HP LaserJet6MP, Asante, networked set up

Question

Hi-
Ive revived my LaserJet6MP after not using it for about a year. I forgot how I had this hooked up! I have an Asante box to convert from the old plug (ADP?) to ethernet. IF I connect the printer/Asante directly to the iBook's ethernet - should I select AppleTalk in Printer Setup Util?
How do I find out the printer's IP address if I manually enter it under HP IP Printing?
I tried connecting the printer's ethernet to the Linksys router/Airport that I use for surfing. This would be optimum way to print - but there's no sign that it's working this way either.
I know there's no short answer because of all the options and variables but any help is appreciated. What am I missing?
JL

Answer 1

I've been using a HP-6MP with an AsanteTalk device
with various macs since 1997 with everything from OS
7.5.3 through OS 9 through OSX 10.4.5. It's stable
and it hasn't been abandoned by OSX development.
Anyone that says different is just guessing or
conjecturing. I use it with wireless and direct
connections.
Things to verify:
1. AppleTalk is active.
2. If the AsanteTalk is hooked to your router, use a
conventional Ethernet cord. If it's connected
directly to your computer's ethernet port, use a
crossover cable (the original supplied with the
AsanteTalk was yellow).
3. Power up the AsanteTalk after the connected
printer is fully powered up. It's the only thing that
needs to be sequenced. If the prinetr is not powered
up first, the AsanteTalk can't see or poll for the
printer.
4. After you've done the first three, the printer
should show up as a possible additional printer in
the Printer Setup Utility listed as an AppleTalk
printer in the connection column.
The HP-6MP is old and slow, but stll workable and
reliable.
I'm jumping in with a similar problem: my prehistoric HP 4ML serial printer--also old (1993) and slow but reliable--won't work with my iMac. It works with the 9-year-old G3 desktop (OS 8.5--it's GOT to go!), and with the 5-year-old G3 iBook via AsanteTalk. But I've had no luck with my current box, a 20" all-in-one flat-panel G5 w/ 1GB RAM.
Following Lanny's list I've made AppleTalk active (after getting Verizon to switch me from PPPoE to DCHP), I've connect the computer to the router (Westell VersaLink 327W) with a crossover cable, and connected the printer to AsanteTalk with the cable with two arrows (that's Serial connection, right?), an AsanteTalk to the router with a conventional Ethernet cord (Cat6). I've followed the power-up sequence Lanny specified. Oh, and I reloaded the HP driver after I foolishly wiped the old printer settings (can't remember why I did that, this has been an issue for months, ever since I got the iMac, but there it is). When I try to print I get this error message in the utility with my printer's name:
Unable to connect to IPP host: Unknown error: 0"
I've been limping along, copying documents to one of the other computers for printing, but would really like to resolve this and would appreciate any suggestions! A new printer is in the cards, but not right away.
You can probably tell I'm no techie--I'm not set up to use this as a wireless network though apparently the Westell does transmit a wireless signal and I have Airport in both the iMac and iBook (though no Airport base station). But that's another can of worms...
20" iMac G5 2 GHz 1G RAM   Mac OS X (10.4.5)  
20" iMac G5 1G RAM   Mac OS X (10.4.5)