hernibs63
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: use wifi printer with os mountain lion without usb connection

Over the last two months I have tried three HP printers and today a new Brother printer, all WiFi, and cannot use them with my MAC computer unless it is connected via a USB cable.  Problems occurred because I felt the software needed upgraded on the printer, but when I bought two new ones in the last month, I was shocked to discover, neither worked without a USB cable between the MAC and the printer.

 

Surpirsingly, Brother support could not help.  HP support was dreadful.  Many seem to have similar problems but I am unsure how to get around them.  APPLE suggest ignoring vendor software and using the Software Update on the MAC.  However, unless the cable connection remains, then the printer is not visible in the scanners and printers window.  Disconnect the USB (which is meant to be a temporary connection in a wireless setup) and the connection disappears altogether.

 

The Brother printer, MFC-J591ODW, is meant to be air-print enabled.  However, even the iPads cannot detect it.

 

I am at my wits end.  Should I take back another printer to the support.  Please can someone help.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on May 10, 2013 1:17 PM

by LowLuster,Solvedanswer
LowLuster LowLuster
Level 6 (12,074 points)
A:

Check your router. It might be dropping the connection to the printer when it goes to sleep. Does the printer have a ethernet port, can you wire the printer to the router.

Posted on May 12, 2013 6:51 AM

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hernibs63

Q: use wifi printer with os mountain lion without usb connection

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  • by hernibs63,

    hernibs63 hernibs63 May 12, 2013 3:00 AM in response to BobTheFisherman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2013 3:00 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

    Yes Bob. I understand that, but it failed to work.  So I tried alternative methods.  The only way to add the printer at one point was via USB.

     

    However, when I last wrote, I managed to get the printer working for all of one day from from iMac Computer and via Air Print on all the household iPads.  Success, until now.  Connections all still in place, but computer cannot print without a USB connection and iPads cannot see the printer.  Printer still using same settings to the router.  Computer still using same settings for the router and has not lost its connectivity.

     

    Im completely stumped by this.  All printers added, still there in the preferences setting......

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 12, 2013 5:25 AM in response to hernibs63
    Level 9 (51,402 points)
    Desktops
    May 12, 2013 5:25 AM in response to hernibs63

    Airprint needs no network (it's adhoc) normal wirekess printng does require connection to the network. Your description of events strongly suggests that you have not connected the printer to the network yet.

     

    Tell tell us the network address of the printer and the Mac, first 3 groups only.

  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster May 12, 2013 5:57 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    May 12, 2013 5:57 AM in response to Csound1

    I believe you are mistaken about the airprint system.

     

    From the apple kb article.

     

    AirPrint

    AirPrint is an Apple technology that lets applications create full-quality printed output using Apple's driverless printing architecture. All iOS built-in apps that support printing use AirPrint. Apps on the App Store that use the iOS printing system also use AirPrint.

    AirPrint iOS requirements

    To use AirPrint, you need one of the following devices with the latest version of iOS:

    • iPad (all models)
    • iPhone (3GS or later)
    • iPod touch (3rd generation or later)

    AirPrint OS X requirements

    • OS X Lion
    • OS X Mountain Lion

    You also need an AirPrint-enabled printer listed in this article. Printers not listed in this article are not supported by AirPrint.

    Tip: Many AirPrint printers are available from the Apple Online Store.

    Important: Some printers listed in this article will require a firmware update out of the box to become AirPrint-enabled. See the manufacture's documentation or website for details.

    The AirPrint-enabled printer must be connected to the same home Wi-Fi network as the iOS device. This is the default configuration in most home Wi-Fi networks.

     

     

    It is not a add-hoc network system. It is a driverless system and does not need to have the printer install in print & scan. As far as I read it.

     

    Also this kb article.

     

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3500

     

     

     

    Csound1 wrote:

     

    Airprint needs no network (it's adhoc) normal wirekess printng does require connection to the network. Your description of events strongly suggests that you have not connected the printer to the network yet.

     

    Tell tell us the network address of the printer and the Mac, first 3 groups only.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 12, 2013 5:59 AM in response to LowLuster
    Level 9 (51,402 points)
    Desktops
    May 12, 2013 5:59 AM in response to LowLuster

    LowLuster wrote:

     

    I believe you are mistaken about the airprint system.

     

    From the apple kb article.

     

    AirPrint

    AirPrint is an Apple technology that lets applications create full-quality printed output using Apple's driverless printing architecture. All iOS built-in apps that support printing use AirPrint. Apps on the App Store that use the iOS printing system also use AirPrint.

    AirPrint iOS requirements

    To use AirPrint, you need one of the following devices with the latest version of iOS:

    • iPad (all models)
    • iPhone (3GS or later)
    • iPod touch (3rd generation or later)

    AirPrint OS X requirements

    • OS X Lion
    • OS X Mountain Lion

    You also need an AirPrint-enabled printer listed in this article. Printers not listed in this article are not supported by AirPrint.

    Tip: Many AirPrint printers are available from the Apple Online Store.

    Important: Some printers listed in this article will require a firmware update out of the box to become AirPrint-enabled. See the manufacture's documentation or website for details.

    The AirPrint-enabled printer must be connected to the same home Wi-Fi network as the iOS device. This is the default configuration in most home Wi-Fi networks.

