Seeing Scanner on a wifi Macbook Pro

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Patrick, that could work, if the "foamy" metals are sufficiently strong enough. Don't want to get into another "bend-gate" here. :)

And I think Apple did invest in Liquidmetal some time back. Haven't heard anything since then.

Frankly, my current MBP (mid-2015, 15" retina) is really nice and would have been fantastic back when. My wife has a 13" MBP, but for me that screen is too small. I used to have a 17" MBP and liked the compromise of weight and size that one offered. Too bad Apple doesn't make 17" any more.
 
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Right, here we go again.

First, I did some maintenance on the Router (turned it off, unplugged all the ethernet inputs, plugged them back in, turned it on again).

Now I SHOULD have tested it there, just to be scientific, but I didn't. I went on to the Router settings and changed the Channel from 'Auto' (allegedly looks for the cleanest local wifi) to number 3.

Then I tried it, with mixed results.

1) On the Macbook, with Ethernet ONLY, no WiFi, prints, and also sees the scanner, implying a LAN-type connection between the machines.

2)With Ethernet OFF, WiFi ON, it prints, but doesn't see the scanner, contradicting 1) a bit.

3) Replaced Ethernet, so now Ethernet AND Wifi - still doesn't see the scanner.

4) Rebooted the CANON, and this time, sees the scanner (suggesting the logjam might be in the Canon, and there ain't no 'clear' or 'reset' button on the thing, of course.

5) However, at this stage MacBook printing starts to 'hang'. Sits in the Print Queue, doing nothing. Printed a sheet through the MacMini, no bother, and that seemed to encourage it, as it was followed by the hanging page from the MacBook.

6) Since then, Macbook sees the scanner every time (although now I'm leaving in Ethernet/Wifi), but printing hangs each time, until I've run another job through the Canon, or even just done a photocopy on it. Then it stops hanging, and runs the page out of the Print Queue.

Apart from being confused (and Patrick, your quote "without really understanding the details or reasons of what they are doing" is absolutely spot on, and no offence taken - I can operate the things, and have done for decades, but I get to a point where ignorance overwhelms me...) it seems to me that the problem might lie with the Canon, rather than with either Mac or the Router. Once it has taken in some 'communication' error, it doesn't just shrug it off, but needs a definite reboot (well, off, then on), to clear its tubes. Make any sense?

Do you think it's worth going back to the original installation CD for the Canon and installing it again? Or are these particular all-in-one Canons prone to being jittery?

(Jake: our MacBook Pro is 17", but it's so old that we can't update to High Sierra, so I join your plea for a new 17" model. Trouble is, the trend seems to be the other way, i.e. smaller and smaller).

Allen.
 
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What I would do is, leave the USB cord connected to the Cannon, but disconnected from the mini. Use the USB to scan as needed.
 
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Do you think it's worth going back to the original installation CD for the Canon and installing it again? Or are these particular all-in-one Canons prone to being jittery?


I wouldn't suggest using the CD as it's no doubt old software.

All printers/scanners can be a PITA to setup depending on various situations.

Personally, I'd shut down the Cannon, disconnect its USB connection and use the Reset Printer:
https://www.lifewire.com/reset-mac-printing-system-to-fix-os-x-printer-problems-2259970
or
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/ht203343

Then power on the Canon and set it up as new but use the Bonjour method I mentioned in my #10 post earlier.

Good luck.

BTW: Do you have a wireless capable router actually connected and working in your LAN setup or anything like Apple Express etc?





- Patrick
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Googling, Canon do supply a download to set up a 7750 from scratch, so I’ll think about it.

Yes, it’s a wifi router, otherwise our ipads wouldn’t connect, would they? Also, it has wifi settings which can be changed by me. It’s a Virgin Superhub, for what it’s worth. Unsure what Apple Express is, or does.

When I was installing the new drivers a few days ago I chose Bonjour wherever it was offered.

Allen
 
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Googling, Canon do supply a download to set up a 7750 from scratch, so I’ll think about it.


I'd definitely suggest setting up that Cannon 7700 as a networked wireless unit and they also had an on-line setup for my older 5620 and our later MX 922 using a browser that worked like a hot darn

Also they have manuals as I'm sure you have and read:
http://downloads.canon.com/wireless/setup_mg7700_mac.pdf
and
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/1/0300019421/01/MG7700ser_OnlineManual_Mac_EN_V01.pdf

Neither of our recent Canon AIO printer/scanners have ever been connected via USB and they also warn not to try doing a wireless setup if it's already connected via USB. It does not allow both at the same time!!




- Patrick
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Fair enough, doesn’t sound too bad. I’ve always chosen USB connection because that’s what I ‘grew up.’ with. Not a good reason...

I shall put aside half a day to reinstall it as a new wifi only machine, probably on BOTH Macs, and report back.

Allen
 
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I’ve always chosen USB connection because that’s what I ‘grew up.’ with. Not a good reason...


I may be mistaken and didn't use a browser (Safari) but used the setup using the Canon itself as per instructions with the latest one we got:
http://downloads.canon.com/wireless/setup_mg7700_mac.pdf

BTW: An "Airport Express" is a small wireless router.




