Brother Monochrome Laser Printer Seems Dead - need a new one?

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For the last half dozen years, wife and I have been using a Canon Pixma MF inkjet printer for our color needs and a Brother HL-L2340DW (shown below) for B&W printing which is most heavily used (and to save ink w/ the Canon!) - well, yesterday the Wi-Fi light went out and I've tried to re-establish a connection w/ my AirPort Extreme router; I've rebooted the modem/router/printer w/o success; then USB cabled the printer to our iMac and also to one of my laptops - printer is seen but not online or 'in use' - downloaded Brother's firmware updater, new drivers, and new wireless updates - could not install them onto the printer.

SO, at the moment I'm at a loss whether there is much else to do? So just seeing if I may have missed 'something'? If not, then time for a new laser printer - just want monochrome, auto-duplex, wireless setup, and cheap. I know that we've had these threads in the past w/ a lot of frustrating discussion as to the reliability of these machines - the negative Amazon reviews on virtually all brands/models is depressing. I'm about to just pick another Brother model 'for the home' unless comments guide me in another direction - thanks for any input. Dave
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chscag

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I'm actually surprised that your Brother Laser printer quit. Brother printers generally are very durable and long lasting. Are you sure that the laser drum doesn't need replacement? Brother recommends changing out that drum after running maybe 3 or 4 cartridges through it. Not sure about that, but it might be worthwhile to check.

I have an older HP LaserJet 1012 that's going on 15 years old and still works real well. But HP LaserJet printers have the drum built into the laser cartridge which is an advantage. Also more expensive to replace the cartridges. :)
 
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I'm actually surprised that your Brother Laser printer quit. Brother printers generally are very durable and long lasting. Are you sure that the laser drum doesn't need replacement? Brother recommends changing out that drum after running maybe 3 or 4 cartridges through it. Not sure about that, but it might be worthwhile to check.

I have an older HP LaserJet 1012 that's going on 15 years old and still works real well. But HP LaserJet printers have the drum built into the laser cartridge which is an advantage. Also more expensive to replace the cartridges. :)

Thanks Charlie for your comments - we've probably gone through 10 or so cartridges over the 6 years so that may be an issue and I'll check into a replacement; BUT, not sure why that should prevent the printer from recognizing my home network and why when I cabled the printer to my iMac and also my MBPro laptop, the printer was said to be offline - doesn't make sense to me but maybe my misunderstanding? Dave
 

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It does seem like the Brother has quit. A defective or non functioning drum should not cause the printer to just stop being recognized by both of your Macs. Maybe a call to Brother support might help?
 

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Hey Dave...coincidentially here's a very recent similar thread regarding printer recommendations:

Combi Scanner/Printer suggestions?

The Brother printer I recommended is a newer version of an all-in-one Brother laser printer (printer, scanner, copier) that I've owned for years. The one model linked in the thread is just $99:

Access Denied

Brother HL-L2395DW | Monochrome Laser Printer with Duplex

HTH,

- Nick

Hi Nick - thanks for the links - I went out to Office Max yesterday and saw the printer above - great deal @ Staples - we already have scanning/copying w/ our Canon Inkjet (although not bad to have a backup) but the 'footprint' is too big for the place we keep that printer (a stand that I made and attached to the side of our computer table) - would probably get a smaller one again that just does B&W printing.

This morning I went through the networking menu (on that one-line LCD screen - what a pain!) and re-entered the PW for our home network and the Wi-Fi light came and stayed on - then I could print wirelessly w/ my iPad - OK the iMac should work - tried to print from the desktop w/o success; ran Onyx (in case there were some funky printer caches) and rebooted - in 'Printer Settings' the Brother then showed a green light and idle - GREAT! But when I tried to print nothing happened and the printer reverted to the message below and the print job stalled - back to the printer, the SLEEP mode was activated - well, I'm half way there - the SLEEP and DEEP SLEEP modes on these Brother printers are a constant pain on the Amazon 1* ratings, so I'll do some more online research before buying a new one. Thanks again - Dave
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It appears that you have a current print job in your print queue that needs to be deleted, then resume.
If nothing else, you should also have the option to reset your printer setup.

Sometimes a hassle but cheaper than a new printer if it works. ;-)


Patrick
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It appears that you have a current print job in your print queue that needs to be deleted, then resume.
If nothing else, you should also have the option to reset your printer setup.

Sometimes a hassle but cheaper than a new printer if it works. ;-)

Hi Patrick - the 'printer jobs' are trying to send data to the printer but basically freeze - I've deleted these and retried many times w/o success - the printer LCD states 'Sleep' or 'Deep Sleep' and I've been unable to switch that off; I've reset to factory settings, rebooted everything, removed/installed the USB cable - all failing to put the printer online in the iMac settings - however, since I'm connected to my home network, checking printer settings on my MBPro shows the findings below and I can easily print from my laptop - baffling to me - I left Brother a message today w/ several screenshots - will they respond? Will they have helpful suggestions? I don't know - thanks for your comments. Dave
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Well Dave, at least you can print wirelessly it seems so that brother printer isn't dead.

As Charlie says, i've always found the Brother printers to be very reliable with Macs.

Have you tried powering off the brother printer then plug it back in after letting it sit for a few minutes? Then try printing again.


Patrick
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Well Dave, at least you can print wirelessly it seems so that brother printer isn't dead.

As Charlie says, i've always found the Brother printers to be very reliable with Macs.

