sharing printers in WiFi

In article <1iqxchw.vv9e2mcr8ensN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
rlaughton.DeleteThis@invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:

> I've been out of the tech loop for almost two years now so please be
> patient with my possibly simplistic question: Can I print to a printer
> hooked up via USB to another Mac using the home WiFi?

Yes, assuming both Macs are connected to the same router and subnet.

> Allocating it an
> IP address didn't help. Is it necessary to hook the printer up to the
> actual WiFi router to allow it to be shared? - impractical as its in the
> kitchen.

Not if both Macs are able to see each other on the network.

> Is a wireless mac-to-mac network necessary?
Not if both Macs can see each other on the same network.


Assuming you're running Mac OS X 10.5:

On the Mac to which the printer is connected (via USB), open System
Preferences > Sharing. Click Printer Sharing. Check the checkbox next to
the printer in the list. This enables printer sharing for the printer.

Now on the other Mac, you'll need to open System Preferences > Print &
Fax. The shared printer should appear in the list. If not, try clicking
the [+] button just below the list to add the printer that way.

--
Send responses to the relevant news group rather than email to me.
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM
filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting
messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google
Groups. Use a real news client if you want me to see your posts.

JR

Dave Balderstone <dave DeleteThis @N_O_T_T_H_I_Sbalderstone.ca> wrote:

> In article <1iqxchw.vv9e2mcr8ensN%rlaughton@invalid.com>, Ray Laughton
> <rlaughton DeleteThis @invalid.com> wrote:
>
> > I've been out of the tech loop for almost two years now so please be
> > patient with my possibly simplistic question: Can I print to a printer
> > hooked up via USB to another Mac using the home WiFi? Allocating it an
> > IP address didn't help. Is it necessary to hook the printer up to the
> > actual WiFi router to allow it to be shared? - impractical as its in the
> > kitchen. Is a wireless mac-to-mac network necessary? Its an Epson C1100
> > laser.
>
> I have two printers on the network at home. The Brother laser is hooked
> up to the Airport base station. The Canon inkjet is attached to the
> basement iMac with Printer Sharing turned on. The other two Macs print
> over the wireless network to both.
>
> Hook the Epson up to one Mac, and turn on Printer Sharing. That should
> be all you need to do.
I did this bit but it wasn't enough it seems, the print job queues
forever. The printer is connected to a Mac Mini (Motorola) with OS
10.4.11 and the Mac (Intel) laptop uses OS 10.4.8
What could be missing: a real Airport base station? Or OS 10.5? Unsure
if it'll work on the old Mac Mini though..
--
ray

In article <1iqxvk7.6i2iqp1p1o6iN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
rlaughton.RemoveThis@invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:

> Dave Balderstone <dave.RemoveThis@N_O_T_T_H_I_Sbalderstone.ca> wrote:
>
> > In article <1iqxchw.vv9e2mcr8ensN%rlaughton@invalid.com>, Ray Laughton
> > <rlaughton.RemoveThis@invalid.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I've been out of the tech loop for almost two years now so please be
> > > patient with my possibly simplistic question: Can I print to a printer
> > > hooked up via USB to another Mac using the home WiFi? Allocating it an
> > > IP address didn't help. Is it necessary to hook the printer up to the
> > > actual WiFi router to allow it to be shared? - impractical as its in the
> > > kitchen. Is a wireless mac-to-mac network necessary? Its an Epson C1100
> > > laser.
> >
> > I have two printers on the network at home. The Brother laser is hooked
> > up to the Airport base station. The Canon inkjet is attached to the
> > basement iMac with Printer Sharing turned on. The other two Macs print
> > over the wireless network to both.
> >
> > Hook the Epson up to one Mac, and turn on Printer Sharing. That should
> > be all you need to do.
> I did this bit but it wasn't enough it seems, the print job queues
> forever. The printer is connected to a Mac Mini (Motorola) with OS
> 10.4.11 and the Mac (Intel) laptop uses OS 10.4.8
> What could be missing: a real Airport base station? Or OS 10.5? Unsure
> if it'll work on the old Mac Mini though..

There is no reason why it shouldn't, and none of your OS versions are
that old (although you really should run Software Update to get the
laptop up to 10.4.11 at least!) I'm also not sure why you would need
an Airport base station specifically - the make shouldn't really matter.

