The PAX S300 is being retired by the manufacturer in February 2024, and won't be usable after that point.
Want even better terminals and much more besides? Switch to Leap Merchant Services, our in-house payment processing solution, today!
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How to Configure Your PAX S300 (and How to Switch Back to SREDKey): https://help.pm.leapevent.tech/a/980464
The guide below will help you get up and running with your PAX S300 in no time - the entire process should take no longer than thirty minutes. You'll need to supply an ethernet cable to connect the device. If you run into issues while setting up or testing the device, get in touch with us by submitting a support case via the Client Community.
In case you run into an issues with your PAX S300 while accepting payments, we'll also cover how to switch back to using your Bluefin SREDKey payment device.
1. Set up your new device with P2PE Manager
First things first; like all new payment devices for Bluefin, the PAX S300 needs to be received and activated in P2PE Manager.
If you've activated a device before, this should be familiar to you. If not, you might want to ask around your office - who set up your Bluefin devices in the first place? They should probably set up the PAX S300, as well.
Can't log in to P2PE Manager? Drop us a line via the Client Community by submitting a case. For specific instructions for activating your device in P2PE Manager, check out the guide below - specifically, the activation instructions starting on page six.
2. Create and bind a terminal in PatronManager
The PAX S300 connects to your computer indirectly via the internet - rather than directly via a USB cord. So how does your computer know which device to use when you click "Capture Credit Card Payment" in PatronManager? Terminals!
First, you need to create a terminal - that is, register the device in PatronManager. Then, you'll bind the terminal - i.e., you'll tell PatronManager you're going to use that device to take payments.
2.1. Log in to your PatronManager account and go to the app menu
2.2. Search "Terminals" and click it when it comes up
2.3. Click Create Terminal
2.4. Fill in the form and click Save
- Label - name your device so you'll recognize it later; it's a good idea to name it after the laptop you use it with, or the specific box office window the device lives in
- Serial Number - look at your device to find this number; it's next to "S/N"
- Click Save when you're done
2.5. Now find the terminal you just created and click Bind
2.6. You'll see it listed under the Currently Bound Terminal section - once you do, move on to the next step
3. Plug it in!
Now we need to connect the PAX S300 to the internet and perform a couple setup steps.
You'll need an ethernet cable to complete this step - grab one if you haven't done so already.
3.1. Connect your PAX S300 to the ethernet port in your office
Be sure to use the red ethernet port on the PAX S300 - it's labelled "LAN".
3.2. Plug in the PAX S300 into a power source to turn it on
3.3. Allow the device to go through its startup process
It'll beep and boop its way through the following screens:
- PAX Please Wait...
- Self-Test
- Self-Test Success
- browser (followed by several lines of text)
- Initializing APP
- DHCPing
- Local IP Register Connecting
- Local IP Register OK
- Health Report Connecting
- Health Report Processing
- Health Report Clearing Local Custom App
- Protected by Bluefin (with date, time, and IP address on-screen)
- Protected by Bluefin (with date and time on-screen)
3.4. When the screen on the PAX S300 shows "Protected by Bluefin", you're good to go!
4. Test the connection
Last but not least, let's make sure everything works properly before we try to sell to a patron.
4.1. Log in to PatronManager, go to the app menu, search and click Terminals
4.2. Click Test Connection
4.3. When this pop-up screen appears, click OK
4.4. When the next pop-up screen shows up, check the PAX S300 to make sure its screen says "SUCCESS" on it
If it does, click OK.
4.5. Once it does, it's time to test a transaction - create a ticket order, following normal procedure until you get to the payment page
Here's how to sell a ticket in PatronManager, in case you need a refresher.
4.6. On the payment page, click Process Card
4.7. Your PAX S300 will display "Insert or swipe your card" - let's do it!
First, swipe a card with a chip on it. The terminal will reject the card - it knows the card should be inserted, since it has a chip, so that's expected and good. Finally, insert the card and process the payment.
4.8. After processing the card, the PAX S300 will display "Transaction Approved"
4.9. Meanwhile, in PatronManager, a "Processing..." message will appear, followed by a "Success!" message
4.10. Don't forget to issue yourself a refund
You know, unless you're going to use the tickets after all.
4.11. Perfection - you're all done
That's it - it's showtime!
Help! My PAX S300 isn't working and I need to take payments!
Are you using Webroot? Webroot is known to cause issues with these PAX devices. Make sure to work with your IT team or Webroot support if you are experiencing issues processing transactions with your device. PatronManager is unable to provide support for Webroot or other antivirus applications.
Should your PAX S300 fail for any reason and you are unable to process transactions, unplug the device from the ethernet and power source, and connect your SREDKey device via USB to process transactions.
1. Plug the SREDKey USB cable into your computer
The screen will display "Ready" for a few seconds while it initializes.
2. Once the SREDKey displays "Swipe Card or Key-in Card Number", click Process Card on a transaction in PatronManager
3. In the next pop-up, click Reconfigure Device
4. Click SREDKey Encrypted Swiper
5. When you get back to the transaction, refresh the page
6. The Process Card button is now "Capture Card Swipe" - click it
