The Brother
HJ-400 / OsborneJet FAQ
The Brother HJ-400 is one of the few inkjet models manufactured by Brother, a company which has been well known for its typewriters and sewing machines. It has been sold around 1993 and Brother no longer manufactures inkjet printers. The OsborneJet printer is a printer that was sold by the now-defunct Osborne australian manufacturer, it was an HJ-400 clone licensed from Brother.
I wrote this FAQ over the years due to the lack of online support from Brother for this printer.
What is the advantage of using a 10-year old, black-and-white outdated
printer? The low cost of ownership. The BC-02 cartridge used by this printer
is widespred and cheap. However if you have more than basic printing needs
(i.e. small business or student) do not even consider using the
HJ-400; it's painfully slow and not up to today's standards. As of 2002
I don't evern use it anymore.
| Table of contents |
Please wait for the page to be completely loaded before clicking on one of the links below.
The printer only outputs garbageDrivers
What ink cartridges can I use?
Where can I get Windows 3.1 drivers?Manuals
How about Windows 95 and 98?
How about Windows NT 4?
How about Windows 2000?
How about the Mac?
How do I use it with DOS?
How do I set it up with Linux, UNIX and Ghostscript?
How about OS/2 Warp?
What if my printer is not supported in my OS or application?
How can I get a copy of the manual?Support
How can I get the technical reference manual?
Where can I get official support for this printer?Cartridges
Where can I get unofficial support for this printer?
Do you recommend using these low-cost refilling kits?Paper
Where can I buy cartridges and refill kits?
How do I clean the printhead?
What paper can I use?Printer configuration
How about binder sheets?
Can I use transparencies?
My sheet of paper is stuck! How do I get it out?
How can I set the distance from which the printhead prints on paper?
What is the range in which the HJ-400 can print?
When I try to print under the 5" bottom margin , the printing occurs on the top of another page!
How does configuration work?General
How can I reset the printer to its factory defaults?
What originally came with this printer?Acknowledgments
Why does brother have no support for their inkjet printers on their website?
What types of self tests does the printer have and how do I enable them?
Is the HJ-400 Energy Star compliant?
Are there clones of this printer?
Power supply specifications
Is there any general FAQ on printers on the internet?
Who are you?
| Most common issues |
When I try to print something, I always get garbage.
- or -
I've upgraded my computer and the printer no longer works.
- or -
My friend has given me an HJ-400. He swears that it used to work,
but it only outputs crap on my computer.
This is the most common issue that users write me about. The short answer is to set your printer port to SPP.
Here is the long answer:
Nowadays, parallel printer ports have many modes named SPP, EPP, ECP, and so on. I won't go into any details explaining what these extended modes do, but be aware that they are actually useful with some peripherals, and the last printers to use the parallel port before the switch to USB ofter require it if you wish to benefit from advanced features.
Newer computers built after 1997 often come with their printer port set to EPP (Extended Parallel Port) or ECP (Extended Capabilities Port). The HJ-400 does not work well if your port is set to one of these modes, it outputs garbage. You must therefore set your port is set to "SPP" or "Standard" mode. This is normally set in your BIOS, the Basic Input/Output System of your computer. The BIOS is what handles the initial boot of your PC and it configures some of your hardware, hence the printer port mode. Its configuration interface can be hidden from you by a corporate logo when you boot up your PC.
On the Award BIOS (which is frequently used with clones), the printer port configuration is under Integrated Peripherals and you should set it to Compatible. If you have a Compaq, you can set it under the Advanced menu, then select Device options and set the Printer mode to Output-only.
Playing with a BIOS is like adjusting your car under the hood - if you do not know what you are doing, you can end up in big trouble. Therefore, if you do not know how to configure your BIOS, bring your computer to your dealer and ask them to set your printer port to "SPP" or "Standard mode".
Thanks for Kyri Ioannou who was the first to bring this issue up early
in 1999.
What ink cartridges can I use?
I've used maybe three genuine Brother ink cartridges (IN-10) with my printer. I've never been able to easily find another one after that. Don't bother trying to order one, assuming it is still manufactured it will be probably expensive .
The HJ-400 uses the same type of cartridge as some Canon printers, the widespread BC-02. This cartridge is used in a wide range of older generations of printers and fax machines. Many clone manufacturers also make compatible cartridges that cost a little less. The BC-02 works great but I've never tried any clone brands, so if you try one, your mileage may vary.
