Page 1
User’s Guide
PB50 Mobile Label
Printer
Page 2
Intermec Technologies Corporation
Worldwide Headquarters
6001 36th Ave.W.
Everett, WA 98203
U.S.A.
www.intermec.com
The information contained herein is provided solely for the purpose of allowing customers to
operate and service Intermec-manufactured equipment and is not to be released, reproduced, or
used for any other purpose without written permission of Intermec Technologies Corporation.
Information and specifications contained in this document are subject to change without prior
notice and do not represent a commitment on the part of Intermec Technologies Corporation.
© 2007 by Intermec Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved.
The word Intermec, the Intermec logo, Norand, ArciTech, Beverage Routebook, CrossBar,
dcBrowser, Duratherm, EasyADC, EasyCoder, EasySet, Fingerprint, i-gistics, INCA (under
license), Intellitag, Intellitag Gen2, JANUS, LabelShop, MobileLAN, Picolink, Ready-to-Work,
RoutePower, Sabre, ScanPlus, ShopScan, Smart Mobile Computing, SmartSystems, TE 2000,
Trakker Antares, and Vista Powered are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Intermec
Technologies Corporation.
There are U.S. and foreign patents as well as U.S. and foreign patents pending.
Wi-Fi is a registered certification mark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Bluetooth is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc., U.S.A.
ii PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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Contents
Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Global Services and Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Web Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Telephone Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Service Location Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Who Should Read This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Related Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1
Learning About the PB50 Mobile Label Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Identifying the Parts of the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Understanding the Printer Firmware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Understanding the Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Understanding the Printer Sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Understanding the Backlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Using the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Installing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Charging the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Understanding the Battery Icons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Extending Battery Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Contents
Loading Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Printing a Testprint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Configuring the PB50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
2
Configuring the PB50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Understanding the Display Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Understanding Ready Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Understanding Information Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Understanding Pause Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Understanding Setup Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Understanding Error Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Understanding Test Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Changing Configuration Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Changing Configuration Settings From the Display. . . . . . . . . . . 21
Changing Configuration Settings From PrintSet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide iii
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Contents
Changing Configuration Settings Using the Command Line . . . 23
Changing Configuration Settings From the Printer Home
Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Changing Configuration Settings From SmartSystems
Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Establishing Communications With a Host. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Setting Up Bluetooth Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Setting Up 802.11 Radio Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Configuring Wireless Printing Using IPL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Configuring Wireless Printing Using Fingerprint . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Setting Up USB Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Setting Up Serial Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Upgrading the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Downloading Fonts and Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PB50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
3
Troubleshooting the PB50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Contacting Product Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Understanding Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Troubleshooting Printer Problems and Finding Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Troubleshooting Communication Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Using the Line Analyzer in Fingerprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Using Dump Mode in IPL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Cold Booting the PB50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Cleaning the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
A
Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Accessories for the PB50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
IPL and Fingerprint Setup Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
B
IPL Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Fingerprint Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
iv PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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Before You Begin
This section provides you with safety information, technical
support information, and sources for additional product
information.
Safety Information
Your safety is extremely important. Read and follow all warnings
and cautions in this document before handling and operating
Intermec equipment. You can be seriously injured, and
equipment and data can be damaged if you do not follow the
safety warnings and cautions.
This section explains how to identify and understand warnings,
cautions, and notes that are used in this document.
A warning alerts you of an operating procedure, practice,
condition, or statement that must be strictly observed to avoid
death or serious injury to the persons working on the
equipment.
A caution alerts you to an operating procedure, practice,
condition, or statement that must be strictly observed to
prevent equipment damage or destruction, or corruption or
loss of data.
Before You Begin
Note: Notes either provide extra information about a topic or
contain special instructions for handling a particular condition or
set of circumstances.
Global Services and Support
Warranty Information
To understand the warranty for your Intermec product, visit the
Intermec web site at www.intermec.com and click Support >
Returns and Repairs > Warranty.
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide v
Page 6
Before You Begin
Web Support
Visit the Intermec web site at www.intermec.com to download
our current manuals (in PDF). To order printed versions of the
Intermec manuals, contact your local Intermec representative or
distributor.
Visit the Intermec technical knowledge base (Knowledge
Central) at intermec.custhelp.com to review technical
information or to request technical support for your Intermec
product.
Telephone Support
These services are available from Intermec.
In the USA and
Canada call 1-800755-5505 and
Services Description
choose this option
Order Intermec
products
Order Intermec
media
Order spare
parts
Te c h n i ca l
Support
Service • Get a return authorization
Service contracts • Ask about an existing
• Place an order.
• Ask about an existing
order.
Order printer labels and
ribbons.
Order spare parts. 1 or 2 and then
Talk to technical support
about your Intermec
product.
number for authorized
service center repair.
• Request an on-site repair
technician.
contract.
•Renew a contract.
• Inquire about repair
billing or other service
invoicing questions.
1 and then choose 2
1 and then choose 1
choose 4
2 and then choose 2
2 and then choose 1
1 or 2 and then
choose 3
vi PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
Page 7
Before You Begin
Outside the U.S.A. and Canada, contact your local Intermec
representative. To search for your local representative, from the
Intermec web site, click Contact Us.
Service Location Support
For technical support in South Korea, use the after service
locations listed below:
AWOO Systems
102-1304 SK Ventium
522 Dangjung-dong
Gunpo-si, Gyeonggi-do Korea, South 435-776
Contact: Mr. Sinbum Kang
Telephone: +82-31-436-1191
Email: sbkang@awoo.co.kr
Sammi Information Systems Co Ltd
7-9FL, Seo Jo Building
103-15, Galwor-Dong
Seoul, Yong San-ku Korea, South 140-807
Contact: Kyung-Hee Koo
Telephone: +82-2-790-5508
Email: jlovekoo@sammicomputer.co.kr
Who Should Read This Manual
This user’s guide is for the person who is responsible for
installing, configuring, and maintaining the PB50 printer.
This guide provides you with information about the features of
the PB50, and how to install, configure, operate, maintain, and
troubleshoot it.
Before you work with the PB50, you should be familiar with your
network and general networking terms, such as IP address.
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide vii
Page 8
Before You Begin
Related Documents
This table contains a list of related Intermec documents and their
part numbers.
Document Title Part Number
Intermec Fingerprint Programmer’s Reference
Manual
Intermec Printer Language (IPL) Developer’s
Guide
Intermec Printer Language (IPL) Command
Reference Manual
937-005-xxx
934-013-xxx
937-007-xxx
The Intermec web site at www.intermec.com contains our
documents (as PDF files) that you can download for free.
To d ownloa d docume nts
1 Visit the Intermec web site at www.intermec.com.
2 Click Support > Manuals.
3 In the Select a Product field, choose the product whose
documentation you want to download.
To order printed versions of the Intermec manuals, contact your
local Intermec representative or distributor.
viii PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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1
Using the PB50 Mobile Label
Printer
Use this chapter to familiarize yourself with the PB50 Mobile
Label Printer. In this chapter you will find these sections:
• Learning About the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
• Using the Batteries
• Loading Media
• Printing a Testprint
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 1
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Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
Learning About the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
The PB50 is a rugged direct thermal label and receipt printer that
is designed for use with the CK31, 700 series, CK61, CN2B,
CN3, and CN3e mobile computers as well as the SF51 and SR61
scanners. The PB50 provides:
• print resolution of 203 dpi.
• print speeds of up to 100 mm per second (4 ips).
• 802.11 or Bluetooth radio options.
Identifying the Parts of the Printer
Use this illustrations to familiarize yourself with some of the
features of the PB50.