When you turn on printer sharing, make sure the firewall tab also shows
printer sharing as checked (i.e. allowed), then Launch the Printer Setup
Utility application, and click "Add" - if you can't see the shared
printer, then there is some other problem.

The main thing is that both computers should be on the same network,
regardless of how they are actually connected (wireless vs. wired)
- they should have IP addresses in the same subnet range, which would
be the case if they were both connecting to the same dhcp server. If
one computer is getting its IP address by dhcp from the wireless router,
and the other is getting its IP address from a different router, they
likely won't be able to talk to one another...

Jolly Roger <jollyroger DeleteThis @pobox.com> wrote:

> In article <1iqxchw.vv9e2mcr8ensN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
> rlaughton DeleteThis @invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:
>
> > I've been out of the tech loop for almost two years now so please be
> > patient with my possibly simplistic question: Can I print to a printer
> > hooked up via USB to another Mac using the home WiFi?
>
> Yes, assuming both Macs are connected to the same router and subnet.
They must be if they're accessing the internet via the same router, or
not?

> > Allocating it an
> > IP address didn't help. Is it necessary to hook the printer up to the
> > actual WiFi router to allow it to be shared? - impractical as its in the
> > kitchen.
>
> Not if both Macs are able to see each other on the network.
How does one check that?

> > Is a wireless mac-to-mac network necessary?
> Not if both Macs can see each other on the same network.
>
>
> Assuming you're running Mac OS X 10.5:
No, the Mac laptop uses OS 10.4.8, the Mac Mini uses 10.4.11

> On the Mac to which the printer is connected (via USB), open System
> Preferences > Sharing. Click Printer Sharing. Check the checkbox next to
> the printer in the list. This enables printer sharing for the printer.
I have enabled printer sharing, didn't help

> Now on the other Mac, you'll need to open System Preferences > Print &
> Fax. The shared printer should appear in the list. If not, try clicking
> the [+] button just below the list to add the printer that way.
sounds familiar, think I did it that way but I'll check to make sure.

--
ray

In article <1iqxvsz.z6vjm996cojkN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
rlaughton DeleteThis @invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:

> Jolly Roger <jollyroger DeleteThis @pobox.com> wrote:
>
> > In article <1iqxchw.vv9e2mcr8ensN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
> > rlaughton DeleteThis @invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:
> >
> > > I've been out of the tech loop for almost two years now so please be
> > > patient with my possibly simplistic question: Can I print to a printer
> > > hooked up via USB to another Mac using the home WiFi?
> >
> > Yes, assuming both Macs are connected to the same router and subnet.
>
> They must be if they're accessing the internet via the same router, or
> not?

In all likelihood, they are, yes.

> > > Allocating it an
> > > IP address didn't help. Is it necessary to hook the printer up to the
> > > actual WiFi router to allow it to be shared? - impractical as its in the
> > > kitchen.
> >
> > Not if both Macs are able to see each other on the network.
>
> How does one check that?

Can you share files between them?
Are they able to see each other in the Finder's network browser?
Can you use the 'ping' command-line tool to ping one computer's IP
address from the other computer?

> > > Is a wireless mac-to-mac network necessary?
> >
> > Not if both Macs can see each other on the same network.
> >
> > Assuming you're running Mac OS X 10.5:
>
> No, the Mac laptop uses OS 10.4.8, the Mac Mini uses 10.4.11
>
> > On the Mac to which the printer is connected (via USB), open System
> > Preferences > Sharing. Click Printer Sharing. Check the checkbox next to
> > the printer in the list. This enables printer sharing for the printer.
>
> I have enabled printer sharing, didn't help

You need to have printer sharing enabled for it to work, so if you
enabled it, it actually does help. ; )

> > Now on the other Mac, you'll need to open System Preferences > Print &
> > Fax. The shared printer should appear in the list. If not, try clicking
> > the [+] button just below the list to add the printer that way.
>
> sounds familiar, think I did it that way but I'll check to make sure.

You'll need to communicate to us what exactly you tried and how it did
not work. Otherwise, it'll be hard to help you much more.

--
Send responses to the relevant news group rather than email to me.
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM
filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting
messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google
Groups. Use a real news client if you want me to see your posts.