The BC-01 reportedly also works, but I've never tried it. I consider
the BC-02 as easier to find.
| Drivers |
Where can I get Windows 3.1 drivers?
They are on the disk that came with your printer. If you you've lost
it, you can fetch a local copy by clicking here.
Due to inherent copyright issues, the truetype fonts that originally came
with the driver have not been included.
Brother does not supply drivers for these operating systems. The HJ-400 drivers come standard with Windows 95 and Windows 98 and work fine. They actually use the HJ-770 driver.
As a convenience, you can download the bare Windows 95 or Windows 98 driver files. They will work for both the HJ-770 and HJ-400. Installing this driver is simple: Click on add printer in the printers subpanel, select local printer and then select have disk. Choose the directory where you've unzipped the file and you're set.
As I do not use Windows as my primary operating system, these drivers are unsupported.
Windows
95 HJ-400 driver bundle (should also work with Windows 98)
Windows
98 HJ-400 driver bundle (by popular demand)
There are no native HJ-400 drivers for Windows NT 4 but don't despair! To make your HJ-400 work with Windows NT 4, simply install the Epson LQ-510 driver. Afterwards, right-click on the printer icon in the Printers folder and select "Document Defaults". Set the paper source to "Sheet Feeder - Bin 1" (this will prevent having to load manually each sheet of paper) and the graphic resolution to "360x180". You can set it to 360x360, but printing will be much slower and will consume lots of ink! The printing will not be as precise as with a native driver, but that's the best I could come up with.
For the HJ-400 to be compatible with the LQ-510, it must be set in "Epson"
mode in its configuration, which is the default. Refer to your manual if
it's in "IBM" mode and you need to change it to Epson or reset it to the
factory defaults (click here for instructions).
How about Windows 2000, ME and XP?
According to Microsoft's hardware compatibility list, the printer is
supported under 2000, ME and XP. You should then have a driver included
on your installation CD-ROM. I will not create and distribute any driver
bundle for these operating systems, so don't ask.
There are still some Mac drivers at http://www.brother.com/E-ftp/softmac.html.
Within your particular program, select the Epson LQ-510 (or perhaps
even one of the FX series if the LQ is not there) as your printer.
How do I set it up with Linux, UNIX and Ghostscript?
Linux and other other UNIX flavors do not have "printer drivers" as other operating system do. Instead, most UNIX programs send data to your printer using a standard language called Postscript. I'll spare the explanations on what Postscript is, except that it comes either built-in or as an (expensive) option on laser printers. The HJ-400 does not support Postscript.
There is a Postscript interpreter named Ghostscript that lets you print Postscript documents on standard printers. It translates the Postscript language in a printable format for your printer. Although this interpreter originated on UNIX systems, there are ports of Ghostscript to many other operating systems, including Win32 systems. If you're interested in one of these ports, you can get one here.
There are no Ghostscript drivers for the HJ-400 and since it's not a really popular model, I strongly believe there will never be any. Therefore, you need to use the standard 24-pin Epson driver that support a 360x180 resolution. There doesn't seem to be a way to use your printer's 360x360 mode. The output will then not be as sharp as it could be and I do find the printing a little slower. You also will not be able to specify "economy" or "normal" mode.
I can confirm that Corel Wordperfect 8 for UNIX supports the Brother
HJ-400, which means that you could in theory hook it on most workstations
which have a parallel port. It is also beleived that there are native HJ-400
drivers for versions 6 and 7. (some used to be available at ftp://ftp.sdcorp.com/pub/print/wp60ms01.us.all,
but the link has gone rotten over the years).
OS/2 Warp has built-in drivers for the HJ-400.
What if my printer is not supported in my OS or application?
Keep in mind that the HJ-400 is an old model that doesn't have a large
user base. Therefore, native support in newer operating systems will definitely
be a problem. You should know that the HJ-400 is fully compatible with
the Epson LQ-510 which is a model that has a large user base and is much
more supported. There is no difference in print quality as long as you're
able to set the LQ-510 to print at 360x360 resolution.
| Manuals |
How can I get a copy of the manual?
Copies of the manual can be ordered from Brother's web site here
if you live in the United States or here
if you live in Canada. However, I would try to reach them on the phone
in order to be sure that they still have some in stock. Brother support
mentioned that you can call 1-800-276-7746 to order manuals. The price
of manuals is 5 USD$ plus shipping and handling.
How can I get the technical reference manual?