Self-strip
door
Media cover
release button
Control panel
Ready-to-Work
indicator
PB50 Printer: This illustration shows the important features of the PB50
printer. A weather-resistant flap protects the communications ports and the
external power connector.
Communications port
Understanding the Printer Firmware
Your PB50 printer comes with either Intermec Printer Language
(IPL) or Fingerprint firmware. The choice of firmware affects the
functionality of the printer and how you interact with it. This
manual contains information for using both types of printer
firmware.
2 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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The current firmware type and version display on the PB50
screen when the printer is in Ready mode.
SETUP:
IPL 11.1.0
SER-COM
The screen of a PB50 running IPL firmware
Understanding the Control Panel
The PB50 control panel contains four buttons, a liquid crystal
display (LCD), and one LED indicator. Use the four buttons to
navigate the menu system and perform functions on the PB50
printer. See the following tables to understand the buttons, the
menu system, and what the LED means.
Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
Feed button
SETUP:
SER-COM
Standby button
Ready-to-Work
indicator
PB50 Control Panel: Use this illustration to familiarize yourself with the
buttons and lights on the PB50.
Setup button
Info button
Understanding How to Use the PB50 Buttons
Button
Name
Feed Press to advance label or receipt paper. The
Button Function
amount of media that feeds is dependent on the
type of media you are using. It will advance by 5
mm (0.2 inch), feed out an entire label, or feed a
configured length of media based on your media
and settings.
If the printer is printing, pressing this button
causes the printer to pause. Press the button
again to resume printing.
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 3
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Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
Understanding How to Use the PB50 Buttons (continued)
Button
Name
Setup Press to display the Setup menu.
Button Function
Standby
(Power)
Info Press to display a summary of network
Press to put the printer in Standby mode. In
Standby mode, power to the radio, the display,
and the backlight are turned off.
Press to turn the printer back on and put in
Ready mode.
connection information and error conditions.
Each setting in the summary information
displays on the screen for five seconds.
All of the buttons can act as “soft keys,” which means that the
function of each button depends on the state of the printer. A
small icon appears in the screen next to the button to indicate the
function it performs.
Understanding the Soft Keys
Button Soft Keys Description
• Moves up one level in the menu system.
This soft key appears in Setup mode.
• Increases the value of a number when
editing settings such as an IP address.
This soft key appears in Setup mode.
• Pauses the printing job. This icon
appears only when you are printing.
Exit Setup mode and return to Ready mode.
Moves through the settings at the same level
in the menu system.
• Moves down one level in the menu
system and saves changes to a setting.
• Exits a printing job or exits Information
mode.
4 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
There is only one LED on the PB50 printer: the Ready-toWork™ indicator.
Understanding the Ready-to-Work Indicator
Indicator State Description
Off The PB50 is in Standby mode.
On The PB50 is powered on and operating.
Blinking A blinking light can mean one of several
Understanding the Printer Sounds
The PB50 plays sounds in response to several actions that you
can take with the printer. Use the following table to understand
when the sounds occur and what they mean.
conditions:
• The printer is out of paper.
• The media cover is open.
• There is a printer error that requires you to
perform an action. For a list of possible
problems, see “Troubleshooting the PB50” on
page 38.
Understanding the Printer Sounds
Sound Occurs When:
Power • You insert a battery in the printer.
• The PB50 starts charging the battery.
• You plug in the AC adaptor.
Hardware You open the media door, close the media door, or
insert a cable.
Button You press any of the PB50 buttons.
Error • The printer cannot feed paper or print a job
because of a hardware issue such as the media
door open, a paper jam, or there is no media.
• An error occurs such as a paper jam, a print
error, or the printer is out of range.
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 5
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Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
Understanding the Backlight
The screen backlight on the PB50 behaves the same way as a
screensaver on your PC. After a set amount of time elapses
without any user interaction, the backlight goes off. The screen
backlight turns on when:
• the printer begins printing.
• you press a button.
• you connect the printer to external power.
• you are communicating with or sending data to the printer.
You can change the amount of time to have elapse before the
backlight turns off using the Setup menu. Options for backlight
are always off, always on, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30
seconds, or 60 seconds.
Using the Batteries
The PB50 uses a rechargeable 2200 mAh lithium-ion battery
(Model AB13) for power. You must fully charge the battery
before you can use the PB50. A fully charged battery can last up
to one week without needing to be recharged when the printer is
in Standby mode.
Use Intermec Model AB13 battery only. Use of another
battery may present a risk of fire or explosion.
The Model AB13 battery may present a fire or chemical burn
hazard if mistreated. Do not disassemble, heat above 100°C
(212°F), or incinerate.
Dispose of used batteries promptly. Keep away from children.
6 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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Installing the Battery
Make sure you fully charge the battery before you use your PB50.
You can charge the battery before or after you install them into
the PB50.
To install the battery
1 Lay the PB50 upside down on a flat surface.
2 Insert the battery with the tab facing away from the front
Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
control panel.
3 Insert the edge of the battery under the lip of the PB50 and
then push down until you hear the battery latch click.
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 7
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Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
Charging the Batteries
There are two ways to charge the PB50 battery:
• Connect AC power to the printer and charge the battery
while it is in the PB50.
• Charge the battery in the AC18 4-bay battery charger.
For information on charging your battery in the 4-bay battery
charger, see the AC18 4-Bay Battery Charger Instructions
(P/N 943-128-xxx).
It takes approximately 6 hours to charge the battery while it is
installed in the PB50 printer. To charge the battery inside the
PB50, you need:
• an Intermec 12 VDC power supply (Model AE19).
•an AC power cord.
To charge the battery inside the PB50
1 Install the battery in the PB50. For help, see the previous
section, “Installing the Battery” on page 7.
2 Connect the power supply to the DC power connector on the
printer.
3 Connect one end of the power cord to the power supply and
then plug the other end into an AC outlet.
Understanding the Battery Icons
The easiest way to tell the status of your battery is to look at the
battery icons on the control panel of the PB50.
Battery Icon Status
Icon Status
Battery is fully charged.
Battery has a medium charge. You should be able to work
for several more hours before charging or replacing the
battery.
Battery is low. You need to replace the battery soon.
Battery is critically low. You need to replace the battery
now.
8 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
Page 17
Battery Icon Status (continued)
Icon Status
Extending Battery Life
Here are some tips for extending the overall life of your battery:
• Never expose the battery to direct sunlight or temperatures
• Only charge the battery inside the PB50 using a power supply
• Do not set the backlight to always on. The always on setting
Here are some tips for extending the life of your battery between
charges:
Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
Battery charging error. You may need to replace the
battery.
External power connected and there is no battery in the
printer.
over 40°C (104°F).
or in the 4-bay battery charger (Model AC18).
disabled automatic power saving modes.
• Press the Standby button to put the printer in Standby mode.
• Remove the battery from the printer if you will not be using it
for three days or more.
• Do not operate the PB50 in extremely cold temperatures.
Using the PB50 in temperatures below freezing reduces the
overall battery life.
Remember that any rechargeable battery loses its ability to
maintain a charge over time. You can only recharge it a finite
number of times before you must replace it.
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 9
Page 18
Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
Loading Media
You can use roll or fanfold receipt media with the PB50 printer.
The PB50 ships with a small amount of media loaded and a test
page printed to verify that the printer works. The PB50 supports
self-strip printing applications. For information on how to
correctly load media for self-strip printing, see “To load media
for self-strip printing” on page 12. For information on media
specifications, see “Specifications” on page 48.
To l oad med ia
1 Press down on the blue media cover release button until the
cover releases.
2 Press down on the media adjust guide and slide the two media
supports apart.
