Mac problems round 1...

[ffutures]

I'm having a couple of problems setting up the new iBook with the network at home. Most notably:


Linksys Router - got wired internet access and file sharing working reasonably easily, but I don't think it's even detecting the 802.llb WiFi signal, let alone able to use it to network. This works fine with a WiFi card in my old Compaq. Anyone got this combination of hardware and able to tell me what settings you've used?



Samsung ML-1750 printer - the Apple driver install on the CD is for OS-9; I ran the install program using the "classic" thingy but can't figure out how to print from OS X. It doesn't show up in the OS X printer menus at all. Anyone using one of these with OS X? Before anyone asks, there appears to be nothing useful on Samsung's site. It has USB and parallel ports, ideally I'd prefer to use it via a printer server attached to the parallel port - see below.



Edimax parallel printer server (links network to Samsung printer). Again, the Mac doesn't seem to know it exists. I can't seem to get the settings right manually and the setup program is a total dog and seems to be for PCs only. Ideally I'd like to print via this, rather than via USB. Anyone got any ideas?



Shared Canon inkjet printer on my main PC - the Mac doesn't seem to know it's there. Again, any ideas on how to let it know? Will it only detect it if it's switched on? It shows up in the menus on my PCs at all times if the main PC is on.


This is a lot to ask, I know, but I'm just pretty clueless in a Mac environment when it comes to hacking the settings at this sort of level.

Later: Laser printer now sorted on USB, still no joy with network print server. WiFi about 60% sorted, it works but I can't encrypt or look at shared files. No luck with network printer server, Canon driver found but doesn't seem to want to work if addressed via another PC

Thanks!

Comments

[elementalv.livejournal.com]

I can't get into a detailed fix with you, but I will ask if you've checked Apple's OS X section. A number of your questions may be answered there.

As for the WiFi, I assume you have an Airport card in the iBook, but have you gone into System Preferences::Network to tell your 'puter to look for the signal? You can set it up so that your wireless lives on your menubar, and once you turn Airport networking on, it stays on until you say otherwise.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I've spent about an hour so far on the system preferences menu without success, and I was using WiFi fine at the hotel all weekend. I've tried to search on the Mac site for info using keywords such as linksys, networking, 802.11b, so far nothing I've found seems very helpful, but I'll persevere.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Forgot to say I've also checked the Linksys site as well as I can.

[autopope.livejournal.com]

[on the road]

Have you got WEP or WPA enabled on the Linksys? If so, you need to tell the Airport about the password.

Normally you should just be able to go to the Airport menu (to the left of the time/date in the menu bar), pull down "Other ...", see a list of available networks, and log on. If there's WEP or WPA it should simply ask you for the password at that point.

Another thing to check: is your Linksys router locked to known MAC addresses? If so, you'll need to add the MAC address of your airport card to its access-allowed list. (You can find this by running Utilities/System Profiler.)

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

That's odd - I'm sure I tried not using WEP before, but apparently I didn't, or didn't do it right.

With WEP switched off it works, even with SSID transmission disabled, but I can't access the main PC's files. I can't make it work with any encryption at all.

And I seem to have lost the ethernet connection again when I messed around with the settings...

Here we go again. Is there an easy way to toggle between them I'm missing?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Sorry - never mind, figured it out. Though I can't see files on the main PC when I'm using Airport.

[dsample.livejournal.com]

Is is possible that your Linksys router is set up to only allow specific computers to connect? If so you'll have to go into its configuration menus from a system that can already connect to it, and add you new iBook's network ID to its list of allowed systems.

(You can find your Mac's ID through the Apple Menu->About this Mac->More Info->Network.)

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Got this about 60% sorted now - I can live without WiFi file transfer provided I can do it by wire, though I'd be a lot happier with encryption enabled.

[robertprior.livejournal.com]

For the printer, you will need OS X drivers. You may be forced to use a generic driver. I have an Epson that isn't properly supported in OS X -- I have to boot back into OS 9 to use the diagnostics, but Epson's solution when I phoned their tech support was "buy another, they're cheap" :-(

As of the others, post a request for assistance on the Apple forums.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Canon printer now sorted - yes, it does need to be on before it can be added.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Spoke too soon - it thinks it's a postscript printer and won't print to it anyway...