Added DECO as AP, now can't find my Printer (MacOS 12.6 Monterey)
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I recently bought a Deco X20 AX1800 (3-Pack). I failed to be able to add it as a router as my NowTV device doesn't appear to allow that. As such, I resorted to adding as Access Points instead.
The Wifi seems fine and has removed those irritating dead spots. However, I now can't get to the printer I used to be able to via the NowTV router.
The printer is a Brother MFC-5890CN - old but works fine from Windows and used to from my Mac (MacOS 12.6 Monterey).
Setup is:
- NowTV device is still the Modem and Router.
- I have a 10-Port Gigabit Ethernet Port connected to the NowTV device (as the NowTV device only has two ethernet ports).
- The printer is connected to the Ethernet Port via ethernet cable.
- The Deco is also connected to the Ethernet Port via ethernet cable.
I now cannot access the printer from my macbook. If I connect to the NowTV router instead, it works. But with my macbook connected to the Deco, it can't be found.
I have tried downloading the latest Brother Driver (Sadly they don't support after macOS 10.15 and have no plans to either). I then reset the printing system on my macbook (basically removes all of them) and re-added the printer. Again, can't print. Interestingly, I can add the printer, although I get an error message saying "unable to communicate with the printer at this time". With the printer added again to my macbook, I can't print with it connected to the Deco. But connect the macbook to the NowTV router and hey presto, it prints. I'm therefore guessing for some reason, the Deco can't talk to the printer, even though both are connected to the same router via ethernet.
In addition, my wife's laptop prints fine when she is connected to the Deco Mesh - just my MacBook that won't :(
I'd really like to at least turn off Wifi on the NowTV device and only have the Deco Mesh available. But if I can't get the printer to work, then I'm going to have to leave both. Meaning I still have to swap my macbook connecting between the new Mesh Wifi and the NowTV router whenever I need to print something - which is kind of naff.
Any help please!
Ah! Got it.
I *thought* I had the Deco set up in AP mode. But checking in the android app, it wasn't.
In the app:
- More (at bottom of app)
- -> Advanced
- -> Operation Mode.
It was set to Wi-Fi Router (which is the default). I had to change it to Access Point. Now it simply extends the existing Wifi on the NowTV device and hey presto, the printer appears again. I guess with the Deco set up as a Router AND the existing NowTV device also set up as a Router, everything was getting a little confused.
Put the problem down to "a loose nut behind the keyboard" i.e. me!
Hopefully, this will help others though.
Ah! Got it.
I *thought* I had the Deco set up in AP mode. But checking in the android app, it wasn't.
In the app:
- More (at bottom of app)
- -> Advanced
- -> Operation Mode.
It was set to Wi-Fi Router (which is the default). I had to change it to Access Point. Now it simply extends the existing Wifi on the NowTV device and hey presto, the printer appears again. I guess with the Deco set up as a Router AND the existing NowTV device also set up as a Router, everything was getting a little confused.
Put the problem down to "a loose nut behind the keyboard" i.e. me!
Hopefully, this will help others though.