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Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
3 Insert a roll of media and press the media adjust guide until
the roll is held firmly in place. Make sure you load the media
clockwise so that it pulls off the core from the bottom of the
printer.
4 Pull out approximately 8 cm (3 inches) of the media.
5 Close the media cover until it latches. The printer emits the
hardware sound to tell you that the media door closed
correctly.
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Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
6 Press down on the self-strip door to make sure the media
cover is completely latched.
7 Press the Feed button to advance the media.
To load media for self-strip printing
1 Complete Steps 1 through 4 in the previous procedure.
2 Open the self-strip door in the media cover.
Self-strip
door
Self-strip
bar
3 Remove a label from the roll of media so that you are left with
several inches of label liner.
12 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
4 Feed the label liner over the self-strip bar and out the back of
the self-strip door.
5 Close the media cover until it latches and press down on the
self-strip door to make sure it locks.
Printing a Testprint
After you have loaded media in the printer, you are ready to print
a testprint. You can choose from several testprint options for each
type of firmware. If you cannot get the testprint information to
print, see “Troubleshooting the PB50” on page 38.
To print a test print with a PB50 loaded with IPL firmware
1 Press the Setup button.
2 Press until you reach Te s t / S e r v i c e .
3 Press to enter the Test/Service menu system.
4 Press to enter the Testprint Config menu.
5 Press to enter the Config menu.
6 Press to choose a testprint.
7 Press to print the Config testprint of your choice.
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Chapter 1 — Using the PB50 Mobile Label Printer
To print a testprint with a PB50 loaded with Fingerprint firmware
1 Press the Setup button.
2 Press until you reach Print Defs.
3 Press to enter the Print Defs menu system.
4 Press until you reach Te s t p r i n t .
5 Press to enter the Testprint menu.
6 Press to choose a testprint.
7 Press to print the testprint of your choice.
14 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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2
In this chapter you will find these sections:
•Configuring the PB50
• Establishing Communications With a Host
• Upgrading the Firmware
• Downloading Fonts and Graphics
Configuring the PB50
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 15
Page 24
Chapter 2 — Configuring the PB50
Configuring the PB50
You can change the configuration settings of the PB50 printer
directly from the display, by sending commands from your PC,
by using the web pages, or remotely from the SmartSystems
console.
For more information on the IPL and Fingerprint menu systems,
see“IPL and Fingerprint Setup Menus” on page 53.
Understanding the Display Modes
The PB50 has six display modes to help you effectively interact
with the printer: Ready, Information, Paused, Setup, Error, and
Test. Use the following sections to understand the different
printer modes
Understanding Ready Mode
The printer is in Ready mode when the printer is on and ready to
print. The main screen displays the power status, the radio status,
and the printer language and version.
SETUP:
IPL 11.1.0
SER-COM
The PB50 in Ready Mode
Understanding Information Mode
When the printer is in Information mode, it displays a subset of
pertinent information about the printer. If the printer
experienced an error, the error message displays first followed by
the printer information. Each message displays on the screen for
five seconds. After five seconds on the last information screen, the
printer exits Information mode.
SETUP:
I/O serial 5
SER-COM
8N1 9600
The PB50 in Information Mode
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To enter Information mode
•Press the Information button on the control panel.
Understanding Pause Mode
Use Pause mode to momentarily stop printing or to cancel a
current print job. Once you pause the printer, the Pause mode
screen appears. Use the Feed button to both pause and resume
printing.
PAUS E
The PB50 in Pause Mode
X
To enter Pause mode
•Press the Feed button while the printer is printing.
To resume printing
•Press the Feed button (or soft key).
To cancel a print job
1 Press the Feed button to pause printing.
2 Press the Information button (or soft key) to cancel the
print job.
Understanding Setup Mode
Use Setup mode to change the settings on the printer.
Sample Setup Mode Screen
To enter or exit Setup mode
•Press the Setup button.
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Once you enter Setup mode, there are two editing modes: normal
and enhanced.
Editing Settings in Setup Mode
Editing Mode To Navigate To Accept Value
Normal • Press to move among
Enhanced • Press to move within the
Normal Editing Mode: In normal editing mode, you see an up arrow and a
right arrow for making selections.
Press .
choices.
• Press to go up a level in
menu system.
Press .
editable fields. When the
field blinks, you can edit it.
• Press to increase the
value of the field.
BAUDRATE:
9600
+
IP ADDRESS:
130.42.240.102
Enhanced Editing Mode: In enhanced editing mode you have a plus sign and
a right arrow to change the value of numeric fields.
Understanding Error Mode
The printer enters Error mode when it detects an error condition
such as a low battery or a paper fault. Some error messages appear
on the screen immediately when they occur, such as DOOR
OPEN. Other error messages do not appear until you press the
Information button. If there is more than one error at a given
time, the errors display in the order that they occurred.
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PAPER FAULT
Sample Error Mode Screen
If you encounter an error message, see “Understanding Error
Messages” on page 38 for information on how to fix the
problem.
Understanding Test Mode
Use Test mode to verify printer settings, print test labels, restore
factory default settings, or enter Dump mode for troubleshooting
purposes. Two test modes are available: Test mode and Extended
Tes t mo de .
Using Test Mode
Test mode is a simple sequence of events which requires little user
interaction. Extended Test mode requires more user interaction
and lets you choose which actions you want the printer to
perform.
To e nter Tes t mode
1 Make sure the printer is in Ready mode and is loaded with
media.
2 Press the Feed and Standby buttons at the same time and
hold until Select Media appears on the screen and it displays
the type of media you are using.
3 Release both buttons. The printer performs a test feed (sensor
calibration), prints a series of test labels, and then enters
Dump mode.
The printer is now in Dump mode and it scans the
communication ports. Any characters received on the
communication ports are printed.
4 Press Feed to exit Dump mode.
After you exit Dump mode, the printer returns to Ready mode.
For more information on Dump mode, see “Troubleshooting
Communication Problems” on page 42.
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Using Extended Test Mode
Use Extended Test mode to run additional diagnostic tests,
including printing specific test labels, entering Dump mode, and
resetting to factory defaults.
Sample Extended Test Mode Scree
To enter Extended Test mode
1 Make sure that the printer is loaded with media.
2 Press the media cover release button to open the media cover.
3 Press the Standby button to turn the printer off.
4 Press Feed and Standby buttons at the same time until
CLOSE PRINTER DOOR appears on the screen.
5 Close the media cover. You are now in Extended Test mode.
• Press to cycle through the options.
TEST LABELS
CHESS
• Press to select a test option.
•Press to exit Extended Test mode.
Options in Extended Test Mode
Function Description
Select Media This option is almost the same as the process
in Test mode, except that the printer performs
a slow test feed in Extended Test mode. The
slow test feed enables the printer to perform a
slow sensor calibration which can help resolve
gap or mark detection problems.
Tes t L ab e ls This option allows you to print test labels one
at a time. Press to print the next label.
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Options in Extended Test Mode (continued)
Function Description
Dump Mode This options enters Dump mode. For more
Factory Default This option restores the factory default
Setup and Exit This option exits Extended Test mode and
Exit This option exits Extended Test mode.
Changing Configuration Settings
There are several ways you can change the configuration settings
of the printer. You can change the configuration settings:
•from the display.
• from the host PC using PrintSet.
Chapter 2 — Configuring the PB50
information
“Troubleshooting Communication
Problems” on page 42.
settings. Press to select this option and
then follow the instructions on the screen.
puts the printer in Setup mode.
on Dump mode, see
• from the host PC using the command line.
• from the printer home page.
• from the SmartSystems Console.
