Invisible printer on wireless network

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Petrarch

14 posts

Geek

#114916 7-Mar-2013 09:03

I have a home wireless network. Computers and the printer are all connected to the network. But the computers can't detect the printer. I bought a new printer and connected it to the network successfully. But the computers still can't detect the printer.
The network is secured. All devices are connected to the same network. The printer works just fine through the USB port.

How is this possible?

Computers: MacOS. Printers: Old HP Photosmart; New Brother MFC.

Petrarch

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8960 posts

Uber Geek

#776076 7-Mar-2013 09:45

Probably your router - does it support bonjour? The Macs may be using that to find the printer.

Petrarch

14 posts

Geek

#776080 7-Mar-2013 09:53

The router is a Belkin N300, quite new.

How can I check whether the problem is as you describe?

Thanks!

RunningMan

8960 posts

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#776085 7-Mar-2013 09:59

Sorry, not familiar with that router personally - probably have to google it and see...

sbiddle

30853 posts

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#776087 7-Mar-2013 10:01

Do you have network isolation disabled?

Petrarch

14 posts

Geek

#776090 7-Mar-2013 10:08

Is this available in MacOS? I can't find it.

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#776238 7-Mar-2013 13:59

I think its a function of your router, can you get into your router configuration?

Do you know the IP address of your printer? If you do i know brother printer installs let you input the ip address instead of searching.

Petrarch

14 posts

Geek

#776283 7-Mar-2013 15:00

No, it can't find the printer by its ID either.

I've gone through the connection routine on the Printer once more, and it reports that it has successfully connected to the network. But the printer is still not detected by the computers.

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Goosey

2833 posts

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#776286 7-Mar-2013 15:03

On the mac, make sure printer sharing is enabled and anything else relevant in the printer settings menu.
Also, you didnt say if you have installed the up to date software/drivers on your computers.
I always download drivers direct from the printer manufactuer website as opposed to using their supplied CD.

'My Brother MFC is connected to my wifi and I use my mac via wifi to print, scan etc etc. I so love the android app .... you can scan and print from your phone !

sbiddle

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#776288 7-Mar-2013 15:06

Can you ping the printer and/or connect to the web interface that most have?

Network isolation is a wireless feature in virtually every AP/router that disables direct L2 traffic between devices which prevents protocols such as Bonjour from working.

pankajbanga

50 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#776312 7-Mar-2013 15:31

Have u downloaded the right driver I.e macos and not windows?

Petrarch

14 posts

Geek

#776325 7-Mar-2013 15:55

I downloaded the latest driver (MacOS) and installed it.
Previous install was definitely MacOS.
Problem persists.

pankajbanga

50 posts

Geek

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#776333 7-Mar-2013 16:13

I am using Belkin n300 and mfc with windows with no problem. Is your printer sharing turned on

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#776340 7-Mar-2013 16:27

Usually the printer will have a setting in its menus that enables it to print out a sheet of paper with its network information. This should show its IP address, do this please and report back.

trig42

5814 posts

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#776341 7-Mar-2013 16:31

You don't have a third party firewall on your Mac do you? Or an Anitvirus program?
Most Mac owners don't bother, but some do.

Petrarch

14 posts

Geek

#776353 7-Mar-2013 17:05

I've entered the printer IP address manually, and asked the computer to find it, but without success.

I've checked with the OS Firewall turned off, without it making a difference.

Sophos antivirus runs in the background, but no indication that it is the problem.

Also, there are two Mac laptops (different models, different OS version) on the network, and neither can access the printer via the network.

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