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Tom Ostertag

Q: Airport/AppleTalk Printer Problem

Greetings:

I have a MacBook Pro running MacOS X 10.5.5 and have installed Airport Extreme Update 2008-004 (1.0). Since then, I have been unable to connect to my LaserWriter Pro 630 (AppleTalk Over Ethernet Only, no TCP/IP) that is connected to my home network. I also cannot connect to another LaserWriter Pro 630 at my daughter's house. My daughter is also unable to connect that printer. The printers do not show up in the AppleTalk Local Zone under Printers & Fax Preferences.

Apparently this problem has been noted before but was supposed to be solved by MacOS X 10.4.6. Obviously the problem is back with 10.5.5 and 10.5.6 and 10.5.7.

I installed the 10.5.6 update successfully on my MacBook Pro (MBP). I tried to connect to the printer via Airport Appletalk and am still not able to do so. I have noticed that the printer sharing options with my other computers are now working properly so I can print to the LaserWriter Pro 630 from my MBP if I have my G4 up and running. This is also the first time that I have been able to print to my HP PhotoSmart A610 Series printer that is directly connected to the G4. I was able to print to this printer on receipt of the MBP but within a week, I installed 10.5 and was unable to print until now.

I am now running 10.5.7 and have installed all of the updates that Apple has published. I still cannot access my LaserWriter 630 Pro (Appletalk Only) printer via Airport. I was able to do this before as described in this thread.

Somewhere there should be a solution to this situation. Suggestions are solicited and appreciated.

MacBook Pro & LaserWriter Pro 630, Mac OS X (10.5.7), Networked to a G4 and a G3

Posted on Jun 6, 2009 9:23 PM

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Q: Airport/AppleTalk Printer Problem

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  • by adsfushi72,

    adsfushi72 adsfushi72 Jun 8, 2009 6:51 PM in response to Tom Ostertag
    Level 4 (1,115 points)
    Jun 8, 2009 6:51 PM in response to Tom Ostertag
    Hello, Tom Ostertag.
    I'm a little unclear on your network setup. Could you explain it in a little more detail?
  • by Tom Ostertag,

    Tom Ostertag Tom Ostertag Jun 8, 2009 7:33 PM in response to adsfushi72
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 8, 2009 7:33 PM in response to adsfushi72
    I have three computers, a G3 (Mac OS 9.2.2), a G4 (MacOS 10.4.11) and a MacBook Pro MacOS 10.5.7). I also have two printers that are network accessable. One is an HP 5180C and the other is a LaserWriter Pro 630 (AppleTalk only). This is all hard wired (category 5 cable) together except the MacBook Pro. The MBP is connected using wifi and that is provided by the DSL wireless modem (ActionTec Wireless Gateway Model GT701-WG). The output from the DSL modem is run to a 8 port switch (Netgear) that is how all the rest of the equipment is connected.

    Hope this is enough information.
  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jun 9, 2009 9:13 AM in response to Tom Ostertag
    Level 9 (61,292 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 9, 2009 9:13 AM in response to Tom Ostertag
    Your setup is complex.

    I suggest you try reducing the complexity by connecting the Macbook Pro temporarily with an Ethernet cable. Make sure Appletalk is turned on for the port you connect with. The setting is in the middle pane of the Network Interface Preference for the Interface you are using.
  • by Tom Ostertag,

    Tom Ostertag Tom Ostertag Jul 29, 2009 4:52 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 29, 2009 4:52 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Grant:

    I know my system works (printing to the LaserWriter Pro 630) on a hard cable connection. I want to be able to print wirelessly (as I should be able to do).

    My son-in-law solved the problem. He purchased an old Airport Extreme Base Station A1034 (for $10.00. I had to pay $30.00 on eBay) and hooked the LaserWriter Pro 630 AppleTalk Only printer directly into that unit. Of course we are now using different wireless base stations than we had and had to set them up manually instead of automatically with Airport Utility. It works great! The major change was to have the Connection Sharing set to Off (Bridge Mode) in the Internet Connection dialog box under Internet in Airport Utility.

    Guess I made my system even more complex.

    Thanks for the help!

    Tom