Changing Configuration Settings From the Display
You need to enter Setup mode before you can change
configuration settings. For more information on entering Setup
mode and navigating through the settings, see “Understanding
Setup Mode” on page 17.
The top levels of the Setup menu are organized in a one-way
loop. Each level has several sub-levels.
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Starting point
SETUP:
DISPLAY
SETUP:
BATTERY
SETUP:
PRINT DEFS
SETUP:
SER-COM,UART1
SETUP:
MEDIA
The Main Levels of the Setup Menu in Fingerprint
Starting point
SETUP:
DISPLAY
SETUP:
BATTERY
SETUP:
SER-COM
SETUP:
NET-COM, NET1
SETUP:
NETWORK
SETUP:
FEEDADJ
SETUP:
NETWORK
SETUP:
TEST/SERVICE
SETUP:
CONFIGURATION
SETUP:
MEDIA
The Main Levels of the Setup Menu in IPL
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Changing Configuration Settings From PrintSet
PrintSet Version 4.2 (or higher) is a printer configuration tool
that you can download from the Intermec web site. PrintSet can
communicate with your printer through a serial cable or a
network connection. It works on all PCs running Windows 98
(or later). PrintSet allows you to easily change all of the setup
parameters. It also includes setup wizards to guide you through
some common configuration tasks.
Changing Configuration Settings Using the Command Line
You can change configuration parameters by sending commands
directly to the printer using your terminal program
(HyperTerminal) and a serial or network connection.
If your printer uses the Fingerprint language, you use the SETUP
command, followed by the node, subnode, and parameters
setting. Here is a Fingerprint example that sets your media setting
to labels with gaps:
SETUP "MEDIA,MEDIA TYPE,LABEL (w GAPS)"
If your printer uses the IPL language, you would send this
command:
<STX><SI>T1<ETX>
Fingerprint automatically sends feedback to HyperTerminal as
you type. If you want to see what you are typing with IPL, you
need to complete the following procedure.
To see IPL commands as you type
1 From the HyperTerminal menu, select File > Properties> the
Settings tab.
2 Click the ASCII Setup button.
3 Select Echo typed characters locally.
4 Click OK twice.
For more information on how to change configuration settings,
see either the Fingerprint Programmer’s Reference Manual (P/N
937-005-xxx) or the IPL Programmer’s Reference Manual (P/N
937-007-xxx). You can download both documents from the
Intermec web site at www.intermec.com.
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Changing Configuration Settings From the Printer Home Page
If you have an 802.11 radio in your PB50 printer and it is
connected to the network, you can use your web browser to open
the printer home page and make configuration changes. To
connect to a wireless network, follow the procedure in “Setting
Up 802.11 Radio Communications” on page 26.
The PB50 Printer Home Page
To make changes to the configuration
• From the home page, click Configuration.
Changing Configuration Settings From SmartSystems Console
You can use the SmartSystems Console to change configuration
settings on your printer. The PB50 ships with the SmartSystems
client loaded on it. The console is part of SmartSystems
Foundation and is available from the Intermec web site. To
download SmartSystems Foundation, go to www.intermec.com/
products/smrtsysfoundation/index.aspx.
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Establishing Communications With a Host
The PB50 must establish communications with a host that will
send the data for the printer to print. The PB50 provides three
ways to communicate with a host:
• Bluetooth radio communications
• 802.11 b/g radio communications
• USB communications
• Serial communications
Setting Up Bluetooth Communications
The PB50 can contain a Bluetooth radio that allows wireless
communications with a remote device from distances up to 100
meters (approximately 328 feet) depending on the Bluetooth
range capabilities of the remote device, environmental
conditions, and obstructions. For the Bluetooth-enabled devices
to exchange data, both devices must establish a connection.
Bluetooth software is always running in the background.
The PB50 cannot initiate a Bluetooth connection. One of the
devices, such as a CK31, CK61, 700 series, CN2B, or CN3
mobile computer, must request a connection with the printer.
The PB50 then accepts or rejects the connection. Use Intermec
Settings on the mobile computer to enable the Bluetooth settings
on the PB50.
The PB50 can also connect to Bluetooth scanners such as the
SF51 and the SR61. You can create the bar code labels you need
to connect the printer to a Bluetooth scanner using EasySet
software. If you are going to create the bar code labels using
EasySet, you will need to know the Bluetooth Device Address
and the PIN of the PB50. You can download a free version of
EasySet from the Intermec web site at www.intermec.com.
Each PB50 equipped with a Bluetooth radio has a unique
Bluetooth Device Address (BDA) loaded into its module when
manufactured. You can find the BDA on the certification label
located on the bottom of the printer.
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Chapter 2 — Configuring the PB50
To set up Bluetooth communications with a mobile computer
• Follow the procedure to discover and connect to Bluetooth
devices in your mobile computer user’s manual.
Note: For maximum security, you need to configure a
Bluetooth passcode for the PB50. The default passcode for the
PB50 is “1234.”
To set up Bluetooth communications with a scanner
1 Download and install EasySet.
2 Create the following bar code labels using EasySet:
• Administrator reset factory defaults
• Bluetooth parameters - security - not active
• Bluetooth parameters - connect/disconnect - compose BT
address
• Bluetooth parameters - security - compose PIN:
3 Scan the bar code labels with the Bluetooth scanner.
Understanding Bluetooth Radio Icons
Icon Description
The Bluetooth radio is on and the printer is not connected to
a serial cable.
The Bluetooth radio is turned off. The Bluetooth radio turns
off when you connect a serial cable.
Setting Up 802.11 Radio Communications
The PB50 can have an internal 802.11 b/g radio to transfer and
receive data using wireless communications. This manual
assumes that you have already set up your wireless
communications network including your access points. The
following procedures include information on setting up wireless
security for both IPL and Fingerprint versions of the PB50.
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The PB50 supports these authentication modes: none, WEP,
WPA Personal and Enterprise mode (802.1x authentication),
WPA2 Personal and Enterprise mode (802.1x authentication).
Note: WPA and WPA2 Enterprise mode currently support PEAP,
TTLS, and LEAP. For LEAP authentication, the PB50 supports
Open EAP, but does not support Network EAP.
To set up the PB50 to work in your wireless network, you will
need:
• Serial cable (P/N 075497-001)
• Host PC running Windows or Linux
• Serial port software such as HyperTerminal
Note: If you are using IPL commands with HyperTerminal, you
may want to be able to see the commands as you type them on
your screen. For help, see “Changing Configuration Settings
Using the Command Line” on page 23.
To set up the PB50 for wireless communications
1 Connect the 8-pin circular DIN connector to the serial port
on the PB50.
2 Connect the other end of the serial cable to a serial port on
the back of your PC or to a serial adapter on your mobile
computer.
3 Open HyperTerminal on your PC and configure the
following parameters for the serial port:
Parameter Default Setting
Baud rate 115200
Data bits 8
Parity None
Stop bits 1
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4 From the host PC, check the wireless settings.
If you have an IPL version of the printer, send these
commands to the PB50:
<STX><SI>wt,SSID<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,WEP1<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,WEP2<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,WEP3<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,WEP4<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,AUTH<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,WPA<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,WPA2<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,WPA_PSK<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,ROAM<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,PWR_MODE<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,CHANNEL<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,AP_MAC<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,SIGNAL<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,SPEED<ETX>
<STX><SI>wt,ACTIVE<ETX>
If you have a Fingerprint version of the printer, send this
command to the PB50:
setup write "wlan","uart1:"
5 Set up the PB50 to use the correct SSID and authentication
modes. See one of the following procedures to configure
wireless printing on your IPL or Fingerprint printer.