JR

In article <1iqxvk7.6i2iqp1p1o6iN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
rlaughton.RemoveThis@invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:

> Dave Balderstone <dave.RemoveThis@N_O_T_T_H_I_Sbalderstone.ca> wrote:
>
> > In article <1iqxchw.vv9e2mcr8ensN%rlaughton@invalid.com>, Ray Laughton
> > <rlaughton.RemoveThis@invalid.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I've been out of the tech loop for almost two years now so please be
> > > patient with my possibly simplistic question: Can I print to a printer
> > > hooked up via USB to another Mac using the home WiFi? Allocating it an
> > > IP address didn't help. Is it necessary to hook the printer up to the
> > > actual WiFi router to allow it to be shared? - impractical as its in the
> > > kitchen. Is a wireless mac-to-mac network necessary? Its an Epson C1100
> > > laser.
> >
> > I have two printers on the network at home. The Brother laser is hooked
> > up to the Airport base station. The Canon inkjet is attached to the
> > basement iMac with Printer Sharing turned on. The other two Macs print
> > over the wireless network to both.
> >
> > Hook the Epson up to one Mac, and turn on Printer Sharing. That should
> > be all you need to do.
>
> I did this bit but it wasn't enough it seems

Actually, you did more than this, because you had to have added the
printer to your printer list on the laptop. Knowing exactly how you
added the printer on the laptop is key to being able to help you further.

> the print job queues forever.

This suggests, to me, that it's possible you added the printer
incorrectly on the computer from which you are printing.

> The printer is connected to a Mac Mini (Motorola) with OS
> 10.4.11 and the Mac (Intel) laptop uses OS 10.4.8
> What could be missing: a real Airport base station? Or OS 10.5? Unsure
> if it'll work on the old Mac Mini though..

You simply need to figure out how to correctly add the printer on the
laptop. Screen shots of the printer list on the laptop might help. And
details of the exact steps you took (every button you clicked, every
window you see, etc.) to add the printer on the laptop will help too.

..
..
..

How To Post Screen Shots To Newsgroups

You can post a screenshot link using a service like ImageShack.
ImageShack
is an easy-to-use free media hosting service. It can be used to upload
images. Registration is not required in order to upload files.

1. On your keyboard, press Command-Shift-4.
2. On your keyboard, press the space bar.
3. Click the window you want. A picture file will appear on the desktop.
4. Go to http://imageshack.us/.
5. Click Browse, then navigate to and select the picture file.
6. Click "host it!".
7. Paste the "Show image to friends" URL in a newsgroup message.

--
Send responses to the relevant news group rather than email to me.
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM
filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting
messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google
Groups. Use a real news client if you want me to see your posts.

JR

Jolly Roger <jollyroger DeleteThis @pobox.com> wrote:

> In article <1iqxvsz.z6vjm996cojkN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
> rlaughton DeleteThis @invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:
>
> > Jolly Roger <jollyroger DeleteThis @pobox.com> wrote:
> >
> > > In article <1iqxchw.vv9e2mcr8ensN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
> > > rlaughton DeleteThis @invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:
> > >
> > > > I've been out of the tech loop for almost two years now so please be
> > > > patient with my possibly simplistic question: Can I print to a printer
> > > > hooked up via USB to another Mac using the home WiFi?
> > >
> > > Yes, assuming both Macs are connected to the same router and subnet.
> >
> > They must be if they're accessing the internet via the same router, or
> > not?
>
> In all likelihood, they are, yes.
>
> > > > Allocating it an
> > > > IP address didn't help. Is it necessary to hook the printer up to the
> > > > actual WiFi router to allow it to be shared? - impractical as its in the
> > > > kitchen.
> > >
> > > Not if both Macs are able to see each other on the network.
> >
> > How does one check that?
>
> Can you share files between them?
> Are they able to see each other in the Finder's network browser?
> Can you use the 'ping' command-line tool to ping one computer's IP
> address from the other computer?
>
> > > > Is a wireless mac-to-mac network necessary?
> > >
> > > Not if both Macs can see each other on the same network.
> > >
> > > Assuming you're running Mac OS X 10.5:
> >
> > No, the Mac laptop uses OS 10.4.8, the Mac Mini uses 10.4.11
> >
> > > On the Mac to which the printer is connected (via USB), open System
> > > Preferences > Sharing. Click Printer Sharing. Check the checkbox next to
> > > the printer in the list. This enables printer sharing for the printer.
> >
> > I have enabled printer sharing, didn't help
>
> You need to have printer sharing enabled for it to work, so if you
> enabled it, it actually does help. ; )
>
> > > Now on the other Mac, you'll need to open System Preferences > Print &
> > > Fax. The shared printer should appear in the list. If not, try clicking
> > > the [+] button just below the list to add the printer that way.
> >
> > sounds familiar, think I did it that way but I'll check to make sure.
>
> You'll need to communicate to us what exactly you tried and how it did
> not work. Otherwise, it'll be hard to help you much more.