Have you tried powering off the brother printer then plug it back in after letting it sit for a few minutes? Then try printing again.

Patrick - I'm an 'ole hand' at powering off equipment (starting w/ an Apple II+ in 1980) - I've tried that at least 6 times - as you say the printer is 'half dead or half alive' - ;D

This is my third Brother laser, so familiar w/ the company and likely would buy another one, if needed - I shall await Brother's response to my email (of course w/ fingers crossed!) and do a little more searching - my Cambridge Stereo Receiver was dying, so off to Crutchfield in Virginia for store credit - will then purchase the newest model; SO, more concerned in getting my music w/ good speakers going again - right now I'm listening from a Sony boombox that I brought up from the basement - :) Dave
 

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my Cambridge Stereo Receiver was dying, so off to Crutchfield in Virginia for store credit - will then purchase the newest model;

Wow, Dave... I didn't know Crutchfield was still in business! I remember receiving their famous catalogs in the mail. I still have my Yamaha Stereo Receiver and Bose 901s with the Bass - Treble enhancer. The 901s are a bit fuzzy sounding and need to be refurbed (re-coned). There's a shop here in Dallas that specializes in refurbing old Bose equipment but they're a bit pricey.
 
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Wow, Dave... I didn't know Crutchfield was still in business! I remember receiving their famous catalogs in the mail. I still have my Yamaha Stereo Receiver and Bose 901s with the Bass - Treble enhancer. The 901s are a bit fuzzy sounding and need to be refurbed (re-coned). There's a shop here in Dallas that specializes in refurbing old Bose equipment but they're a bit pricey.

Hi Charlie - well, Crutchfield remains in business - I've probably bought a dozen or so products from them - pricing is competitive and shipping to me in NC is 2-day, but most importantly for me is their excellent support either via email and/or phone - I could easily buy locally but for electronics these days I want people that care and will help (esp. to save me money!) - my current issue is w/ a Cambridge receiver, first one went out after 18 months (3 year warranty) - called them and a new one was shipped immediately (they paid return postage on the old one); well, the second one just started to developed the same problems, shipped out to them yesterday - I'll get store credit (not sure 'how much' at the moment, but 6 months left on the warranty) - plan to buy the newer Cambridge model from them likely w/ my store credit - I've had some similar issues w/ other products and these guys just are 'on your side' - for others reading this and living in the VA area, take a look at my link above. Dave
 
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Update - success! :app

Well, Brother support did respond and I was able to update the firmware & the wireless drivers of the printer - now I had tried to remove and add the machine before using both a USB cable and wirelessly but w/o success - however after the updates, I did the same and the 'Add' a printer brought up the Brother and selected AirPrint, removed the USB cable, and the iMac is now printing wirelessly. Not sure why that did not work previously except the Brother drivers were fairly new and I had recently updated Catalina (but my laptop and iDevices never lost function?) - bottom line, no need for a new laser printer (which is good because I had just put in a new toner cartridge). Dave
 
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Hi Charlie - well, Crutchfield remains in business - I've probably bought a dozen or so products from them - pricing is competitive and shipping to me in NC is 2-day, but most importantly for me is their excellent support either via email and/or phone - I could easily buy locally but for electronics these days I want people that care and will help (esp. to save me money!) - my current issue is w/ a Cambridge receiver, first one went out after 18 months (3 year warranty) - called them and a new one was shipped immediately (they paid return postage on the old one); well, the second one just started to developed the same problems, shipped out to them yesterday - I'll get store credit (not sure 'how much' at the moment, but 6 months left on the warranty) - plan to buy the newer Cambridge model from them likely w/ my store credit - I've had some similar issues w/ other products and these guys just are 'on your side' - for others reading this and living in the VA area, take a look at my link above. Dave

@ Charlie - well, I shipped back my Cambridge receiver to Crutchfield w/ just 6 months left on the warranty - yesterday, the machine arrived safely and they gave me a credit voucher for the entire cost of the old machine, i.e. about $500 - so, I ordered the new Cambridge model which was about the same price - now, I had contacted Cambridge directly and they will willing to send me the new model but give me just half that amount (their 'trade-in' offer) - SO, for those in the area (or not), Crutchfield has always had just great service (my only 'failure' was w/ a device that had an expired warranty - understandable). Dave :)
 

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Hi Dave:

That's great customer service by Crutchfield. The folks at Cambridge remind of those at Bose. When I complained to Bose about the 901 speakers losing cone integrity and sounding fuzzy, their response was - sorry, but we will send you a new set of 901s (latest update) at a slight discount plus tax and shipping. It's cheaper for me to have them re-coned here in Dallas. Oh well, lesson learned. No more Bose equipment for me.
 
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Hi Dave:

That's great customer service by Crutchfield. The folks at Cambridge remind of those at Bose. When I complained to Bose about the 901 speakers losing cone integrity and sounding fuzzy, their response was - sorry, but we will send you a new set of 901s (latest update) at a slight discount plus tax and shipping. It's cheaper for me to have them re-coned here in Dallas. Oh well, lesson learned. No more Bose equipment for me.

1+ Charlie - the only negative experience that I've had w/ Crutchfield was a Boston Acoustics (BA) HDTV soundbar - not cheap - went out a few months after warranty - wasn't much they could do, so I talked w/ BA and the bottom line basically was 'tough luck' and 'we don't care' - now have my HDTV hooked to my den sound system, now needing the new Cambridge receiver - comes tomorrow. Dave :)
 

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