6 If you are going to use certificates for validation, transfer the
certificate to the printer. The printer can accept .pfx, .pem,
and .der certificates.
7 Verify that the PB50 is connected to the access point and
make sure it has an IP address allocated to it.
To view the strength of your wireless connection
•Press the Information button.
The printer cycles through some of the key communication
information including 802.11 signal strength.
Use the following sections to set most of your wireless
communication settings. For help with additional commands
and information, see either the Fingerprint Programmer’s Reference
Manual (P/N 937-005-xxx) or the IPL Programmer’s Reference
Manual (P/N 937-007-xxx). You can download both documents
from the Intermec web site at www.intermec.com.
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Configuring Wireless Printing Using IPL
Use the following procedures to configure your PB50 with IPL
for wireless printing.
To configure the printer to use WEP authentication
1 Send the following commands to login as an admin and set
the SSID:
<STX><ESC>.x,su -p pass admin<ETX>
<STX><SI>ws,SSID,xxxxx<ETX>
where xxxxx can be from 0 to 32 alphanumeric characters.
Note: The default password for logging in as an admin is
“pass.” If you have changed the password, you will need to use
your password instead of “pass.”
2 Send the following commands to configure the WEP keys.
The following example sets WEP key 1 to 1234 and enables
WEP key 1.
<STX><SI>ws,WEP1, 0x0001020304<ETX>
<STX><SI>ws,.WEP_KEY,1<ETX>
3 Send the following command to activate the settings.
<STX><SI>ws,ACTIVE,1<ETX>
To configure the printer to use WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK mode
1 Send the following commands to login as an admin and set
the SSID:
<STX><ESC>.x,su -p pass admin<ETX>
<STX><SI>ws,SSID,xxxxx<ETX>
where xxxxx can be from 0 to 32 alphanumeric characters.
2 Send one of the following commands to turn on WPA or
WPA2 authentication. Send the WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK
command to set a pre-shared key:
<STX><SI>ws,WPA,ON<ETX>
<STX><SI>ws,WPA2,ON<ETX>
<STX><SI>ws,WPA_PSK, xxxxxxxxxx<ETX>
where xxxxxxxxxx is a value between 8 and 64 characters.
3 Send the following command to activate the settings:
<STX><SI>ws,ACTIVE,1<ETX>
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To configure the PB50 to use WPA or WPA2 Enterprise mode
1 Send the following commands to login as an admin and set
the SSID:
<STX><ESC>.x,su -p pass admin<ETX>
<STX><SI>ws,SSID,xxxxx<ETX>
where xxxxx can be from 0 to 32 alphanumeric characters.
Note: The default password for logging in as an admin is
“pass.” If you have changed the password, you will need to use
your password instead of “pass.”
2 Send one of the following commands to enable WPA-802.1x
or WPA2-802.1x authentication. You should also send the
WPA_PSK command that does not contain a value:
<STX><SI>ws,WPA,ON<ETX>
<STX><SI>ws,WPA2,ON<ETX>
<STX><SI>ws,WPA_PSK, <ETX>
3 Send these commands to configure the EAP_TYPE:
<STX><SI>ws,EAP_TYPE,xxxx<ETX>
where xxxx can be OFF, LEAP, PEAP, or TTLS.
<STX><SI>ws,.EAP_USER,xxxx<ETX>
<STX><SI>ws,.EAP_PASS,xxxx<ETX>
where xxxx is the unique username and the unique password
for this protocol.
4 If you are using TTLS, you may need to send this command
to set the TTLS outer name:
<STX><SI>ws,TTLS_USER, xxxx <ETX>
where xxxx is the outer name.
5 If you are using certificates for validation, here are some
commands you may need to use.
• Send the following commands to set a certificate and
enable validation:
<STX><SI>ws,CA_CERT,c:/testCA.pfx@export<ETX>
<STX><SI>ws,VALIDATE,ON<ETX>
where c:/testCA.pfx is the location and name of the
certificate and export is the passphrase.
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• Send the following commands to set a common name for
server 1 and server 2:
<STX><SI>ws, .SERVER_CN1,xxxxxxxxxx <ETX>
<STX><SI>ws, .SERVER_CN2,xxxxxxxxxx <ETX>
where xxxxxxxxxx can be a value from 0 to 64 characters.
• Send the following command to make sure your values
match those used by the access point:
<STX><SI>wt,[variable name]<ETX>
All variables are returned with the exception of EAP_PASS
which always returns “****” if configured and CA_CERT
which transmits the name of the last certificate authority
successfully installed. An additional read-only variable for
the supplicant state, called STATE, is also returned.
• You may need to send the following command several
times for the wireless station to connect:
<STX><SI>ws,ACTIVE,1<ETX>
Configuring Wireless Printing Using Fingerprint
Use the following procedures to configure your PB50 with
Fingerprint for wireless printing.
To configure the printer to use WEP authentication
1 Send the following commands to login as an admin and set
the SSID:
run"su -p pass admin"
setup write "wlan","uart1:"
setup "wlan","SSID","xxxxx"
where xxxxx can be from 0 to 32 alphanumeric characters.
Note: The default password for logging in as an admin is
“pass.” If you have changed the password, you will need to use
your password instead of “pass.”
2 Send the following commands to configure the WEP keys.
The following example sets WEP key 1 to 1234 and enables
WEP key 1.
setup "wlan","WEP1","0x0001020304"
setup "wlan",".WEP_KEY","1"
setup "wlan","ACTIVE","1"
setup write "wlan","uart1:"
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To configure the printer to use WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK mode
1 Send the following commands to login as an admin and set
the SSID:
run"su-p pass admin"
setup write "wlan","uart1:"
setup "wlan","SSID","xxxxx"
where xxxxx can be from 0 to 32 alphanumeric characters.
2 Send one of the following WPA/WPA2 ON commands to
turn on WPA or WPA2 authentication. Send the WPA-PSK
or WPA2-PSK command to set a pre-shared key:
setup "wlan","WPA","ON"
setup "wlan","WPA2","ON"
setup "wlan","WPA_PSK","xxxxxxxxxx"
setup "wlan","ACTIVE","1"
setup write "wlan","uart1:"
where xxxxxxxxxx is a value between 8 and 64 characters.
To configure the PB50 to use WPA or WPA2 Enterprise mode
1 Send the following commands to login as an admin and set
the SSID:
run"su-p pass admin"
setup write "wlan","uart1:"
setup "wlan","SSID","xxxxx"
where xxxxx can be from 0 to 32 alphanumeric characters.
2 Send one of the following WPA/WPA2 ON commands to set
up WPA-802.1x or WPA2-802.1x authentication. You should
also send the WPA_PSK command that does not contain a
value:
setup "wlan","WPA","ON"
setup "wlan","WPA2","ON"
setup "wlan","WPA_PSK",""
setup write "wlan","uart1:"
• To view the 802.1x values, send this command:
setup write "8021x","uart1:"
3 Send these commands to configure the EAP_TYPE:
setup "8021x","EAP_TYPE","xxxx"
where xxxx can be OFF, LEAP, PEAP, or TTLS.
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setup "8021x",".EAP_USER","xxxx"
setup "8021x","EAP_PASS","xxxx"
where xxxx is the unique username and the unique password
for this protocol.
4 If you are using TTLS, you may need to send this command
to set the TTLS outer name:
setup "8021x","TTLS_USER","xxxx"
where xxxx is the outer name.
5 If you are using certificates for validation, here are some
commands you may need to use.
• Send the following commands to set a certificate and
enable validation:
setup "8021x","CA_CERT","c:/test.pfx@export"
setup "8021x","VALIDATE","ON"
where c:/test.pfx is the location and name of the certificate
and export is the passphrase.
