How do I connect Epson R1800 to new iMac?

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Level 1

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How do I connect Epson R1800 to new iMac?

Older printer to be sure, but it is decent quality and I still have a lot of ink and large photo paper I want to use up. The printer was connected to my older iMac (2009) with the cable that came with the printer and an ethernet adaptor (Sonnet Simply Fast). It appears that the new iMac port is a 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector). Although my Sonnet connector seems to fit in the port, I cannot get the computer to recognize that there is a printer connected. Until I can do that, it appears that I cannot download the print driver and whatever else I need from Epson. (Old iMac died, can't retrieve the latest driver from there.)

So do I need a different Ethernet adaptor? Or, I have USB ports available, how would I connect to the printer with a USB connection?

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), 27-inch late 2013

Posted on Jan 31, 2016 11:27 AM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

215,730 points

Jan 31, 2016 11:38 AM in response to KatyDaly

That printer has a USB port so just connect it with a USB cable to the USB port on iMac. Download and instal printer drivers from here: Epson Printer Drivers v3.2 for OS X.

After installing the drivers go to the System/Printers & Scanners to complete the installation.

You printer is supported according to this Apple document: Printer and scanner software available for download for your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Jan 31, 2016 11:40 AM in response to KatyDaly

If you want to connect via Ethernet :

Select System Preferences from the Apple menu.
Double-click on Print & Scan (Print & Fax).
In the Print & Scan (Print & Fax) window, click on the plus sign button.
Click on the IP tab in the Print Browser window. Set Protocol to HP Jetdirect - Socket. ...
Click Add.

You will need the IP address of the printer, refer to your Epson manual on how to get that information.

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Answer 3

KatyDaly Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 31, 2016 11:54 AM in response to Old Toad

Might be a dumb question...but where do you get a USB cable? I know that there was not one that shipped with the printer. Possible that one came with the iMac that I might find somewhere?

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Answer 4

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Jan 31, 2016 12:13 PM in response to KatyDaly

KatyDaly wrote:

Might be a dumb question...but where do you get a USB cable? I know that there was not one that shipped with the printer. Possible that one came with the iMac that I might find somewhere?

AT any computer store or office supply store.

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Answer 5

Old Toad

Level 10

215,730 points

Jan 31, 2016 12:13 PM in response to KatyDaly

You can get the cables directly from Epson: Epson Stylus Photo R1800 Ink Jet Printer or from any computer store.

It also has a Firewire port so you could use a Firewire cable with an Thunderbolt to Firewire adaptor. It does not nave an Ethernet port according to Epson's specifications page: Specifications

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Answer 6

KatyDaly Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 31, 2016 12:12 PM in response to KatyDaly

Answered my own dumb question! Found a USB cable upstairs with the remains of my old computer. Thank you so much for your help, folks!

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Answer 7

KatyDaly Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 31, 2016 12:43 PM in response to KatyDaly

Alright...new problem... Found the USB cable and connected the printer. As far as I can tell, there is no driver installed. The printer shows up in the add a printer window, but where it says to choose a driver it says "Software for this printer isn't available from Apple. Contact the printer's manufacturer for the latest software." If I select either of the standard drivers I have Epson 24-pin or 9-pin series, it says "The selected printer software isn't from the manufacturer and may not let you use all the features of your printer." If I do add either of them, everything appears to be working, including getting to the print dialog box, but nothing prints. If I go to the Epson site, the info provided has several options, but they all seem to be directing me to the Apple App Store for updates, and it says "no updates available at this time."

Looks like I need to contact Epson tomorrow. I think I need the original driver, not an update. And everything Epson that I had on the previous computer is lost...

But at least this is progress! Thanks again.

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Answer 8

Old Toad

Level 10

215,730 points

Jan 31, 2016 2:27 PM in response to KatyDaly

Did you try to download the drivers I linked to in my last post and install them. They are from Apple's Downloads website: Apple - Support - Downloads

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Answer 9

KatyDaly Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 31, 2016 5:42 PM in response to Old Toad

Downloading now. Says 7 to 17 hours to download. I've got the time.

And then it says 1 day left... Will just let it run overnight...

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Answer 10

Old Toad

Level 10

215,730 points

Feb 4, 2016 8:29 AM in response to KatyDaly

It should not take that long for that one updater file unless you have dial up.

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