Still not working, I think its to do with the Macs not seeing each other
in a network. I went to the Finder menu 'Connect to Server' and typed
the other mac's name in as MiniMac.local, but no luck. I've also noticed
that under Printer Setup - Printer Info - submenu 'name and location'
each Mac sees itself as the printer host -can't be correct? Driver
version 2.21.01 on the Mac Mini and 1.4 on the laptop.
Trying to keep it simple I removed the IP address of the printer and
chose it again under it's own name. Didn't work. Reselected an IP
address 10.0.0.4 seemed to find the printer, but doesn't actually
print.
Until this works out I'll be using a USB stick... :-/
--
ray

In article <1ir8dq8.1nlnhoq1kj0680N%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
rlaughton.DeleteThis@invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:

> Jolly Roger <jollyroger.DeleteThis@pobox.com> wrote:
>
> > In article <1iqxvsz.z6vjm996cojkN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
> > rlaughton.DeleteThis@invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:
> >
> > > Jolly Roger <jollyroger.DeleteThis@pobox.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > In article <1iqxchw.vv9e2mcr8ensN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
> > > > rlaughton.DeleteThis@invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I've been out of the tech loop for almost two years now so please be
> > > > > patient with my possibly simplistic question: Can I print to a
> > > > > printer
> > > > > hooked up via USB to another Mac using the home WiFi?
> > > >
> > > > Yes, assuming both Macs are connected to the same router and subnet.
> > >
> > > They must be if they're accessing the internet via the same router, or
> > > not?
> >
> > In all likelihood, they are, yes.
> >
> > > > > Allocating it an
> > > > > IP address didn't help. Is it necessary to hook the printer up to the
> > > > > actual WiFi router to allow it to be shared? - impractical as its in
> > > > > the
> > > > > kitchen.
> > > >
> > > > Not if both Macs are able to see each other on the network.
> > >
> > > How does one check that?
> >
> > Can you share files between them?
> > Are they able to see each other in the Finder's network browser?
> > Can you use the 'ping' command-line tool to ping one computer's IP
> > address from the other computer?
> >
> > > > > Is a wireless mac-to-mac network necessary?
> > > >
> > > > Not if both Macs can see each other on the same network.
> > > >
> > > > Assuming you're running Mac OS X 10.5:
> > >
> > > No, the Mac laptop uses OS 10.4.8, the Mac Mini uses 10.4.11
> > >
> > > > On the Mac to which the printer is connected (via USB), open System
> > > > Preferences > Sharing. Click Printer Sharing. Check the checkbox next
> > > > to
> > > > the printer in the list. This enables printer sharing for the printer.
> > >
> > > I have enabled printer sharing, didn't help
> >
> > You need to have printer sharing enabled for it to work, so if you
> > enabled it, it actually does help. ; )
> >
> > > > Now on the other Mac, you'll need to open System Preferences > Print &
> > > > Fax. The shared printer should appear in the list. If not, try clicking
> > > > the [+] button just below the list to add the printer that way.
> > >
> > > sounds familiar, think I did it that way but I'll check to make sure.
> >
> > You'll need to communicate to us what exactly you tried and how it did
> > not work. Otherwise, it'll be hard to help you much more.
>
> Still not working, I think its to do with the Macs not seeing each other
> in a network. I went to the Finder menu 'Connect to Server' and typed
> the other mac's name in as MiniMac.local, but no luck. I've also noticed
> that under Printer Setup - Printer Info - submenu 'name and location'
> each Mac sees itself as the printer host -can't be correct? Driver
> version 2.21.01 on the Mac Mini and 1.4 on the laptop.
> Trying to keep it simple I removed the IP address of the printer and
> chose it again under it's own name. Didn't work. Reselected an IP
> address 10.0.0.4 seemed to find the printer, but doesn't actually
> print.
> Until this works out I'll be using a USB stick... :-/

Do you have more than 1 router? For example, do you have a router
attached to the Cable/DSL Modem, or perhaps your Cable/DSL modem
is also a router. And one of the computers is attached to that
router. And you also have a WiFi base station with the other Mac
attached via that?