• Send the following commands to set a common name for
server 1 and server 2:
setup "8021x",".SERVER_CN1","xxxxxxxxxx"
setup "8021x",".SERVER_CN2","xxxxxxxxxx"
where xxxxxxxxxx can be a value from 0 to 64 characters.
• Send the following command to make sure your values
match those used by the access point:
setup write "8021x","uart1:"
• You may need to send the following command several
times for the wireless station to connect:
setup "wlan","ACTIVE","1"<ETX>
Setting Up USB Communications
To set up USB communications with your PC, you will need:
•USB cable
• Intermec InterDriver® software
You can download the InterDriver software from the Intermec
web site at www.intermec.com.
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Setting Up Serial Communications
Use a serial cable (P/N 075497-001) to connect the PB50 to a
PC or a mobile computer. For the mobile computer, you may
need to purchase a serial adapter. For more information, contact
your local Intermec sales representative.
Before you can establish a serial connection, you need to make
sure that the settings on the PC or mobile computer match those
of the PB50.
Serial Port Settings on the PB50
Parameter Default Setting
Baud rate 115200
Data bits 8
Parity None
Stop bits 1
Flow control XON_XOFF (IPL)
To connect the PB50 to a PC or mobile computer
No default (Fingerprint)
1 Connect the 8-pin circular DIN connector to the serial port
on the PB50.
2 Connect the other end of the serial cable to a serial port on
the back of your PC or to a serial adapter on your mobile
computer.
Serial
cable
Serial
port
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Upgrading the Firmware
The latest firmware and software is always available for download
from the Intermec web site at www.intermec.com.
To download firmware updates
1 Go to the Intermec web site at www.intermec.com.
2 Click Support > Downloads.
3 In the Select a Product field, choose PB50 mobile printer.
The latest available software displays on the page.
4 Download the latest firmware version to your computer.
Make sure you choose the correct firmware upgrade for your
IPL or Fingerprint printer.
5 Extract the .zip file to a folder on your computer.
You have options for upgrading the firmware based on whether
your PB50 has a Bluetooth radio or an 802.11 b/g radio. Use one
of the following procedures to upgrade your printer firmware.
Your printer should reboot after you finish upgrading the
firmware. If it does not reboot, you will need to cold boot the
printer. For help, see “Cold Booting the PB50” on page 44.
Chapter 2 — Configuring the PB50
To upgrade your printer using PrintSet
1 Download the latest version of PrintSet from the Intermec
web site at www.intermec.com.
2 Select File > Add Printer to start the Add Printer Wizard
which guides you through the process of adding your printer.
3 Select your printer under My Printers and then go to Printer
> Firmware Wizard.
The Firmware Wizard guides you through the necessary steps to
update your firmware.
To upgrade your printer using an 802.11 network connection
1 Browse to the home page of the printer. For help, see
“Changing Configuration Settings From the Printer Home
Page” on page 24.
2 From the home page, click Maintenance.
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3 From the Firmware upgrade page, browse to the upgrade
firmware file.
4 Click Upgrade.
To upgrade your printer using a serial connection
1 Make sure you have established a serial communications
between your PC and the PB50. For help, see “Setting Up
Serial Communications” on page 34.
2 Use Fingerprint or IPL commands to send the upgrade file to
the printer.
For help with Fingerprint or IPL commands and information, see
either the Fingerprint Programmer’s Reference Manual
(P/N 937-005-xxx) or the IPL Programmer’s Reference Manual
(P/N 937-007-xxx). You can download both documents from the
Intermec web site at www.intermec.com.
Downloading Fonts and Graphics
The easiest way to download fonts and graphics is to use the free
Intermec printer application called PrintSet. You can download
PrintSet from the downloads page for the PB50 printer on the
Intermec web site at www.intermec.com. Follow the procedures
in the PrintSet online help to download fonts and graphics.
You can also use Fingerprint or IPL commands to send fonts and
graphics to the printer. For help with commands and
information, see either the Fingerprint Programmer’s Reference
Manual (P/N 937-005-xxx) or the IPL Programmer’s Reference
Manual (P/N 937-007-xxx). You can download both documents
from the Intermec web site at www.intermec.com.
36 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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3
Troubleshooting and
Maintaining the PB50
Use this chapter to solve problems you may encounter while
using the PB50. You will also find information on booting the
printer and routine maintenance.
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Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PB50
Troubleshooting the PB50
You may have printer operation, print quality, or printer
communication problems at some time during the life of the
PB50 printer. It is easy to fix most of the problems and you will
find solutions in “Troubleshooting Printer Problems and
Finding Solutions” on page 40. If you cannot find the answer to
your problem, you may need to contact Product Support.
Contacting Product Support
Before you call Intermec Product Support, you may want to visit
the Intermec technical knowledge base (Knowledge Central) at
intermec.custhelp.com to review technical information or to
request technical support. If you still need help after visiting
Knowledge Central, you may need to call Product Support.
To talk to an Intermec Product Support representative in the
U.S.A. or Canada, call:
1-800-755-5505
Outside the U.S.A. and Canada, go to www.intermec.com and
click Contact to find your local Intermec representative.
Before you call Intermec Product Support, make sure you have
the following information ready:
• Printer serial number
• Firmware type and version
• Bluetooth, wireless, or serial port settings
You can find all of the information listed above in the printer
menu system or on a test print page.
Understanding Error Messages
Use the following tables to troubleshoot some common error
message you may see display on PB50 screen. Some of the error
messages are specific to the type of firmware you have loaded on
your PB50.
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Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PB50
Possible PB50 Error Icons and Messages
Error Icon Error Message Description
Pause The print job is paused.
Paper out (IPL)
Out of Paper
(Fingerprint)
The printer is out of paper. Load a
new roll of media. For help, see
“Loading Media” on page 10.
Testfeed not done The printer did not perform a test
feed before it printed out test labels. It
is important to perform a test feed
because it calibrates the sensor.
To p er fo rm a te st fe e d:
• In Fingerprint, press the Feed
button for more than 1 second.
• In IPL, open and close the media
door and then Press the Feed
button.
Printhead hot The printhead is overheated and
‘
needs to cool down. In IPL, wait for
printing to resume automatically. In
Fingerprint, your print job is lost.
Upgrading The printer is loading new firmware.
LSS too high, LSS
too low
These errors can occur when you run
a test feed without any media
installed, or if you have incorrect
media settings.
Load the printer with media (see
“Loading Media” on page 10), run
Tes t m od e ( se e “Using Test Mode” on
page 19), and select the appropriate
media type.
IP configuration
error
The printer is trying to acquire an IP
address from the network. Wait for
the printer to complete the task before
taking any action.
IP link error No network connection.
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 39
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Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PB50
Possible PB50 Error Icons and Messages (continued)
Error Icon Error Message Description
Field out of label You are attempting to print in an area
that extends beyond the print
window. See the programmer’s
reference manual for your type of
firmware (IPL or Fingerprint) for
information on how to set the media
parameters.
Troubleshooting Printer Problems and Finding Solutions
Use the following tables to troubleshoot some common problems
you may encounter with the PB50 printer.
Printer Problems and Solutions
Problem Possible Solution
The printer does not turn
on when you press
Standby.
The blue light (Ready-toWork indicator) is
blinking.
Printer keeps printing or
feeding when it should
stop.
The printout is not in the
desired position.
• Replace the battery with a charged
battery.
• Connect external power to make sure
the printer works correctly and to charge
the battery.
• Make sure media is loaded and the
media cover is closed. For help, see
“Loading Media” on page 10.