The user manual mentions that "it's available as an option", that's
all. Therefore, I don't have a clue as to how it can be obtained in printed
format. However, I've miraculously found in 1998 an electronic copy at
Brother
Switzerland. The file has disappeared from there, but you can download
a local copy here.
Note that this manual is intended for programmers only. Now if someone
could develop a native Ghostscript driver with the help of that, I'd be
glad!
| Support |
Where can I get official support for this printer?
You can mail Brother Printer Support at ptrsupp@brother.com.
Brother also has a bulletin board which seems to have more stuff than on
their internet site; it's supposed to be at 1-888-298-3616. I would have
liked to try it, but it didn't answer when I called. Finally, if the human
voice is your preferred mean of communication, you can call 1-800-276-7746.
Where can I get unofficial support for this printer?
With the exception of this page, driverguide has a Brother printer
support forum at http://www.driverguide.com/forums/printer/brot.
However, most questions there concern drivers. As a last resort, you can
mail
me, but I'm not an expert tech support guru so I might not be able to help.
| Cartridges |
Do you recommend using these low-cost refilling kits?
Yes and no. If all of your work needs to have the best print quality and you have the money to buy a new cartridge each time, don't use these refilling kits. Refilling a cartridge is a pain because you have to be really careful not to spill ink on your hands. It also extends the lifespan of your cartridge above what was expected, eventually resulting in lower print quality. Personally, I haven't had many problems with refilling kits, but I didn't have a 100% success rate either. Once, the ink just dried up in the cartridge!
My suggestion is to keep two cartridges: one for high quality print
jobs that you change as soon as it's empty and another one that you refill
as needed and use for drafts. However, keep the orange protection cap that
comes with new cartridges and put it on the head of the unused cartridge
to prevent the ink from drying up and clogging the printhead. It won't
hurt if you also put it in a Ziplock.
Where can I buy cartridges and refill kits?
Where I live, the easiest way to buy a cartridge or refill kit is to
go to a big retail business store. They stock many cartridges, much more
than the average computer store in my opinion. If you prefer to order it
by mail, there are also some online sites that specialize in selling such
cartridges. It's up to you to find one.
The printhead cleans itself automatically. If you wish to clean it manually
in order to enhance the print quality, just press simultaneously on shift
and cleaning. Sometimes cartridges are simply too clogged and there
isn't any way to clean them completely. Therefore, I don't recommend cleaning
the printhead directly using a wet cloth; I've tried it with a really dirty
cartridge and it hasn't changed anything. If you try it, you're on your
own.
| Paper |
About any type of paper will work. However, "inkjet" paper, while expensive,
will give the best results. Some cheap types of general purpose papers
drink the ink while others make printed the text smudge more than you would
like. Therefore, the best thing to do is to experiment (and probably try
use the more expensive stuff).
No! Loading binder sheets will cause some problems as it seems to screw
up your margins. The holes must be at your right (which basically means
that you must print backwards), or it will not work. I think that this
printer detects and end-of-sheet when it stumbles upon one of the holes.
It might work with your printer but if it doesn't, don't check your drivers
and cables for hours like I did the first time I've noticed this problem.
You can use transparent film, but be careful to buy some that is designed
for inkjet printing or it will smudge a lot! Use the high quality setting
when printing on transparencies.
My sheet of paper is stuck! How do I get it out?
Don't force the sheet out. There is a lever inside the printer
which releases (sort of) the paper platen. The lever is located almost
directly on the platen at its right end, a little behind of it to be more
specific. When the lever is pulled (i.e. in the upward position), the paper
platen is released and you can pull off the sheet of paper. Click here
for an image showing where this lever is.
How can I set the distance from which the printhead prints on paper?
This can be useful if you print on envelopes or other thick papers,
it will deliver a better print quality. Inside the printer, sort of behind
the button panel at the far right is a plastic cap on a long metal rod.
Use the cap to turn the rod and adjust the print head. There are three
positions: near, middle and far. The more the rod is turn towards yourself,
the further the printhead is from the paper.
What is the range in which the HJ-400 can print?
The manual states that the printer can only print within the following
margins.
| Letter size paper & model | A4 Size paper & model | |
| Top | 0.12" (3.0mm) | 0.25" (3.4mm) |
| Bottom | 0.25" (12.7mm) | 0.25" (12.7mm) |
| Left | 0.25" (6.4mm) | 0.13" (3.4mm) |
| Right | 0.25" (6.4mm) | 0.13" (3.4mm) |
When I try to print under the 5" bottom margin , the printing occurs on the top of another page!
