Printing wirelessly from Mac.

Question

Level 1

8 points

Printing wirelessly from Mac.

I have been trying to do this. The procedure presents itself straightforward and fairly automatic - it even tells me it is printing, but it isn't.

I think my Mac has located and is trying to print from my son's identical model hp2540 printer (we bought them together) in neighbouring flat.

When on the Print form/popup/whateveryoucallit I am asked "location" what do I input or what else do I do?

I have not yet succeeded in printing wirelessly from this location (or any other).

I am able to print from my Mac with cable: connection, so that part of the system is working.

This is the 13" Retina I bought late last October; I registered it only today.

(if it matters, I don't remember whether my OS is Capitan or Yoshemite, it's the latest.)

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Feb 15, 2016 5:35 AM

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Answer 1

ChitlinsCC

Level 7

21,146 points

Feb 15, 2016 8:38 AM in response to evennewerbie

You seem to have 'begun' to simplify your problem...

I would next turn OFF your son's printer - eliminating it from further steps - leaving your printer ON

Remove your "Printer" from your Mac's list (that way IF it was indeed your son's, you are starting afresh)

Add your printer again and test. = Joy?

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Answer 2

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Feb 15, 2016 3:42 PM in response to ChitlinsCC

no joy with ChitlinsCC advice. I start by. Powering off all computers, printers, and routers.

poweron your:

-- router. wait 15 seconds or more

-- printer. wait 15 seconds or more.

-- computer.

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Answer 3

evennewerbie Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 16, 2016 6:18 AM in response to rccharles

Done what is suggested in both of these replies. No joy.

Yes a box comes up a blue bar fills up from left to right. It tells me the printer is not connected. It seems to know about my printers which I never told it. Some places in the attached jungle I keep seeing 'deskJet 2540 series' or c'. So these must be the two printers. They now appear at the bar the bottom of the screen, forget what what is it's called. They tell me 'printer not connected'.

So how do I connect the printer? In a simple way as everything seems to be ready.

I have been here. Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points - Apple Support

Looks stultifying. Already been to places like that. Completing seems to involve answering a lot of questions I don't know the answer to.

Tried this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMo7zifSjxo

You have to go to a place called hardware in Settings. There is not a place called hardware in my settings, but at least I found printers there. Again it knows about my printers. One of them and it tells me is 'in use'. I turn it off (the other one is turned off) and it still tells me it's in use. And also that it is not connected which is what I went there for.

And I have also been round the houses with the General Mac instructions for how to connect printers.

One of the things I never understand is you have to connect to a wi-Fi network. But which network? If I look for the networks I could connect to there is my BT which is my Internet connection etc, and my printer is another network. Anyway neither is ever worked for this.

By the way one of the stultifying things I came across in the Mac instructions was about insert at some point a TTIP/IP Number or identification. I asked in the Apple shop what that was how do I find it out and they told me it's on the printer. Ah the printer! I would never have guessed.

Also because when I look on the printer I find no number likely to be that.

It can't be this difficul surely!?

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Answer 4

evennewerbie Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 16, 2016 6:19 AM in response to ChitlinsCC

Have tried that among other things. No joy. Please see my reply to recharges.

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Answer 5

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Feb 16, 2016 10:27 AM in response to evennewerbie

One of the things I never understand is you have to connect to a wi-Fi network. But which network? If I look for the networks I could connect to there is my BT which is my Internet connection etc, and my printer is another network. Anyway neither is ever worked for this.

Both, mac and printer, need to be connected to the same router.

After running this app, I was able to connect to my airprinter. no idea why.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/discovery-bonjour-browser/id305441017?mt=8

repeat as often as needed😉

power off all devices. poweron your:

-- router. just one needed for printing. wait 15 seconds or more

-- printer. wait 15 seconds or more.

-- computer.

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Answer 6

Eric Root

Level 10

685,299 points

Feb 16, 2016 10:31 AM in response to evennewerbie

If you haven't done so already, try resetting the printing system.

OS X Mavericks: Reset the printing system
also Yosemite

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Answer 7

ChitlinsCC

Level 7

21,146 points

Feb 16, 2016 10:40 AM in response to evennewerbie

Curiouser and curiouser... said Alice

When you say tried "that", do you mean "all of these"?

turn OFF your son's printer - eliminating it from further steps - leaving your printer ON

Remove your "Printer" from your Mac's list (that way IF it was indeed your son's, you are starting afresh)

Add your printer again and test.

A couple of things occur to me:

Can your son in the neighboring flat print wirelessly to his identical setup?
What makes you think that your Mac is trying to print to his printer? (what clues?)
Tell us what OS X is "for certain" - Apple Menu > About this Mac

When troubleshooting, it is paramount to "simplify" the conditions as much as possible.

You have a Mac, a wifi printer & and a wifi router - each has an IP Address assigned by the router = all "fresh" since you have reset/rebooted per Robert's strategy

You are able to connect to the Internet via your wifi connection

Your printer supports AirPrint (I checked) > Connect an AirPrint printer to a Wi-Fi network - Apple Support < Try this next

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Answer 8

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Feb 16, 2016 10:52 AM in response to ChitlinsCC

Your printer supports AirPrint (I checked) > Connect an AirPrint printer to a Wi-Fi network - Apple Support < Try this next

Some printer may have airprint and some other wifi printing. Could get confusing. Check printer configuration.

R

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Answer 9

ChitlinsCC

Level 7

21,146 points

Feb 16, 2016 11:13 AM in response to rccharles

rccharles wrote:

Your printer supports AirPrint (I checked) > Connect an AirPrint printer to a Wi-Fi network - Apple Support < Try this next

Some printer may have airprint and some other wifi printing. Could get confusing. Check printer configuration.

R

I checked > http://m.hp.com/us/en/products/printers/product-detail.do?oid=5296007

The Apple AirPrint article says (adding "Mac" to the "blurb" in the screenshot)

Connect an AirPrint printer to a Wi-Fi network

You can connect an AirPrint printer to a Wi-Fi network for wireless printing from your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

This general information isn't specific to any particular AirPrint printer. For detailed steps, check the printer's documentation or contact the printer's manufacturer. All Wi-Fi printers need a properly configured Wi-Fi network and the name (or SSID) and password of that network.

....

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