• There is a printing error. The screen
displays an error message containing
information on the error.
• The printer is paused. The printer is
cancelling a print job.
• Check media settings.
• Make sure the label gap sensor is clean.
For help, see “Cleaning the Printer” on
page 44.
• Check for errors in the software
application.
• Make sure the label gap sensor and
platen roller are clean.
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Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PB50
Printer Problems and Solutions (continued)
Problem Possible Solution
The printer is not
printing with an 802.11
wireless connection.
The printer is not
printing with a Bluetooth
connection.
When printing, the
printer is skipping labels.
Printout is faded or weak. • Fingerprint users: adjust the media
• Verify that the wireless settings are
correct. For help, see “Setting Up
802.11 Radio Communications” on
page 26.
• Make sure the printer has an IP address.
• Make sure the printer is connected to
the network.
• Make sure the printer is in Ready mode.
• Re-establish a Bluetooth connection
with the mobile computer or scanner.
For help, see your mobile computer
user’s manual or “Setting Up Bluetooth
Communications” on page 25.
• Make sure the mobile computer can
print to a known good printer.
• Print a Bluetooth test print page to
make sure that the mobile printer
discovered your printer. For help, see
“Printing a Testprint” on page 13.
• Make sure the printer is in Ready mode.
Perform a testfeed:
• In Fingerprint, press the Feed button for
more than 1 second.
• In IPL, open and close the media door
and then Press the Feed button.
Make sure the label gap sensor is clean. For
help, see “Cleaning the Printer” on
page 44.
constant/factor and contrast (-10% to
+10%).
• IPL users: adjust the media sensitivity
setting (-10 to +10).
• Check to see if the printhead needs
cleaning. For help, see “Cleaning the
Printer” on page 44.
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Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PB50
Printer Problems and Solutions (continued)
Problem Possible Solution
The battery charge is not
lasting as long as it
should.
The test pages do not
print.
Print quality it poor. • Clean the printhead. For help, see
• Check the battery date. If the battery is a
few years old, the shortened life may be
due to normal aging.
• Replace the battery.
• Make sure that the blue light is not
blinking. If it is, make sure your printer
has media and that the media cover is
closed.
• Make sure that you can advance media
by pressing the Feed button.
“Cleaning the Printer” on page 44.
• Check the battery and recharge or
replace as necessary. For help, see
“Charging the Batteries” on page 8.
• Check the quality of the media. Use
only Intermec media to ensure superior
print quality and product performance.
• Check that the printer is set to the
appropritae Constant/Factory or
sensitivity number for the media you re
using.
Troubleshooting Communication Problems
Use Dump mode to verify that the printer is receiving data from
the host correctly.
Using the Line Analyzer in Fingerprint
In Dump mode, the printer runs a Fingerprint program called
Line Analyzer. The Line Analyzer captures incoming characters
on the communication ports and prints them on one or more
labels.
The easiest way to enter Dump mode is through Test mode or
Extended Test mode. For help, see “Understanding Test Mode”
on page 19.
After the printer enters Dump mode, it tells you it has entered
Dump mode by printing it on a label. The display shows the
Dump mode icon and printer is ready to receive data.
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Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PB50
While the printer is receiving data, the Ready-to-Work indicator
blinks. After a half of a second, if no more characters have been
received, the printer times out. The program considers the
transmission terminated and prints out a label.
Printable characters are printed in black-on-white. Control
characters and space characters (ASCII 000 to 032 dec) are
printed in white-on-black.
As long as a continuous string of characters is being received, the
program wraps the lines until the label is full and then starts to
print another label. After each character transmission, the
following information prints:
• Page number
• Number of characters printed on the label
• Total number of characters received so far
When you exit Dump mode, a final label prints to inform you
that it is exiting from Dump mode.
Using Dump Mode in IPL
When you enter Dump mode, the printer captures incoming
characters on the communication ports and prints them on one
or more labels.
If you have IPL firmware on your printer, you can access Dump
mode in two different ways with slightly different results:
• You can access Dump mode through Test mode or Extended
Test mode and you will receive printouts that look exactly like
those produced with the Line Analyzer program in
Fingerprint. For more information, see the previous
procedure, “Using the Line Analyzer in Fingerprint” on
page 42.
• You can access Dump mode from the Setup menu. If you
access Dump mode this way, characters are printed on a
continuous line along with corresponding hexadecimal
numbers.
To enter Dump mode from the Setup menu
1 Press the Setup button.
2 Press until you reach Te s t / S e r v i c e .
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Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PB50
3 Press to enter the Test/Service menu.
4 Press until you reach Data Dump and then press .
5 Press to select Yes and then press .
6 Cold boot the printer to exit Dump mode. For help, see the
next procedure, “Cold Booting the PB50.”
Cold Booting the PB50
You rarely need to cold boot the PB50 printer, unless you are
upgrading the firmware. If your printer occasionally locks up,
you will want to cold boot it. A cold boot reinitializes the 802.11
radio and clears the working memory.
Note: The Setup menu is not affected by a cold boot. Your
printer retains all of your configuration settings after the printer
powers back up.
To reset the PB50
1 Disconnect the PB50 from power if externally powered.
2 Remove the battery from the PB50 for at least one second.
3 Insert the battery back into the PB50.
4 Reconnect external power if your PB50 is externally powered.
Cleaning the Printer
To properly maintain your PB50, you should clean it at the
recommended intervals.
To avoid possible personal injury or damage to the printer,
never insert any pointed or sharp objects into the printer.
Use only the cleaning agents specified in this section. Intermec
is not responsible for damage caused by any other cleaning
materials used on this printer. Clean the printer with a cotton
swab saturated with alcohol.
44 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PB50
Tear bar
Paper
sensor
Printhead
Label gap
sensor
PB50 Mobile Label Printer: Identifying the parts of the PB50 to clean
regularly.
Label taken
sensor
Platen
roller
Cleaning the PB50 Printer
Printer Part Cleaning Method Cleaning Interval
Printhead Use 70% isopropyl alcohol on a
cotton swab to clean the print
elements from end to end.
Platen roller Rotate the platen roller and
clean it thoroughly with 70%
isopropyl alcohol on a cotton
swab.
Paper sensors Clean thoroughly with 70%
isopropyl alcohol and a cotton
swab.
Tea r b ar Clean thoroughly with 70%
isopropyl alcohol and a cotton
swab.
Exterior Clean with a water-dampened
cloth.
Interior Brush or air blow. Make sure
the paper sensor is free of dust.
After every five rolls
of media or more
often if necessary.
After every five rolls
of media or more
often if necessary.
After every five rolls
of media or more
often if necessary.
As needed.
As needed.
After every five rolls
of media or more
often if necessary.