- Patrick
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I shall put aside half a day to reinstall it as a new wifi only machine, probably on BOTH Macs, and report back.


It shouldn't take that long even for setting up both Macs and here's a link to a nice simple cordless simple to help spped things up and don't foget to select the scanning and most other stuff from the installer options and this should be close for you model:

Canon PIXMA MG3520 - Cableless Setup with a Mac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqUCl7O3MYM

Or exact model specific setup if you like:
Pixma MG7700 series (part2) - Wifi setup from power on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYaiaF31X2s






- Patrick
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So here we are, with two Macs, each connected by wifi to the Canon for both printing and scanning.

Fairly easy, with hiccups.

The links (particularly the Canon one which I was relying on!) only go up to pre-El Capitan, definitely not to High Sierra. All they direct you to seems to be drivers, which aren't comprehensive in their installation process.

The Apple Support one was better (for a change), instructing to turn off Router/Printer, turn on, check for Firmware etc updates, and the only real p-i-a was that silly little miniscule keyboard on the Canon's display (old, big fingers, etc., and no, I don't do texting either). Workround was to drop my usual complex password for the router, change it to something dead simple, try again, and that connected fine (and I've since changed the password back to the long version).

Once it was connected, I had to do the 'reset all printers' on Print Preferences, to enable a clean connection.

Wouldn't 'see' the scanner until I went to 'add scanner' manually, and couldn't use Bonjour, but had to use the CanonIJnetwork linking.

So not for the faint-hearted, but voila, it finally all worked.

Thanks for all your patience and kind assistance. (They told me it would be all pressing buttons one day - roll on that day).


Allen.
 
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So not for the faint-hearted, but voila, it finally all worked.

Thanks for all your patience and kind assistance. (They told me it would be all pressing buttons one day - roll on that day).

Allen.



Glad to read you got it all working Allen.

Watch out for Apple providing you with some Canon update via Software Update that can possibly screw up the printing/scanning software, as I did with me when running Mavericks. Maybe you'll have better luck if anything shows up.


EDIT:
PS: Allen, assuming it got installed, you might want to consider keeping the "Canon IJ Printer Utility.app" in your Dock, as it has all kinds of extra settings that should work with your Canon 7700 and IF you need them somewhat handy.

Just a thought as I had to use it just the other day for some extra thick stock printing.

It should normally be found here:
/Library/Printers/Canon/BJPrinter/Utilities/CanonIJPrinterUtility.app

But is also available from the normal Print Queue window under Settings > Utility > Open Printer Utility




- Patrick
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Just a note for the sake of good order.

As I have the software Printfab installed, either path (System Prefs or Library) leads me to the PrintFab toolbox, which I guess does similar things - enables roller cleaning, ink checks, nozzle checks/cleaning, etc. PrintFab in printing allows you to play around with media types, dpi, and so on.

Allen
 

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For those who have printers with small virtual screen keyboards try using a pencil tip. My older Can had a scroll wheel to enter text/passwords. My current Brother printer has a virtual kekyboard and the pencil eraser works well.
 
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PrintFab in printing allows you to play around with media types, dpi, and so on.
Allen


Thanks for the info I guess Allen, but I could get free color profiles etc. from various sources and don't see or read of any advantages of using Printfab.app, but then again, I don't do any highend color printing and even if I did, I'd really question spending an extra $52.25usd which would be about what I spent in Canadian dollars to purchase my Canon Pixma MX922 AIO on a SUPER SALE.

PS: The last I checked, Canon has usually provided ICC Profiles for Third Party Papers at no charge and other such software if even needed.

But if you like and use Printfab.app for your printing work, you might be interested in using VueScan.app for any of your scanning for extra features if you don't already use it.
PS: I'm not sure it supports network wireless scanning or not.
https://www.hamrick.com





- Patrick
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For those who have printers with small virtual screen keyboards try using a pencil tip. My older Can had a scroll wheel to enter text/passwords. My current Brother printer has a virtual kekyboard and the pencil eraser works well.


Excellent suggestion Slydude, especially for those of us oldies and poor eyesight.

I usually have a clip-on stylus I use with my iPad in my shirt pocket that also works really well for such display window keyboard typing etc.




- Patrick
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I need to go back to a stylus. Used to use one all the time with my Palm Pilot and then 1st generation iPad. I stopped using them because I kept losing them. My problem with the clip-on is that so many of my shirts don't have pockets.
 
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I need to go back to a stylus. Used to use one all the time with my Palm Pilot and then 1st generation iPad. I stopped using them because I kept losing them. My problem with the clip-on is that so many of my shirts don't have pockets.


You'll have to switch stylus types Slydude and pickup some of the Flexible or Retractable Stylus Touch Pens that can easily be carried in one's pants pockets.




- Patrick
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That's a good idea. Why didn't I think of that?
 
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That's a good idea. Why didn't I think of that?


Have you double checked that those big hats the Admins sent you don't have a headband that's shrinking lately or just too tight…??? ;D

Just a thought…




- Patrick
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