Brother HL-2170W

After getting a Time Capsule, I ran into the same problem as i had to reconfigure the printer and for some reason it didn't print anymore. after a while i got it work again, though none of the particular solutions listed here worked for me. i am not certain what exactly got it to work but in the hope that somebody else may benefit from this i will list a few things i did. the sum of it helped:

- factory reset printer
- use BRA AdminLight
- i noticed that the printer works fine in wifi when there is no protection used (no WPA2)
- i connected using ethernet to configure
- This i think was the key that solved it: When using WPA2 use AES Encryption ⚠ it didn't work with TKIP.

may be somebody else can confirm that AES vs. TKIP may be the culprit.

good luck.

Using a Brother HL-2170W on Snow Leopard 10.6.4 on an iMac I am able to set up the printer wirelessly but the Airport quickly loses contact with the printer. If I turn the Airport off and back on with the Mac, the printer is re-found and prints fine. It's a bit of a pain, but it always seems to work.

I got the (blasted) thing to work by updating the CUPS driver from Brother's site and then running the original setup utility that came with the install cd.

I connected the printer to Airport Extreme with an ethernet cable. I did create a non-encrypted network with the name SETUP. Could that be the key, I'm not sure...

Please, I need assistance. I'm trying to setup / install my Brother HL-2170W printer. I follow the instructions and according to the wonderful pop-up window, I installed it successfully.
But after the restart of the laptop, the pop-up window asks me to select the printer - no printer is there. I then have to set it up manually using System Preferences / Printers & Fax. It does set up using the IP address but when I try to send a print job to it. The printer queue shows it times out, can't find printer, etc.
Have: reset, shutdown, rebooted, restarted, inserted Printer CD multiple times. Nada, zilch, zippo in printing. (I have downloaded the latest print drivers from Brother.)
The HP allin1 works fine as a wireless device.

This is disappointing. All the posts here are a year old or more. And the Question is not answered.

It took hours, but I did get my Brother HL-2170W installed. Downloaded driver from Brother for OS X 10.6.4. Tests verified. Status "In Use."

When I attempt to print a test page (or anything) the printer utility shows that the job is printing. But it doesn't print.

I get the message: "Unable to reserve port: Address family not supported by protocol family."

I disconnected my Airport Extreme, shut off the printer, did everything I can think of and I still get the same "not supported" message.I don't understand what the message means, but it appears to relate to the router.

Any solutions, anyone?

Here's what worked for me (after hours of frustration):

1. Open Airport Utility. Click "Manual Setup".
2. Select "Add wireless clients ..." from Base Station drop-down menu
3. In Wireless Setup Utility: Select "Allow client by PIN" and click "Continue"
4. Push HL-2170W's reset button(between Ethernet and USB ports) with pen or
paper clip for 3 seconds or so until yellow toner light flashes. The Brother will print a PIN number. (Yellow light will continue to flash as it searches for a network)
5. In Wireless Setup Utility enter PIN number and click "Continue"
6. After a minute or so Airport should recognize the Brother; press "Done"
7. Open "Print and Fax",and click "+" to add printer. HL-2170 will show in the Printer options and you should be good to go.

I was able to set up the printer (it took quite a while). Mine is connected to an airport via ethernet cable. The airport connects wirelessly to an Extreme base station. I'm very frustrated that the connection is frequently lost. Why is the connection timing out? Restarting the airport seems to fix the issue eventually, but come on, this is not why I bought the printer!

My stupid 8 year old HP Deskjet 960 squats on that connection tirelessy, but my brand new Brother falls asleep at the wheel. SO frustrating. Is there even such thing as a laser printer that will STAY, RELIABLY on basic home network?

This worked perfectly! The only thing I had to do was make sure the wireless interface was active. I did a reset of the printer just before pushing the button with paper clip. To reset the printer I powered it down and then pressed the go (blue) button until all the lights were lit. Then press the go button 10 times.

