Tag: fail

HP JetDirect 300X j3263a

I have an older HP LaserJet P2035 that I picked up a while back for like $30. The printer works great but it isn’t networked so every time something needs to be printed I have to tote the laptop into the room and hook it up via USB. Solution! An office was getting rid of a bunch of stuff recently and one of the things they got rid of was an HP JetDirect 300X j3263a. This device has a network port and a serial port that attaches to the printer.

HPJetDirect300X

Today I hooked up the JetDirect to my printer and the network. To get started I pushed the test button to get configuration info sheet printed. That much worked! I noticed that the device was already configured for a network so did some digging and found out I could factory reset the device.

  • Unplug the power from the JetDirect
  • Hold down the Test button while plugging power back in
  • Keep Holding the Test button for 30 seconds
  • Wait 10 seconds then unplug the power then plug back in (grabs an IP address from the network)
  • Wait 5 seconds after power on then press Test button (prints info sheet with IP address)

Ok so now I have a local IP address but for this to work properly I need to reserve the IP address issued in my router so that the JetDirect always has the same IP address.

Success! I setup a network printer pointed at the IP address allocated for the JetDirect. Windows discovered the LaserJet on the other end and installed with no issue. I could use it like this but I’d like to see what the new firmware would bring to the table.

Fail! I first tested to see if the JetDirect web interface was responding and it was but no options appeared. Turns out that this model uses Java and possibly some form of an ActiveX control. If this can’t be changed via a firmware update and is an issue there is always the Telnet interface on the JetDirect. Also features may not be enabled on the device.

HPJetDirectWebInterface

Fail! I tried using the HP Web JetAdmin application but couldn’t get it to work. This maybe due to compatibility issues or because of the way I have my network setup.

Success! Next attempt TelNet. I used Putty as a client. Well there’s no login, no password, no username, nothing.

  • Usernames: root, admin, administrator, supervisor
  • Default telnet password: password

Below are some TelNet Commands to either enable or disable features. Disabled = 0 & Enabled = 1.

  • ipp-config: 0 (Enable/Disable Internet Printing)
  • ftp-config: 0 (Enable/Disable FTP)
  • ews-config: 0 (Enable/Disable Embedded Web Server)
  • snmp-config: 0 (Enable/Disable Simple Network Management Protocol)
  • syslog-config: 0 (Enable/Disable server logging)
  • set-cmnty-name: (Sets SNMP community string)
  • syslog-svr: (Sets address of log server)
  • ip: (Sets IP address)
  • subnet-mask:
  • default-gw: (Default Gateway)
  • quit (save and exit)
  • exit (exit and do not save)

Success! Using an FTP client with username root and no password I was able to connect.

Download firmware from http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-bpj07429

Fail! Upgrading firmware via FTP. There’s supposed to be a folder called Download on the JetDirect via FTP but I don’t see one. Lets throw something at the wall and see if it sticks. I’ll just upload the firmware to the root directory…. and waiting. FTP errored out then telnet and web interfaced stopped responding correctly. Maybe it’s working? Everything I’ve read says that the JetDirect will automatically reboot….. Still waiting. Ok went to the printer and found that the printer was out of paper and that it had printed several messages/codes spit out blank pages leaving the printer empty. I put paper in and the JetDirect reset printing out the message below.

JetDirectFTPErrorPrintout

Fail! I attempted to the JetDirect update via TFTP with the commands below upon completion I got the message “Please wait, network upgrade will begin in a few seconds”. I used SolarWinds TFTP server on Windows 10. Nothing changes the version stays the same and the TFTP server log doesn’t show any activity from the JetDirect.

  • tftp-server:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
  • upgrade-file:300X_H0867.dld
  • upgrade

To be continued……..

How I fixed my Poweradd Solar Panel Portable Charger

Poweradd Apollo 7200mAh High Capacity Solar Panel Portable Charger
Solar type: Monocrystalline Solar Panel (highest efficiency rates)
Original Cost: $19.99 on Amazon

The other day I was very bummed to find out that my solar charging battery backup had failed and no longer charged via sun or either USB. I wrote the seller on Amazon from who I purchased the device with no answer. Considering the high failure rate I was seeing while trying to find a fix and the fact that it didn’t cost a whole lot I figured what the heck I’ll try to fix it because what’s the worst that could happen cause it’s already broken.

First problem disassembling

There are no screws so the case just snaps together? Turns out yes but there is an adhesive tab on top of the battery stuck to the back of the solar panel. Pay attention to the wires when taking apart. Loosen the case all the way around with a flat edge blade or screwdriver then pull apart at the bottom end first (opposite of USB ports).

Finding The Problem

What I think happened is that the lithium ion battery protection circuit got activated (lack of better term)? Maybe? So what I did was first check the voltage directly from the battery and got about 3vdc, then on the opposite side of the main protection circuit at about 3vdc. So the battery has a charge which means the battery didn’t fail.

Battery is good and I have voltage so did a component fail?

I decided to start bypassing voltage regulators and charging circuits using alligator clips to see if I could get the battery to turn on. In the end I hooked the voltage entering the circuit directly to the opposite side of this diode or resistor (I forgot to note it and the resolution sucks) then held down the power button. Viola I’ve got power!

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