6500A Plus looses connection to iMac

[johnwhitaker2]

I am connecting wirelessly to my iMac and after a couple of days the printer will no longer print from the iMac. The iMac recognizes the printer, but when I press print all i get is a blue spinning bar and nothing prints. It's like the info is not going to the printer. I must turn off the printer (this takes almost 3 minutes !!!!) and turn the printer back on and then when I request a print it happens almost immediately. Something is not right and I can't figure out what it is.

[MBJustice]

I would try setting a static IP for the printer.  That resolves a lot of weird network communication issues.

Let's start by resetting the printing system:

Go to:

- Sys Prefs, Print & Fax
- Right (control) click in the rectangle listing your printers and select Reset Printing System.
WARNING - this will delete ALL of your printers!
- Select the plus sign to re-add it. Look for the printer, select it and wait until the "Add" button becomes available. Click it.

Now, let's set a static IP address for the printer:

- Print a Network Config Page from the front of the printer. Note the printer's IP address.
- Type that IP address into a browser to reveal the printer's internal settings.
- Choose the Networking tab, then Wireless along the left side, then the IPv4 tab.
- On this screen you want to set a Manual IP. You need to set an IP address outside the range that the router automatically sets (called the DHCP range). Commonly this  should be 10.0.1.2 to .200.  Let's set 10.0.1.220 for your printer.
- Use 255.255.255.0 for the subnet (unless you know it is different, if so, use that)
- Enter your router's IP (on the Network Config Page) for the gateway and first DNS. Leave the second one blank.
- Click 'Apply'.

Now, shut down the router and printer, start the router, wait, then start the printer.

After this you may need to redo 'Add a Printer' using the new IP address.

[johnwhitaker2]

MBJustice,

Followed all of the steps--very easy directions--printer is not recognized via ip address search (yes the ip address of the printer is the new static address) but it does see it in the default view. I add the printer and try to print and the printer appears to connect, but never prints and finally I get a message "printer not responding". ANy more thoughts?

[MBJustice]

Hmm, are you on a wireless network?  If so,  make sure your router is using only 2.4 ghz, and ipv4. 

And do you have a wireless network and a wired network going on your Mac?  If so, go to Sys Prefs, Network and then on the bottom left where your Network connections are listed, click on the gear icon and go to "Set Service Order"  Click on Airport and drag it above the Ethernet network.  Click OK. 

Try setting up and printing again. 

[johnwhitaker2]

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MBJustice wrote:

Hmm, are you on a wireless network?  If so,  make sure your router is using only 2.4 ghz, and ipv4. 

MBJ,   The whole computer & printer are running wireless. My last broadband test gave me 11,343 kbps. Sorry I have been all through my router (192.168.1.254--2wire through ATT Uverse) and can't find what ghz it is broadcasting on. Also saw nothing about ipv4. Where should I be looking for this info?

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