Yeeeaaahhhh!!!! Thank you! If you're ever in Boise, you get a free tour of the Blue Turf!

I've been working for DAYS on this, to no avail. I don't know what government insider ops you needed to pull to get this information, but it works. Why didn't the Brother site tell me this? Good grief!

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to share your information.

Not seeing the answer that helped me solve the "rastertobrother2140" consuming all CPU power problem; so posting in the hope it will help someone down the line (it just re-happened to me for the second time in 1 year, so had forgotten how to solve it):

Log into the CUPS interface at http://localhost:631/printers/ and cancel the stuck job.

Message was edited by: Pascal Schaedeli

Just got an airport extreme yesterday and it has disabled my Brother 2170w too. Wont work on network or wireless.

Has there been an update to the airport utility? I was trying to follow Windypoint's steps and I dont see how to:

2. Select "Add wireless clients ..." from Base Station drop-down menu.

The 2170 worked without fail when I had a crappy Dlink 655 installed. 😟

EDIT

DUH!!! I did find how to add wireless client. Will report back if this works.

Message was edited by: kbia

Hello, I bought the Brother HL2170-W back in August. I have yet to get it to print wirelessly!

I have contacted Brother and their assistance is useless.

I have followed the thread and I am at my wits end.

I have a HP Allin1 which prints wirelessly just fine. I did not have to create a new network or change the configuration of the 2 networks I do have (5.0 GHZ for the Mac and 2.4 for the iPod Touch).

Do I have to create another network just for this printer? Why?

(I have downloaded the BRAdmin light, did not use the CD-ROM that came with the printer. I have connected it to the laptop, the TimeCapsule / Airport, deleted the printer, added the printer, connected it to the back of the Time Capsule, reset to factory defaults, reset it for wireless by inserting a pen point in the back of the printer as indicated, I have used the CD-ROM, etc.)

The only way it can print is with a cable connecting it to the back of the Time Capsule.

I'm at the point of tossing the printer through the window.

Can anyone please advise? Thanks!

Hello, I have been trying since August to get my Brother HL-2170W to work wirelessly. I followed the instructions provided by Brother. No success. I have followed the thread here and followed the various sets of instructions. NO luck.

I'm at my wits end.

I've downloaded BRAdmin, I have reset the printer, I was able to get the PIN code (once) but after entering it, the little "circle of death" kept on spinning for 60+ minutes without ever connecting. (I've put the printer as close to the Time Capsule as physically possible.)

I have turned the printer on and off multiple times, reset the printer multiple times, inserted a pen tip in the back of the printer multiple times according to the instructions. I have put the cable back, removed the cable, etc. Nothing seems to be working.
Jim

Hello, called Brother up for support. Though they were not able to get it working the instructions they provided did work: connect an ethernet cable printer to Time Capsule, reset printer to factory settings, print out pages, type in IP address, follow the prompts and enter the Time Capsule password! all worked after multiple tries (Brother support only allows the tech 2x to get it working before they refer you to Apple support! LOL).

I do have to turn on my other wireless printer 1st before turning on the Brother printer in order for the Brother to connect via IP to my network and print. Also printing is very slow

The response with the following information WORKED PERFECTLY! Thank you!



1. Open Airport Utility. Click "Manual Setup".
2. Select "Add wireless clients ..." from Base Station drop-down menu
3. In Wireless Setup Utility: Select "Allow client by PIN" and click "Continue"
4. Push HL-2170W's reset button(between Ethernet and USB ports) with pen or
paper clip for 3 seconds or so until yellow toner light flashes. The Brother will print a PIN number. (Yellow light will continue to flash as it searches for a network)
5. In Wireless Setup Utility enter PIN number and click "Continue"
6. After a minute or so Airport should recognize the Brother; press "Done"
7. Open "Print and Fax",and click "+" to add printer. HL-2170 will show in the Printer options and you should be good to go.