Canon MG3620 loses connection to M1 MBP

That printer supports AirPrint, per the specs: https://downloads.canon.com/nw/printer/products/printers-and-multifunction/pixma-mg-series/mg3620/specifications/mg3620-large-spec-sheet.pdf

No vendor drivers are needed.

Firmware update procedure using the built-in web interface starts on page 111: https://downloads.canon.com/hsg2023/ijprinters/manuals/MG3600ser_OnlineManual_Mac_EN_V02.pdf

Check for firmware updates.

I’d try using the wired Ethernet path too as mentioned earlier, as in various places Wi-Fi in 2.4 GHz tends to be a festival of “malconnectionry”.

rbpeirce wrote:

I need someone to address the M1 issue. The printer never problems with Intel Macs, and the Orbi system handles the fact that the printer is 2.4 and the Intel Macs also are 5 like the M1.

Hard wiring may be the only solution but I'd prefer not to do that unless I have to.

Approximately all recent Wi-Fi routers and mesh routers treats 2.4 GHz, 5 Ghz, and 6 GHz as one network, unless the admin configuring the gear went out of their way to spit the bands, or the Wi-Fi gear is ancient and buggy.

Switch to the AirPrint path, update the printer firmware, update the Wi-Fi firmware, and test again.

rbpeirce wrote:

How do I "switch" to the AirPrint path? I logged into the printer and selected the AirPrint button and lost the connection again!

Your printer or your network is faulty, your signal too weak, your Mac Wi-Fi failing, you've got a firewall or VPN or security app or ad-blocker or other installed app causing routing, or you are encountering (lots) of interference.

Two sets of data: The first is the hardware and software inventory, and the second is a Wi-Fi overview.

For the first, please download and run (free) EtreCheck, and share the results to the clipboard. Then open a new reply here, and press the Additional Text button that looks like a printed page, and paste and post the hardware and software configuration report here. From that, we can get a little more detail about what is installed and what is running here.

For the second, on a Mac, the basic Wi-Fi environment characteristics are visible when using Option-Click on the Wi-Fi logo 🛜 in the menu bar to capture some Wi-Fi network data.

For us to look at the Wi-Fi network data here, post the items shown in the following image including the Security mode and from Channel to NSS inclusive (Security, Channel, Country, RSSI, Noise, Tx Rate, PHY mode, MCS, NSS, green highlight) (without posting the Wi-Fi address, any local HotSpots that might be present, the network name, or the BSSID, all of which are expurgated from the image shown below, red highlight), and we can take a look at the basic network environment.

When you get to it (later! once the network is stable! yours is not!), here is the printer setup:

Print wirelessly from your Mac to your printer - Apple Support

When you Add a new printer within macOS System Settings, you just need to select "AirPrint" as the driver you wish to use. Many times it will be the default, but I have encountered cases where you must manually select it if other drivers are installed.

<< one possible problem is the printer is on the 2.4 Ghz part of the network and the computer on 5. >>

Your Router connects everything: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and Ethernet-wired into ONE network and directs traffic accordingly. It's all connected already.

<< I've not tried a cable connection >>

you should try an Ethernet connection, because the problem might be that the printer is using DHCP and its IP address changes from time to time.

<< Usually I just get the bonjour option. Sometimes I get the Canon ijnetwork option as well. >>

You have to be very patient, because printer discovery and Driver location can take a full minute or more.

Be sure to let readers know what you find out. This is an issue that others might refer to.

rbpeirce wrote:

In the process of fiddling with the printer I discovered my firmware was out of date. I updated and it might possibly solve the problem. I'm going to give it a chance before proceeding further.

I have another Canon in VA that I bought recently and it has never given me a problem. I have no way to check it right now but it may possibly be running the current firmware.

If there is somebody connected into the remote network that you can FaceTime with, and they are willing to share their display, and the unspecified Canon model supports a web management interface, then you can check that remotely.

If the remote firewall is mid-grade or higher gear, it can also potentially be configured to offer a VPN server (preferably with robust credentials implemented), though that takes some initial setup and testing before use. The remote firewall would need VON server support and probably also DDNS support.