     

     

    It is not a add-hoc network system. It is a driverless system and does not need to have the printer install in print & scan. As far as I read it.

     

    Also this kb article.

     

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3500

     

     

     

    Csound1 wrote:

     

    Airprint needs no network (it's adhoc) normal wirekess printng does require connection to the network. Your description of events strongly suggests that you have not connected the printer to the network yet.

     

    Tell tell us the network address of the printer and the Mac, first 3 groups only.

    Then perhaps you can fix the problem for the OP rather than just disagreeing with others, bu useful.

  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster May 12, 2013 6:03 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    May 12, 2013 6:03 AM in response to Csound1

    I don't know what your problem is. I linked to that article in the first page. I am trying to be helpful to the op and maybe stop others from posting misinformation like your post about it being a add-hoc network system along with allowing you to learn something.

     

    Just trying to be helpful to you and the op. But I guess you don't see it that way. Not sure why you don't.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 May 12, 2013 6:06 AM in response to LowLuster
    Level 9 (51,402 points)
    Desktops
    May 12, 2013 6:06 AM in response to LowLuster

    As you have yet to establish whether or not the printer and the computer are on the same network you have more work ahead of you.

     

    What's my problem? People who can't be bothered to do the basic groundwork before posting suggestions, not so much LowLuster, more LackLuster.

  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster May 12, 2013 6:10 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    May 12, 2013 6:10 AM in response to Csound1

    I have point the op to connecting the printer to his network. Not sure why he hasn't posted back with any of that info.

  • by hernibs63,

    hernibs63 hernibs63 May 12, 2013 6:40 AM in response to hernibs63
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2013 6:40 AM in response to hernibs63

    Sorry guys....the message is in the name...he (the op) is a she.

     

    Firstly.  Connecting printer to network.  Used LCD screeen on front panel of printer and have done this.  Connected to home router with wireless key.  No problem.

     

    Connected computer to router  and there are no problems.

     

    Because of problems today:  Router was turned off, left for 5 mins and turned on again.  Hey presto we have lift-off.

     

    Two hours later, the printer has been sleeping and connection is lost again.

  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster May 12, 2013 6:46 AM in response to hernibs63
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    May 12, 2013 6:46 AM in response to hernibs63

    I've seen this behavior with printers that go to sleep. Are you still trying to use the airprint system or have you installed drivers for the printer in print & scan. Not sure if the airprint feature can wake the printer up once it is asleep.

     

    You would be better off setting a static ip on the printer. It might be the printer is getting a different ip address once it goes to sleep and then wakes up. It shouldn't but setting a static ip on on the printer is the only way to make sure the ip never changes.

    hernibs63 wrote:

     

    Sorry guys....the message is in the name...he (the op) is a she.

     

    Firstly.  Connecting printer to network.  Used LCD screeen on front panel of printer and have done this.  Connected to home router with wireless key.  No problem.

     

    Connected computer to router  and there are no problems.

     

    Because of problems today:  Router was turned off, left for 5 mins and turned on again.  Hey presto we have lift-off.

     

    Two hours later, the printer has been sleeping and connection is lost again.

  • by hernibs63,

    hernibs63 hernibs63 May 12, 2013 6:48 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2013 6:48 AM in response to Csound1

    Low Luster I have all the software updated and the latest IOS.  Air printing isn't the problem.  Its the intermittent connection.  It just happens that in this home, we all use iPads, mobiles, laptops and desktop and want to be able to print from them all.....iPad uses AirPrint or app for Brother Printer.  One minute it works, but when no printers are shown, that's when I'm directed to the fact that either the printer has gone into hibernation or the connection has completely been lost for whatever reason.

     

    Technically, the printer connects to the network.  The computer connects to the network and when the computer is turned off at night and switched on the next morning, I expect everything still to be connected and working as all previous wireless printers did.  However, this is not what I am experiencing.

  • by LowLuster,Solvedanswer

    LowLuster LowLuster May 12, 2013 6:51 AM in response to hernibs63
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    May 12, 2013 6:51 AM in response to hernibs63

    Check your router. It might be dropping the connection to the printer when it goes to sleep. Does the printer have a ethernet port, can you wire the printer to the router.

  • by hernibs63,

    hernibs63 hernibs63 May 12, 2013 7:05 AM in response to LowLuster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2013 7:05 AM in response to LowLuster

    Yep.  That seems to be the problem.  I have rebooted router again.  Seems to be dropping.  Will contact BT. 

     

    Just tried printing a doc and in printer pane it has offered me (for the first time ever) to connect to a 'nearby printer' and set up settings.  Following up a successful print, I have gone back to system preferences and held the 'add' button to bring up the box to connect nearby printers.  It immediately showed the Brother Printer using Bonjour.....required with Air Print.  Yeah.  To ensure iPads can print using AirPrint, I have checked box in Sharing preferences, to allow printer and scanner sharing set to "Everyone Can Print".

     

    Thinking I might restart the computer for good measure now.  But if it happens again, I'll have to assume its the router causing the problem.

     

    Printer works.  iPads all showing Printer again.

     

    Many thanks for everyone's patience and help.

  • by LowLuster,

    LowLuster LowLuster May 12, 2013 7:23 AM in response to hernibs63
    Level 6 (12,074 points)
    May 12, 2013 7:23 AM in response to hernibs63

    Hope it stay working for you.

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