Continuing wireless connection issues: iMac to EPSON ET-7700

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attrex2013 Author

Level 1

11 points

Continuing wireless connection issues: iMac to EPSON ET-7700

I have an Epson ET-7700 which I have been using with my 2017 iMac for several years relatively trouble-free. However, since moving and installing the printer and the computer on a new home network, I have had nothing but trouble getting the printer to work with the iMac.

The really strange thing is that I have a MacBook Pro on the same network that has never had any trouble seeing the printer on the new network - even when the MacBook is located in the same room as the iMac.

I was able to get the printer working again with the iMac by downloading the Epson software package and doing a fresh install. Then a week or so later, I started having trouble again.

This morning, I did yet another fresh install. AND a fresh wireless setup on the Epson for good measure. No luck. The iMac cannot detect the printer. For example, if I attempt to add a printer in the Printers & Scanners, the iMac sees no printers at all. And searching on Epson does nothing.

In contrast, I was just able to add the Epson from the macBook Pro.

I can only conclude that there is something busted in the iMac. And I DON'T think it's anything to do with the macOS as I just upgraded to Big Sur from Mojave. (The MacBook is still running Mojave, BTW.)

Assuming there is some gremlin that's become embedded in the iMac, it has reared its ugly head ONLY since I moved to the new network. While new network does not produce the healthiest of signals in this upstairs room (router is downstairs), that has never been an impediment to the MacBook Pro seeing the printer.

Why the iMac should have so much trouble when the laptop has none makes utterly no sense to me.

iMac 27″ 5K

Posted on Aug 28, 2023 9:52 AM

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Answer 1

attrex2013 Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 28, 2023 10:59 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

Hi Jan,

The router may be at least part of the story here. That is, I did a router power cycle, and after that I could see the Epson in Printers & Scanners on the iMac. However, even though I could select it, it gave me an error when it tried to configure the printer.

As for the laptop, it actually did lose contact with the printer prior to the router recycle. Unusual for it. However, the printer came back online after the recycle.

Today I have a second macBook in the room, and it also has no trouble seeing the printer.

So the iMac remains the odd man out. And it's not for want of signal apparently - it's showing a nominal three bars right now while at least one of the two macBooks is showing only two.

As a final note, I reset the printer system (Reset the Mac printing system to solve a problem – Apple Support (UK)) on the iMac, but had not better luck actually getting the Epson printer configuration to complete.

I'm not convinced that my troubles are NOT related to signal strength. That is, whatever underlying weakness that the iMac may have might well go away if the WiFi signal were stronger. But I'm not about to go running out to buy a WiFi extender and then pray for a better result.

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Answer 2

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,485 points

Aug 28, 2023 10:30 AM in response to attrex2013

Hi,

Any change if you try the following power-cycle procedure (do not forget the router)?

Power off the Wi-Fi router, the printer, the Macs, any iPhones/iPads, and all other computers/devices. Wait two to three minutes. Power on the router. Wait two to three minutes. Power on the printer. Wait a minute or two. Power on the Macs. Power on any iPhones/iPads. Finally, power on all other computers/devices. The idea is to update device/computer discovery (Bonjour/mDNS).

It should be possible to print to the Epson ET-7700 without additional drivers, since the model is listed as supported in About AirPrint - Apple Support.

AirPrint works with wireless (Wi-Fi) or wired (Ethernet) network connections. This printer has Ethernet (in addition to wireless), and could be wired to one of the LAN ports of the router (depending on location). With an Ethernet printer connection, some router-related Wi-Fi problems may be avoided.

You may also want to reset the printing system and re-add the printer.

Reset the Mac printing system to solve a problem – Apple Support (UK)

Add a printer on Mac – Apple Support (UK)

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Answer 3

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

23,485 points

Aug 28, 2023 11:01 AM in response to attrex2013

Thank you for the information. Try the full power-cycle procedure (with the router and all computers/devices in the described order, with the waiting times). Could you, at least for a test, connect the printer by Ethernet to the router? Have you tried resetting the printing system and re-adding the ET-7700 (using AirPrint) without any drivers at all from the printer manufacturer?

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Continuing wireless connection issues: iMac to EPSON ET-7700

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