Wireless printing

I am assuming the following:

1. You have properly configured your Brother printer to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
2. You have configured OS X for this particular printer using System Preferences > Printers & Scanners. That is, the exact printer model shows up and appears as "Idle."

If you haven't already, you can enable the printer web-based interface CUPS on your MacBook, as follows:

• Open Terminal, and enter the following command: cupsctl WebInterface=yes <return>
• You can later disable this interface if you wish by entering: cupsctl WebInterface=no <return>
• To access CUPS, enter the following into a web browser: http://localhost:631/printers/
• When you do, you should see a list of your current installed printers.
• Choose your Brother printer.
• You can then use the Maintenance and Administration options to control the printer.

I suggest that you try both the "Print Test Page" and "Print Self Test Page" options under Maintenance to start with.

I got in using the Terminal, but couldn't print either of the pages off, since the printer says it's 'offline'.

Unfortunately, CUPS will only be useful if the printer was seen as "Idle." That would indicate that your device can communicate with it and that the printer is available.

For some reason or another, Brother printers have been difficult to work with. Not sure if it only relates to them connected by wireless though.

... but let's double-check your network configuration to rule out anything there.

What is the make & model of your TalkTalk router? Does it provide wireless or wired only connections? Is the Time Capsule (TC) connected to it by Ethernet or by wireless? Regardless how do you have the TC configured ... performing as a router or in bridge mode?

Thanks, it does.

Do you have the TC configured for a roaming network with the TalkTalk router? That is, are both routers providing a Wi-Fi network but using the same network name, wireless security type and password? Also is the TC configured as a bridge?

Ok, I think this may be the problem. You have two separate Wi-Fi networks. Your Mac or any computer, when connected to one, will not see resources (think, printer) that are connected to the other.

The simplest solution is to reconfigure the TC for a roaming style network with the TalkTalk. Each router will continue to provide a separate Wi-Fi network, but both will use the same network name so that wireless clients will only "see" one network to connect to.

If you are game, I can give you the instructions to create this type of network.

Ok, let's give it a try then:

Before we go into this, I would like for you to try something first.

• Power down the TC and leave it powered off.
• Verify that your Brother printer is connected to the Wi-Fi network provided by the TalkTalk router.
• On your Mac, verify that it is also connected to the TalkTalk network.
• Once both of these are verified, see if the Brother printer shows up as "Idle" in System Preferences now and that the CUPS interface can find it.
• If both work, then we verified that the issue is that both devices were not on the same network and the cause of the problem.
• If it doesn't work, we can still set up the roaming network, but I don't think that will resolve the printer issue, only getting your network properly configured.

Some upfront assumptions

• The TalkTalk is your "main" router and the TC will be extending it for this roaming network.
• The Ethernet cable, coming from the TalkTalk to the TC is connected to the WAN (circle-of-dots) port on the TC.
• The TC currently is connected to power.
• For a roaming network, the following are important:
  • All routers must be interconnected by Ethernet.
  • Except for your "main" router, all others must be reconfigured as a bridge.

Step-by-step using AirPort Utility:

• Remove the TC from power and also temporarily disconnect the Ethernet cable connected to the TC.
• Perform a "factory default" reset on the TC.
  • Hold in the reset button on the TC. (Note: Be gentle. Just push it in far enough so you can feel it "click.").
  • Continue to hold it in, and then, connect it back to power
  • Wait for 8-10 seconds until the status LED starts to flash rapidly, then release the reset button.
  • Allow a full minute for the TC to restart to a slow, blinking amber LED light status.
• Reconnect the Ethernet cable. The TC should now be in its "out-of-the-box" configuration which is a wireless Internet router that will broadcast an unsecured Wi-Fi network with a network name of something like: Apple Network NNNNNN
• Temporarily connect your Mac, using an Ethernet cable, to one of the available LAN (opposing arrows) ports on the TC.
• Run the AirPort Utility on the Mac. It should find the TC.
• Click on the Base Station tab > Base Station Name > Enter a desired name for your TC here. Using TC would work just fine. Try not to use a name that includes spaces or special characters.
• Click on the Internet tab > Connect Using > Select "DHCP"
• Click on the Wireless tab > Network Mode > Select "Create a wireless network"
• For Wireless Name, enter the same network name (aka SSID) that your TalkTalk wireless network is using.
• For Wireless Security, try using "WPA2 Personal" to start with. If this doesn't work, we can try a few other things.
• Click on the Network tab > Router Mode > Select "Off (Bridge Mode)"
• Click on Update and allow the TC to restart.
• You can now disconnect the Ethernet cable from the Mac.

If all went successfully, your Mac should only "see" a single wireless network now. Verify that you can still access the Internet. If so, then try seeing if your Brother printer shows up a "Idle" in System Preferences.

Just one thing. The 'factory default' on the Time Capsule won't erase the drive inside will it? I've got various bits and pieces I wouldn't like to lose.

No, it does not delete anything on the TC's internal or any external hard drives attached to its USB port.

Although it will come in handy at some time, you can try without connected your MBA by Ethernet, and just connect by wireless.

However, be aware that the TC will be providing its own wireless network, different from the one provided by the TalkTalk, so be sure to connect to the TC's network before trying to access it with the AirPort Utility.