The Bonjour protocol will not cross a router boundary. So if the
Mac that wants to print is on a subnet controlled by one router,
and the printer is on a different subnet controlled by another
router, there is no way for the Mac to see the printer.

If that is the case, you need to disable the routing functions of
the router(s) that is not talking directly to the internet. This
is generally done by either configuring it for "Bridge" mode, or
disabling the DHCP and NAT services.

Bob Harris

In article <1ir8dq8.1nlnhoq1kj0680N%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
rlaughton.RemoveThis@invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:

> Jolly Roger <jollyroger.RemoveThis@pobox.com> wrote:
>
> > In article <1iqxvsz.z6vjm996cojkN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
> > rlaughton.RemoveThis@invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:
> >
> > > Jolly Roger <jollyroger.RemoveThis@pobox.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > In article <1iqxchw.vv9e2mcr8ensN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
> > > > rlaughton.RemoveThis@invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I've been out of the tech loop for almost two years now so please be
> > > > > patient with my possibly simplistic question: Can I print to a
> > > > > printer
> > > > > hooked up via USB to another Mac using the home WiFi?
> > > >
> > > > Yes, assuming both Macs are connected to the same router and subnet.
> > >
> > > They must be if they're accessing the internet via the same router, or
> > > not?
> >
> > In all likelihood, they are, yes.
> >
> > > > > Allocating it an
> > > > > IP address didn't help. Is it necessary to hook the printer up to the
> > > > > actual WiFi router to allow it to be shared? - impractical as its in
> > > > > the
> > > > > kitchen.
> > > >
> > > > Not if both Macs are able to see each other on the network.
> > >
> > > How does one check that?
> >
> > Can you share files between them?
> > Are they able to see each other in the Finder's network browser?
> > Can you use the 'ping' command-line tool to ping one computer's IP
> > address from the other computer?

I would really prefer that you answer each of my above questions
explicitly.

It sounds like you may have answered the first one, but I'd like you to
try something before we consider that one officially answered (see
below).

> > > > > Is a wireless mac-to-mac network necessary?
> > > >
> > > > Not if both Macs can see each other on the same network.
> > > >
> > > > Assuming you're running Mac OS X 10.5:
> > >
> > > No, the Mac laptop uses OS 10.4.8, the Mac Mini uses 10.4.11

Networking doesn't work quiet as well in 10.5, unforatunately. APple
improved Finder networking significantly in 10.5. Keep this in mind
when you consider upgrading to 10.5 in the future.

> > > > Now on the other Mac, you'll need to open System Preferences > Print &
> > > > Fax. The shared printer should appear in the list. If not, try clicking
> > > > the [+] button just below the list to add the printer that way.
> > >
> > > sounds familiar, think I did it that way but I'll check to make sure.
> >
> > You'll need to communicate to us what exactly you tried and how it did
> > not work. Otherwise, it'll be hard to help you much more.
>
> Still not working, I think its to do with the Macs not seeing each other
> in a network. I went to the Finder menu 'Connect to Server' and typed
> the other mac's name in as MiniMac.local, but no luck.

What happens if you type in this instead (where ip_address is the IP
address of the other Mac):

afp://ip_address

> I've also noticed
> that under Printer Setup - Printer Info - submenu 'name and location'
> each Mac sees itself as the printer host -can't be correct?

If both computers happen to have the 10.4 equivalent of System
Preferences > Sharing > Printer Sharing enabled, yes.

> Driver
> version 2.21.01 on the Mac Mini and 1.4 on the laptop.

Why the disparate versions? I would think you'd want to install the same
version printer driver on both machines.

> Trying to keep it simple I removed the IP address of the printer and
> chose it again under it's own name. Didn't work. Reselected an IP
> address 10.0.0.4 seemed to find the printer, but doesn't actually
> print.
> Until this works out I'll be using a USB stick... :-/

--
Send responses to the relevant news group rather than email to me.
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM
filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting
messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google
Groups. Use a real news client if you want me to see your posts.

JR

In article <jollyroger-3AC3C7.15203601122008 DeleteThis @news.individual.net>,
Jolly Roger <jollyroger DeleteThis @pobox.com> wrote:

> > Driver
> > version 2.21.01 on the Mac Mini and 1.4 on the laptop.
>
> Why the disparate versions? I would think you'd want to install the same
> version printer driver on both machines.