If there's something below the 5" margin, the page will be ejected and
printing will resume on the top of the next page. This can happen, for
instance, with documents that have a page number at the bottom. This is
an extremely annoying problem for which there is no solution except instructing
the printer driver to ignore anything that is under that margin.
| Printer Configuration |
You can access the configuration panel by pressing on shift while pressing on the power button at the same time when you turn on your printer and the printer will be set in configuration mode. You can notice that since the printer will beep twice and all its lights will be turned on.
Press the menu switch (see the gray menu line under the buttons?)
to select the desired setting menu. I don't have the time to explain the
contents of each menu as some refer to long tables. You'll have to check
your user's guide for the settings.
How can I reset the printer to its factory defaults?
Press shift and reset (condense) at the same time. The
printer will beep twice. Continue holding both buttons for about three
seconds until the printer beeps three times. Mission accomplished.
| Hardware problems |
When I try to print something, I always get some garbage even if the driver is set up properly!
Nowadays, parallel printer ports have many modes named SPP, ECP, and so on. I won't go into any details explaining what these extended modes do, but be aware that they can actually be useful with some peripherals.
Newer computers built after 1997 often come with their printer port set to EPP (Extended Parallel Port) or ECP (Extended Capabilities Port). The HJ-400 does not work well if your port is set to one of these modes. You should confirm that your port is set to "SPP" or "Standard" mode. This is normally set in your BIOS. There are many BIOSes out there, but on the frequently used Award BIOS, the printer port configuration is under Integrated Peripherals and you should set it to Compatible.
If you do not know what a BIOS is or do not know how to change its settings, bring your computer to your dealer and ask him to set your printer port to "SPP".
Thanks for Kyri Ioannou who was the first to bring this issue up.
| General |
What originally came with this printer?
If you've bought a second hand HJ-400, be aware that mine originally came with this:
Why does brother have no support for their inkjet
printers on their website?
They do not seem to take care of users who have old hardware, at least
on their website. If they did, you would not be reading this page! However,
they did start posting on driverguide
early in fall 1998, which is a start.
What types of self tests does the printer have and how do I enable them?
Turn on the printer with the SEL button held down.
To print some information about the current settings, press SEL.
To print a test pattern of all resident fonts and letters, press LF/TOF.
To print a ripple test pattern of letters, press ECONOMY.
To print hexadecimal values of data that is sent from your computer,
press CONDENSE.
To quit the self test mode, either turn off the printer or press on
both SHIFT and RESET at the same time.
Is the HJ-400 Energy Star compliant?
Actually, it is. You can check by yourself at the EPA at http://www.epa.gov/energy_star.
I find this rather odd as the printer itself doesn't seem to fall asleep
at all after having been turned on for a while.
Are there clones of this printer?
There seems to be at least one. A user who requested to remain anonymous
tipped me that Osborne, an Australian computer maker now acquired by Gateway,
licensed the HJ-400 to use it under its own OsborneJet brand. If there
are any other clones that I don't know of, please inform me so that I can
update the FAQ.
What are the specifications for the power supply?
The external AC adapter which powers the printer outputs 9.5V DC up
to 1.5 amps. The tip is negative as shown here: 
Is there any general FAQ on printers on the internet?
We Ink has taken the flag of the comp.periph.printers
newsgroup FAQ. It's at http://www.cppfaq.com.
As I can't stand lame ego-centered homepages, the only thing you're
allowed know is that I'm a HJ-400 owner. 
| Acknowledgments |
First of all, thanks to all of you you gave me some feedback, it is much appreciated. When I designed this site in 1998, I've never thought that it would have so much visitors. The counter down there may seem low, but it is way more than I imagined. Keep the questions and comments coming in!
I'd also like to thank Angelfire Communications for providing free, efficient and serious web hosting. I encourage you to pay a visit to the sponsors.
As this is a free and far-from-professionnal site, I'll spare the legal stuff, but keep in mind that there is no warranty with anything written here and my humble suggestions are to be followed your own risk. Permission is not granted to make copies of this FAQ available elsewhere without my consent, although I'll probably be glad to say yes if you drop me a note.
This FAQ is (C) Copyright 1998-2002 by Olivier
Massé, omasse@iname.com
Laval, Québec, Canada
Please sign my guestbook, view my guestbook or goto index dot html
Page created on July 22nd 1998 and last updated on April 11th 2002.
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