02-19-2011, 03:15 PM

I've called the HP Support line and had no help there. I have an HP 6500A printer that I have connected to three Macs (2-13" Mac Book Pros, 1-Mac Mini, all running 10.6.6) and a Dell laptop running XP SP3. The Dell is connected via USB to the printer and the Macs are connected via an Airport Extreme. The printer hangs and often needs to be restarted during the day. This is an annoyance to all who use this printer. Any help in getting this printer to work well would be welcomed.

02-19-2011, 03:24 PM

I was not aware you could use USB and ethernet at the same time which maybe your issue why not just use ethernet for all and use as a networking printer and set as default
printer in all computers.

02-20-2011, 12:30 PM

OSXX,
My wife uses the USB connection when she VPNs into work. If she trys to use wireless, the VPN connection won't be recognized.

02-20-2011, 12:54 PM

When you say the printer "hangs and often needs to be restarted" do you mean you send a job to the printer and nothing prints? Then when you restart the printer, do your jobs then print? Does that happen on the Macs and the Dell? Did HP support say the printer would work via wireless and USB simultaneously?

02-21-2011, 02:15 PM

TrueTone,
The folks at HP support didn't say one way or the other. The Apple Genius I talked to today said that he didn't think the two protocols would be a problem. An yes, by hanging, I mean the jobs appear in the print queue, but don't go through, even though the printer says it is connected.

02-21-2011, 09:33 PM

Have you tried downloading and or running the HP Print Diagnostic Utility? It might be able to tell you what the problem is.

Can't Print? Print Jobs are Stuck in the Print Queue HP Officejet 6500A Plus e-All-in-One Printer - E710n - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

Does it only happen on the Macs or only on the Windows machine or both?

02-21-2011, 09:52 PM

I still think the problem is the dual hook-up, part of the security of VPN will probably not allow networking a local printer and even though the USB is connected to her computer
since both connections are used it is seeing the local network. You might try saving the print job then when she is offline print said material. Disconnect the USB keep the printer
networked and make sure sharing is on all computers. The simple solution may be to get
her a separate printer.

02-21-2011, 10:05 PM

I believe you're right osxx. Don't have experience with this particular model but I have used several of these types of HP all-in-one printers at work. So far none of them have been able to run wired and wireless at the same time. I think the print diagnostic may tell him that.