Not only desirable, but usually necessary, to have the save version of
printer drivers on both computers.

--
Matt Broughton
Only relatives are absolute.

Bob Harris <nospam.News.Bob.RemoveThis@remove.Smith-Harris.us> wrote:

> In article <1ir8dq8.1nlnhoq1kj0680N%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
> rlaughton.RemoveThis@invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:
>
> > Jolly Roger <jollyroger.RemoveThis@pobox.com> wrote:
> >
> > > In article <1iqxvsz.z6vjm996cojkN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
> > > rlaughton.RemoveThis@invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:
> > >
> > > > Jolly Roger <jollyroger.RemoveThis@pobox.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > In article <1iqxchw.vv9e2mcr8ensN%rlaughton@invalid.com>,
> > > > > rlaughton.RemoveThis@invalid.com (Ray Laughton) wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > I've been out of the tech loop for almost two years now so
> > > > > > please be patient with my possibly simplistic question: Can I
> > > > > > print to a printer hooked up via USB to another Mac using the
> > > > > > home WiFi?
> > > > >
> > > > > Yes, assuming both Macs are connected to the same router and
> > > > > subnet.
> > > >
> > > > They must be if they're accessing the internet via the same router,
> > > > or not?
> > >
> > > In all likelihood, they are, yes.
> > >
> > > > > > Allocating it an IP address didn't help. Is it necessary to hook
> > > > > > the printer up to the actual WiFi router to allow it to be
> > > > > > shared? - impractical as its in the kitchen.
> > > > >
> > > > > Not if both Macs are able to see each other on the network.
> > > >
> > > > How does one check that?
> > >
> > > Can you share files between them? Are they able to see each other in
> > > the Finder's network browser? Can you use the 'ping' command-line tool
> > > to ping one computer's IP address from the other computer?
> > >
> > > > > > Is a wireless mac-to-mac network necessary?
> > > > >
> > > > > Not if both Macs can see each other on the same network.
> > > > >
> > > > > Assuming you're running Mac OS X 10.5:
> > > >
> > > > No, the Mac laptop uses OS 10.4.8, the Mac Mini uses 10.4.11
> > > >
> > > > > On the Mac to which the printer is connected (via USB), open
> > > > > System Preferences > Sharing. Click Printer Sharing. Check the
> > > > > checkbox next to the printer in the list. This enables printer
> > > > > sharing for the printer.
> > > >
> > > > I have enabled printer sharing, didn't help
> > >
> > > You need to have printer sharing enabled for it to work, so if you
> > > enabled it, it actually does help. ; )
> > >
> > > > > Now on the other Mac, you'll need to open System Preferences >
> > > > > Print & Fax. The shared printer should appear in the list. If not,
> > > > > try clicking the [+] button just below the list to add the printer
> > > > > that way.
> > > >
> > > > sounds familiar, think I did it that way but I'll check to make
> > > >sure.
> > >
> > > You'll need to communicate to us what exactly you tried and how it did
> > > not work. Otherwise, it'll be hard to help you much more.
> >
> > Still not working, I think its to do with the Macs not seeing each other
> > in a network. I went to the Finder menu 'Connect to Server' and typed
> > the other mac's name in as MiniMac.local, but no luck. I've also noticed
> > that under Printer Setup - Printer Info - submenu 'name and location'
> > each Mac sees itself as the printer host -can't be correct? Driver
> > version 2.21.01 on the Mac Mini and 1.4 on the laptop.
> > Trying to keep it simple I removed the IP address of the printer and
> > chose it again under it's own name. Didn't work. Reselected an IP
> > address 10.0.0.4 seemed to find the printer, but doesn't actually
> > print.
> > Until this works out I'll be using a USB stick... :-/
>
> Do you have more than 1 router? For example, do you have a router
> attached to the Cable/DSL Modem, or perhaps your Cable/DSL modem
> is also a router. And one of the computers is attached to that
> router. And you also have a WiFi base station with the other Mac
> attached via that?
>
> The Bonjour protocol will not cross a router boundary. So if the
> Mac that wants to print is on a subnet controlled by one router,
> and the printer is on a different subnet controlled by another
> router, there is no way for the Mac to see the printer.
>
> If that is the case, you need to disable the routing functions of
> the router(s) that is not talking directly to the internet. This
> is generally done by either configuring it for "Bridge" mode, or
> disabling the DHCP and NAT services.
>
> Bob Harris

No, just one router.
--
ray