Wireless printing

11 Jan 2016 13:47:41

John Surtees

For everyday printing, I use an Epson Stylus SX535WD using wireless connection. For the most part it works with no problem, from Macs, iPhone and iPad. but now and again for some reason it just appears to loose wireless connection. Our Virgin Super Hub II router is only a stud wall away with excellent wifi performance.

Our Macs are very rarely switched off, and the only way I have found to correct the situation is to do a restart on the Mac Mini, after which the printer works without problem for perhaps a couple of days or so.

As usual though, the problem always seems to happen just when we want to catch the post or when we want to print something quickly before going out!

It's nothing we can't get round, but any thoughts on this would be appreciated?

Re: Wireless printing

11 Jan 2016 22:27:00

Mick Burrell

Can you confirm - just restarting the Mini fixes it? If the printer loses connection, the iOS devices wouldn't print so it sounds as if it's the mini losing connection, not the printer.

If the Mini can't print, can it get web sites and email? If so, it must be reaching your router. Do you know the IP address of the printer? Can the Mini ping it using Network Utility (found in System>Library>CoreServices>Applications)

Re: Wireless printing

12 Jan 2016 08:39:09

John Surtees

Mick, thanks for the phone call. Unfortunately, I had to go out and I will not be around today (Tuesday). But to answer your question, when the connection fails, none of my devices connect. But we can still access the internet and send emails. However, when it’s working, even the devices that are using the wifi from an Airport express located in the loft, all still connect and work without trouble.

In a bit of a rush at the moment, but will try to get back to it Wednesday.

Re: Wireless printing

12 Jan 2016 11:25:00

Derek Wright

Have you checked to see if there is another Wifi network clashing with your network. It could be from a mobile hotspot transmitted by an iPhone, a SIM connected car or bus etc.

Have you had any changes in the house, new electrical kit or lights etc.

Re: Wireless printing

12 Jan 2016 16:18:16

Trevor Hewson

I don't understand how rebooting the Mac mini re-enables printing over AirPlay from, for example, an iPad to your printer!

Is it possible that your iPad is not accessing your printer directly over AirPlay but that the Mac mini has printer sharing enabled and is acting as a printer server?

Re: Wireless printing

13 Jan 2016 12:35:16

John Surtees

Some things to think about here. I don't think I'm effected by other other devices clashing with my network. I might try switching off my Airport express and just use the connection from my router and see if there is any clashing there.

I’d always imagined that the print command went from whatever device to the router and then on to the printer. But if the Mac mini is indeed being used as the print server, that would at least be the reason why the lost connection, reconnects when rebooting the Mini. If this is the case, then the printer would refuse to work at all from other devices if the Mini was shut off. I’ll try this when I can rest control of the Mini from Joy, who is at present hogging it.

The problem is that it can work for days, so I might try something and not know if the changes have worked or not.

Mick, any clues where I might find the Printers IP address?

Re: Wireless printing

13 Jan 2016 15:59:34

John Surtees

I switched off the Mac Mini and the other portable devices still print. So I guess the Mini isn’t acting as the print server. Looking for the IP address, using the menu on the printer I was able to run off the Epson Status sheet, which not only gave my IP address, but a whole load of other info, including SSID list which as well as my Virgin router and my Airport Express, also listed is a third one, that I don’t recognise.

Anyway at the moment all is working OK, so we’ll see how long it is before the problem raises its head again.