
Imagine my horror on the "no appletalk" issue!
Long-term, printer-sharing isn't going to cut it. This printer may outlast a few system revisions yet.
After many restarts, and crashing the printer dozens of times, here's what works.
All you need is a PPD file that works from an earlier system.
This works for both 10.5.8--10.6.1 ... it may work on earlier OS X versions. It may help for other Sharp AR series printers of this vintage.
1. Go to the printer interface, and set the printer's IP number if it hasn't already been set. Refer to the AR-PB2A manual if you need to figure out how to get to the right panel and what I type below makes no sense:
A.If the printer is online, toggle the button to OFFLINE.Click the "MENU" button on the lower right. Navigate to TCP/IP settings.
B.Make sure the printer's IP number is set to your LAN network (ie 192.168.1.xx)
Pick that last number to be one not already used on your network/LAN.
C.Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0
D.**Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1
E.Close the settings panels, and shut off the printer and let it sit a couple minutes, then restart.
** -ROUTER address actually. Not being a network guru, this alternative terminology stumped me for awhile
2.Print a NIC page (startup page with the network info on it). If it doesn't auto-print one on startup, go into the printer's panels and either set it to print or tell it to do so now. (Default PW for the "key operator" thing in case you're interested is 00000. If it's been changed, you'll need to know what it was changed to.)
My printer was never set to be on TCP/IP network, we only recently were able to migrate to DSL, router etc. (We left the appletalk settings intact, and the appletalk-capable machines still print to it fine.)
3. When the machine is up and running again, try to access it with a web browser. Just type in the IP # of the machine into your browser. It should bring up a web page. If not, check the IP to be sure it's correct. This will help verify that the printer is accessible.
If you are successful, you'll be presented with some settings pages. Here you can poke around and see all what you can change (including the IP#).
4. HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART:
The default PORT is 10001. CUPS wants to default to port 631. You can't set this printer's port to 631 (but you can set it between 10001 and 6xxxx). Just leave it. This port number will be shown at the bottom of the NIC printout page, under
"TCP/IP Connection Information
Port Number : 10001"
If you need or wish to change any settings via the web access pages, you'll need a PW. For this particular model, default is "sysadm". There is no place to input a user name, so other "default Sharp" pw's don't work Although, they may work for other sharp models.
5. Now the big fun:
System Prefs > Printers & Fax > click the + to add a new printer
Click the IP printer button at the top.
Drop down menu has three options:
Line Printer Daemon
Internet Printing Protocol
HP DirectJet - Socket
Select HP DIRECTJET-SOCKET
(the other two crashed my printer every time, causing it to be shut off and sometimes the settings completely redone)
In the first line, type in the IP of the printer followed with the port--
Here's my own example:
192.168.1.195:10001
If the port number is not there, it will not print.
(be sure to match the IP number to your network and what you set the printer to)
Leave the next line Blank.
The 3rd line down (Printer Name) starts out with the basic IP number. Give this printer a sensible name here.
Location line: Name it or leave it blank
Drop down menu at the bottom, go look for your PPD file. (if you can't find it now, you can reset it later). It should default to "Generic..."
This will bring up a dialog with a progress bar, you can wait for that to finish or click configure. Set the printer's options regarding memory, trays, duplex module etc.
Click "Add" at the bottom of the panel.
The printer should now show up in your Printers & Fax panel, and be available.
Try a test print.
Notes: I can't figure out how to rename a printer once it's been set up. If you don't set the name when you add the printer, you won't be able to later (although the unix folks might know the way around that). Otherwise, you'll end up with the IP# as the printer name. If you don't like this, delete and set it up again (naming the printer).
Presently, on this 10.5.8 machine, I have this printer set up to print via AppleTalk and as an IP printer (both are listed printers now). I can print to either one from this machine. But only the IP printer version (via HP JetDirect-Socket) works on the 10.6 machine.
I write this in hopes it helps someone else in some way. Maybe you too can save 10 hours, when it can be done in about 10 minutes (less if your printer is actually in the same room as your computer!) Who knew that "HP JetDirect" would work when the other two more "obvious" choices for a Sharp printer would crash it? Ha!
Now, we're off to get some ancient Epson LQ-570+ online. We've managed to get one to work on 10.5.8 ... and therefore, we are hopeful! Anyone remember PowerPrint LT and the dongles?? Mwah ha ha ha... yes the insanity continues....
--Ky