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 45
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Chapter 3 — Troubleshooting and Maintaining the PB50
46 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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A
Specifications
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 47
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Appendix A — Specifications
Specifications
Physical Dimensions
Depth: 78.7 mm (3.1 in)
Height: 174.5 mm (6.9 in)
Width: 159.5 mm (6.3 in)
Weight: 1190 g (2 lb) with battery
Power Specifications
AC power adapter voltage: 100 to 240V
Printer voltage: 100V to 240V and 50 Hz to 60 Hz
Operating power: Rechargeable 16.8 V 2200 mAh lithium-
Temperature and Humidity Specifications
Operating temperature: -15°C to 50°C (5°F to 122°F)
Storage temperature: -22°C to 70°C (-30°F to 158°F)
Charging temperature: 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)
Relative humidity: 0 to 95% non-condensing
Sealing: IP54
ion battery
Memory
RAM: 16 MB
Flash: 64 MB
Print Speed and Resolution
Print speed: 4 ips (100 mm/s)
Resolution: 203 dpi (8 dots/mm)
Print Technology
Printhead: Direct thermal
Maximum print width: 108 mm (4.25 in)
48 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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Appendix A — Specifications
Media Specifications
Core inside diameter, standard: 19 mm (0.75in)
Core inside diameter, with adapter: 10.2 mm (0.4 in)
Maximum roll outside diameter: 67.3 mm (2.65 in)
Media width, label with liner/receipt: 49mm (1.9 in) to 111.5 mm (4.4 in)
Media length, label: 25.4 mm (1.0 in) to 609.6 mm (24 in)
Media length, receipt: Continuous
Media caliper, label with liner/receipt: 0.05 mm (0.002 in) to 0.165 mm (0.0065 in)
Media caliper, tag (maximum): 0.15 mm (0.006 in)
Gap length (centered on perforation): 3.17 mm (0.125 in) to 12.7 mm (0.50 in)
Notch length (centered on perforation): 6.35 mm (0.25 in)
Notch width (centered on perforation): 12.7 mm (0.50 in)
Black mark length (centered on perforation): 3.17 mm (0.125 in) to 12.7 mm (0.50 in)
Black mark width (centered on media width): Full width of media
Receipt roll stock media is supplied as a continuous roll. Label,
tag, and fanfold media use repeat indicators for non-continuous
media. Gap, notch, and black marks are used as repeat indicators:
• Gap: Label and fanfold media
• Notch: Tag me di a
• Black mark: Label, tag, and fanfold media
Here are a few things to keep in mind when ordering media for
the PB50 printer:
• Black marks can only be sensed on the back side of the media.
• You can use higher caliper media in the printer, but print
quality will be reduced.
• Receipt roll stock media has an end of roll indicator. The end
of roll indicator is a red marking (on last 3 feet of roll) on the
thermally sensitive side of the paper.
External Fanfold Media Specifications
Stack height: 70 mm (2.75 in)
Page length: 152 mm (6 in) to 305 mm (12 in)
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 49
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Appendix A — Specifications
Note: A 6-inch page length is supplied in 12-inch long stacks
(two 6-inch stacks of equal height with the bottom page linked).
Specialty media is required for unique customer environments,
including printer operating temperature extremes. Intermec
recommends that you test the media in your application.
Supported Media
The PB50 printer supports direct thermal label, tag, and receipt
media. Both North American and European label media are
supported in multiple label lengths. Receipt media is supported
in both a top coated and an uncoated paper in continuous roll
stock only.
The default media sensitivity number is: 180.
Use the following table as a guide when setting sensitivity
numbers.
Recommended Media Sensitivity, Constant, Factor, and Print Speed
Sensitivity Constant Factor Description Max Print Speed
North American Label Media
720 60 40 Duratherm Lightning Plus 4 ips
470 52 40 Duratherm Lightning 4 ips
450 48 40 Duratherm Lightning 2 ips
430 100 40 Duratherm Synthetic 4 ips
180 80 40 Duratherm II Label 4 ips
180 80 40 Duratherm III Label 4 ips
180 80 40 Duratherm Near IR 4 ips
150 50 40 Duratherm 5 mil Tag 2 ips
North America Receipt Media
401 45 40 Duratherm TC 2 ips
102 32 40 Duratherm NTC - 2 2 ips
101 30 40 Duratherm NTC 2 ips
European Label Media
440 47 30 Thermal Eco 2 ips
140 70 40 Thermal Top 4 ips
50 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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Accessories for the PB50
You can use these accessories (sold and ordered separately) with
the PB50 printer. To order accessories, contact your local
Intermec sales representative.
AB13 Battery
Use the lithium-ion 2200 mAh battery to provide power to the
printer.
AC18 4-Bay Battery Charger
Use the AC18 to charge up to four batteries at a time. The
battery charger is designed to sense when a battery is fully
charged and not overcharge it, ensuring long and consistent
battery life.
AV8 Vehicle Dock
Use the vehicle dock to attach the PB50 to a truck.
Belt Clip
Use the PB50 belt clip to attach the printer to your belt.
Handstrap
Use the PB42 and PB50 handstrap to conveniently carry your
PB50 printer. With the handstrap attached, you can also attach
the shoulder strap.
Appendix A — Specifications
Power Supply (Model AE19)
Provides power to the PB50 and the 4-bay battery charger
(Model AC18).
Serial Cable
The serial adapter is an 8-pin DIN to DB9 connector that
connects from the PB50 printer to your desktop PC.
Shoulder Strap
Use the shoulder strap in combination with the handstrap to
easily carry the PB50 printer. The wide padded strap makes it
comfortable to wear the printer for long periods of time.
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 51
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Appendix A — Specifications
52 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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B
IPL and Fingerprint Setup
Menus
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 53
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CONTRAST
ORIENTATION
BACKLIGHT
SER-COM
SETUP
BAUDRATE
DATA BITS PARITY STOPBITS PROTOCOL
MEDIA
TEST LABELS
CONFIG
FORMAT
UDC
PAG E
FONT
NETWORK
IP SELECTION
IP ADDRESS NETMASK
DEFAULT
ROUTER
NAMESERVER
MAC ADDRESS
TEST/SERVICE
TESTPRINT
DATA DUMP MEMORY RESET
LSS TEST
BATTERY
LOW BATTERY
DISPLAY
MEDIA TYPE
TESTFEED
MODE
LBL LENGTH
DOTS
LBL WIDTH
DOTS
SENSITIVITY
DARKNESS
LBL REST POINT
FORM ADJ DOTSXFORM ADJ DOTS
Y
CONFIGURATION
PWRUP
EMULATION
PRINT SPEED
LTS
CALIBRATION
Appendix B — IPL and Fingerprint Setup Menus
IPL Setup Menu
54 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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Fingerprint Setup Menu
SETUP
SER-COM,UART1
Appendix B — IPL and Fingerprint Setup Menus
BAUDRATE
NET-COM NET 1
NEW LINE
NETWORK
IP SELECTION
FEEDADJ
STARTADJ STOPADJ
MEDIA
MEDIA SIZE MEDIA TYPE
CHAR LENGTH PARITY STOPBITS FLOWCONTROL
IP ADDRESS NETMASK
XSTART
WIDTH
LENGTH
LABELS
(w GAPS)
TICKET
(w MARK)
TICKET
(w GAPS)
FIX LENGTH
STRIP
VAR LENGTH
STRIP
PAP ER TY PE
DIRECT
THERMAL
CONTRAST
LABEL
LABEL
FAC TO R
DEFAULT
ROUTER
RTS/CTS
ENQ/ACK
XON/XOFF
DATA TO HOST
DATA FROM
NAMESERVER
CONTRAST TESTFEED
NEW LINE REC BUF
HOST
MAC ADDRESS
TESTFEED
MODE
LEN (SLOW
MODE)
TRANS BUF
PRINT DEFS
HEAD RESIST TESTPRINT PRINT SPEED
BATTERY
LOW BATTERY
DISPLAY
ORIENTATION
LSS TEST CLIP DEFAULT
LESS AUTO
LSS MANUAL
BACKLIGHTCONTRAST
LTS
LTS VAL UE
LTS ADJUST
LTS TEST
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide 55
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Appendix B — IPL and Fingerprint Setup Menus
56 PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
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Page 66
Worldwide Headquarters
6001 36th Avenue West
Everett, Washington 98203
U.S.A.
tel 425.348.2600
fax 425.355.9551
www.intermec.com
PB50 Mobile Label Printer User’s Guide
*934-012-001*
P/N 934-012-001
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